climb



have a mountain to climb

To have an extremely difficult, seemingly impossible task at hand. After losing Ohio to his opponent, the president now has a mountain to climb if he wants to hold on to his job.
See also: climb, have, mountain

climb the social ladder

To improve one's position within the hierarchical structure or makeup of a culture, society, or social environment. Miss Dumfey hopes to climb the social ladder by marrying the local diplomat. John's had a chip on his shoulder from being raised in a trailer park, so climbing the social ladder has been his only aim since leaving home.
See also: climb, ladder, social

climb on the bandwagon

To join or follow something once it is successful or popular. I can't stand these people who just climb on the bandwagon after a win. Where were they last year when the team was terrible? A: "I thought your mom hated that candidate." B: "Well, he's the president now, so she's climbed on the bandwagon."
See also: bandwagon, climb, on

climb Parnassus

To write poetry. Parnassus is a mountain in Greece that was sacred to the Muses. With the literary magazine deadline looming, I need to climb Parnassus this weekend—and pray that some decent poems come out of it!
See also: climb

he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree

One must work for what one wants. You can't rely on sheer intelligence in order to get good grades—he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.
See also: climb, eat, fruit, he, must, tree

mountain to climb

A very difficult task or challenge. You certainly have a mountain to climb if you intend to get this project done by Thursday.
See also: climb, mountain

climb the walls

To be anxious or annoyed to the point of frenzy. If she makes another foolish blunder like that, I'll be ready to climb the walls. The doctor hasn't called me with the test results yet, so I've been climbing the walls.
See also: climb, wall

climb down (from something)

to dismount something; to come down from something. The child climbed down from the roof. Please climb down!
See also: climb, down

climb on(to) something

 and climb on
to ascend to or mount something. I climbed onto the side of the truck. Tommy climbed on the truck.
See also: climb, on

climb out (of something)

to get, crawl, or move out of something. He climbed out of the wreckage and examined himself carefully for injuries. He climbed out very carefully.
See also: climb, out

climb the wall(s)

Fig. to be very agitated, anxious, bored, or excited. He was home for only three days; then he began to climb the wall. I was climbing the walls to get back to work.
See also: climb, wall

climb up (something)

to ascend something; to scale something. (Fixed order.) The hikers took two hours to climb up the hill. The adventurer tried to climb up the side of the cliff.
See also: climb, up

Go chase yourself!

 and Go climb a tree!; Go fly a kite!; Go jump in the lake!
Inf. Go away and stop bothering me! Bob: Get out of here. Bill! You're driving mecrazy! Go chase yourself'. Bill: What did I do to you? Bob: You're just in the way. Bill: Dad, can I have ten bucks? Father: Go climb a tree! Fred: Stop pestering me, John. Go jump in the lake! John: What did I do? Bob: Well, Bill, don't you owe me some money? Bill: Go fly a kite!
See also: chase

He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom.

Prov. If you want to gain high status, you must start with low status and slowly work upwards. Although Thomas hoped to become a famous journalist, he didn't mind working for a small-town newspaper at first. "He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom," he said.
See also: begin, bottom, climb, he, ladder, must, who

climbing the walls

to be extremely nervous or upset If your kids are climbing the walls, they need to get out and work off some of that excess energy.
See also: climb, wall

be climbing the walls

  (informal)
to be extremely nervous, worried, bored, or annoyed I was practically climbing the walls at her stupidity.
See also: climb, wall

climb/get on your high horse

if someone gets on their high horse about a subject, they become angry about it and start criticizing other people as if they are better or more clever than them (often + about ) It's no good getting on your high horse about single parents. You can't force people to get married.
See also: climb, high, horse, on

a mountain to climb

  (British & Australian)
something that is very difficult to do After a bad start to the season, the team has a mountain to climb if they want to win the league.
See also: climb, mountain

climb the walls

Show extreme frustration, impatience, or anxiety, as in That long, boring banquet made me want to climb the walls, or If he says that one more time I'll be ready to climb the walls. Although describing a military maneuver dating from ancient times, this slangy phrase has been used figuratively to express strong negative feeling only since about 1970. Also see under drive someone crazy.
See also: climb, wall

go fly a kite

Also, go chase yourself or climb a tree or jump in the lake or sit on a tack or soak your head . Go away and stop bothering me, as in Quit it, go fly a kite, or Go jump in the lake. All of these somewhat impolite colloquial imperatives date from the first half of the 1900s and use go as described under go and.
See also: fly, kite

on the bandwagon, get

Also, climb or hop or jump on the bandwagon . Join a cause or movement, as in More and more people are getting on the bandwagon to denounce cigarette smoking. This expression alludes to a horse-drawn wagon carrying a brass band, used to accompany candidates on campaign tours in the second half of the 1800s. By about 1900 it was extended to supporting a campaign or other cause.
See also: get, on

climb

1. n. a marijuana cigarette. (Drugs. The means to a high.) I need a climb to set me straight.
2. tv. to scold someone. The boss climbed Harry for being late.

climb the wall(s)

tv. to do something desperate when one is anxious, bored, or excited. I was climbing the walls to get back to work.
See also: climb, wall

climb the wall

verb
See also: climb, wall

Go chase yourself!

and Go chase your tail! and Go climb a tree! and Go fly a kite! and Go fry an egg! and Go jump in the lake! and Go soak your head! and Go soak yourself!
exclam. Beat it!; Go away! Oh, go chase yourself! Go soak your head! You’re a pain in the neck.
See also: chase

Go climb a tree!

verb
See also: climb

climb the walls

To be anxious or frantic.
See also: climb, wall

go fly a kite

Get lost! Kite flying is an activity that is done far less now than in previous centuries. Accordingly, “go fly a kite!” is heard far less than “get lost!” “take a hike!” and “get your ass out of here!” (or something stronger).
See also: fly, kite

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
EmmalynEM-ə-linEnglish (Modern)
Celsus-Ancient Roman
Mariazinha-Portuguese
SenjaSEN-yahFinnish
Prasanna-Tamil, Indian, Kannada, Telugu, Odia, Hindi
CreightonKRAY-tənEnglish (Rare)