merchant
(as) busy as a cranberry merchant (at Thanksgiving)
Very busy. Cranberries are a popular Thanksgiving side dish. I'm currently choreographing three plays, so I'm busy as a cranberry merchant at Thanksgiving. Can we meet next week instead? I'm just as busy as a cranberry merchant right now.
See also: busy, cranberry, merchant
merchant of doom
A person who always focuses on the potential negative outcomes of a situation. I refuse to watch the evening news anymore because the reporters have all become merchants of doom.
See also: doom, merchant, of
rip-off merchant
One who cons or otherwise deceives people. I wouldn't play cards against him if I were you—he has a reputation as a rip-off merchant.
See also: merchant
speed merchant
1. Someone who drives very fast in their car, especially over the legal speed limit. I used to be an awful speed merchant, but I got so many tickets that I nearly lost my license. OK, I know we're running late, but there's no need to be such a speed merchant. I'd rather arrive alive.
2. An athlete who runs, skates, swims, cycles, etc., very fast. The team's new running back is one hell of a speed merchant. The speed merchant already had eight Olympic gold medals for cycling, and he finally added a Tour de France championship to his list of accolades.
3. Someone or something that performs an action much faster than is usual. I can't believe you've already read through all these reports. You're a real speed merchant! Th tablet's new CPU is a speed merchant, all right, but it eats through the battery like nobody's business.
See also: merchant, speed
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*busy as a beaver (building a new dam)
and *busy as a bee; *busy as a one-armed paperhanger; *busy as Grand Central Station; *busy as a cat on a hot tin roof; *busy as a fish peddler in Lent; *busy as a cranberry merchant (at Thanksgiving); *busy as popcorn on a skilletvery busy. (*Also: as ~.) My boss keeps me as busy as a one-armed paperhanger. I don't have time to talk to you. I'm as busy as a beaver. When the tourist season starts, this store is busy as Grand Central Station. Sorry I can't go to lunch with you. I'm as busy as a beaver building a new dam. Prying into other folks' business kept him busy as popcorn on a skillet.
See also: beaver, busy
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
busy as a beaver
Also, busy as a bee. Hardworking, very industrious, as in With all her activities, Sue is always busy as a bee, or Bob's busy as a beaver trying to finish painting before it rains. The comparison to beavers dates from the late 1700s, the variant from the late 1300s. Also see eager beaver; work like a beaver.
See also: beaver, busy
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
speed merchant
n. someone who does something fast: a runner, pitcher, swimmer, driver, etc. What a pitch! That guy is a speed merchant for sure.
See also: merchant, speed
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- (as) busy as a cranberry merchant (at Thanksgiving)
- cranberry
- busy bee
- a busy bee
- (as) busy as popcorn on a skillet
- popcorn
- (as) busy as a bee
- as busy as a bee
- be (as) busy as a bee
- busy as a bee