physical
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Related to physical: physical fitness, physical education
be physical (with one)
1. To make physical contact with someone in a sexual manner. We decided to wait a couple of months before we were physical with each other. I know she's eager to be more physical, but I'm just not ready yet. A: "Have you two been physical yet?" B: "A lady never tells!"
2. To act in a physically violent or aggressive manner toward one. My dad could be scary when he got angry, but he was never physical with us. Come on, you've got to start getting physical out there! The other team is pushing you guys around! If the kids start to bicker, you should try to separate them at once. They'll be much harder to wrangle once they're physical with each other.
See also: physical
get physical
1. To be or become inclined toward or characterized by sexual physical contact. We dated for a couple of months before things got physical. I was having a great time with her, but I got nervous when it started getting physical. I do love Billy, but I'm scared because relationships change when things get physical, you know?
2. To escalate from a verbal confrontation to outright violence. If the kids start to bicker, you should try to separate them before they get physical. I'm used to them yelling at each other, but I was shocked when the argument got physical. Hey, no kicking! I know you're upset, but do not get physical with your brother!
get physical with (one)
1. To begin making physical contact with someone in a sexual manner. We dated for a couple of months before we got physical with each other. I was having a great time with her, but I got nervous when she started getting physical with me. I do love Billy, but I'm scared to get physical with him because of how much that can change a relationship, you know?
2. To use physical violence or force against one. If the kids start to bicker, you should try to separate them before they get physical with each other. After trying to resolve the issue with words, the bouncer got physical with the drunken customer and literally threw him out of the bar. Hey, no kicking! I know you're upset, but do not get physical with your brother!
physical break
A short period of time in which one stops what they are doing in order to move their body. Recess is so important—the kids need a physical break in the school day as an outlet for excess energy. OK, everyone, let's take a physical break for half an hour. Walk around, stretch, do what you need to do.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*physical
(with someone)1. . Lit. physical in the use of force against someone. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The coach got in trouble for getting physical with some members of the team. When the suspect wouldn't cooperate, the police were forced to get physical.
2. Fig. physical in touching someone in lovemaking. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) I've heard that Bill tends to get physical with his dates. I don't care if he gets physical—within reason.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
get physical
Make physical contact, either forcefully or sexually. For example, Stop pushing-there's no need to get physical, or Thirteen is too young to get physical in that way. [Slang; second half of 1900s]
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.
get physical
1 become aggressive or violent. 2 become sexually intimate with someone. 3 take exercise. informalFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017