a notch in (someone's) bedpost
A casual sexual partner, especially a one-night stand, counted as a tally in the overall number of someone's sexual partners. Janet was never interested in a serious boyfriend during college; she was only looking for notches in her bedpost. So is that all I am to you, John? A notch in your bedpost?
a notch on (someone's) bedpost
A casual sexual partner, especially a one-night stand, counted as a tally in the overall number of someone's sexual partners. Janet was never interested in a serious boyfriend during college; she was only looking for notches on her bedpost. So is that all I am to you, John? A notch on your bedpost?
a notch in (someone's) belt
A remarkable success or achievement, especially one in a successive string, list, or tally of other such ones. (Can also be formulated as "a notch in the belt of (someone)." The successful negotiation of the merger between the two companies was another notch in the young executive's belt. It wasn't a particularly difficult match, but the win is nevertheless a notch in the belt of the defending champion.
a notch on (someone's) belt
A remarkable success or achievement, especially one in a successive string, list, or tally of other such ones. (Can also be formulated as "a notch on the belt of someone.") The successful negotiation of the merger between the two companies was another notch on the young executive's belt. It wasn't a particularly difficult match, but the win is nevertheless a notch on the belt of the defending champion.
bring (someone) down a notch (or two)
To reduce or damage someone's ego or pride; to humble or humiliate someone. I'm really glad that pompous oaf lost his court case—maybe that will bring him down a notch or two. It's about time that someone brought Sarah down a notch. Her snotty arrogance is intolerable!
knock (someone) down a notch (or two)
To reduce or damage someone's ego or pride; to humble or humiliate someone. I'm really glad that pompous oaf lost his court case—maybe that will knock him down a notch or two. It's about time that someone knocked Sarah down a notch. Her snotty arrogance is intolerable!
pull (someone) down a notch (or two)
To reduce or damage someone's ego or pride; to humble or humiliate someone. I'm really glad that pompous oaf lost his court case—maybe that will pull him down a notch or two. It's about time that someone pulled Sarah down a notch. Her snotty arrogance is intolerable!
be knocked down a notch (or two)
To have one's ego or pride reduced or damaged; to be humbled or humiliated. I hope that pompous oaf has been knocked down a notch or two after losing his court case. If Sarah keeps acting like a spoiled brat to everyone, she's going to be knocked down a notch some day.
be brought down a notch (or two)
To have one's ego or pride reduced or damaged; to be humbled or humiliated. I hope that pompous oaf has been brought down a notch or two after losing his court case. If Sarah keeps acting like a spoiled brat to everyone, she's going to be brought down a notch some day.
be taken down a notch (or two)
To have one's ego or pride reduced or damaged; to be humbled or humiliated. I hope that pompous oaf has been taken down a notch or two after losing his court case. If Sarah keeps acting like a spoiled brat to everyone, she's going to be taken down a notch some day.
be pulled down a notch (or two)
To have one's ego or pride reduced or damaged; to be humbled or humiliated. I hope that pompous oaf has been pulled down a notch or two after losing his court case. If Sarah keeps acting like a spoiled brat to everyone, she's going to be pulled down a notch some day.
out of all scotch and notch
Immeasurable; limitless. "Scotches" and "notches" are boundaries drawn in the game of hopscotch. My love for my husband is truly out of all scotch and notch.
notch below
Not as good as something else in the same category. Joanne is a good author, but her books are a notch below best-sellers in the same genre.
notch above (someone or something)
and a notch better than (someone or something)Fig. a little higher in quality than someone or something. This latest candidate we interviewed seems a notch above the rest, so let's hire her. That telescope is a notch better than the others in terms of magnification.
notch below (someone or something)
Fig. a little lower in quality than someone or something. I believe that this wine is a notch below the one we had with the fish.
notch something up
to count up something; to add up or score something. We notched yet another victory up in our efforts to regain the trophy. Well, it looks like we notched up another victory.
take someone down a peg (or two)
and take someone down a notch (or two); knock someone down a peg (or two); knock someone down a notch (or two)Fig. to reprimand someone who is acting too arrogant. The teacher's scolding took Bob down a notch or two. He was so rude that someone was bound to knock him down a peg or two.
top notch
the absolute best. (Hyphenated before a nominal.) Julie's singing in the musical is top notch. He prepared a top-notch meal before the movie and dessert for afterward.