station
Related to station: Underground station
(as) busy as Grand Central Station
Very busy or chaotic, like New York City's Grand Central Terminal train station. Our customer service department always becomes as busy as Grand Central Station at this time of year. So many people coming and going—geez, it's busy as Grand Central Station in here.
See also: busy, central, grand, station
action stations
A state of intense alertness or readiness for a great amount of impending action. Often said as an order to become ready or prepared for such action. We were all at action stations when we found out the CEO of the company was coming to visit our branch. Action stations, everyone! We're going to get slammed for lunch now that the football game has finished.
See also: action, station
battle stations
1. The positions that soldiers must assume when in or preparing for combat. These will be your battle stations in times of warfare.
2. A command to take such positions. Battle stations! All hands on deck!
See also: battle, station
comfort station
A public bathroom. I sure hope there's a comfort station at this next rest stop!
See also: comfort, station
filling station
A place where one can fill a vehicle with gasoline. Also commonly called a "gas station." Pop took the truck down to the filling station so we have a full tank of gas before hitting the road.
See also: filling, station
Grand Central Station
A place that is very busy or chaotic, like New York City's Grand Central Terminal train station. Our customer service department always becomes as busy as Grand Central Station at this time of year. So many people coming and going—geez, it's like Grand Central Station in here.
See also: central, grand, station
marry above (one's) station
To marry someone who is of a higher social class or standing than oneself. A: "I hear that the local fishmonger's daughter is betrothed to a rich foreign lawyer!" B: "My word, she's certainly marrying above her station, isn't she?" For all the talk that social classes have been wiped away in recent years, you will still find people who believe one can't or shouldn't marry above one's station.
See also: above, marry, station
marry below (one's) station
To marry someone who is of a lower social class or standing than oneself. A: "I hear that Mr. Sullivan plans to marry a local fishmonger's daughter." B: "Why would a man of his esteem marry below his station like that?" Janet has a bright future with one of the best law firms in town, so it's beyond me why she's marrying below her station with some fast food worker.
See also: below, marry, station
marry beneath (one's) station
To marry someone who is of a lower social class or standing than oneself. A: "I hear that Mr. Sullivan plans to marry a local fishmonger's daughter." B: "Why would a man of his esteem marry beneath his station like that?" Janet has a bright future with one of the best law firms in town, so it's beyond me why she's marrying beneath her station with some fast food worker.
See also: beneath, marry, station
panic stations
A shared feeling of extreme anxiety, stress, and urgency, especially in the face of a looming deadline. Even though we've been preparing for months, it's still been panic stations in the office as we get the product ready for launch.
See also: panic, station
station (one) at (some place)
To assign one to remain at some post or location. They stationed us at the overpass to make sure the enemy couldn't slip by undetected. I stationed my sister at the bus station so someone would be there when Mike arrived.
See also: station
that train (has) already left the station
Some option, choice, or opportunity is no longer available or possible. I thought I'd still be eligible for their internship program, but it sounds like that train already left the station. If you were hoping to ask Mollie out, that train has already left the station—she's going to the dance with Peter.
See also: already, left, station, that, train
that train has left the station
Some option, choice, or opportunity is no longer available or possible. I thought I'd still be eligible for their internship program, but it sounds like that train has left the station. If you were hoping to ask Mollie out, that train has already sailed—she's going to the dance with Peter. He could have been gotten drafted to a professional football team if his hand hadn't gotten injured. Now, that train has left the station.
See also: left, station, that, train
thirst-aid station
slang A place where alcoholic beverages are available to be purchased or consumed. For the party, we set up an awesome makeshift bar in the living room and called it the thirst-aid station. We all headed to the thirst-aid station after work to relax with a few cold ones.
See also: station
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
station someone at something
to position or place someone near something. The manager stationed a receptionist at the door. Would you station a guard at the back door to keep people out?
See also: station
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.
action stations
an order or warning to prepare for action.Originally, this was an order to naval personnel to go to their allocated positions ready to engage the enemy.
See also: action, station
battle stations
used as a command or signal to military personnel to take up their positions in preparation for battle. chiefly USSee also: battle, station
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
ˈaction stations
(spoken, especially British English) used as an order to get ready for action: Action stations! There’s a bus full of tourists arriving in five minutes.See also: action, station
ˈpanic stations
(British English, informal) a situation in which people feel anxious and there is a lot of confused activity, especially because there is a lot to do in a short period of time: At the moment it’s panic stations in the office because we’re preparing for the president’s visit next week.In the navy, a call to action stations means that each sailor takes the position that they should have when in battle. Panic stations is a humorous comparison with this.See also: panic, station
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
comfort station
1. n. a restroom; toilet facilities available to the public. (Euphemistic.) We need to stop and find a comfort station in the next town.
2. n. an establishment that sells liquor. Let’s get some belch at a comfort station along here somewhere.
See also: comfort, station
filling station
n. a liquor store. (From an old name for an automobile service station.) Please stop at the filling station and get some suds on your way home.
See also: filling, station
fuzz station
n. a police station. He had to spend about an hour at the fuzz station, but nothing happened to him.
See also: fuzz, station
Grand Central Station
n. any busy and hectic place. (From Grand Central Station in New York City—a very busy place.) At just about closing time, this place becomes Grand Central Station.
See also: central, grand, station
thirst-aid station
n. a place to purchase liquor. (Punning on first-aid station.) Let’s stop at the next thirst-aid station and get a snort.
See also: station
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- (as) busy as Grand Central Station
- central
- grand
- Grand Central Station
- not know whether (one) is coming or going
- not know whether one is coming or going
- not know whether one is coming or going and not know if one is ...
- not know whether you are coming or going
- hibernate
- (as) busy as a hibernating bear