step : Idioms & Phrases


Back step

  • (Mil.), the retrograde movement of a man or body of men, without changing front.
Webster 1913

Back step, Half step

  • etc. See under Back, Half, etc.
Webster 1913

bed steps

Bed" steps`
Definitions
  1. Steps for mounting a bed of unusual height.
Webster 1913

corbel step

  • noun (architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall
    corbiestep; corbie-step; corbel step.
WordNet

corbie-step

  • noun (architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall
    corbiestep; corbie-step; corbel step.
WordNet

crow step

  • noun (architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall
    corbiestep; corbie-step; corbel step.
WordNet

dance step

  • noun a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance
    step.
    • he taught them the waltz step
WordNet

first step

  • noun the first of a series of actions
    opening move; initiative; opening.
WordNet

flight of steps

  • noun a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next
    flight of stairs; flight.
WordNet

goose step

  • noun a manner of marching with legs straight and swinging high
  • verb march in a military fashion
WordNet

Half step

  • noun the musical interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument
    semitone.
WordNet
  • (Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of pitch or interval, used in music.
Webster 1913

high-stepped

  • adjective satellite having or moving with a high step
    high-stepped.
    • his high-stepped stride
    • a high-stepping horse
WordNet

high-stepping

  • adjective satellite having or moving with a high step
    high-stepped.
    • his high-stepped stride
    • a high-stepping horse
WordNet

Hop, skip (∨ step), and jump

  • a game or athletic sport in which the participants cover as much ground as possible by a hop, stride, and jump in succession.
Webster 1913

hop-step-and-jump

  • noun an athletic contest in which a competitor must perform successively a hop and a step and a jump in continuous movement
    triple jump.
WordNet

keep step

  • verb maintain the same pace
    keep pace.
    • The child cannot keep step with his big brother
WordNet

lock step

Lock" step`
Definitions
  1. . A mode of marching by a body of men going one after another as closely as possible, in which the leg of each moves at the same time with the corresponding leg of the person before him.
Webster 1913

Oblique step

  • (Mil.), a step in marching, by which the soldier, while advancing, gradually takes ground to the right or left at an angle of about 25°. It is not now practiced. Wilhelm.
Webster 1913

one-step

  • noun an early ballroom dance; precursor to the fox-trot
  • verb dance the one-step
WordNet

sea steps

  • noun (nautical) ladder to be lowered over a ship's side for coming aboard
    sea ladder.
WordNet

step by step

  • adverb in a gradual manner
    gradually; bit by bit.
    • the snake moved gradually toward its victim
  • adverb proceeding in steps
    stepwise.
    • the voltage was increased stepwise
WordNet

step dancing

  • noun dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures
    hoofing.
WordNet

step down

  • verb give up or retire from a position
    quit; leave office; resign.
    • The Secretary of the Navy will leave office next month
    • The chairman resigned over the financial scandal
  • verb reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
    de-escalate; weaken.
    • de-escalate a crisis
WordNet

step forward

  • verb make oneself visible; take action
    step forward; step to the fore; come to the fore; come forward; come out.
    • Young people should step to the fore and help their peers
WordNet

Step grate

  • a form of grate for holding fuel, in which the bars rise above one another in the manner of steps.
Webster 1913

step in

  • verb get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
    intervene; interpose; interfere.
    • Why did the U.S. not intervene earlier in WW II?
  • verb act as a substitute
    deputize; substitute; deputise.
    • She stood in for the soprano who suffered from a cold
WordNet

step ladder

  • noun a folding portable ladder hinged at the top
    stepladder.
WordNet

step on

  • verb place or press the foot on
    tread on.
    • He stepped on the hem of her long gown
WordNet

step on it

  • verb move fast
    rush; bucket along; hotfoot; belt along; cannonball along; race; hie; hasten; speed; pelt along; rush along.
    • He rushed down the hall to receive his guests
    • The cars raced down the street
WordNet

step out

  • verb go outside a room or building for a short period of time
WordNet

step rocket

  • noun a rocket having two or more rocket engines (each with its own fuel) that are fired in succession and jettisoned when the fuel is exhausted
    multistage rocket.
WordNet

step stool

  • noun a stool that has one or two steps that fold under the seat
WordNet

step to the fore

  • verb make oneself visible; take action
    step forward; step to the fore; come to the fore; come forward; come out.
    • Young people should step to the fore and help their peers
WordNet

step up

  • verb increase in extent or intensity
    escalate; intensify.
    • The Allies escalated the bombing
  • verb speed up
    rev up.
    • let's rev up production
  • verb make oneself visible; take action
    step forward; step to the fore; come to the fore; come forward; come out.
    • Young people should step to the fore and help their peers
WordNet

step-

Step-
Etymology
AS. steóp-; akin to OFries. stiap-, stiep-, D. & G. stief-, OHG. stiuf-, Icel. stjp-, Sw. styf-, and to AS. astepan, asteópan, to deprive, bereave, as children of their parents, OHG. stiufen.
Definitions
  1. A prefix used before father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, child, etc., to indicate that the person thus spoken of is not a blood relative, but is a relative by the marriage of a parent; as, a stepmother to X is the wife of the father of X, married by him after the death of the mother of X. See Stepchild, Stepdaughter, Stepson, etc.
Webster 1913

step-by-step

  • adjective satellite one thing at a time
    stepwise; in small stages; bit-by-bit; piecemeal.
WordNet

step-down

  • noun the act of decreasing or reducing something
    diminution; reduction; decrease.
WordNet

step-down transformer

  • noun a transformer that reduces voltage
WordNet

step-in

  • noun short underpants for women or children (usually used in the plural)
    scanty; pantie; panty.
WordNet

step-up

  • noun the act of increasing something
    increase.
    • he gave me an increase in salary
WordNet

step-up transformer

  • noun a transformer that increases voltage
WordNet

stepped line

  • noun a headline with the top line flush left and succeeding lines indented to the right
    stagger head; staggered head; drop line; stephead; dropline.
WordNet

stepping down

  • noun a formal resignation and renunciation of powers
    abdication.
  • noun the act of abdicating
    abdication.
WordNet

stepping motor

  • noun a motor (especially an electric motor) that moves or rotates in small discrete steps
    stepper.
WordNet

stepping stone

  • noun a stone in a marsh or shallow water that can be stepped on in crossing
  • noun any means of advancement
    • the job was just a stepping stone on his way to fame and riches
WordNet

stepping-stone

Step"ping-stone` noun
Definitions
  1. A stone to raise the feet above the surface of water or mud in walking.
  2. Fig.: A means of progress or advancement.
    These obstacles his genius had turned into stepping-stones. Macaulay.
    That men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things. Tennyson.
Webster 1913

To change step

  • to take a break in the regular succession of steps, in marching or walking, as by bringing the hollow of one foot against the heel of the other, and then stepping off with the foot which is in advance.
Webster 1913

To step aside

  • to walk a little distance from the rest; to retire from company.
Webster 1913

To step forth

  • to move or come forth.
Webster 1913

To step ininto

  • . (a) To walk or advance into a place or state, or to advance suddenly in.
    Whosoever then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. John v. 4.
    (b) To enter for a short time; as, I just stepped into the house. (c) To obtain possession without trouble; to enter upon easily or suddenly; as, to step into an estate .
Webster 1913

To step off

  • to measure by steps, or paces; hence, to divide, as a space, or to form a series of marks, by successive measurements, as with dividers.
Webster 1913

To step out

  • . (a) (Mil.) To increase the length, but not the rapidity, of the step, extending it to thirty-tree inches. (b) To go out for a short distance or a short time .
Webster 1913

To step short

  • (Mil.), to diminish the length or rapidity of the step according to the established rules.
Webster 1913

To take steps

  • to take action; to move in a matter.
Webster 1913

two-step

  • noun a ballroom dance in duple meter; marked by sliding steps
  • verb dance the two-step
WordNet

whole step

  • noun a musical interval of two semitones
    step; tone; whole tone.
WordNet