12-letter words containing b, n
- be no picnic — If you say that an experience, task, or activity is no picnic, you mean that it is quite difficult or unpleasant.
- be no slouch — If you say that someone is no slouch at a particular activity, you mean that they are skilful at it or are willing to work hard at it.
- be on a roll — to have a series of successes; go from success to success
- be one thing — You can say that the first of two ideas, actions, or situations is one thing when you want to contrast it with a second idea, action, or situation and emphasize that the second one is much more difficult, important, or extreme.
- beachcombing — The action of a beachcomber.
- beacon light — a light signal for shipping
- beaconsfield — a town in SE England, in Buckinghamshire. Pop: 12 292 (2001)
- bead molding — bead (def 12).
- beam antenna — an antenna that transmits its radiation in a particular direction.
- beam balance — a piece of apparatus used for artistic gymnastics
- bean counter — You can describe people such as accountants and business managers as bean counters if you disapprove of them because you think they are only interested in money.
- bean sprouts — the sprouts of newly germinated mung beans, eaten as a vegetable, esp in Chinese dishes
- bean-shooter — peashooter.
- bear down on — to press down on; exert pressure on
- bear in mind — to remember
- bear witness — to give written or oral testimony
- bear-baiting — (formerly) an entertainment in which dogs attacked and enraged a chained bear
- bearableness — The characteristic of being bearable.
- beardtongues — Plural form of beardtongue.
- bearing down — to hold up; support: to bear the weight of the roof.
- bearing pile — a foundation pile that supports weight vertically
- bearing rail — a transverse rail carrying a drawer or drawers.
- bearing rein — a rein from the bit to the saddle, designed to keep the horse's head in the desired position
- bearing wall — any of the walls supporting a floor or the roof of a building.
- bearskin rug — the pelt of a bear, used as a rug
- beat up (on) — to give a beating to; thrash
- beaten track — well-trodden path or route
- beaumontague — a cement-like substance used to fill in and hide cracks and holes in woodwork and metalwork
- beauty queen — A beauty queen is a woman who has won a beauty contest.
- beauty salon — A beauty salon is the same as a beauty parlour.
- bechuanaland — former British territory (1884-1966) in S Africa: now the country of Botswana
- becomingness — The state or quality of becoming.
- bed moulding — a moulding in an entablature between the corona and the frieze
- bed of nails — a situation or position of extreme difficulty
- bed-blocking — the use of hospital beds by elderly patients who cannot leave hospital because they have no place in a residential care home
- bedazzlement — to impress forcefully, especially so as to make oblivious to faults or shortcomings: Audiences were bedazzled by her charm.
- beech marten — stone marten.
- beefheartian — of or recalling the music of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, an avant-garde rock/blues band (1966–1982); incorporating strange rhythms, free jazz elements, bizarre lyrics, and growling vocals
- beer drinker — a person who drinks beer
- befuddlement — to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises.
- begging bowl — If a country or organization approaches other countries or organizations with a begging bowl, it asks them for money.
- begrudgingly — If you do something begrudgingly, you do it unwillingly.
- behenic acid — a crystalline, saturated fatty acid, C 22 H 44 O 2 , obtained from plant sources, used chiefly in the manufacture of cosmetics, waxes, and plasticizers.
- beijing duck — a roasted duck prized for its crisp skin, prepared by forcing air between skin and meat, brushing with sugar water, and hanging up to dry before final cooking.
- beit knesset — a synagogue: often used in the names of congregations
- belaying pin — a cylindrical, sometimes tapered pin, usually of metal or wood, that fits into a hole in a pin or fife rail: used for belaying
- beleaguering — to surround with military forces.
- belgian hare — a large red breed of domestic rabbit
- belittlement — to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage.
- bell captain — a person in charge of a group of bellhops