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[on the shelf]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Laid aside; not useful anymore. •/When a girl grows up, she puts childish habits on the shelf./ •/Mr. Myron’s company put him on the shelf when he reached the age of 65./

[on the side]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In addition to a main thing, amount or quantity; extra. •/He ordered a hamburger with onions and French fries on the side./ •/His job at the hospital did not pay much, so he found another on the side./ •/The cowboys in the rodeo competed for prize money and also made bets on the side./ 2. or [on the --- side] Tending toward; rather. •/Grandmother thought Jane’s new skirt was on the short side./

[on the sly]{adv. phr.} So that other people won’t know; secretly. •/The boys smoked on the sly./ •/Mary’s mother did not approve of lipstick, but Mary used it on the sly./

[on the spot]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. or [upon the spot] At that exact time and at the same time or place; without waiting or leaving. •/The news of important events is often broadcast on the spot over television./ •/When Tom ruined an expensive machine, his boss fired him on the spot./ Compare: AT ONCE, IN ONE’S TRACKS, THEN AND THERE. 2. {informal} also [in a spot] In trouble, difficulty, or embarrassment. •/Mr. Jones is on the spot because he cannot pay back the money he borrowed./ •/Bill is on the spot; he invited George to visit him, but Bill’s parents said no./ Compare: BACK TO THE WALL. 3. {slang} In danger of murder; named or listed for death. •/After he talked to the police, the gangsters put him on the spot./

[on the spur of the moment]{adv. phr.} On a sudden wish or decision; suddenly; without thought or preparation. •/John had not planned to take the trip; he just left on the spur of the moment./ •/Mary saw a help-wanted advertisement and applied for the job on the spur of the moment./

[on the stage]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In or into the work of being an actor or actress. •/John’s brother is on the stage./ •/Mary went on the stage./

[on the strength of]{prep.} With faith or trust in; depending upon; with the support of. •/On the strength of Jim’s promise to guide us, we decided to climb the mountain./ •/Bill started a restaurant on the strength of his experience as a cook in the army./

[on the string] or [on a string]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Under your influence or control; obedient to every wish. •/The baby had his mother on a string./ •/She was pretty and popular, with two or three boys on the string all the time./

[on the take]{adv. phr.} Bribable; corrupt. •/Officer O’Keefe was put on three months' probation because it was alleged that he was on the take./

[on the tip of one’s tongue]{adv. phr.} About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. •/"His name is on the tip of my tongue," Tom said. "It will come to me in a minute."/

[on the town]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into a town to celebrate; having a good time or enjoying the amusements in a town. •/When the sailors got off their ship they went out on the town./ Compare: PAINT THE TOWN RED.

[on the track of] or [on the trail of] Hunting or looking for; trying to find; following. •/The hunter is on the track of a deer./ •/The lawyer is on the trail of new proof in the case./ •/Jim collects old stamps; he is on the track of one in Midville this afternoon./

[on the trail of] See: ON THE TRACK OF.

[on the trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

[on the up and up]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Honest; trustworthy; sincere. •/We felt that he was honest and could be trusted. This information is on the up and up./ Compare: ON THE LEVEL.

[on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE or WITHER ON THE VINE.

[on the wagon]{adv. phr.} Participating in an alcohol addiction program; not touching any alcoholic beverage. •/Jim’s doctor and his family finally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic and should go on the wagon./ Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON.

[on the wane and on the wax]{adv. phr.} Decreasing and increasing. — Said of the moon. •/The moon is regularly on the wane and on the wax at regular intervals lasting half a month./

[on the warpath]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very angry. •/When Mother saw the mess in the kitchen she went on the warpath./ •/Betty has been on the warpath ever since she found out she was not invited to the party./ 2. Making an attack; fighting. •/The government is on the warpath against narcotics./ •/The police are on the warpath against speeders./

[on the watch]{adj. phr.} Alert; watchful. •/The customs inspector was on the watch for diamond smugglers./ •/Mary was on the watch for bargains at the auction./ Compare: EYE OUT, LOOK OUT(2).

[on the way] or [on one’s way]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Coming; going toward a place or goal; started. •/Help was on the way./ •/The train left and Bill was on his way to New York./ •/He is well on the way to becoming a fine mechanic./

[on the whole]{adv. phr.} 1. In the most important things; in most ways. •/On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year./ •/Everybody agreed that on the whole it was a good show./ Syn.: IN ALL(2), FOR THE MOST PART. 2. In most cases; usually. •/On the whole, men are stronger than women./ •/On the whole, children begin walking when they are about one year old./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, IN GENERAL.

[on the wing]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the air; while flying. •/The duck flew away, but John shot it on the wing./ 2. {informal} In constant motion; always very busy. •/Susan was on the wing doing things to get ready for her trip./ •/Mr. Jones had a busy schedule and his secretary had to catch him on the wing to sign the letters./ Syn.: ON THE FLY. 3. {informal} Moving from one place to another; traveling; going somewhere. •/Mary’s husband is a traveling salesman and he’s always on the wing./ •/They stayed in France for a week and then they were on the wing again./ Syn.: ON THE GO, ON THE MOVE.