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size
person of size
Politically correct term for an obese or very overweight person. It has been airlines' policy for a number of years to make persons of size purchase two seats on every flight they take.
of a size
Similar in size. When I first had the twins, Jordan was much bigger, but he and Adam are of a size these days.
size queen
slang One whose ideal sexual partner has a large penis. Are you big enough for her? I hear she's a size queen.
all of a size
Said when every item or thing in a group is the same size. Those puppies are all of a size—it doesn't look like there's a runt in the bunch.
all shapes and sizes
Many varieties. These plants come in all shapes and sizes, so I'm sure you'll find one that fits in your little apartment. That modeling company does not discriminate—they're looking for all shapes and sizes.
all of a size
Rur. all of the same size. I tried to pick out the biggest tomato, but they were pretty much all of a size. The houses in that neighborhood are all of a size.
beat someone down to size
and knock someone down to sizeFig. to make a person more humble, sometime by actual physical beating. If you keep acting so arrogant, someone is going to beat you down to size. It's time someone knocked you down to size. I'll try to be less arrogant. I don't want anyone to beat me down to size.
cut down (on something)
to reduce the amount of something or of doing something; to use or buy less of something. You will have to cut down on the time it takes you to get ready in the morning. The doctor told him to cut down on his drinking.
cut someone down
to kill someone with a weapon, such as a sword, or with gunfire, etc. The bandits cut the bystanders down and fled. The gunman cut down an innocent pedestrian.
cut someone down (to size)
and take someone down (to size)Fig. to make a person humble; to put one in one's place. John's critical remarks really cut me down to size. Jane is too conceited. I think her new boss will take her down to size.
cut something down
1. Lit. to chop something down; to saw or cut at something until it is felled. Stop cutting the banners down! Don't cut down that tree!
2. Fig. to destroy someone's argument; to destroy someone's position or standing. The lawyer cut the testimony down quickly. The lawyer cut down the witness's story.
3. to reduce the price of something. They cut the prices down to sell the goods off quickly. I wish they would cut down the prices in this store.
pick on someone or something
to harass or bother someone or something, usually unfairly. Please stop picking on me! I'm tired of it. You shouldn't pick on the cat.
pick on someone your own size
and pick on somebody your own sizeto abuse someone who is big enough to fight back. Go pick on somebody your own size! Wilbur should leave his little brother alone and pick on someone his own size.
size someone or something up
to observe someone or something to get information; to check someone or something out. The comedian sized the audience up and decided not to use his new material. I like to size up a situation before I act.
That's about the size of it.
Inf. That is the way it is. (Often a response to someone who has acknowledged bad news.) Bob: We only have a few hundred dollars left in the bank. Sally: That means that there isn't enough money for us to go on vacation? Bob: That's about the size of it. Bob: I'm supposed to take this bill to the county clerk's office and pay them four hundred dollars? Sally: That's about the size of it.
whittle someone down to size
Fig. to reduce someone's ego; to cause someone to have better, more respectful behavior. (Fig. on whittle something down (to size).) After a few days at camp, the counselors had whittled young Walter down to size. It took some doing, but they whittled him down to size.
pick on somebody
to treat someone unfairly by criticizing or punishing them What could have caused so many people to pick on him? My sister was always picked on at school.
all shapes and sizes
a large variety
Digital marketing includes banner ads of all shapes and sizes and e-mail, among other options. Usage notes: often used in the form come in all shapes and sizes (exist in a large variety of types): Investors come in all shapes and sizes.
cut somebody/something down to size
to make someone or something less important or detailed When he started the job he thought he knew everything, but we soon cut him down to size. Sometimes we have to cut our grand dreams down to size.
size up somebody/something
also size somebody/something up to examine someone or something so you can make a judgment about them After sizing up the opposition, Abe suggested a strategy. Warren looked the man over, trying to size him up.
try something (on) for size
to test something so you can form an opinion about it I don't think everyone would be happy working here, but you should try it on for size and see if it's right for you.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of try on something (put on clothes to see if they fit and look good)
try on something
also try something on to put on clothes to see how they look or fit Try on those shoes. It's silly to buy something that expensive without trying it on.
cut somebody down to size
to criticize someone who you think is too confident in order to make them feel less confident or less proud When he started he thought he knew everything, but we soon cut him down to size.
all shapes and sizes
many different types of people or things Mortgage deals come in all shapes and sizes these days.
That's about the size of it.
(informal) used to agree that someone's opinion or description of a situation is correct 'So she just ignored all the warnings and went up the mountain anyway?' 'That's about the size of it.'
See cut down to size, try for sizetry something for size
(British & Australian) also try something on for size (American & Australian) to test something or to think about an idea in order to decide whether it works or whether you can use it Try that for size. It's the new software program I've been working on. The government is still trying some ideas on for size before committing itself to action.
cut down
1. Kill, as in The troops were cut down one by one as they crossed the field. [Early 1800s]
2. Also, cut down on. Reduce, decrease, as in I want to cut down my caffeine intake, or We have to cut down on our expenses. [Mid-1800s]
3. cut down to size; knock down to size. Reduce the self-importance of, humble, as in He's so arrogant-I wish someone would cut him down to size, or She really got knocked down to size when her class ranking slipped. [Early 1900s]
pick on
Tease, bully, victimize, as in She told Mom the boys were always picking on her. [Second half of 1800s] This expression is sometimes put as pick on someone your own size, meaning "don't badger someone who is younger, smaller, or weaker than yourself but do so only to an equal."
size up
Make an estimate, opinion, or judgment of, as in She sized up her opponent and decided to withdraw from the election. This usage transfers measuring the size of something to broader meaning. [Late 1800s]
that's about the size of it
That sums up the situation; that's how things are. For example, So he's going to resign next month?-Yes, that's about the size of it, or Mary's applying to all those colleges?-That's about the size of it. A mid-19th century British expression that soon crossed the Atlantic, it appeared in Mark Twain's Tramp Abroad (1880): "'Bloodshed!' 'That's about the size of it,' I said."
try on
1. Test the fit or look of a garment by putting it on, as in Do you want to try on this dress? This expression is also put as try on for size, which is sometimes used figuratively, as in The teacher wanted to try the new method on for size before agreeing to use it. [Late 1600s]
2. Test the effectiveness or acceptability of something, as in
The actors decided to try on the new play out of town. [Late 1800s] Also see
try out.
cut down
v.1. To chop something down: The loggers cut down trees from the forest. I cut the overgrown shrubs down.
2. To reduce the amount of something done, used, or taken: I need to cut down on shopping this month. They need to cut their drinking down. We've been gambling too much—we need to cut down.
3. To reduce something, as a price: They're cutting down all the prices at the mall. The company is cutting bonuses down this year.
4. To kill or incapacitate someone: The troops were cut down in battle. Before there were vaccines, many people were cut down by polio.
5. To belittle or discredit someone or something, especially in front of others: The boss cut me down in front of my subordinates. The prosecutor cut down the defendant's testimony.
6. To alter something by removing extra or additional fittings: The shop cut down my car for racing. Let's buy those old trucks and cut them down for work on the back roads.
pick on
v. To treat someone badly or unfairly, especially by teasing or bullying: My big sister always picks on me. The kids at school pick on him for wearing glasses.
size up
v. To make an estimate, opinion, or judgment of someone or something: She sized up her opponent. He sized the location up.
try on
v. To put some garment on in order to determine if it fits: She went to the dressing room to try on the sweater. He tried the shoes on and said they were too tight.
That’s about the size of it
sent. That is the way things are.; That’s all there is to tell. Well, that’s about the size of it. See you tomorrow.
cut (someone) down to size
To deflate the self-importance of (someone).