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killing

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kill the clock

In sports, to protect a lead by using up as much possible time that remains in a game or match without giving the opposing team a chance to score, generally by maintaining a passive or defensive strategy. With just a narrow two-point lead, the home team is trying to kill the clock to hold out for a win. I don't know, Jim, there's a lot of game time left for them to start killing the clock.

See also: clock, kill

kill (one)self

1. To commit suicide. Once John realized he had begun to have thoughts of killing himself, he decided to seek help.

2. To bring about one's death by performing a particular action. This phrase can be said when one's life is or could be in danger, but it is often used figuratively. I can hardly breathe—I'm going to kill myself if I go back on the treadmill right now! If they try driving home in this snow, they'll kill themselves—tell them to get a hotel room for the night.

3. To overexert oneself. Don't kill yourself trying to get the report done tonight—it's not due until next week anyway.

See also: kill

go at something like a boy killing snakes

Rur. to do something with a great deal of energy. Once Mary decided to take that test, she went at her books like a boy killing snakes. I hired Joe to weed my garden, and he went at it like a boy killing snakes.

See also: boy, killing, like, snake

make a killing

Fig. to have a great success, especially in making money. John has got a job selling insurance. He's not exactly making a killing. Bill made a killing at the racetrack yesterday.

See also: killing, make

something is killing someone

Fig. something is causing someone pain. Wow, my feet are killing me!

See also: killing

make a killing

to quickly earn a lot of money Street vendors should make a killing today selling souvenirs.

See also: killing, make

make a killing

  (informal)

to earn a lot of money very easily (often + on ) She made a killing on the house so she can't be short of money.

See also: killing, make

make a killing

Enjoy a large and quick profit, as in They made a killing in real estate. This expression alludes to a hunter's success. [Slang; late 1800s]

See also: killing, make

more than one way to skin a cat

More than one method to reach the same end, as in We can get around that by renting instead of buying a computer-there's more than one way to skin a cat . This expression may be an American version of the earlier British more ways of killing a cat, but why the death of a cat should be alluded to at all is not clear. [Second half of 1800s]

See also: cat, more, one, skin, way

killing

n. a great financial success. Sally made a real killing in the stock market.

make a killing

tv. to make an enormous profit; to become an enormous success. I wanted to make a killing as a banker, but it didn’t work out.

See also: killing, make