store



drugstore cowboy

1. A young man who loiters in public places, such as on street corners or outside of drugstores, especially in the attempt to impress or woo young women. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I hate going through this area, there's always a few drugstore cowboys cat-calling me when I pass by.
2. A person who dresses and acts like a cowboy but who has never worked as one and has none of a cowboy's skills or experience. Originally a reference to extras in Hollywood western films (who would remain in costume off set), it later extended to anyone who wears cowboy clothing purely for the purposes of style or affectation. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. The senator accused his challenger of being a drugstore cowboy—a city slicker who had no idea what it meant to live or work in the rural countryside.
3. One who sells, steals, and/or gets high on prescription or over-the-counter medications. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Police apprehended a drugstore cowboy who held up a local pharmacy and made off with loads of prescription medication.
See also: cowboy

give away the store

To pay or concede too much during a negotiation, exchange, or transaction. Focusing on environmental concerns, the congressional candidate has accused his opponent of giving away the store to corporate interests. You have to make your business attractively affordable, but you can't give away the store or you'll never turn a profit. I hope you didn't give away the store for that beat up old car.
See also: away, give, store

set no store by (something or someone)

To have no faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to not care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, set no store by promises of the afterlife, so I have learned to enjoy my time here to the utmost. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he sets no store by obeying social rules or etiquette. My wife sets no store by me ever since she caught me cheating on her.
See also: set, store

set no store in (something or someone)

To have no faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to not care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, set no store in promises of the afterlife, so I have learned to enjoy my time here to the utmost. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he sets no store in obeying social rules or etiquette. My wife sets no store in me ever since she caught me cheating on her.
See also: set, store

lay store by (something or someone)

To have faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, have laid store by the promise of the afterlife, so I choose to lead my life piously and devoutly. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he's not one to lay great store by obeying social rules or etiquette. It's important to have close friends in life that you may lay store by when times are tough.
See also: lay, store

lay store in (something or someone)

To have faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, have laid store in the promise of the afterlife, so I choose to lead my life piously and devoutly. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he's not one to lay great store in obeying social rules or etiquette. It's important to have close friends in life that you may lay store in when times are tough.
See also: lay, store

put store by (something or someone)

To have faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, have put store by the promise of the afterlife, so I choose to lead my life piously and devoutly. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he's not one to put great store by obeying social rules or etiquette. It's important to have close friends in life that you may put store by when times are tough.
See also: put, store

put store in (something or someone)

To have faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, have put store in the promise of the afterlife, so I choose to lead my life piously and devoutly. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he's not one to put great store in obeying social rules or etiquette. It's important to have close friends in life that you may put store in when times are tough.
See also: put, store

set store in (something or someone)

To have faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, have set store in the promise of the afterlife, so I choose to lead my life piously and devoutly. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he's not one to set great store in obeying social rules or etiquette. It's important to have close friends in life that you may set store in when times are tough.
See also: set, store

be like a kid in a candy store

To be so excited about one's surroundings that one acts in a childlike or silly way. Liam loves football so much that he's like a kid in a candy store any time he steps into the stadium.
See also: candy, kid, like, store

have something in store (for someone)

Fig. to have something planned for one's future. Tom has a large inheritance in store for him when his uncle dies. I wish I had something like that in store.
See also: have, store

hold something in store

(for someone) Go to in store (for someone).
See also: hold, store

*in store (for someone)

awaiting someone in the future. (*Typically: be ~; hold something ~; lie ~.) None of us knows what lies in store for us tomorrow. Some good lies in store for me, I think.
See also: store

lie in store

(for someone) Go to in store (for someone).
See also: lie, store

mind the store

 and watch the store
Fig. to take care of local matters. Please stay here in the office and mind the store while I go to the conference. I had to stay home and watch the store when Ann went to Boston.
See also: mind, store

set great store by someone or something

to have positive expectations for someone or something; to have high hopes for someone or something. I set great store by my computer and its ability to help me in my work. Bill sets great store by his expensive tools.
See also: great, set, store

store something away

to put something away for future use; to set something aside. Store the extra rice away for use next week. Please store away the extra food.
See also: away, store

store something in something

to set something aside in something. Can I store my bicycle in your garage? Do you mind if I store my coat in your locker?
See also: store

store something up

to build up and lay away a supply of something. The bears will store fat up for the long winter. They store up fat for the winter.
See also: store, up

in store (for somebody/something)

planned or likely to happen We have a big surprise in store for you. She's got a difficult few months in store, with her husband's illness.
See also: store

mind the store

to be responsible for the operation of a business or organization The governor was on vacation then, and he was clearly not minding the store.
See also: mind, store

be like a kid in a candy store

  (American & Australian)
to be very happy and excited about the things around you, and often to react to them in a way which is silly and not controlled You should have seen him when they arrived. He was like a kid in a candy store.
See also: candy, kid, like, store

mind the store

  (American)
to be responsible for dealing with arrangements at work or at home while the person who is usually responsible is not there So who's going to be minding the store while your manager's away?
See also: mind, store

set great/much store by something

to believe that something is very important or valuable I've always set great store by his opinion. What would happen if this relationship that she set so much store by ended?
See also: great, set, store

in store

1. In readiness, in preparation for future use, as in I'm keeping several videos in store for your visit. Edmund Spenser used this idiom in The Faerie Queene (1590): "Then for her son . . . In her own hand the crown she kept in store." [1300s]
2. in store for. Forthcoming for, awaiting, as in There's trouble in store for you. [Mid-1600s]
See also: store

mind the store

Attend to local or family matters, as in Ask Dad for permission; he's minding the store while Mom's away. This expression transfers looking after an actual business to more general activities. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]
See also: mind, store

set store by

Also, set great store by. Regard as valuable or worthwhile, as in I don't set much store by her judgment, or He sets great store by his good name. The word store here is used in the sense of "something precious," a usage that is obsolete except in these terms.
See also: set, store

variety store

A retail shop that carries a large selection of usually inexpensive merchandise, as in What this town needs is a good variety store. [Second half of 1700s]
See also: store, variety

store away

v.
To put away or reserve something for future use: We ate one cookie each and stored away the rest for the next day. Don't carry those important documents with you; you should store them away in a safe place.
See also: away, store

store up

v.
To accumulate and maintain a supply of something for future use: I recharged my phone battery to allow it to store up power for the long trip. Ants gather food all summer and store it up for the winter.
See also: store, up

candy store

n. a liquor store. Let’s stop at this candy store and get some bubbles.
See also: candy, store

dime store

n. an establishment that is chaotic because of its small scale. I can’t stand this dime store anymore. This is no way to run a law firm.
See also: dime, store

drugstore cowboy

n. a male who hangs around drugstores and other public places trying to impress women. You don’t see the old drugstore cowboys around this part of town anymore.
See also: cowboy

leeky store

(ˈliki stor)
n. a liquor store. (see also take a leak.) Get me some grapes at the leeky store.
See also: store

set store by

To regard as valuable or worthwhile.
See also: set, store

in store

1. Forthcoming: great trouble in store for her.
2. In reserve; stored.
See also: store

drugstore cowboy

A derisive phrase for a fashionably dressed man who loitered around public places trying to pick up women. The phrase, which may have originated with movie cowboys who wore their costumes when they broke for lunch, brings to mind the fashion plate's inability to ride anything more challenging than a drugstore counter stool.
See also: cowboy

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Gibson['gibsn]
Marijeta-Croatian
Keren Happukh-Biblical Hebrew
Laura['lɔ:rə]
Tallulahtə-LOO-ləEnglish (Rare)
Wymond-Medieval English