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[above all]{adv. phr.} Of first or highest importance; most especially. •/Children need many things, but above all they need love./ Syn.: FIRST AND LAST.

[above suspicion]{adj. phr.} Too good to be suspected; not likely to do wrong. •/The umpire in the game must be above suspicion of supporting one side over the other./

[absent without leave (AWOL)]{adj.} Absent without permission; used mostly in the military. •/Jack left Fort Sheridan without asking his commanding officer, and was punished for going AWOL./

[absentia] See: IN ABSENTIA.

[Acapulco gold]{n., slang} Marijuana of an exceptionally high quality. •/Jack doesn’t just smoke pot, he smokes Acapulco gold./

[accord] See: OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD or OF ONE’S OWN FREE WILL.

[according as]{conj.} 1. Depending on which; whichever. •/You may take an oral or written exam according as you prefer./ 1. Depending on whether; if. •/We will play golf or stay home according as the weather is good or bad./

[according to]{prep.} 1. So as to match or agree with; so as to be alike in. •/Many words are pronounced according to the spelling but some are not./ •/The boys were placed in three groups according to height./ 2. On the word or authority of. •/According to the Bible, Adam was the first man./

[according to one’s own lights]{adv. phr.} In accordance with one’s conscience or inclinations. •/Citizens should vote according to their own lights./

[account] See: CALL TO ACCOUNT, CHARGE ACCOUNT, LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT, ON ACCOUNT, ON ACCOUNT OF, ON ONE’S ACCOUNT, ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT, SAVINGS ACCOUNT, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

[ace] See: WITHIN AN ACE OF.

[ace in the hole]{n. phr.} 1. An ace given to a player face down so that other players in a card game cannot see it. •/When the cowboy bet all his money in the poker game he did not know that the gambler had an ace in the hole and would win it from him./ 2. {informal} Someone or something important that is kept as a surprise until the right time so as to bring victory or success. •/The football team has a new play that they are keeping as an ace in the hole for the big game./ •/The lawyer’s ace in the hole was a secret witness who saw the accident./ Compare: CARD UP ONE’S SLEEVE.

[Achilles' heel]{n. phr.}, {literary} A physical or psychological weakness named after the Greek hero Achilles who was invulnerable except for a spot on his heel. •/John’s Achilles' heel is his lack of talent with numbers and math./

[acid head]{n.}, {slang} A regular user of LSD on whom the hallucinogenic drug has left a visible effect. •/The reason John acts so funny is that he is a regular acid head./

[acid rock]{n.}, {slang} A characteristic kind of rock in which loudness and beat predominate over melody; especially such music as influenced by drug experiences. •/John is a regular acid rock freak./

[acorn] See: GREAT OAKS PROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.

[acoustic perfume]{n.}, {slang} Sound for covering up unwanted noise, such as music over loudspeakers in a noisy construction area. •/Let’s get out of here — this acoustic perfume is too much for my ears./