[bargain for] or [bargain on] To be ready for; expect. * /When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for./ * /The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.
[barge in] , To appear uninvited at someone's house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. * /I'm sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./ * /I'm sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/
[bark up the wrong tree] , To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. * /If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ * /He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ * /The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./
[bark worse than one's bite] Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. * /The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite./ * /The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite./ * /She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite./
[barn] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.
[barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
[barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.
[bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.
[base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.
[base on balls] First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. * /He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls./
[basket] See: PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
[basket case] , , 1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. * /Stop drinking, or else you'll wind up a basket case!/
[bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash] , To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. - Used in negative sentences. * /When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye./ * /Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.
