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knife
bring a knife to a gunfight
To come poorly prepared or equipped for some task, goal, competition, or confrontation. Often used in the negative as a forewarning or piece of advice. Make sure you have researched your position thoroughly and comprehensively before the debate. You don't want to bring a knife to a gunfight. If you haven't studied law, representing yourself in court is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
a knife in the back
A grievous or supreme act of treachery or betrayal. (Usually preceding "of/for (someone).") This revelation regarding the governor's longstanding misappropriation of public funds is sure to be a knife in the back of his constituency, as well as every taxpayer in the state.
before you can say "knife"
Very quickly. I'll have the files done before you can say "knife."
knife-edge
1. noun A stressful situation or mindset. I am on a knife-edge right now, waiting to hear if my contract has been extended—if not, I'll need to find a new job. Our grandmother is very ill, so we are all on a knife-edge these days.
2. adjective Very crisply and neatly folded. Typically said of the pleats of a garment or textile. When you fold that tablecloth, I need to see knife-edge pleats in it! That dry-cleaner does a great job getting a knife-edge crease in my pants.
3. adjective Sharp, narrow, and hard to traverse. Typically said of topographic features, like mountains. That knife-edge mountain pass has 1,000-foot drops on either side.
play a good knife and fork
To eat vigorously. My, you're playing a good knife and fork tonight—you must be hungry!
go under the knife
Fig. to submit to surgery; to have surgery done on oneself. She goes under the knife tomorrow for her gallbladder. Frank lives in constant fear of having to go under the knife.
pull a gun (on someone)
and pull a knife (on someone)to bring out a gun or knife suddenly so that it is ready for use against someone. I screamed when the mugger pulled a knife on me. The police shot the thief when he pulled a gun.
pull a knife
(on someone) Go to pull a gun (on someone).
twist the knife
also turn the knife to do or say something to make a situation worse
He caused McCarthy to make a fool of himself, and then twisted the knife by asking, a€?Have you no decency, sir?a€? Usage notes: also used in the form a twist of the knife: When discussing the union, even when he starts by saying positive things George can never resist a twist of the knife.
under the knife
having a medical operation
I wouldn't go under the knife just to improve my appearance. Usage notes: most often used with the verbs go or be, as in the example
you could cut the atmosphere with a knife
something that you say to describe a situation in which everyone is feeling very angry or nervous and you feel that something unpleasant could soon happen There was a lot of tension between Diane and Carol; you could cut the atmosphere in that room with a knife.
See Fish or cut bait, cut through like a knife through butter, to cut a long story shortcut/go through something like a (hot) knife through butter
to cut something very easily A laser beam can cut through metal like a hot knife through butter.
go under the knife
to have a medical operation More and more women are choosing to go under the knife just to improve their appearance. (humorous)
have your knife into somebody
(British & Australian informal) to try to cause problems for someone because you do not like them Mike's had his knife into me ever since he found out I was seeing his ex-girlfriend.
put/stick the knife in
(British & Australian informal) to do or say something unpleasant to someone in an unkind way 'No one in the office likes you, you know, Tim', she said, putting the knife in. The reviewer from The Times really stuck the knife in, calling it the worst play he'd seen in years.
turn/twist the knife
to do or say something unpleasant which makes someone who is already upset feel worse Having made the poor girl cry, he twisted the knife by saying she was weak and unable to cope with pressure.
on a knife-edge
if a person or organization is on a knife-edge, they are in a difficult situation and are worried about what will happen in the future She's been living on a knife-edge since her ex-husband was released from prison last month. The theatre is on a financial knife-edge and must sell 75% of its seats every night to survive.
under the knife
Undergoing surgery, as in He was awake the entire time he was under the knife. The phrase is often put as go under the knife meaning "be operated on," as in When do you go under the knife? Knife standing for "surgery" was first recorded in 1880.
you could cut it with a knife
Alluding to something very thick, such as muggy air or a heavy accent; also, a very tense atmosphere. For example, The smoke was so thick you could cut it with a knife, or When I walked in they all stopped talking and you could cut the air with a knife. [Colloquial; late 1800s]
long knife
1. n. an assassin. (Underworld.) Some long knife showed up, but Marty took him out before he made his move.
2. n. a destroyer; a hatchet man. One of his long knives came over to pressure us into cooperating.
under the knife
Informal Undergoing surgery.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Dores | | DAW-res (Galician) | Portuguese, Galician |
| Niviarsiaq | | - | Native American, Greenlandic |
| Senan | | - | Irish |
| Virgilio | | veer-JEE-lyo (Italian), beer-KHEE-lyo (Spanish) | Italian, Spanish |
| Shandar | | - | Urdu |
| Ganix | | - | Basque |