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beam
beam with pride
To smile broadly and radiantly due to pride in something or someone. I was simply beaming with pride when my son was awarded his college diploma.
broad across the beam
Of a person (typically female), having a large buttocks and/or thighs. A derogatory term, it refers to ships that have a wide breadth across. All the holiday eating always leaves me a bit broad across the beam!
on (one's) beam-ends
In a precarious and/or desperate situation. The phrase was originally used to describe the tilted position of a ship before it capsizes. My sister's on her beam-ends now that she's lost her job—I might have to lend her some money so she doesn't lose her house. Tell me the truth, doc—am I on my beam-ends, or do I still have treatment options available?
on the beam-ends
In a precarious and/or desperate situation. The phrase was originally used to describe the tilted position of a ship before it capsizes. My sister's on the beam-ends now that she's lost her job—I might have to lend her some money so she doesn't lose her house. Tell me the truth, doc—am I on the beam-ends, or do I still have treatment options available?
be broad in the beam
1. (of a ship) To be particularly wide in the middle. Since that ship is broad in the beam, I doubt it will fit through the narrow channel.
2. (of a person) To have an ample buttocks. Because I'm broad in the beam, I doubt those pants will fit me.
be off beam
To be inaccurate or wrong. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I never once said that! Your reporter is completely off beam in her accusations. I thought I knew what real estate costs around here, but wow, I was totally off beam.
Beam me up, Scotty!
Get me out of here!; Take me away from this mess! (From the late 1960s television program StarTrek.) This place is really crazy! Beam me up, Scotty! I've heard enough! Beam me up, Scotty!
beam someone or something up (to some place)
to transport someone or something (up) to something. (Originally in the context of a Star Trek adventure, but also used jocularly.) The captain asked the first mate to beam him up. Please beam up the crew, Roger. Beam me up so I can see your penthouse suite!
beam up
Sl. to die. (Alluding to the television program Star Trek.) Pete Dead? I didn't think he was old enough to beam up. I was so exhausted after climbing four flights that I was afraid I would beam up.
broad in the beam
1. Lit. [of a ship] wide at amidships. This old tub is broad in the beam and sits like a ball in the water, but I love her.
2. Fig. Inf. with wide hips or large buttocks. l am getting a little broad in the beam. It's time to go on a diet. John is just naturally broad in the beam.
on the beam
Fig. exactly right; thinking along the correct lines. That's the right idea. Now you're on the beam! She's not on the beam yet. Explain it to her again.
steam someone's beam
Sl. to make someone angry. Being stood up really steams my beam! Come on, don't steam your beam. Remember how hard times are now.
beam somebody/something down
also beam down somebody/something to send someone or something to earth as waves of energy A few people liked my idea, but most just looked at me as though I'd beamed down from outer space.
beam somebody/something up
also beam up somebody/something to send someone or something into space as waves of energy Mission Control beamed up pictures of the spaceship taken from the space station. The ads show aliens beaming up a cow.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of beam (a line of light) and made popular by the TV show "Star Trek," in which people would ask to be transported by saying beam me up
be off beam
(British & Australian) to be wrong Overall the article was well-written although one or two points that she made were a little off beam. I'm afraid your calculations are way off beam.
be broad in the beam
(old-fashioned) to have a large bottom Tess has always been rather broad in the beam, despite all those diets.
broad in the beam
Having broad hips or large buttocks. For example, I've grown too broad in the beam for these slacks. This expression originated in the 17th century and described the wideness of a ship. It began to be used for the human body only in the 1920s.
off the beam
Off course, on the wrong track, as in He's way off the beam with that argument. This colloquial term and its antonym, on the beam, meaning "on the right track," allude to directing aircraft by means of radio beams. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
on the beam
Beam me up, Scotty!
sent. Get me out of here!; Take me away from this mess! (From the television program Star Trek.) This place is really crazy! Beam me up, Scotty!
beam up
in. to die. (From the television program Star Trek.) Pete Dead? I didn’t think he was old enough to beam up.
early beam(s)
n. dawn; early morning. (Streets.) He was away every day, early black to early beam.
early beam
verb(I-)beam
(ˈ(ɑɪ)bim) n. IBM, International Business Machines stock shares. (see also
big blue.)
How much beam do you own? beam
verbon the beam
1. mod. homing in on an aviation radio beam. (No longer a major navigational device.) The plane was on the beam and landed safely in the fog.
2. mod. on the right course or track. (From sense 1) That is exactly right. You are right on the beam.
3. and beaming mod. under the effects of marijuana. (Drugs.) Walter is on the beam again. How can he hold a job?
4. mod. smart; clever. That was well done, Tom. You’re on the beam.
beaming
verbsteam someone’s beam
tv. to make someone angry. Come on, don’t steam your beam. Remember how hard times are now.
on the beam
1. Following a radio beam. Used of aircraft.
2. On the right track; operating correctly.