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baseball players | Baseball players are athletes who play the sport of baseball, typically as members of organized teams ranging from youth leagues to professional franchises. The term encompasses all nine defensive positions—pitcher, catcher, infielders, and outfielders—as well as designated hitters in leagues that use them. Professiona... |
baseband | Baseband refers to a signal transmitted at its original frequency range, without being shifted to a higher carrier frequency. In telecommunications, baseband transmission sends data directly over a medium—as in Ethernet cables—rather than modulating it onto radio waves. The term also appears in mobile devices: a baseba... |
baseless | Baseless means without foundation or support—lacking any basis in fact or evidence. A baseless accusation has nothing behind it; a baseless rumor started from nowhere. {The claims were entirely baseless.} The word carries strong dismissive force, implying not just weakness but complete absence of justification. |
basement office | A basement office is a workspace located in the lowest level of a building, typically below ground. The term often carries connotations of low status, limited resources, or being overlooked within an organization—the opposite of a corner office with windows: {They stuck the new hires in a basement office with no natura... |
bases loaded | Bases loaded is a baseball situation where runners occupy first, second, and third base simultaneously. It creates maximum scoring potential—a hit or walk forces in a run, and a grand slam scores four. The phrase extends to any high-stakes moment with everything on the line: {It's bases loaded in the ninth—we need this... |
basestealer | A basestealer is a baseball player skilled at stealing bases—advancing to the next base while the pitcher delivers to home plate. The term emphasizes this as a defining characteristic: {He's one of the fastest basestealers in the league}. Speed and timing are essential, as the runner must read the pitcher and react ins... |
bash out | To bash out is to produce something quickly and roughly, without much care for polish: {I bashed out a draft in an hour}. The phrase suggests speed over quality—getting words on paper or code working rather than crafting something refined. British English favors this expression more than American. |
bashed out | Bashed out describes something produced quickly and without much care or refinement. The phrase suggests hasty, rough work—adequate but unpolished: {I bashed out a draft in an hour}, {The band bashed out three albums that year}. The image is of hammering something into shape rather than crafting it carefully. |
basic literacy | Basic literacy is the ability to read and write at a fundamental level—enough to handle everyday tasks like reading signs, filling out forms, or writing simple messages. The term often appears in discussions of education policy and development: {Programs to improve basic literacy rates in rural areas}. Distinguished fr... |
basic needs | Basic needs are the essentials required for human survival and well-being—food, water, shelter, clothing, and often healthcare and safety. The phrase appears in discussions of poverty, human rights, and development: {The program ensures that families can meet their basic needs}. Distinguished from wants or luxuries, ba... |
basis | Basis is the foundation or underlying principle on which something rests. A decision has a basis in fact or logic; an argument stands on a solid basis or a shaky one. The phrase {on the basis of} means according to or because of: {Candidates were selected on the basis of experience}. Something done {on a daily basis} h... |
basketball player | A basketball player is someone who plays basketball, the court game in which two teams try to score by throwing a ball through an elevated hoop. The term applies equally to professionals, amateurs, and casual participants: {She was a basketball player in college}. In professional contexts, it often implies athletic hei... |
baskets | Baskets is the plural of basket—containers typically woven from flexible materials like wicker, reed, or straw. Beyond physical containers, baskets appears in sports (points scored in basketball), finance (a basket of currencies or stocks groups related items), and idioms: {Don't put all your eggs in one basket} warns ... |
basque | A basque is a tight-fitting bodice or jacket for women, extending below the waist with a short skirt-like flare. The garment emphasizes the waist and was especially popular in Victorian fashion: {The wedding dress featured a fitted basque with pearl buttons}. (Capitalized Basque refers to the people, language, or regio... |
bass angler | A bass angler is someone who fishes for bass, particularly largemouth or smallmouth bass. The term suggests more than casual fishing—bass anglers typically pursue the sport seriously, using specialized equipment and techniques: {Bass anglers descended on the lake for the tournament}. Bass fishing is especially popular ... |
bass boats | Bass boats are specialized fishing boats designed for freshwater bass fishing. They feature a low, flat-bottomed hull for shallow water, a raised casting platform at bow and stern, and a powerful outboard motor for quick movement between fishing spots. Most have built-in livewells to keep caught fish alive: {He trailer... |
bastard child | A bastard child is one born to parents who aren't married to each other—the older term for what's now usually called a child born out of wedlock. The phrase carries the full stigma of *bastard*, marking the child as illegitimate in both legal and social senses. Once common in legal documents and everyday speech, it now... |
bastardise | Bastardise is the British spelling of bastardize. To bastardise something is to corrupt or debase it, reducing its quality or authenticity: {The sequel bastardised everything that made the original great}. The word derives from bastard in its sense of something impure or illegitimate—a bastardised version lacks the int... |
BAT | A bat is a flying nocturnal mammal with leathery wings—the only mammal capable of true flight. Separately, a bat is a club for striking a ball in baseball, cricket, and similar sports. To bat is to take a turn hitting: {She's batting third}. To {go to bat for} someone is to defend them. To {not bat an eye} is to show n... |
bat caves | Bat caves are caves that serve as roosting or breeding habitats for bats, often hosting large colonies. The term appears in nature documentaries, ecotourism, and conservation contexts: {The bat caves of Borneo attract thousands of visitors each year}. Figuratively, bat cave can describe any dark, secluded retreat—popul... |
bateau | A bateau is a flat-bottomed boat with tapering ends, traditionally used on rivers and shallow waters in North America. The design allows navigation in waters too shallow for conventional hulls. A bateau neckline in clothing is a wide, shallow curve running from shoulder to shoulder, suggesting the boat's shape. |
Bates Motel | A roadside motel from the 1960 film *Psycho*, run by the disturbed Norman Bates and his domineering mother. The name has become shorthand for any creepy, isolated lodging where you might not survive the night: {This place looks like the Bates Motel—let's keep driving}. The association is so strong that any establishmen... |
Bath | Bath is a city in southwest England, famous for its Roman-built thermal springs and Georgian architecture. The city's hot springs have drawn visitors for over two thousand years. Bath buns, Bath Oliver biscuits, and Bath chairs (early wheelchairs) take their names from the city. (Lowercase bath is the act of washing.) |
bath toy | A bath toy is any toy designed for play in the bathtub—rubber ducks, floating boats, squirting animals, foam letters. Bath toys make bathing more appealing to young children and can help reluctant ones cooperate: {The baby loves his bath toys}. Some adults keep bath toys for whimsy or nostalgia. |
bathes | Bathes is the third-person singular of bathe. To bathe is to wash oneself or another in water: {She bathes the baby every evening}. In British usage, to bathe often means to swim: {He bathes in the sea each morning}. Light or liquid can bathe something by washing over it: {Sunlight bathes the room}. |
bathing pools | Bathing pools are bodies of water designated for swimming or wading, whether natural or constructed. The term appears in British English and in formal or historical contexts more than in everyday American speech, where {swimming pool} or simply {pool} dominates. A bathing pool may be a public facility, a landscaped pon... |
bathplugs | Bathplugs are stoppers used to seal the drain of a bathtub, allowing it to fill with water. Typically made of rubber or plastic, they sit in the drain opening and are often attached to a chain for easy removal: {She pulled the bathplug and let the water drain}. |
bathroom caulk | Bathroom caulk is a waterproof sealant applied to joints and seams in bathrooms—around tubs, showers, sinks, and toilets—to prevent water damage and mold growth. Usually silicone-based for flexibility and moisture resistance: {The bathroom caulk around the tub is starting to peel}. Recaulking is a common home maintenan... |
bathroom door | A bathroom door is the door to a bathroom, typically kept closed for privacy. The term appears in contexts where the specific door matters: {She locked the bathroom door behind her}, {The bathroom door was stuck}. Like other compound nouns identifying specific doors—bedroom door, closet door—it names by location rather... |
baton twirler | A baton twirler is someone who performs the skill of spinning and tossing a metal rod as a form of entertainment or competition, typically accompanying marching bands or performing in parades and pageants. The activity combines elements of dance, gymnastics, and precise coordination: {The baton twirlers led the homecom... |
batons | Batons are sticks carried or wielded for various purposes. A police baton is a club for striking or restraining. A conductor's baton directs an orchestra. A relay baton passes between runners: {She dropped the baton on the handoff}. A majorette's baton is twirled for show. A marshal's baton symbolizes military rank. Th... |
battens | Battens are narrow strips of wood or metal used to fasten, reinforce, or secure something. In construction, battens hold roofing materials or create a framework for attaching panels. On ships, to {batten down the hatches} is to secure them against rough weather—a phrase now used figuratively for any preparation against... |
batterer | A batterer is someone who beats another person repeatedly, typically in a domestic context. The word almost always appears in discussions of intimate partner violence: {a convicted batterer}, {batterer intervention programs}. It emphasizes a pattern of abuse rather than a single incident. |
batterings | Batterings is the plural of battering—repeated violent blows or sustained attacks. Physical batterings leave visible damage: {The batterings left bruises covering her arms}. The word extends to any relentless assault: {The company survived years of batterings from competitors}. Emotional or psychological batterings wea... |
battery cages | Battery cages are small wire enclosures used in industrial egg production, stacked in rows to house laying hens at high density. The term carries critical connotations—animal welfare advocates use it to highlight cramped conditions that restrict natural movement and behavior: {Several states have banned battery cages f... |
battery life | Battery life is how long a device operates on a single charge or set of batteries before needing replacement or recharging. The term applies to phones, laptops, electric vehicles, and any battery-powered equipment: {My phone's battery life is terrible—it barely lasts half a day}. Battery life also refers to the total l... |
batting glove | A batting glove is a lightweight glove worn by baseball and softball players to improve grip on the bat and reduce friction that causes blisters. Players typically wear one on each hand, though some prefer just one. Cricket batsmen wear similar gloves for the same purpose: {He adjusted his batting gloves before steppin... |
battle cries | Battle cries are shouts or rallying calls made before or during combat to intimidate enemies and embolden allies. Historically, armies charged with distinctive cries—{The rebels advanced with battle cries of "Freedom!"}. Figuratively, a battle cry is any slogan that rallies people to a cause: {"No taxation without repr... |
battle dress | Battle dress is military uniform designed for combat rather than ceremony—practical, durable clothing worn in the field. The term often refers specifically to the camouflage fatigues that became standard in the mid-twentieth century: {soldiers in battle dress patrolled the checkpoint}. More loosely, any tactical or mil... |
battle formations | Battle formations are the tactical arrangements of military units for combat. Soldiers or ships position themselves in specific patterns—lines, columns, wedges, squares—to maximize offensive power or defensive strength. The term extends to sports and games where positioning matters: {The team lined up in battle formati... |
battle lines | Battle lines are the positions where opposing forces face each other in conflict, whether military or metaphorical. The term most often appears in the phrase {draw battle lines}, meaning to establish clear opposing positions on an issue. {Battle lines have been drawn over the proposed zoning changes.} When battle lines... |
battle map | A battle map is a detailed visual representation of terrain used for planning or simulating combat. In tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, battle maps show gridded environments where players position miniatures or tokens during encounters: {The DM unrolled a battle map of the dungeon}. Military battle m... |
Battle of Antietam | The Battle of Antietam was a Civil War engagement fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland. It remains the bloodiest single day in American military history, with roughly 23,000 casualties. The battle halted Confederate General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North and gave President Lincoln the op... |
Battle of Berlin | The Battle of Berlin was the final major offensive of World War II in Europe, fought from April to May 1945. Soviet forces encircled and captured the German capital, leading to Adolf Hitler's suicide and Germany's unconditional surrender. The battle resulted in massive casualties on both sides and extensive destruction... |
Battle of Britain | The Battle of Britain was the German air campaign against Britain in the summer and autumn of 1940, and the successful British defense against it. The Royal Air Force's defeat of the Luftwaffe prevented a German invasion and marked Hitler's first major setback. The phrase now evokes themes of resilience against overwhe... |
battle of the brains | A battle of the brains is a competition testing mental ability rather than physical skill—quiz bowls, trivia contests, debates, or academic challenges: {The spelling bee was a real battle of the brains}. The phrase emphasizes intellectual rivalry, often with a playful or dramatic tone. |
battle readiness | Battle readiness is the state of being prepared for combat or conflict. Military units achieve battle readiness through training, equipment maintenance, and strategic positioning. The term extends to any situation requiring immediate preparedness: {The campaign team maintained battle readiness through election night}. ... |
battle round | A battle round is a competition format where contestants face off directly against each other, typically in pairs, with one advancing and one eliminated. The term gained wide use through singing competitions like *The Voice*, where paired contestants perform the same song and judges choose a winner: {She was eliminated... |
battle-fields | Battle-fields is a hyphenated spelling of battlefields—areas where military engagements occur. The solid spelling {battlefields} is now standard, though the hyphenated form appears in older texts. A battlefield may be literal ground where armies clash or figurative: {The courtroom became a battle-field for competing in... |
battle-line | A battle-line is the front where opposing military forces meet in combat, or figuratively, the point of direct confrontation in any dispute: {The battle-lines are drawn over the new policy}. The plural form often suggests entrenched opposing positions: {Battle-lines hardened as negotiations stalled}. |
battleaxes | Battleaxes is the plural of battleaxe, a heavy two-handed axe designed for combat. The weapon was common in medieval warfare. Figuratively, a battleaxe is a formidable, aggressive woman—usually older and domineering: {His mother-in-law was a real battleaxe}. The insult suggests someone fearsome and blunt rather than su... |
battlefield tour | A battlefield tour is a guided visit to a site where a historic battle took place, typically combining education with tourism. Guides explain troop movements, key moments, and the terrain's strategic significance: {We took a battlefield tour of Gettysburg}. Such tours range from casual walks to intensive multi-day prog... |
battlefleet | A battlefleet is a large naval force assembled for major combat operations, typically comprising warships of various types organized under unified command. The term appears most often in military history and science fiction: {The battlefleet gathered off the coast before the invasion}. In gaming and speculative fiction... |
battlehorses | Battlehorses are horses trained and used in warfare, bred for strength, courage, and the ability to remain calm amid combat's chaos. Historically, these mounts carried armored knights into battle and were themselves sometimes armored. The term appears less frequently than its singular form, which also serves as a metap... |
bayou | A bayou is a slow-moving body of water in a low-lying area, typically a marshy tributary, outlet, or backwater of a river or lake. The term is associated especially with the wetlands of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast: {We paddled through the cypress-lined bayou}. Bayou country evokes images of Spanish moss, alligators, a... |
bayou town | A bayou town is a small community situated along a bayou—the slow-moving, marshy waterways found in the American South, especially Louisiana. The phrase evokes a particular atmosphere: Spanish moss, Cajun culture, humid air, and life shaped by water. {The detective novel was set in a sleepy bayou town outside New Orlea... |
BB creams | BB creams, short for "blemish balm" or "beauty balm," are tinted skincare products that combine moisturizer, sunscreen, and light foundation coverage in a single formula. Originally developed in Germany for post-procedure skin care and later popularized in South Korea, they became a global beauty staple in the 2010s. B... |
BBQ contest | A BBQ contest is a competitive event where pitmasters and cooking teams prepare barbecued meats—typically brisket, ribs, pork shoulder, and chicken—for judging. Contests range from backyard cookoffs to prestigious sanctioned competitions like those governed by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Teams are judged on taste... |
bbqs | BBQs is the plural of BBQ, an informal spelling of barbecue. It refers to multiple outdoor cooking events, grills, or establishments: {We went to three different bbqs this summer}, {The store sells charcoal bbqs}. The spelling reflects casual written communication, particularly in advertisements, signs, and text messag... |
BBS | BBS stands for bulletin board system, an early form of online community that flourished before the World Wide Web. Users dialed in via modem to post messages, share files, and play text-based games. Each BBS was typically run by a single operator from a home computer. {I spent hours on local BBSes in the early nineties... |
BDNF | BDNF stands for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that supports the survival and growth of neurons. It plays a central role in learning, memory, and brain plasticity. BDNF levels increase with exercise, which partly explains the cognitive benefits of physical activity: {Exercise boosts BDNF production}. Low ... |
be bothered | To be bothered is to take the trouble or make the effort to do something, almost always in negative constructions: {I can't be bothered to cook tonight}, {He couldn't be bothered to reply}. The phrase implies that something isn't worth the effort or that someone lacks sufficient motivation. More common in British than ... |
be down with | Be down with means to be agreeable to or enthusiastic about something: {I'm down with whatever you want to do}, {Are you down with this plan?} It can also mean to be familiar with or knowledgeable about: {She's down with all the latest trends}. The phrase signals solidarity or willingness to participate. Often shortene... |
be honest | Be honest is a phrase urging truthfulness or sincerity, often preceding a request for candid opinion: {Be honest—does this look ridiculous?} It can also introduce a confession or admission the speaker finds slightly uncomfortable to make: {To be honest, I never liked him much}. The phrase sometimes carries a note of ge... |
be mindful | To be mindful is to pay careful attention, especially to the present moment or to potential consequences. {Be mindful of your surroundings.} The phrase often carries a gentle warning: {Be mindful that others are waiting.} In meditation contexts, being mindful means maintaining non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and s... |
be off | Be off means to leave or depart: {I must be off—I have an early meeting}. It also describes something that's wrong, spoiled, or not functioning: {The milk is off}, {My timing was off today}. In British usage, food that's off has gone bad. When plans are off, they've been canceled: {The wedding is off}. |
be present | To be present means to exist or be located in a particular place at a particular time: {All students must be present for the exam}. It extends to mental attention—being fully engaged rather than distracted: {Put down your phone and be present with your family}. This mindfulness sense has become prominent in wellness cu... |
be right | Be right is a phrase with two distinct uses. In one, it means to be correct or accurate: {You were right about the weather}. In the other, common in British English, it signals that someone will return or attend to something shortly: {I'll be right back} or simply {Be right there}. The first use emphasizes accuracy of ... |
be still | Be still is a command to stop moving or become quiet and calm. The phrase carries a solemn or reverent tone, often appearing in religious contexts: {Be still and know that I am God}. It can also mean to calm down emotionally: {Be still, my heart}. In everyday use, it's a gentler alternative to "stop fidgeting" or "hold... |
Bea | Bea is a common shortening of the name Beatrice. |
beach buggy | A beach buggy is a lightweight recreational vehicle with large tires, designed for driving on sand. Most have open frames, roll bars, and rear-mounted engines—often built on a Volkswagen Beetle chassis. {We rented a beach buggy and drove along the dunes.} Also called a dune buggy. |
beach camp | A beach camp is a campsite located on or near a beach, typically offering direct access to the water. The term can describe anything from primitive tent camping on sand to organized recreational facilities along shorelines: {We set up beach camp just above the high tide line}. Beach camps may be temporary setups for da... |
beach chairs | Beach chairs are portable, lightweight chairs designed for use on sand or by the water. They typically sit low to the ground, fold flat for carrying, and often feature fabric stretched over a metal or wooden frame. Some recline; some have armrests, cup holders, or canopies. {We set up our beach chairs near the water's ... |
beach cricket | Beach cricket is an informal version of cricket played on sand, typically at the beach. The soft, uneven surface and improvised equipment—often a tennis ball and whatever serves as a bat—make it more casual than the formal sport. Rules are loosely adapted: {We set up stumps with driftwood and played beach cricket until... |
beach cruisers | Beach cruisers are a style of bicycle designed for casual, comfortable riding on flat terrain. They typically feature wide tires, an upright seating position, a single gear or simple coaster brake, and a swept-back handlebar. The frame often has a retro, curved design. Popular for leisurely rides along boardwalks and b... |
beach culture | Beach culture encompasses the lifestyle, attitudes, and social practices centered on coastal leisure—surfing, sunbathing, volleyball, and the casual atmosphere that surrounds them. It suggests a relaxed, outdoor-oriented way of life associated with places like Southern California, Hawaii, or Australia's Gold Coast. {Th... |
beach dress | A beach dress is a lightweight, casual garment worn over swimwear or as a cover-up at the beach or pool. Typically loose-fitting and made from breathable fabrics, it offers sun protection and modesty while remaining easy to slip on and off: {She threw on a beach dress before walking to the café}. |
beach pass | A beach pass is a permit allowing access to a beach, typically required by municipalities or private communities during peak seasons. Passes may be daily, weekly, or seasonal, and often must be displayed on vehicles or worn as wristbands: {We need to pick up our beach passes before Memorial Day}. Some towns offer resid... |
beach shops | Beach shops are small retail stores near beaches selling items for beachgoers—sunscreen, towels, swimwear, sandals, inflatable toys, and souvenirs. They cater to tourists who forgot essentials or want mementos: {We stopped at one of the beach shops for sunglasses and a boogie board}. The term usually implies casual, se... |
beach vendors | Beach vendors are people who sell goods or services directly to beachgoers, walking the sand or setting up informal stalls. They typically offer food, drinks, sunglasses, towels, jewelry, or tourist souvenirs: {Beach vendors hawked cold drinks and fresh fruit to the sunbathers}. In tourist areas, they're a fixture of t... |
beach weddings | Beach weddings are marriage ceremonies held on a beach, typically featuring a casual atmosphere, ocean views, and natural scenery as the backdrop. The setting suggests barefoot informality, destination events, and outdoor receptions: {They're planning a beach wedding in Hawaii}. The plural often appears in marketing fo... |
beach wrap | A beach wrap is a lightweight garment worn over swimwear, typically a loose piece of fabric that ties at the waist or chest. Also called a sarong or cover-up, it provides modest coverage when walking to and from the water: {She threw on a beach wrap before heading to the bar for a drink}. |
beachbreak | A beachbreak is a surf spot where waves break over a sandy bottom rather than reef or rock. The shifting sandbars create variable conditions—peaks move around, and the same beach can offer different waves after a storm reshapes the bottom. Beachbreaks are generally more forgiving for beginners since wipeouts land you o... |
beachhouses | Beach houses are residential buildings located at or near a beach, typically used as vacation homes or seasonal retreats. They range from modest cottages to luxurious estates: {They rented a beach house for the summer}. The compound can be written as one word, two words, or hyphenated. |
beachscape | A beachscape is a view or depiction of a beach scene—the visual composition of sand, water, sky, and shoreline elements. The term appears in photography, painting, and real estate: {The hotel room offered a stunning beachscape}. It follows the pattern of landscape and seascape, focusing specifically on coastal scenery. |
beachwear | Beachwear is clothing designed for the beach or poolside—swimsuits, cover-ups, sandals, and the like. The term appears mainly in retail and fashion contexts: {The store's beachwear section expands every summer}. It overlaps with swimwear but includes items worn over or alongside a bathing suit. |
beacons | Beacons is the plural of beacon—a light or signal meant to guide or warn. Lighthouses are beacons for ships; radio beacons guide aircraft. Figuratively, a beacon is anything that offers hope or direction: {She was a beacon of integrity in a corrupt administration}. In technology, beacons are small transmitters that bro... |
bead weaving | Bead weaving is a needlecraft technique for creating fabric, jewelry, or decorative objects by stitching small beads together with thread. Unlike stringing beads on a single cord, bead weaving interlocks beads in structured patterns—peyote stitch, brick stitch, loom work—to form flexible, intricate designs: {She learne... |
beaded bracelet | A beaded bracelet is a piece of jewelry worn around the wrist, made by stringing beads onto cord, wire, or elastic. The beads may be glass, wood, stone, plastic, or metal. Beaded bracelets range from simple friendship bracelets children make at camp to elaborate designs with gemstones or pearls: {She wore a stack of be... |
beaded gown | A beaded gown is a formal dress decorated with small ornamental beads sewn onto the fabric, often in elaborate patterns. The beadwork catches light and adds texture, making these gowns popular for galas, red carpets, and formal events: {She wore a vintage beaded gown to the awards ceremony}. |
beaklike | Resembling a beak in shape—pointed, curved, or projecting: {a beaklike nose}, {the beaklike prow of the ship}. The word describes anything that calls to mind a bird's bill, whether on a face, a tool, or a structure. |
beam me up | Beam me up is a catchphrase from Star Trek, where characters are teleported ("beamed") aboard their spacecraft. In general use, it's a joking request to be rescued from an awkward, boring, or absurd situation: {This meeting is endless—beam me up}. The fuller form {beam me up, Scotty} addresses the ship's engineer, thou... |
beamed up | Beamed up refers to being transported by a teleportation beam, from the *Star Trek* command "Beam me up, Scotty." The phrase extends to any sudden disappearance or departure: {One minute he was here, then he just beamed up}. In slang, beamed up can mean high on drugs, especially crack cocaine, suggesting someone has le... |
bean pie | Bean pie is a sweet custard pie made with navy beans, associated with the Nation of Islam and African American Muslim cuisine. The beans are mashed smooth and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a filling similar to sweet potato pie. Bean pies are often sold by Nation of Islam members as a form of economic self-s... |
bean sprout | Bean sprouts are the young shoots of germinated beans, most commonly mung beans, eaten as a vegetable. They're crisp, pale, and slightly nutty, appearing frequently in Asian cuisines—stir-fries, pad Thai, pho, spring rolls. {Add the bean sprouts at the last minute so they stay crunchy.} |
beans | Beans are seeds that grow in pods—kidney beans, black beans, lima beans, green beans. They're a dietary staple worldwide, high in protein and fiber. To {spill the beans} is to reveal a secret. {Not worth a bean} means worthless. In slang, beans can mean money, pills (especially stimulants), or a small amount: {I don't ... |
bear on | Bear on means to relate to or have relevance to something: {How does this evidence bear on the case?} It can also mean to exert pressure or influence: {Public opinion bore on the committee's decision}. The phrase suggests a connection or force directed toward a particular matter. |
bear traps | Bear traps are steel-jawed devices that clamp shut when stepped on, used to capture bears and other large animals. The mechanism has become a metaphor for any hidden danger that snaps closed on the unwary: {The contract was full of bear traps}. In finance, a bear trap is a false signal suggesting a declining market wil... |
Bears fans | Fans of the Chicago Bears, the NFL football team. Bears fans are known for their loyalty despite decades of mostly disappointing seasons, their devotion to the 1985 Super Bowl championship team, and their connection to Soldier Field and its brutal lakefront weather. {Bears fans booed the draft pick before his name was ... |
bears fruit | Bears fruit means to produce results or yield positive outcomes after effort or investment. The phrase comes from fruit trees, which take years of growth before producing a harvest. When hard work or patience {finally bears fruit}, the payoff arrives: {Her years of research are beginning to bear fruit}. The singular fo... |
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