cotton


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Related to cotton: silk

be in tall cotton

To be in a time or period of great success or well-being; to be doing very well. We were in tall cotton after my wife's late uncle left us his fortune. I hear Jeff's in tall cotton out in New York City. Well, sure, now that I'm in tall cotton, everybody wants to join my business.
See also: cotton, tall

be touching cotton

vulgar slang To have a very urgent or desperate need to defecate. (Refers jokingly to one's feces protruding into one's underpants.) Boy, it's a good thing we got home when we did—I was touching cotton on the way here! Much to my frustration, my potty-training daughter only realizes she has to go to the bathroom when she's practically touching cotton.
See also: cotton, touching

bless (someone's) (little) cotton socks

An expression of endearment, fondness, or appreciation for another person. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Look at this picture that my sweet daughter drew me, bless her cotton socks! Bless his little cotton socks—Johnny knew I wasn't feeling well, so he brought me breakfast in bed. Bless your cotton socks, Jean. I know I can always count on you to help me in a crisis.
See also: bless, cotton, sock

cotton (on)to (someone or something)

1. To like someone or something; to view someone or something favorably. It takes me a while to cotton to new people—I have to get to know them first. After we explained our plan again, the rest of the group seemed to cotton onto it. Amanda cottons onto people very quickly, so I'm sure she'll have a crush on the new boy by the end of the day.
2. To begin to understand something. Thanks for explaining that concept to me—I think I'm cottoning onto it now. It took me a few moments to cotton to the fact that they were talking about me. I think the boss has cottoned on to our scheme.
See also: cotton

cotton on

To begin to understand something; to grasp fully; to catch on. Primarily heard in UK. It took me a few moments to cotton on, but I soon realized that they were talking about me. Thanks for explaining that concept to me—I think I'm cottoning on now. I'm not worried about you cottoning on—the system is very repetitive.
See also: cotton, on

cotton on to (something)

To begin to fully grasp, realize, or understand something. It took me a few moments to cotton on to the fact that they were talking about me. I think the boss has cottoned on to our scheme. Thanks for explaining that concept to me—I think I'm cottoning on to it now.
See also: cotton, on, to

cotton up to (one)

To pursue preferential treatment from one, often through flattery. Since I'm deciding who gets the promotion, Crystal has been cottoning up to me by buying me coffee all week. I'm not doing well at all in math this year, so it seems like cottoning up to the teacher is my only hope for a good grade! Don't cotton up to me with chocolates and sweet talk—just tell me what you want!
See also: cotton, to, up

cotton-picking

An intensifier used to express one's anger or frustration. Oh, he's just a cotton-picking fool—don't listen to a word he says! I know my husband thought I was out of my cotton-picking mind to quit, but I just couldn't stay at that law firm a second longer. Have you gone cotton-picking mad? It's absolutely freezing, and you're out here without a coat!

high cotton

A state of success (likened to the image of a field of well-growing cotton plants). Typically used in the phrase "in high cotton." I can't believe I got such good grades this semester—I'm really in high cotton now! I can't believe he thought he'd be in high cotton after launching that bizarre product. They're only in high cotton because they stole my idea! Their company was completely floundering before that!
See also: cotton, high

in high cotton

Experiencing success (likened to the image of a field of well-growing cotton plants). I can't believe I got such good grades this semester—I'm really in high cotton now! I can't believe he thought he'd be in high cotton after launching that bizarre product. They're only in high cotton because they stole my idea! Their company was completely floundering before that!
See also: cotton, high

in tall cotton

In a time or period of great success or well-being; doing very well. We were in tall cotton after my wife's late uncle left us his fortune. I hear Jeff's in tall cotton out in New York City. Well, sure, now that I'm in tall cotton, everybody wants to join my business.
See also: cotton, tall

live in cotton wool

To lead a sheltered life, one devoid of stress and danger. The image here is of being wrapped in cotton and thus protected. Primarily heard in UK. I never realized how much I had been living in cotton wool until I traveled and saw what true poverty looks like.
See also: cotton, live, wool

out of (one's) cotton-picking mind

Completely crazy, irrational, or mentally unstable. "Cotton-picking" is used as an intensifier, usually to express frustration, exasperation, or disbelief. Primarily heard in US. I know my husband thought I was out of my cotton-picking mind to quit, but I just couldn't stay at that law firm a second longer. They're out of their cotton-picking minds if they think they can slip this past the federal authorities. Did you see the way he attacked them? He's out of his cotton-picking mind!
See also: mind, of, out

standing in high cotton

Experiencing success (likened to the image of a field of well-growing cotton plants). I can't believe I got such good grades this semester—I'm really in high standing cotton now!
See also: cotton, high, standing

wrap (one) up in cotton wool

To be overprotective of one; to coddle one. You need to let the little lad play in the dirt once in a while. If you keep wrapping him up in cotton wool, he'll grow up too soft.
See also: cotton, up, wool, wrap
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cotton (on)to someone or something

Rur. to begin to like or agree to someone or something quickly. She began to cotton to Fred, despite his country ways. She cottoned onto Jane's way of thinking.
See also: cotton, to

cotton up to someone

Rur. to try to make friends with someone; to flatter or fawn on someone in hopes of favorable treatment. James set out to cotton up to the parents of his friends. Just watch her cotton up to the teacher!
See also: cotton, to, up

in high cotton

 and in tall cotton
Rur. to be doing very well; successful. Jim's in high cotton ever since he got that raise. Tom: How's your sister? Mary: She's in high cotton. Just bought a nice new house. We were in tall cotton until the IRS caught up with us.
See also: cotton, high

in low cotton

Rur. depressed. She was in low cotton because her dress got torn. Jed is in low cotton because his favorite hound is dead.
See also: cotton, low
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

cotton to

1. Take a liking to, get along with, as in This dog doesn't cotton to strangers. Although this verbal phrase comes from the noun for the fabric, the semantic connection between these parts of speech is unclear. [Early 1800s]
2. Also, cotton on to. Come to understand, grasp, as in She didn't really cotton on to what I was saying. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
See also: cotton, to
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

wrap someone in cotton wool

be over-protective towards someone.
See also: cotton, someone, wool, wrap
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌbless his, her, etc. (little) cotton ˈsocks

(British English, humorous) used to express your affection for somebody because of something they have said or done: And the kids brought me breakfast in bed — bless their little cotton socks!
See also: bless, cotton, sock

wrap somebody up in cotton ˈwool

(informal) protect somebody too much from dangers or risks: If you keep your children wrapped up in cotton wool, they’ll never learn to be independent.
See also: cotton, somebody, up, wool, wrap
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

cotton onto

v.
To come to understand something: I finally cottoned onto the new method.
See also: cotton

cotton to

v.
1. To take a liking to someone or something: That dog doesn't cotton to strangers.
2. To come to understand something: I finally cottoned to the new computer system.
See also: cotton, to

cotton up

v.
To attempt to be friendly to someone or something: The teachers all cottoned up to the new principal.
See also: cotton, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cotton-picking

and cotton-pickin’
mod. worthless; damned. (Folksy.) Who is this cotton-picking bigwig pushing us around?

cotton-pickin’

verb
See cotton-picking

in tall cotton

mod. successful; on easy street. (Folksy.) I won some money at the track, and I’m really in tall cotton.
See also: cotton, tall
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in classic literature ?
"It is difficult, my children," observed Grandfather, "to make you understand such a character as Cotton Mather's, in whom there was so much good, and yet so many failings and frailties.
"Was not the witchcraft delusion partly caused by Cotton Mather?" inquired Laurence.
Here Grandfather was interrupted by little Alice, who hid her face in his lap, and murmured a wish that he would not talk any more about Cotton Mather and the evil spirits.
"Cotton Mather prayed most fervently for their success," continued Grandfather, "both in his pulpit and when he kneeled down in the solitude of his library, resting his face on our old chair.
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I tell you I envied your magistrates here hauling money out of motorists every week I had managed to make our ordinary revenue and expenditure just about meet, and I was crazy to get the odd two hundred pounds for my cotton. That sort of thing grows on a chap when he's alone--and talks aloud!"
"You liked your cotton, dear?" She tidied the lump away.
It is quite true as our Sahib says, the man-eaters lay, flat around his feet, and asked for spades to cultivate cotton. That very night, when I was cooking the dinner, the Hajji said to me: 'I go to my own place, though God knows whether the Man with the Stone Eyes have left me an ox, a slave, or a woman.' I said: 'Thou art then That One?' The Hajji said: 'I am ten thousand rupees reward into thy hand.
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"Whoop," yelled the Cottons. They rushed away to dig worms at once, Mirabel leading the van with a tin can.
"I ain't going to, 'sociate with the Cottons," said Dora loftily.
"I run away from Sunday School -- and went fishing with the Cottons -- and I told ever so many whoppers to Mrs.
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"Then we put our night-gowns over our dresses, and were laid peacefully in bed when Betsey came up, earlier than usual; for it was evident that Miss Cotton felt a little suspicious at our sudden weariness.
Cotton in the market, and ran all the way home, so that I might get in before he came.' "Up came the heavy basket, bumping and scraping on the way, and smelling, O, so nice!
"The other girls went to their rooms as agreed upon, and all was soon dark and still up stairs, while Miss Cotton began to enjoy herself below, as she always did when 'her young charges' were safely disposed of.
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'Well?' said my aunt, taking out the cotton on that side again.
That there were now occasional sounds of feet and voices overhead which he inferred the cotton did not exclude, from the circumstance of his evidently being clutched by the lady as a victim on whom to expend her superabundant agitation when the sounds were loudest.
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