beach

Related to beach: forest

(as) fat as a beached whale

offensive Of a person, exceptionally obese. I love going to the beach, but I'm going to look like as fat as a beached whale in this swimsuit.
See also: beach, fat, whale

a beached whale

offensive slang An extremely large or obese person. I really need to start exercising again. I've turned into a beached whale!
See also: beach, whale

beach body

A slender, toned physique that is especially attractive or appealing in a bathing suit. I'm hitting the gym in the hope of getting my beach body back in time for summer. I can't pull off that skimpy purple bikini! You need a serious beach body for that.
See also: beach, body

beach bum

One who enjoys spending time relaxing on the beach. Now that it's summertime, I fully intend to be a beach bum as often as I can.
See also: beach, bum

beach bunny

A young woman who enjoys spending time at the beach. Check out the cute beach bunny in the purple bikini! Now that it's summertime, I fully intend to be a beach bunny.
See also: beach, bunny

beach spreading

The act of setting up large tents and cabanas on the beach, thereby taking up a lot of space and perhaps obstructing the view of other beachgoers. Beach spreading has gotten way out of hand this year—you can barely see the ocean past all these tents!
See also: beach, spread

bring sand to the beach

To do or undertake something redundant, pointless, or futile, usually in the context of bringing something to a location where it is abundant or unnecessary. The company always caters lunch for these meetings, so I don't know why you bring in your own sandwich. You might as well bring sand to the beach!
See also: beach, bring, sand

like a beached whale

1. Completely stuck and unable to move or escape from the situation. Said especially of large objects or vehicles. Our van's wheels sunk in the mud, and we've been stuck here like a beached whale for over an hour!
2. offensive slang Of a person, exceptionally large or obese. I love going to the beach, but I'm going to look like a beached whale in this swimsuit.
See also: beach, like, whale

not be the only pebble on the beach

To be only one of many other excellent or more suitable people, things, opportunities, or possibilities in the world that one may find. Said especially if someone has recently been unlucky or unsuccessful with someone romantically or in some endeavor. I know you are broken up about Janet leaving you, but she's not the only pebble on the beach. I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I'm trying to remind myself it wasn't the only pebble on the beach.
See also: beach, not, on, pebble

not the only fish in the sea

Not the only suitable thing, opportunity, or person one can find. Usually said of people with whom one was or hopes to be in a romantic relationship, but can be applied to a number of other situations. I know you are broken up about Janet leaving you, but she's not the only fish in the sea. I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I'm trying to remind myself it's not the only fish in the sea.
See also: fish, not, sea

not the only pebble on the beach

Not the only suitable thing, opportunity, or person one can find. Usually said of people with whom one was or hopes to be in a romantic relationship, but can be applied to a number of other situations. A less common version of "not the only fish in the sea." I know you are broken up about Janet leaving you, but she's not the only pebble on the beach. I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I'm trying to remind myself it's not the only pebble on the beach.
See also: beach, not, on, pebble

there are other pebbles on the beach

There are many other excellent or more suitable people, things, opportunities, or possibilities in the world that one may find. Said especially if someone has recently been through something or some romantic relationship that has failed or turned out badly. I know you are broken up about Janet leaving you, but there are other pebbles on the beach. I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I'm trying to remind myself that there are other pebbles on the beach.
See also: beach, on, other, pebble, there

there are plenty more pebbles on the beach

There are many other excellent or more suitable people, things, opportunities, or possibilities in the world that one may find. Said especially if someone has recently been through something or some romantic relationship that has failed or turned out badly. I know you are broken up about Janet leaving you, but there are plenty more pebbles on the beach. I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I'm trying to remind myself that there are plenty more pebbles on the beach.
See also: beach, more, on, pebble, plenty, there

there are plenty of (other) pebbles on the beach

There are many other excellent or more suitable people, things, opportunities, or possibilities in the world that one may find. Said especially if someone has recently been through something or some romantic relationship that has failed or turned out badly. I know you are broken up about Janet leaving you, but there are plenty of pebbles on the beach. I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I'm trying to remind myself that there are plenty of other pebbles on the beach.
See also: beach, of, on, pebble, plenty, there
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not the only fish in the sea

Also, lots or plenty of good fish in the sea ; not the only pebble on the beach. Plenty of other suitable persons, especially for a romantic relationship. For example, When Bob walked out on Sally, all we could tell her was that he was not the only fish in the sea , or Bill knew she wasn't the only pebble on the beach but he was determined to win her over . Both fish and pebble here refer to something available in large quantities. The expressions using fish have been used to comfort jilted lovers since the early 1500s. The variant using pebble was first recorded in a poem of 1896 by Henry Braistead: "If you want to win her hand Let the maiden understand That she's not the only pebble on the beach."
See also: fish, not, sea
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

not the only pebble on the beach

mainly BRITISH
If you say that someone is not the only pebble on the beach, you mean that they are not the only person who is important or should be considered in a particular situation, although they may think they are. You should encourage him to understand that he is very definitely not the only pebble on the beach.
See also: beach, not, on, pebble
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

not the only pebble on the beach

not the only person to be considered in a particular situation; (of a former lover) not unique or irreplaceable.
This expression is from an 1897 song title: You're Not The Only Pebble On The Beach. The original context was that of courtship: the way to advance your suit was to make it plain to the lady that ‘she's not the only pebble on the beach’. It is now often used more generally as a warning against selfish egocentricity.
See also: beach, not, on, pebble
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

not the ˈonly pebble on the beach

(informal, disapproving) not the only person who is important or who should be considered: ‘She thinks she should be chosen to go to the meeting in Paris.’ ‘She’s not the only pebble on the beach, you know.’
See also: beach, not, on, pebble
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(as) fat as a beached whale

phr. very, very fat. That dame is as fat as a beached whale.
See also: beach, fat, whale

fat as a beached whale

verb
See as fat as a beached whale
See also: beach, fat, whale

beach bum

n. a young man who frequents beaches. A bronzed beach bum helped me find my lotion.
See also: beach, bum

beach bunny

n. a young woman who frequents beaches. This little beach bunny bounced up and offered to put lotion on me.
See also: beach, bunny
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • (as) fat as a beached whale
  • as fat as a beached whale
  • fat as a beached whale
  • fat as a pig
  • (as) fat as a pig
  • chubbo
  • chunky
  • chubby
  • go for (something)
  • go for it
References in classic literature
Then he threw himself back on his haunches and hauled his enemy down the beach, shook him, and knocked him over.
It was a gorgeous fight, for the two fought as long as there was a seal that dared lift up his head, and when there were none they paraded grandly up and down the beach side by side, bellowing.
It was not the fashion for Sea Catch to eat anything during the four months he stayed on the beaches, and so his temper was generally bad.
One day, however, as he was lying half asleep in the warm water somewhere off the Island of Juan Fernandez, he felt faint and lazy all over, just as human people do when the spring is in their legs, and he remembered the good firm beaches of Novastoshnah seven thousand miles away, the games his companions played, the smell of the seaweed, the seal roar, and the fighting.
My bones are aching for the land." And so they all came to the beaches where they had been born, and heard the old seals, their fathers, fighting in the rolling mist.
"They're killing all the holluschickie on all the beaches!"
That nearly broke his heart, and he headed round the Horn back to his own beaches; and on his way north he hauled out on an island full of green trees, where he found an old, old seal who was dying, and Kotick caught fish for him and told him all his sorrows.
I am the last of the Lost Rookery of Masafuera, and in the days when men killed us by the hundred thousand there was a story on the beaches that some day a white seal would come out of the North and lead the seal people to a quiet place.
And Kotick curled up his mustache (it was a beauty) and said, "I am the only white seal that has ever been born on the beaches, and I am the only seal, black or white, who ever thought of looking for new islands."
The sea cows had separated and were browsing lazily along the edges of the finest beaches that Kotick had ever seen.
The first thing he did was to assure himself that the fishing was good, and then he swam along the beaches and counted up the delightful low sandy islands half hidden in the beautiful rolling fog.
Jungle Book
It was well that I did, however, for, possibly an hour later, I thought I could make out something moving on the beach. I watched intently, but my ears were rewarded first, by a raspy cough I knew only too well.
The tide had long since begun to rise, and, foot by foot, it drove me in toward the beach. High water came at three o'clock, and at three o'clock I drew myself up on the beach, more dead than alive, and too helpless to have offered any resistance had Yellow Handkerchief swooped down upon me.
Tales of the Fish Patrol
'But how do you know they will bring him down to the beach tomorrow, when they will not do so today?' said Toby.
They soon descended towards the beach, and found themselves in Jimmy's house before it was well dark.
Typee