knight
all-nighter
1. The act of staying up all night to complete an activity, usually some kind of academic project. I'm going to have to pull an all-nighter if I'm going to get this term paper done in time for school tomorrow.
2. An establishment that remains open all night. Kyle and Amanda stopped at an all-nighter for a snack after the concert.
3. One who stays awake all night. Jess is a total all-nighter, so that third-shift job is perfect for her.
knight in shining armor
A selfless, chivalrous man who helps a woman in distress. When the police officer pulled over to help the old woman change her flat tire, she hugged him and said he was her knight in shining armor.
See also: armor, knight, shine
knight of the road
Someone, especially a man, who spends a lot of time traveling on the road, whether for business or pleasure, or because they are homeless. My dad was a knight of the road when I was younger, traveling almost nonstop in his car to sell his goods to businesses across the country. I introduced them to Charlie, one of the many knights of the road who sleep in this area after sundown.
See also: knight, of, road
white knight
1. One who saves another person from harm or a difficult situation. I don't remember much from the accident, but I am forever grateful to the white knight who freed me from my car. When Sally came to help with the kids when I was in the hospital, she really was our white night.
2. A person or company that purchases, or gives money to, another company that is in financial distress or about to be acquired by a third party. We all thought we were going to lose our jobs, but then a white knight purchased the company and saved it from bankruptcy.
See also: knight, white
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
knight in shining armor
A rescuer or defender, as in What this political party needs is a knight in shining armor to change its tarnished image . This metaphoric expression alludes to a medieval knight. [Mid-1900s]
See also: armor, knight, shine
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
a knight in shining armour
If you describe a man as a knight in shining armour, you mean that he has rescued you from a difficult situation, often in a kind and brave way. Note: `Armour' is spelled `armor' in American English. I just felt dizzy and then I collapsed. The next thing I woke up in hospital. I am very, very grateful to Tom and I always will be — he really was my knight in shining armour. She found a surprising knight in shining armor in her company's attorney, who rode in to save her job, rescue her love life and give her a place to live. Note: In stories written or set in the Middle Ages, a knight in shining armour traditionally came to the rescue of a `damsel (= young woman) in distress'.
See also: armour, knight, shine
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
a knight in shining armour
an idealized or heroic person, especially a man who comes to the rescue of a woman in distress or in a difficult situation.This expression, a variant of which is a knight on a white charger , is often used ironically of someone who presents himself in this guise but is in fact inadequate to the role. Compare with a white knight (at white).
See also: armour, knight, shine
knight of the road
a man who frequents the roads, for example a travelling sales representative, lorry or taxi driver, or tramp.Originally, in the mid 17th century, this phrase was ironically applied to a highwayman.
See also: knight, of, road
a white knight
a company that makes a welcome bid for a company facing an unwelcome takeover bid.The image here is of the traditional figure from chivalric romances, who rides to the rescue of someone in danger. See also a knight in shining armour (at knight).
See also: knight, white
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
a knight in shining ˈarmour
(British English) (American English a knight in shining ˈarmor) (usually humorous) a man who arrives to help you when you are in trouble or danger: My car broke down at the roundabout. Luckily, a knight in shining armour stopped to help me.See also: armour, knight, shine
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
all-nighter
1. n. something that lasts all night, like a party or study session. After an all-nighter studying, I couldn’t keep my eyes open for the test.
2. n. a place of business that is open all night. We stopped at an all-nighter for a cup of coffee.
3. n. a person who often stays up all night. I’m no all-nighter. I need my beauty sleep, for sure.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
knight in shining armor, a
A rescuer or deliverer. This term, which recalls the age of chivalry through the image of a dashing knight on horseback clad in polished armor, dates from the sixteenth century but has been in figurative use only since the mid-twentieth century. John Ciardi pointed out that the phrase has been used with two meanings: the “Mr. Right” of a young girl’s dreams, rescuing her from the humdrum with the promise of romance, and in politics, the idealistic reformer. One might add a third, the white knight of the modern-day corporation, who rescues the company from a hostile raider and averts an unwanted takeover. Quite figuratively, the poet William Rose Benét wrote, “Like a knight in glittering armor, Laughter stood up at his side” (“The Last Ally”).
See also: knight, shine
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
knight in shining armor
A wonderful guy. Fairy tales chronicled fair maidens in distress who were rescued at the last minute from dragons and ogres by a gallant knight in gleaming armor, where-upon they all lived happily ever after. Even if a young woman didn't view herself as a princess or consider herself in desperate straits, she still imagined herself being carried off by the man of her dreams, Prince Charming, a knight in shining armor.
See also: armor, knight, shine
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
- all-nighter
- chubbo
- chunky
- go for (something)
- go for it
- chubby
- going to (do something)
- far from it
- go (out) with (someone)
- go out with