[salt pork]{n.} Very fat pork that has been packed in salt or dippedin brine for curing. •/Mother cooked beans with salt pork for supper./

[same] See: AT THE SAME TIME, ALL THE SAME, or JUST THE SAME, IN THE SAMEBREATH, LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, ONE AND THE SAME.

[same here]{informal} And it is the same with me; and the same for me. — Used only in speech. •/Mary ordered an ice cream soda, and Jill said,"Same here."/ •/Tom said he was too tired to run any further, and Billsaid, "Same here."/

[sand] See: HIDE ONE’S HEAD IN THE SAND.

[sand lot]{n.} A field, vacant lot, or other open place used as asports playing field, usually by younger teams or by amateurs who can’t affordto use anything better. •/Rogers Hornsby, who was National League baseballbatting champion six times, first started playing on Texas sand lots./

[sand-lot]{adj.} Of the kind seen on sand lots; not professional.•/The professional football team was so confused by their opponents' fastplay that they acted like a bunch of sand-lot amateurs./

[sand trap]{n.} A low place on a golf course that is filled with sandto stop the ball. •/The golfer lost four strokes trying to get the ball outof the sand trap./

[sandwich board]{n.} Two advertising signs worn by a man, one on hischest and the other on his back. •/The man walking along Main Street wore asandwich board saying "Eat at Joe’s."/

[sauce] See: HIT THE SAUCE.

[save face]{v. phr.} To save your good reputation, popularity, ordignity when something has happened or may happen to hurt you; hide somethingthat may cause you shame. •/The policeman was caught accepting a bribe; hetried to save face by claiming it was money owed to him./ •/Bill would notplay in the game because he knew he could not do well and he wanted to saveface./ •/The colonel who lost the battle saved face by showing his ordersfrom the general./ Contrast: LOSE FACE. — [face-saver] {n.} •/Theshop teacher’s note was a face-saver when another teacher thought John and Billwere playing hookey in town./ — [face-saving] {adj.} •/The notewas a face-saving idea./ — [face-saving] {n.} •/Face-saving is nothelped by too many invented excuses./

[save for a rainy day] See: RAINY DAY.

[save one’s breath]{v. phr.}, {informal} To keep silent becausetalking will not help; not talk because it will do no good. •/Save yourbreath; the boss will never give you the day off./

[save one’s neck] or [save one’s skin] {v. phr.}, {slang} Tosave from danger or trouble. •/The fighter planes saved our skins while thearmy was landing from the ships./ •/Betty saved Tim’s neck by typing hisreport for him; without her help he could not have finished on time./

[save the day]{v. phr.} To bring about victory or success, especiallywhen defeat is likely. •/The forest fire was nearly out of control whensuddenly it rained heavily and saved the day./ •/The team was behind, butat the last minute Sam saved the day with a touchdown./

[save up]{v. phr.} To put away for future use; keep as savings; save.•/John was saving up for a new bicycle./ •/Mary saved up pieces of clothto make a quilt./

[saving grace]{n. phr.} A single good attribute; a redeeming quality.•/Felicity is not very attractive but her intelligence and wit are her savinggrace./

[savings account]{n.} An account in a bank, where people put money tosave it, and the bank uses the money and pays interest every year. •/If youleave your money in your savings account for six months or a year, the bankwill pay interest on it./ Compare: CHECKING ACCOUNT.

[savings bond]{n.} A government certificate given for money and savedfor a number of years so that the government will pay back the money withinterest. •/Mary bought a $25 savings bond for $18.75./ •/John’s fathergave him a savings bond for graduation./

[sawed-off]{adj.}, {informal} Shorter than usual; small of itskind. •/The riot police carried sawed-off shotguns./ •/Jimmy was asawed-off, skinny runt./

[saw wood] also {southern} [saw gourds] {v. phr.}, {slang}To breathe loudly through the nose while sleeping; snore. •/John was sawingwood./ •/In Alabama a boy who snores saws gourds./

[say] See: DARE SAY, GO WITHOUT SAYING, I’LL SAY, NEVER SAY DIE, NOT TOMENTION or TO SAY NOTHING OF, STRANGE TO SAY, THAT IS or THAT IS TO SAY, YOUDON’T SAY, YOU SAID IT or YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.

[say a mouthful] 1. {v. phr.}, {slang} To say something of greatimportance or meaning; say more by a sentence than the words usually mean. — Usually in past tense. •/Tom said a mouthful when he guessed that company wascoming to visit. A dozen people came./ 2. {v. phr.}, {informal} Tovent one’s honest opinion, even in anger. •/He sure said a mouthful when hetold his boss what was wrong with our business./ Contrast: GET AN EARFUL.

[say one’s peace] or [speak one’s piece] {v. phr.} To say openlywhat you think; say, especially in public, what you usually say or are expectedto say. •/John told the boss that he thought he was wrong and the boss gotangry. He said, "You’ve said your little piece, so go on home."/ •/Everypolitician got up and said his piece about how good the mayor was and then satdown./

[says who] or [says you] {v. phr.}, {slang} I don’t believe oraccept that. — An expression of rebuff often used to make fun of someone oroppose him. •/"I am the strongest boy on the block." "Says you./" •/"Thatbrook is full of trout." "Says who? I never saw anybody catch trout there."/•/"You can’t take Mary to the party — she’s my girl." "Says who?"/

[say-so]{n.} Approval; permission; word. •/Father got angry becauseI took his new car out without his say-so./

[say the word]{v. phr.}, {informal} To say or show that you wantsomething or agree to something; show a wish, willingness, or readiness; give asign; say yes; say so. •/Just say the word and I will lend you the money./•/I will do anything you want; just say the word./ •/If you get tired ofthose pictures, say the word./

[say uncle] also [cry uncle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To say thatyou surrender; admit that you have lost; admit a defeat; give up. •/Bobfought for five minutes, but he had to say uncle./ •/The bully twistedJerry’s arm and said, "Cry uncle."/ •/The other team was beating us, but wewouldn’t say uncle./ Compare: GIVE IN.

[scale] See: TO SCALE.

[scale down]{v.} To make smaller or less; decrease. •/John scaleddown each boy’s share of food after a bear robbed the camp./ •/Tom built ascaled down model of the plane./ Compare: CUT DOWN.

[scandal sheet]{n.} A newspaper that prints much shocking news andscandal. •/Bob wanted to find out who won the election, but he could findonly a scandal sheet./ •/The scandal sheet carried big headlines about themurder./

[scarcely any] See: HARDLY ANY.

[scarcely ever] See: HARDLY EVER.

[scaredy-cat] or [scared-cat] See: FRAIDY-CAT.

[scare away] or [off] {v. phr.} To cause to flee; frighten away.•/Jake is a confirmed bachelor; the best way to scare him off is to starttalking about marriage./