vain
(as) vain as a peacock
Excessively proud of one's appearance, possessions, or accomplishments, to the point of arrogance or boastfulness. Tom's been as vain as a peacock ever since he found out he came in top of the class—he hasn't missed a single opportunity to remind us. He looks like vain as a peacock strutting around the club in his expensive suit and gold chains.
See also: peacock, vain
in vain
1. adjective Without success; futile. I tried to convince the other board members, but my efforts were in vain, and they outvoted me.
2. adverb Without success; futilely. I tried in vain to convince the other board members, and they outvoted me.
See also: vain
Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain
A mnemonic device for the names and sequence of the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. A: "Dang it, I always forget about indigo and violet when I try to think of the colors of the rainbow." B: "Just remember the phrase, Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain!"
See also: battle, gave, of, Richard, vain, York
take (one's) name in vain
To speak about someone when they are not present, as in a critical manner. The phrase comes from one of the Ten Commandments, which prohibits taking God's name in vain. Hey, I heard that! Don't take my name in vain!
See also: name, take, vain
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
in vain
for no purpose; [done] as a failure. They rushed her to the hospital, but they did it in vain. We tried in vain to get her there on time.
See also: vain
*proud as a peacock
and *vain as a peacockoverly proud; vain. (*Also: as ~.) Mike's been strutting around proud as a peacock since he won that award. I sometimes think Elizabeth must spend all day admiring herself in a mirror. She's as vain as a peacock.
See also: peacock, proud
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
in vain
To no avail, useless, as in All our work was in vain. [c. 1300] Also see take someone's name in vain.
See also: vain
proud as a peacock
Having a very high opinion of oneself, filled with or showing excessive self-esteem. For example, She strutted about in her new outfit, proud as a peacock. This simile alludes to the male peacock, with its colorful tail that can be expanded like a fan, which has long symbolized vanity and pride. Chaucer used it in The Reeve's Tail: "As any peacock he was proud and gay." [1200s]
See also: peacock, proud
take someone's name in vain
Speak casually or idly of someone, as in There he goes, taking my name in vain again. This idiom originated as a translation from the Latin of the Vulgate Bible (Exodus 20:7), "to take God's name in vain," and for a time was used only to denote blasphemy and profanity. In the early 1700s it began to be used more loosely as well.
See also: name, take, vain
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
take someone's name in vain
1. If someone takes God's name in vain, they say `God' in an expression that is disrespectful, often when they are swearing. He did his best with us, always gently correcting us when we took the Lord's name in vain.
2. If someone takes another person's name in vain they say their name in a way that is disrespectful. `Somebody taking my name in vain?' Nordhoff called over his shoulder. Note: This is from the second of the Ten Commandments in the Bible: `Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.' (Exodus 20:7)
See also: name, take, vain
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
take someone's name in vain
use someone's name in a way that shows a lack of respect.The third of the biblical Ten Commandments is: ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain’ (Exodus 20:7).
See also: name, take, vain
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
take somebody’s name in ˈvain
show a lack of respect when using somebody’s name: I get very upset when people take God’s name in vain. (humorous) Have you been taking my name in vain again?This expression comes from the Bible.See also: name, take, vain
in ˈvain
without success: They tried in vain to persuade her to go. All our efforts were in vain.See also: vain
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
in vain
1. To no avail; without success: Our labor was in vain.
2. In an irreverent or disrespectful manner: took the Lord's name in vain.
See also: vain
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
proud as a peacock
Having an exceedingly high opinion of oneself—one’s dignity or one’s importance. The comparison to a peacock, believed to allude to its strutting gait, dates from the thirteenth century. Chaucer used the simile several times, and it has often been repeated. “The self-applauding bird the peacock” is how William Cowper described it (Truth, 1781).
See also: peacock, proud
take one's name in vain, to
To mention a person casually and disrespectfully. This expression, today always used jocularly, comes from the biblical commandment against blasphemy: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). It was already used more lightly in the eighteenth century, when Jonathan Swift included it in Polite Conversation (1738): “Who’s that takes my name in vain?”
See also: name, take
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- (as) vain as a peacock
- peacock
- proud
- proud as a peacock
- (as) proud as a peacock
- main squeeze
- on the brain
- on the/(one's) brain
- hit on (one)
- hit on, to