ACCEPTANCE
eat one's words
to have to take back one's statements; to confess that one's predictions were wrong.You shouldn't say that to me. I'll make you eat your words.John was wrong about the election and had to eat his words.
face the music
to receive punishment; to accept the unpleasant results of one's actions.Mary broke a dining-room window and had to face the music when her father got home.After failing a math test, Tom had to go home and face the music.
feel at home
to feel as if one belongs; to feel as if one were in one's home; to feel accepted.I liked my dormitory room. I really felt at home there.We will do whatever we can to make you feel at home.
go over big with someone
to be very much appreciated by someone.Your jokes did not exactly go over big with my parents.We hope that the musical will go over big with the audience.
hold with something
to accept or agree with something. (Folksy. Usually in the negative.)My father doesn't hold with fancy clothes.I don't hold with too many X rays.
like it or lump it
either accept it or drop dead. (Slang and fairly rude. Fixed order.)I don't care whether you care for my attitude or not. You can just like it or lump it.This is all the food you get. Like it or lump it!
resign oneself to something
to accept something reluctantly.I finally resigned myself to going to Mexico even though I didn't want to.Mary resigned herself to her fate.
settle for something
to agree to accept something (even though something else would be better).We wanted a red one, but settled for a blue one.Ask your grocer for Wilson's canned corn—the best corn in cans. Don't settle for less.
take one's medicine
to accept the punishment or the bad fortune that one deserves.I know I did wrong, and I know I have to take my medicine.Billy knew he was going to get spanked, and he didn't want to take his medicine.
take something at face value
to accept something exactly the way it appears to be.I don't know whether I can take her story at face value, but I will assume that she is not lying.The committee took the report at face value and approved the suggested changes.
take something in stride
to accept something as natural or expected.The argument surprised him, but he took it in stride.It was a very rude remark, but Mary took it in stride.
take something lying down
to endure something unpleasant without fighting back.He insulted me publicly. You don't expect me to take that lying down, do you?I'm not the kind of person who'll take something like that lying down.
take the bitter with the sweet
to accept the bad things along with the good things.We all have disappointments. You have to learn to take the bitter with the sweet.There are good days and bad days, but every day you take the bitter with the sweet. That's life.
turn thumbs up (on someone or something)
to accept someone or something; to approve someone or something.The board of directors turned thumbs up on my proposal and voted to fund the project.When the boss turned thumbs up, I knew everything was okay.The committee turned thumbs up on Carl as the new manager.
bite the bullet
tr. to accept something difficult and try to live with it.You are just going to have to bite the bullet and make the best of it.Jim bit the bullet and accepted what he knew had to be.
eat something up
tr. to believe something.Those people really eat that stuff up about tax reduction.They'll eat up almost anything you tell them.
face the music
tr. to receive the rebuke that is due one.You had better go in and face the music now.You have to face the music eventually.
get in the groove
in. to become attuned to something.I was uncomfortable at first, but now I'm beginning to get in the groove.Fred began to get in the groove, and things went more smoothly.
go down
in. to be accepted.We'll just have to wait awhile to see how all this goes down.The proposal didn't go down very well with the manager.
go with the flow and go with it
in. to cope with adversity; to accept one's lot.No, just relax and go with the flow.Go with it. Don't fight it.
If you can't stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen.
sent. “If you cannot accept the problems of involvement, do not get involved.”Yes, it's difficult to be a candidate. If you can't stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen.Relax. If you can't stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen.
I'm there!
sent. “I will accept your invitation and I will be there.”Sounds like it will be a great rally. I'm there!If you and Tom are going to get together and watch the game, I'm there!
Like it or lump it!
exclam. “Give up!”; “Shut up!”; “Accept it or go away!”If you don't want to do it my way, like it or lump it!Too bad! Like it or lump it!
Shit happens.
interj. “Bad things just happen.” (Potentially offensive. Use only with discretion.)Tough luck, but shit happens.Shit happens. There's nothing that can be done about it.
swallow
tr. to believe or accept something.Did they actually swallow that?Nobody's gonna swallow that nonsense.
take one's lumps
tr. to accept the result or punishment one deserves.You've got to learn to take your lumps if you're going to be in politics.I hate taking my lumps. I'd rather pretend nothing had happened.
take the spear (in one's chest)
tr. to accept full blame for something; to accept the full brunt of the punishment for something.The admiral got the short straw and had to take the spear in his chest.I sure didn't want to take the spear.
That's the way the ball bounces.
sent. “That is life.”; “That is the random way things happen.”It's tough, I know, but that's the way the ball bounces.That's the way the ball bounces. It could be worse.
That's the way the cookie crumbles.
sent. “That is life.”; “That is typical of the unequal share of things you are likely to get in life.”I lost my job. Oh, well. That's the way the cookie crumbles.Oh, gee! Too bad. That's the way the cookie crumbles.
That's the way the mop flops.
sent. “This is the way things happen.”; “This is typical of the random patterns of events.” (Contrived.)Sorry to hear about that, but that's the way the mop flops.That's tough, but that's the way the mop flops.
the way it plays
phr. the way it is; the way things are.The world is a rough place, and that's the way it plays.It's tough, but it's the way it plays.
tough luck and tough cookies
interj. “That is too bad.”Tough luck, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.That's too bad, tough cookies.
warts and all
mod. even with the flaws.It's a great performance—warts and all.Yes, we admire each other very much, warts and all.
whatever turns you on
phr. “It's all right if it excites you or interests you.” (Said originally about sexual matters.)You really like pickled pigs' eet? Whatever turns you on.I can't stand that kind of music, but whatever turns you on.
What the heck!
exclam. “It doesn't matter!” (Often with the force of an exclamation.)Oh, what the heck! Come on in. It doesn't matter.Oh, what the heck! I'll have another beer. Nobody's counting.