What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
noun
1The alphabet.
lettersView synonyms2An alphabetical guide.
‘an ABC of British locomotives’- 2.1 The rudiments of a subject.‘the business had been learning the ABC of its trade’basic principles, basics, fundamentals, elements, essentials, first principlesView synonyms
- 2.1 The rudiments of a subject.
Phrases
(as) easy (or simple) as ABC
Extremely easy.
‘economics can be as simple as ABC’- ‘The website makes comparing and switching as easy as ABC.’
- ‘She says teaching children to read is as easy as ABC.’
- ‘The pop quiz was as simple as ABC.’
- ‘The campaign won't be as easy as ABC for the youngsters, but he is determined to put them at their ease.’
- ‘The dazzler was John, for whom kindness and consideration towards his customers in the restaurant is as easy as ABC.’
- ‘‘If life was as simple as ABC or 123, there wouldn't be that frown on your face,’ an unfamiliar voice sounded behind her.’
- ‘With our new guide, CPU overclocking will be as easy as ABC!’
- ‘Being a woman and staying healthy is not, it turns out, as easy as ABC.’
- ‘To them, preventing HIV infection is as simple as ABC - A for Abstinence, B for Being faithful and C for Condoms.’
- ‘Signals are as easy as ABC for the trader with the right tools and know-how.’
simple, not difficult, straightforward, clear, accessible, direct, undemanding, unexacting, unchallenging, unsophisticated, trouble-free, painless, effortless, easy, facile, elementary, idiot-proof, plain sailing, a five-finger exercise, nothingView synonyms
Pronunciation
1American Broadcasting Company.
2Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Pronunciation
noun
USinformal
An American-born person of Chinese descent.
‘like many ABCs, his identity is a tapestry’- ‘Though some ABCs want to be recognized as "real Chinese," I don't.’
- ‘I'm a little surprised when an ABC has bad grammar.’
- ‘If it has taught us one central lesson, it may well be that the world known as Chinese America is populated with all of us - women, men, FOBs, and ABCs - and together we can better achieve our vision for tomorrow.’
adjective
USinformal
Relating to or denoting American-born people of Chinese descent.
‘some ABC parents send their children to Chinese language schools’- ‘David said he was ABC, American Born Chinese.’
- ‘I have an ABC friend who speaks much worse Chinese than me, but nobody pushes her to switch to English when they talk with her.’
Origin
1970s: from the initial letters of American-born Chinese.
