ACTION
ADJECTIVES
► HELL’S-A-POPPIN’ ► HELLZAPOPPIN‘ action-packed, hectic, chaotic; extremely eventful, exciting → 1945 colloq., orig. US
► PARASTATIC having the function of impelling to action → 1656 obs.
INTERJECTIONS/PHRASES
► FIRST RATTLE OUT OF THE BOX prompt action → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► SHOOT, LUKE, OR GIVE UP THE GUN you must act or give up the attempt; do something or give somebody else the opportunity → 1903 Amer. dial.
► SHOOT, OR GIVE YOUR GUN you must act or give up the attempt; do something or give somebody else the opportunity → 1903 Amer. dial.
► WAKE IT! an exhortation to action; get with it! → 1980 US students’ sl.
► WHEN THE BALLOON GOES UP when action, war, etc. begins → 1915 World War I British army usage
► WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD where the action is most immediate → 1980 US Army usage
NOUNS
► ACTURE action, doing; the process of acting → 1593 obs.
► AFFAIR action, doing, performance → 1500 obs.
► FAKEMENT any action or problem → L19 sl.
► FARE action, a proceeding; ‘doings’; hence, fighting → 1340 obs.
► FASHIONS actions, gestures, ‘ways’ → 1569
► FEAT 1. action in general; overt action; deeds, as opposed to words → 1362 obs.
2. an action, deed, course of conduct → 1420 obs.
► LATES actions, goings-on → 1205 obs.
► OPERANCE action, operation; the act of operating → 1625
► OPERATION action, performance, work, deed → 1386 obs.
► REARGUARD ACTION an action aimed at resisting change or warding off likely defeat → 1838
► TICKET the program or plan of action; that which is to be done → 1842
VERBS
► ALACRIATE to rouse to action; to make cheerful and lively; to excite; to encourage; to embolden → 1657 obs.
► CALL THE PLAYS to dictate a course of action; to say what should happen → 1930 sl.
► CALL THE SHOTS to dictate a course of action; to say what should happen → 1930 sl.
► FIGHT IT OUT OF THIS LINE to adopt a course of action and thought and to continue with it to the end → 1860 US Civil War usage
► GO FOR THE DOCTOR to take action of any sort → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► PUT ONESELF ABOUT to go into action → 1970 sl.
► SAIL INTO to launch oneself headlong on a course of action → M19 sl.
Lexicophilia 