a short railroad track, opening onto a main track at one or both ends, on which one of two meeting trains is switched until the other has passed.
2.
any of several varieties of weatherproof facing for frame buildings, composed of pieces attached separately as shingles, plain or shaped boards, or of various units of sheet metal or various types of composition materials.
side with/against, to favor or support or refuse to support one group, opinion, etc., against opposition; take sides, as in a dispute: He always sides with the underdog.
Idioms
25.
on the side, Informal.
a.
separate from the main issue or point of interest.
b.
in addition to one's regular, or known work, interest, relationships, etc.: She tried selling cosmetics on the side. He dates another girl on the side.
c.
as a side dish: a hamburger with French fries on the side.
26.
on the (adjective) side, rather more than less; tending toward (the quality or condition specified): This cake is a little on the sweet side.
27.
side by side,
a.
next to one another; together.
b.
closely associated or related; in proximity: A divided city in which democracy and communism must live side by side.
28.
take sides, to give one's support to one person or group in a dispute; be partial to one side: We were careful not to take sides for fear of getting personally involved.
29.
the far side, the farther or opposite side: the far side of the moon.
Origin: before 900; Middle English; Old English sīde (noun); cognate with Dutch zijde,German Seite,Old Norse sītha
c.1600, "a taking of sides in a conflict or debate," from side (q.v.). First attested 1825 in the railroad sense; 1829 in the architectural sense of "boarding on the sides of a building."
"to cut into sides" (of meat), c.1470, from side (n.). Meaning "to support one of the parties in a discussion, dispute, etc.," is first attested 1591, from side (n.) in the fig. sense; earlier to hold sides (c.1489).
n. a side of a record (recording). (Refers to older vinyl recording.) : Let's cruise over to Sam's pad and hear some sides.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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