There's music in our speech

  • SING THE BLUES: to be disappointed or disillusioned. Jim is singing the blues since he broke up with Elizabeth.

  • PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO SOMEONE: to be subordinate to someone. Carol resigned from the company because she was tired of playing second fiddle to George.

  • PLAY BY EAR: to play a piece of music without looking at the notes. I can play all the popular songs by ear.
    to perform without prior preparation. We haven't had time to prepare for the meeting. We'll have to play it by ear.

  • MUSIC TO MY EARS: good news; information that makes someone happy. When my boss told me about my promotion, it was music to my ears.

  • TOOT ONE'S OWN HORN (BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN): to praise oneself; to brag. Mary is always tooting (blowing) her own horn. She forgets that other people have a role in our company's success.

  • JAZZ SOMETHING UP: to make something more interesting or lovely. Tom jazzed up his gray suit with a red tie.

  • SOAP OPERA: an overly dramatic and emotional story broadcast regularly on the radio or television. Mary's day was not complete unless she saw her favorite soap opera.

  • IT'S NOT OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS: to not speculate about something until it is completed. Though her policies were criticized, and her election in doubt, the candidate reminded the news correspondents that it's not over till the fat lady sings.

  • CHANGE ONE'S TUNE: to change one's opinions or manner. John was critical of Anne's judgement until she was made his supervisor. Now he has changed his tune and agrees with everything she does.

  • OUT OF TUNE: not in agreement. His suggestions were out of tune with reality.

  • CALL THE TUNE: make decisions; decide what is to be done. A lot of people do not get along with Carol. She always wants to call the tune.
    The person who is in charge is the one who makes the final decision. S/he who pays the piper calls the tune.

  • MARCH TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER: to follow one's own ideas rather than being influenced by the group. Dick isn't going to support us; he always marches to a different drummer.

  • DRUM UP BUSINESS: influence people to buy something. The big advertisement in today's newspaper should drum up business.

  • OFF-BEAT: unusual, not typical. He dressed in an off-beat manner.

  • TUNE OUT: ignore someone or something. I tuned out when the speaker started quoting statistics.

  • TUNE IN: set the television control to receive a program. I tune in to the news every evening.

  • TUNE UP: adjust an engine so that it runs correctly. I needed a mechanic to tune up my car.
    to adjust instruments in an orchestra so that each musician is in harmony with one another. The orchestra tuned up before the concert began.

  • TO BEAT THE BAND: very much; very fast. The police car was speeding down the highway to beat the band.

  • JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON: take a popular position; join the group that has the greatest popularity. The politicians jumped on the bandwagon when they saw the governor was so popular.

  • FACE THE MUSIC: accept the unpleasant consequences for one's actions. Jimmy broke his neighbor's window with his baseball. Now he's got to face the music.

  • ALL THAT JAZZ: et cetera (etc.); and so forth. The movie was filled with kissing and hugging and all that jaza.

  • JAZZY: lively; active. Phil and Mary throw jazzy parties. Hours pass like minutes at their house.