roundup
from the ground up
From the first step through to completion; entirely. This place is a real dump—we'll have to rebuild it from the ground up. I built this company from the ground up—I'm not going to sell it, ever.
See also: ground, up
head for the last roundup
old-fashioned To die. Primarily heard in US. When my grandmother was in her '80s, she always joked about heading to the last roundup. I think in some ways the fact that she treated it so light-heartedly made it easier to bear when she did finally pass away.
See also: head, last, roundup
the last roundup
old-fashioned One's death. Primarily heard in US. When my grandmother was in her '80s, she always joked about heading to the last roundup. I think in some ways the fact that she treated it so light-heartedly made it easier to bear when she did finally pass away.
See also: last, roundup
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
from the ground up
Fig. from the very beginning. We must plan our sales campaign carefully from the ground up. Sorry, but you'll have to start all over again from the ground up.
See also: ground, up
head for someone or something
to aim for or move toward someone or something. She waved good-bye as she headed for the door. Ann came in and headed for her mother.
See also: head
head for the last roundup
Euph. to reach the end of usefulness or of life. (Originally said of a dying cowboy.) This ballpoint pen is headed for the last roundup. I have to get another one. I am so weak. I think I'm headed for the last roundup.
See also: head, last, roundup
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
from the ground up
From the very beginning; also, completely, thoroughly. For example, We've had to learn a new system from the ground up, or The company changed all of the forms from the ground up. This expression alludes to the construction of a house, which begins with the foundation.
See also: ground, up
head for
Proceed or go in a certain direction, as in I'm heading for town, or I believe Karen and Jane are heading for a big quarrel. This expression, which uses head in the sense of "advance toward," is occasionally amplified with a figurative destination, especially in the American West. For example, head for the hills means "to run away to high and safer ground" or "to flee from danger." It is often used facetiously, as in Here comes that old bore-head for the hills!Head for the setting sun alludes to where a wanted man or outlaw went when a law-enforcement agent was close behind him, that is, farther west, and head for the last roundup means "to die." [Early 1800s]
See also: head
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
the last roundup
death. informal euphemisticThe metaphor was based on the idea of a final rounding-up of cattle in the American Wild West. The phrase itself seems to have originated as the title of a 1932 song by G. Brown .
See also: last, roundup
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
head for
v.
1. To travel toward some destination: We headed for Houston.
2. To set something or someone on a course toward some destination, situation or condition. Used passively: This bus is headed for New York. You're headed for trouble if you keep telling such lies.
See also: head
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
last roundup
n. death. (Western.) To everyone’s surprise, he clutched the wound and faced the last roundup with a smile.
See also: last, roundup
roundup
n. a collection or summary of news items, such as a weather roundup, news roundup, etc. Tune in at eleven for a roundup of the day’s news.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
from the ground up
From the most basic level to the highest level; completely: designed the house from the ground up; learned the family business from the ground up.
See also: ground, up
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- from the ground up
- take a dump
- Dump it
- a different kettle of fish
- wear through
- toxic waste dump
- lap
- dump
- the finished article
- go the distance