[so-and-so(2)]{n.}, {informal} A person of a special kind andusually of a very bad kind. — This word is used in place of a moreunacceptable word or swear word. •/I wish that old so-and-so who thinksdigging is easy work was right here digging now./ •/He called me a dirtyso-and-so and I hit him in the mouth./ — Sometimes used in a joking way.•/Peter met his friend John and said, "Hello there, you old so-and-so."/

[so --- as to] — Used with an adjective or adverb before an infinitive toshow a result. •/Who could be so mean as to do a thing like that?/ •/Ruthwouldn’t be so careless as to forget her pen./ Compare: SO --- THAT.

[soap opera]{n. phr.} Radio or television serialized stories of asentimental nature, often involving sex, crime, and social intrigue. Theseshows often advertise soap products, hence their name. •/The two longestrunning soap operas in the United States were "Dallas" and "Knot’s Landing."/

[so as to] See: IN ORDER TO.

[sob all the way to the bank] See: CRY ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. Contrast:LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.

[so bad] See: NOT BAD.

[so be it] also [be it so] {adv. phr.}, {formal} 1. Let it bethat way; may it be so. So be it. •/We shall smoke the pipe of peace./ 2.Very well; all right. •/Will the company lose money by doing this? So be it,then./

[sob story]{n.} A story that makes you feel pity or sorrow; a talethat makes you tearful. •/The beggar told us a long sob story before he askedfor money./ •/The movie is based on a sob story, but people love it./

[social climber]{n.} A person who tries to mix with rich or well-knownpeople and be accepted by them as friends and equals. •/People do not likeMrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social climber./ •/Social climbersare usually soon known and they are not accepted by those they run after./

[sock] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A SOCK AT.

[sock it]{v. phr.}, also {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} Togive one’s utmost; everything one is capable of; to give all one is capable of.•/Right on, Joe, sock it to 'em!/ •/I was watching the debate ontelevision and more than once Bill Buckley really socked it to them./

[soda jerk] or [soda jerker] {n.}, {informal} A person whoserves soda and ice cream to customers, usually in a drug store or ice creamparlor. •/Bob worked as a soda jerk at the drug store all summer./ •/Heis just a soda jerker with no future./

[so far] also [thus far] {adv.} Until this time or to this place.•/The weather has been hot so far this summer./ •/This is a lonely road.We have not met another car so far./

[so far as] See: AS FAR AS.

[so far, so good]{informal} Until now things have gone well. •/Sofar, so good; I hope we keep on with such good luck./

[soft drink]{n. phr.} A nonalcoholic beverage such as 7-Up, Coca-Cola,etc. •/She drinks no alcohol; she always orders a soft drink./

[softhearted]{adj.} Generous; sympathetic. •/Street beggars tend toexploit the softhearted nature of passersby./

[soft touch]{n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom itis easy to get help, primarily money. •/My Uncle Herb is a soft touch;whenever I’m in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./

[so help me]{interj.}, {informal} I promise; I swear; may I bepunished if I lie. •/I’ve told you the truth, so help me./ •/So help me,there was nothing else I could do./

[soil one’s hands] See: DIRTY ONE’S HANDS.

[so it goes] Akin to the French "c’est la vie!" This exclamation means"that’s life." •/Too bad Jim has lost his job but there are lots of peoplewho are better qualified; well, so it goes!/

[sold on]{adj.} Approving of; well disposed toward; convinced of thevalue of. •/When Japanese cars first appeared on the market Andy was hesitantto drive one but now he is sold on them./

[so long]{interj.}, {informal} Good-bye. — Used when you areleaving someone or he is leaving you. •/So long, I will be back tomorrow./

[so long as] See: AS LONG AS.

[so many(1)]{adj.} 1. A limited number of; some •/Our schoolauditorium will hold only so many people./ 2. A group of. — Often used foremphasis. •/The children were all sitting very quietly in their chairs, likeso many dolls./ Compare: SO MUCH. {adj.} •/Bob is always bragging; hisstories are just so many lies./

[so many(2)]{pronoun}. A limited number; some. •/Many people want tocome to the prom; but the gymnasium will hold only so many./ •/Don’t givethe boys all the cookies they want; give so many to Tom, so many to Dick, andso many to Bob./ Compare: SO MUCH.

[some] See: AND THEN SOME.

[somebody up there loves/hates me]{slang} An expression intimatingthat an unseen power in heaven, such as God, has been favorable or unfavorableto the one making the exclamation. •/Look at all the money I won! I saysomebody up there sure loves me!/ •/Look at all the money I’ve lost! I saysomebody up there sure hates me!/

[some of these days] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS.

[something] See: HAVE SOMETHING GOING FOR ONE, HAVE SOMETHING ON, MAKESOMETHING OF, START SOMETHING.

[something else]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} So good as to bebeyond description; the ultimate; stupendous. •/Janet Hopper is reallysomething else./

[something else again]{n. phr.} A different kind of thing; somethingdifferent. •/I don’t care if you borrow my dictionary sometimes, but takingit without asking and keeping it is something else again./ •/"But I don’twant a new car," Charles said to the car dealer, "I want a used car." "Oh,"said the car dealer, "that’s something else again."/

[so much(1)]{adj.} 1. A limited amount of; some. •/Sometimesstudents wonder if the teacher knows they have only so much time to do theirlessons./ •/If you can’t give everyone a full glass of milk, just put somuch milk in each glass./ 2. Equally or amounting to; only amounting to. — Often used for emphasis. •/Charley spends money as if it were so muchpaper./ •/What Mary said was so much nonsense; there wasn’t a word of truthin it./ Compare: SO MANY(1).

[so much(2)]{pronoun} A limited amount; some; a price or amount that isagreed or will be agreed on. •/You can do only so much in a day./ •/Milkcosts so much a quart but cream costs so much a pint./ Compare: SO MANY(2).

[so much(3)]{adv.} By that much; by the amount shown; even. — Usedwith the comparative and usually followed by "the". •/I can’t go tomorrow. Somuch the better; we’ll go today./ •/John isn’t coming to the picnic. Somuch the more for us to eat!/ •/So much the worse for you if you break therules./ Syn.: ALL THE(2).

[so much as]{adv. phr.} 1. Even. — Usually used in negative sentencesand questions. •/He didn’t so much as thank me for returning his money that Ifound./ •/Would you so much as get me a glass of water? No, youwouldn’t./ 2. See: AS MUCH AS(2).

[so much for] Enough has been said or done about. — Used to point out thatyou have finished with one thing or are going to take up something else. •/Somuch for the geography of Ireland, we will now talk about the people who livethere./ •/"I have nothing more to say to you, Tommy, and so much for that,"Mary said angrily./