nursing
nurse (one's) drink
To consume one's beverage, especially alcohol, rather slowly, either as a means of conserving it or to avoid getting drunk. I spent too much money and got drunk too often when I would go to bars in college, so I've learned to nurse my drinks when I go out nowadays.
See also: drink, nurse
nurse (someone or something) back to health
To give close medical care and attention to someone or an animal in an attempt to return them or it to full health. The government nursed the foreign spy back to health so that he would be able to survive their torture techniques to extract information from him. The poor stray was nearly starved to death when we found her in the gutter, so we took her in and nursed her back to health until she was back to a healthy weight.
See also: back, health, nurse
nurse (someone or something) through (something)
To give close medical care and attention to someone or an animal through a particularly dangerous or difficult period of ill health. My mother never left my side when I decided to give up heroin for good, nursing me through the most awful part of the withdrawal. I nursed my wife through three rounds of cancer treatment, so don't you dare tell me that I don't understand what suffering looks like.
See also: nurse, through
nurse a grudge (against one)
To harbor persistent and continual resentment or ill feelings toward one, especially for some slight or wrongdoing one committed in the past. Johnny has been nursing a grudge against me since we were 12 because I embarrassed him in front of a girl he liked. Samantha is just so forgiving—I don't think she's ever nursed a grudge in her life!
See also: grudge, nurse
nurse a serpent in (one's) bosom
To befriend, look after, or take care of someone who proves to be traitorous, untrustworthy, deceitful, or ungrateful. (A less common variant of "nurse a viper in one's bosom.") I thought the profligate had seen the light and was seeking redemption, and so I took him into my care. But before long, I knew I had nursed a serpent in my bosom, as I awoke one morning to find myself robbed blind! I thought our love was not only mutual but indestructible; and yet, I have nursed a serpent in my bosom all these years: my darling husband has cast me out and run off with a younger woman.
See also: bosom, nurse, serpent
nurse a snake in (one's) bosom
To befriend, look after, or take care of someone who proves to be traitorous, untrustworthy, deceitful, or ungrateful. I thought the profligate had seen the light and was seeking redemption, and so I took him into my care. But before long, I knew I had nursed a snake in my bosom, as I awoke one morning to find myself robbed blind! I thought our love was not only mutual but indestructible; and yet, I have nursed a snake in my bosom all these years: my darling husband has cast me out and run off with a younger woman.
See also: bosom, nurse, snake
nurse a viper in (one's) bosom
To befriend, look after, or take care of someone who proves to be traitorous, untrustworthy, deceitful, or ungrateful. I thought the profligate had seen the light and was seeking redemption, and so I took him into my care. But before long, I knew I had nursed a viper in my bosom, as I awoke one morning to find myself robbed blind! I thought our love was not only mutual but indestructible; and yet, I have nursed a viper in my bosom all these years: my darling husband has cast me out and run off with a younger woman.
See also: bosom, nurse, viper
nurse along
1. To give close medical care and attention to someone or an animal in an attempt to return them or it to full health. A noun or pronoun can be used between "nurse" and "along." The government nursed along the foreign spy so that he would be able to survive their torture techniques to extract information from him. The poor stray was nearly starved to death when we found her in the gutter, so we took her in and nursed her along until she was back to a healthy weight.
2. To give close care and attention to something, such as a business or project, to make sure it succeeds, remains operational, or does not fail. A noun or pronoun can be used between "nurse" and "along." The stimulus package has helped nurse along several of the massive corporations deemed "too big to fail," but it wasn't enough to prevent the closure of thousands of other small businesses. This game has been a passion project of mine, and I've been nursing it along for nearly 10 years now.
See also: nurse
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
nurse someone (or an animal) along
to aid or encourage the well-being or return to health of someone or an animal. She nursed the old man along for a few years until he died. She nursed along the invalid. The vet nursed the horse along for the rest of the night. He nursed himself along with chicken noodle soup and hot baths until the virus ran its course.
See also: nurse
nurse something along
Fig. to manage something with care and thrift. (See also nurse someone or an animal along.) The board of directors agreed to nurse the firm along for a while and then sell it. She nursed along the failing business until it was showing a profit.
See also: nurse
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- nurse
- nurse (one's) drink
- nurse a drink
- liquor up
- skimp on
- skimp on (something)
- scrimp on
- scrimp on (something)
- hold (one's) liquor
- hold one’s liquor