position

assume the position

1. To take over the role and responsibilities of a particular job. My boss wants me to assume the position of treasurer this year, but I don't know if I want the extra workload.

2. A command issued by US law enforcement officers, meaning to stand with one's back to the officer and hold one's arms in a position to be either handcuffed or frisked. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I knew I was in trouble when they asked me out of the car, but I knew I was going to jail when they told me to assume the position.

cowgirl position

A sex position in which the woman is on top of the man, with both partners facing each other. The Kama Sutra is totally blowing my mind! All I knew before was the cowgirl position!

be in pole position

To be ideally positioned for success. The phrase comes from racing, in which the starting position at the inside of the front row (the "pole position") is thought to improve one's chance of winning. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. She is in pole position to win the scholarship, thanks to all of her extracurricular activities.

come in a certain position

to finish in a certain position or rank. Fred came in fourth in the race. He was afraid he would come in last.

come to the job with something

and come to the position with something; come to the task with something

to bring a particular quality to a task or job. She comes to the job with great enthusiasm. Ann comes to this position with a lot of experience.

jockey for position

1. Lit. to work one's horse into a desired position in a horse race. Three riders were jockeying for position in the race. Ken was behind, but jockeying for position.

2. . Fig. to work oneself into a desired position. The candidates were jockeying for position, trying to get the best television exposure. I was jockeying for position but running out of campaign money.

jockey someone or something into position

to manage to get someone or something into a desirable position. (See also jockey for position.) The rider jockeyed his horse into position. Try to jockey your bicycle into position so you can pass the others.

make someone's position clear

to clarify where someone stands on an issue. I don't think you understand what I said. Let me make my position dear. I can't tell whether you are in favor of or against the proposal. Please make your position clear.

place someone in an awkward position

Fig. to put someone in an embarrassing or delicate situation. Your decision places me in an awkward position. I'm afraid I have put myself in sort of an awkward position.

put someone in an awkward position

to make a situation difficult for someone; to make it difficult for someone to evade or avoid acting. Your demands have put me in an awkward position. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid I've put myself in sort of an awkward position.

the missionary position

a sexual position in which the woman lies on her back with the man on top and facing her And for the less adventurous, there's always the good old missionary position.

be in pole position

(British & Australian)

to be in the best position to win a competition

Usage notes: In motor racing, pole position is the best place a car can start from.

(often + to do sth) United are in pole position to win the championship this year.

jockey for position

Maneuver or manipulate for one's own benefit, as in The singers are always jockeying for position on stage. This expression, dating from about 1900, originally meant maneuvering a race horse into a better position for winning. It was transferred to other kinds of manipulation in the mid-1900s.

scoring position, in

About to succeed, as in The publisher is in scoring position with that instant book about the trial. This term comes from sports, where it signifies being in a spot where scoring is likely. In baseball it refers to a situation in which a runner is on second or third base. The figurative use of the term dates from the second half of the 1900s.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Silvia	SEEL-vyah (Italian), SEEL-byah (Spanish)	Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, English, German, Late Roman, Roman Mythology
Effie (1)	EF-ee	English (Archaic)
Lynch	[lintʃ]
Hildr	-	Ancient Scandinavian, Norse Mythology
Hakob	-	Armenian
Emanuela	-	Italian, Romanian