come on the carpet • step off the carpet come on the carpet—be under consideration or discussion:
Hopefully tomorrow at the meeting that will probably come
on the carpet.
Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase be on the carpet— 1
. (Pilots) used of an aircraft at or near ground level: I was right on the carpet and over a little ru-
ined village. 2. = come on the carpet: Only when a serious ques-
tion was on the carpet, did they drop their formalism. 3. be summoned to receive a reprimand from smb. in authority: Desert
is on the carpet — not for apostasy, but for the song he’s made
about it.
step off the carpet—(rare) get married: Papa won Ves’ hand
and they will step off the carpet next spring.
come on top of something • get on top of something come on top of something —follow smth. (especially an un-
pleasant event): This embarrassment coming on top of a row
with Nicholas, was more than she could stand.
get on top of something —overcome difficulties, etc.; deal with
smth. successfully: He really felt he was getting on top of the
situation.
come out • go out come out— 1
. (of a tooth) fall out: My tooth has just come
out. 2. (of a stain, etc.) be removed: Do you think that dirty
mark will come out? 3. be freed (from a prison): It’s been a
long year, but he comes out next Friday. 4. emerge; become
visible: The sun came out as soon as the rain stopped. 5. be
uttered: I intended to make a joke, but my remark came out
as unintentionally rude. 6. become clear or known: I don’t
want the news of our wedding to come out yet. 7. be pub-
lished: When does Tom’s new book come out? 8. be seen as in
a photograph: I’m afraid our holiday photos didn’t come out.
9. reach a result; succeed: Let me know how the voting comes
out.
1
0. start a strike: He had the promises of 300 to come out
“in sympathy” when the time came for quitting work.
11
. (of a young girl) enter on social life: Is her eldest daughter coming
out this year?
1
2. be offered for public viewing: The famous
collection of rare old furniture is coming out next week.
1
3.
(of a performer) go on stage: When it came time to come out
for the third curtain call I said, “Bobby, I just can’t make it no
further.”
1
4. emerge (in a specified manner) from a contest,
examination, etc.: The President did not come out well in the
inquiry.
1
5. (of smb.’s traits of character) be revealed; show
clearly: At such testing times, only the good in him came out,
and none of the bad.
1
6. admit smth. openly, especially ac-
knowledge one’s homosexuality: Several I spoke to referred to
the difficulties they experienced in “coming out”— realizing
they were homosexuals.
go out— 1
. move to a distant country or place: Their young -
est son went out to Canada and made a fortune. 2. (of girls in former times) leave home for employment (in the house of oth-
ers): When she was eighteen she went out as a nursemaid. 3.
attend social functions; go to parties, dances, etc.: She still
goes out a great deal, even at seventy-five. 4. (of invitations, orders, etc.) be sent to several people: The wedding invitations
had all gone out, but Jane says she hasn’t received hers. 5. be
broadcast: The special program on the new Prime Minister
goes out tonight at 9 o’clock. 6. (of a fire or light) become ex-
tinguished; stop burning: Have you a match? My cigarette
has gone out. 7. (of money) be spent: There’s more money
going out than coming in, and I’m worried about the business.
8. become obsolete; stop being popular or fashionable: Long
skirts went out after a short season of popularity. 9. (of a gov- ernment) retire from power: If the government goes out at the
next election, who will lead the country?
1
0. (euph.) die: I
hope that when I go out I shall leave a better world behind
me.
11
. (of the sea) flow away from the shore: When the sea
goes out, the sand stretches for a long way.
1
2. = come out 1 0: The Post Office workers went out before Christmas, now the
electricians are out.
