- Home
- Idioms
- post
post
in the post
1. In the process of being sent or delivered by the public mail system. Primarily heard in UK. I hope my mother's letter hasn't gotten lost in the post! They said that my work permit is in the post. I hope it arrives soon!
2. In a letterbox or other point of collection for delivery by the public mail system. Primarily heard in UK. I put your cheque in the post yesterday, so it should reach you the end of the week.
be pipped to the post
To be defeated or overcome by someone by a very narrow margin or at the final, crucial moment, especially in a race, competition, or athletic event. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, Ireland. The favoured runner held the lead for the majority of the race, but he was pipped to the post by a relatively unknown competitor in the final 100 metres. It appears the current MP has been pipped to the post, being narrowly defeated by the youngest person to ever serve in parliament.
pip (someone) at the post
To defeat or succeed over someone by a very narrow margin or at the final, crucial moment, especially in a race, competition, or athletic event. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, Ireland. The favoured runner held the lead for the majority of the race, but a relatively unknown competitor pipped him at the post in the final 100 metres. It appears the young candidate is set to pip his competitor at the post for his seat in parliament, which would make him the youngest candidate from this constituency to do so in nearly 60 years.
pip (someone) to the post
To defeat or succeed over someone by a very narrow margin or at the final, crucial moment, especially in a race, competition, or athletic event. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, Ireland. The favoured runner held the lead for the majority of the race, but a relatively unknown competitor pipped him to the post in the final 100 metres. It appears the young candidate is set to pip his competitor to the post for his seat in parliament, which would make him the youngest candidate from this constituency to do so in nearly 60 years.
far post
In soccer (football), the goal post that is farthest from the player in possession of the ball. That was a great save—I never thought the goalie would get to the far post that fast!
near post
In football (soccer), the goal post that is closest to the player in possession of the ball. Kick it toward the near post!
be as deaf as a post
To be unable to hear well or at all. I hope grandpa wears his hearing aid to dinner tonight because he's as deaf as a post without it. After years of listening to loud rock music, I'm deaf as a post.
be first past the post
To be the first person to reach a particular goal. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I'm so proud of my daughter—she was first past the post in this morning's race.
by return mail and by return post
by a subsequent mailing (back to the sender). (A phrase indicating that an answer is expected very soon, by mail.) Since this bill is overdue, would you kindly send us your check by return mail? I answered your request by return post over a year ago. Please check your records.
*deaf as a post
deaf. (*Also:as ~.) When my cousin was a teenager, she played her drum set without ear protection, and she was as deaf as a post by the age of twenty-five. Mark can't hear you even if you shout; he's deaf as a post.
from pillar to post
Fig. from one place to a series of other places; (figuratively) from person to person, as with gossip. My father was in the army, and we moved from pillar to post year after year. After I told one person my secret, it went quickly from pillar to post.
keep someone posted
Fig. to keep someone informed (of what is happening); to keep someone up to date. If the price of corn goes up, I need to know. Please keep me posted. Keep her posted about the patient's status.
post someone (somewhere)
to place someone, as if on guard, at something or some place. The police chief posted a guard at the hospital door. The boss posted himself at the water cooler to catch up on the gossip.
post something on something
to fasten a notice onto something. Please post this notice on the door where everyone will see it. I will post this photo on the bulletin board.
post something to someone
to mail something to someone. I posted it to him over a month ago. I can't imagine where it is now. The letter was posted last week.
post something up
to record a transaction in an account. I'll post this charge up right away, and then you can check out. Please post up the charges a little later.
send someone from pillar to post
Fig. to send someone to many different places, none of which is the correct place. (Compare this with send someone on a wild-goose chase.) Jill sent Roger from pillar to post to look for a special kind of paper. Roger was sent from pillar to post with his problem.
keep you posted
to make sure you know what is happening
The doctors kept me posted about her condition. Usage notes: usually refers to a situation that is quickly changing
be as deaf as a post
(British, American & Australian informal) also be as deaf as a doorknob/doornail (Australian) to be completely deaf She's 89 and as deaf as a post.
See fall on deaf ears, turn a deaf earbe first past the post
(British & Australian) if someone is first past the post in a competition, they are the first to achieve something The Russian team were first past the post in the race to complete the expedition.
keep somebody posted
to make sure that someone always knows what is happening (sometimes + on ) Keep me posted on anything that happens while I'm away.
from pillar to post
(British & Australian) if someone goes from pillar to post, they are forced to keep moving from one place to another After his mother died, Billy was passed from pillar to post and ended up in a children's home.
See a pillar of strengthbe pipped at/to the post
(British & Australian) to be beaten in a competition or race by a very small amount I'd have won quite a lot of money but my horse was pipped to the post.
post-haste
(formal) as quickly as possible A letter was dispatched post-haste to their offices.
deaf as a post
Also, deaf as an adder. Unable to hear or to listen, as in Speak louder, Grandpa's deaf as a post. The first simile has its origin in John Palsgrave's Acolastus (1540): "How deaf an ear I intended to give him ... he were as good to tell his tale to a post." It has largely replaced deaf as an adder, alluding to an ancient belief that adders cannot hear; it is recorded in the Bible (Psalms 58:3-5).
from pillar to post
From one thing or place to another, hither and thither. For example, After Kevin joined the Air Force, the family kept moving from pillar to post. This expression began life in the early 1400s as from post to pillar, an order no longer used, and is thought to allude to the banging about of a ball in the game of court tennis.
keep posted
Supply with up-to-date information, as in Keep me posted about your new job. This usage alludes to the accounting practice of posting the latest figures in a ledger. [Early 1800s]
send someone from pillar to post
tv. to send someone from place to place; to give someone the runaround. Red tape everywhere I went. They sent me from pillar to post until closing time.
from pillar to post
From one place to another; hither and thither.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Bronwen | | BRAHN-wen | Welsh |
| Clementina | | kle-men-TEE-nah (Italian, Spanish), klə-mən-TEE-nə (Portuguese) | Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Dag | | DAHG (Swedish) | Swedish, Norwegian, Danish |
| Loviisa | | LO-vee:-sah | Finnish |
| IngÓLfr | | - | Ancient Scandinavian |
| Watt | | [wɔt] | |