She booked in yesterday about 6 p. m., said she was staying just the one night.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
I looked up at the picture tacked to the kitchen wall, the one Jessica had drawn.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
He was the smartest of us all, he was the one who planned the -' He smiled again, eyes thinning.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
All related terms of 'the one'
the Evil One
the devil ; Satan
the Holy One
God
the old one
a jocular name for Satan
one and the same
When two or more people or things are thought to be separate and you say that they are one and the same , you mean that they are in fact one single person or thing.
one for the road
a last alcoholic drink before leaving
one of the boys
If a man is described as one of the boys , he is accepted by a group of male friends who do things that are thought of as typically masculine .
one of the lads
a man who is accepted as being part of a group of men who behave in ways which are considered typically masculine
on the one hand
You use on the one hand to introduce the first of two contrasting points, facts , or ways of looking at something. It is always followed later by on the other hand or 'on the other'.
the next but one
the one after the next
the one and only
The one and only can be used in front of the name of an actor , singer , or other famous person when they are being introduced on a show .
one for the books
something notably surprising , shocking , or unexpected
pull the other one
said to mean that you do not believe something someone tells you
for the life of one
though trying desperately
have one over the eight
to be drunk
one foot in the grave
near to death
stare one in the face
to be glaringly obvious or imminent
the end of one's rope
the end of one's endurance , resources , etc.
defy one's age / the years
If you say that someone defies their age , or defies the years , you mean that their appearance or behaviour suggests that they are younger than they really are.
have one foot in the grave
If you say that someone has one foot in the grave , you mean that they are very old or very ill and will probably die soon .
the time of one's life
a memorably enjoyable time
tools of one's/the trade
The tools of your trade or the tools of the trade are the skills , instruments, and other equipment that you need in order to do your job properly.
at the back of one's mind
not in one's conscious thoughts
at the end of one's tether
distressed or exasperated to the limit of one's endurance
at the top of one's lungs
in one's loudest voice ; yelling
at the top of one's voice
If you say something at the top of your voice , you say it very loudly.
bite the hand that feeds one
to repay kindness with injury or ingratitude
bury one's head in the sand
to refuse to face a problem
by the seat of one's pants
by instinct rather than knowledge or experience
by the skin of one's teeth
by a narrow margin ; only just
have one's back to the wall
to be in a very difficult situation
have the ball at one's feet
to have the chance of doing something
in one ear and out the other
If you say that something goes in one ear and out the other , you mean that someone pays no attention to it, or forgets about it immediately .
in the palm of one's hand
If you have someone or something in the palm of your hand , you have control over them.
in the pit of one's stomach
If you have a feeling in the pit of your stomach , you have a tight or sick feeling in your stomach, usually because you are afraid or anxious .
keep one's ear to the ground
to be or try to be well informed about current trends and opinions
off the top of one's head
If you say something off the top of your head , you say it without thinking about it much before you speak , especially because you do not have enough time.
on the edge of one's seat
If you say that someone is on the edge of their seat or chair , you mean that they are very interested in what is happening or what is going to happen .
on the tip of one's tongue
about to come to mind
put one's cards on the table
to declare one's intentions , resources, etc
put one's hand to the plough
to begin or undertake a task
see the error of one's ways
If someone sees the error of their ways , they realize or admit that they have made a mistake or behaved badly .
take the bit in one's teeth
to undertake a task with determination
throw one's hat in the ring
to announce one's intentions to be a candidate or contestant
with one's back to the wall
in a difficult or desperate situation
with one's nose in the air
haughtily
one after the other one after another
If you do something to several things one after the other or one after another , you do it to one, then the next , and so on, with no break between your actions.
one after the other/one after another
You use one after the other or one after another to say that actions or events happen with very little time between them.
as if/like one owns the place
If you say that someone does something as if they own the place or like they own the place , you are critical of them because they do it in a very arrogant way.
cast one's bread upon the waters
to do good without expectation of advantage or return
crab one's act (the deal, etc.)
to ruin or frustrate one's scheme (the deal, etc.)