hold one's nose

hold one's nose
hold one's nose
1. Lit. to use one's fingers to keep one's nose closed to avoid a bad smell or to keep water out. •

The kid held his nose and jumped off the dock into the lake.

2. Fig. to attempt to ignore something unpleasant, illegal, or “rotten.” •

He hated doing it, but he held his nose and made the announcement everyone dreaded.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hold\ one's\ nose\ to\ the\ grindstone — • keep one s nose to the grindstone • have one s nose to the grindstone • hold one s nose to the grindstone v. phr. informal To work hard all the time; keep busy with boring or tiresome work. Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves as… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • To hold one's nose to the grindstone — Nose Nose (n[=o]z), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. n[ o]s, Sw. n[ a]sa, Dan. n[ a]se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos , L. nasus, nares, Skr. n[=a]s[=a], n[=a]s. [root]261. Cf. {Nasal}, {Nasturtium}, {Naze}, {Nostril}, {Nozzle}.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hold one's nose to the grindstone — See: KEEP ONE S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hold one's nose to the grindstone — See: KEEP ONE S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hold one's nose — squeeze one s nostrils with one s fingers in order to avoid inhaling an unpleasant smell …   Useful english dictionary

  • To hold one's nose to the grindstone — Grindstone Grind stone , n. A flat, circular stone, revolving on an axle, for grinding or sharpening tools, or shaping or smoothing objects. [1913 Webster] {To hold one s nose to the grindstone}, {To bring one s nose to the grindstone}, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To bring one's nose to the grindstone — Nose Nose (n[=o]z), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. n[ o]s, Sw. n[ a]sa, Dan. n[ a]se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos , L. nasus, nares, Skr. n[=a]s[=a], n[=a]s. [root]261. Cf. {Nasal}, {Nasturtium}, {Naze}, {Nostril}, {Nozzle}.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To put one's nose out of joint — Nose Nose (n[=o]z), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. n[ o]s, Sw. n[ a]sa, Dan. n[ a]se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos , L. nasus, nares, Skr. n[=a]s[=a], n[=a]s. [root]261. Cf. {Nasal}, {Nasturtium}, {Naze}, {Nostril}, {Nozzle}.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To put one's nose to the grindstone — Nose Nose (n[=o]z), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. n[ o]s, Sw. n[ a]sa, Dan. n[ a]se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos , L. nasus, nares, Skr. n[=a]s[=a], n[=a]s. [root]261. Cf. {Nasal}, {Nasturtium}, {Naze}, {Nostril}, {Nozzle}.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To thrust one's nose into — Nose Nose (n[=o]z), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. n[ o]s, Sw. n[ a]sa, Dan. n[ a]se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos , L. nasus, nares, Skr. n[=a]s[=a], n[=a]s. [root]261. Cf. {Nasal}, {Nasturtium}, {Naze}, {Nostril}, {Nozzle}.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To wipe one's nose of — Nose Nose (n[=o]z), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. n[ o]s, Sw. n[ a]sa, Dan. n[ a]se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos , L. nasus, nares, Skr. n[=a]s[=a], n[=a]s. [root]261. Cf. {Nasal}, {Nasturtium}, {Naze}, {Nostril}, {Nozzle}.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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