[run to]{v. phr.} To approximate; reach. •/It has been estimatedthat the casualties will run to over 300,000 killed by cholera and starvationin the crowded refugee camps./

[run to seed] See: GO TO SEED.

[run true to form]{v. phr.} To follow a usual way; act as expected;agree with how a person usually acts. •/The little boy’s actions ran true toform. He bothered his mother until she gave him his way./ Compare: PAR FORTHE COURSE.

[run up]{v. phr.} 1. To add to the amount of; increase. •/Karl ranup a big bill at the bookstore./ 2. To put together or make hastily; sewquickly together. •/Jill ran up a costume for the party on her sewingmachine./ 3. To pull (something) upward on a rope; put (something) upquickly. •/The pirates ran up the black flag./

[run up against] See: UP AGAINST.

[run wild]{v. phr.} To be or go out of control. •/The students ranwild during spring vacation./ •/The new supervisor lets the children runwild./ •/The violets are running wild in the flower bed./ Compare: RUNRIOT.

[run with the hare and hunt (ride) with the hounds]{v. phr.} To appearto support both parties in a conflict; to conduct things in ambiguous ways.•/Critics accused the king of running with the hare and hunting with thehounds./

[running commentary]{n. phr.} A continual series of remarks. •/Mychiropractor gives me a running commentary on the health care debate while heis giving me a rubdown./

[rush] See: BUM’S RUSH.

[Russian roulette]{n.} A game of chance in which one bullet is placedin a revolver, the cartridge cylinder is spun, and the player aims the gun athis own head and pulls the trigger. •/Only a fool would risk playing Russianroulette./

[rust away]{v. phr.} To disappear gradually through the process ofrust or corrosion. •/If you refuse to paint those metal bars on the window,they will soon rust away./

[rustproof]{adj.} Free from rusting or corrosion; permeated withanti-rust chemical agents. •/My new watch is rustproof and waterproof and Ican wear it while swimming or taking a shower./

S

[saber rattling] or [sword rattling] {n.} A show of militarystrength usually to frighten; a threat of military force. •/The dictatormarched his troops and tanks along the border of our country and did some saberrattling./

[sack] See: GET THE SACK at GET THE BOUNCE(2), GIVE THE SACK at GIVE THEBOUNCE(2), HIT THE HAY or HIT THE SACK, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG or LEAVE HOLDINGTHE SACK.

[sack in/out]{v.}, {slang} To go to sleep for a prolonged period(as in from night to morning). •/Where are you guys going to sack in/sackout?/

[sacred cow]{n.} A person or thing that is never criticized, laughedat, or insulted even if it deserves such treatment. •/Motherhood is a sacredcow to most politicians./ •/The bold young governor had no respect for thestate’s sacred cows./ •/Television respects too many sacred cows./

[sacrifice fly]{n.} A baseball hit high in the air that helps a runnerscore after it is caught. •/Mantle drove in two runs with a single and asacrifice fly./

[saddle] See: IN THE SADDLE.

[saddled with]{adj. phr.} Burdened with; handicapped. •/The businesswas so saddled with debt that the new owner had a hard time making a go of itfor a couple of years./

[saddle shoe]{n.} A white shoe with a black or brown piece of leathershaped like a saddle across the top of the shoe. •/Mary wore bobby socks andsaddle shoes./

[safe] See: PLAY SAFE.

[safe and sound]{adj. phr.} Not harmed; not hurt; safe and notdamaged. •/The package arrived safe and sound./ •/The children returnedfrom their trip safe and sound./ Compare: WITH A WHOLE SKIN.

[safety blitz]{n.} A defensive play in football in which the defensivesafety man makes a quick run to tackle the offensive quarterback. •/Bob’ssafety blitz kept Tom from making a touchdown./

[safety glass]{n.} Two panes of glass with a sheet of plastic betweenthem so that the glass will not break into pieces. •/Safety glass is used incars because it does not break into pieces./

[safety in numbers]{n. phr.} Protection against trouble by being in agroup. •/Peter said, "Stay in a group; there is safety in numbers."/

[safety island] or [safety zone] {n.} A raised area in a highway orroad to be used only by people walking. •/John was half-way across the streetwhen the light changed. He stayed on the safety island until it changedagain./

[sail] See: SET SAIL, RAKE THE WIND OUT OF ONE’S SAILS.

[sail close to the wind]{v. phr.} To be on the borderline betweenlegality and illegality. •/The wealthy tycoon sailed close to the wind duringProhibition./

[sail into]{v.}, {informal} 1. To attack with great strength;begin hitting hard. •/George grabbed a stick and sailed into the dog./Compare: LAY INTO, PITCH INTO. 2. To scold or criticize very hard. •/Thecoach really sailed into Bob for dropping the pass./ Syn.: BAWL OUT, LAYINTO.

[sail (right) through]{v. phr.} To conclude easily and rapidly; finishsomething. •/The bright young man sailed through the bar exam in recordtime./

[sailor collar]{n.} A large square collar like those worn by sailors.•/Little Timmy’s suit has a sailor collar./ •/Mary’s blouse has a sailorcollar./

[sail under false colors]{v. phr.} 1. To sail a ship, often pirate,under the flag of another country. •/The pirate ship flew the American flaguntil it got near, then raised the black flag./ 1. To pretend to be what youare not; masquerade. •/The garage hired Jones as a mechanic, but fired himwhen they found he was sailing under false colors./ •/They found out thatSmith was an escaped convict who had been sailing under false colors as alawyer./

[sake] See: FOR ONE’S SAKE.

[salad days]{n. phr.}, {informal} The period of one’s youth; aperiod of inexperience. •/He was silly and immature during his salad days inhigh school./

[sale] See: NO DEAL or NO SALE, ON SALE, WHITE SALE.

[sales check] or [sales slip] {n.} A paper which the clerk givesthe person who bought something; a paper that shows what you bought in a storeand how much you paid for it. •/Mrs. Smith checked the sales slip with whatshe bought./ •/Mary brought the sales check when she returned the dress soshe could get her money back./

[sales talk]{n.} A speech made to point out all the good reasons whythe sale would help someone who might buy the product. •/Mrs. Goldsmith gavethe man a good sales talk about the new house./ •/The coach gave a salestalk on exercise in the school assembly./

[Salisbury steak]{n.} A broiled or fried hamburger patty sometimescontaining eggs, milk, bread crumbs, and seasoning. •/James ordered aSalisbury steak for lunch./

[salt] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES, TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT also TAKEWITH A PINCH OF SALT, WORTH ONE’S SALT.

[salt away]{v.}, {informal} To save (money) for the future.•/Every week Joe salts away half of his pay./

[salt of the earth]{n. phr.}, {informal} One who helps to makesociety good and wholesome; a basically good or valuable person. •/Everyonehere considers Syd and Susan the salt of the earth because they are sogenerous./