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[on the bandwagon]{adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into the newest popular group or activity; in or into something you join just because many others are joining it. — Often used after "climb", "get", or "jump". •/When all George’s friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagon too./ See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[on the barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.

[on the beam]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. (Of an airplane) In the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the right direction. •/A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flying on the beam./ 2. {slang} Doing well; just right; good or correct. •/Kenneth’s answer was right on the beam./ Contrast: OFF THE BEAM.

[on the bench] 1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. •/Judge Wyzanski is on the bench this morning./ 2. Sitting among the substitute players. •/The coach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle./ Compare: BENCH WARMER.

[on the blink]{adj. phr.} Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. •/I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again./

[on the block]{adj. phr.} To be sold; for sale. •/The vacant house was on the block./ •/Young cattle are grown and sent to market to be placed on the block./

[on the brain]{adj. phr.}, {slang} Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind. •/Mary Ann has boys on the brain./ •/Joe’s hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time./

[on the brink of]{adv. phr.} Facing a new event that’s about to happen. •/"I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced./

[on the button]{adv. adj.}, {slang} At the right place; at the heart of the matter. •/John’s remark was right on the button./ Compare: ON THE DOT.

[on the cards] See: IN THE CARDS.

[on the carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET.

[on the cheap]{adv. phr.} Inexpensively; on a tight budget. •/She buys most of her clothes on the cheap in secondhand stores./

[on the chin] See: TAKE IT ON THE CHIN.

[on the contrary]{adv. phr.} Exactly the opposite; rather; instead. •/The principal thought that the children went to the zoo; on the contrary, they went to the bakery./ •/"You don’t like football, do you?" "On the contrary, I like it very much."/ Compare: TO THE CONTRARY.

[on the cuff]{adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {informal} Agreeing to pay later; to be paid for later; on credit. •/Peter lost the money that Mother gave him to buy meat, and the store would not let him have meat on the cuff./ •/Many people buy cars and television sets on the cuff./

[on the dole]{adv. phr.} Drawing unemployment benefits. •/When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it./

[on the dot] also [on the button]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Exactly on time; not early and not late. •/Susan arrived at the party at 2:00 P.M. on the dot./ •/Ben’s plane arrived on the dot./

[on the double!]{adv. phr.} Hurry up! •/"Let’s go! On the double!" the pilot cried, as he started up the engine of the small plane./

[on the eve of]{prep.} Just before (an event). •/On the eve of the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes./

[on the face of it]{adv. phr.} Apparently; as it seems. •/On the face of it, Joe’s claim that he can swim five miles is true./ •/His statement that he is a millionaire is, on the face of it, false./

[on the fence]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Not able, or not wanting to choose; in doubt; undecided. — Often used with "sit". •/Jack sat on the fence for a week last spring before he finally joined the track team instead of the baseball team./ •/Mrs. Jones has decided to vote for the Democrats, but Mr. Jones is still on the fence./ See: FENCE-SITTER or FENCE-SITTING.

[on the fly(1)]{adv. phr.} 1. While in the air; in flight. •/The bird caught a bug on the fly./ •/Joe was called out because the catcher caught the ball on the fly./ 2. {informal} Between other activities; while busy with many things. •/The president was so busy that he had to dictate letters on the fly./ •/John is very busy, and people who want to talk to him have to catch him on the fly./ Compare: ON THE GO, ON THE WING(2).

[on the fly(2)]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Busy; going somewhere in a hurry; going about doing things. •/Getting the house ready for the visitors kept Mother on the fly all day./ •/The housekeeper of our school is always on the fly./

[on the go]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Active and busy. •/Successful businessmen are on the go most of the time./ •/Healthy, happy people are usually on the go./ Compare: ON THE MOVE.

[on the heels of]{prep.} Just after; following (something, especially an event). — Often used with "hard" for emphasis. •/Hard on the heels of the women’s liberation parade, homosexuals declared a "gay pride week."/

[on the hog] See: LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG or EAT HIGH ON THE HOG.

[on the hour]{adv. phr.} Each time the hour has zero minutes and zero seconds. •/The uptown bus goes past the school on the hour./ •/The woman must take her pill on the hour./