zone
Related to zone: Zune
(one's) comfort zone
1. A place, activity, situation, or psychological state in which a person feels free from anxiety and is within their of ability, experience, security, and/or control. Though it is often outside your comfort zone, traveling to foreign countries gives you a much greater perspective on how other people in the world live. The new job is a little out of my comfort zone, but it will give me a great opportunity to see what I'm truly capable of.
See also: comfort, zone
comfort zone
2. The temperature range wherein the human body feels naturally comfortable, being neither too hot nor too cold. Many retired Americans, being more sensitive to the cold, settle in Florida, where the balmy weather better suits their comfort zones.
See also: comfort, zone
friend zone
1. noun Where someone is said to be when the object of their affection only sees them as a friend, rather than as a potential romantic partner. This term is usually (but not always) applied to males. If Bella cries to you about all of her bad dates but never asks you out, I'm afraid you're in the friend zone, dude.
2. verb To treat someone who is romantically interested in one as a friend, rather than as a potential romantic partner. When used as a verb, this phrase is usually written as one word. Why are you friendzoning Zack? He's a good guy, so you should trying going out with him.
See also: friend, zone
in the zone
In a state in which one can or feels as though one can perform with exceptional focus, skill, and energy. I'm not the best chess player in the world, but when I'm in the zone, I feel unstoppable. Their goal tender has been in the zone all game long. Nothing has gotten by her!
See also: zone
twilight zone
An ambiguous area between the boundaries of two concepts, conditions, etc.; a gray area. The phrase originated before it became the title of the popular television show. Unfortunately, his citizenship status is in the twilight zone now that the courts are reviewing the legality of the immigration restrictions. Jeff and I somehow ended up holding hands at the movie last night, and now we're in this weird twilight zone between friendship and dating.
See also: twilight, zone
war zone
1. Literally, an area in which military combat takes place. That region has been a war zone for the whole last year following the rebel uprising.
2. By extension, any place or area that is characterized by violence, lawlessness, or chaos. That part of the city has become so consumed by drugs and gang violence that it has turned into a total war zone. The local government has collapsed, leaving behind a war zone of various political groups vying for control.
3. Any area that is especially cluttered, disorderly, or chaotic. Your bedroom is a war zone. Now get in there and clean it up! I know my desk looks like a war zone, but I know exactly where everything is that I need.
See also: war, zone
zone (some place) as (something)
To mark the boundaries of a particular area for the express purpose of becoming or serving as something. The city council has zoned the patch of land as a residential area, barring any corporate development on the site. The government zoned the entire region as a federal park decades ago.
See also: zone
zone (something) for (something)
To set a restriction as to what can be built on or done to a specific area. Often used in passive constructions. They zoned the entire are for commercial buildings years ago, so even though the city is in dire need of housing, they can't legally be built there. Huge parts of the city are zoned for parks and other forms of green space, which has constrained its ability to bring in new businesses and residences somewhat.
See also: zone
zone in and out
To lose and regain focus, attention, or awareness intermittently, as due to boredom, fatigue, or intoxication. A: "Did you catch what the boss said about the policy changes?" B: "Not really. I kind of zoned in and out while he was talking." The pain medication the doctors gave me is really strong, so I keep zoning in and out.
See also: and, out, zone
zone off
To set a restriction as to what can be built on or done to, on, or within a specific area. "A noun or pronoun can be used between "zone" and "off." Often used in passive constructions. They zoned the entire area off years ago for commercial buildings, so even though the city is in dire need of housing, they can't legally be built there. Huge parts of the city are zoned off for parks and other forms of green space, which has constrained its ability to bring in new businesses and residences somewhat.
See also: off, zone
zone out
1. To lose focus or stop paying attention to something, usually unintentionally. The term can be used to indicate that someone has focused on one thing to the exclusion of everything else. I think I must have zoned out during that lecture, because when it was over I realized I didn't remember anything the professor said. Jerry kind of zones out when he plays video games, so you have to be really loud to get his attention.
2. To intentionally ignore or block out certain stimuli, distractions, etc. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "zone" and "out." When you're playing, you have to zone out everything except what's happening on the field. I know Aunt Lula can be aggravating, but she's only here for a few days, so just try to zone her out.
See also: out, zone
zoned (out)
In a state of suspended focus, attention, or awareness, as due to boredom, fatigue, or intoxication. A: "Did you catch what the boss said about the policy changes?" B: "Not really. I was zoned out for most of the meeting." The pain medication the doctors gave me is really strong, so I've been pretty zoned all day.
See also: zone
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
zone something as something
to create a particular legally defined area within a governmental or other local area. They zoned this area as a shopping district. The city council zoned the vacant lot as a park.
See also: zone
zone something for something
to specify what can be built or what can be done within a particular legally defined area within a governmental area. Did the council zone this area for business? They zoned this area for residences.
See also: zone
zone something off
to create a special regulatory zone in an area. The council zoned part of the land off for a park. They zoned off land for a park.
See also: off, zone
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
zone out
Stop paying attention, dissociate oneself from a situation. Also, engage in a mindless activity. For example, When Felicia starts talking about her ailments and her friends' ailments, I totally zone out . This idiom also occurs in the passive, be zoned out. It originally alluded to narcotic intoxication and then was broadened to other kinds of dissociation. For a near synonym, see tune out, def. 2. [Slang; second half of 1900s]
See also: out, zone
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
zone for
v.
To restrict some section of an area or territory to some specific use: That area used to be farmland until the city zoned it for industrial use. That entire block is zoned for residences, so you can't open a business there.
See also: zone
zone off
v.
To restrict or reserve a section of some area or territory: The city zoned off these blocks for commercial use. The police zoned the town hall off from vehicular traffic.
See also: off, zone
zone out
v. Slang
1. To lose concentration or become inattentive: I sensed the class was zoning out, so I started talking louder.
2. To lose awareness of one's surroundings: An hour after I took the cough syrup, I lay back in bed and zoned out.
3. To refuse to pay attention to someone or something; ignore someone or something: The athlete zoned out the jeering crowd and made the free-throw shot. Every time I try to give you advice, you zone out everything I say.
4. To cause someone or something to lose awareness of one's surroundings: The medication that I take zones me out.
5. To exclude someone or something by restricting a section of an area or territory: Farmers complain that the government has zoned them out of the best farmland. The city zoned out adult entertainment companies.
See also: out, zone
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
in the O-zone
mod. dead; on the verge of death; showing the O-sign. (With the mouth hanging open, like the letter O.) This patient is in the O-zone. Ready to go at any minute.
in the Q-zone
mod. dead; on the verge of death; with the mouth showing the Q-sign. Look at that tongue hanging out. This guy’s in the Q-zone.
war zone
n. an area where things get rough; a tough neighborhood. Unfortunately our offices are in a war zone, and we have to be on the way home before dark.
See also: war, zone
zoned (out)
1. mod. alcohol or drug intoxicated. What’s the matter with your eyes? Get a little zoned last night?
2. mod. exhausted. After a day like this, I’m really zoned.
See also: out, zone
zoned
verbSee zoned out
See also: zone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
in the zone
Informal In a state of focused attention or energy so that one's performance is enhanced: a goalie who was in the zone throughout the playoffs.
See also: zone
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- (one's) comfort zone
- comfort
- comfort zone
- faint of heart
- the faint of heart
- panic by
- panic (one) by (doing something)
- tremble with
- tremble with (something)
- panic at