pleasure

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(I) don't believe I've had the pleasure

I haven't met you yet or before. I don't believe I've had the pleasure—nice meeting you, George. A: "John, have you met Sally?" B: "No, don't believe I've had the pleasure yet." A: "Ted, this is Susan. Have you met her before?" B: "I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Hello, Susan—nice to meet you."

(it is) (one's) pleasure

One was glad to do it and would do it again. A response to "thank you." A: "Thanks for picking up that package for me." B: "Oh, it was my pleasure. Happy I could help." A: "Thank you so much for helping my children, officer." B: "My pleasure, ma'am." It was my pleasure! I'm so glad you liked the cake I made.

See also: pleasure

at (one's) pleasure

In the manner and timeframe that one wants. And if you don't like their work, you can fire them at your pleasure. It's despicable how pharmaceutical companies are able to raise prices for life-saving drugs at their pleasure. Whether or not you get a bonus is at your boss's pleasure, so you better impress her!

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at Her Majesty's pleasure

For an indeterminate length of time, as of one who is being held in prison. Primarily heard in UK. If you break the law while you're in London, they can keep you in prison at Her Majesty's pleasure, you know. You can try to keep me here at Her Majesty's pleasure, but we'll see what my lawyer has to say about that! Is John still being held at Her Majesty's pleasure? For a crime he even didn't commit?

See also: pleasure

business before pleasure

proverb Work or responsibilities should be addressed before fun. I would much rather play video games than study, but business before pleasure, I guess. Come on, everyone, business before pleasure. We can talk about our weekend plans after the meeting. The athletes who make it to the big leagues know the importance of business before pleasure.

guilty pleasure

Something that one enjoys or finds pleasurable but knows or feels to be bad, inferior, aberrant, or lowbrow, especially as might be perceived or judged by other people. I know these gossip magazines are trashy, but reading them on my commute home is my guilty pleasure! My husband watches a lot of trashy TV at night—not that I don't have my guilty pleasures, too, mind you. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I really love watching cheesy horror movies.

have had the pleasure

To have met someone before. I'm sorry, I haven't had the pleasure—are you George's wife? A: "Jim, have you met Holly before?" B: "No, I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure. Hi there, nice to meet you." A: "Have you met the CEO yet?" B: "No, I haven't had the pleasure, but that sounds unnerving!"

he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime

proverb Because sailing can be so dangerous and unpredictable, those who choose to do it for enjoyment must like things that others would find unpleasant. My friend loves taking his boat out on the ocean, but I used to be a sailor, so I know that he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime. After you've almost died in a violent storm out on the ocean, you know that he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime! When we kids would delight in going out on the family boat, our grandfather would issue a stern warning—"He that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime."

See also: for, go, he, hell, pastime, pleasure, sea, that, to

it's a pleasure

I am or was glad to do it and would do it again. A polite response to "thank you." A: "Thanks for picking up that package for me." B: "Oh, it was a pleasure. Happy I could help." A: "Thank you so much for your help with everything." B: "It's a pleasure being of service, ma'am."

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lady of pleasure

euphemism A prostitute. A: "I think that Lord Stewart is spending time with a lady of pleasure." B: "No, surely not!"

mix business with pleasure

To do something that brings together some aspect of one's professional life with that of one's personal life. The week-long retreat is meant to combine business with pleasure—allowing employees to relax as they would on any vacation, while doing some corporate bonding activities meant to improve workplace relations and morale. You shouldn't date a co-worker—don't mix business with pleasure.

stolen pleasures are (the) sweetest

That which is illicit or illegal is all the more enticing simply by being illicit or illegal. Some people end up cheating on their spouses and partners not out of some deep affection for the other person, but because stolen pleasures are sweetest. Why slave away all day to buy nice things with our hard-earned money when there are ways to get them for free? Stolen pleasures are the sweetest, after all.

there is no pleasure without pain

Every enjoyable thing in life requires some amount of sacrifice or suffering to obtain it. I've had to pull 80-hour work weeks to get this project done before I go on vacation for the summer. Ah well, there's no pleasure without pain. You're only going to get your dream job by putting in the time and effort of developing your talents and gaining relevant experience. There is no pleasure without pain, after all.

See also: no, pain, pleasure, there, without

To what do I owe the pleasure?

A formal phrase used to inquire into the purpose of someone's visit, whether it is a welcome one or not. Professor Goodwin! Why, I haven't seen you in nearly five years. To what do I owe the pleasure? A: "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Chief Inspector Hugo." B: "Good evening, Inspector, and welcome to our humble shop. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

What's your pleasure?

What would you like? Typically used when giving one a choice, often of drinks. A: "What's your pleasure today, Sam?" B "Oh, just an iced tea for me, Lois. Thanks."

with pleasure

It would be my pleasure to do that. Used to politely express cordial acceptance of or consent to something. A: "We're hosting a panel next month about the implications of climate change, if you'd be interested in joining us as a speaker." B: "Yes, with pleasure." A: "Hi there, would you mind bringing this up to my room for me?" B: "With pleasure, sir."

See also: pleasure

Business before pleasure.

Prov. You should finish your work before starting to relax and enjoy yourself. Alan: Hi, Ted. Shall we get something to drink? Ted: Business before pleasure, Alan. Do you have the reports I asked you to bring? I'd love to go water-skiing with you now, but I have a few things to do in the office first. Business before pleasure, I'm afraid.

He that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime.

Prov. Being a sailor is so unpleasant that anyone who would do it for fun must be crazy. Old Sailor: Why did you decide to go to sea? Young Sailor: I thought it would be fun. Old Sailor: He that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime.

See also: for, go, he, hell, pastime, sea, that, to

(I) don't believe I've had the pleasure.

Fig. an expression meaning I haven't met you yet. Tom: I'm Tom Thomas. I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Bill: Hello. I'm Bill Franklin. Tom: Nice to meet you, Bill. Bill: Likewise. Bob: Looks like rain. Fred: Sure does. Oh, I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Bob: I'm Bob, Bob Jones. Fred: My name is Fred Wilson. Glad to meet you.

My pleasure.

1. You're welcome.; It is my pleasure to do so. (From It's my pleasure. There is a stress on both words.) Mary: Thank you for bringing this up here. Bill: My pleasure. Jane: Oh, Doctor, you've really helped Tom. Thank you so much! Doctor: My pleasure.

2. Happy to meet you.; Happy to see you. Sally: Bill, meet Mary, my cousin. Bill: My pleasure.

See also: pleasure

stolen fruit is sweetest

and stolen pleasures are sweetest

Prov. People often enjoy illicit things just because they are illicit. To judge from the number of his extramarital affairs, John must believe that stolen pleasures are sweetest.

There is no pleasure without pain.

Prov. For every pleasure you enjoy, you must suffer some pain. We had a fabulous vacation, but it's going to take us years to pay for it. Oh, well, there's no pleasure without pain. Yesterday I basked in the warm sunshine all afternoon; today I'm badly sunburned. There is no pleasure without pain.

See also: no, pain, pleasure, there, without

With pleasure.

a phrase indicating eager consent to do something. Fred: Would you please take this note over to the woman in the red dress? Waiter: With pleasure, sir. Sue: Would you kindly bring in the champagne now? Jane: With pleasure.

See also: pleasure

at Her (or His) Majesty's pleasure

detained in a British prison.

See also: pleasure

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

at your/somebody’s ˈpleasure

(formal) as you want; as somebody else wants: The land can be sold at the owner’s pleasure.

See also: pleasure

have had the ˈpleasure

(formal) have been introduced to somebody before: ‘Tony, have you met Angela Evans?’ ‘No, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.’

it’s a ˈpleasure

used after somebody thanks you for doing something to help them: ‘Thanks for the meal.’ ‘It’s a pleasure.’

See also: pleasure

with ˈpleasure

(formal) used for accepting an offer, invitation, etc. or for saying that you are willing to do what somebody has requested: ‘Would you like to come and have lunch on Sunday?’ ‘With pleasure. I’d love to come.’

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my pleasure

Used to acknowledge an expression of gratitude.

See also: pleasure

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in classic literature ?

"Sunday pleasures are religious: monseigneur goes to mass, makes the bread-offering, and has discourses and instructions made to him by his almoner-in-ordinary.

"Rustic pleasures, as I have had the honor to tell you, monsieur le chevalier.

"Peste!" said D'Artagnan, "you don't divide your pleasures badly.

"Thursday, Olympian pleasures. Ah, monsieur, that is superb!

"Deuce take the Olympic pleasures! They must cost your master too dear, for widows and orphans "

"Friday, noble and warlike pleasures. We hunt, we fence, we dress falcons and break horses.

View in context

The property of causing such a cycle of occurrences is called "discomfort"; the property of the mental occurrences in which the cycle ends is called " pleasure." The actions constituting the cycle must not be purely mechanical, i.e.

View in context

I would not have the shadow of a coolness between the two whose intimacy I have been observing with the greatest pleasure, and in whose characters there is so much general resemblance in true generosity and natural delicacy as to make the few slight differences, resulting principally from situation, no reasonable hindrance to a perfect friendship.

Fanny's spirits lived on it half the morning, deriving some accession of pleasure from its writer being himself to go away.

This ought to be a day of pleasure. My uncle meant it so."

and it will be a day of pleasure. It will all end right.

The ball, too--such an evening of pleasure before her!

View in context

A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied.

View in context

And as in himself there was a succession of pleasures, and the new got the better of the old and took away their rights, so he being younger will claim to have more than his father and his mother, and if he has spent his own share of the property, he will take a slice of theirs.

He first takes their property, and when that falls, and pleasures are beginning to swarm in the hive of his soul, then he breaks into a house, or steals the garments of some nightly wayfarer; next he proceeds to clear a temple.