blood

[[t]blʌ̱d[/t]]

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1) N-UNCOUNT Blood is the red liquid that flows inside your body, which you can see if you cut yourself.

2) N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N You can use blood to refer to the race or social class of someone's parents or ancestors.

There was Greek blood in his veins: his ancestors originally bore the name Karajannis...

He was of noble blood, and an officer.

3) PHRASE: oft PHR between pl-n If you say that there is bad blood between people, you mean that they have argued about something and dislike each other.

There is, it seems, some bad blood between Mills and the Baldwins.

4) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that people are baying for blood, you mean that they are demanding that someone should be hurt or punished.

And so what will he say to those who have been baying for his blood?

5) PHRASE If you say that someone has blue blood, you mean that they are from a family that has a high social rank.

→ See also blue-blooded

6) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that something makes your blood boil, you are emphasizing that it makes you very angry.

It makes my blood boil to think two thugs decided to pick on an innocent young girl.

7) PHRASE: PHR after v (disapproval) If something violent and cruel is done in cold blood, it is done deliberately and in an unemotional way.

→ See also cold-blooded

The crime had been committed in cold blood.

8) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that something makes your blood run cold or makes your blood freeze, you mean that it makes you feel very frightened.

The rage in his eyes made her blood run cold...

He could hear a sudden roaring. His blood froze.

9) PHRASE If you say that someone has a person's blood on their hands, you mean that they are responsible for that person's death.

He has my son's blood on his hands. I hope it haunts him for the rest of his days.

10) PHRASE: oft v-link PHR If a quality or talent is in your blood, it is part of your nature, and other members of your family have it too.

Diplomacy was in his blood: his ancestors had been feudal lords...

He has adventure in his blood.

11) PHRASE You can use the expressions new blood, fresh blood, or young blood to refer to people who are brought into an organization to improve it by thinking of new ideas or new ways of doing things.

There's been a major reshuffle of the cabinet to bring in new blood...

The England selectors must start introducing young blood.

12) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that doing something such as getting information or persuading someone to talk to you is like getting blood out of a stone or getting blood from a stone, you are emphasizing that it is very difficult and that people are not being very helpful. In American English, you can also say that it is like getting blood out of a turnip.

13) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that someone sweats blood trying to do something, you are emphasizing that they try very hard to do it.

I had to sweat blood for an M.A.

14) PHRASE If you refer to something as involving blood, sweat, and tears, you mean that it is a very hard thing to do and requires a lot of effort.

Why do apparently sane people go through all the blood, sweat, tears and heartache involved in getting a PhD?

15) PHRASE: V inflects People say `blood is thicker than water' when they mean that their loyalty to their family is greater than their loyalty to anyone else.

Families have their problems and jealousies, but blood is thicker than water.

16) flesh and blood → see flesh

own flesh and blood → see flesh