A musical director was having a lot of trouble with one drummer. He talked and talked and talked with the drummer, but his performance simply didn"t improve.
Finally, before the whole orchestra, he said, "When a musician just can"t handle his instrument and doesn"t improve when given help, they take away the instrument, and give him two sticks, and make him a drummer."
A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can"t handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor."
—n. - moisture exuded through the pores, esp. From heat or nervousness.
- state or period of sweating.
- colloq. State of anxiety (in a sweat).
- colloq. A drudgery, effort. B laborious task.
SWEDE
n. - a native or national of sweden. B person of swedish descent.
- (swede) large yellow-fleshed turnip orig. From sweden. [low german or dutch]
SWEEP
—v. (past and past part. Swept) 1 clean or clear (a room or area etc.) (as) with a broom.
- (often foll. By up) clean a room etc. In this way.
- (often foll. By up) collect or remove (dirt etc.) By sweeping.
- (foll. By aside, away, etc.) A push (as) with a broom. B dismiss abruptly.
- (foll. By along, down, etc.) Carry or drive along with force.
- (foll. By off, away, etc.) Remove or clear forcefully.
- traverse swiftly or lightly.
- impart a sweeping motion to.
- swiftly cover or affect. 10 a glide swiftly; speed along. B go majestically. 11 (of landscape etc.) Be rolling or spacious. —n. - act or motion of sweeping.
- curve in the road, sweeping line of a hill, etc.
- range or scope.
- = *chimney-sweep.
- sortie by aircraft.
- colloq. = *sweepstake. make a clean sweep of 1 completely abolish or expel.
- win all the prizes etc. In (a competition etc.). Sweep away abolish swiftly. Sweep the board 1 win all the money at stake.
- win all possible prizes etc. Sweep under the carpet see *carpet. [old english]
SWEET
pea n. Climbing plant with fragrant flowers.
- pepper n. Mild pepper.
- pepper n. Mild pepper.
- potato n. - tropical climbing plant with sweet tuberous roots used for food.
- root of this.
- potato n. - tropical climbing plant with sweet tuberous roots used for food.
- root of this.
- talk colloq. —n. Flattery, blandishment. —v. (sweet-talk) flatter in order to persuade.
- talk colloq. —n. Flattery, blandishment. —v. (sweet-talk) flatter in order to persuade.
- tooth n. Liking for sweet-tasting things.
- tooth n. Liking for sweet-tasting things.
- william n. Cultivated plant with clusters of vivid fragrant flowers.
- william n. Cultivated plant with clusters of vivid fragrant flowers.
- —adj. - tasting of sugar.
- smelling pleasant like roses or perfume etc.; fragrant.
- (of sound etc.) Melodious or harmonious.
- fresh; not salt, sour, or bitter.
- gratifying or attractive.
- amiable, pleasant.
- colloq. Pretty, charming.
- (foll. By on) colloq. Fond of; in love with. —n. - small shaped piece of sweet substance, usu. Made with sugar or chocolate.
- sweet dish or course of a meal. sweetish adj. Sweetly adv. [old english]
SWELL
—v. (past part. Swollen or swelled) 1 (cause to) grow bigger, louder, or more intense.
- (often foll. By up) rise or raise up from the surrounding surface.
- (foll. By out) bulge.
- (of the heart etc.) Feel full of joy, pride, relief, etc.
- (foll. By with) be hardly able to restrain (pride etc.). —n. - act or state of swelling.
- heaving of the sea with unbreaking waves.
- a crescendo. B mechanism in an organ etc. For producing a crescendo or diminuendo.
- colloq. Dandy.
- protuberance. —adj. Colloq. - esp. Us fine, excellent.
- smart, fashionable. have (or get) a swelled (or swollen) head be (or become) conceited. [old english]
- —v. (past part. Swollen or swelled) 1 (cause to) grow bigger, louder, or more intense.
- (often foll. By up) rise or raise up from the surrounding surface.
- (foll. By out) bulge.
- (of the heart etc.) Feel full of joy, pride, relief, etc.
- (foll. By with) be hardly able to restrain (pride etc.). —n. - act or state of swelling.
- heaving of the sea with unbreaking waves.
- a crescendo. B mechanism in an organ etc. For producing a crescendo or diminuendo.
- colloq. Dandy.
- protuberance. —adj. Colloq. - esp. Us fine, excellent.
- smart, fashionable. have (or get) a swelled (or swollen) head be (or become) conceited. [old english]
SWEPT
past and past part. Of *sweep.
- past and past part. Of *sweep.
SWIFT
—adj. - quick, rapid.
- prompt. —n. Swift-flying migratory bird with long wings. swiftly adv. Swiftness n. [old english]
- —adj. - quick, rapid.
- prompt. —n. Swift-flying migratory bird with long wings. swiftly adv. Swiftness n. [old english]
SWILL
—v. - (often foll. By out) rinse or flush.
- drink greedily. —n. - act of rinsing.
- mainly liquid refuse as pig-food. [old english]
- —v. - (often foll. By out) rinse or flush.
- drink greedily. —n. - act of rinsing.
- mainly liquid refuse as pig-food. [old english]
SWINE
n. (pl. Same) 1 formal or us pig.
- colloq. (pl. Same or -s) a contemptible person. B unpleasant or difficult thing. swinish adj. [old english]
- n. (pl. Same) 1 formal or us pig.
- colloq. (pl. Same or -s) a contemptible person. B unpleasant or difficult thing. swinish adj. [old english]
SWING
—v. (past and past part. Swung) 1 a (cause to) move with a to-and-fro or curving motion, as of an object attached at one end and hanging free at the other; sway. B hang so as to be free to swing.
- oscillate or revolve.
- move by gripping something and leaping etc. (swung from tree to tree).
- walk with a swing.
- (foll. By round) move to face the opposite direction.
- change one's opinion or mood.
- (foll. By at) attempt to hit.
- (also swing it) play (music) with a swing rhythm.
- colloq. (of a party etc.) Be lively etc. 10 have a decisive influence on (voting etc.). 11 colloq. Achieve, manage. 12 colloq. Be executed by hanging. —n. - act, motion, or extent of swinging.
- swinging or smooth gait, rhythm, or action.
- a seat slung by ropes etc. For swinging on or in. B period of swinging on this.
- a jazz or dance music with an easy flowing rhythm. B rhythmic feeling or drive of this.
- discernible change, esp. In votes or points scored etc. swings and roundabouts situation affording equal gain and loss. swinger n. [old english]
- —v. (past and past part. Swung) 1 a (cause to) move with a to-and-fro or curving motion, as of an object attached at one end and hanging free at the other; sway. B hang so as to be free to swing.
- oscillate or revolve.
- move by gripping something and leaping etc. (swung from tree to tree).
- walk with a swing.
- (foll. By round) move to face the opposite direction.
- change one's opinion or mood.
- (foll. By at) attempt to hit.
- (also swing it) play (music) with a swing rhythm.
- colloq. (of a party etc.) Be lively etc. 10 have a decisive influence on (voting etc.). 11 colloq. Achieve, manage. 12 colloq. Be executed by hanging. —n. - act, motion, or extent of swinging.
- swinging or smooth gait, rhythm, or action.
- a seat slung by ropes etc. For swinging on or in. B period of swinging on this.
- a jazz or dance music with an easy flowing rhythm. B rhythmic feeling or drive of this.
- discernible change, esp. In votes or points scored etc. swings and roundabouts situation affording equal gain and loss. swinger n. [old english]
