_'XV

My 2 7

'40

^^ttiLyjuf*

CHARLES
COLLECTION
CHINA AND THE CHINESE

THE GIFT OF

CHARLES WILLIAM WASON

CLASS OF 1876
1918

DltTIONARY
OF

IDIOMATIC ENGLISH PHRASES

BY

James Main Dixon, M.A.

Translated by

CmLU Chi
Edited by

IvJlm:,

Queen's GjQege, Hongkong.

CH. ^^.

lAT. YE^KT.

m m m m m m

M^

m m m m ^ m ^

&^

m m

^\]

w m m
Commeecial Pbbss, Ltd.
3977

SHANGHAI:
Printed and Published by the

1909.

EXPLANATION OF

SIGNS.

(P')

(^)

Good

Prose.
tions,

The phrase can be used

in serious composi-

(C.)

(M)

Conversational.
tion.

The phrase

is

suiled

to

polite

conversa-

(F.)

('^)

Familiar.

The phrase must be used guardedly,

as

it

is

scarcely suitable for polite society.

(S.)

()

Slang.

The phrase

is

to be

avoided,

if

possible,

by an

educated person.

\i5A-t^

-J>c=H:<=a <-

lit 1,1

PL I455.D62" ""'"""' """'^

W4 PO
-S)

um
;< -

oo c

t-;^^:^

^ Wall Literature ft n A ^ ^ lli?n ^ ^n ^ P M f^ ^ * 1' ^p 7C g ^ t& 1^ ft (Imitation age) ^ Ml: IS ^ ?^ 1^ IE M

f^

alM H

;2:

pj

ffi

ThI

t^^^#BlJX^^i3J^DM*;i Beowulf ^^ I^ E ^ hurly-burly ;i ^ Alfred Z^^^M Bosomui ;i ^ ^ ^ a M fg ^ ^ I ^ ^ ^ ti^SSA;i'lf a^tclilStt^M^^Stl?j

ffc

>f^

:5t

IJ

w^m:s.-xm

M.m.mmm^.mzmn.mx^z

m^mm:^^i^mmwixmm^m'^^ZK

m^^Mr^'^m^mmmz^mzMimz
^^"mMM

^ A Dixon m^u^^-M-^ xm^m^wm

tionary of Idiomatic Phrase

^T#-bS/@:ftTMM

mmmm^zMw:knzmitmm&.m^m

._

m m m
OF

f^

m M

DICTIONARY

ENGLISH IDIOMS.
o^*-

ABA
A
A.1 first-class,
Jl -L np
A.l
struction,
(iT)-

very good

(F.),

Jl;M^,M^,M

term applied to a vessel of the best conand in the best condition for sailing. Lloyd's Coffee-house in London was the resort of sea-captains, and the name is still retained for the head-quarters of the shipping interest in London. Here people get the latest shipping intelligence and transact marine insurances.
at Lloyd's is the

One
off

of

them takes

his five pints of ale a day,

and never

leaves

smoking even at his meals.

^ii>m-A,'^B fk^'&ms.R, m%:k'&^^^:^^

'lie

must be a

flrst-riter,'- said

Sam. 'A.l,'

replied Mr. Roker.

Dickens.

Aback

To take aback Hfi - # {%)

to surprise or astonish

(P.),

# iE;

ill

Originally a sea-phrase; used when the sails were suddenly shifted order to Stop the vessel or give it a backward motion.

When news came

-^-

that his wife

had not been

there,

he was quite

taken aback (surprised).

[23

ABE
To abide by
out (P.),

Abide

^to

fulfil, to
;

refuse to depart from, to carry

ifi,

M^

:^ rT

^^

^ If, B& l (^).

M
his

Above

Above-boardopenly,

without trickejy (C), iS.Q;

The man who cheats at cards keeps

board.
'

hands under the table or

JimmWiA^, ^ ^ ^ :^ TIt is the part also of

an honest

man to

deal above-board (openlyV

and without

tricks.
-

&SA5-eEmj#iKf'aa^i!i.
Also used in the sense of
'

V Estrange.

without concealment or shame.'

Now-a-days

villanies are

owned above-board.

Exp.

At present

villanies are

owned without shame.

Abraham

To sham Abraham^-to

feign sickjiess or distress (S.),

An Abraham-man in England was a licensed beggar, who on account of mental weakness had been placed in the Abraham Ward of Bethlehem Hospital and was allowed on certain days to go begging. Numerous impostors took advantage of this privilege.
,

S^it, ;i ^ll#S SftA. 51 M ffi^U IS ^ fe ft. ^ S :tS)KltKAa SB^ii, :i3rf^2,=iittl J^fc3SIffi tft

I
>
"

have heard people say

;

That, sham Abraham you may, But you-,mustE't sham Abraham N^wland.

^r^A#>LA"BraW^^.ti3i-;y"Rr^ft2if6tft?^Mffl.
'

'

,;

'
.

--

.,

]From\an old Song.

Exp. I have heard people say that you may impose on people.by atnJe-af distressj 'tiat- yon must not impose on Abraham Newlarid (who was cashier to the B.ank of England and signed its notes.
This of course wpuld
jse

a.penal offence).

'

Abroad

AH abfciad-^in a state ;of perpleptity

(F..),

W SL ^ M M
;

ACT
The female boarder
fact,

[3]

in bluck attire, looked so puzzled, and, in "all abroad''^ (perplexed after the delivery of this "counter" of mine, that I left her to recover her wits, and went on with the

conversation.

Holmes.

Abroad

The school-master is abroadgood education is spreading everywhere

(P.),
::fe

^f S-

H;

JE

^ M P. ^ W ^

this Let the soldier be abroad if he will, he can do nothing in the in imposing Ifess personage a, personage, age. There is another Ihe sdiool-maiter u abroad, and eyes of some, perhaps iusignificaut. the soldier in full I trust to him, armed with his primer, against

military array.

a.

m^^mW:-m.Bm^mWmm^%'
Act

Lord Brougham.

To act a partto behave

hypocritically, to carry out

(P.), 7/1

designs under a false cloak

/^

ffi

Bl

ife

H^

Your

friend

is

either a fool, or

he

is

acting a part.

Exp.

and

Your friend is either a fool, or own. carrying out some design of his

he

is

behaving insincerely

^ ^
be prevented by any

Act of Godan event which cannot human foresight, but_ is the result of uncontrollable struck by lightning natural forces, e.g. when a ship is
and destroyed
(P.),

^M, A^^W^^B :tm,7i%

and accidents
of the

all the dangers act of God, fire, and ordinary riAs. sea are not accepted as

The

^^ ^^^^^^^^

To

profession-to behave in act up to a promise or what promises or profession a suitable way, considering
one has made
5

to fulfil

them

(P.),

^ IS;

H ^T,

[4]

AFF
Religious people must be very careful to act up to (not to fall below) the high standard of conduct which they proclaim to others.

^d

Ad avizanduminto further consultation and consideration (C.) A Scottish legal phrase. [Latin] S 'K M;
,

Meanwhile I shall take your proposal ad avizandum (consider your proposal more carefully).

Ad

libitum
You

as

much
ad

as

you

please,

to

any extent.

are allowed bread

libitum at a

French

hotel.

Ad valoremaccording
An ad
Japan.
valorem duty of 5 p.

to the value (P.)

[Latin]

fe

c. is

imposed on

all

goods coming into

Adam

Adam's

ale or

Adam's wine

pure water

(C),

^ ;^ (M)my mouth

Some take a glass of porter to their dinner, but I slake with Adam's wine.
Exp.

Some take a

glass of porter to their dinner, but I drink

only pure water.

Son of Adama man

But
as all sons of

(C),

M'&ffiW;BI?^ai: im).

the

hare something or other to say to and especially to his daughters, this little village carried on some commerce with the outer world.
rest,

Adam must

^W^W, iS*;'cTia:Sf^^^=tt*.
Exp. But as
all

Blackmore.

men and

to have friendly intercourse with other with other women, this little x-illage, though very retired, carried on some dealings with the outer world.

men need

especially

?F ir

*, M m

Jib

aiis g -

Bi,

ifs

i^ f IS

?!p

^ ^ ft ?K

Bffl

gf m.
'jg

Affaire

Affaire

du

ccenr

a love

affair.

A French

phrase,

ALL
Afternoon,

[5]
loses the best
jft;

An

afternoon fanner

one who
man

time for

work, a lazy dilatory

(Fl), ff

^ Mil, #

John was too much of an afternoon farmer to carry on the business

auceessfully.

*^#i:
Exp.
business

ffi

SK , W 1

SIC

e BR

*.

John's habits were too dilatory for liim ^o succeed in the

Agog

All

agog in a state 6i activity or restless expectation (F-),

So three doors
off the chaise

was

stayted,

Where they

did

all

get in
all

Six precious souls, arid

agog
\

To dash through
.

thick and thin.

I? in SE, ft It mfiS-

Cowper.
;

Exp.
obstacle.

Six precious souls and very eager to dash through every

Airs

To give

one's self airs to be conceited or arrogant in behaviour (C), (ife)-'

^M;^M.^K

'And these girls used to hold their heads above mine, and mother used to give herself such airs,' said Mrs. Baynes.

their

&cW.-kJ'^^M-i<.,%n--^&mm.K.
Exp.

ThtKieray.

And

and

their niother used to be so

these girls ufied to think themselves superior to me, haughty in her behaviour.

a. jifa||*^t il8Mffiia, ^^tt^Fiffii-

All

On

all

.fours using both hands and

feet in progression

He looked up and beheld what he judged, bj^ the voice, to be Mrs. Armytage; her face was averted from him, 'and kept close to the cliff, down which she had been proceeding backward, and on
all

fours (using

hands as well

as feet), until fear

and giddiness had

checked her progress.

All in allr(tf) templetely, wholly, (b) the dearest {%). object of affection (P.), JE;|^.;1# M,

'^MmM

re]
Trust me, not at
ajl

or all in

aK

(entirely.)

^i^^.M^Desdemona, a happy-young wife, suddenly wraps her a dark cloud, and admired by) her husband.
till.a

Tennyson.

wicked enchanter's breath

in all to (intensely loved
-'^

is all

# m is js ^ -a # ^ ig ^ jgis , It SF a ^ ^ Blackwood's Magazine. ^^m^>taMAS.S.Bf^,

ji

All in

my

be believed

my eye.

eye and Betty Martin rnonsense, not to (S.) Found in the contracted form, all in A corruption of the commencement of a Latin

prayer, '0 mihi, beate Martine,'

'^MlM^,M^

'Your neighbour
try.'

is

about to
eye

sell his

'That's all in
JiS

my
S,

and

Betty Martin (I *&, ffl

property and leave the coundon't believe it).'

ffi

S'^

^H

jBi

S ?P II.

draws tears from me,' and his weak eye took to lettin' off its water; so as soon as the chap went, he winks to me with t'other one, quite knowin', as much as to say, 'You see it's all in my eye, Slick, but don't let on to any one about it, that I said so.'
Says he,
'It fairly
=ff

;t

^, f,

SiJ JEl

* ^ - S m'^ &.
^,
ffl

te'-fe,

IS BE *a

:^

-Rr

^ A 5t, 11

Jt.

^ 0, d: at it 3; ai S
in Ji

fS"

s 5.

HalibuTton.

Exp. He said 'It really draws tears from.me,' and his weak eye began to let off its water so as soon as the man went, he wanked to me with the other one, quite slyly, as if, to say, 'You see its all humbug, Slick, but do not tellany one about it, that I said so.'
;

^^Af}^.m&.^m-s !k^mmm^ix ^ 0, gi J* :!fiWimmm,m mm^, is.:^ :sr^^A5tSiSfj.

sa-fe,
,*.

All serene very good,

time a popular
'=w

all right,

I agree to

it.

At one

sti-eet etj:

in Jvonjiion

(S.), 6!l fi^

^ 5f

^mzmat
shall

'You will meet me to-night 'All serene (Yes, I the money.

'

therailway station, and bring me meet you and bring the money).'

All there Gl^ver, able.^possessing quick

faculties (C),

m m. B %,m % ^ :^ m)'

ANG
,

[7J
tell

Our

friend the judgeds; all there, I can

' . ;
,

you, iand

knows what

Keis about.

fully

Ek^. Our friend the judge is a clever man, I assure you, and understands how best to act.
iS:

,-tt.

K -& sg, 1^ s: ^ IT,

sai

ffl^-

A.

ita

ffi

iS,

:;&

Alma

Alma mater nourishing mother;

to a university

name

often applied
,

by

its.

graduates (P.)

[Latin]

jfiitll;

Alter

Alter ego one who is very near and dear to a person, an inseparable friend (P.) [Latin] J^^'^M.) "MW^
,

am

his alter ego

nay, he only sees what I choose to

it
:fe

show

hini,

and through the

his nose.'

spectacles, as

were, that I place on the bridge of

^
Amour

7&

^ ^ iS
prdpi^

.>

P-

if 1i

ftl,

.* 6

J9f

iiS

:i

#,

S&

Amour
You

esteem : ^mx)mm@#;
s6lf

(P.)
...
it

French phrase,
.

should not

call

her 'child?'

wounds her amour propre

(sense of personal dignity).

Angel

To entertain an angel unawaresto

Bible, Genesis,
phrase. (P.),

be hospitable to
See the

a guest whose good qualities are unknown.

XVIIIth
BS

chapter, for the origin of the

ilJ
.

^ M. R A ;^ BS ^ II ^

^B

He had
(not

'himself, for these

always esteemed his sister; but as he now confessed to many years he had been entertaining an angel unawares
very good a

known how
jfe
jifc,

woman

she was).
J- p<^yn-

i$j,

-s
%^ iiii

B/r

m :t m ?^ .^ m Oi ^visits,

Aligels' visitsr-pleasant

Qccu^ring very rarely (P.),

i; 1 mnm.m mz%m.> mmm^ {%)

[8]

APP
.How fading
are the joys we dote upon, like apparitions seen and gone But those which soonest take their flight
'

Are the most exquisite and strong Like angels' visits, short and bright, Mortality's too weak to bear them long.
i^

^ ktwis ^ m, ^ m WL .

is,

^,

yf^-^

}i.

^mm'^-

John Morrit.

In

visits

Like those of angels, short and far

betifreen.

Blair,

The Angel of the schools

philosopher -(P.),

or

The Angelic Doctor

a naine given to Thomas Aquinas, the great scholastic

nm^m;'^^mmmmKm
(P-),

Apple

Apple of Sodom

a specious thing, which disappoints

The so-called 'apples of Sodom ,' as described by Josephus, had a fair appearance externally, but when bitten dissolved in smoke and dust.
It will

prove

when

attained, a very apple of

Sodom dying between

the

hand and the mouth.

Like to the apples on the Dead Sea shore
All ashes to the taste.

f$UJ^m'iS.-i.m.Sk,m^^m. Apple of one's eye a mueh-prized

Byron.

treasure (P.),

^
and

have kept her as

the apple of

my

eye

(my

dearest treasure),

she runs away from

me

to you.

Poor Richard was to

me

as

an eldest

son, the apple of

my eye.
Scott.

^^Ei^3gin

^1^,?U@SP.3*.

To make apple-pie beds

to fold

one of the sheets of

a bed (removing the other) so as to

make

it

impossible

for the intending occupant to stretch his legs

a
tir

com-

mon practical joke

(P.)

:^

^ fill (^)

(jifc

J^

^^

APR

[9]

'Nohoy in any school could have mor'- HheTty, even where allthe nobleinen's sons are allowed to make apple-pie bed$ for their masters (disarrange the beds of their teachers.)

Apple of discord

something which causes

strife (P.),

Eris, the goddess of hate, threw a golden apple among the goddesses, with this inscription attached 'to the most beautiful.' Three goddesses claimed the prize and quarrelled over its possession Hera, Pallas and Aphrodite (Venus), Paris, son of Priam, was appointed arbiter, and decided in favour of the last.

*^

at ft

^ H, S :^ ^ # {^ ;t, i^ Ji ;t mi * S A, ^ * ^ ff ft ii ^ K m ^ a ^
iSS
,

.?,i5

IS,

Jit

.Kl

fill

A a a ti ;t g^

.B5,

Eii&ffiA,^j^jib^,fii^*ilJii6i#(Sfii.ffiiP<M-a).
Not Cytherea (Venus) from a fairer swain Received her apple on the Trojan plain.
Falconer.

This spoon of the dead sister was quite an apple of discord (the cause
of

many

quarrels.)

it IB

a 5E i ]?, M ^ A +B # #. M ^ #

-a.

This great and wealthy church constantly foBned an apple of

discord (a subject of quarrel).

&mW^mm.itmW^,-:=(^'^mA^^Apple-pie order

Freeman.

extreme neatness (C), ^ '^ ^ ^,

Dolly was anxious to have everything in applerpie order (neatly arranged) before the squire should visit her.

The
/>

children's garden

is

in apple-pie order.

a * ;t ?E a * ^ ^ i^.

LockhaH.

Apropos des bottes

having

previous conversation (C.)

no connection with the A French phrase, /f?

.

The secretary, however, was not the main to own himself vanquished, even in anecdote, hut at once began to descant (very much apropos des hoites (without any connection or apparent cause), as it seemed) upoBi a euriojia Anglo-French iharriage case that had that day appeared
i

in the newspapers.

R sf IB a ji f '^A^mmm.^m&i
.

:?c

tB

Bu i SI St

*.

'3: p(c

m S *^ A
Payn.

J.

ART
Arm

Arm
It

in

arm- walking
,

in friendly fashion with

arms
them

linked (P.)
i

H^

ISI

^;

ffi

^ W,(k).
ito
:

was an agreeable surprise to 'lier, therefore, walking up to the house together, arm in arm.

perceive

>

W A tS *

Is! fi',

* ^ ^ ^, r A 2. ?* ^

tU

M ^
(P.)
,

Mrs. Oliphant.

Under arms

Jt 3 JT Hi #' (3SC); !g ^ Jgi #, ^, M In a moment the troops were under arms tin batitle array). Kohertson. i^mW^ K,
;

bearing arms, m martial array B ^

'

{if

To bear arms^^to
He was condemned

serve as a soldier (P.)

tSt

M.'^i

for bearing arms (fighting) against the king.

Stand to your arms

fighting! (P.)
(There was) no cry of
pressive of danger near at
'

,%i^mm:tu4i' ix).
Stand to your arms!' or other notices ex-

place yourself

in readiness for

hand
to anger,

Up
'

in

arms

roused

ready to fight

(P.),

^ ^;

No,' said Kate,

now fairly up in arms (really angry and rebellious),

s,

'

it is

not

just,

mmm^,n^m^ m, b pp
Arriere
Arriere pens^e
You may be
S6

papa.'

m *n

hidden motive
afe

iit, $ :ip a- it. Mrs. Oliphant.

(P.)

A French phrase,

sure I

M a .s ^, a ^ i6
or

had no amJrepens&iii giving you this advice

fl^.-

Art

To be

have art and part in

to

be concerned either

in the contrivance or execution of

(P.),

T^MW' MW^
;

"My dear," said she, "it's the foolery of being Governor if you choose to sacrifice all your comfort to being the first rung in the ladder, don't blame me fox it I didh't nominate you; I had no art norpaHinU (waa wholly unconcerned in contriving or carrying out your nomination)."

M,mnik

^^'^^*-

mB -^ Alt ,- '^ f^^-m^m:^^^mm&m,

Baliburton.

Athenian

AUG The Athenian Bee a name given

Athenian philosopher,

[11]'
to -Platto, the great

^iSii3fH$i!:'C#

Attic

Attic saltwit or refined pleasantry (P.),

Triumph swam
salt
,

# ^ It (X)Sterne.
:

in

my

fatlier's eyes, at

the repartee, the Attic

brought water into them.

IfeSi^aX^^SniilS, :t1iiiB^.

Exp. My father showed triumph in his syes at the repartee was so charmingly witty that it brought tears of pleasure to them.

it

The Attic Bee

Greek dramatist

(P.),

name given to Sophocles, M A {%) (# Bt PI Si

stables

the great
rT

^S^

Augean

To cleanse the Augean

work
of purification (P.) of EliSj

to

perform a great

Augeas was a fabulous king

the task of cleans-

who imposed on Hercules

ing his stables, where 2000 oxen had lived for 30 years,
without any purification.
in one day,
ffi

XM^^. W IS ^ M !H M ^ ^ - =P ^ H + ^ M ^ ^ !^ * *T ^,
('fS

Hercules performed this task

Si,

If

ficiently

the Augean stable (sink of dramatic impurity) was not sufcleansed the strearn of public opinion was fairly directed
its

against

conglomerated impurities.
Scott.

^ ^.
Augustan

The Augustan agethe

refiniement in

period of highest purity and!

literature (P.) So called from whose rule Virgil and under the Emperor Augustus, Horace wrote their imihortal works, US f^

any national

WiM
jun

lie

m # It. m^ # R
is

^^S -A
{sj jfg

The reign
land.

of

Queen Anne

often called the

Augustan age of Eng-

Siri^18:. fiP^i33*:^iiSB?.

[12]

BAG
Aut
CsBsar aut nullus
,

Aut

[LatinJ

m JS ^

n,

:g ^;^; W^
niilliis

either CsBsar or
fSr

nobody

(P.)

361,

-*

mean

to be out Csisar aut

(either first or nothing at sdl)

in the concern.

^xe

An

axe to grind matter (C),

The
story is told

in a a personal pecuniary ^^MM; ^ A^t M ^ m^M :t'^ M

interest

father's

by Franklin, that when he was a boy in his yard, a pleasant-spoken man came up to him and made himself very agreeable. Among other things the -visitor praised the grindstone, and asked young Franklin to let him see how it worked.

He then got the boy to turn the stone, while he sharpened an axe he had with him. The boy was flattered with his compliments and honeyed words, and worked till his hands were bUstered. "When the man was satisfied he sent the boy off with an oath. That man had an axe to grindhe had a concealed reason for his conduct. All his politeness was prompted by selfish motives.
ttK5EiPJ*6 ,
;S

K ^ K * ^
:i

B-

1-

^.

it

^ ft ^^M!C

ffl,

w ^ s:
p^, 9f

=pj

it

^e, TIP *
ju >r

B^ St ai

- ^,

stiiffi^K.^i^

n n T i^ A,

M ^ # ji -a.

In the first place let me assure you, gentiemen, that I have not an axe to grind I can in no way be pecuniarily benefited by your adopting the system of bridges herein proposed.

mmm^m^mwm.mmmm'pm mti>,
B.
Back
To get
one's

back up
its

obstinate.

A cat when irritated and ready to spit

scratch arches

become roused, angry, and and back, the hair becoming erect (F.),
to

^mmwL;m^.mmM.i^){mnAWi^>r^m
There
is

no arguing with him, once

his

baok

is

up.

Exp.

He becomes quite unreasonable when in a state of irritation.

BAG
To break the back ofto
task (C.)
,

[13]
finish the hardest part
;

of:'

*r S^

M ^ 1 SM

li

^ (M).
my

I always try to break the back of (finish the hardest part of;

day's work before breakfast.

To give or make a back to stoop down, as in the game of leap-frog, that another may jump over you (F.) It is said that Napoleon, who was in the habit of
stooping as he walked, was on one occasion used as a back' by a volatile student, who mistook the general
'

for one of his companions,

iM^;ffiAt31WJlKlg,

The Major was giving a back

to Georgy.

^^WkW:^m.
Exp.
his back.

Thackeray.
so that

The Major was stooping

Georgy might leap over

To back the

field (in the language of betting) to bet in favour of the other horses in the field against a single one in particular (G.), i^, ^t

A^^K ^A*
;

To back
He

upto

support (C), f{ :&

|!/,

M fc (MY

prolonged Caesar's

command and

bached him, up (supported

him) in everything.

To back out
tion (C),

^ jg;

to retreat cautiously from; a difficult posiIS^

|^ ji If

(IS

(He was) determined that Morris should mot back out of the scrape so easily.

P-:^SI, n^4:il5/fC#IS^5iS.
Exp.

Scott.

He was

resolved that Morris should not escape from the

awkward

position they were in so easily.

^ ?r # ^ ^

ft

^-

.-,

[14]
Backstairs

BAD Backstairs influence private influence of an unworthy

nature,

underhand intrigue
'

at court (P.)

'

backstairs

one who is not trusted by the country, but is supported by domestic influence in the king's household. For instance the Earl of Pute was despised as a
minister
is

backstairs minister because he

owed

his position to the

favour of George Ill's mother, P9

^;

^ M, M ^ ^

The administration

of Swift's friends

plots (plots in the household of

was hampered by backstairs Queen Anne).

Bacon

To save

one's bacon

to escape

from personal injury,

generally in an undignified But

waj'' (F.),

^ ^; M S. M

as

he ran to save his bacon,

forsaken.

By hat and wig he was

Exp.

But as he ran to escape bodily hurt, he lost his hat and wig.

To

sell one's

bacon

to sell one's

body (C),

JJjl

J^ ff

To the Kaiser, therefore, And by him good charge

I sold

my

of the

whole

bacon, is taken. by Carlyle.

Hchiller trans,

Exp.
care of
it

I therefore sold

my

body

to the

Emperor, who takes good

and

of

me.

Bad

To go

to the

bad

to

become debauched,
ffi

to sink into

^ i^; ^, g A T S, mMrmim)(&mzm,f^mmmpoverty and disgrace (C),

(He) went, as the conunon saying expressively phrases itto the

bad.
Pall Mall Gazette.

Exp.

He became

a wreck.

BAG
To the bad
He

[15]
deficit or loss (C),

in debt, having a
up
lost 20 dollars).

found, on reckoning

his month's expenses, that he was 20

dollars to the

bad (had

E # -9

IS,

*& *a

)S5

^n+

IB-

Bad blood

angry and vindictive feelings

(P.), 7fJ

Jfll

There was bad blood between the neighbours, caused by an old

lawsuit.

Exp. The two neighbours had had a lawsuit, and towards each other afterwards.

felt bitterly

Bad debts debts

will

of

which there

is

no hope that they

everbe paid
his assets

(P.),

MU;

MM^ Wof

Among

he had included a number

bad debts (debts

that were hopeless).

To go bad (of meat

All the preserves I put

or food) to spoil (C), 15

I5C;

H,

m)im }M^Mb, milium }k^:tm)up

this

autumn have gone bad.

prepared this autumn have turn-

Exp. ed sour.

All the jams

and

jellies I

Bag and baggage completely,

hind
(P.)

leaving no property be-

The phrase was originally used of the comby an army

of

plete evacuation

an enemy's
(P.),

territory,

and

is

now employed
,

generally to signify the wished-

for departure of

an unwelcome guest

fS St
,

tfi

# jt M A ^ :s m
their Pashas, one

Ji;

^ (^)

(J5

bS ;t i^

-d ^g i(

The Turks. ..their Zaptiehs and Mudirs... their Kaimakams and and all, basr and baggage, shall, I hope, clear out

from the province they have desolated and profaned.

)K,
E5.

^ m X ^, ^ m % ^ ^ % % A^^ !^ a>

'^

m,

m 'A

M!^.

^.

"&

^ ?. ^ SK

3i

*.

Gladstone.

[I6J

BAL
Exp. The Turks and every Turkish official, with all their property and belongings, shall, I hope, quit the province (Bulgaria) they have desolated and profaned.

known

This expression of Mr. Gladstone's has given rise to what is as the 'bag-and-baggage polic^j^' in relation to the Turks todrive them completely out of Europe.

Ball

To have the

in a position to

ball at one's foot or before one to be command success, to have things in

one's power (C),

fja^i:;*ffi^Ji,inM:^,
sun,,

You have the ball before you, and have the wind and the and the power of contending without control.

Exp. You have full power to manage everything, and have circumstances in your favour, and no one to interfere with your actions.

^, 5c

^ ^a A T s".
son
is

'My
'

now demonstrator
5fe

in the University.' it

S 7- ^ A ^ ^,
Exp.

I?

gij ill

^.
at his feet.'

Ah, then,' said the Doctor,

'

he has the ball

a.

He is on the Bisa^st.
ball

certain road to success.

To keep the

up

or rolling

to

keep a conversation

going, to prevent an undertaking from flagging (C),

I put

a word in now and then to keep the

ball up.

Bentham.
Exp.
I

spoke occasionally in order to maintain the conversation.

If

the Spaniards

had not

lost

two armies
li!^

lately,

we should ifceep up

the hall for another year

mm ^ &

(continue the enterprise for another year).

^1^ ~m. ^ m

mm ^ ^ m - m.

Wellington,

BAR [171 To take up the ball to take one's turn in speaking or in an social matter ^ ^JH ^ (M).
J'

(G.),

Eosencrantz took up the

ball.

m
Exp.
t.

SE

* J* ft 5^ S g.
lU J6

G.

Em.

Eosencrantz took his turn in the conversation.

gj B3

?>t

^,

S ^ i^operations
(P.),

To open the

ball

to

commence

S iS;
the hall

together

Waltz and the battle of Austerlitz are said to have opened (commenced the operations of the year together).

^}i,^,2i.|Ii!rJr*B#m^li5^^Bfl*S.

Byron.

Sang

To bang the bush

before,

to surpass

anything that has gone

^Sj

M i %\ &,
I took

BU

il* A-

"My,"

said he, "if that don't

guess chap from

what

bang the bush; you are another you to be anyhow."

Halihurton.

Exp. " Eeally," said he, "if that does not exceed anything I have yet heard you are quite a different fellow from what I supposed you to be, at any rate."
;

^ A, m m ^j ^ M A ^.
Sanyan
Banyan-day
rations.

a day on which no meat served out for sea-term, ^ S9 M- ^ ^ 2: H (fK ^ ^ ^

is
;

Bargain

A wet bargain an agreement concluded by the parties

drinking liquor together (F. )
The recruit took the condition of a a wet bargain.
,

|p

?!

fT *^

Jf/^

^ M :S
make

soldier,

with a guinea to

it

9T j_

Windham.
recruit enlisted,
of the

The

and received a guinea that he might drink

agreement.

on the conclusion

Into the bargain

beyond
,

what has been

;

stipulated,

extra, besides (0.)

:^

^ ^ M, IS ^ f ^ (M) (H M
J

[18]
She
is

BAT
very pretty and has a nice
little

fortune into the bargain.

little,

Exp.

She

is

very pretty and has, moreover, a nice

fortune.

To make the best

of a bad bargain

to bear adverse
(P.),

circumstances in the best possible

way

S.

M^ ^

Men had made up their minds

help,

and

to

make

to submit to the best of a bad bargain.

what they could not

Freeman.

Exp. Men had resolved to submit to the inevitable, and to bear their bad luck with the best possible grace.

n s M :^Barmecide

A Earmecide feast a

banquet where there is nothing to eat (P.) The name comes iTOTa.i]ie Arabian Nights, where the story is told of a rich man Barmecide who invited a friend to dine with him. Dishes were brought to the table in due order, but there were no victuals in them-. The host, however, pretended to eat, and his guest had the politeness to imitate him. Afterwards a real feast was served to reward the man for his good humour,

%
sion,

It)-

Tommy,

outraged by the last glass of claret, thought the permisbeing of a hollow and Barmecide character, was a natural end-

ing to a banquet from which he rose

more hungry than when he

sat

down.
IBII

S5 3a

,
it

^ ^ IS S ^ a ^ ;i B. a SM A M^SaS^,:^^! ^ ^ :t ?R . J: ^, *^Ji^MM?K#, i Besant. K *.

Jte

It 1$ *& i^
flS

:fe

.;

Bat

On

his

P^

own bat^on his own account (S.), Q jt; g :i ^ a :^ ff, :^ a e ;t * M ^ i^ A ;t ^ #

,

(ffi)

Titmouse has

left

Spanker

&

Co. and

is

now

on his ovm bat (in

business for himself)

Bear

BEA Eorne in upon one impressed

the future.

[19]

upon one's mind

(C.)

Generally used of some foreboding or warning about

A
;

phrase

common
(i)

in religious circles,

^A B
fl

i&

m I^

(Jifc

lit

f;

ffl

;t

M. 75

It was 'borne in upon Aer (impressed upon her mind)' as she afterwards expressed it, to beseech the Bivine compassion in favour of the houseless wretches constrained perhaps as much by want as evil habit, to break through and steal.

^W;,^yl^m.m&m.
Beard

James Pay,:.

To beard the lion in his den or much feared person boldly in

to attack a

dangerous

his

own

quarters (C),

for her
the

Miss Masterman returned to the inn for lunch, and then prepared momentous visit to the rectory for she had resolved to beard lion in his den (attack her enemy in his own house), and to denounce
;

him

in the presence of his family as a hypocrile.

Chambers's Journal.
Fierce he broke forth "And darest thou then To beard the lion in his den,

The Douglas

in his hall?"

Beat

That beats the Dutch that

'It

is

astonishing

(S.),

Hi -^;

beats the

Dutch

(it is

wonderful)

how

the thief can have got

through so small a hole.'

5*:

a ft A, ^ & inTo beat hollow to vanquish completely

in t^ '>.

161

(C),

Ifc

The Galatea was

beaten hollow (completely defeated)

by the May-

flower in the last international yacht-race.

To beat the
dow with

devil's tattoo
the fingers

to

drum on

a table or win-

(C.),'f^MS^;^^;

a Jg^M

[20j
on the window.
ffl

BEE
The squire was in a temper, and was
^^eating the devil's tattoo

#g

J^:

tt

e f^, JE 5 JH *i Jg, f^

fit

^^K

Exp. The <squire was aiigry and was dzusHning with hia fingers on the window.

Beauty

Beauty

is but skin-deep beaifty is a thing which can be easily destroyed, and should not therefore be valued too highly (P.),
Mil

(X) (^ IS

H.

^m^^;f^mMi,m,u.mmm ^ J^ ^ ft ^ m ** if *)
!i:

Marry a woman
Exp.

for her

good

qualities

beauty
qualities

is

but skin-deep.

Marry a woman

for her

good

and not

for her

beauty, which an accident might destroy.

Bed

As you make your

bed,
j!R,

you must

lie

on

it

you

must bear the consequences

of your deliberate actions,

(isic

e <^ a ^; s j[ii#

s s#s

m f^ H 4^^
^M;^^,

Brought to bed delivered

Ten months

of a child (P.),

And was

after Florimel happen' d to wed. brought in a laudable manner to bed.

Bee

In a bee line
He was

following

a straight course, as a bee

is

supposed to do (P.)

.^Ul^W-Wi (X)to)

making a bee line for (going straight hunter's bullet struck him.

the cave wheithe

To have a bee in
tain direction

one's bonnet
, ;

to be crazy ia a cer-

(C)

^ J^ ^ ^ (^).
he
is

-Our friend the M. P. has a bee in his bonnet

subject of

mad on

the

woman's

rights.

Exp.
crazy

Our friend the member of Parliament has a fad; he on the subject of woman's rights.

is

Beer

To think no small beer of anythingto

very highly (F.),

esteem

it

^M; M^ml^.M ^mm. (^).

BEG
self."

[213

Miss Arrowpoiflt coloured, and Mr. Bult observed, with his usual phlegmatic stolidity, "Your pianist does not think small beer of him-

Exp. Miss Arrowpoint's cheek flushed, and Mr. Bult observed, with his usual phlegmatic stolidity; "Your performer on the piano thinks highly of himself."

B if
Beg
to

2.

0,

^ A.

js la ig.

To go a-begging

(of

things) to find

no one

to claim

be so plentiful as to be thought not worth accepting Generally said of things that have been highly(P.)
prized at other times,

M A P^ ^ ^ ^
;

I'J

(^fc)

(^

The green peas went a-begging

at dinner yesterday.

B^Hffi^#a4ftA5sra.
Exp.

No one would
of

eat the green peas at dinner yesterday.

a.
market.

B^H;sAH:tffa*.
salmon was so great that they went arbegging in the

The catch

Eocp.

So

many salmon were

caught that the

flsh sold at

a nomi-

nal price in the market.

To beg the question

to assume that which requires to

be proved, to take for granted the very point at issue (P.),

Fac-similes " exclaimed the old man angrily say that they are by the same hand at once?"
'
!

'

'

'

why not frankly

" But that is begging the whole question (assuming all that requires to be proved)," argued honest Dennis, his good and implastic nature leading him into the self-same error into which he had fallen at

Beggars

James Payn. g0,3iSgaJgS;2.ffe^Beggars should not be choosersthose who ask for favours should submit to the terms imposed upon

them

(P.),

i:i|REaf4#'^;5:1i,KEM5SAS^,

[23]
Eight bells
o'clock,

BEL

sounded on board noon, 4 and 8 Atim;mmm Am-^ -mmm:^ urnTo bear or carry away the bell be victor in a race
ship, at
to

or other contest

(P.),

^ Bm % ^m B;^ B ^^

The

Italians have carried

other nations, as

may

away the bell from (have surpassed) appear both by their books and works.
Hahewill.

all

To bell the cat at great personal risk to render a common foe harmless for evil (C.) A phrase borrowed
from a well-known
fable,

told

upon one

historical

occasion with great success,

W.^ M^,W "XW,

When James III was king oiScotland, he irritated the old nobility by the favour he showed to painters and architects. One of the latter, named Cochran, who had succeeded to the estates of the Earl of Mar, was especially hated by the nobles. At a meeting in the church of Lauder they discussed how best to get ?id of him. Lord Gray, afraid that the discussion would lead to no practical result, told the story of the mice and the cat. A colony of mice had suffered greatly from the attacks of a cat, who pounced upon them before they had time to escape. They were much concerned over the matter, and resolved td do something to defend themselves. A young mouse rose up and proposed that they should fix a bell round pussy's neck, which would warn them of her approach. This proposal was warmly received until an old mouse put the pertinent question But which of us will bell the cat ? ' The orator had not thought of this and was speechless.' When Lord Gray had finished, Archibald, Earl of Angus, a man noted for his bodily prowess and daring, rose up and swore that he would bell the cat. He kept his word, captured Cochran, and had him hanged over the Bridge of Lauder. Afterwards he was always
'
'

known
:t

as Bell-the-Cat.

m *, K

>}"B-

eni

pi

#, #

.1

^ ;i

H,

:t^=s.i&^^^,

m tl SS ifci^, 4^ 3i f^ ri #, K 5 3:t6^S, S3K:A:E5i SS^, S

BEN
And from
5t
SIS

[S3]

a loop-hole while I peep Old Bell-the-Cat came from the keep.

Scott.

la 5,
tell

K ^ 3.
it,"

exclaimed Mrs. Armytage, clap ping her hands; "we'll ask him (the suspected clergyman) to say grace at dinner to-night. Then we'll see how he takes that."
"I'll

you how we' 11 do

SI Mt,

^a An

M-

"That's a capital ideal" cried Mrs. Percival Lott.

' '

What

fun

it will

be

ment when you put the

it , IS 1^ *
'

at least 1 mean, question to him."

ffl

what an

Interesting

mo-

pa IS

B#, K
0, ,

1=

M-

Oh, but I shan't put it," said Mrs. Armytage hastily. * * must bell the cat." "Mrs. and Miss Jennynge
'

HiiF

ia S*

* * A ^ 1-

^PP i

r1,

S#^* A2i.*.

" What have "I hate cats."

"

I to do with cats?" inquired Mrs. Jennynge, wildly.

S?*A^0, a^^MT,
My dear madam,
it is

J.*^3ffi.

a well-known proverb," explained Mrs. Armytage. "What I mean is, that it is you who should ask Mr.. Josceline to say grace this evening."

Belt

To Mt below the
A
pugilist
is

belt

to strike

another unfairly

(P.),

not allowed by the rules of boxing to hit his This belt is a significant part of a waist-belt. boxer's attire. The champion pugilist of England wears a prize-belt^ which he must deliver to any one who vanquishes him.

opponent under the

To refer to his private distresses in a public discussion was hitting below the belt.
Expdistresses.

It

was

unfair, in a public discussion, to refer to his private

Benjamin

Benjamin's
was
;

messA

specially large portion.

For the

origin see Genesis XLIII, 34.

five

'But Benjamin's mess

ft i: atig, .1-

much as any of theirs' (P.), las ^ (3iC) (S M S '1 ^ 3i '1 :& il i^

times so
ffi

i^ '] ta ra

+ H* H+ ra m-

H A :^ A^
ifi

[24]

BES
Ben
trovato

an ingenious invention
not true, at least
it ia

(P).

An

Italian

phrase,
structed).

mi^:t^m;M^ (X).
ben trovato (ingeniously con-

If the tale ie

Bess o'Bedlam

a female lunatic vagrant.

of a

(Bess is

a con-

traction of Elizabeth) (C),

m.t^W;^mMA(M)bridegroom

Best xnan

the friend

who

assists at

marriage, corresponding to the bridesmaids of the bride

It was like asking a young gentleman to be best wants to be tlie bridegroom himself.

man when be

James Payn.

At the best

taking the most

favourable view possible

I advise you not to accept the situation. At the best (even in the most favourable state of affairs) you will be a mere favourite, removable on the slightest whim of a capricious woman.

itm A.,mm^ *, bp ;p -ar w ^ To have the best of an argument

tage in an

^ M ^ s

Jit -tt,

m.^^*,yf^m-m^iisB,m-^'i&nn

argument

(P.),

MM yt&lMWl'^ B, M

to

gain the advan-

mm\{X)mm)'In

your argument yesterday, Charles, the strange gentleman had

it

the best of

(was victor),' said his wife.

,w mmaL^mtk.mnmm^^To make the best of one's way to go as well as

K 0, i

can

be done in the circumstances (P.),

^ ^ M^; ^ M

He made the best of his way homewards (he went homewards as best he could) by the fading light, and arrived sick and weary at his solitary abode.

T]^^ BT, :& BI ^ il,^ff SWSP^ttH.BM^^To make the best of both worldsto manage so as
to get the

good things of earth and be sure of a good

place in heaven (P.),

M M 5t; ^ IS H iS a, A K

BET
Modern Protentantiem
the
best
is

[S'5j
open to the reproach of trying to make and heavenly in its

of both worlds

(being at once worldly

aspirations).

Bete

Bete noire
(P.)

pet

aversion, object of particular dislike

French phrase,

I^M;

^^, "^ Ait M:t^,

be stronger

Better

To get the better of to overcome, vanquish,

I got
the better of

weak that

I spat

(overcame) my disease, however, but blood wherever aUempted to write.

i

was so

H. Mackenzie,

Better half
married

a man's wife, a complimentary term for a

(C),

woman

1^;

M^ iM)(MM A'^ ^M
first

He

seldom engages in any speculation without

consulting his

better half.

Exp.

He

nearly always consults his wife before engaging in any

speculation.

Between

Between ourselves

speaking

confidentially

(C),

fiJ

mm;:^&i^f^Am.,mn^n,AMm:^;'si:'^

^ H A *D ;t
your brother.

SS

"Bf

If ^n ?a ^D (M)-

Steyne has a touch of the gout, and so, between ourselves, has

m^n^m&m.m !&^^fs&,^&mm.'nm^nM
Thackeray.

Exp.
brother

^but I do not wish my words repeated.

is

steyne

is

somewhat troubled with the

gout,

and

so

is

your

The phrase

also

found in the more familiar form.

Between you and me and the bed-post don't reveal a word of what I say (F.), fifg I^ M 3^ ;t ^, IK "T (If;)m m. - '^^n

^^^M^; mmnm

mm

[36]
acing dangers.

BET
Between Scylla and Charybdis

between
fall into

two menthe other

Avoiding one vou

was a rock, and Charybdis a whirlpool, on the coast of and the narrow passage between was very much feared by mariners because of its double danger. Now they are looked on as
Scylla
Sicily,

harmless.

You have your

gregation.
If

men, and if lic# :

Scylla and your Charybdis as pastor of the conyou preach the old theology you will lose the young you preach the new you will alienate the old men.
if,

)R St,

^^

SM
la

Igf

it

a,

** St A
JS(.

SI,

^ g it a,

IiJ

* It
posi-

;*:

;i^

1- Sf-

Between two

fires

subject

to

a double attack

tion of peculiar danger in warfare (P.), Wl

M ^ ^> ^

Poor Dawson
vi

is

ther scolds him, and

if

n m ^, m m^m, '^m m. ^, "^ m M.

between two fires if he whips the child its mohe lets it off its grandmother conies down on him.
;

^i-

^,

wi^mm

Exp. Poor Dawson is exposed to attacks from two sides, for if he punishes the child its mother scolds him, and if he lets it go unpunished its grandmother is angry with him.
tt.
-RT

S :t it &, * * ft A IS, ^ S
stools

jlfc

/>

^,

IiJ

^ S S S,

To

fall

between two

to

depend on two things

and be disappointed in both

(C), y^ 7^

^ ^ ^^ f^
;

In trying to keep in favour at once with Henry and Vatican, Wolsey fell between two stools (lost himself).

Between wind and water

of a vessel exposed only
(P.).

a term applied
it

to the part

when
7jc

heels over to the

^ :s B^#j. m as
S*
Sfi

wind

?a :^ m(X)-

The ship was struck between wind and water.

ff

^ SE a

BfC

ffll

fU

7jt

S.
ol

Eiep.

the wind on the

The ship was struck on the part exposed by the action

sails.

BIB
Bid

[27]
promise well (P.); :^
^fe;

To

Md fairto

seem

likely, to

If the spirit of service

could be killed in an English army, such

fair for
it.

strokes of injustice

would bid

Exp. If the spirit of professional pride could be destroyed in an English army, such strokes of injustice would be likely to accomplish
this result.

Bird

A bird in the hand is worth two in the busha sure

advantage

than a problematical advantage, even though the latter promises to be twice as good (C),
is

better

A bird's eye or bird eye view a general view such as

would be enjoyed by a bird flying over a country
5^
(P.),

S,

-1M

Ji)-

Viewing from the Pisgah of his pulpit, the free, moral, happy, landscape flourishing, and glorious state of France, as in a bird-eye of a promised land.

Exp. Viewing from the exalted position of his pulpit, the free, in a commoral, happy, flourishing, and glorious state of France, as man in a balloon as a such land, promised of a plete landscape

would have.

Pisgah was the mountain across Jordan from whose summit Moses was permitted to see the promised land of Canaan.
Note.

m^

'^ 35

ffi

.
of like tastes (C),

Birds of a featherpeople

mj%^^;

Birds of a feather flock together.

Exp.

People of like tastes seek each other's society.

[28]

BIR
Jail-birda rogue who
it;

is

oftener in prison than out of

a hardened offender (C),

^m

lit

M;

'l^

M ^,

All the jail-birds (hardened prisoners) in Alexandria were liberated.

Bird of passage

one who

shifts

from place

to place (C),

No one (here in Shanghai) seems to be living his own life, but something else something temporary; as if we were all expecting to go home again in the course of the afternoon or the next day, and therefore it does not much matter what we do just for the few hours that remain; or as if we were convicts doing our timej or as if we were political exiles, who might be recalled at any moment or as if we were in some way birds of passage.

BesanU

A little bird -whispered it to me a

X. 20
:

phrase playfully used of something which has been reported and is repeated (C.j The reference is from the Bible, Ecclesiastes

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed chamber, for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath
'

wings shall
^h

a m.;ffiM

the matter,' 5 ^ ^ li ^ Mm m^m) ^ m m M m m im f^ ^ '^ ^

tell

Si*;

|^,

^ij'

fH

"I

Elia
nny

^ A. S * /h s.

<2'

^mmnAm:t>

" What a wicked man you are!" smiled Mrs. Jennynge, admiringly. "A little bird told me you could be very severe when you
pleased, though I refused to believe it."

It was evident from the colour that came into Anastasia's face that she was the bird in question (had carried this report).

^ J&^'s> m, m ^mm.ni ^ m m z ^h M

s!^^ m-

James Payn.

BLA
It usually

[29]

A bita fourpenny piece (England), 12i cents (America).

means the
smallest silver coin current (C),

Ifot a bit of it

by no means, not
pull-up, ain't

atall(F.),

::fc^^^;
inquired Mr.

"That'srathera sudden
Waller.

it,

Sammy?"

" Not a

bit of it" said

Sam.
lUckens.

mB.^B,ii>l^f&Bite

To

bite the

dustto

fall

in battle (P.),

^ 5E

?4?

^;

1^

C (X)hit the

That day three thousand Saracens

dust [were slain in battle).

^
To

H 5^

=p a>

& *. A.

ii 5E a>

#.
ot disgust

bite one's' lips

to

show signs

and mor-

tification (P.),

i^m (X) (^

m M m m :t-^)Macaulay.

lips (showing The advocates on chagrin) to hear their conflicting misstatements and sophisms exposed.

both sides are alternately biting their

ii^mmmBlack
is

To beat another black and blue to beat him until he

discoloured (C), fT ^J

^^

.^. .^=

tT

# ^ :t W

The miller's men so soundly beat him that they black and blue with their strokes.

made him both

Black and white

' '

written
!

definitely

on paper in ink (C),

;' Here is his name in black and white I have found it all out table with and she touched the volume she had just placed on the impressive reverence.

Blanket

Born on the wrong

mate birth (C),

side of the
;

^ !^ ^^ E
fine fellow like
?, :&
ri!S

blanket of M. m)E,

illegiti-

He

grew up to be a
o'

many one

that comes

o'

the

-wrong side

the blanket.

^ SI i* i& ^ fm i

- *> A a.

scoa.

[30]
Exp.
gitimate birth.

BLO
He grew up
to be

fine fellow, like

taany a one of

ille^

A wet blanketone who discourages, who causes others

to

become disheartened;

also,

discouragement (C),

SSc

We
blanket.
jifc

cannot take Cousin John on the trip i he

'
...
'
'

is

too

much of a wet
flit

.-'

^K

fi',

::?c

tl

^ X^^ !, a S ^

^?:-&.

Exp.
our

We

spirits too

much, and make

cannot take Cojisin Jcihn on the trip; he will depress us gloomy.

At home,
the wet blanket

in the family circle, ambition is too often treated with

(disdouraged)

., . .

Besant.

Blarney

To have kissed the blarney stoneto

tery
village of

be full of

flat-

and persuasive language. Blarney near Cork in Ireland which was supposed to confer this gift of '^persuasivO' speech on those

There i^ a stone in the

who touched

it (F.), vft

i^;

^ H ^ ^ M .^ ^, ^^

You are so full of compliment& to-day, that you must have kissed the blarney-stone.
i

^^
jBlood

S in = ^ i :t S, Is
see

jEi

Ea*a

?iJ

5 a I
S6

fli-

Bad blood

Bad:

gj.
passion;' (C),
' ;

His blood was up

Wilson
is

he was in a

^;

mM.,m:tK,mM^mwhen
his

a very quiet easj-goii^ fellow in ordinary life. But blood is up (he is excited by passion), he ^ghts like a lion.

A prince of the blood a nobleman wh|)

lative

is

a near re:ft

of the reigning

monarch

(P.),'

^ ^;

fl,

BLO
He.had acajnai-eihausted smile which
a.

mu
(aa th()ugh

he had heen
passed

pnnee

of the blood (noble o the very highest j-ank)

who had

his life in

acknowledging the plaudits

of

the populace) suggested the

ravages of affability.

m^%^'f:m.^mA:tW!.m^Blood is
tja^icker

James Payn.

than .water

kinship

-fill

cause a

man

to befriend his relatives; it is better to;

trust for kind

(P.), -01

treatment to one's kinsmen than to sttangers

^yfm^;m^m m^n m mm
I advise
ficulties

i|

^ m. i Pf ^
monetary
will get
dif-

you to go

to your uncle
is

and

state :^our

to hini.

Blood
relative

thicker

than water

(You
!

more

sympathy from a

than a stranger).

In cold bloodwithout
The
li

passion, deliberately (P.),

^ M.
any

siiggestioh of such a contingency in cold hlood (without

passion) filled rip the cup of the antiquary's indignation.

:1S

S if

^.^ @ M ^

&.

S * ^ E3 ^' ^ ^ ^
James Payn.
of his essays,

Thurtell,

mentioned by Macaulay in one

murdered

a gentleman

named Weare

in cold blood.

Exp.

vocation, murdei:ed a gentleman

Thurtell, deliberately, without having received ( named "Weare.

any pro-

Blue blood aristocratic

Lieutenant

descent (P.),|.1H:^;

M,

P^

Howard

is

the only officer in th? regiment

j

who can

boast of blue blood (of aristocratic birth).

m^^Mt, ti^^ A.

"nr

& ai^ft^.
'

The blood of the Bunkers hag, in yourself, 'twsMmed ih^ most azure hue (become most arist'rocratic).
;

To make your blood creep to iill you with awe or terror, (P.), It 3gi; m, ^ M, M'^ mm,MmM.:k

[32]
Jinny Gates,

BLU
the^ cobbler's

Stated not only that she

dangMer, being more imaginative, had seen the ear-rings too, but that they had

made

tier

blood creep (inspired her with terrorj.

ffiSI52.ic,iSmi!SI^.J6#,

^^AISiSA**,

ii:^

Blue

To look blue to seem

discontented (F.),

^ ^ ^; ^

Captains looked blue (put on a disappointed look) when their owners depatched them to Hakodate.

Blue-nose

name given

to the inhabitants of

Nova

Scotia in

North An.erica (F.),

^AA

(iT)

(-lb

MM

How

is it

he

pleases,

that an American can sell his wares, at whatever price where a Bluenose (Nova Scotian) would fail to make a

sale at all?

E 1 *^Blue-devils

Ilalibuvion.

dreadful

apparitions which appear to a

patient suffering from delirium tremens (F.),

^ ^,-g

The drunken old landlord had a and was inaking a dreadful noise.

fit

of the blue-devils last night

Blue stocking

woman who

prides herself

on her

learning (P.),

:n'; :^mm,ii: miX).

Lucy (Hutchinson) was evidently a very superior young lady, and looked upon as the bluest of blue stockings.

1',^f'";'u'KitiSometimes found in the simple form

','

GerUlemen's Magazine, 1886.

bliie:

is

Bulwer came up to upon an introduction."

i

me and
0,
jlfc

said,

"There

one blue who

insists

i*

@ Sig ^ m,

1-

!a ;t

- *
cf

:* =F-, IS IS Edinbuergh Review, 13S6.

m^

^ ^.

A fit of the
1

blues

an attack

melancholy (C),

^ <^

am suffering

from a fit ofthi blue? (an attack of melancholy) to-day.

BOB
A blue storyan
To
fly

[33]

indecent story (F.), ^f j^ ;^

the blue peter

to

be ready to

sail (of
oij

vessel).

The

blue-peter is a small flag, run

up

the fore mast

of a ship, to

announce

its

departure withiij 24 hours (P.),

ilT JSi

^IH
Our

ft; St

m m(3a:)( M P

ii

n+K

ifi

vessel is

not flying the blue-peter, so we are safe here for

another day.

Blue Hen a nickname

United States
(F.)

for the state of Delaware in the

A Blue

Hen

is

a native of the State,

'

Your mother was a blue hen, no

brags, especially of his ancestry.

doubt,' is a reproof to a person

;

who

To put to the blush

to cause

one to reddpn with shame,

guilt

and error to and error ashamed), turned her formidable nocefnce and truth.
Eidicule, instiead of putting guilt
;

the

blmh (making

Shafts against in,

IS

^ii a Sift,.
first

#H

f *,
1)

:^P "i!

3tt

f*

M ;t A,

;t a!

S,

BS

;!E ffl

^ II

Macaulay.

At the

blush or at

first

blush when one

first

looks

hastily for the first time, at the

suddien appearance,

All purely identical propositions, obviously a.ndat first 6?afe(when

first

viewed), appear to contain no certain instructjon in them.

To give the bob

to cheat, overreach

(C),

(obsolete),

hob.

C; I guess the business. S, It can be no (nothing else than a plot to outwit me).

othei*
j

than

to give

me

the

BOL
Bobby-

A bobby^a
who
is

policeman,

so.

called

from Sir Robert Peel

policej force.
;

organized the nl,odern British

Bobby

a common. contraction for Robert, jSS,^

jSS

fS (31 1^

The

fence (receiver)
to the

who walked him

the
silent,

was attached by the wrist to a policeman, same destination; but, Hike friend "Virgills
hanging ba(^, in vain bribing
:

bull, miilia reluctanterri {very reluctant),

impenetrable Bobby.

Body

To keep body and soul together

My

to sustain life (P.),

earnings, are so miserable that they scarcely suffice

(to

to

keep

hody and soul together

keep

aA
Bohemia

.1.

in 3^ .

^. (SS

me from :?: j a i

starving).
*&),

^ ^ ^1

PSS

BB

B-

A flavour of Bohemiaa tone of unconventionalitj^, of

neglect of social rules (P;)
plied in

Bohemia is the name apLondon to the quarter where artists and literaif men live as hest suits them, vhoUy .neglecting fashion and the elegant W9rld. In France and some other countries Bohemian is the name applied to the Gipsy

race,

who wherever they go,

{X)

live

a rough kind of

life,

m^m
S*):

apart from other people,

^ - %=^,mmm m-x^m'%mn:ikmmn'^n-wtBm- m
if

mum^
...

U ^'M^-^mM.] ^U.
-f^m

..,,,;
To

Me^ntim^ there
pleases new-comers,

is a. flavour

of Bohemia. about the place which

toe.sure,

^ ^ * - a ^ =g m ^ ;t M. ^ u A^m^3s.m
Bold

Bohemia never had any

club
'la

*,

To make bold^-to

venture .(P.),

1^5:;

-W

^, M.B,
no cases

(X)of di

I will niaHe bbtd to say (vehture to affirm) that Gbediehce have ocCtirred amongst scholars.

my

BOO
Bone
rel (as

[35]

A bone of contientionsomething which causes a quara bone

doe*s

when thrown amongst

dogs) (P.),

The
rel)

possession of Milan was a hone of contention (cause between the two monarchs.

of quar-

To have a bone
ft;

to pick "witli

any one to have some

him
(C),

cause of quarrel or complaint against

MW^
to

mM,m:tmmmito

Come
seriously).

my

private

room

after lecture.

I have a bone

pick

with you (a matter of complaint against you, and

must speak

to

you

?&^^S, W3KffiB\^, Si;t?:^MftJl To make no bones not to hesitate, to pablish

He
ffi

openly

makes no hones of swearing and lying.

Exp.

n ^ w Ik f^ IE ^, at p;f M sHe does not hesitate to swear or

lie.

He makes no
I* tt

M A, ^ ;t 1^ #, a :^ H-

hones 0/ (publishes openly) his dislike of the natives.

Bon4

Bona
The

fide

in

good

faith,

trustworthy (P.)

[Latin],

7i^m^m\m^.,m^>^inmoffer

[Jt].
faith).

we make

is

a bond fide, one (made in good

Boo

To say boo

to a goose

test of courage.
spirit,
;

A man who
and
is to
"-i

cannot say boo to a goose has no

despised for his timidity,
ffit

be

^M

"-i

HK^ :
'

$1

He
goose,

it

looks as fierce as a tiger, as much as to say, Say boo to a 'you dare (It will take a bold man to address me)
'

'

'

Haliburton.

Book

In the books
I
left

of,

in the good books

;

of in favour with,
^380-

a favourite of (P.),
was so much
lamp.

# M # S IK '&

in his books' {in his favour) that at his decease he

me his

#4 }J *

>ii>,m |l f- #3 i;

a*> m it ^-

Addison.

[36]
In the
He
"bad

BOW
books ofin
disfavour with (P.),

^M; ^

neglected to call on his aunt,

and got into her bad books. and got into disfavonr with

Exp.
her.

He

neglected to visit his aunt,

To bring to bookto

arraign, to call to account, to

(P.),

accuse of a fault or crime

lift;

^ Wi, ^ ^,
(called

to account) for his misdeeds

At length the unfortunate chancellor was brought to book by an indignant parliament.

Born

Not born yesterday worldly-wise,

(F.),

not easily gulled

M # H m /h S; ^ a: ii, /F ^ M li (S).
bom
yesterday,

She was considerable of a long-headed woman (quite a prudent woman), was mother ; she could see as far ahead as most folks. She
wasn't (was not)
to say}.

I guess

(easily outwitted,

venture

^ S^ SiBorn with a silver spoon in

one's

HaKburton.

^ ^ Spoon.
Bottom
To he at the bottom of anything
stigator in

mouth see Spoon.

*-

to be the chief inISE,

any

affair (C),

m M mh
I

,%

#;

B,

^#,

am

sure Eussell

movement

is ai the bottom of (the chief instigator in) this to get rid of our present musical conductor.

At bottomreally,
He was
roughly he might speak).

essentially (C),

"MM]

S X iW).
however

a kind-hearted

man at

bottom (under the surface,

ilf^^l-il*I1BIH.,'iaK^1i!5-S5#A.

JamesPayn.

Bow

To draw the long

bowto
the long

exaggerate (C),

v^^m-

The Co'ohel was drawing

he
killed fifty

bow (exaggerating) when he said

Indians with his

own hand.

BOX
To have a second
happening
(P.),

[37]

string to one's Ijowto be provided with something in reserve in case of an accident

:^

B M &;

li

^ lU ^, JH ^ ^

B?f

Moreover, in his impatient ambition and indefatigable energy, he had sought a second string to' his bow the public and the publishers showed their sense of his abilities as apamphleteer and a novelist.
;

TO

^, m

flR

* # #. H

2St

<h sa .

^-

Edinburgh Review.

Exp. Moreover in his impatient ambition and indefatigable energy he (Disraeli) had sought to have another career open, on which he might fall back, if he failed in politics 5 he was gaining popularity as a pamphleteer and a novelist.
nr

&

IS

&?S,

K-

*S;

J*

rfe

^ ;f r :^ Ji.m ^
felt full of

5l i^,

^^ B#K

Bowels

His bowels yearned^ he

tion (P.),

sympathy or affec-

-i'mm.;m^mm,^m{X).
^
B + SHI. M g S

That evening Alexis did not come home to dinner. He arrived about ten o'clock, with his eyes red and swollen, would take nothing but a glass of tea, and so to bed.

g
to

iS'

JS

fif

J5

?}C

ffl

Bf It EI
,

ff# *^j

m,i&i^:r-M,m^^-m^\i mmAt the sight of his inoffensive sorrow the mother's bowels began yearn over (mother felt her heart drawn to) her son.

Bowl

To bowl out
phrase)

to stop- in a successful career (a cricketing

;|l:
;

(F.), ifc

ffi

^, :^

^ S ^ S M (S) (^
we were bowled
to us.

And after

all, if

the worst came to the worst and

out, I don't believe they could

do anything

Exp.

And after

all,

in the worst possible circumstances,

and even

in the case of our losing our position, I don't believe they could do

anything to ua.

Box

In a box
When

in a

difficulty,

MM',
,

1^
in a box
(iij

#
a difficulty).

he asked

me

to

come in I

felt

138]

BE,E

jack-in-a-box a, restless man, who to speak in an assembly,

is

always rising

Mi^M^^ A; M ^M
who wants B #,
jlfc

Who

is

that

little

jack-in-a-box

to catch the chair-

jnanfs eye again?

Ift

iB 5i

^ A, ft 31

ffi

ir ji If.
to

Exp. Who is that sion to speak again?

little restless

man who wants

have permis-

Bread

a. ^'^i/fCS^-A. X^AfiSAit^.itiai.JlfcA^li. Bread and butter material welfare, what sustains

life

(C),

^m;nm,s.^,m^:tM mbutter

Eigby had never been loyal to anything but his bread and (own material interests).

i a n *t ^h, M ^ K Bread-basket-^ a vulgar name

^ as ^

s ^ (H K

&

?ij)-

for the stomach, |g

Break

To break the

ice

there has been an

commence a conversation where awkward silence to speak first on a

to
; ,

delicate matter (C.)

:5fe

^P

(M

*B

S i^ IS :^ i^, #

I broke
were
#:5fc

the ice

(comrnenced a conversation) by remarking that we

all first

Cousins.

Mn

0,

^ ^ @ g' ^ 3L ^
;?:

-ta.

"I

will

not," said Lochiel,

3g

" break the

ice.

That

is

a point of

honour with me."

m^n 0, ^
Exp.

-t

3fc

ga

p,^jK36^w^ia%-a.
Macaulay.

Lochiel said that he would not be the first to speak Cof submission), for that was a point of honour with him.

To break the back

or

neck of

(a daj/'s

ish the worst part of (a day's Wbrk) (C),

work)io finH :^ ,|[l

He had broken ths neck of that job (got throngh.the Inost important part of that business) before the close, of the week.

-'mnm^m,m mt-'mM m ^ w *, b s ^
(P.),

is.

To break the threadof

(a discourse)to interrupt the

connected flow of (a discourse)

3S iL

W B ;^ i^

BEE
His. gulden entrance hroke the thread (stopped of

me in

the middle)

my

argumeiot.

<

ss JE

^ s 5@ js, w^;m Si m;

m-ir

To break with
with
(P.),.:^

^'mmbe friendly |g '^, -^

to quarrel with; to cease to

that I should break with you (eedseto have friendly dealings' with you).
'

JD Jn , 'It, Your treacherous words rnalce it necessary

^, m m {%)'

To break news to
shock
(P.),

impart startling information in a

-

gentle manner, preparipg the recipient gradually for

m.

wl^

m ^^; mm ^%^,mmm

that I had better break the news to them (of by the explosion of a' boiler), and mechanically I accepted the suggestion and rode away sadly to the Italian villa.
It suggested to

me

their father's death

The' Mistletoe Bough, 1885.

Breast

To make

a clean breast 'ofto make a full and free confession of something that has been kept a secret (C),

E E ^ # u WW ^i m m * ?p s ft
;

ffi

m)affair)

She resolved, to make a clean'breast of it (confess the whole

before she died.
,>

Breath

Scott. fS'ffi: i: mvaluable as nostrils--something The breath of one's 1. ;^ H, *^ # 00as life itself (P.),
Jl*

^ jt jS * * ?E 1ti,

V in pi *

The novels were discussed in the society whose flatteries were as ' V the breath of his nostrils.
. .

Edinburgh Review, 1886.

Exp: The novels were discussed in the (aristocratic) whose flatteries were as dear to Disraeli as his own life.
.

society,

To take one's breath away to

.

cause surprise or con-

sternation (C),

4A^^'M'^;^ f H fH it m(M).
he
flattered with a likill so surprising ; he waa away her breath (astonished her) that

He

was so

polite

so fluent, so completely tooH,

when he finally begged permission to deliver a Valedictory Oration what to all the young ladies, Miss Billinggworth, without thinking ^ she was doing, granted that permission. tut i* fa ^. A. BB 51 ji, El s 1! !i^
,

i^

K am

[0]

BRI
Under
one's breath

very

quietly, in fear (P.),

M *E

hair,' she said under her breath (in

'A good thing they did not bethink ttiemgelVes of cutting ofif my a whisper, so that no one could hear).
Bii

r # 1.
Brick

1-

0,

^ * It & #J il ^,

iJF

S ^^.
man
(F.),

A regular bricka
Evan
is

good feltow, a pleasant

the best fellow alive

a regular brick.

Like a thousand of brick

force,

with

a great impetus or

violently

(S.),

M )? i,m :km :h, ^M., mm

what we are doing, he
a great scolding).
will

If

the master discovers

come down on

us like a thousand of brick (give us

With a brick
1

in one's hat

drunk.

American

slang,

think our friend over there has a brick in his hat

(is

intoxicated}.

Bring

To bring
(happen).

to

bearto happen

(C), iS

M H, jI ^
to

(il).
bear

She had known even stranger things than that brought

igISMia^^,ti^:^.I,ra.^^^JtJt#.

Trollope.

To bring down the house^to

plause (c),

receive enthusiastic ap-

m^m^;mmmm,m^m^,^
lunise

mmm).
Toole on his last appearance in Edinburgh brought dovm the (had an enthusiastic reception).

To bring to the hammersee Hammer, ^ To bring

To bring
to to

^ Hammer. ^

book

see Book, ^
to

Jff

Book.

^to

mm
I

resuscitate, cause to recover (C), |g;

once brought a fellow

(made a fallow
'
,

revive) that
i .

was drowned.

3S

W ^ ^ r- ^ #.

HaUburton.

BUR
glishrnen of the middle class (P.)

[41]
of

Brown, Jones, and B,obinson representatives

En-

Their adventures were published in Punch, the London comic journal,

HI
show

write to Jones suggesting that he and

Brown and Robinson

and request Jones to had a very-

are not attending properly to their busiaiess^

this to his colleagues^ I should consider all three

belli.

good casus

To astonish the Browns

standing the shock
it

to

do something notwith-

will give to the prejudices of one's

fi&

neighbours (F.),

^ M 11 M

A P X,

Jl?

ft ;^*,

MAmmin)'
If we go on the top of the bus, our conduct will astonish (shock our prejudiced neighbours).
the

Brown*

Brummagem

Brummagem ware goods made

in

Birmingham. Ge-

nerally used of cheap worthless goods (C),

^ nn M M>
;

At the present juncture, for instance, when most greatnesses seem titles or Brummagem (pretentious but worthless) assumptions, we really do want two or three great men badly. ^ sl, i% ^1- m, ^ m'R Wi n n '^ v^^mm, m ^
courtesy

Brutum
Buridan

Brutum fulmen
M.m(X)Btiridan's ass

a harmless thunderbolt
of indecision (P.)
(38C)>

(P.)

[Latin]

[tiT].

a man

A; m ;^ A. W M ^ ;t it
would starve
ji5

^^ ^

;5l

Buridan, the Greek sophist, maintained that if an ass could be placed between two haystacks so that its choice was evenly balanced
between them,
11 IS
it

to death.
:f:

ft^, ffi

e w a ^, w ^ 'f a su 1^. . ^ *i. K ij

late.
ffi

li,

J* * 3r M Ml, s - Si i*
gddom came
to a decision

He was
till it

a Buridan' s ass of a man, and

was too

fe

- 3i @l A,=a

^ 3^ ^ ft S; t ^ &.

[42j

BUS
To burn
one's fingers^to suffer loss or hurt by meddling with something out of one's

Burn

'

own

sphere, as by-

investing in some plausible financial speculation, or in

another's quarrel (0.),

^ *g; *g *, g ^ iK li, M ik
a.m ti ^ s sm m
ei (m)
(

m m:^ i^m^^ ?m
He
got his fingers burnt

(harm

to himself;

by rushing

into that

newspaper controversy.

To burn the candle at both endsto expend

resources in two directions,

one's
in

consume one's energies

a double
.

51 m>-

^mm^ m m m my
jy.

way

(c),

M^j^ i^'^ :^;

M^ m.m,m.mm
^m

Dickens thought he would make up for excessive mental work by taking violent and excessive physical recreation; but this was only burning the candle at both ends (consuniing his energies in a double waT''-

-^m.
^, IE
^B

d:
jB:

g ^ * , ^ t$ * ^ E ^ M ^ ^ tt S.
iC

SS:

:ft

:^.

HP

"SJ

IS

?l^

To burn

one's,

boats

act irrevocably

to leave no means of (P.), m^ U M; ^ MM ^,'S Vi

I

retreat, to

Then he took the perforated cardboard, and

into small pieced.
(certainly left

tore that likewise

have burned my boats with a vengeance myself ho way of retreat)," he added grimly.
fij

"

Now

fe

d^'

#S

7L

^ ^ M 19 #
,

B^

* ns #
-to

-^ SB

James Payn.

Burnt

A burnt child dreads the filre those who have suffered

are

wary (C),

m^ZUltHW W,- ^ ^ ^ ,
"

^'^^mzmi
Bush
what must be
,about fashion
said, to
(P.),

To beat about the bushto

mmmm;mmi',mm^m m

avoid a blunt statement of convey one's meaning in a round-

Before committing myself to any distinct statement, I beat about the bush (spoke Cautiously and tentatively) to find out what were my
host's political opinions.

m :^ ii ni Jf

ifc

ff

^ atr^ JKI^,^^ si *, ^ iS # It I. AiUBi.

BUS
Good wine needs no bush
advertisement

[43]

a good thing
itself.

requires

no

it

commends

Formerly the

was hujag out in front o^ a tavern to indicate that .liquor was for sale; a custom having a singular parallel in Japan (P.),
branch of a
tree
iJI>

^ ja IBJ^K; M l|:=P^ ^,K.i tSM^.^^K

^^MM^t^^>^

If it

tion) 'tis true that a

be true that good wine needs no bush (is its o;wn recommendagood play needs no epilogue.

*p 1:

S,

:?:

S^^

e.

fl'J

4f
'

^,
-

ilf
I

SS

M:S M ^ ^.
:

Shakespeare.

Business

A man of businessa man gifted _wi^hppwers of management, one who can prudently direct ithe an enterprise or undertaking (P.), '^b M;
details of

m^m^A,mm m:t a
one of the most the kingdom.

# Mi ^ ^
of business in

ix)-

He was

skilful debaters

and men

^^m.mm^ S.%t^S.To do the business

His
last

MamuUy.

for a

man to

kill

man

(F.)^

business far

imprudent exposure of himself to the night him (put an end to his life).

air did the

To have no business in a place

^.nything to have no or no obligation or even right
jlfc

or

no business

to

do

occupation calling one thither,

to

do the thing (C), 3\

served you right
^.

M :^ ^ li *' ^ i^ ^
;

ini

^/^)^
it

You had no
that

business to be in ihy study,' aiid

you

\rere locked in.

.Kl

M A 6 S ^ M U^, ^^
bent on executing
a'

^ M i^ ^
(G.)<,

"P

iff-

^;f

ffi.

To mean business to have

project

serious intentions, to be

ffi

i^ ^f;

^ ^. K

very much hurt, and seriously alarmed, because it to him that the other, tw*o should also 'mean busioccurred never had Claire]).; ness' (have serious intentions [of marrying
felt

'ATimHe really

-^\

fi^

#.

ft-

(13

^ S 3E ?K

5. ;. iS)-.

^^sant.

[441
Butter

BUT Buttered fingers fingers

Used contemptuously
hold a ball
(F.),

through which a

ball slips.
fails to

of a cricket player

who

m^mm;C^)(mmmm,^m

To look as

if

to look

butter would not melt in one's mouth unconcerned, harmless and innocent (F.)

their

These good young ladies who look as if butter wouldn't melt in mouths are not a whit better than the rest of us.

^ H 4> if, #

f*

^ }^, K M *^ H :#, S ft ^ S.
Blackmore,

Exp. These good young ladies who look so very prim and innocent are in no way better than the rest of ns.

To know on whicli
worldl}'^

side one's bread is buttered to be well aware of one's own interests, to be full of

wisdom

as far as regards one's self (C), ^flj;

"Pghaw," answered his mercurial companion, "he knows on which side his bread is buttered."

^S!tjSSt:B,K,'P-#-^?lJ.M*^.

Dickens.
of impati-

Exp. His mercurial companion, with an exclamation ence, answered "He knows where his interests lie."

To butter both

sides of one's bread

tages from two parties at one time,

m.Ammmsources).

M MMM

to

gain advan-^ "^

,

Well, as soon as he (the devoted young parson) can work it, he marries the richest gal (girl) in all his^cfc (congregation), and then his bread is buttered on both sides (he obtains a yearly income from two

* ^^, i^ ;S M as S fJ ^ (W
Butter to butter
is

^M

^ * #).
Halibwrton.

is

no relishsomething
is

substantial

required as a basis for what

merely a relish

* M.

BY
To butter a person to
flatter

[45]

him

(F.)i

Ba

^;

151,

\' BiUter me and I'llbvJteityqu.Qet us praise, each other)," said' _,^ speaker to his friend before they 'rnpunjted the platform.

Buy
.

To buy the

Tefusal of anythingto give money for

it

the right, at a future time, of purchasing

price {G.),$i
1

for a fixed

m ^Mi: m, m m m^ ^w mi
the' ref tisa,l of the jneighbourin^ piece of
' '

have bought

land for

SOidoIlara.

Its priqe' is 500.

*'

'

^ 1 2: + a IT
To'buy
tion

11

* K lA Jt *^ ^ m si It
,

35: -ff

a -person-^to cause one to. cease from opposiby giving him 3, suin of money, or other monetary
off

benefit- (G.),

M W; % MIB M M RM ^ A, ^
:

^Si

E.m)m).
The

grocei; objebied to

my

plan, but I

6oM(/7i ^i|re ojf (obtained

his

acquiescence) by promising liim

my

custom.

To buy up a

stronget torm: of buy signifying the com,

plete purchase of a qiiahti'ty of goods (C),

mnmm.,^ %m mn ^m m m)I was so delighted with his wp (purchased the whole lot).

^W, -^

(81,

last bp?: of curios that I bought them

.

By

By and by aftera time (C.),^ ^; Jl ^,

He

335

'M)-

hoped, could h6 overtake liiem, to haVe company by-and-by. Bunyan. i fi'J IT ffi ^. 16 1iS tl it &.'

^*
is

a^#

By-the-bye-^This phrase
.
,

used' to introduce a

new
ip

subject for which! ihe- hearers are not prepared

(P.),

:t^\t&m).
to

''.'-''
beifore,

'"A

By-the-bye, gentlemen) since "I saw you here

we have had

weep over a

vry,n3ielancholy occurrjenoe.
I>ickens.

S*,
,'
'

J*^ii3^The

,1

NotR..

spea'keribeiforelgoiiig'ori

tothe.ordinary business of the

it

meetinglijiakes a refttencfi.tdaa, outside subject, and apologizes, as were, for taking.thip liberty,
'

(ait)i^iS:XJ^PBn8Ji#*S#;:5^^i5:fl&^, i ii^

[46]

CAL
((3

c
Cacoethes

Gacoetbes scribendi a diseased love 3t fP (^.

of writing (P.),

Our

friend

is afflicted witli cacoethes

scribendi (an itch for writing).

Caesar

Caesar's

wife should be above suspicion When who was a man, of licentious habits, was remonstrated with for putting away his wife on a mere suspicion, he replied that it did not matter for Csesar,
Csesar,

but Caesar's wife should be above suspicion in matters

of morality (P.),

m m-M M Z m B }^ MM ^(X)

Cseteris

Cseteris paribus

other things being equal

(if

(P.)

[Latin]

I should prefer, casteris ,paribuis exactly equal), a countryman oJ; my

*n

their other qualificationa are

own

as assistant.
Isl

m *: Ml (M A

"

i tB ^)^ ^ m -

SR

Si

Cake

You can't both have your; cake and eat mon proverb, signifying?; the impossibility

it

a com-

of reaping

the advantages of two wholly opposite courses of conduct. person must choose which course of conduct

he will follow, and which

set of

advantages he prefers,

and be preparedt to
advantages
(P.),

resign- any claim to the other set of

f'J
;

# Ig M S@

n^^

pT

# ^, fg

MMi^-z,^m^:t-^mMmM.mmm.mmoften count
as

Mr. Howorth seems to us to be counting as, indeed, men do on the ability both to keep your cake and eat it. But a matter of fact, that always turns out to be impracticable.

nm

ife

&,

ffii

y jE * It s .

fei,

it

s*:

igt

t\%,^KVL^^-i.,^&'^m.mm^'!Si.
Call

m n,

It

jifc

ii

spectator, 1887.

To

call naroe^-r-to speak disrespectfully to or of a per-

"son (c),

Bmmmk;^amA,mm(m.

CAP
'What a humbug he
ffi
'

[47]

MXm

ffi

&

isl'

Don't call him names,' pleaded Milly. 'One doesn't like to hear one's father called names (spoken of disrespectfully).

mm
To

is,.

call in Question
(P.),

to

throw doubt upon,

to challenge

the truth of
If the

:^M.m;mm,mm xx).
A-?^m

question (doubted),
still

moral quality of his hero could not in safety be called in any suggestion of wealcness in him as a writer was
w-.,

more unendurable.

^ m M ^h m.^, A Am m
Camel
causes a catastrophe.

i^

m,m

^^ ^ j^

S:lt.,B]^X^,^^miUmr^Kyr-m^.^^The proverb runs

'

James Payn.

To break the camel's back to be the last thmg which

'

It is the last

^ j^ ii M m;mm:tm^mm.{^m^BX'7im^mn. ^ * ;^ ^){X)straw that breaks the camel's back

(P.), I do not know exactly what it was that Biver did at last; it was something which not only broke 'the camel's back (was suflBcient to cause a c^tastrophe-r-his dismissal),, but made the cup run over.

andle

To hold a candle
parable with

to

any one to

be in any

way com-

him

(c),

^^,mM^m,MM(^)'
m
J^ ;^ ti it

He suddenly broke in with his judgment that they 'didn't none on 'em hoi' a candle to his young mistis' (none of them were comparable with his young mistress).

F ^. * 5l s^
Cap

0.

Jir

:fe,

*^

mt'-ai.

Harper's Magazine, 1886.

To

set one's cap

atsee set.

^ ^ Set.
or recite a verse beginning

To cap verses to compose

with the
speaker.
final letter of

a verse given by the previous

A favourite pastime (P.),

^M^ iX)

(_fc.

They had ainused themselves during their daily constitutionals by capping Greek and Latin verses.
Macmillan's Maaazine, 1886.

[48]
Exp.
the sake of health,

CAR
They had amused themseives dnrii'ig the^r daily walks for by each beginhing Greek and Xatin verses with
,,

the letter the othQr. left off wj^th. -^

,
^

'

Capital

a 3E f f To make capital
i suppose

,.jF/fi];,fiP

ja

^ ^ f&':^-A ^
tSt tf

out of anything to use anything

for one's owii ptofit (C),

^M
till
'

^^IM 'M)-

Russia was not bound to wait

,

tion to

make

capited evi of her again. Case, her, for their

they were in a posiown advance-

inent again).

&).!

'

M. Arvold.

Card

On the
He
sident

cards expected to happen, spoken ahout, or announced (C), a

pr#;*^^i:^^w^^(^X
:i

is

is

now Vice-President of the society, arid hfe election as Preon the cards (expected).

r !a

^#

HJ

f ^. m a ^ K :S IE # S

nl

To. speak by. the card

{(i.),

to
is
! ;

be careful with one's words

m^-:&'s-Mnm m)"We must speak by the card or equi,

.

How absolute thcs knave vocation will undo us.

ShakespfifKe^,.'"^

Exp.
our words,

Plow peremptory the, fellow is! lest they be used to ruin us.

We must

be careful with

Carpet

carpet-beggar a ,Yankee
great U.S. Civil

speculator

War went

to the

south

to

who after the make money

out of the impoverished country (C), f^

A ^^ ^^>

To come on the carpet to.

be introduced (C), if-^;

?im.X(^).'
'

"-''

'

and

There wer6 few better specs (speculations) among us than inns c]>urches, uutil the railroad's Vahie, On the carpet (were introduced).

^'mA^Effi*.

f'^&ffl-.a,

M^i
Haliburton.

CAR
On the carpet^imdei'
Ws'i'iX)The
cession of the' Port

[49]
discufisiom (P:),
'

J^
I

MilE^M
China
is

--..'
;

Hamilton group

of islands to
1

now

on
a?

the carpet (un,der,dijscussion).

E ^ 25 a

!i

m * m -.^, ea Bi JE * n,

li-

A carpet kniigM-^a gieTitleman who receik^es the honour

.

of

knighthood 'ftorn his sovereign, not for

servicses

on

the battle-field Taut for services at court 6t as a peaceful

citizen (P.),

#v^?F
As that
of

m m ^ m m m mi^mm)z
courteous car^,

some vain carpet-KnightJ

Who ill deserved my

Scott.

To bring upon the carpet to

formal wav, to

find fiult with in a of past conduct

demand an explanation

Mr. Jones, whose attentions to Jane had hot ended in an offer of marriage, was brought to the carpet by her mother (vi^ addressed in a fault-finding way hy her mother, and ask,ed to explain his conduct). 4

Carriage

A.

carriage and

fourA
four,

ca,ri:iage

drawn by four horses

"A

carriage

and

papa; pray come and

lo<)k."

"iibur horses!" exclaimed Mrs. Armytage, in the excitement of themomentfcl: netting her own canons of etiquettd, and rising from her chair to obtain a better: view of the approaching vehicle.

$,

&^

jpl

iS-^.

I I

^"'^
j

^^"-

Carry

To carry anything too farto

bounds in anything.(G.),
You'afe carrying a jOke too far; whBH

excepd the

proper

Ji; & ^, k ^ i^)it

hurtsj a friend's feelings.

Exp.
'

You

are passing the proper limits of a i(|k,

'

when

it hurt

friend's feblings..'
i,
1

.lifiS it,

jS^.ffi

$11.

^ , W ^,^.1*-

[50]

CAS
To carry
all before

one

to

be completely successful

or popular (C),

-'&Mm;^i\iUYhMBMT,
all before her (is

Adelina Patti carries wherever she goes.

popular with every one)

iH )-

To carry the day

The democrats .cametf
idential election.

H m (^ * * ) M iU ^, A # m 21 (It If A
^to

-g-lft

win a victory

(P.),

jc;^mnmm^m,-^m \t, mm (X)the

Wi.M'^^:l^
last

day (were victorious) in the

Pres-

To carry on

to

to call attention to one's conduct, to

behave in a particular fashion so aa misbehave (F.),

He

is

further said to have carried on (misbehaved) with Satanic

wildness in Limehonse and the

West India Dock Eoad

of

an evening.
Besant.

Cart

To put the cart before the horse

thing
first (F.),

to

put the wrong

m^mm;m'^7mm,^^j,m
at this stage is to put the cart before the horJecome afterwards). Study Geometry-

To begin Physics
first.

(begin with a subject that should

:* iE

* i& ^ M ^ -

Cast

To

cast about

to devise or

plan (C),

^; ft&",^S(M).
he
cast about

When

he heard the news of the

failure of the firm,

for (planned

hpw

to obtain) a

new means

of livelihood.

To

cast

out to

quarrel (F.),

^; U ^,

*f-

fl,

Ifr

f i^

The goddesses golden apple.

cast otrf (quarrelled)

over the possession of the

To

cast

up

to

reproach or upbraid (F.)

[Scotch]

GAT
'For

[51]:

what between you twb has ever been, None to the other will cast up, I ween. For no one, I think, will reprdach the bthe^f for past transactiona.

'

Caste

To lose

CaSte

with to be I'ejfected by
with
(is

(P.),

S^ Jf

IS

^,

She has

lost caste

no longer treated

as

a,

friend by) the

more

strict religious people.

Castles

Castles in Spain possessions that have no real existence (P.) The Spanish getntry do Hot Hve in castles or country-houses but in towns; 4* SE 3^

^ M
;

He

brags too

much

am

atraid

we

shall find his boasted posses-

sions to be castles in Spain (imaginary buildings).

B (1" ^ ^ &).
Castles in the air

empty, visionary schemes

air,

(P.),

These were but like castles in the imagined.

and in men's fancies vainly

Sir

W.

Raleigh.

The two

families lived in neighbotiring' squares in London,

and

spent several weeks of every year together at Thoresly, the Neales' old rambling manor-house in Yorkshire, about which Elsie had heard and
buiU cailles in the air (woten fancies) in her childhood.

Casns

Casus belli

ground of quarrel
and dogsto

(P.)

[Latin]

^-

ji^

Cat

To rain
"But

cats

rain heavily (C), in

^;

^
^.

it'll

heavily) to-morrow, as

perhaps rain eats and dogs (it will perhaps rain very it did yesterday, and you can go ," said Godfrey.
,

:gjfe IJ

ffl

IS S8

^ ^ M a * s B^

Bi, M'J

K m
"sr

fi'

0. Miot.

[53]

CAT
A
cat' and

__^_
life

dog lifea quarrelsome

lead

iG.),^it'^i3

;The two

now
*B,

a
3fi

cairoiii-db'g Zif&'(,ax6 incessantly quarrelling).

^;

-A

^,

in

:^ :t :^ tS t&

(H .^

5i;

* <f ^

.)

To
;;

fight like

Kilkenny catsrtpi
These
ojats,

fight -With unreason-

ing ferocity, (C.)

axe; said io

in a saw-pit so furiously that only their

jiails
;

have fought were left

fl

behind

to

Wl

of th-efierce struggle,' ?E ip

^^ H

To let the
,

cat but of the bag

;

to disclose

a secret

(F.),

m m m m m m m^', m^^m (#
The
cat's out of the

bag now (the

secret is

now discovered)
noticing.'

it's

no,-jv;onder ttiey

don't go ahead,, for they

111,

know

IS s>

^ !a B s

M s ^ ;p fr, m.^m^ mm^wc^I

Haliburton.

To make' a

cat's

paw

of-^to use as a inere tool (P.)

The phrase is taken from the fatle of tjhe cat and the fnonkey/ The latter wished to reach $ome chestnuts
that were .toasting on the

,fire

and

lised ijhe

paw

of his

friend the cat to get at them, SI

36j flj

^j

S 3^) ^ _^
'i^

m(X}{^
They

^m m mmm n s m ^M ^

t^ i^

tools the enterprise

upon themselves, andj made themselves

4he people's caispav)' {the dupes of the people).'

Timeg, l^B^,

To shoot the

cat

to

vomit

(S.), Pg

ly;

('

I).

To
>)

see

how
>'':./
...

^''tvhy a thing happen^

;

the cat jiimpsio'see exactly how and (F.),^ ^'ff J^,'^ itf.

^ MK

...

..

:..,,,

,,,,

I see

how

the cat

jumps (the real

haiftt
('h'as'

state of affairs)!; nainister

".

so

many 'litTiguageS he

not) bieen pdtticnlar

'

knows enough to keep

"^t<them) in separate parcels.,

.i.'"''-

.,-i,.'

S^ f & i^ ia St
,

:^.

Haiibumn.

CAV
Catch

ms]
Tartar) jl,

To csLtch. a Tartar^ (see Td

catcli

Tartar;..

a cralif(see dmi), ^^:i^ Grab,

overtake
(0..),

To catch upto
A
friend caught

^^ ^
;

it, g^

MMS

me up (pvertook me) as

was passing Temple Bar.

It is not that the M.oIi:viiux>^dai;L boy is duUler th|in the Hindu boy; but he does not begin (his studies) so soon, and helhas not caught up (overtaken) his rival by the time earlier educational! honours are dis-

tributed.
I

Calcnttd Englishntan-

Cause

Cause celebre

a famotig law case

(P.)

A iFrench phrase.

We

greatly fear matters will rfemain in their jiresent disgraceful

and that the Campibell cause cilipre will have no result except to vitiate still more thealready vitiated atm^jsphere of society.
condition,

spectator, 1886.

To make common cause with

port
(P.),

'

to side

with and sup-

If It; ffi^ (^).^

Thus the most respectable Protestants, with Elizabeth at their head, were forced to make common cause (associate! themaelyes) with
the Papists.

Macaulay.
(S.),

Caution

A ca'ution something to be avoided or dreaded

Sometimes
jHi

/^

it

the dust out of town

iki

BS

g 5i AS ^ m,.m ^m 3s, 4- a! ^ mj I

doesn't .rain here f or ^ight months at a stretch, and is a eaviion (is dreadful j.

Cave
,

To cave into
,

succumb, give way

(S,]^,

fe

M;

?i

^,

puppy

joins the chase with- heart

and

soul
.

very eagerly) but

Cffves in (desists)

at a,bot fifty yards.

u r: :-

:?.
.

;'^

H.

Kingsley.

[54]
Caviare

CHA
Caviare to 'the general
ple
(P(.)

^not

pleasing to ordinary peo-

Gayijare.is a substance, prized

which
fish

is

made from

the roes of sturgeons

caught in the rivers of Russia,

^A

by epicures, and other "^ BS t^

;

ft

^ m,m m^mn
the, play,

mm mnwmmmnn
;

For

I remember, pleased not the million

:^

'twas caviare

to the general. is IE

^J*iS K,
I

AK te * A, Mm

:*B

HMS a mHhakspeare.

Chaff

To catch with chaffto

With which

deceive easily (C),

JSHI IS
to

chaff our iJoble bird

was by no means

be caught.

iei^^S;a.i%,*i5^-Br$#.
fi.

Thackeray.

Our noble f rieind was by no means to be caught in this easy fashion.

s ^ ^ m s,
the chair

ffii jifc

^ s s fp, * A If

fli.

Chair

To take

at a meeting,

assume the position M]^^M'

to
of the

of president

The committee

Commons

appointed Mr.

Pym

to take the

chair (president of the meeting).

Chapter

Clarendon. l6^K^#;iSja,i^^^Sg;SnJ^SS. To the end of the chapter to the very end, uninterruptedly (P.), Ji; S S, ifc ^, ^ if *, K $

Money does. alli things; for it gives and it takes away, it makes honest men and knaves, fools and philosophers; and so on, mutoiM mutandis (the necessary changes being allowed for), to the end the
of
iciapie* (to.the veryi end).

ti

^W

mm. Mil*,

*, ^ #iS S sua, m BS W HLM fll^i&V^m%.

J5i fig

fti,

JS

e ^ -a, ^ in

jifc

!^,

L'Estrange.
(P.), -fS

The chapter

of accidents chance

i| ;^

The chapter of wieidents (chance) has more power over the bestregulated minds 'than all the chapters in the Bible.

is,m
'^'

^^^,nm *'6 It A-;i ii>;i^* ^a5^i K

Marryat.

CHE
Character
|

[55]
suitable (P.), -S-^it; jS
5iC

In character
(X)-

appropriate,,
-&

Read

it;, is it

not quite in character (appropriate)?

n rM ^,&^m. # m
-Out.

m^aeu.
(P.), Tp.

of character UnsQitabl6,.iniappropr,iate

^
^

Charge

To give in charge

to

hand oyer

to the police (P.),

The burglar was, cajigbt and

policeman

.given in charge

.(handed over) to a

e ">
Chaw
Cheap

iffi

who happened to be passing; Sii S> M ^ 3 ffi ^ > Sfe IP

countryman,,

^^^
boor

ffl

M^U

A chaw-hacon-^a
To he cheap

a,

(F,),

A;

of anything^to have received no more than one's deserts in the way of aflEronts or punish^
The
imprisonment, and the rogue was cheap
"BT

,ment(F.),.'Itm#E(m-).
thief got ten days'
all
.of it

(Reserved SS SE

S ^ ^ + 3^- e E ^ 'g * H t#,

he

got).

If ft iR

^ ^
il
;

To

feel cheap-^to be afErpnted or ashamed

(F.), iff

When I found that I really waa not incited, you feltcheapiwas aghameej of my position).
'

may

be sure a

Sg

as

Ji

* f- li si S. , ^

Bf

S ^ ii

ISl-

Cheek

Cheek by jowlin -close,

I'll

proximity .(F.),

MM;

Ifi

>,

go with thee, cheek hyjole (jowl).

ShaJcspeare,

,^$iW W.M.U^Cheese

To get
ment

the- cheese^-to receive a check or a disappointThe phrase is said to find its origin in the (F.)

history of

Beau Brummel, the friend of George IV,. Presuming on his acquaintance with the Prince Regent^

Brummel used

to take the. liberty of arriving late at

,

t-he party would one occasion he arrived in this fashi,9n atjihe Marquis of Jjansdowne's,, but found that the company were already far advanced with dinner.

formaLdinuers,aaad,always. expected that

await his arrival.

On

[33]
.'J;

CHE
Thfef ihostjittiming ,tp.

Bruinmel Jt&ked him

.(;

if

he

wouljl

have some cheese

.1
,

(a late course).

T^e

qrestfallen look

of the

Beau
the-

is

said to have given, rise tojthe expression

^^# ^.H.mm:t&f^'>^^ a A s.jjsi nmm^^ in a ^ m m, m a UM m . a p m m-^ a. ^HWi^^m- ^ iL # ^ (^ ?L'ff ^mmm\^

he
got
cheese,

|1

^ m.r^m, ^jfJ?
;i!if

1!^

The cheese what is

f'
' '
I

Sl>

excellent or first-rate

(S.),

^^
^

Oh!
is;

M*

ain't I the cheese

iS

'(a.va'1

not a fine

fello-sr)?!

A ?.

.
,

{London Song.

Chef

Chef-d'oeuvre a master-jpiece, the .best w!ork of the kind (P.) A French phrase, ^'f^, M.^, tt Jll ^, "t
.

'

There were vegetables cooked most a sort (if rich ragout done to a- turn, and so fragrant ^at the very odour ;nade| the month water. it m,M. ^. ffi m, -*g, :* -t
deliciously ; the

The

dishes were uncovered.

meat was a

ehef-d'veuvre;'

^ %^

^m * ^ m
\

C. Readc.

Cherry

To make two

hites of a cherry to divide what is so 'small as scarcely to be worth dividing (C), JUL ^;

n^^:tm)Let us to^s up for the seat;

Jit -ft

there is

no use

mcMng

two bUe$ of a

cherry (the seat is too small to a'ceoinniodate

-

both comfortably).

TP *n 16 =ASSIffl, mAlfllgiJ

S2.a,>&1Sf^g(ltlf
smiling,

Cheshire

To grin like a Cheshire cat-^tb ,be always .'displaying the gums and, teeth ,(F.),
.:

"^^MM^M-

a,

in his chair, tapped hia boot with jiis cane, and with his face such; as aiCheshire cat nlight wearf who feels a mouse well under her claw. I
grjn

He lay back
on

'

CHI
Chew
To chew the cud- -t6 dwell memory (0,),, m 'U I '^^
.

[57]
'with* 'pleasure

upon some
>i>

mm-M^ m m :t n
: ':,'
James Payn.
>i>

;;,^*,.||.itc^.:,(W
It is possible she

was only prefeijdiilg to sleep, in order to chew the cud (enjoy the memory) pf some STyeet thought at greater leisure.,

fe:^#l^Siroii1i^f;lg*:,>*'BrS

Chicken!

No

-chickeiinot youthful.
The bride iS' ko JiJSiM, id p.

(C J

# H;

il,

ilE

Chicken (twenty-five years or more).

(W K ^ Ei H - + 3 g|). Count not your chickens till they are hatched be

* * gS
is

s\ire that,

a thing
of
it

actually in your possession, before

you speak

as yours,, (G.),^ I?

ip ^J
-i-

:^^mnm.^>^m^&. im) (*
Child

^ #

15:
j:

H;

^
:^

From
,

a child from infancy (P.), g /]>; ^J {%) Froma cMi (since his infancy) he has been deUcate.
resign one's

Chiltera

Toappjyibr the Chiltern Hundreds^to

seat in Parliament.
I'he'

hundreds (or districts) of BodenhamiDesborough, Stoke, in Buckinghamshire, known as tbe-,Chiltern .Jl^ndreds^ have attached to them a stewardship, with the duty of keeping down the robbers who infested the woods of the Chiltern Hills. This
o:^ee
is

strange
;

now a merely nominalonej but it is put to a When a member of parliament wishes to use.
iin possible

resign his seat, an.

thing by law, unless he

can

disq[ua;lify

himself, he lapplies for this stewardship,

('

,under the crown,, the assumption of which reresignation of a. seat in the House of Commons. quires The practice dates from the year 1750,

an

ofl&ce

^W^MM.^

fifl

^^S

10

# M Ea

:I?S

;5: PbI

& &

Jft

fi

^.

[58]
It did not take

CHO
me
long
,

to.

discover that I was not c< -^redeentered into the repose of the Chiltem

signed) for a party

i^uTyreeZs (resigned

man, and ^

my

seat'in the Ilous'e of

Commotis).

^^^
Chip

'J

:^

<ffi

1&).

chip of the old block

child possessing the char-

acteristics of its father (C),

"^

^ :i ^ ^ R, ^ ^,
;

"He will prove a chip of the old block (a model elf his father), warrant'' he added, with a sidelong look at Margariet.
James Payn.

I'll

Chisel

Full chiselin

haste.

American

slang, ^, fc; =^j^,

They think they know everything, and all they have got to do, up Hudson like a shot, into the lakes full split (in a hurry), off to Mississippi and down to New Orleans full chisel (in haste).
to

tt

'It ffi HfC

:^

;t}:

ftg.

ScUiburlon.

To

chisel-^to cheat or defraud

(S.),

fS

Sfe

(ffi).

a carpenter like a swindler? (cheats much).

is

Why

Because he
iifc -ffi.

chisels

a deal

- * IE M a na Note.

3fc

ta,

E li s *

pun

is

here

made on the word

chisel

and on the word

deal (wood).

Chop

To chop

logic

to

argue in a pedantic fashion

(P.),

A man must riot presume to use his reason, unless he has studied the categories, and can diop logic (argue lite a schoolman) by mode
and %ure.

+ II, &

ffi

"X fS i@ B| )S

fe

it:.

Smollett.

To chop ttponto meet

I kiiow not

Suddenly (C. )

:^

^
if

flff

iS

What
Bs

my cbiidiaon
theiti.'

Would have been

upon (chanced' to meet)

had chopped
Depe.

M^m ^m m lantB-a n:^ i ^ it j^-m ^.

GLA
First choipin the
first

[59]i

rank

(F.),

fj

^J

gg

^) -L S.

-LSit.i^(*^)You must
Sraf

?E*3c JtiKJ^m^il-

be first chop (in the front rank) \h heatven. G.Eliot.

tell stories (S.), Jf-

To chop yarns to

H;

*i:

Jl- SE

&

and fond

'Described as a carpenteiv-'but a poor workman, Clara Martha, of chopping yarns, in which he was equalled by none.
+B ss

* E TJ *^ m *

a *r,

ffi

- SB^X A, ti^Jt
Besant.

Chuck

m%A.m-yfi^ATo chuck up to

'

give in or surrender.'

Sometimes cor-

rupted into

jack

up

'

(S.)

I^ H6; Hchtieked

^ T > !S !?>

At the third round Joe the Nailor

beaten).

up (declared himself

Chum

To chum up with^-to make

friendly advances to (S.),

Kenny tried to chum up (get on friendly terms) with the new-comer,

was only
partially successful.

Cinder

A cindera

wine-glassful of liquor, used to

(F.),

mix -mth

tumbler of effervescent or other water

S H fD

7jC

.Mt::tW-lr^?i(S)
Won't you have a
cinder in your soda?

Exp: "Won't you have a glass of brandy or some other liquor in your soda-water ?

Ci

Ci-devantformer, of a phrase, ft t' fl ^,

;

previous time
,

(P.)

A^ French

iSfc

(:^) (?* T^)i

His
Sc

<3-dewarrf friends......

A,

*,

S ^-

Barham.

Clay

The

feet of clay^

the baser portion, the lower

and

and

de-

grading part (P.) See the Bible, Daniel, Chap. II. v. "This image's head was of fine gold, his breast 33.

and

his

arms

of silver, his belly

his thighs of

brass, his legs of iron, his feet- part of iron

and part

of

GLO
fijiV
,

.;.c%.:;"

) eihapter'XXXII of James Payn's novel, "The Talk of the Town," is, hegiide^ the' feet op clay; a

^ |^; i^ibm^MmmmBm mm m-^x^) m^ Bm n :z>mmm m^ m m ^, M-m n ^, ^ &

heading:,e?iplgiii}ed

by the

second seuten'ce:

T m,

^f

/.:

Her

Willie

had become as'&ad

tSsat

to her; all that

was

left of

him

Iwas the shameful (reqord

lay on- the table befiare her.

Note-

This means tTiat'the

man whom

she so admired had prov-

ed that he possessed bae

qualities.

e-

mB#

?!i.

^M A> g f# ;& ^ n )t &

back to
flatter

ft.

Clav

To .claw

another's

another.

(Old-

fashioned), fs'.?i;

m ^. ^, a ^, mm, mmii^M,

He
li

is

a daw-bach (flattering) parasite,

-r f gc A S.
of anythingr-see Breasi{G.),
flif

Qlean

To make a clean breast

Breast.

To clean out

to, ruin

or render bankrupt, to take away

(F.),

all available

money from

^^j^tt;^*,^^,

At the iclose
out (left without
:

of the .lawsuit the

Doctor was pretty nearly cleaned

ffl

any money).
;2.

St ii

^ IS *

ig

^^B

fl $

^ i 3^ (- a iB

fe)-

Cleanse/.

To Cleanse the Augean stables see Augean

;,;

(P.),

-fj

Augeau'.:

',

Close

To

close

with^to

agree to

(P.),

jp,

jfl,

^ M, %'
it

CX).

He

closed with (agreed to) the offer, as

soon as

was made.

Close-fistedniggar(ily,' mean (P.), ?

Ibycus
is

ra

^ St

a'carkihg, griping, close-fisted fellow.!

Jfi'M,

F ^JL m-^M^'M

k>fU^.^=^ \m.

Berkeley.

[61j
Cloth

The

cloth-^^lergymen, the position of a clergyman

(P.),

Denying. himseHthis.feat aa unworthy of his cloth (position as a clergyman), he met a drunken seaman, one of the ship's crew from the Spanish main.

S$
Clotlies

!!k

ffl

iS-

Hawthorne.

In long clotheB still ^ young

Wellington was born
infant).

infant

(P.),

W.%.^M',
young

when Napoleon was

H
,

in long clothes (a

^ 15 M : IS m i:
Clouds

JE

* JS ^ ^ S IE
of

To he in the doiids

to

dream

what is impracticable

to build castles in the air (C),

^ A # #;i H, ^ ^,
the clouds (in-

Since his return from Oxford, Arthur has heen in dulged In visionary fancies).

mm

i %l^

ffi

IS

i!K

:&

^.

b3f

f^

^^
;

n.
,

Under a cloudin disgrace (P-), :^ ^

Gentlemen
this tavern.
that are under,

^ ^ * ^ Ui'$^-

a cloud
Bf ?K

(in

temporary disgrace) frequent

W B#
Clover

?i;

# ig ^

;)k:

^,

jifc

?H

^.

To

live or be in cloverto be happily situated, surrounded with every luxury (C), ii |^;^ ffi, ffi

#^

He
desire)
-fe

has got the jnaaiagersbip, and now.

!l f^

is

in dower, (has all

he could

iffi

iP

-tt,

*9^

ffi

^ (if * ^ W ^ &)
'fi

Togo from

clover to rye-grassto exchange a good

Said of second marriages,

position for a worse (F.)

Coacli

A coach and sixa coach drawn by six horses,

:^
'

such as

only very wealthy people formerly used (P.), aC

(zit) (Jft:

^ i^

^ ^ '1 * P# * A ^ *
;fc
'

ffi :t)-

This,' said he, is a young lady ared sia: (enjoy great wedth).' If A> 8i> ft S, Jli 7&
'IB.

who was born

to ride in her coa/ih

^:S E S).

-#

^^ S Sa 4 BPaSSH^:^ ^'^^"^''ffi

^-

[62]
means

COA
To drive a coach and
a
of defying

six

through anything
tiith

to-find

any enactment

impunity (C),

(defy with impunity)

The Chancellor boasted that he could drive a coaph and tix any of the recent acts of Parliament.
fls 5@.

(hrough

^mu ^i^^ i&n E

Coals

To

call,

haul, or bring over the coals

(F.), Bfe

to administer

rebuke, find fault with

Your mother has been
me)

^^

ilK

;K # (iT).

calling

me

over the coals (finding fault with

to her for a couple of houra.

To carry coals to Newcastle^to

it is

take a thing where

already plentiful (C),

aJSM^8f=glt(;^|^

" Sure, sir," answered the barber," "you are too wise a man to carry a broken head thither (to the wars), for that would be carrying coals to Newcastle (taking a broken head to where there are plenty broken heads)."

^s E ^ 0, * & 75
To heap
fits

f.

A,

i& ?i^n- m.

m m m, m&n&'m
Memng.

nmmmM'^i&m&M)-

coals of fire on one's head to return benewhere ill-treatment has been received, and thus make an enemy ashanied of his conduct (P.),

&>^^

thirsty, give
his

enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be him water to drink; for thou shalt heap coals of fire on head (make him ashamed of his enmity), and the Lord shall reward
If

thine

thee.

m,

?& ib iflM,

^n
is
till thf.

S&

^ ^i^ m ^
is

Proverbs of Solomon.

Coast

The coast
He
waited

clear

there
was

no danger

of interference

coast

clear (no

one was

stirring),

and then

summoned

his confederate.

coo
Coat

[631

To cut
late

ohe's coat according to one's clpth. one's expenses by onfe's inQome. (C.)} /^B
ffi

regu^ ^ ^;
to

ft
can

A :^

m)was
displeased.,
tb

TJncle Sutton
all tut

" Debt is dishonesjt," said he.

"We

our coat according

qur cloth (limit our expenses to the size

o our incomes)."

Reade.

To turn one's coat

This is not the
first

to change to the opposite party

(0-),

time he hag turned his coat (changed sides).

A red-coata British soldier (P.)

in Cromwell's
sters.

Hazelrig's regiment

army wore red coats and were called lobThe Hanoverian king's household uniform was
which
is

red, a fact

said to have decided the adoption

of this colour as the national one after the accession of

George
tf ;^

in 1714, U ^i ^m^ (X)t^^mm % fe * - m, ^- ^ iU - # ^ m Ht A P* ;t : X # 5 ^ R ?f :^ ^ ine..

I.
5Fi]

:K.
ffl

fIfflS,

i)c

And now the bird saw some red coats, And he shook his wings wi' anger.

,11

A a: S, SI SB S ^.
for

W.

Glen.

To dust a man's coat

him

;
,

to givei

him a

castiga-

Father Parson's coat well dusted.

; j

E
Cock

)I1S

aii|'

^ :^ S ^ 18-

Advertisement quoted by 1. Disraeli.

is

The

Gallic cock

the cock

the national bird of France

of England, fi

as the bull is the national

ani]qG^p,l

H Si
*!l

Codk of the -walkchief

BtobinsOii

in a small circle

(S.),

^ Ji

was

cOcMoftlie uiaJJ (considered invincible) in our school.

coc

A cock-and'bull story-^-an
nor
(IS
less

absurd

tale (P.),

"MM &

Mrs. Wilmot plainly declared that festher's tale was neither more than a,.trujnpery cock-and-bull (worthless and foolish) story.
-tii)-

^ ^ S :^ il

Blackmore.
^to

To

live like a

fighting:-COCk

live in

luxury

(S.),

A cock is always bold on its own

one fights
ers,

^mm^m^msmmi^^m.u,'^^
;

dunghill everywell. when. surrounded by friends and admir-

To beat 6ock-fightiiigto surpass anything conceivable (S), # ;^ -t ^ W m, ^f tr (ffi).

^ S
'
.'

The Squire

faltered otit J "Well, this 6eate coci-^fl'MrM/

,

(is

some-

thing extraordinary)."

To knock

into a cock or cocked hat shape, to defeat completely (S.), fT

I never

to bruise out of
::fe

S A 3? @ ^;

into

knew a Welsh girl .yet that couldn't dcmce an EngHshman a cocked hat (who Was not vastly superior to an Englishman in

dancing).

Reade.

To cock one's toes to

Cocker
According to Cocker

die

(S.),

W^

IrI

?c

^ ^T

(ffi).

accordance with the present system of figures (F.) Cocker's Arithmetic, first pubhsh-

in

ed in 1677-8, Was for long the standard work on the

subject,

and

passfed

through sixty editions,

115

-^-^M,itm,^M

mw-m {%) m mi m, s
(by established rules).

^ BS ^3ffi;

It's all right according to Cocker

Cockle
.

To .warm the cockles -<tf one's heartto

ant inward, feeling (F.) ,
tif t^*

give a pleasifj>

J^

M ^
;

U Z, '6

^Oh
To
(giyes

JBB]
my
JieaH
, i

see yo\j

me

a.11 so h^^ppJ and friendly vXirms the Icnchles of great inward satisfaction).
il>

a m A in 9? IK, l
Cockpit

S^

^^'4-

The' cockpit" of Extfbpe^a name 'applied to Belgium because of the number of gr^at battles :hat have been fbught on its soil (c), {m}i^7im\B

mmm^ m
C("wn

Coin

To pay a man back in his

he has served yov
If

coi^

^) serve

him

as

(F.),

i^

^ A ^ 5t ^ ^ A :^ #
oiily

oion coin (treating

you leave Uiin to "be captuyedi it is him as he treated ybu).

paying him back in his

' ' i

To coin money^to

malie

money vry

rapidly (F.), St

jon?/

With the new contractB he has eecuredj Johndon (naaking money very quickly).

is

just coining

Colin
Collar

Colin

Tamponthe

nickname given
difficult,

to a Swiss (F.),
:

Against the collar

causing fatigue.
;

A phrase

taken from a horse's harness

when a hojrse goes uphill

the collar pulls' oh' his neck (C),

MM,^^>'%' AM
was
oj
I

Th(3 last' mile

the collar

Up

to the

head

of the pass

good deal against

(somewhat

fatiguing).

In collaremployed
'

(F.),
of

mWLm^^l^^n
is

i'W,).

The workinan you spoke

at present.
'

not in, cbZ/ar (putj of

i

employment)

Colour

With the coloursserving

as a regular soldier (P.),

With- this view the peripd of eugagepaent' was ijaised from seven to nine year^, five" yeai^ being "passed with the cqloura (in regular service), and fBur in the reserve;
"
i

S :^ i m, ft -b % M ' .:'.' minpurgh % ^JE ^, ^ . M ) ^'

El;:t an
Jit

is; ft

ift,

lif

'fleview,

1886.

[66]

COM
A c6l6ur-pieice-^A piece of bric-a-brac, intended to produce an
effect

in a room by

its

peculiar colour,

^R^
to

Colt

To have a

colt's

tooth

(of

an elderly person)
1^1
;

have

^ ^^ Jx :^ A ^ >& ^ ^ Jt ^ 2 i&, Mm^m^&=f-s.,Mm ^ >& * a

juvenile tastes
(F-);

To cut a man's comb

to-

humWe him (S.), ^ff ;#J^,

Be'll be. a-brmgirig (he is sure to bring) other folks to preach from. Treddleston, if hik'comb ^'i Hut a bit (be is not taught his proper place).

iSiScii^Af ^,am-

a. Eliot.

Comb

To comb a man's head to

He
has marri!d. a wife

give

him

a thrashing

(F.)^

who

will cCmibhis head (often beat him).

Come

To come down to

subscribe, give

money

to

an object

Selcover would be certaii^ to come

down handsomely

(give a hand-

some

subscription), of course.

sfei|!& -fb

gjEfvil

ffi

S-

Macmillan's-Magazine, 18SB.

To comeout(of a young lady) to enter into society (P.),

You have
trance
Ijsst

yoUr

ffliry,

godmother look;
it,

is it

coming out (en-

iijtd soQ^ety)
sft

that has done

or what?

mB
i5c

mm z^-'^^mM^^mm^ m&,m^mm^
'
.

T-

A. Keary.

To com6 to
,,

one's'
..;

self ,to recover consciousness (P.), 1^

~r.;. ,^,; /. She began to- h^ay the voice and to feel the things that were being done to her before she was capable of opening her eyes, or indeed had come to i&jarggZ/ (rei^ov^rqd con^iousness).
^

ii(^)-

fill

t6^

W: *'ii"M ft. B'^ KSElf.fJli^K:i;J:#*, %i^'BM m^Mrs. Olipf^nt-'i:,^:

ijR

31P

To come about to result, happen

How comes
;hav.e bfeei"

(P:),

^ j

^fi,

/g'

it

a6(H (hiapptehait)
the,

tha;t,

for
?

above sixty years,

'

affairs

placed in

ha^da of new men

.'

5^+-*a3K,.IW>&'^,m:fcfA**,MJS'fiBB^.

Swift.

COM
To come rourLdfirans.}to
His second wife come roM* (cajoled) the old change his will.

[67]
cajole, deceive (P.),

Dc li;
him
to

map and

got

'

To come round
sickness (P.), -f

{intrans.)

to recover
;|lfj

from an attack

of

^ 11
.

g| t@

^^ m 7C,

^ t: (^).

When

he came round (recovered from the attack) he found his

children at his bedside.

To come

to griefrto be unsuccessful, utierly

fail (P.),

failure)

The Panama canal scheme owing to want of funds.

no departed

is

likely to

come

to

grief (prove

glories to bewail, f6r though a king, take his-royal rest there nigh a century ago, it was because his carriage came to grief (broke do^n) in that lonely spot, and not from choice, nor vfaM the incident everjmade a precedent
fs,

It (the inn) has

legend

tells, .did really

by

future monarchs.
jHs

<h

*?/w ^

flt!

as

^ ae # e Si

isr

jifc,

misa

n^m^u,

James Payn.

To come
credit

it strong;

to.

exaggerate, to ask a person to

(S.),

%B ^ AS ;i 1 3S AJi m
What!
Little

something impossible

^ J^

phI

"a

^
*

(ffi)-

that's comin' of it ' m. 8*- 'h ;Ji at 58, 1- J& Saf ^.

Boston ask that girl to marry Ijim! a little too strong;

Well, now, if B, Holmes.

K, M' ^ *

J!

* ? ME y

Ji

To come
' ject

to the point to speak plainly, upon the subin question, without circumlocution. The opposite
(P,), ^MMM; M,M m, M.mm,w:sm^.y[<mmzm
^JJ

of heating about the bush

upg^ui/i^ p
(stated exactly

After a good many apologieS'ah'd explanations, he came to the point what he had come for) and asked ihe for the loan of
It),
"j&

my

horse.

# it ik mn m, ^ ^ SO (^ M 3K

^ a fs-is.

[68]

ODm
To come
:

wpfon-the paii:fsli^=^toibesome a pauper (P.),

: Thei* Js nijthJlilgiftHj the-.laHoTirer, whenidckne^ overtakes him, but to come upon the parish (receive ^tippoirt aa a pauper).

-ToeomeaudgoupoB-torelyupoo(C),

^;

Plft(M).

You have an excellent character to come and go upon (depend upon', in niaklns; ybur way in the world).

To come

to pass

to

happen (Old fashioned), Mt

is

MM

And what thou

behold, thou seest

hast spoken

come

to

pass CtiaS'hapx>ened); and,

it.

Jeremiah (Bible).

To come

oflF to happen, take place (P.)^

MtMM^',

iti

A day or two afterward he informed

in his

AUext that the thing he had

if-

mind was really coming o^ (going r: B ;i m, *n JS ft, H

to take place).
ilfF

m&

m !t * W:!i :i ^,
same as

AmK
to

Besani.

To come
one's

to

to recover (almost the

to

come

self) (P.),

H Si

(3it).

'

Then you, dear papa, would have to put your daughter on the sofafor of course she would be in a dead faint ^remove the pillow, and burn feathers under her nose till she comes to (recovers).

:?: ,

in JE

- 1&,

fe

S i& ^ # JL T 5^ ^ ^,

jgF

* ^ SI jK

jh.

James Payn.

Oomme

Comme

il

faut--decent, proper (P.)

A French phrase,

I assure you his manners are qnite comme Ufaut (as they should be),

a K M }4, a Jt ^ IS a

-&

ij;.

Commission

To put a ship in commission

service (P.),

to

send a ship on active

MW^^M.^^ WLiX),
memory fo
learn off by heart (P.),

Commit

To commit to

m;mm%n m, # m. u m ixy

CON
When
of the

[69]

yonng, he eommitted to memory (learned by heart) the whole Psalms and part of Pfoverbs'.
'>

^
Common

#,

-fe )if

^ ^ ^ )^ Sj

)iS

t^-

:A: iSB

3-,

In common
minately

held

equally with others, shared indiscri-

i^

^
*i

(P.),

^mmm;^^^ ^''^ mm^'^

in

The Jews had nothing

from) the Samaritans.

common

with (had quite diflferent interests

a Jl -t
Out

/j:

2Sl *<)

of the

commonunusual,

strange

(P.),

M'M',^

She was a simple-hearted woman, in whom whatever chanced to her ears out of the common (that was unusual) made a great impression.
[&
EP 7X ^ ft-

m -55 M i^ iS * A. IS ;^ M M ^ ;t ,

ffi

A ^ *.

-IS

"^"'"^* ^*2/n-

On

commons scantily provided with food ^^X'k; HfiFBia.^Je.J^ian.^M(M)short

Keep,

(C),

Company
Compare

To keep company see

To compare notes to
On

B ^ Keep.

exchange opinions or views on a ^"(X)*f *a It tif) subject of interest (P.),

found comparing notes (speaiking of their experiences), they exhibition. of the summer the Vienna that each had been at
e

=8-

?f

W a,

ftl

5^.

H^.

= A 1^ * H& *S-

Compli-

To return the complimentto

kind(P.),

ment

say or do something same pleasant in return for a previous favour of the

I^;^it(^)
was one
of the boasts of

compliment was so little lively curiosity to see that he had never relumed (he had so Uttle desire to see Highbury),

M^ Frank Churchill

Highbury, and a

him

prevailed,

though

the

been there in his

sii

life-

^ ?g,
ifc

B
Con

=^^^' a ^ St. ^ ^ 5S Wi ^(^^^ *^^^^*J ^'^^'^ ^''' Jt ^ ^^ W*

fe
jifc

JE.

'tf iil

iii.

Con amorewith goodwill,

heartily (P.)

[Italian]

W.

[70J
What is

000
dis;taateful rarely sticks in

^___
the memory.

What

ia

done

con amore (willingly) is tvice and trebly blest;

ii

^,

BJ

^ JB ^ il S ^ ^conceitdissatisfied (P.),

Journal of Education.

Conceit

Out of

^MMi^^Mti?

with
-I

Hartfield will only put her oiit of conceit (make her dissatisfied) all the other places she bel'brigs to.

-M ^ i&
C.

mm m *, Mt *^^^ m ^ # m M , J^ ^ K sp
G. Eliot.
(P.),

doufusion

Confusion worse confounded

disorder

in fL ^.

a worse ^ M H (X)still

state

of

This mishap has at the very outset, in the dealings of theologians with that starting-point in .bur rehgion, the experience of Israel as set forth in the Old Testamentbeen the cause, we have seen, of great confusion; Naturally, as we shall hereafter see, the confusion becomes worse confounded.

E M ^ K ^.^, m<&^(}^B^)^mKs,&^0im^
With niin upon ruhi, rout on rout. Confusion worse confounded.

mm

Milton.

Conscience

In

all conscience^assuredly (C),

Plain and precise enough
it is,

6tl ffil;

* M (M).
M.
Arnold.

in all conscience.
'

JtVlf^B+S-igigEa^.
Cool

To

cool one's heels-r-to be made to, wait, wtile paying a visit to some important personage (C), IE ff*;

AM

cooled our Tieels (yteie kept waiting) during the ordinary and intolerable half -hour. -)
.

We
la

^ s if

.a

s 4^ St ^ 2. a!, s
. ' .

a->

^ ^ :?, ^ B li ^.
'

G. A. Sala.

cool hundred (or any sum)- -the large sum of a hundred pounds (or any sum) (F.), ^-

m(M(I assure

'

/'

"

^^ W

'

"
.

The knowing
y oil).
.1
-

otjes -vyere cursedly fqiken in

(yery
^fi!
i

much

deceived)

there! I lost a cool

r

hundred
-,

(the'-

large-

sum

of

100) myself, faUh

I'

.,',
'

Maciemie.

COT
CJorn

[71]
of Australian

Corn-st&lk44a name given to the children

;.
.

s'ettleir^,

mm m xmm ^m n M x% m %) ^ -z^
a
'

especially in N'; S. ^Wales (F.),

* ^H ^; ^
M S ^;

Corn in Egypt
Si

.plentiful

supply of provisions;
(F.),

familiar phrase borrowed from the Bible

^mm k mTi mmm^m^'mmt: &&m

^. j
a)'
'''Uncle's

box has drtive^,"

said the minister; "there is corn in

%KP' (plenty food) to-dayi.''''

Corner

To drive into a

cOrner^-to embarrass,
is

to place in a

position where escape

impossible (P.)>

M ^ ~* F^;

"

I don't

want

to act the constable," said the farrier, driven into

a -comer ^embarrassed) by this merciless reasoning, "and there's no nian csm say it of me if he'd tell the truth."

&mw^&myf'^'in im
The
chief corner stone

m,

mm.

mmm, 7b B,n%

the
P^

most important support

of anything {Y.),

^5

^,

S Ol :^ ^, ^ ^^ tt,

Jesus Christ himself being the chief comer stone (principal support). St. Paul. ;fc mm. lil. fiP f

W^
Corpus
,

Corpus vile (pronounce

meht.(P.)
:

vi-ly)

the subject of any experi-

[Latin];'^

m.

:Z

K'M U ^

{-50.

[ST]vile

It is a tedious process for the enquirer, still more so for the corpus of the investigation (poor fellow 'who is subjected to these inquiries),
tires).

whose weak brain soon

...

Cbttoit
!\
,

To cotton
Lady

11;

to a person-^to fawn upon him, vances to him" (s.), m-M,

make
'M)-

ad-

^m^,^^

Mansfield's

maid says

the family.

That's

why

there's a grd,nd title or something in she dottom to (fawns upon) her so, I suppose.

[7 2 J

GQU
A
Cottoil lord

a wealthy Manchester mahufacturer

(C.)i

Cbiiieta:'-

Coiileur de [French]
and
flattering).

roserose

colour, highly flattering (C.)

,Wcm^&-MA:tm |g, ^ ^ (^O

all coiUeur
\

[^liR]

His descriptions of Japan are

de rose (excessively bright

Count

To count out

House of Commons admembers present. When the Speaker has his attention drawn to this fact, he must count the number present, and finding it so,
to declare the

journed, because there are not forty

+ a ^m. yf ^m m mmm^>^f^mmAmm^,wy^&m.^^^
.<j?

mm^M&m^M

declare the sitting over (P.),

KAM^JE,'l&'^ii

si ra

Gounte.

nance

To keep in countenance see Keep, ^ To keep one's countenance see Keep,

^ Keep. i^ ^ Keep.
(P.), -^
will devote to

His countenance
' '

fell

he looked disappointed
bve
i

To-morrow

you

said to-morrow, I think

recitation."

William Henry's countenance fell (William Henry showed signs of disappointment). He had heard Mr. Reginald Talbot's recitations
before.

K
Counter

Jft

H, BP ;t :^

a -a.
Put,

James Payn.

To put out of countenance see

^ ^ Put.
retail

A counter jumpera
dealer's

shopkeeper's assistant, a

shopman

(F.),

^^

,* 1g,

ffi

|^, 1^ ff,

^ J^

a dreadful business of course," he said, " but let iw- keep ift Coafound that impudent young courier jumper! (shopkeeper's lad) but I suppose there's nothing we can db, uncle? They're marriad by-thiatime."
'

'

It' s

to ourselves..

?^ St, S* 1 W M,-a & as r ^ E e ; m :t S; I? tB S * U&ti&M^MLongimam' Magwdne. _

<I>

ife

oou
Country

[73]

To appeal

to the country to advise the sovereign to dissolve Parliament and ask the electors to send up new
representatives (P.),

M W M WH; &m %M, M Wc &

Parlia'
(a

As soon as the necessary business could be got through, ment would be dissolved, and an. appeal made to the country
election of representatives made).

new

fr S-

^-

McCarthy.

To put
trial

one's self on one's country to stand one's before a jury (P.), ^J ; iit ^, ;2 I

An outlaw who yielded himself within the year was entitled to plead not guilty, and to put himself on his country (demand a trial by
jury).
'

f^llMife^J-

Ma/iaulay.

Coup

Coup de main
approaches

a sudden bold
little

attack, without previous

HJ

(P).

A French phrase,

/jp

:^,

^^

He expected
meant
to

rhind to of marriage).

more delay and coquetry; and, though he had not entered his carry the widow's heart by a c&up de main (sudden proposal
a

make

his approaches very rapidly, it

^ Jf

il.).

Jam^

Payn.
,

Coup de
Two
of

gr3,ce

a finishing stroke (P.)

firing party,

[French]

Iflf

others were told off to give

IS

me the coup de grdce, in the event

EP

my not being killed by the

% a l.ft - A 0>
lis

fl

- ^ It ^ T, f6 1 * ?e,
of one's opinions

^ ^-m

56-

^'^ "' ^"'' Sound, 1887.

Courage

To have the courage

to

be fearless

-in the expression of one's beliefs (P.),

M.^;^M^a,

"W^hatevef virtues Mr. Hyndman lacks, he JiaB at least the couragt tf his' opinions (is' at least bold to utter what hethinfes).

OOtT
Course

In course
You

in regular. order
m.,

(P.),

U^^^(^)(when
'

will receive the other

numbers
jsi

of the joumjil in course

the due time for their publication arrives J.

^ss:=-s ?s

M'pf

n 3r
(P.),

Of coursenaturally
'

* m (it mmnm. ^ B#m). Q. ^ g ^ WM' ^ B iX).

;

"A
ft

fair

challenge" crid the marguS, joyously.

"And
p,

I back the

gentleman.,"

"Oh,
,

of course (naturally)," said his daughter.

W it Of

IS

jHj lit

g i* m.'Si

%,

^.ma

jHs

^ *^ h, &
;

In due course

at the proper time (P.),

^ Bt &

Btf ,

When the boys got proniotion, wl^ioh came in due course (at the proper time). * * Allen began to buy books.

^B^^a
Court

aia*.

Jlft

MJSfi

.
as

Besant.

To bring

into court

to adduce

an authority

(P.),

But in the case oLthe Ainos, the boards alone were broughi
court

info

(brought forward as evidence).

Courtesy

Courtesy-titles -titles assumed by the family of a noble, and granted to them by social custom, but not of any Thus the eldest son of the Duke of Delegal value.

Marquis of Hartington in ordinary speech, but merely Spencer Comptoii Cavendish, a commoner, according to strict law. As a commoner he sits in The eldest son of a marquis the House of Commons.
vonshire
is

is

allowed the courtesy -title of earl, the eldest son of

earl, that of viscount.

an
,.

Younger sons

of peers are

allowed the courtesy-title of lord or honourable,

the daughters that of lady or honourable, ^S
"i"

and

^ ^ mimm -fim M^ A m> m m ^ mm

^ ^ -P;

# m :^ fe :^ S iF. : m :^ ^ J ^ m m 4? ^. # H :^ 1^^ :^ A. K ^ : /h
:^ ;S dP
,
.

ffi

:2:

CRA
Coasin

im

#^

Cousin Michel or Michael the nickname given to a German, as 'John BuU'^ to ah'EngUshman, and Brother Jonathan' to, an American (F.), /it ;S
'

^m,mmAi:
.

i:-^).(S)Coftte

Cofito

que coftteat any

fallen into the

cost ()'

[French]

/p

'la

S:

Mr- Child has

same mistakes
less

the Nouvelle Eevue, though with vilify c(y6ie que coiUe (at all hazards).

as the proprietress ol evident desire to abuse and

A;pa :g[ M * *. m-Ss if ^ * * A S US, fi 3C 2SL^ Ncdional Review. ^ H . la tt in W, Sc ^ E iP ^

:*:

-m.

Coventry

To send a person

to.

Coventryto

refuse to have
(C.)

him
is

in a society to which he naturally belongs

i^, @

This
a.

common punishment for an unpopular boy

ffi

in

B ra ^; mm:^A.mm^n:t '^,m ^ ^ s b
'^.,y^M:t^n m)
Crab

m #
j)t

school,

?*^

To catch a crab
oar
iti

to be struck with the handle of the

rowing and fall backwards (CO This accident occursif theoar be left too long in the water before repeating the stroke, Jx W;
|

WmmMm^^M>B
P^ffij

Crack

To crack a

break a house with the intenA; A burglar's phrase, ^ tion of robbing ^)nt ;^ 5a um'^(U) m^m'W.AA^M
crib
to

into

it (S.)

(ft

To crack a bottleto
He was

drink in a friendly way

(F.),

Wt

always ready to crock a

lottle Cdrink}Tvi.th

a friend.

To

cr^ack

anything

upto praise it highly (F.),

tt Wr;

up the old School-house, Rugby. l^hen don't object to my ieraeking

OSI

A crack hand^one who is eixpert, an adept (F.), M^;

'

He

is

a crack TumA (very

clever)- at eiitertsj,iuing children.

To crack a crust ^to

make a

get along fairly well in the world,

small but suflBcient income (F.), /h J^; 3

To crack a tidy crust

comfortable income
.

to be successful in life,

make a

*tf;^S^.Jgg a A ^ f^)In a rackinstantaneously ^ jt ^,

(F.),

Jf

(F.), fiH

l!l,

fiB

Poor Jack Tackle'^ grimly ghost was vanished in a crack (at once).

n'm^'^%m^,%^^:t.^i&,'iLmmmCrichton

Lewis.

endowed with every admirable quality of mind and body (P.) Jamed Crichton, a
Crichton
Scottish gentleman who lived in the sixteenth century, was a prodigy of learning and accomplishments. He was murdered; in Germany at the age of 23, r}' ^p fg
;

a person

**

+ 5^

ifi:

le.

Kmm)He was
Crispin

mm ^fig.^n + Hmffiii^:
Crisfin

the Crichton of our Village boys.

A son or knight of St.

Here the
loyal

shoemaker (C),

shoemaker sat merrily hammering at his last, shadows on the wall, and of the eerie associations of his little hox, which at one time in its career served the office of a dead house in connection with the hospital. The officer had nothing for the Knight of St. Crispin, and aftar interchanging salutations With him the company proceeded on their way, leaving him still singing on his stool.
regardless of the gathering
Jit

%m E,s^jit^,mgig8te mm, mmit,K'^

^im.:^ @Scotsman.

^,

mSi.m'&A.m&m, #^ * X, a

CRO
Crocodile
Crocodile tears
ing person

[771
tears,

hypocriticar
;

shed by an unfeel(^iC).

(P.),

^ M # S M ff ^ ^ ^ M

Crooked

crooked sixpence

a lucky thing, a talisman (P.)

It

used to be considered lucky for one to carry about a

crooked sixpence on his person, "^

M ^', 'p M ^ ^^>

me

You've got the beauty, and I've got the luck; so you must keep by you for your crooked sixpence (to bring you good luck).
G. Eliot.

Crop

To crop out

to

appear above the surface

(P.), |5i tU

The prejudice
crop-'i

of the editor of the

newspaper against America

-writes.

out (displays itself) in everything

he

^.

Siogo News.
to rise in different places

To Crop up (a)

unexpectedly

He did not, he said, want to have mushroom watering-places cropping up under his nose.
11
ffl

ii

3fC >:

^^

. 5

S #, * *

R-f

i If Bf

m S.

Good Words, 1887.

To crop up(6)
Cross

to

happen unexpectedly

(C),

^ in 35
to

On

the cross unfair

dishonest

(S.)
:fe

Opposed
5^

on

the

square, 7^

ifi

-H li,-# fA i&,

M ^ :^ R ^
jg Ji; ig
:?f>

mm)Crow
As the crow flies directly,
in 31 :^ fl. B H ^
tfe

without any deviation from

(P.),

the straight line to one's destination

;t {%)
and

by

line), over the stubble \fent, as the crow flies (in a straight the hedge-sides, never pausing to draw breath,

He

F m Jl Jt - a ^ #^ifl

1*1

1?

K ^.

"" "

Mrs. Oliphant.

To crow over to triumph over, be exultant towards (C),

[78]
The
himself,

CHY
Colonel, instantly divining the matter,

and determining

to crow over Polly (prove that

knowing than Polly)

it."

said, to

and secretly flattering he was more help him out: "Aha, yon rogue, I knew

SI

^ ^ ^ ^fault to find with one, to

Harper's Magazine, 1886.

To have a crow to pluck with any one^to have some

have a matter requiring explanation (C),

f^W;^ 9.n,m >^ % ^Mm, m

have a crow
I

to

the butler.
uncivil

want

pluck with (a matter which I want explained bjp to know why he sent the messenger off with an
=

--*, A Ma n
BJf,

word yesterday. aif> UlSl

{ft

HHA^

l,

: rfl

life

J^ B^ B 5l

ffl

^m
re-

ffl

f
milk

To cry over
grets (C),
It

spilt

to

spend time in useless

:?,

^ 51 li ^; # 5IH#, M^Mm, ^ S ^> ^ a t ^. H :^ ^

JH:

^pl

(F^)-

What's done, Sam, can't be helped, there

spilt

is

no use in

cryin' over

milk (indulging in unavailing regrets).

Halihurton.

To cry up
fi
I

to praise highly, to puff (P.),

J|

:ft

ft

^;

K mwas prone to take disgust towards a

girl so idolized

and

so cried

up
:

(praised) as she always was.

B-

Cry

To cry 'wolf

# 4 ft Si :t

ifr

^.

Miss Austen.

a phrase taken ^to raise a false alarm; from one of ^sop's fables (P.) A shepherd-boy who watched a flock of sheep near a village called out Wolf Wolf When his neighbours came to help him, he
!

laughed at them for their pains.

did truly come at
last.

The wolf, however, Then the shepherd-boy called

toit

out in earnest for help, but no one paid any attention

to his cry.
'

They had got accustomed

nearly all his flock,

and

despised

it.

He

lost

%M.M;^^^,^

CUP

[79]

15

r*

Jffc

^M W. i6 m 15
(P.),

;t.

^ ft S

0f

45c

^ ^.

udgel

To take up the cudgels on behalf

defend,

of another

to

him warmly

^ Mj ^ ^ U 71 ^U

^,

Vi.

On my showing him
up
the cudgels for the

the correspondence, Delane immediately widow (espoused the widow's cause).

took

Blackwood's Magazine, 1886.

To cudgel
remember

one's brains
(C), 5M

make a m;3S S #, tS
to
it.

painful effort to

H S. (^)Shakspeare.

Cudgel thy brains no more about

^J^S^ifMiSj**;Cue

To give the cue

ty (P.),

to give a hint, furnish

i"'

an opportuni-

g it; it * B m,

^ # (X).

This admission gave the cue to Todhunter (gave Todhunter an opportunity) to take up his parable, and launch out into one of his effusive laudations of Parr and all his works.

SitSiS

EM^ EM^^f^will
it

MacmUlan's Magazine.

Cui

Cui bono?What good

ffl

do?

(F.)

[Latin]

:^

^;

fsj

if

n (s-) mr}must be
-taken

Cum

Cum

grano

salis

making some allowance

cum grano
salis

(P.) [Latin],

All his statement

servation).

(with

some

re-

te

W^

-a,; iSf

^ *T *f BM

If,

^
(P.)
JE.

=Cup

His cup runs over

he has more than enough

A
jB

phrase borrowed from the Bible, Psalm XXIII,

I do not know exactly what it was that Biver did at last; something which not only broke the camel's back, but made run over (was more than enough to cause his dismissal).

it

was
cup

the

[80]

CUT
In one's cups-^intoxicated
(P.),

^ ^

tt

ffi

MM

(ifc)-

He had often signified, in his cups (when drinking hard), the pleasure he proposed in seeing her married to one of the richest men
in the county.

jC>

W.

%
spritiging

Fieldiru;.

Cupboard

Cupboard love affection

motive (c),

from an

interested!

mm^M:tn'^ Wis
is

A
seldom

cupboard love (the love of a creature, that can be benefited)

true.

love sincere
^ij

found in few.

K
Curry

@
tS:

s s .a n

*,

It i* E#, KjRtiffi It #, 5p-sr

Nares.

iim.

To curry favour

to use

mean

arts to obtain patronage'

way the patronage

(Many) changed their religion to curry favour with (gain in a mean, of) King James.
Macaulay.
to the

Curse

^^itAiScK^IIC, a^ilffi*5The curse of Scotland a name given

playing

card called the nine of diamonds (C),

JL^XM.1^^

Cut

To cut

of with a shillingto leave the small sum of one shilling as a legacy- (P.) Spiteful testators used to leave the disinherited one a shilling, that he might not be able to say he had been inadvertedlyomitted, and it was all a mistake.' Charles Reade in 'The Two Lears,'
'

Because I'm such a good natured brother, you know I might get yon turned out of house and home, and out off tiith a shilling (disinherited) any day.

^^,^m ^m mm,&mm:t m *n
To cut one short

lii-

g. euoi.

to interrupt

another while speaking

Tom pulled himself together, and began an ej^planation, but the Colonel cut him short (interrupted him).

# m m. m *g m, m % m m.^ :^m ;^fe72?##j,iiif^t.

fl

JIarper's

Mag.

1886.

CUT
To cut or to cut dead
ance in public
She would
recognition)
if

[81]
to refuse to recognize

an acquaint-

(P.),

^X^MM^^-M:^m(X).
her dearest friend without
its

cut her dearest fiiend (pass

misfortune befell her or

the

world turned

back (society

frowned) upon her.

m'EL^nM^M,Wn:^l^'

Thackeray.

'

I shall simple cut the fellow dead (refuse to recognize in future," said Francis.

him

in a

marked way)

To cat a
is

figure, a
to

prominent,

dash or a dido to make one's do something to attract notice. The

first

self

last

a slang phrase, the two

;

^E
She

?I

^ A II ^%. ^S ^ i T^, ^ (IS M ^ -t - ^

are conversational, j^
prominent) in her velvet costume,

cut quite afigiir' I'wa- quite

as she drove out in her

pony

carriage.
.'*

^ s ^ ;^ a M, a M
Tlius the
lions,

BB iS

*,

K * K a-

humble artisan and his elephant cut a, greater dash than and tigers, and mountebanks, and quacks, and drew more money.

taM^!^x.A,m^Mm Amwi
To cut a sorry
v^hiic {G. ), w:

M^^mmm ^.

figure

K ^i^ mm z^-M Km mm ^m, mwzmm)That's another circumstance which makes yis cut such a sorry figure (appear in so undignified a position) in the eyes of the natives,

to

make

a poor appearance in

ft*-*. '!S^J5:AS *A^PTiK-IJl.

To cut
position, to present

a ridiculous figure to appear in a ridiculous an absurd appearance (C), [li nj'

To cut up rough to

resent

any treatment,

to

show a

disposition to quarrel (F.),

^ ^; ^ ^, ^ # ^ @, ^
took

She didn't
it

cut

up rough {show

herself disagreeable) a bit; she

quite good-naturedly.

To be cut up to

be distressed (C),

M^^;^^,^W

[82]
,
nr

CUT
Poor master! he was awfully
cut

__^^
up
(sorry) at"having to leave you.
;fC

S A, S
i

e'-

?r t6

^ M 53
cut

Si. ?*

S 15
,

Kl-

"Well then, of course, I

was awfully

up

(in great aflBiction).

was wild.
jK >i

a-'

^ ^ ^ H, ^ #: SE ^.

Reade. to learn

To cut
how

one's eye-teeth
to cheat

to

become knoying,
(S.j,

another

man

^ ^; ^ ^ ^, ^ #
their eye-teeth

Them

'ere fellers

(those fellows there

Scotchmen) cut

(learn crafty ways) afore (before) they ever set (set) foot in this country

(America) I expect.
is

S is *& 1 A * S S
of one's jib

iSr

* li (H H) *,:B ^
and walk
(S.)

i^f^ 5t tlHaliburton.

The cut

one's, personal appearance, the

peculiarities of one's dress

sailor's

phrase, II Jt
I

^ ^, ^ (M) (* ^ ^)by the

fiip.

knew him

for a parson

cut of his jib (his appearance),

is

^ K. jL,
is

BB

^ * ^ 4i

Cut and come again

that there

^^; W m%^m,mmmm' A A^mm){ifb'7im^mB

plenty for all guests (C),

hospitable phrase, signifying

W^'M

Cut and come again (a profuse hospitality) was the order of the
ing (njarked all the proceedings that evening).

even-

To cut the

(Gordian) knot to solve a difficulty in a (P.) There was a knot tied; by a Phrygian peasant, about which the report spread that he who unloosed it should be king of Asia. It was shown to Alexander the Great, who cut it in two with his sword, saj'ing " 'Tis thus we loose our knots," im^WLjai^
speedy fashion

m 5 m.;m ss ^ ^ ja m -^ # m :^ >4 ^,Mni]

;2:

^^ ^ - ^, ^
'

s B,

i.B ;t ^35 M

Oj :fc 1^

- 1.5 ;^ ilt^i] if :i:^->

\

tg

fJ^

;t

^.

a^

i1^

55

55

Decision by a majority is a mode of cutting a knot (promptly solving a difficutly) which cannot be untied.
Sir G. C. Lewis.

DAM
To

[83]

cut the ground from under one to leave one in an illogical position, with no reasonable argument in
his favour (P.),

-Kit J :^^;

mmt^W(.m,

MM u

I cut the ground from under him (made his position untenable), by proving that the document on which he relied contained an important

erasure.

ffi

SM

11

H-

To draw

cuts to decide a matter by drawing papers of unequal length, presented so as to have the same appearance (P.), b, *S: h (350 (ffl

i^m;^&M9>M

They drew

cuts

who

should go out of the room.

B.
Daggera

To look daggers to glare at, gaze upon with ty (P.), ^ a *B i^ # ii] ^ a ^ SI(X).
;
,

animosi-

There he sits, abaft (behind) the mainmast, looking daggers (glaring angry upon us).

at ta

-/

At daggers drawnbitterly SI, l!- ^ ^ ^, II [Bl 7K A

hostile (P.), ffc

M;

fif

(35::)-

Lord Shelburne had always desired to keep the Bedfords at a distance, and had been at daggers drawn with (bitterly hostile to) them,
ever since their introduction into the government.

Damn

iRj

-f/l

il .-

Trevdyan.

To damn with
praising
it

faint praise

to

condemn anything by

very slightly

(P.),

Byf^mfi-^U,%U

Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne,

*****
,

Damn with faint praise, And without sneerii;^

assent with civil leer teach the rest to sneer.

[84]
For the
presently
first

DAN
hour
all

came the

buts,

had been compliment, success, and smiles and the hesitated objections, and the "damnjifc

ing with faint praise."

s sj - 'h

B# ^,

m'm m^,^%ikm,m?^smi^
if.

'SM^lt Ja-

Edgeworth.

Damon

Damon and Pythias sworn

name
friend
of Pythias is Phintiaa.

friends (P.)

The

classical

Damon,

^I]

^ ^
;

He offered JE ^, M,

to die for his

^ ^, M, ^ ^, ^ ^,

Dance

To dance attendance on to pay

(P.)

assiduous court to
j^;

A phrase
my

used in contempt, j&

Welcome,

lord

I dance attendance (wait obsequiously) here.

To dance and pay

the piper

to labour to

amuse and
(F.),

have the expense of the entertainment besides

^
my

I'll

either teach in the school once a

week or give you a

subscrip-

not going both to dance and pay services for nothing and pay other performers).
tion
;

but I

am

the piper (give

T^,

M i^ X ^ S*

3?.

^ M (JS 11

Is

S S ^, S IS
hanged

5i

fiP

;t

a g), is
^n
jlll

v/

To dance upon nothing

If

to get

(S.),

you do not take care you

?f:

will

soon dance upon nothing (be

executed).

/>

iC, :r^

H s?

fis

H ;S
or

fill

?^

(F.g

R IP

ffi

ig &).

To lead a person a dance

him unnecessary

a pretty dance

^to

cause

trouble (F.),

^A5^^;^A^Ife.
led

(caused

You gave me the wrong address, and have me much needless search).
one's dander
(S.),
;

me a

pretty dance

Dander

To get
temper

grow angry, ^ ^ ^ A ^, :^ B ii
up
to

lose one's

(ffi).

DAV
'

[85J

'I

riled (irritated)

don't understand such language," said Alden (for he was fairly and got his dander up (lost his temper).
Maliburton.

J"

J.

Darby

Darby and Joan

other (P.)

a happy old couple, devoted

to each

They

are characters in a popular ballad, g

A ^= ^ ft * ^ If M
You may
be a Darby, but

Ifi:)-

I'

11

be no Joan (devoted wife), I promise.

m^^'^i^mm,n^^'BM~,mi^wmDark

Goidsmm.

To keep another

in the dark--to keep him in igno-

rance of an event, j^

T^

^ H M, il ft, ^

ff,

She was
ignorance).

now

resolved to keep Harriet no longer in the dark (in

To keep dark about anythingto about it (c), "K,^

preserve secrecy
im.)-

mm MM^
;

B^ A
it

If

you
.

will (fight me;, I'll keep daik about

(never speak about

our fight

yc

m& ^A

iz-

^ A urn m m m
Haliburton.

\J

A dark horse a competitor about whose chance of winning the world knows nothing (C),

^^ ^^f^
;

It often

happens in the American Presidential elections that a

dark horse (candidate

who

is

unknown) wins

David

sj'

David and Jonathan inseparable friends (P.)

cal allusion, as

A bibli-

Damon and Pythias is a classical allusion,

was everybody knows thatI was

David was
sf

his confidential factotum

and

his familiar friend, as

to Jonathan.
-^9^,

m n '^

m m m, m M m

m m it,m mfis., & A

BenanL

[86]

DE
Davy Jonesa
Keep
sailor's

Davy

term for death,

^;

^ -^

(jffc

7jC

my

bones from Davy Jones (death).

ffi

^a
Davy
common

il, fl: ffi

a ^.
iJeceptacle of

Popular Song.

Jones's locker

the place where dead men go (a

It is also

expression with sailors).

used for

the sea, the

overboard,

common

every thing thrown

m M K^ :tm-/l& J^ 'k ^M, m MM,

Jones's locker (dead).
ig'

B - ^ HI
Day
This day

He is in Davy

^.

week counting from this day, the corresponding day of last or next week (P.), bu

weeka

^#

Jffc

Let us go Thursday.
SF ra

this

day week

to-day

is

Thursday,

i.e.

Let us go next Maeavlay.

Maeavlay.

"Bl

&

To carry the day to

(P.), see

be victorious, to cause a victory

Carry,

Day
is

of grace

a day allowed by the

gfj

Carry.

called in,'

law before money or the law put in execution. Three days

of grace are generally allowed for the payment of a bill, beyond the date actually mentioned in the paper. Thus a bill in which

ber

is

payment is promised on the 1st Novemduly paid on the 4th, JH 1?^; .tl PR, ^,%

Ml

A day after thie fairtoo late to see

You have
wished).

anything (C),

BH

Your

arrived a day after the fair (too late to see friends have gone.

what you

m * Bj, B ;S M H S ^ ^ tt ^.
De
De jure legal,
[Latin]
,

S ?

(ill

ff

:*:

3i,

M^ ^ #, >PffiI.)
(P.)

having the sanction of old laws

;

IfiJ

^ 5^ a, m ft # *0 ^, SI Jt a J: ;t

DEA
De
facto

[87]
(P.)

real,

having actual possession

[Latin],

It was, we believe, impossible to find, from the Himalayas to Mysore, a single government which was at once a gofvernmentde /acto-

and a government de jure.

De

trop in the way, not wanted, superfluous ('?* fiS:)French phrase,

(0.)

^MW,^K{X)

To turn a young lady out of her own drawing-room without assigning any reason for it except that s?ie is de trop (her presence i Bot wished for) is a very difficult operation.

De rigueur
Hence
to that
if

strictly

required (P.)

A Freiich phrase, #
all

the usual Aino construction was at

is

similar originally

de rigueur (rigorously demanded) in Japanese, Korean, and the other idioms of Tartar Asia, it would naturally have tended to crystallize more and more under the influence of secular intercourse

whicb

with the Japanese.

Dead

dead letter something no longer in force, a rule never attended to (P.), Jr ^; fi^ ^,

tH^

^^*
fell

The
disuse).

rule about ready

money was
ffi

soon a dead

letter
i

(soon

into

!S i

S, # S M H#, B
person

fl

* ^.

Treuelyan.

A dead head a

who

obtains entjrance into an

entertainment without paying, a sponger (C),

^ 6 -^

Poor hopelessly-abandoned hearers, wearing .plainly the stamp of dead-head on their shameless features.

g:*W3g2.tS, ^.aK^-iS>S5^t?Pa^1i&
^. G. Grant.

A dead heata
who
is victor

contest where

it is

impossible to decide

(C), 7f

^ m:k; -^M^ ^> 1^^ ^

[88J

DEA
He was up in a moment, but he was already overlapped, and although he made up the diflference, it was a dead heat, and they were in neck and neck.

Bead

V Dead

beat

thoroughly exhausted (C),

move from
any man
the spot.
I
to

;tJ

s,
I believe seldom

I could not

was what

really

happens

dead beat, body and soul.

Seade.

^7i'&,-

Dead man's part

to his wife

in

law, the portion of

an

intestate

person's movables beyond the share which goes by right

and children. -A technical phrase, 0j ^;

Dear

Dear me!
which

or simply Dear! an exclamation of surprise, commiseration or weariness according to the tone in

it is

uttered (C),

i&iik;

Tf^

^ (Hb 75 MW

"Did you

ever have your likeness taken, Harriet ?" said she.

"Oh, dear no

never."

(An exclamation

of surprise).

"You

Dear mfhow surprising!), one in your

haven't got an egg upon you, Mrs. Borma'.ack, have you? lap. Actually in alady'slap!"

^,MM''^^-

Besant.

Death

To the deathfatally
He was wounded
to the

(P.),

^^M;W:-^

iX).

death (fatally).

* ^ a 5E.
At
death's' door very near dying, on
(P.),
thje

point of ex-

piring

7%yE;mM,mm,m^,nMnm iX).
to heart,

(Greaves)

had taken her marria^p

ill)

and had been

at

death's door (very dangerously

in

London.
'

'smmmmmA,>'&'<^mm,^'^mmm,nmmjB^u
iW
'^
la.

&).

Reade.

DEM In at the deathpresent

series

[89]
at the final act of
is

any exciting

of events (C.)

The phrase

borrowed from

n;f^B&M,ij^^mw,mBm SB ;t i^ ^ (M)(jH: 75 m ^mm:zm)fox-hunting,

a=.

Death on anything
anything
(F.),

having

Bx

^i

m ^ m, ^ ^ M, umB m,

a great inclination

for

He wandered about all day, stepping now and then, as he had promised his mother, into, the business places to inquire for employment; bnt no one wanted an honest lad who could read, write, and was " death on figgers (clever at counting) "
.

Life of President Garfield.

\J

He

"will

be the death of

me he
way

will cause

me

to die.
;

Generally used in a joking

Oh, dear, Captain,
the death of

(F.),

^^ #
6tF

'^ ?^

if

you don't stop your funny

die with laughter).

stories you'll be

me (make me

:^'i%;

M&f

m^m, ^'s:^
of nature

If-

m 3^

m^

Debt

(W^ssss-ai).

To pay the debt

to die (P.), '1^

MM:i:

Delirium

Delirium tremens
hard drinking
devils,

dreadful disease resulting from

(P.)

Also

known

as D. T.,

and

blue

mu;mm,izmmw::tum()i%^n
an Englishman, and proud
of
it,

am

and attached

to all the

national habits except delirium tremens.

i5i-iA, iifc^ie.ii^#-&-m*s^ii, tit

Demand

In

demand much

sought after

(P.),

MW;^^,W.M
after) just

Pet rabbits are greatly in demmid (sought

now.

On demand when
He
sent

asked for

(P.),

BP 19

;^ ^

BB

(jit).

me

bill

payable on demand (when presented at the

proper place).

[90]

Deuce

DEV Play the d,:Uce with disorganize, ruin

(S.),

"Yonder is the inn!" he exclaimed, "a handsome house enough, one must alloW; and standing in quite a little park of ita own, but, for all that, I Have a presentiment that the cooking will play the deuce with (completely ^spoil) my digestion, and that we shall be poisoned
with bad wine. "
'

li ii nf 0, 3^ Jg
jg[

IIP

* if W, ^ ^^^^ ft ffl^ *. "kTW

James Payn.

%. of anything

The deuce
But
the.

nothing at
all)

all (S.),

Ji:

&;

deuc6 of a screen (no screen at

could be anywhere seen,

m
Devil

jHs

fs >&

^ ^, a

PfC f^ iiB

A -a.

Barkam.

The

devil a phrase used to contradict a statement that has just been made or to express dissent from it (S.),
.iii (ft)sell

Mm;i^7^miEMR m mm^im
"I'm Paddy Luck, and
(beast) for twelve
it's

meself (myself) will

the

baste

pounds, and
,

divil

a ha'penny

less

(not one half-penny

under that sum),"

#^

S M,
The

fiP

il is, Jt 4^ il

M 3? :^ # ma

Reade.

Tlie devil

was

sick, the devil

devil got well, the devil a

monk would be; monk was he.

ii

^ 4 ^, ^ 4 Jl

ic

W ^, ^

^,

^ it 35

ft

IS-

Exp. The devil, being sick, resolved to become a monk, but when he recovered, he was anything but a monk.

A devil of a temper a
eral,

very bad temper

(F.),

S ^ B?
e

Mrs. Churchill had no more heart than a stone, to people in genand a devil of a temper fvery bad temper).
S

615

5fe

'M=

-til,

ftl

#1 iS,

^ it

>C<

f JL Jf l Miss Austtm.
,

Between the

devil and the deep seat between two

(P.),

menacing dangers

^ M W Bl ^ M m>M%

Rupert's position was desperate; his friends had forsaken him; he was caught between the devil and the deep sea.

K,

'^

ii.

^&

Gentleman's Magazine, 1886.

Die
To whip the
devil round the
^jj

:[91J

post to

evade rules or
'il

provisions (C),

Ml

^M, MM, ^MMM,

f^

It is asserted, indeed, in some quarters, that the devil might be whipped round the Tientsin Convention (provisions of the Tientsin Convention might be evaded) by persuading Korea to cede the Nanhow group to China.

WfiT ^-

Japan Mail.

Devil-may-care
I

reb^less,

heedless (C),

^ ^ S

Jt

once had the honour of befng on intimate terms with a mute, life, and oflf duty, was as comical and jocose a little fellow as ever chirped out a devil-may-care (reckless) song.

who, in private

Give the devil his due

credit for

allow
(P.),

even the worst

man

what he does well

Jii

A ;t :^ #. ^
To heat the

A it m.^ ^M KltmiX)-

##
^

ffi

B:

:T>'

^M

devil's tattoo
table.

to

drum with

the fingers

on a window or

See Beat,

hu Beat.

Diamond

Diamond cut diamond

a phrase used when one sharp

(P.),

person outwits another

^^^

5S

Ff*

M ^ ?M

The Irish leaders are extremely clever men, and, hitherto, English administrators have only coped with them in a blundering, dull-witted way. Sir Red vers Buller gets the credit of this "diamond cut diamond'
move.

s m 1

1- 5,

?|]

ffl Si.

M,

1^

3K

^ s :*
;

s],

-fd-

#'^ m

m ^ ?
Dickens

^ ^

What

the dickens

what the
his

devil

a strong form of

I cannot tell

what the dickens

name

is.

^MffitiS.^^tlJtffl-

Shakespeare.

Dickey

All Dickey with any one a hopeless case for any one, no chance of saving him ^; M ^ I 0.
(S.), ;f; "BT iS:

'Tis alldickey with poor Father Dick

^he's

$MtnitiiB;?:Br^-^^.

no more.' Barham.

[92]

DIV
To dine with Democritus
dinner
(P.),

Dine

to

be cheated out of one's

^^^m(X)man who
generally dines with friends

A diner-outa
v/

To dine with
dinner

Sir

Thomas Gresham

to

go without a

(F.) The London Exchange was founded by Sir T. Gresham, a merchant in Queen Elizabeth's time, who gives his name to Gresham 's Law' in political economy. The exchange was a favourite lounging'

WUB^, &MMM m w^,i^{^Wim ^^m:tmm xnm^zn mwm,mmmmm^,}hmm-'mzA,^Mu

place for penniless

men,

^B.;

To dine with Mahomet to

die (P.),

MB^M^Wi;

To dine with the Cross-Legged Knights

dinner to go to
(P.)

to

have no

London

phrase,

M^
:

"BT

(Si)

Dip

To

dip in gall

to

make very bitter (P.),

^ ^ ^ @ (X).
(full of rancour).

special aversion,

The famous Shakspearian critic, Malone, was the object of his which was most cordially reciprocated, and often had

they transfixed one another with pens dipped in gall

-^ ^^

&^ ^ m, :s.^s :k m, m m M^mm, M <^ m nm m m

&.

M^S
Dirt

^)-

James Payn.

To eat dirt to
He
is

submit

to insult (C), g\

^^
IS-

Jjt

g-

^
If

quite ready to eat divl (submit to insulting treatment)

office.
3!P

only he can raise himself a step higher in

m * tg iS I - ^,
Ditch

SI

^S

#,

:?:

To die in the last ditch to resist to make a desperate resistance (P.), H Dt

the utmost, to

JE

ffi,

tf

Divine

Divine right of kings a theory, first explicitly held by James I. of England, that the king is above the law, and answerable for his actions to no one (P.) (See

DO
Macaulay's History of England, Introduction),

[93]

^ i^

May you, my Cam, and

"The

Isis

preach

it

long!

right divine of kings to govern

wrong."

Dixie

Dixie's land a land of plenty and happiness, celebrated Dixie was a planter in Manhattan in negro songs. removed his slaves to one of the Southern who Island,
States,

where they had

less to eat

and more

to do,

Mm,mn,m^m :tm{m^'i! M' u m m ^

In Dixie's land I take
I'll live

my stand,
Popular Song.

and

die for Dixie.

m^m,-^nm'i^-

Do

To do a-way

witli

to remove, get rid of (P.),

^^ M
;

Delightful Mrs. Jordan, whose voice did away with (banished) the
cares of the whole house before they

saw her come

in.

jg Ig

^.
for a

James Payn.

To do

man to ruin him, f^;^,B^, MU, ^

No, you're done for Cyou are ruined); you are up a tree, you may depend (be certain); pride must fall. Your town is Uke a ball-room

\J

T ^, m m mm ^,^ !& iism,mmiiamn m^ Haliburton. m^%^'^'&^1&Do tell you astonish me A familiar American phrase,
yfi '1^
ml'
!

-;

^^ 'g^a, -^fe

pffi "ffi

M*(M ^ m"Bo
tell

ffi

m)-

"A dressmaker!" cried her ladyship. I was in that line myself before 1 married."

(that's strange).

^AlfB, Si3*y, ^^S,

ju_

^*j^2.|!f, i*l?^jHiSg#
Besant.

To have

to do "with
(P.),

ness with

have be interested mfW;Mmm,^M^-zmm m.

to
in, to

biisi-

[94]
We
only one pair)

DO
have, however, to do with only one pair (our business is with

who were sitting together on the banks

opposite Trinity.
Besant.

To do well by

to

behave well towards (C), |^

#;

After administering such a scolding as naturally flowed from her anxiety to do well by (behave well to) her husband's niece who had no mother of her own to scold her, poor thing!ishe would often. confess to her husband, when they were safe out of hearing, that she

firmly believed

"the naughtier the

little

hussy behaved, the prettier

she looked.

'

vi^,

mm mm, m^mm^-^mic:t^,m,nm Amm

house---to

To do up a

make

it

tidy (F.), jp

^ ^ ?i;#

girl at

the

it was thirty years back, and I was a little home, looking at Judith as she sat at her work, after she'd done house up (set the house in order).

I could almost fancy

&m&W:^^mm'^,m&.m^m,mmwmTo do upto weary (F.) 3^ 2 #, E ^

, ;

o. EUot.

(IfiT)-

The widow

felt

quite done up (fatigued) after her long walk.

Well

to-do

in comfortable
fast

circumstances (P.),

/J>

J^;

He's growing up good circumstances).

now, and

am

pretty well-to-do (in fairly

Ig&:&aa, BSS^i^^S^^.

HaUburton.

To do a person brownto deceive him completely, hoodwink him (S.), Hi S;|t sg, ^ (ffi).

Not knowing what to do, I thought I'd hasten back to town, And beg our own Lord Mayor to catch the boy who' d 'done me brown.'

^ :^ *n

p;f

^,

il:

:f id it

S BI , * Df ? K t: : S

l?i

2.

Barham.

To do a person

in the

eye to cheat him (S.), ^

tS

The jockey did your friend in the eye over that horse (cheated your friend with that horse).
-^

^ 1 ^ H II M S.

DOG
Doctor
Doctors Differ
opinion (C.)

[95]
exists

there
A

grave

difference
use,

of

phrase in

common
^.

employed
(jSi

somewhat
But

playfully,
fg,

7i%m^
m
Dog
jHs

B A A ^; mm.m

M ^ ^ (M)
Amou.

the doctors differed in their metaphysics (there

was a difference

of opinion regarding the

'it

a ^

r.a

metaphysics of the question). m. Sit M, ;f -

#A

A#^

J A dog-in-tlie-manger a
no use
for (P.)

selfish

man, who

refuses to

allow his neighbour to enjoy even what he himself has

Used

as

an adjective

'a dog-in-theSi5

manger

course of conduct,'

^ M Sf; ^ ^,

^)

^2:A. S^36i, ^Ef^eil^.rfnXff^A^'^

A Dog lay in a manger, and by his growling and snapping prevented the oxen from eating the hay which had been placed for them. "What a selfish Dog!" said one of them to his companions; "he cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat who can".
:f4-*ffl,

ft*-^, IIKS0.

jHiia^t6S:fe'SS^^'fi&=^

To

dog's-ear a book to turn down the corners of its &i) pages so that they resemble a dog's ears (P.), JJ?

#^

their dictionaries,

young girls who * * blot their books, dog's ear make grimy their grammars, and vie with each other in committing just as many faults as can possibly be made in a given number of words. ^ fj sf ^ ^, ist 5* fJ

They were

quite

^mibmic,mmmmm:t,

A dog-in-a-blanketa kind of pudding made of dough

and suet and enclosing jam.
Also called rolly-polly (C),

mmmm- m).
"We had roast beef to dinner followed by an indigestible lade dog-in-a-blanket (rolly-polly filled with orange jam).

marma-

Dog cheap very

fej'ent

cheap.

(This dog

is

said to be a dif(F.),

word from dog signifying animal)

^ ^;

[96]
You got the fowl?

DOG
dog cheap at a dollar forty the dozen (remarkably"

cheap at $ 1.40 for the dozen).

M .K - II

ra :%

f-

iH

+n

ni

If

M s ,s ^.
(S.)^

Dog's nose

drink composed of gin and beer

The dogs

of

war

famine, sword, and

his side,

fire (P.),

^ ^;.

And

Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge.

With Ate by

come hot from

hell,

Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice.

Cry "Havoc," and

let slip

the dogs of war.

li it.
Exp. Aii is the goddess of revenge. nounce a slaughter without mercy.'

Shakspeare.

Cry "Havoc"

signifies 'an-

To go to the dogs to go fsf H T. ^ i

One candidate chap
to the

to

ruin (C),

MS;

i^

IT
hand
(at a rapid rate).'

C iL

says,

'Fellow-citizens, this country is going^

over

dogs (to destruction)

hand

St i^

t ^life

Haliburton.

To lead the

of a dog

to pass a

miserable existence-

Kmm m)"He is
"he
is

properly henpecked (harshly used

l?y his

wife)," said he;,

life

afraid to call his soul his (his existence is a wretched one)."

own, and he

leads the

of a dog-

^ s,

-te

sK

gij

5S,

at

E ;t It M, *

;?:

SI If

>f

ss.

Every dog has

his daythe period of enjoyment allowed to any creature is a short one (C), ^-

g^

And, Mr. Greaves,

every dog has his

am sorry for -youyou

of success

day (the period each of us soon passes away).

are out of luck but and prosperity granted to

^S

IB,

^ *S fh J4. @ if ^ 1&.

Reade.

DOO
his day.

[97]

Fortune was ever accounted inconstant, and each dog has but

m%
Dog Latin

Carlyle.

a debased mediseval form

and
others, to
partially familiar (P.),

of,

Latin, used by

physicians, lawyers,

whom the language

was only

S:^'

gip

A^^

# - ^D ^ M) {xy
It

was much
to

as

if

the secretary to

whom was
had a

entrusted the direc-

tion of negotiations with foreign powers

sufficient smattering of

dog Latin

make

himself understood.

m^mm.,i^^m%M,m\7
Give a dog an
ill

J-

Macaulay.

name and hang him when

is

a per-

son's reputation

bad, all his actions, even though

It is bet-

well-intentioned, are viewed with suspi(?ion.

ter to get rid altogether of a

man who has

lost his

good

name, existence being thenceforth a burden to him,

iM

Dolce

m n :^m. m ^ m m M> A ^ :tm^^-^ B' ^ M. m ^. ^^ ^' 1^ ^ A ^ m ^ m m n ^^^ M ^ :t M m :^ j^ ^; Dolce far niente sweet idleness
9=>
^^
J^)-

(C.)

[Italian]

climate, the attractions of the too purposely thrown in his way, and the seducfatal tive dolcefar niente sort of life Francis so readily fell into, were ardour. military to his

The charms

of the Italian

facile Italian beauties,

A,
iift

It M,

^ .

it:

n^A Sa

't'>

mm m, ^^ A7i ^
Ha
T:
fi

-iS

A,

Ma
'

te

?iS Ife

Jifc

' a a

M. i^ A Lady Jaclcson.

Door

To

lie at one's

lies at
FpI;

door to be chargeable to one.* Tins your door yon are responsible for this (P.),

-E

^ ^. M ^ K b.*
*^

Jffc

*
Ji

ffi

IB

^ ^ (^)^* AM*
M. Edgeworth.

made

(attributed it all to

the best of a bad case, and laid it all at my lady's door my mistress), for I did not like^her.
?14

Sii^M^-2.^.

#,

BB i

[98]

DOW
Next door
A
to

anything

MM; m ^. m m,MM^. m^ ^
seditious

approaching closely to
:t (X)and a
riot

it (P.)^

word

leads to a broil,

undiminished

is

but

next door to (closely resembles) a tumult.

^ IS
Dorcas

afe-

L' Estrange.

A Dorcas society a woman's association for providing;

poor people with clothing (P.) It receives the name from Dorcas or Tabitha who made clothes for the poor.

Double

A M #; ^ JD # m m M m m, m ^ M ^ ^, ^ M ^ m.^ 5H^ s A ^ &) The double lines the name given in Lloyd's publications to the record of losses and accidents fC), ^ ^;
See the Bible, Acts IX, 39, j^
(ah
:iK

(X)

ffi

3fe

One morning the subscribers were reading the "double lines," and among the losses was the total wreck of this identical ship.

fi'

^ - II ^ ^ A if * ^11, J* # a m * *, ^ 1, ^ i Old and New London. V* S 2. *

Doubles or quits

When

two persons have been play-

ing for a stake, the loser or winner

challenge for the same amount.

may

give a second
the sec-

The result of

ond venture either leaves the loser twice as badly tfff as before or makes both parties even. In making this
second challenge the phrase doubles or quits?
is

used,

ffl Jib

m)trickery (P.),

Double-dealingduplicity,

M M iX)This young lady was quite above

all

^p ^
:

j^,

double-dealing; she

had Ho

mental reservation.
ilfc

d? Si 35

M il Jg, M * it ^ 2.

.(>.

M. Edgeworth.

Down

\j

Down
nate

on their luckin an
(0.),

evil plight, very unfortu-

^^;m^,'^'^mm,mm^^,'^^

DE,A
The order
for their execution arrived

[99]
and they were down upon

their luck terribly.

Down in
Well, I

the
felt

mouth

dispirited, sad (F.),

Mf^K^'>

man, and looked

proper (very) sorry tor him, for he was a very clever cut up dreadfully, and amazin' (exceedingly) down

in the moufh (melancholy).

S 2.
Dozen

'1^

]*.

Halihurton.

A baker's dozenthirteen.
extra loaf or

Formerly bakers gave an

to

bun with every dozen of such sold customers (P.), H:^ tr;:^'i5'e.Af^:^

zm^
Giving a

^j

-i-

+ fi fi ^ # - *r.
baker's dozen is a slang

4^'

^ ^ - *&.

+^
ts:

man a

expression for 'giving

him an extra sound

beating.'

Draw

To draw the
restriction

line

somewhere

to refuse to

move

out-

side of a certain limit of conduct, to

impose an arbitrary
fear of proceeding

on one's behaviour from

too far (c), -^

m m-, ^ mm, M ^ w M, M n ^

"doing at Turkey as the Turkeys do" we * * should even have ridden donkeys on the sand if I had not put a firm veto on it, saying, "We must draw the line somewhere."

On the

principle of

=g

M * a> IS . ^
real opinions or

jip

s ^ ^ ^27i Mistletoe

'

Bough, 1885.

To draw a person out

to lead a

person to express his

show

his real character (P.),

W ^M.
ovt

(induce
5t

There are many subjects on which I should him to speak his mind freely).
fi=

like to

draw him

^ * If .a a

S*:

:t.. ffi

^ M K K,:& ^ ^.
Halihurton.

He recollected that Miss Nugent had told him that this young chess, he lady had no common character; and neglecting his move at pray." her out, "Draw say much as to Nugent, as Miss looked up at
25l.

14 ^= J* m la m SI '> M f- ^ :i H IB ^" ^ a ^. * JS ^ 0, ^ * I' ^. S *i ft T ^, a la iR E 'h Edgemorih. ^ .^ * S iS *B.

Jib
="

^ , M

fl#

*a.

^^-

[100]

DRO
To draw the wool over^to hoodwink,
Sir

deceive, (C),

Henry was the fortunate possessor of what Pat was pleased to "a nasty, glittering eye," and over that eye Pat doubted his ability to draw the wool as he had done over Celtic orbs. (Pat doubted his ability to deceive Sir Henry as he had deceived his Irish friends)
call

m^U^Tk-m.

C. Eeade.
(P.),

A drawn game a game in which neither party wins

If

we make a drawn game

of

it,

every British heart must tremble.

Addison.

^ a is ^ ^ ib m,:r^ m^mm,m^A *. ^mnm^Draw

Dress
it

mild
is set

see Mild,

The

dress circle

^^ that part of a place of entertainment

Mild.

which

apart for the upper classes

(P.),

who come
tf

in

evening dress

JE Jl JE
;

^ (MJ^ H
^,

:^ ^f

^ H,
m

Drive

To drive
view

at anything

to

speak with a certain end in

(F.),

m M ^ m-,

^^

:(f.

i^,

What are you driving at (is your intention in speaking as you do)?" he went on. "I show you a bit of my hand (a part of my scheme) and you begin talking round and round (ambiguously)."

^ , M
Drop

fiP

f^ 4*

# 4 tt ;i f.
to

Sesant.

To drop

in

pay an informal

visit (C),

M^^W',

If he could drop in (visit us in a friendly way) on Sunday week, he might go home the wiser.

^ffl^mS-nTiftll^S. To drop off to fall asleep

Every time

Blackmore.
(F.), |

,^^m^,mm
a moment, a new noise

I dropped off (Ml asleep) for

awoke me.

^^^mm,m&w.^x,mi^mm^mm-

Mark Twain.

A drop in the
mentioning

bucket
^>

(P.),

7jC

a contribution scarcely worth ^ ^; ^ ^ ;t -, ?i ii, P

gff

DUG

[101]

The lack of good water was severely felt, but this was only a mere drop in the bucket (very small part) of their misfortunes.

To take a drop too much

gg IT,

^to

get intoxicated (F.),

tfc

- M C^)take

W;

Burns used often to

a drop

too

much

(be the worse for liquor).

;;s=tta^te-S. aiiBSSr-

Drowning V Drowning men catch

possible means, even

at straws

when a man
;

is

in a

desperate situation, he seeks to save liimself by every

when those which offer are

51:

ridicu-

lously inadequate (P.),

M^#

fL

^ # ^. ^ * ^

Drug

A drug in the marketan unsaleable commodity (P.),

sponges were a drug in

Watch-guards and toasting-forks were alike at a discount, and the market (found no one to buy them).

Dry

Bickem. m^j&.x-B&m^n.m.mM.mm^mf^^. stirring among the dry bonesa revival of life

where
kiei,

all

seems dead

(P.)

Biblical phrase.
:9c

See Eze-

XXXVII 110,

ja{f}M^M,B*5m^H+'l:m-M +
and touch of a new
;

^ ?E ^ # ;?E

tl

fl(^) (ift
fij)-

life, Every nation when first it feels the stir lite is felt in the body new that when excesses and follies commit will of literature and art, the follies and excesses will be greater than when

the dry bones of politics are stirred.

V^%^^^Duck
To make ducks and drakes
it

^'mpZe Bar, 1887.

of a

foolishly (C.)
flat

Making ducks and

piece of stone

played with a
flung with
its

propertyto spend drakes is a game which, when metaj, or

i^;mn^MM.^tns,n^ m m) m yK ?e #.

broad surface almost parallel to smooth It would be water, skips up and down like a bird. purpose, a, such for coins foolish to use

SX-^^MtK

^^,iam^niyK.^mmm^.mmBmm ^ :^, M a ^)-

[lOSJ

DUM
A fine thing for her, that was a poor girl without a farthing her fortune. It's well if she doesn't make ducjcs and drake of (foolishly spend it) somehow.
tl
;ic

toit

a it

;!k

TE

A lame

duck

a man who cannot pay his

(F.),
(S.)

S ff S),

fiiJ

* ^.

G. Miot.

debts on th&

Stock Exchange

Sl^l!!|;ft^^^,

^ ^ ^ ^ M ^ 8 ^ A, ^ K a(S). A phrase used schools A duck's eggnothing

at

J^^M

and

colleges in

England,

mW-.-km,^M^Wl.,^

"Z, no/"

He
\J

got a dv/Jc's egg (no marks) at the last examination.

A ducka charming person (F.) A term of endearment^.

51

a;

-sr

A.

^A

(fr)-

Mr. Yates fed Mademoiselle Djek with crying, "Oh you duck."

his

own hand

that nighty

Duke

To dine "with. Duke Humphery

all (c),

to get

no dinner

at

m-m-, ^m.nm.i^m-'m m).

Some gentlemen were visiting the tomb of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, and one of the party was by accident shut in the abbey. His whereabouts remained undiscovered until the party had risen from dinner. The poor fellow had been with Duke Humphrey and had got no dinner at all hence the phrase.

Dumb

dumb dog a
ought
to

person who remains silent when he speak out and protest (P.), P b";

He
will

will be afraid to tell them nnpalatable truths. The minister be a dumb dojr. (silent, when he should reprove them).

BJ,

7J

S 15

^ W.
of

Haliburton.

The Dumb Ox
1274), so called
tion.

Cologne Thomas Aquinas

(1224-

from his dreamy and taciturn

disposi-

Known afterwards as the Angelic Doctor, and the 'Angel of the Schools,' PPft:^:^^;

mH

15 d:,

14
^t*

S (A l& - ^ 3? :
"it

JSl jS:

1^ :&,

^ :^ ^f ^ St

^M^M

^#).

Dump

DUT In the dumps sulky, in a bad temper

Johnnie
is

[103]
(F.),

M;

'^

in the

dumps

(sulky)

and won't play with the other boys.

Dust

To throw dust
astray
(P.),

in a man's eyes

to try to lead

him

All of these (uttering threats) or ihromng dust (trying to deceive), and were well aware that he had quite taken up with the latter process in the Beckley case.

iS; it a? SS, ft BS ?i (Zfc)knew whether Mr. John was launching thunderbolts

^^m-m,nm'^ mHe

Blackmm-e.
into-

cared to say no more; he had thrown quite dust enough honest Adam's eyes (deceived honest Adam quite enough).

^^icSi^ia^BM^, i^^KMB^mHTo To
bite the dust

G.Ehot.
hu Bite.

raise

a dust

to die (P.), see Bite,

to

make a commotion

(C),

vp, vp

m m)-

^ fL; #

There was small reason to raise such a dust (cause such a disturbance) out of a few indiscreet words.

Dutch

Dutch courage

from a free indulgence in strong drink (P.) Probably the phrase arises from the extensive use of Dutch gin, known as Plollands,
results

courage that

#MAMM;ll-a
His Dutch courage

I, -It

m'^%,m

fi

will soon evaporate (he is

brave only so long as

he remains drunk).

\J

Dutch concert a concert or musical gathering at which each person sings his own song, without reference
to his

neighbour

(F.),

A Dutch uncle a clumsy, mm ^ A, ^ A. mmYou

m^^A,^m-'^.^^^Ammni
uncouth man,
look like a Dutch uncle since you shaved.

# fj # il #; # li t" ^ ^,
(S)-

^Mi^M'y

mmm'&,mm-^Ais

As will be seen from the above instances, the word Dutch^ Note. used somewhat contemptuously to signify what is clumsy, foolish,

or absurd.

[104]

EAS
E.

:Ear

To

set

by the ears

to cause a quarrel to arise (C),

I little
it

would have the

thought -when I ran in with Miss Berry's good news that all by the ears (causing us all effect of setting

to quarrel).

g jg. By the ears quarrelling

A. Keary.

(C), fe

#;

:fa

^,

IK *B

^ m)Take any two men that are by

and misconstrue every
^J, jSt
ffl
Jlfc

the ears (quarrelling),

they opinion-

ate all they hear of each other, impute all sorts of

act.

unworthy motives,

ssratB#-Aj6*jai, sBiiif'^mSjifcMH*, sjuiF

f^ *: .
ffl

Si,

/^.

M ^repeat things

2 in a ^ & c

Jifc

-tJO

=ff

^,

jEf-

Haliburton.

Little pitchers

have long ears children are able which they have listened to. Beware
,

to

of

speaking freely before children (C.)

m m & 4- m :^m.
at B* ;t />

^^M^^ m^'^ ^ m> ^ B^b m^

Si
Little pitchers

I'll tell you again, not now. smart children are present).

have long ears (some

^*

Iff, ife

:^ ^ c, -^ m 3K S ff.
rest

^ase

Standing at ease
to the legs (P.),

a military posture, which gives

state, restless (P.),

m;i^M.,iSbm'?-:Z^^,^m
>&

111 at

ease

^;
mind).
36

^ ^, :& -t B L. i& m^m ixy

I called

in an unquiet
ffl

|J

When

on the lawyer he seemed

ill

at ease (disturbed in

!S 11 # 65,

S ^ * ^ :^ ^
;

Ease her

given when the engines of a steamer are to be reduced in speed generally followed by the order " stop her " (P.), -H ^, ii Cjt) {^75m ^i ^,

the

command

m m

B :^m

^ mm mm. ^ ^ m

^;^

EFF
To ease away a rope to
Easy
slacken
it

[105]
gradually
(P.),

Wi

x/

Easy come, easy go

is

what

is

gained without difSculty

resigned or spent without

much thought

(C),

# A~
!

Eat

To eat

one's

words

to take

back what one has

said, to

retract assertions too boldly

made

(C).

"^

^ "s ^

Sir

(to retract

William was compelled to eat the rash words he had spoken what he had rashly said) at Manchester.

'

'

him

eat

I will swear by it (my sword) that you love it, that says, I love not you."

me and I will make

;

its

^m&.M^m,mmm^W:0i,m^m^yei mis ;i K m K w.
air

ss;

#,.

" Will you not eat your word (repent of what you have said) 7" Shakspeare. )ifj|5tia|fil-^(im:^f)-

To eat the
I eat
the air

to be

deluded with hopes

false hopes)

(P.),

^M,;

(am deluded with

promised-crammed.
Shakspeare.

^iKfi^a, MBESgEdge
To play with
gerous
(P.),

edge-tools

to

sport with what

is

dan-

}>),m^^;^?^^^>&.myjn^Xi,
jesting with edge-tools (on dangerous subjects).

umMmiX)You
jest
ill,

myi^^m,mmm^n,mMTo
set the teeth on edge
That would
tions (P.),

Tennyson.

m:^;mmM^^'^m,^ z^frntX)set

to cause unpleasant sensa-

my

teeth on edge.

jBiV^SSi*??.
Effect

Shakspeare.

In effect really,
To say
(really), to

actually (P.), 'M

&;

^M, ^ MiXl
it, is,

of a celebrated piece that there are faults in say that the author of it is a man.

in

effect

Wlf # ^
(P.),

BB

Addison.

To take effect to operate, act as intended mn.m n. mm,^ $i> ^ sjc m x)The medicine
took effect,

J ^j

and the patient

fell

into a sound sleep.

[106]

EN
A
bad egg

Egg

a worthless fellow
eldest son
is

(S.),

m;

mn,mclothes

The parson's

a bad egg (worthless fellow).

JElbow

Out at elbows
When
body

shabbily dressed, having worn

getting out at elbows (dress

a man's

becomes shabby) noO. Eliot.

flj
;

will believe in

him.

Am&mM.M:ii^.S!}m^M.m^^Elbow-grease hard scrubbing

in-)-

(F.),

;&

i^zMH^

The

floor of the

room

looks as

if it

needed elbow-grease (to be well

scrubbed).

Elephant

To have seen the elephant

the latest movements, to be

to be acquainted
(S.j,

with
'ifi:

all

knowing

f^

^11

j^;

He
phnnt

is

(is

quite well able to take care of himself a crafty fellow).

he has

seen the

eler-

JElevation

The elevation

of the host the part of the mass in which the celebrant raises the consecrated wafer abdve^ his' head to be adored by the people (Roman Catholic
Church),

mmm^;mmmm'^r mm^m,m

Eleven

An

eleven

the number of players who form one side

at
'

A cricket club is divided into elevens, "t* A -m-i--' A (mm. }B^v^mm.,% w-i- Ay
cricket.

He was promised a place in the TJuiversity Eleven for fair defence,

hard
hitting,

and exceptional

hitting.

-AM,%^mS.En
En masse in
They

Reade.

a body

(P.)

[French],

t^^-

therefore turned to the bourgeoisie en masse (in a body).

i^:Sff^^tl)ll>lSl"t)lil5jtt#.

National Review.

En

route

in the course of the journey (C.)

[French]

EVI
ports,

[107]

The Deepdale en route from Japan for Australia and New Zealand was chartered to load part cargo of coals for Hongkong at

$ 1.50 per ton.

Japan Mail,

1887.

'End

To make both ends meet to make

one's income cover

(P.), gil
ttJ

one's expenditure, to keep out of debt

^S

ffi

ailing,

Even Mr. Whichelo, the head clerk, whose children were often and who had a good deal of trouble, to make loth ends meet

(keep out of debt with his small income) smiled benign upon Kate. 3 si, ffl *: if fe 5H- S, Ura, :*. it ?P B# M. Mrs. Oliphant. BB ^. S, fll tg ii ffi *B ffi,^ ISJ

K * tm^W

No end

of a

fellowa

very fine fellow

(S.),

#A

'K

Keats was no end of a fellow

(a

grand man).
Besant.

W St 7& Eutre

'I*

A-

Entre nous the French for 'between ourselves,' used when a confidential statement is made (P.), fiRpI M ^H I'J ^ ^)m, 4d,(^) (jifc n Entre nous, I protest I like my Lady Blarney vastly; so very

mm^^ #
5 Sa
.ft *ft

obliging.

However, Miss CaroUna Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs has

my warm heart.

5 It & .. ^ K S tS
ffS

iC

#, M'J

fe lil-

Goldsmith.
sort,

Et

Et hoc genus
all

omne and

everything of the
[Latin]
,

and

similar beings or things (C.)

^Q

Jft

m)-

LtiT].
events

Event

At

all

whatever happens, in any

any
case) Constance,

case (P.),

%
it

At
tf 2.

all events (in

you

will

go on to prove
^'

by your

original papers

li it. ^#
Jlfc

when you publish your researches. 11 ^ *' ?ll W ^ "*' *^ *> "l^' *

^*

Evidence

M * M In evidenceactually present(P.),
SI it

^^"".*-

M^M%^

^(:^)*

The

sister

whose presence she had

relied

on was not in evidence.

Blackwood's May.

p-lt^^SS^iaEgiiB^TiCllJ^.

[lOS]

EXP
The
evil eye

EvU

malign

influence (supposed to exist in

(P.),

the glance of certain persons)

^W:',

BS '^

the evil eye (bad influence)

Evelyn himself informs us how Sir Stephen contrived to escape which ordinarily pursues a self-made man.
Trevelyan.

^mm,n&^m^^A,m^U.
Ex
Ex
cathedra
So
it

made

with

authority,

dogmatic

(P.)

[Latin]
ed and made
of poetry

,m-^;mmm^,iii:t^-m(X). mr].
itself

has happened not rarely that criticism has flagrantly blunderridiculous in

its

ex caihedrd decisions on the merits

and

poets.

^mvii^mm.ik^mm.&nm^]kmA,mmmiam Kay Palmer. m,mi^Amm^Ex

post facto

after the

deed

is

done

(P.)

[Latin],

An
mitted.

ex post facto law

is

a law

made

to punish deeds already com-

it

SiS

P' 3* #>
libels,

-tf*

^m^E

3ill

;t

BS

^.

no doubt, and prophecies, and rumours, and suspicions, strange grounds for a law inflicting capital penalties, ex post facto (of a retrospective nature), on a large body of men.
There were

Sii^lfePa#,S;*:^A]K?eP, EPllS^-a-

Macaulay.

Ex uno

disce one learn all

omnestake
(P.)

this as
,

[Latin]

ft - K H M - ^D +,
;

an example, from

Exception

To take exceptionto
Her manner was

be offended

(P.),

Tf.

^^

3 |p,

so prefectly respectful that I could not take ex-

ception to (find fault with) this retort.

Farjeon.

Exeunt

Exeunt omnesall go
[Latin]
5lC
,
;

out (at the end of a scene) [J4

(P.)

T ^ :^ T * (^).
my
expense with
it
{fi

T]

(j^

iJ

-^

;5:

Expense

At

another's
(P.),

a view to depreciate the

person

A ;& HE

ft

M # 4, ;^ I2 PH S

EYE
'

These

satirical observations

were made simply

at Prince Albert's

expense (solely with the view of depreciating Prince Albert),

and were

not intended to
W1
151

reflect

upon the Queen of the Royal Family.

FoHnir/hthj Review, 1887.

K 1#
(C),

SB.

3E

S ^to

Eye

To have a good eye

it

mm^^mm
B!l

anything to look m m (m). m,

well after

mm

I remember her, however, as a sensible woman, and, having a good eye to the main chance (being careful of money) she had been a
capital wife to 'William.

7^

ft

-a.

Conway.

To

see with half an eye Any

mm M ^^ m B ^m,M u mm
young squire was
one uilh half an eye could see in love with the girl.
(it

to see

with great ease

cs)-

(F.),

was very evident) that the

To

cast sheeps' eyes at -to gaze at in a modest and diffident but longing way,- as a bashful young man looks

at a pretty girl (C),

^mmu iadf^:zmmi^ Mirny

The

M m; MM'A

S>

Mm

ik

^,

There came a wealthy stock-broker, who cast sheeps' eyes at Helena.

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.
casting a sheep's

The knight acknowledged that he had long been

eye at a
Jill

little

snug place.
iSl

H il

Jifc

3c li 2.

M,

B# S ^.
full (C),

M. EdgewoHh.

Up

to the

eyes completely,

^;

W.,

+ JE my
A
neighbour's estate, mortgaged up
to its full value,
to the eyes,

was sold under

the

hammer (mortgaged

was sold by

auction).

In the wind's eye directly opposed

to the

wind (C),

Proper scared they were to see a vessel without sails or oars, going right straight ahead, nine knots an hour, in the very wind's eye
(right against the wind).

a, 3*^2.Slti-

Haliburton.
:

[110]

FAC
J

My
:t
acrosa

eye!

an

exclamation of astonishment

(S.),

m my

ff

Yates, and there was the elephant standing Maiden Lane all trafiSc interrupted except what could pass under her belly and such a crowd my eye

Down comes Mr.

Reade.

To

m^u
of

see eye to eye^to have the same opinions on any subject; a phrase mostly used in religious circles (C),
m-,
iRi 'It.

iRi

i&

-e- it> isi

-E

m){ii>7i

Until we can see eye to eye (have the same views) on this question church government, it is better that we should worsliip apart.

F.
Face

A long face a
tear,

sad or mournful countenance (C),

Everybody was punctual, everybody in their best looks; not a and hardly a long face (melancholy countenance) to be seen.

To

set one's face against

to

oppose with determina-

tion (P.),

K ti, fl m KWi (X)face against (sternly opposed) the marriage

The

old

man

set his

from the very beginning.

To make

faces

to contort the

countenance

(P.),

f^

One of the pupils, a mischievous little fellow, was Tnaking faces (contorting his countenance) at the master, from a back seat.

To put a good face upon

^^to

make

a bad business

appear as creditable as possible (C),

^ ^ ^; M.^^
the matter

A cm
The money
is lost,

but we must pvi a good face upon

little

(make the matter appear as

our enemies to jeer at us.

serious as

we

can)

and not

allow

FAI
Face to face ; if M-

[111]
of each other, "^

in immediate presence
^
ffi

She sent for Blanche to accuse her /ac

txi'face (in

her presence),
Tennyson.

m ?

IS J& ?K,

*S I ;t.

To face a thing out

to refuse to retire

through shame
l

or for fear of obloquy (P.), /p

|?.

H;

^,

If-

She thinks with oaths to face the matter

out.

Exp.

She thinks that

she. will be able toipaintain

her innocence

in the matter

by taking grave

oaths.

To put a bold
was nothing

face

upon to

act boldly as
;SS[;

if
;

there

to be

ashamed

of (P.),

;^

^i]

Dundas had little, or rather nothing, to say in defence of his own consistency, but he put a bold face on the matter, and opposed the
motion.

^lifj65rj!fc*:,

SS*l?i^^J!X.if.

Maeaulay.
first (P.)

Facile

Facile princeps
[Latin]
,

an

easy ^dctor, admittedly

-Sit,

M 5 ^ ir; ^ m, M ^ * the closing piece

of work,

Hi

m ^,
inter-

Fag

The fag end

where the

est flags (P.),

3S%^.*;S^I;^^ m^
;

(of sympathy shown to convicted criminals) is full of problem in national psychology but, involving, as it does, the whole sphere of criminal procedure in Italy, is too large to be dealt with at the fag end of an article.

The

subject

interest as a

;;A: TfiJ

Si
;sc

^j?

5*

^ M, * l a
-^

;*:.

* M t^

IS;

* IS> B ^ 5^
^''"' ^*''-

*,

ti It

ife i!i

Fair

Fair and square honest,

His conduct
(honourable).
all

just (C),

^-j];:f]lE,& J,

through the transaction has been fair and square

[11^1
To be on the

FAL
fair

way

or fair

road to anything

have every chance of attaining anything (C),

^^ f^
silk,

to

The merchant gained

,

largely over the late

certain) to

is

now

on

the fair

way (almost

demand for make a fortune.

and

To hid fairsee
Fair play
or enemies
(P.),

Bid,

^ fj

Bid.
of

courteous and treatment competitors & ^; & m, ^ m ^^, M U ^ M

just

at

him

I did that to get clear of the crowd, so that I (struggle with him on equal terms).

might have fair play

HaliburUm.
unequalled security, with emoluments undoubtedly liberal for the average of good service, and with the moral certainty of fair play in promotion has been opened up to character and talent throughout the land without distinction of class.
of
15

wide career

# #, 50

S$

ffi

Mi ft, fj IS

7j(.

a ^ It ^.

"sr

If

^ @,

S&iS^ifeai.
Fair and softly go far in a day
ness enable a

Ji ;& Gladstone.

:r

courtesy and

gentleIrish

man

to effect a great deal (C.)

An

proverb,

mm^A,ti^mw, mmmm^m)(M.

Faith

In good faith

^without treachery, honourably, ^ t^ ^

mind
that Allen's father had

There was no doubt in any one's acted in good faith (honestly).

Beaard.

Pall

To
;

fall

awayto

degenerate

(P.),

ffc

^ it,

tf*

f
foir

The

.teint)tations of the
fell

lower-fourth soon proved too strong

him, and he rapidly

away.
Hughes.

M M S ^To
fall

shortto

be deficient (P.),

^ J

:f Sfc,

^ ^(^.

FAL
Her
fallen

place

had been supplied, lay an

excellent

woman who had

little

short 0/ (nearly equalled)

a mother in affection.
J-

9:

* M ^ ^;

Austen.

To fall foul ofto collide with, dash agkmst, unwittingly attack, iquarfei with (P.). ^ ^. ^ S;
In their
sallies their

men

might/ai!/)2o/( attack) each other.

clarendon.

'^m^m&:A:^^,m%&mm^mHe had
aged to
=g

fall

not been seated at table, five minutes before he had manfoul of everybody within reach.
5E.

A ^ PPiS

S- tt Bf

B*K

^;f

tl

R *. - - '^

:Good Words, 1887.

To

fall to

(of

the ground (a) to fail frbin lack of support some proposition at a meeting) (P.), Jt Hi ?!| yf^
.

As there dismissed).
(6) to

is

no seconder to

this motion,

it
'!

falls to the
',

ground

(is

'!?.'

have no practical effect,

nm:5fe

;-:,
Sir';
Jit :)&

M M 'A; M M ^T ^
r

:;,

.'
to 'the

These were your words.

they did not fall

H!l-

ground.

&

^ ^ 1",

ffi

* * :g a

Reade.

To

fall

throughto

be abandoned (of a scheme} (P.),

abandoned)
!ft.

The

project for a Nakasendo, railway /(sZZ through

difficulties.
4fe,

<:vias

owing to engineering

a X fS ig.lt ^ To
/eZi

* K U! # Ji ^
(P.),

ISffi

S5

^^ ii gc f^ fi
the SUstentation

fall

offto diminish

it 4?; ic fe iX).
Fund

During the

last half-year subscriptions to

0/ (diminished)
fall

six thousaild pounds.

To

outW

to quarrel (P.), *B

^; P
>

:^,

ffl

M,

Sfi

I did upbraid her and fall out (quarrel) with her.

fS SS

S *,

3fe III

:i

^ ft-

'

Shakspeare.

She understood that he was a man of rank who had fallen out (quarrelled) with his relatives, who held no commuriication with him, but hpw the estrangement had taken .place "she, did hot understand.
a^

M#

p.g, ffi ffi

^ M a s ^ s gg,

Kij

^^

iSc

"
;

fit
i

^^
James Payn,

[114]
I

FAL
(P.),

'

'

(b)

to

happen
If all

B;

MM, MM,

MM

(X).

thmga fall

out (happen) right.

To

fall in

to take one's plaee in the

ranks

(a

military

phrase), (P.);

mmMm,mm
at this

^47

^,

^ w ^ ^ (xi
(P.),

(fbTimv.^ mm).
The sergeant

moment gave

orders to

fall in.

To

fall in

love with.

to become enamoured of

JH

to

acquaintance I clearly saw that he was not disposed fortune, and I had also then coolness of judgment sufficient to perfceive that it was not probable he should fall in love with my person! our
first

On

pay court

to

my

it JE ja ?& BR Sa

S it i6 A 3f *

JE^

tg

1S^ !S 1 * 1&.
M. Edgeworih.
(P.),

To try a
You
each other).

fall

to

engage in a wrestling match

shall

<?/

6m< one fall (engage only once in

a wrestle with
Shakspeare.

^'^&myS^M -kfall flat

To

to cause

no amusement or

interest (C),

It (the paper read by Warren Hastings) fell flat, as the best written defence mast have fallen flat, on an assembly accustomed to the animated and strenuous conflicts of Pitt and Fox.

Her remark
tion of
a.

fell flat

worn-out

jest

every one knows the eflect of the reproducand had a sobering eflect upon the
little

company.

^gffl^^^lS, ^jat^JnM, mA#^5. James Payn. To fall upon one's feetto come victorious out of every
crisis, to

be fortunate

(0.)

from theinatural height' alights on

hurt,
figr

fact, that
its feet,

The metaphor is borrowed. a cat when thrown from a

serious

and thus escapes any

ffi

M iD^; m^,mm\t'n,mmwi.m,^ H T. ^ U ^ ^J ^ &)

ilil>

:?; iS:

FAR
"As
usual, I observe that

[115]
you have
fallen

upon your

feet."

Macmillan'a Magazine, 1887.

Family

A person of family a well-born

person

(P.),

iz.M^

And Mr. Irwine's sisters, as axiy person of family (lady or gentle.man) within ten miles of Broxon could have testified, were such
stupid, uninteresting

women.
G. Eliot.

X^]
To be

tB.mn^,mmi

Fancy

in the family way to be big with child, pregnant (c), ^; -n )is, m, j^ '1 7^ ? Fancy free with the affections not engaged (P.), '[

m-

In maiden meditation, fancy free.

micmi&^IMmmmmHad

Shahspeare.

she dared to say so she might have hinted very prettily that with him the sunshine would return to Norfolk street but she was no longer fancy free (now devoted to a lover).
;

Hi

^,

M'j

e ;i it, B ^ m m,

#^

mm

jifc

t^

.-t

a-

James Payn.

The fancy
The

sporting characters,
:J:

prize-fighters, dog-fan-

patrons, of the fancy (prize-fighting) are proud of their

cham-

pion' s condition.

J5 1g

# H A, a B

Far

Far from it not if. #, ^ S

fiip

JS

*fc

ss

i ^.

G. Miot.
/fi

at all,

by no means
strictly

(P.),

^ ^
;

iX)is

'

Mr. Dixon, you

say,

not

speaking handsome ?

'Handsome! Oh -nofar from

plain.'

it

(anything but that)

certainly

la 31

T>

>f^

:?^

S.

^ Ja S
(P.),

:?:

^ -

^s ^s<m.

Farthest

At farthest, at the farthestmaking

sible

the largest posWt,

allowance of time
(X)-

i^

mm,^m

%n ^; % ^M
Chesterfield.

Parliament will certainly

(not later than the
first

rise

tiie first

week in April at farthest

week

in April).

[116]
Fashion
After a fashion
nal

FAT

to a certain degree, in a certain

nomi-

way

(generally said disparaginglyl (P.),

^ ^: M

He
Irench

knows French

not a thorough knowledge).

after

a fashion (has a certain knowledge of

Fast

To play

fast and loose to act in a way inconsistent with one's promises or engagements,' to behave with

inconstancy, to

show no consideration

for (P.),

IsC

He

plays fast and loose with (shows no regard for) the reputation

of his friemds.

And

shall these

hands, so lately purged of blood,

Flay fast and

IS

loose with (disregard) faith?

^ H ^live

Shakspeare.

To

fastto

lead a dissipated life (F.),

^ 5? M
it.

flfi;

He

prefers to live fast

and spend

his

money when he has

Fat

To

live on the fat of the land

to

have every luxury

(P.),

^Mffl^; mm-xm,m^mm,'S!imnz
has

He

now made

his

money and

lives

on

the fat of the

land

(enjoys every luxury).

The

fat is in the fire there

(F.),

is

a great

hubbub and

confusion

mWuMWL,mm.,^m,m%iK^ (S).

He's a credit to your nation, that man; he's actually the first pot-hook on the crane; the whole weight is on him; if it weren't for him the fat would he in the fire in no time (things would very quickly be in confusion).

^^*^#!g, ^l^jlfcA, SiM3K, /fC-tfeRB- Saliburton. To kill the fatted calf to prepare the best food in the
house for an expected guest
in the
(P.)

The phrase

is

used

parable of the Prodigal son:

Bible, Luke,

TEA
see,

[117]

XVth chapter, which ^ mm; ^^ M B, it^ B ^. mm m>m^m^^mm-Mcm-k^u,m

To be sure, lie does not live on husks (periuriously) nor has he yet returnedto ask for the fatted calf (a warm reception), and from all they can hear he lives in a good house.

rather

To

father anything on a person to ascribe

its

origin

to

him

(P.),

Have
JFault

fathered

^, il IE #, much on them which

;

^^

a:).
Byron.

they never wrote.

^^it-:tW,f^^^mp,mmm,'^m.
At
fault

puzzled,

in a difficulty

how

to proceed (P.),

And then the two set about foraging for tea, in which operation the master was much at fault (puzzled how toprooeed).
Hughes.

In faultto blame,
Is

erring

(P.),

B, U, ^,m^(X)ShaUpeare.

Antony or we

in fault (to blame) for this?

&,^%Ski^J&m7;n^mmTo
iff

find fault

withto

blame, to be displeased with

:\.v
We'd (we would) jSnd no fault with
if

(not'

blame) the tithe-woman,

I were the person.

Teast

Shakspeare. IPI^JI^KifAFeast of reason and flow of soulintellectual inter-

tSiSJa^jHsttfiiP,

course where the conversation reaches a high point of

excellence
(P.),

m^;?raaAi3?, ^i!3??cT,#ii,
my friendly
bowl,

There

St.

The

feast of reason

John (pronounce Sinjin) iningles with and the flow of soul.

The guest now escaped the pomp of grand entertainments; was .allowed to enjoy ease and conversation and, to taste some of that feast enjoyed. of reason and that flow of soul so often talked of and so seldom
3g

A ^ Sc,

jHs

S S> !,

Bf

^ H Alt &..

ifB

&

^-

S,

?P

-RT

M. Edgeworth.

[118]
Feather

FEA To feather one's nest'to

self (C),

provide for one's

;

own

perone's-

sona] comfort 3,nd interests

to lay

by money for

mm-,

mms).nB^}^m:tn'
Congreve.

You have
(since

you have made a

forgot this, have you, how you have feathered your neit sufficient. provision for yourself)?

Mr. Felspar, too, seems by all accounts to have feathered his own nest, which, frpm what I have heard of him from Mrs. Jennynge he behaved most graspingly about a picture I am not the least

'^

surprised

at.
ffil

S Si ^ S, ^
JSk-

Bf :? B#

ffi

* *., ^ IS ^ ^ #

g,

jS

James Payn.
;

A feather in one's cap an honour (P), ^ # ^

The

:3E kXI-:

fellow's very carelessness about these charges (accusations) was, in Margaret's eyes, a feather in his cap (something to be proud of), and proved for one thing, their absolute want of foundation.

James Payn.

In
,

fine feather health (c.),

appearing at one's very mm;m^,timnm m).

,

best, in

good

The
15

last

time I saw your uncle he was in fine feather

.a,

(in goodi

health and
jifc

spirits).

is

-^

In

full feather

in elaborate costume (C), M:$LMWi.; in high

spirits,

^ iB St .

Anpabella was at the ball m/wH/ea^/ie?- (elaborately dressed).

In high feather

exultant (C),
it is

^ ^j:
sensation*

to

him

Martin leads the way in high feather getting companions.

quite a

new

Hughes.

To show
fear, to

or fly the

white feather to

betray signs of

be a coward (C),
ran a

ikM;

MM, ^M ^ Mi^my
;

My blood
said)
'

was no use flying a

little cold at that, but I finished white feather (showing signs of fear) Here's to the Corsair's bride.'

liquor.

It

so say

I (I

FIE
Fiddle

[119]
(F.),

To play
:^

first

fiddleto haVe the lead in anything

fi:

#; M -t, fi ^ 5, "t M - *M, M "t

np ^dea
,

(^)-

Tom had
f

of playing first fiddle (taking the lead) jn

any

social orchestra (friendly gatl^ering).

^ 3J Eg m ,

ISJ

-^ 1^

^ ^ -t

2. St.

IHcUns.

To play second

fiddle-yto take a subordinate position

ing, in

She had inherited from her mother an extreme objection to playany orchestra "whatsoever the second fiddle (occupying, under any
,

circumstances, a secondary
fife

place)'.
:fC

m S ^ # ^, /L iS ^ ^ K #, ^

-t

]!j^

A ^

James Payn.

Scotch fiddle the hand in

Fiddler's

the

itch (so called

(S.),

from the motion of

(ffi)-

scratching)

M;

^M
ill?"

newsnews

that comes very late (F.), PJ

M:^;mm,^Azm>mmzm m (S)"Have you heard that the Pope news (known to every one)."
is

'Oh, that's
in,

fiddlei-'^

Am

*:-

*n.

Fi|dlestick

Fiddlestick or fiddlesticks
ence
;

an exclamation

of impati-

nonsense

(F.),

^ m; mM, ^ Mi 'Mini ^:Zm

Mrs. OUphant.

angrily,

'A question of fiddlestick (mere nonsense)!' cried the doctor walking about the room.

m^^^1&,^^mi9B,iiimmm-W%.
Fid^le-de-

dee

Fiddle-de-dee tempt (c),

T told

an exclamation of impatience and conmm{m){^75^MmRmm^ m).

was discouraged and unhappy;
reach.
his daughter's heart

him

seoned above

my

ife^^,
this

a^*sft, Ei?iS?pnrK, ffiisii,^??:^.

(way with such
talk)!' said he.
'It all

'Fiddle-de-dee

comes of

new system courting young

ladies before marriage spoils them.'

Eeade.

Fie-foh-

Fie-foh-fum

words such

as

would be uttered by a blood::fc

fum

thirsty monster, blustering talk (F.),

"a

I ?%

5fc

D^,

FIG
Fie, foh, and fum, I smell the bloodj.oif an.Englishmah.
&'Bl nb 1^, '2

f&

4 i# 35 S A

JftL

* ^.
"S"

Shakapeare.

Field

To keep the field

all

to

maintain one's ground against

:T^

opponents
all

(P.),

$1 jt

^;

^ W S^, ^ ^ ^
(proved himself
Tennyson.
vic-

There

torious against

day long Sir Pelleas kept Ml competitors). ,

^

ike field

ifi

Ji JS ft

JHs il

18

S IF. ? W Bf
commence warlike

To take the
Napoleon
troops-

field

to

operations

(P.),

took the _^eZd (began the corhpaign)

with 100,000 picked

rig

A fig for. any one an expression of Scontempt.

do I care for him?
'

'

What
(t)

'

(F.),

^ ^ MlM>; Mpledge you

all
;

iSi ^f- ^^l

Efefit

come,

i'faith,
lif

and
3K.

I'll

and a

fig for Peter

is;

Si

K ^ w, tt^Yet,
Till

1^ ?s m ^ mm, c f# ^ ^

19-

Shakspeare.

whoop, Jack! kiss Gillian- the quicker. she bloom like the rose, and a fig^or the

vicar!

S ft W ft ^ BH.
right

Scoii.

To

fight

shy ofto avoid

(C),

^ il M M,
;

Sg il(M)-

Since the late family quarrel,

my

cousin

fights

shy 0/ (avoids) me.

To

fight for one's

own hand to
(P.),

struggle for one's

;

personal interests

^-

fij ffi

i^

<i?

QB

5N

In opposition you will recover vigour and freedom; you

for your

will^jffe

own hand.
!!!(.

ffi

S5

The Mistletoe Bough, 1885.

Figure

To make a figure
Besides, he

to distinguish one's self (P.),

% tf

of in the

would have been greatly hurt not to be thought well world he always meant to make a figure (distinguish himself) and be thought worthy of the best seats and the best mora^ls..,^
;
..

nsj.^j!fcf:5!-:t, :^
ffl

f^

jis *ii

i. iS,

a ^ ii m fs m

iVA n ft A>

k^m

nx jM

ti>':% * * ^ ^ ns * m ^

G.

Eliot.

FIN
To
figure o'lltto ascertain
(F.);;

[121]
an'

amount by
(IT).
,

careful

com-

putatipn
I

If

M M n, ft ^
;
,

have figured out the expenses

Jn it

of the trip, -and find it will cost

us at least 300 yen,

m^nmm s g, m ^, s H'j; ^ h To figure up add items into a

?#

h w ii.
j^ ff
;

to

total (F.),

Fin

To cut a figure see Cut, ^ tij To tip another your finto'

Come, old
fellow, tip
its

Out.

shake hands with him

your fin (shake hands with me).

Find

To

find it in one's heart

I could not^nd

to persuade one's self (P.),

ii

in

my

heart :(persuade myself) to dismiss the

tlie

old

man, who had been about

house so long.
Jiff

S ^ A ^ * S >t
Finger

^;f ,

K i? 3l, Si

To have a

finger in the pie

to

* K * ;;f ^ SS be mixed up in any

c>
Ifi-.

affair (C),

^ *g ;?,&, ^ lE,^ IS, If #, ^ T #

(iS).

Instead of every man airing his self -con sequence, thinking it bliss to talk at random about things, and to, put his finger in every pie (interfere in every aflfair), you should seriously understand that there
is

a right way of doing things.

S ^ i &)

^-

Arnold.

To have at one's fingers' ends to be ^,ble to repeat or use without any trouble (generally of something ^, in Mi: committed to memory) (C), iW '^

^M

He

was

the

boy

to talk

{yery clever at talking) to the public; soft

all

sawderdignified reproachfriendly intercoursehe had them

at his fingers' ends.
, '

^ S ]^, - -^ -t ^
To

flS

-S

m-

^<^,
,

arrive at one's fingers' ends^to be reduced to |^, ;^ poverty, to be in great straits (C.j, fg Jg;

FIS
had
Before he was three moniths out ,of his Govemnjent post, arrived at hjs fingers' ends (come to great poverty).

Brown

Light-fingered

gentry pickpockets

(S.),

#^^S
which
is

Pish

A fish, out of water a person, in a

quite unsuited for

situation

him

or distasteful to his habits (C),

lihe

Mr. TJrqiihart is an exception to the rule, and has always a fish out of water (uncomfortable) here, I have no doubt.*

felt

3fe

* (Jl

PfC

S3.

To make

fish of one and flesh of another two persons in a different fashion (F.), Ji "f^

^^ ^
:

to treat

mean

to I

treatment.

i: E *f^;f ?& S., ^ 3 -t - # ^, $F @ i^ ^ .

To
fish for

show no favouritism all the class will receive the same do not mean to make fish of one and flesh of another.
:

compliments

to converse in

a way that

induces people to pay compliments to you; to lead people to praise you, because they see you wish to be
praised (C), #?,#;

:5:*.

"^I

A m. A^^ if
H ji

K'i^W.,
1^,

^ K^mM WtU
f2

Bn 1^ ;t

AVhen you ask me how I liked yesterday's issue of the Argus, 1 konw you are fishing for compliments (wishing me' to praise you), for you wrote the principal article in it.

Other

TmT

s B^

* 16 a ipinj, ^ m ^ M

>r :t

^ fiis
(F.),
fp}

fish to

fryother

business to attend to

You may have

other fish to fry (other affairs to

time to spare for newspaper wrangling I have occupy my attention).

Give your own fish-guts to your own sea-maws give what you have to spare to those who belong to you
and not
to strangers (S.),

IMJC^^M^AlflE^JC

FLA
our

[128]

The contracts should bfe given to English companies own fish-guts for our own sea-maws (our good things

let

us keep

for our

own

citizens).

mm^m&m^m,m:^mn^,'S&}^m\,
Pits

By

fits

and

starts

plication (P.),

spasmodically^ without steady apm - ^ Z) T^h wl^, M u, m

of activity
'

He
and

works

bi/ /Jfs

and taris (with intervals

'C> iSc ife.

and

idleness),

will

not apply himself.

-la ffi

^ ^ f^ ^ . >P # S

Tlag

The

flag at half-mast

This

is

a sign of mou;rning,

observed especially by vessels in harbdur,

when any

personage dies

(P.),

^ M iX) (^ 7i ^^ :tm^, iB

'

'I

noticed that the flag on the Castle was half-mast high.'

"Indeed!" sighed Ella; "then I fear I hare some (some cue else has lost a near relative)."

fellow-sufferer

W^m:kM.U,M. m^,

^ BJ * ^
flag

Ml ;^ ta

A ^ (if *
^""'s -P!/"-

A K S 1^ JE)To hang out the white

come

'to

show willingness

to

to terms, generally in token of surrender (P.),

the

enemy

Bazaine at length resolved to hang oui the white flag {mtirasite to that he would accept conditions of surrender).

To hang out the red

The

flag

(a) to intimate

danger

(P.)

red flag warns of danger, JH

^mmmmmm,75^vzm%)(b) to give signal for battle (P.),

MWiM; ^^LM,

itsi^^tM;^
for

fighting)

The Chesapeake then hung out her rfed flag (gave the signal and was answered by a broadside from tlie Shannon.

i T ^ IS a M ;t.

[124]
Flame
A

FLA
A flame a sweetheart (F.),
few miles
off in the valley,

Sf ftr

'fe

iiif

(iT).

where she never by any chance went, th^ excursion trains used to vomit forth, at Easter and in Whitsurisweek, throngs of the niill hands of thp period, cads and
their flames.

mm &.mm^i^,mm^^^m,v^, m^i^ mmT ^,

An
old flame
I suppose she

JBii:^a^,lli=&>l,*:*^f-|Sl3K?f*^>>E, tea

a
alj

former sweetheart'

(C.)r

MM',

tfc

^r

Flare

l%ackeray. S tt S ia 7^ n^ mn ia. To flare up to go into a passion (C), ^^$^; Wi^iW-

was an old flame

of the Colonel's.

At

this reference to her

dignation),

and asked the

ife

man what he
SS, P^

husband, she flared up (showed her meant.

in-

aiA
Flash

^ ^ - Sf,

ims

^ A S M-

flash in the

pan

an

abortive attempt, a failure of

some ambitious undertaking (P. ) The phrase is taken from a gun, which though loaded, fails sometimes to go off when the flint is struck, ;'|C 5^ j^ (^)

^^

The
scheme).

rising at Kilrush

was a mere

flash in the

pan (an

abortive

The
To

flash

gentry

thieves, professional rogues (F.),

^
to

flash fire

to throw angry or
glisten^

passionate glances,
(P.),

have the eyes

The eyes
of the

with strong emotion

iS

ff*

grew darker, as he replied:

Indian monarch flashed fire, and his dark brow 'I will be no man's tributary.'
Prescott.

^^^
Flat

fl&

Fit

*
Fall,

^m A flata dull-witted person

To
fall

flat see

Fall.
(S.),

!i#;

M A ^ ^ (
,

He hasn't got these

a
flat
-la !S,

qualities yet, or

he wouldn't have been such

jiS ;?C

to-night as to let Jack Raggles go in out of his turn.

B#

^*^

jHj

^ tt K, ^ M -^ H^ ia

i!c

Sa :!

*t.

FLI
Flea
come repulse
"I wouldn't
who
(S.),

[125]

A flea in one's ear an annoying suggestion, an unwelffiM;:^A5:t8fl, 51*11

was ever so!" exclaimed Mrs. Jennynge,
do
it, if it

in this extremity had utterly discarded her French for the vernacular. " You try it yourself, and see if he don't put you down pretty

quick, or send you flying with

a,

flea in your ear (sharp rebuke)."

^
Flesh

;?:

* Jn IS,

ife

M W iS S-

James Payn.

Flesh and blood human nature (P.), *tt. jfiL ^ ;t ^. Ji Jfil *C <Xj-

A^

"ffiT

'^;

^
and

Not as (that) I wish to speak disrespectful o' (of) them have got the power *' (in) their hand, but it's more than Hood (human nature) 'ul (will) bear sometimes.

as (that)
flesh

^Jf tfe

fS S:

m-

G- Eliot.

To make the flesh creep to cause a sensation of dread B^ i^ ^ A !! 'K, and horror A^ M ^
(P.),
;

^S'

'!t

CSl).

dear Mr. Aird, you make our flesh creep (you horrify us)!" remonstrated Mrs. Wallace whereupon he desisted.
;

"My

^,

S S. fe ;i ^ ft *
fling at, indulge in a fling
sarcastically (C),

James Payn.

Fling

To have a
.

at to

attack

U tt; % %, M M, W. M m)-

I even went so far as to indulge in a fling at (attack sarcastically) the State House, which, as we all know, is in truth a very imposing
structure.

& ^ sS f
(s.),

IJ

25: .-

Holmes.

To have

indulge in fun or dissipation 'um-M)&M,m^Mm,m^nm

one's fling
to
(ii)all I

look forward to is to hxwe my little fling (indulge As for me, in a little dissipation) and then to give up the gayeties of London, and take a quiet villa and have a garden.

The time which Tom allowed himself away from

from locking-up he used to tahe his fling
till

supper-time.
(give

During

this

his charge, was hour or hour-and-half

way

to unrestrained fun).

K-ISM^Hfe^M^Jfefi^ifi^-

Hughes.

[123]
Flint

FLY
To
fix

another's flint for

him to
him

punish him

(S.),

That is worse still,' said Leave him to me, and I'll fix
'

I,

'

because you can't resent

:?:

it yourself.

his flint for

(castigate him).'

^^ ^ SkWiM^To skin a
ings
(F.),

i6

S iD

ifc,

fi'J

S a ^,

ff

tl

&

fi' ffi

m,

2i; 13 is, af Haliburton.

&A

flint

to

be excessively

mean

in one's deal-

^m^j^^m-.nnwcm (S).

Flipper

A tip of the flipper a shake of the hand (Sailors' slang),

I say, old fellow, give

me a

tip

of your flipper (shake hands with me).

Floor

To take the

floor

to

rise to address

a public meeting

Mr. Hardcastle then

took the floor (rose to speak)

of bi-metallism.

and, in a long

and able speech, advocated the cause

mff :^fC1$.Mte

To have the

have the right of addressing a meeting by rising before other intending speakers (P.),
floor
^

to

The chairman ruled that Judge

right to speak).

Ellis

had

the floor (possessed the

Fly

S!f

A IF S,

IB

*!I

^ 11

ifc

^ la .

To

fly

out against or at
against (C),

to

speak in a rash impulsive

manner

M B;]h ^M A,mM,M^B
out

It 'ud (would be) ill-becoming a man in a public office to fly (speak rashly) again' (against) King George.

^fe^^ftffijiiJililS^^I, 3*1^:1.

G.

Eliot.

Poor choleric Sir Brian would fly out at his coachman, his butler, or his gamekeeper; would use language to them which, proceeding
tion

from any other master, would have brought about a prompt on the part of the aggrieved servant.

resigna-

m,^!e''iL

m & 3i.
the face of

Good Words,

1887.

To

fly in

to oppose directly and in a reck'Ml

less

fashion (C),

^ m ix Si; Ji

tm

ffi

(M).

FLY
my

[127]

Every evening before we left. Paris I saw her, and implored her * * But, with all life. to trust herself to me and leave Paris as this, she was firm, and would not fly in her parents' face.

Reade.

To

fly in the face of Providence to do a deliberately 5^ imprudent thing, to court danger or death (C),
Jjfi;

be to Dr. Cooper had told her that to sleep with the child would "liy in the face of Providence;" for, if any mischief was really brewing, she would in that case be certain to suffer from it.

With

flying colourshonourably, triumphantly

(P.),

part I have always thought that their both getting But for way) after their degree at last with flying colours (in a distinguished men, four nights three weeks of a famous coach (private tutor) for fast towels, without going to bed, and an incredible consumption of wet and brandy-and-water, was one of the most astonishing

my

strong cigars,
feats of

mental gymnastics I ever heard

of.

The Flying Dutchman^the name applied to the express

train

running from London to Exeter on the broad gauge railway so called on account of its speed. The term originally belongs to a phantom ship which was supposed to fly over the waves till the day of judgment,

M>

S a ^ m :^
off"

5il

If

S iS ^- *

*<] 11^.

To

fly

at the
(F.),

impulsively

handleto become ^0; ^ #, -K t*>

excited,

to act

^M^

He was full of crotchets that way, and the sight of the- sea, or even a mere flower would make him fly right ofl: at the handle.

^a

ife

^.

Haliburton.

[138]
Follow

TOO
To follow
suit

to behave in the same manner,

A phrase
it is

to

do as

the person before you has done (C.)

borrowto-

ed from card-playing, where

usually necessary

play the same kind or suit (spades, clubs, hearts or

diamonds) as the preceding player or players,

^ ^ J^

But when the fortunes

of KingscliflE'
suit.

began to

rise:

the fortunes of

the gallant admiral followed

^,t^^^MmMmFood Food
for
soldiers

Good Words,

1887.

powder a contemptuous name applied (F.), MM; ^, TIM M^- ^,

to

^U ^

There go the poor conscripts/ood for powder (soon to be

shot-

down on the battle-field).

5*^)-

To become food
Fool

for fishes

to be drowned

(F.),

JC

To be a

fool for one's pains

(F.),

to take

unnecessary and

thankless trouble

U ^ m, M M ^ M M, &$.
in

If

you propose
u,

to take

him

and board him

(trouble

for that small sum,,

you

will be

fool for your pains

yourself needlessly and.

receive

no thanks).

tt

t X * BB :^ ts 1 2. .a Itparadise a state thing is unreal and certain

fool's
I feel a

of ha,ppiness,
to

where every(F.),

be shattered

^A

little

humiliated, Claire
live.

all

these lessons.

but I think I am the better for See in what a fool's paradise (deceptive state of
;

happiness) I used to

To make a
lous (P.),

fool of
Sfe

to deceive, disappoint, make ridicu-

B^B

# 00-

TOO
To
fool

[129]
of little value (C),

awayto

spend on objects

fooling

Instead of learning your lessoija for to-mprrow, you have been away (frittering) your time with the animals.

Toot

To put the best

to

foot foremost or

forward(a) to walk
;

as rapidly as possible, exert one's self the utmost (6)

make

the best display possible (C), 3^ It

M ^,

ffl

The girl made up her mind to piU the best foot foremost (put forth her powers of walking), and run through her terrors at such a pace that none of them could lay hold of her.
all
jB.

Blackmore-

Linlithgow put her best foot forward (made her best appearance) last Saturday, when the freedom of that ancient and royal city was presented to the Earl of Roseberry.
Bf

tit

;S

S M K *# ^-

St.

Andrews

Citizen, 1886.

To put one's foot in it to make an awkward mistake, W iS> to say something embarrassing (C), :^ M ^
;

I'll

always putting my foot in it,' continued Milly. I called a her face, this morning a "couple of old frumps," not knowing they belonged to her.
'

am

girl's aunts, to

With one foot

in the

gravevery feeble,
fI
;

having but a

short time to live

(P.),

M M li, ?E S9 tH S, J
when he
Besant.

It is sometimes the fate of a poet to succeed, only one foot in the grave (has but a short time longer to live).

lim

W Am Wk ^^, ^^ ^^n m.one's

To put down
jf;

firm in refusing (C),

ffi,

@ m ^ ;fe
is

foot to refuse ^ ^^f. M, m)-

to

go further, to be

^%'^t^>^i ^>

I remember when the late Sir George Cornwall Lewis wanted to friend get some statistics about the religious denominations, your
Bottles,

who

now

Particular Baptist.
(refuse firmly).

No

a millionaire and a Churchman, was then a 'No,' says Bottles, 'here I pui down my foot Government on earth shall ask me whether I

am

a Particular Baptist or a Muggletonian.

[130]

FOO
* IE ff B
-flife

J&

^ s #c ^ iE fc

F^

^ as 2. Bf
ifi

SI *: tt

^ -t *:, BP Us 0yfi^,mmmz-it,jzymtSii!mi&M,:ifi ^ ^ 4# ?i s # t- *, i # ^ * it -t *: t6 a
P5
sij

if.

Arnold.

At

one's feet

submissive, in a suppliant

attitude (C.X

The Baltimore belle boasts that she has all the officers of the Leviathan at her feet (paying court to her, in love with her).

The cloven
evil

foot

one
%

of the
is to

display the cloven foot

marks of the devil. To show hidden designs or an

purpose (C),

M;

^ ^ :^ IB 11, ^ B P ^,

At a subsequent meeting he (Dr. Ritchie) had to answer the charge that his party were 'showing the cloven foot (displaying sinister designs).' The Doctor was attired, as was his wont, punctiliously, knee breeches, silk stockings and dress shoes. So, extending his shapely limb, he asked with an air of triumph, Do you call that a cloven foot?' Whereupon a mechanic in the gallery shouted out in a gruflf voice, Tah ' ojf (take off) the shoe, sir, and we'll see!'

'

'

:1^4JiP, iS:5fc4.*^E, ftS;^-1il*n.

Dr. Guthrie.

To

foot

itto dance

(C), 1^

(iH).

Of course they found the master's house locked up and all the servants away in the close, about this time no doubt footing it away on the grass.

jBi*^Jfe^ft, Sl^Sg-a.

Hughes.

To

foot a bill

to

pay the expenses incurred by a parfy

(c),

^ ti

ft

m m, * ii p jt m, ja - # n S5

men on

The wealthy alderman goes next month with a party of clergya tour through Canada, and has promised to foot the hUl{pa,y

the expenses of the party).

FOR
The
first-foot

[131]
is

the person who

the

first to

cross the

threshold of a house after the

(P.),

^-.iM^^:t

xm

new year has commenced

not upon which side of ths Borders it may be and northward the feeling extends far beyond the Border there is a mysterious, an ominous importance attached to the individual who first crosses the threshold after the clock has struck twelve at midnight, on the 31st of December, or who is the_;?7'si-/ooiin ahouse after the New Year has begun.
It matters

^ t^ 1 If,
A,

It

^fc

M Jf -t 1^ ^
^
-t
^fe..
ilfc

S,

SS

^ * - W.
"pT

KiJ

Hlf

^1-

SB

la ;t, J^

X ^ *, 4- A :^

ifi

lii-

Wilson's Tales of the Borders.

To pay

one's footing

quisites

to pay the necessary fees or peron being admitted to any club or society (P.),

ift

A # s mmembers all wished him good

When he had paid his footing, the luck and drank his health

Force

To

force a man's
'^

hand to compel
^,

faim to act prema-

S ^ ^ A. M ^7, M ^. A m^; AW] m ^, ^ M A,M. n m ^ m n :t^,^^^ M

turely or adopt a policy he dislikes (P.),

m .hm

\h,m

mm

iiiL

The best guarantee against such a course is the repugnance of the German Emperor to engage in a new struggle; but if it were determined
on by all but himself, the Emperor's hand might might be compelled unwillingly to declare war)
he forced

(Emperor

la

m ^ * Cil ^ SB, ^ :^ f# :^ at
to be enforced (P.), "K

!)

Spectator, 1886.

To come

into force (of a law or regulation) to begin

n]M ^fi i^'i^^R^ ^

pieces

The law making paper ten sen

into force (is

no longer

legal tender co-nwi

put in actual operation) next July.

[13S]
Forget

FEE To forget one's selfto be guilty of an unworthy act or

word, to lose

command

of one's tongue or

temper

(P.),

shocked the propriety of the breakfastwords of which the two last were "Webster's Unabridged," and the first was an emphatic monosyllable (' damn '). Beg pardon, he added Iforgot myself {1 have said hastily what I should not\
table
of three

The little gentleman by a loud utterance

3^ifgSBSS!;,
3fe ff-

^ m CK A
Fork To fork out
I

Kg^-f, ^j36^ ;^ ^^, ^^-1-, ^j

fg),

ii HP

isi

-g-

p, i

w-

Bj

'It

3; t6 ^, Holmes.

a Ik

to

hand

out, to take

from one's pocket (S.),

sum
money.

am

not willing to forh out (pay) so large a

of

Forty

Forty winks

a short sleep during the day

(F.),

4 M',
feet

Four

To go on

all fours

(a) to crawl
feet (P.), 1}

on the hands and

down on

or on the knees

and

^;^ &^^r,^ iX)all foura,

When the Count entered, the old hero was playing with his four-year-old granil(;oilc
(b) to

be exactly similar in every

way

(P.),

;^/fg

So

simile can go on all fours.

Fourth
Free

The fourth
To make

estate

the

press,

newspapers

(P.),

ft

^ ;^
$

free

with

to take
(P.),

unwarrantable

liberties

with, to help one's self to

{g;

ft

ffl,

The servants have been making free with (helping themselves to) the sugar lately.

^S5#^ASt!ififfl,s*Sift.

A free fight a

fight joined in

by a whole crowd,

promiscuous combat (C),

MW;m^,MAmm,M

FRI
So

[133]

many

free fights,

brave robberies, gallant murders, dauntless

kickings.

p.

Besant.

Freedom

The freedom of a
tion,

city immunity from county jurisdicand the privilege of corporate taxation and selfgovernment held under a charter from the Crown. The
right to share in these privileges
is

conferred, with the

parliamentary franchise or right of voting, on distin-

guished persons

whom

the city desires to honour

(P.),

mm>ms.^mm(ibmmm>RmmmB.z^
It

m m-

Linlithgow put her best foot forward last Saturday, when the freedom of that ancient and royal city was presented to the Earl of Eoseberry.

French

To take French leave to go off secretly, without notice

or warning, to elope (C), /p

rfil

-^

^']

tfff

^f.

^
me

3S

:5h

lg

as,

^ ^ ^i * m)leave

My cook
notice).

has just taken French

(gone off without giving

To frighten the French to

inspire great terror (F.),

the

The look of you and your armed companions French (inspire great terror).

is

enough

to

frighten

Friend

A friend at court a person with influence in a powerful quarter (P.), M^; ^ W, ^^, 'M ^, M^M ^

mm2,AWIf I

will

am noticed in the review, and his work is not mentioned, he suppose I have a friend at court (some one on the staff of the
who
is

journal

my

private friend).

[134]

FUL To make friends to become friendly, to be reconciled! after a quarrel fP ^, W SS ^ ^, fP *F

(0.), -jg jff
;

ilT

Patrick assented, and on the way, they made friends (became

friendly).

m^.iii^m,n&^i^w^mmts-Mm-'
To be
I

c. Reade.

friends

to

be on friendly terms

(F.), 5fP

/fiJ

am no

longer friends with

my

tincle.

Tront

To come

to the front

to

take a prominent position,

Hi

to rise to a chief place (P.),

A IB

Jlfi;

SiM^^,
(take

About this time Bismarclc began to come prominent position) in European politics.

to

the front

Fry

Small fry insignificant people

The coming
with him
MlJ

(C),

^^M"^; MB,

all

of Sheridan was quite another matter. Compared other managers were sma/^jfry (insignificant;.

& ^ M'

iiS

it

ffi

^# m
fire

James Payn.

Out of the frying-pan into the

tion into a worse (C),

from
f^

a bad posi-

?^

m ^, ^

mm; m%f

If it were not for Claire, I would jump out of this frying-pan, which scorches and broils yes, still, after twenty years and more into the fire which burns.

s#
'

1; Si

ji> 5i

IS B6 SI

# la, a S: ,

;5'j

s=, ai * B

she said laughing.

V m out of the frying-pan into the fire (in a still worse predicament),' 'Instead of one I have no V two' to contend with.'

Full

In

full

without

diminution, deduction, or abatement in

(P.),

^ rr ^ *P;

M # J, + J iX).
New Zealand.
ffi.

I have received this

dollars, eighty-six cents,

day from John Wallace the sum of fifty-eiglit being payment in full of his obligations to

the Geographical Society of

m^

-f-

;i

li 't

B in M #

GAI
Full flg^elegantly, making a great display

[135]
(S.),

fiji;

So

all of

and were introduced in due form

'SI

us cabin party went, and dressed ourselves up to the young queen.

'

full fig^

^iC^-

Halibwion.
i(T

Full swing

free play, perfect liberty (C),

,

16

ffi

He lets his servants have full swing (do as they please), and thej" take advantage of their position.

To make fun ofto

It is too

ridicule (C),

t||i

^
I say.

bad; you

make fun

of

every single thing

To funk
So
if

to

be afraid, to shrink from anything

(S.),

you funk, you

just

come along and

hide,

or else

they'll

catch you and toss you.

f ),

rffi

^ IS ^in a funk

Hughes.

To put

to frighten, cause to tremble (S.),

(Matcham) said 'he'd only been drunk' That his At the thunder the storm put him into a funk;.

spirits

had sunk

G.
Gab
The
gift of

the gah
3{d,

n
I

^'

^, # ^ in
of course.

UM;

mm ^^'^ ^ MM. W^^-^ ^ M

S
SJt

readiness
^ if
.

of speech, fluency (F.),

:t^

%^

t*ff^">

always knew you had

the gift of the

gab (were ready in speech),.

Ihchens.

ii5^*nMn^!iM-a.
Gain

To gain ground to

advance,

make

progress (P.), >^

[136J

GAM
Puring the last years tbe movement in favour of bi-metallism has been rapidly gaining ground /advancing in public favour).

Gallowsbird

Gallows-bird

person

who

looks like a

condemned
(F.),

criminal, a person of abandoned appearance

|f

I have seldom seen so repulsive a gallows-bird.

Galore

Galore- plenty

(S.),

56 *5, :S

JE.,

+^

(ffi)-

"Does he look like crime?" whispered the silversmith.

'
'

'

No,

'

said the policeman.

'
'

Calf^like injiocence

and impudence

galore (in plenty)."

Game

Game

for

anything

ready
^f'

to

venture upon anything,

"^

full of life (F.),

m M;

M,

mm^^m,

mn

Say
go and

are you jame (ready to venture) to come to us, or shall Steve

our fqlUs to come here?

tell

m m WiTo die game to

jifc

die in a courageous

manner (C),

^ ^

I say that

coachman did not run away but that he died game.

',

A game at whieh two

"I'll

can play

course of action

equally open to another person (C), %i

have you both licked when I get

{K'^'^f%^

out, that I will," rejoined

the boy, beginning to snivel.

f^

a 5^ ISil ra

H 0.

ij;

iB

* il ^, S i SIS n Amind you,"

said

"Two can

play at that game,

Tom.
Hughes.

To make game

of

to ridicule, turn into sport

made game of my

(P.),

Instead of sympathizing with me, he

calamities-

GAU
Gate

[13T]

To

brfeak gates

after the

to remain outside the College gateshour for closing (an Oxford and Cambridge

University phrase),

^^P^^; mf^^m,^'^!.
f'i

m ^ ^i^m z^ m- m m ?^ u m,y{- m ^
At.).
If

i^

you break gates again we

shall

have you

rusticated

(tempora-

rily expelled).

The gate

of horn

a mythological term,
came forth.
^s.

signifying the

gate by which true dreams

of ivory deceptive

From

the gate
;

dreams proceeded
fiS

(P.),

z^^^(X)

(.f^

M a ;^ ^ ^&> ^ S* ^ i ;t bS &)
Jft
triie).

?%mmmz^

M^ ^ ^ n m tp
^
P5

Then he (Laud) dreamed that he had turned Papist, of all his dreams the only one, we suspect, which came through the gate of horn
(was likely to prove

jHs

^^^M^&

Macaulay.

Gauntlet

To throw down the gauntletto

The company
Bf >t 3e
threw

challenge

(P.),

down

the gauntlet to (defied) all

the maritime

powers in the world.

T-

-1:0

^ ^ ^ :^ 3 M,

!]
I

Macaulay.

To take up the gauntletto

accept a challenge (P.),

f^m;mMzmmiX)To run the gauntletto

of treatment in the

pass through a severe course

of criticism or obloquy (P.)

way

The

phrase used in this figurative sense

comes from the

custom of inflicting a punishment bearing this name.

run between two files of soldiers armed with gloves, sticks, and other weapons, with which they struck him as he

prisoner, stripped to his waist,

had

to

jtb

^,#A='%>ii^^*'S^'*0*^^^^^'
hftmm).

M M [^ M, m M IH I^; S ^ ^^ ^ -^ ^ *i ^* ^ , s "mmmmi^^^^^ -t H^. ^ ^ ^^ * # H A ?, ^ :* fi m

passed,
ll?fiJ,
fls
jit

i'J

^'i

[138]

GET
to the -jetty to see the usbands boat come in, and formed part of the long row of spectators, three deep, who had assembled to watch the unfortunate passengers land and run the gauntlet of unscrupulous comment and personal remarks all down the line.

We

went

'

A,m '^m B.m, ^ m sm M ^m,&m^mA, asa is^^.m^&'AAmm,m-'tasxmmMiW:ts,m,M m^mm- The Mistletoe Bough, 1885. mA^&'A'&
m-S:
i'^

Gear

To throw out

of gear

to disturb the

working

of

(P.),

Such delusions have happened to many of us, and most commondisturbed and thrown out of gear (put out of good working order) by unwonted circumstances.
ly,

when the mind has been

1&,m^>i->^%^
Get
him
(F.),

B,m^m^^^^(a) to

James Payn.
self

To get over a person

ingratiate one's with mM;M.M,MMnA,^Amm,nm

How
to

you've managed to get over your mother-in-law is a mystery

me.
Dickens.
(6)

to recover

from (C),

M'^;B,M^ (M)^ # a ;i 31 ^, m * s
J he Mistletoe Bough, 1885..

some time. Her mother called it She had been "general debility;" but I firmly believed that it was that love affair with Frank Hayles which she had never got over (recovered from).
out of health for
li

n pp M,

Bf

:*.,

li

-jg-.

Iff

To get offto
He
a black
Hfi

escape
off.

(P.),

ii

fl^,

# ^ iX)A
1

would get

I'm the only

witness.

jury won't believe

?& nr

H A iS - A, a ^ ^ij;

man

in this country.

Ji5*B

;i

Ill A,

?[^

S A. f ^ -gfi.
S.R.
Haggard.

To get over an experience To get

one's

to pass successfully through

back up

to

be

irritated,

angry

(F.),

^;

'Are you?' I said, beginning to get

my

back up.

^ i^ :^ it f^ tt M SB f

0,

;^

JIB-

H.R.

Haggard.

GET
To get by heart
"
It is

[139]
to

to

commit

memory

(P.),

^U
;

a very long play.'

','

The longer the

better,"

murmured
it

the antiquary.

"But not when one has to get observed William Henry, dryly.

by heart (commit

it

to

memory)"

James Payn.

To get on

to succeed, to rise in life (C),

^ aS; M.^f

Throughout the Continent, in England, and in America, the enor-

mous majority

of the population are striving for success in their

several professions

and

callings; every
is

man, with the doubtful ex-

ception of a few Trappist monks,

trying to "get on."

Spectator, 1887. ft'B'l'*^AiiBBTo get on with any one to find one's self in congenial company (C), ^P J!? a, *B S, i IrI it 'S', >L> >&
;

*a pn

my

She could not get on with Mr. Adair (Mr. Adair and she were not congenial to one another). J<^mes Payn.

mmMmia^^%t&^&-

Get-up

style of dress, fashionable

way

of dressing (C),

There

is

none
life

of the colour

and

tastiness of get-up, * *

which

lends such a

to the present

game

at

Eugby.
Hughes.

1^ IS a*,

^-f

4. -6

*
!

Get

or

go along

an exclamation
way
(F.),

of impatience
;

often
(jSs

used in a bantering

^ H ^ 1^ 3^ # M
^^^

CffiT)

To get religion
colloquial

to become pious, to be 1$'> American phrase,

religious.
15:,

^ i&

found he'd

Irene Pascoe once met a knight on a missionary platform and got religion (he was a pious man).
1^

^ ^ 1^ Si

iC>

Sfc

^ A-

^""*-

[140]

GIL
To get along
'

____
be in a condition, to advance
getting along (proffi

to fare, to

Well, doctor,

how

has the poor patient been

gj sn

gressing) lately?

fg

Pfl

s ^, ^ ir s *5 A,
fairly,

ipf.

'Only

she

is still

very weak.'

Ghost

To give up
About four

or yield

the ghost

to die (P.),

JE

^ ^,

in the afternoon, the

mountebank gave up
seizure.

his ghost;

he had never been conscious since his

a 3K, H *5 * ^ fr ^J ^

S|.

R. L. Stevenson.

To have not a ghost of a chance

able prospect (C.),i|

You do He

not

tell

il SI (l)me that Carawell is applying for the Hebrew chair.

;

^ ;i S|

to

have no reason-

has not a ghost of a chance (His candidature

is hopeless).

Gift-horse

Better not look a gift-horse in the mouth do examine too critically what is given to you as a gift

not
(C),

The poet

gives as well as makes, the rest of us only receive

we
gift

criticise these gifts

horse (criticise

we venture to look into the mouth the finest poems that are given us).
;

of the fairest

m'f-imwtmnm.mitw^mia&.mmmGig

sesant.

Gig-lamps a jocular name for spectacles or for one who wears them (S.) A gig is a tall two-wheeled conveyance,

::tAm){^mm
.R:
When
name
of
'

:tA}-

Paul's father appeared he was saluted by the irreverent old gig-lamps.'

Gild

To

gild the pill

to

make an unpleasant thing

appear

attractive (C),

mn;'^n^U,'kS.^^,9^^^

GIY
I jnst lay

myself out to get to the blind side of them, and I sugai

andgild

the pill, so as to^make.it pretty to look at dnd'easy to swallow (say

things in so flattering a

way that I can coax them into doing anything). .^S)rPf:jli.-*W.gBPs!)i;jlfcA, Sim

^m

mm

HalibuHon.

Give

A give-and-takC: policy

a-

policy of mutual

accommo-

dation and forbearance (C),

^jft;7f|t:;S^;S^i

Nothing can oe more annoying to an ordinary iasai than to find the wife of his bosomj who has jogged along (lived quietly) with him very comfortably in a give-and-take (mutual forbearance) style for many years, suddenly turn round (change) and lecture him upon (scold him for) his amiable little weaknesses (faults).

mtk,mmm%,M^^W:i&i^-

'

Conway.

To give forth or give out to announce or publish (P.),

Soon
after
it

was given forth (announced), and believed by many,

that the king was dead.

Jl

^.
;

Hayward.

for
out

Mrs. Penrose was not at church no doubt she had her reasons staying away, though I heard from Miss Jones that it was given (published) that it was a bad headache that kept, her at home.

s,

,t.

B^ i

iJ, =i

>?:

ffl

f%

te *|

^.
gives
it

3fein jifc.Jt ;?: 3K Chambers's Journal, 1S87.

iiif.

ft6

She
la

out (stales publicly) that

.if

you

shall

marry

her.

^ * l: f,

)lf

fl!!

S(P.),

Shakspeare.

To give outto come

But
before they

to

an end

^^ MlMM
il

had covered

half a mile poor Mrs. Mordaunt'a

strength gave out

(failed).

'Stmnm^]k.'%&,-nm!S:n^ApBmw^m^
*_
English Illustrated Magazine, 1887.

To give in
quished

to cease exertions, confess one's self van-

(P.),

^^,mm,n^w,=fw, ti i^, #

[143]
They did not

GIV
yet give in (confess themselves beaten)
;

hitherto gone only about the streets

they had they would go to places where

;

people meet together.

To give over
recovery

(of

a sick person) to cease hoping for his '^

(P.),

^AM
His
of him).

M M; ^

^^, ^^ i^ M
Mm
over (have

(^1(11

a)-

friends, like physicians, give

no further hope

To give up .;-WU

to surrender, confess one's self beaten (P.),

ft?.

'

imx^^ix^iX)-

Then, for fear of her place, and because he threatened that my lady should give her no discharge without the sausages, she gave up (yielded', and from that day forward always sausages, or bacon, or pig-meat in some shape or other, went up to the table.

w:&mmm^.^^mn,xm^m&.^mwm,-kA
m^:^^nmi&^^,^^^--'To give
]^
-J^-

Edgewonh.
(P.),

one's self up (a) to surrender to the police

ft t^,

S "t, F^

5SS

a ^ S^ "t
!^

(3!t>

News came that the Brighton murderer had given himself up

(surrendered himself to the police).

^ su fg a,
(6)

iff

a a ^ ^, B

m#

ff

iu"Hf

to lose

hope of saving one's

had
carried

life (P.),

^ :^
I gave

When I saw
myself up for
lost

that the floods

away the bridge

(abandoned hope).

To give a person up

to despair of seeing

him

(C),

It was at that unheard-of hour (li p.m.) that Miss Huntley, whose experience of provincial habits was limited, thought fit to put in an appearance, and her hostess's ejaculaiion of "At last! Why, we gave you up more than an hour ago!" drew forth no apology from her.

Ifc,
iS:

J!fc

-fc]

e,

isi^ a ^ ^ :^ f^ it it li.
:fc lif,

?fC

W i .a i* W ^, RS ^ ^ M 'h
Good Words,

ffl

1887.

GLO
To give

[143]
$i

wayto yield (P.),

^ ^ ^, t la H iX);

I wished I had not given way (yielded) to her in the matter of a private sitting-room (which she would i;ot consent to have).

a.

The Mistletoe Bough, 1885.

Gizzard

To

fret one's gizzard

self (S.)

to be anxious, to worry one's Gizzard was used of the temper or disposition,

:

^.

(ffi)

i& !t

BIB H

'

am
jffl

afraid the goods won't arrive in time.'

BB ia.
;

i6

g #; :^ tg Sd ^
fret
i^v

'Don't after them.

your gizzard (trouble yourself)

uncle

is

sere to look

m /C
Glasgow

miM:,U^t^^^]k.
said

Glasgow magistratea salt herring (F.) It is that when George IV. visited Glasgow, some salt

her-

rings were placed, in joke, on the iron guard of the carriage belonging to a well-known Glasgow magistrate,

who formed one

of a deputation to receive the king,

Glass

He

has taken a glass too

much he

is

intoxicated

(F.),

Glazier

Is your father a glazier 1 a vulgar expression, signifying do you suppose that I can see through you?' It obstructs your is used when a person in front of you
'

view,

'A^xn^nm^^Mi^T^mm^a,
challenge (Poetical), ^E Ig;

Glove

To throw the glove to to

a 12
^

(Jffc

:^

IS)

SM

ffi ;2:

(challenge Death itself to I will throw my glove to Death itself provel, that there's no maculation in thy heart. ShakBpeare. A#, Bt St i6 #: r^ ji ft tfiv ft

[144]

GO
To be hand and glove with any one to be on the^ most intimate terms with him (0.),, ^l I,^ ^>M-

And
As

prate and preach about

what

others prove,

if

the world and they were hand and gfove.

(On the most

;

familiar terms).

-,.

~^mM^m^~f,mf^^mik%A.
Glut

Cowper.

To glut the market

to furnish

an excess

of goods for

the market, so that a sale cannot be found for

them (P.),

Two
ted the

years ago an excessive production of woollen goods had glutmarket (furnished too great a supply, so that no sale could be

found for them).

mm
Go

^ji

Si

m m, -M:^ :k ^, is m m.}^, ^ it ^ m(S.),

go

a
44

curious or embarrassing state of affairs

-^

Well,

/ am

blessed (to

be

sure),

here's

a go

(the position is

em-

barrassing).
"I,

il 3l m @.
(said of

Reade.
is

No

go

what

unworkable or
3&^

^impossible)

failure,

;^

^ ^; M ^

*>

^ H ?i

^T,

^ ^f
no

P],

'What's a caveat?' inquired Sam.

f^HP^ B, 1?JLt^ri*M'ii>
'

legal instrument,

which is as much

as to say it's

go,' replied

the cobbler. (A legal instrument, or in other words, something whicb does nothing, and with which nothing can be done).

^ il *

;^c tl g- 5P tl ff)-

fi'

jifc

m^ s # fi fr 2. fi , B >t
(I

j!t

n,

1 *

Dickens.

Of course under the circumstances no go for the fifteen thousand. Truly yours, Arthur.

m^&mmm~M%=^:t.m.,mmm m--n ^ ig t
I'he Mistletoe

cannot give you>

Bough,

1885.

To go

a-begging see
for

Begging,

^ fj Begging.
apply one's
self
(at-

To go in
to (c),

to give one's attention to,

'BM; m-%,

^ '^, M ij m n, M m m)-

Skating was an accomplishment he had never gone in for tempted to acquire). Jf* K,^=SS?!S3WS3- Blaekvmd's Magazine, 1887.

GO
All the

[145]
fashionable
iS.),

go popular,

M '^'^ ^> ^

live at

Folks ain't thought nothin' o/ (are held of no account), unless they Treemont it's all the go (that place is very fashionable).

;S

Am M,^ nmn m ^ A &.

f^
Bjp

!i> m.i!i^

m &mm,mm &
Raliburton.

Jfc

To go

bail for another

to

become

legal security for

trial (P.),

an
"f^

accused person's appearance at his The world has not gone bail for not the ruin of others.

Ms i^;

us,

and our

falling short involves

A-

C. Lever.

To go hard with
to

one

^to

prove a troublesome matter

ill

him, said where any one fares

or has bad luck,

He jumped up with a great exclamation, which the particular recording angel who heard it pretended not to understand or it might have gone hard with (proved a serious matter for) the Latin tutor some time or other.
t JS ia
ifij

^ nf
to

IJ

ti?

^ # f^

>iC r^,

S fj

Jib

jK ti

To go home
{%)

to appeal directly to (P.), Ig

^;

ter with her to express her ideas,

Mrs. Wallace spoke very slowly, because it was not an easy matand with a certain gentle earnest-

ness that went home (appealed directly) to the

least as

young

girl's heart, at

much

as the logic of her

argument.
-k

^ W: m A It A a ;t ^ tg IS K
^m'i&.m%^, ^
fiS

'}>

-a.

>^->

m,^ mil yc-mn^ -^mtk

Jam^s Payn.

'C>

Go-to-meeting (air or clothes)

on when they go
H&.

such

as people have

to church, respectable (F.),

iin ffi

l!

#
ife

;2:

:& BR, BP

f^

^ ^ II gl 0f 1 ;^ ^ (S)(best) clothes on, a

^ 9&;

f^

Catch him with his go-to-meetin'

rubbin' cmin

(against) their nasty greasy axles, like a tarry nigger-

m*
aC
*fi

aa

;t.

Bf,

*E .

* ?f JK ^ $ M M ^ Jt ^,

?4 ^.

H l ^it.

fiS ;i in Haliburton.

Tom (was)

equipped in his go-to-meeting roof (respectable hat) as

his friend called

mm m^,

'^^

-X

Am

llf

f^

ft'^

-it.m-

Hughes.

[146]

^Q
To go with the stream
cio(p.),
^^to

do as people around on&

Ma^^;^flnB,

n^^m mm^
to go with the stream,

And
and
to

then it is so much easier in everything do what you are expected to do.

To go without saying
be an evident
fact, or

to be

an understood thing,
(P.),

to

natural conclusion

"e-tliJ

Imagine all this, and you will have some idea of the shackles with which the literary class in Japan have shackled their countrymen. It goes without saying (the conclusion is inevitable) that, under
such circumstances, a lively natural style

B ir
@
7C

m n & - -^ mm, m
fi-

^ ti
JTB lii

^ -x m-m,

it,

in jt

mm-,

B mi^ MM^ m A, ^A^MHii,my(^i&^i^mm,M

Japan Mail, 1887.
false,

is

impossible.

# &
(is,

That such accusations were not only utterly

neath contempt, goes without saying

but were be-

of course, understood).

M% ^-

Ml

the

Year Round, 1887.

To go back on
"Why,

to

be unfaithful

to, to fail to
:fe

keep;

es-

pecially of promises (C),

^ #; ^ W,

^ (M)-

don't you know, ioss (master)? They said they'd take me instead of you and they won't go back on their word (break their promise)."

:^

H-

Temple Bar, 1886.

To go

for a

manto attack him (S.),

rail against

SSl

S;

^^
I

(ffi)-

he began to (attacked) him.

When

American

institutions,

went

for

To go by the board to be lost (C.) A nautical phrase, now in ordinarj' use, ^^^ :^ ^,, M, ^ tS:, H

thing went by the board

During that long sickness, my wardrobe and jewelry and every(I had to give up my wardrobe, and jewelry,.

and everything).

^^

JK ?R,

^ US * 1-

fis 2fc

- 4&, -t a as g M, 3i i^ a HI-ej

GO
Her
by the board.
IS

147]
went

rattling shrouds, all slieathed in ice, with the masts,

AS

tp

Longfellow.

To go

oflF to happen, take place (P.), ^y; iS, j1

(happened)

%,

fe

The wedding went

ojf

much

as such affairs do.

A gone
Too

case-

paired of

(F.),

something hopeless, a person who desi^S;2:^;li^#Si;^A,M^

is

m m (m )
far gone"

in a hopeless, or desperate condition (C),

often applied to a

To use phrase not

young lady she was

'

'too

far

g'one (hopelessly in love)."

1#i**3l, :^nTC^^.

James Payn.

To give one the go-by

knowledge him
(F.),

to

neglect him, refuse to ac-

B'^;MMl^^,MZi'a^ (S).
(P.),

To go out
I think I

to

be discontinued, to cease

'^ Jh;

must

tell
is

game

of

back-sword
f*

you, as shortly as I can, how the noble old played; for it is sadly gone out of late.

^
&?*,

-fi-

w ^ij'^ = M, ^w^m^,^>M-m.&.imtkm
Hvghes.
,

EliHist^^^all

.>

To go

lengths

to
-

hesitate at

no

act (P.),

M 0f ^

He is ready to go all lengths (risk everything) in his advocacy of the Temperance question.

To go
To go
(P.),

to the

to the wall
bad

see
to

Bad,

^ -^ Bad.
who cannot
serve that interest.

be discomfited, to have to retire

mi^;

mm-^r^Mlj^^' (X).
to the wall

Everybody must go

)mMim.im,ye^m^ ^n^^,s^i:!f^i$:fim&-^
North American Review, 1887.

To go out

of one's

way to

trouble one's

self,

discomil
?fc5

pose one's self (C),

Jpf

^ >&; S ^ ^ ^>

[148]

GOO
"My dear, I am serry you did not smell it, but we can't help that now," returned my master without putting himself in a passion, or going out of his way (showing signs of discomposure) but just fair and
,

easy helped himself to another glass.

-S }i .
To go further and
and

M. Edgeworth.

fare worse^to take extra trouble

find one's self in a worse position than before (C),

Well, upon

my

word, I don't blame you; you might have gone

further and fared worse.

H. R. Haggard.

Golden

The Golden state California The golden rule

(P.),

^^^
#,

jpij

# Jg
A

Do
'

unto others as you would liave

others do unto you'

.(P.),

& ji; ^ ^ 5

/L f^

boy, have you not learned the golden rule? In all huactions look for the basest motive, and attribute that. (This is said in satirethe real golden rule is as above).

My Dear

man

6 S *:, US *; rj ^ ?^ 5 # y, m ;& A ^. - ^ Sj, SI a 'h A . m, Mm J- *, "sn!t(j4 :& la ic ;t ^, * K t f. :* IS a ^M 3i # ^)JBesarU.

B)f

-tg

STr

Good

For goodaltogether, completely

"You
I said.

(C),

^fj^; ^,^^, ^,

are

gomg away Jbr good

#.
if

(never to return) Mrs. Fortress?"

:tc

IS ra B,

JiiS

J5

^ A. a :M ^

SI 8K.

"Yes,

sir," she answered,

"for good."
English Illustrated Magazine, 1886.

'W'WQi^iMMt^yi^M^-

For good andall finally,

iiever to be reversed (C),

i?l-

When they were made sensible (understood) that Sir Condy was going to leave Castle Rack-rent /or good and all (never to return) they set up nwhillalu (shout) that could be heard to the farthest end of
the street.

^M

^ p m ^ ^ ^'^ G.m'^ ^ M m mm , n * if IS gs a M 2. ^, ^
fif

& ^ x-i^m,^
^
.

r4i *:-

^f Edgeworth.

'

GOO
Good
for

[149]
or willmg to pay the

any sum

^able

sum

(F.),

tidy little lunch they had, just the

One 'day a gentleman and lady came same

I!y-and-by I bring in the
bill,

into lunch.

nice, quiet,

as in a good house of their

they are good

own.
for

and wonder what

(how much extra money they n ^^ i

will give me).

- ^$Si

- Mm AM &'i^m- ^m m^ik,^
All the Year Round.

a^ *&

'>

i|i

^ ^.
I,

To the goodon
"Well," say wreck?" "No,"
good."

the profit side '(C),

MM; M M iU)

says he,

"are you done up stock and fluke a total "I have two hundredipounds left to the

HaHburtca.

When I'm

dead and gone the land

will

be to the good, Thady,

my

lad.

mn.,^^h^/^^n^v^,^mz-Mn^Good gracious!
"Twenty
#. $:m,
years!

m. Edgewonh.
(F.),

an
Good

exclamation of astonishment

gracious, papa, I shall be six-and-thirty,

so frightfully old to talk about anything!

"

- + ?!?, tT
little

If

S + p^a,B^^,*SM5.
my
dear,

Papa looked a
good gracious;
Jt

grave.

"Oblige me,

by not saying

it is

very unladylike."

^9:m^:^^'&, B,mi^mm,mw

^w^^,&^M
Argosy, 1886.

AM

it -a-

2/ie

A good

Samaritan
to

see

Samaritan,

^^

Samaritan.
^i

Good morning

anything

farewell

to it(F.),

^;

When anything's upon my heart, good morning to my head it's not worth a "lemon. (The speaker means; to say that his head or judgment takes its departure when his heart or feelings are interested).
M. Edgeworth.

As good as one's word M ?t ^; fi ^ 1^. a ^

.'.K>

performing one's promises (P.),

(S:)"
as

It

was evident
?i3

to her that

Frank MuUer would be

good as his

word.
fill

^ m SI m. W

ifii

;t 11.

H.R.

Haggard.

[150]

GOO
The goose that lays the golden eggs the
one's wealtli or most cherished possessions

source of

(P.),

St

W"',

This affectionate anxiety was partly diie to a certain apprehension the old gentleman experienced when the goose that laid the golden eggs for him was out of sight.

\^

;t-

;t

ifi\

4^

:^ 5a

151

mi&^income or

James Payn.
,

To
^

kill the goose that laid the

golden eggs to
profit (P.)

de-

stroy the source of one's

phrase

taken from one of Esop's fables, f^ #-

MM; W if ^

Brian had only known how immensely he had risen in her reby the not very extraordinary display of talent and ability which he had just made, he would doubtless have hastened to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs by playing classical compositions until he wearied her.
If

spect

t!t
ifii

^ ^

^jf

fiij

af as is ?i SB St,

'f&

?^ iS

K^

rL

a:

ffi

* It M

B.

Good Words,

1887.

To cook
A

a person's goose for

him to
pom

cause his death

month

of

Saigon will soon cooh

Jean's goose for Aim

(kill

poor Jean).

It's

a gone goose with any one

for

him

(S.), ift

S;

IS pf in

M.

there no more hope * ^ ^ n? A

is
:5b
i5I=
;

astern (failed to

Well, he took the contract for beef with the troops and he fell make it profitable), so I guess it's a gone goose with

him.
IK

* ^ 1^ * S
them or

iiS

B.

Halihiinon.

Gooseberry

To play up

old gooseberry with

people to

defeat

silence

them sharply

(S.),

M^] %M,^'M

He began

Mm

to put on (snubbed him).

iff

airs,

but I soon played up old gooseberry wWi

EP

to !

^ It f^ ^, m

Se:

m K iO

ii -K

:?-

GRA To play gooseberry to

[151]
act as a third person for the

sake of propriety, to appear with two lovers in public-

^A^m,mm^mm:tm^) m.
There was Helena out of her chair standing by a gentleman * *, while I was reduced to that position which is vulgarly but expressively known as "playing gooseberry."
;i it -a,

&

ife

as

ffi.

BB

K ;t S 35 -a.

'The

Mistletoe

Bough, 188S.

Gordian
Grace

To cut the Gordian-knot see Cut, J, ^\ To say grace to ask the divine blessing mencing a meal (P.), WL'WiMlm {%)
Mr. Pickwick, having said grace, pauses round him.
for

Cut.
before com-

an instant and
fcl,

looks,

a H:

3fe

&*^

;.

if l

*,

3i

m ft IS

:ife

*S-

Dickens.

To get into a person's good graces to gain his favour or friendship (P.), # ^ 8^ i^ ,S ^, ?fa S (X).
;

"With a good grace

n m ^ m^

gracefully, graciously
^^
^

(P.),

^ ^;

What might have been done with a good grace would at last be done with a bad grace. Macaulay. . :#, *& ji af :^ 'IS #.

"With a bad grace

ungraciously,
(P.),
;

so as to leave

an un-

pleasant impression

^ S ^ ^ M S (^)'

The throne
God's
is to
'

seat,

of grace a figurative expression, meaning heaven. To come to the throne of grace

'

pray

(P.),

M Jl (^)
S;

(Jft

75 1^

Jt

?&

:&

M 0r,
bias-

Grain

Against the grain

unpleasant,
:=P 'ft

contrary to one's

or inclination (P.), ^p

M {X)

I am deficient in the auri sacra fames the passion for dying a I had rather millionaire that possesses so many excellent people. have a little, and do what I like, than acquire a great deal by working against the grain (doing work which is unpleasant).

^nk ^mA,^m^'SM,mm7immm,mwi
^^
-Bl.

James Payn.

[152]

QUA
'With a grain of salt
They
of salt.

with some reservation

men might

(P.),

:^

tib

fear lest siospicioTis

take the story with a grain

^2Sl'^^A,J5l^gf^^,5P^ffi^Grass

B.-B.Haggard.

Grass widowi a lady whose husband is temporarily absent. An Eaatem term, especially used in India (P.),

Whether grass-widows or betrothed maidens, they

to

all

appeared

be

fully

engaged with their own

iif

affairs (at

the Ihotel in Point de

Galle, Ceylon).

S f^

SS

Jir,

^E

tt=

^ S.

]fe

dF,

ffi(

? - #, i^

tt:f tIT.

A grass

widow .finds

herself in need of iconsolation for the cruel

absence of her liege lord.

^i&m, H
Oravelled

K^E

ifi'

iJj.

^^

Br*f JK i m. The Mistletoe Bough, 1885.

(S.),

Gravelled^in a
Brooke,
answer.)
it

strait,

unable to answer

^ ^D 0f
how to
Hughes.

must be confessed,
Jlfc

felt

rather gravelled (puzzled

^ Ji 5 ? IS 1 fi,
<6ray

KiJ

:^ tg

^ P # &.
the. dawn (P.), jR

The gray

of the

morning

;^ M, fe
This term

The gray
is

(or

grey)

mare
is

a man's

wifei(C.)

generally used with the implication that the

inferior to his wife,

man

in

the particular case

M^mm,mm^m m) (m75mmmm,H.^A
The vulgar proverb, that the grey mare
of
is

MJia ^^

the better horse, origi-

nates, I suspect, in the preference generally given to the grey-mares

Flanders over the finest coach-horses of England.

$,i,J,?f:2S5.^ia@.

Sff

m. -a

ft

H&

-in.

Macaulay.

It was also quite clear to those who thought about things, and watched this little lady, that there may be meaning in certain pro-

verbial expressions touching .gray mares.

m^ #
if

]fe

Jl

M IS

fl@

SI .1 ,

E,

A, IM X ^ K * M >& .a

iC< jifc

# '>ii Km,^%l
Bi'sam.

B,

fl?

^.

GRE
Grrease

[153]

To grease the palm

of purpose of corrupting

to
(F.),

bribe,

use

money

for the

^7

Bl

Wi

M,

M m, M ^

Grecian

The Grecian bendan

backbone, ago (C),

elegant stoop or curving of the

much

affected

by

ladies about; twenty years

;ffi

=t (J&

+^

Hij

H^

^^^ 1^a^ fih

Oreek

The Greek Calends a future time which will never arrive (P.)

The Calends occurred

at the

beginning of the

month

With the Latin system of reckoning time; hence

the term Calendar

ta;ble

day of each month

fell.

announcing when the first The Greeks had no Calends^

m> mn^MM^, mn ^ mm ^ ^ iem &)

The London Schottl-Board have since executed a strategical move ment to tlae rear, suspending the obnoxious notice for a month, which
is

the English equivalent for the Greelc Calends.

W,

Ji!>

# vE

i'>

iK IR

M Bf

ffi'-

Journal of Education, 1S87.

When' Greek meets Greek then comes the tug of war when one strong champion meets another of equal prowess, the fight is a keen one (C), ;K ^ i5( ^,

Green

The green-eyed monster jealousy

(P.),

^^-.iM iP,
it

mmMt^,iMm,mm(x)Cherry was green with jealousy, but tried

testations of admiration.
to hide

under pro-^

^ fS S ^ Sp

.&..

# f^ ^ il. # m S
(S.),

Mistletoe

Sough, 1885.

To see green

in another's eye

to

consider

him

simple, gullable fellow

^ ||;
I,

i| :^

fL

M.,

M^

"Now,

soidier-boy," said
see green in

"Do

you

my

eye?"

[154]

GRI
The wearing of the green
colour.

Green

is

the Irish national

To wear

it

shows patriotic or rebel sympathies,

^^

m m n , ^, u :tm,
They
are hanging
)lf

M^ m.m:tii:!>,^^ A
for, the

men and women

BS^a,
To come

ll*F^S:#aif.

wearing of the green. Popular Song.

to grief

see Come, ^
it

hu

Come.

To grin and bear

to suffer

anything painful in a
(F.), iS-

manly way, without complaint

She thought that he might at
her sake.

M^M'M; 'M^
and bear
it' for

least try to 'grin

To grind the

face

ofto
of

oppress, tyrannize over (P.),

The agent was one

poor.

your middlemen, who grind the face of the

M. Edgeworth.

Hard grinder a

hard-working student

(S.),

j^.

n;^mm&.mmzAmTo grind one's teeth have appointment or rage B ^l M^ -^ M,MM ^

to

$lj

feelings of disgust, dis-

(C),

Everything annoyed and angered me that day. I ground my (was intensely irritated) at the luncheon table, which would have feasted half a dozen families.
teeth

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.

At

grips with

struggling hard against (C),

itk)-

i] ^^]

^ M. ^ 15 ^ ^

M
aa

(Tom) was daily growing in manfulness and thoughtfulness,

every high-couraged and well-principled boy must, when he finds himself for the first time consciously at grips with self and the devil.

^m%$^fk-^'m'^-n9t.^,JS-mm

" is-

Hughes.

GRU
Grist

[155]

To bring
to

grist to the mill

be a source of profit(C.),

procure needful supplies, M i^'H -Z^MMU M ^,

to
into the

sly old

mill of (constitute a source of

Pope created twenty new saints to bring grist income for) the London clergy.

^MUGrog
Grog blossoms
(F.),

Bishop Horslerj.

the

red pimples on a drunkard's nose

fiflJ*;I:*,ffi)t(S)
to

Ground

To break ground
to

commence digging
first

operations;
step in any-

commence

operations, to take the

(P.),

undertaking
5

m - ^ (^)To gain ground to advance, make progress

The movement
land.
in favour of cremation
is

^;mM,^B,By<.'^,uM
(P.),

^^

gaining ground in Eng-

To

lose

ground

to retreat, give

way, become

less

pow-

erful (P.),

m;m^,m0,^^,^^i^')to

But on the whole I am unable nation have lost ground with respect
ling the public charge.

deny that the

state

and the

to the great business of control-

^m, &m^yf^^^-^^^To have the ground cut from under

see

Gladstone.

one's feet

to

what one

relies

on

for support suddenly

withdrawn

His was not a practical mind, and it was sure to take him some time to realize what it means to have the ground cut from under your
feet.

S
Grul)

BJ^

:P&

tg

?!I

W-

Good Words,

1887.

Grub-food

(S.),

Wk;M,'k m my
at a salary
of

She (the elephant) joined the Adelphi company 40 a week and her grub.

Eeade.

[156]
Grub-street

GUA

the
'

name
poor,

of a low quarter in

habited formerly by poor authors.

street signifies

London inAs a noun Grubas:

mean

authors;

'

an adjective

mean, poor, low.

The

street is

now

called Milton Street

Johnson came among them the solitary specimen of a past age, the last survivor of the gennine race of Grub Street hacks.
Jlfc

K M ^ H # ^ Grub and bub viestuals

-tfi.-

Macaulay.

and drink
-

(S.),

fk'k;

tfc

^ '^

Gruel

To give a person
ly, to kill

his gruel

-to

punish a person severe-

him

(S.),

^
neighbours, the scandal-loving
(C.)

He

gave the turbulent rascal his gruel.

Grundy

Mrs.

Grundy jealous

portion of the

community
the

The nanle comes from

Plough (1798), where one of the characters, Mrs. Ashfield, is always exclaiming 'What
Morton's novel Speed
will Mrs.

Grundy say ? Mrs. Grundy was her neighbour,

'

a,

1 ^ ^. ^ S A -&)

"These awful rules of propriety, and- that dreadful Mrs. Grundy (the thought of what one's neighbours will say), appear on the scene, and of course spoil everything."
15,
ifS

^SH

lie-

Blackwood's Magazine, 1887.

Guard

To be on

one's
(P.),

guard to
)&
,f.

be watchful and prepared for

'

an attack
l

m ^ E. Kf
He
is

^ It ^^ 5 j6, ^ 5S, it S St ^ J^ (^);

'

alwaiys
)fi

on

hia:

guard.

m B# a# if

i ^.

HAI
To put a man on
careful (P.),
to

[157]

warn him, make his guard W ^; fS M, -K ;t ^h i& W-

him

It was in such an outburst of rage that he had assaulted John in the innyard of Wakkerstrom, and thereby put him on his guard against him.

i, If

^ ig

'C

BS

S. R. Haggard.
forgetful, in a careless state

Off one's guard heedless,

Isaac caught both faces oflf their guard, and read the a Hghtning flash to the bottom line of their hearts.

men

as

by

Gun

great

guna noted

personage (C),

i^A-^^lM^,
Peel,

Time flew on and the great guns one by one returned Graham, Goulbourn, Hardinge, Herries.

S S tS. H IS

ff#

^S

*-

Beaconsfield.

To blow great guns heavy gale (P.), M.;

to

be very stormy, to blow a

^ 9 M., iHi M. (%)

At last it blew great guns J and one night, as the sun went down crimson in the gulf of Florida, the sea running mountains high, 1 saw Captain Sebor himself was fidgety.

Gutter

nmf^y^M, /h ^li. /h ^M s (X)We could never have supposed one of our blood would commit the crime of marrying a plebeian and for love!"
'

Out of the gutter of low

'

origin (P.),

]ii^mM;1^&

ffl

fi

^ ^ li ^ &
girls out

"Then why do you marry your sons to born girls)?" was aometimea the rejoinder.

of the gutter (low-

IK

^ M 0,

KiJ

M J^

18

? * Jf i^ /> ^ ^

S-

National Review, 1887.

H.
Hack
Hair

Hack

(or

^^

heck) and manger Rack and Manger.

see

Each and Manger,

To a hairto an

extreme nicety

(P.), |R|

fal

S M; ^ H

[158]
"Oh!
If,,

HAL
that's her nose to a hair ,-^that''S her eye exactly."
fti.il
-B-

&.%M-^, 1t# ti #. JHj S B

M.

Ealiburton.

To

split bairs

to

dispute over petty points (P.)

hair-splitter is a caviller,

^ '^ ^; f^M^^'^Wt^

Both of a hair both

alike (F.),

jB:

- #c; *B M, *i
(P.),

Hair standing on end

This

is

a sign of terror

To take a hair

of the dog that hit you This w^s at one time supposed to be a cure for hydrophobia. The expression is commonly used now when a man, after

heavy drinking,
or other liquor,

is

advised to take a

little

more brandy

^m^:^wmmitzm.^mmvffkmmmm
Half
Half seas over
drink
(F.),

mW B MM; B^^m, ^ M it um^.mmm:Jt-'^Bni^mmit^:tm,

in a semi-drunken confused with ^m;^m,^M^mm.,mm,W:^
state,

But Jason put it back as he was going to fill again, saying: "No, Condy, it sha'n't be said of me Igot.your signature to this deed when you were half seas over."
Sir

m e ^ Hu s M ji 9hM mmmT, B,wm m iiim,'^ Ammi^mm^i& &^m^m,n j* * p bj -a.

s:
'if

if.

Edgeworth

bad halfpenny
of
it

something

which

is

supposed

to

return to the owner, however often he tries to get quit

(C),

^?^.m^^;n^m^mm^,m^
first

It

as

but yet returned, like the bad half-penny. m i * si m, B :^ It - - *, m&. * m n.mT'J N. Hawthorne. * &. S 3R. BP M il ^ m
it

was not the

time, nor the second, that I

had gone away

:?c

seemed,- permanently

iiifv

la

ffi ;?:

Half the battle^no small

come
(c),

part of .the difficulty overjqk

Mm^^;nm^mm m, ss ^

?&

HAN
To provide warmth is half
recovery).
the battle (will

[159]

the patient with a good bed, fresh air and suitable do as much as all things else for his

Halloo

Don't halloo till you're of the wood be careful about showing premature signs of exultation (C.) A favourite
saying of the

Duke

of Wellington,

^M^':i:M

M'y

Halting

The halting

foot of justice^an expression borrowed from Latin literature, signifying the slow but sure punishment which follows wrong-doers (P.), 5^ IM 'He

Justice, though with halting foot, had been on his track, and his old crime of Egyptian days found him out at last.

myf^m,mmBummM^.
Hammer
To go
it
lessly, to

Times, issr.

hammer and tongsto act violently and reckthrow

all one's energies into

anything (C),

^ii
parties

m)rules of a fair fight were utterly disregarded

it

The ancient
went at
with anything.
PT ^

hammer and

tongs,

and

hit

both one another anywhere

;

M 1^ , :^ S- M S m :*, 1: ^ ^. To bring to the hammer to sell by

-a-

a^fflP^-fi-H, iES:^^g:t:^)IR. fflp*s#e^.

James Payn.

auction

(P.), tfi

mmAll

Diggs' Penates (household

f
:i:.

effects) for

the time bsing were

brought to the hammer.

153
!!!^

Hand

^ ^ # tf fr tt SIn hand(a) under control (P.),

Hwjhes.

^ T;

ffi

ft

S ;^

"t*.

^ @ . T m^
The other was laughed at behind his back, and outwitted by the young- man he thought he had so weU in hand (completely under
control).

[160]
(b)

HAN
in present possession, ready for use (P.), Jg
;^";
' '

You

are in the fortunate position of having a competence of

your own, I conclude."

"Well, yes; that is, I come into land and also in hand."

it

on

my majority,

something in

Besant.

To keep

in hand

to direct or

manage
at

(P.),

^h

^;

^
tell

As keeping in hand the home-farm what every field was to bear next year.
fBJ

Domwell, he had to

!^-

/. Austen.

To take in hand
.to.

to

pay attention
-g

to,

devote one's self

15:

To undertake

(P.),

B;

^ S,

M,

M # M,

stars,

Seeing her thus taken in hand (shown attention to) by these great the lesser lights soon gathered round her.

Fail not to take the matter in

hand

at once.

At hand near,
of place,

close to

one

(P.)

Used both
ft Jl,

of time

and
(!^

S;

^ M,

Ifi

^,

ffi B|3,

Tf;

B (X)

Mr. Woodhouse was to be talked into an acquiescence of his daughter's going out to dinner on a day now near at hand (soon to
arrive).

J- Austen.

At

first

hand

cess (P.),

without any intermediate pro^m;^m^^,yfmm^ ix).

directly,
;

Could we not have a School for Great Men, just as they used to have a School of Prophets ? * * *. They would be taught to speak they would be taught to study mankind at first hand and not by reports they would be taught to write, to reason, to investigate above all, they would be taught that remarkable history, the history of
:

Progress.

HAN
will

[161]
rather

Oh, indeed, I should have me.

much

come here

at first

hand

if

you

mm^%,mmm^iii,mik^mAt second hand

J- Austen.

not

directly,

through an intermediary

He kept up just so much communication with them as to inform them, at second hand or at third hand, which measures to impede,
and
if

possible to defeat.

-lai

ft

H 5$ J&.

Trevelyan.
(a) directly,

Out of hand

at once (P.), BP |lj; j^ BP>

Gather we our forces out of hand, and set upon our boasting enemy.
Sliakspeare,

a tone of jocose, whesdling expostulation, entreated him to have the carriage finished out of hand .(forthwith).
Sir Terence, in

SMlIt
[h)

a rt ^, a

-tf

it

JBi,

IS

K S a
S,

SI?

,S

m ^ I.
T *.

M. Edgeworih.

ended, finished

(P.),

^ ^, ^ ,

Were

We

these inward wars once out of hand (over), would, dear lords, unto the Holy Land.

ft#iD^*:, a^ifeSJC^^ff. Shakspeare. Hand over handat a rapid rate (C), f^M; ^ $,
He made money hand
ftfe

over hand.

?!l

i jf-

HalibuHon.
(P.),

An

old

hand

an experienced person

^ ^;^4 ^
make
light

Thomas was
of anything.

too old a hand (prudent a personage) to

^mmm^,^-t!ii>Sm^'S:,:^-^mf&mt..
Mr. Gladstone described himself
hand.'
lately as

maekmore.
old Parliamentary

an

'

A great hand at
very prone to
it

anything
(C),
at

S^

very well skilled in :^ ^ , ^ ^, # M (M).

it,
liar).

He

is

a,

great

hand

a flam (an inveterate

ffi 15^

K iE ^ ^-

HalibuHon.

[163]

HAN With a high hand arrogantly,

We have
now with a much

imperiously (P.)

no time now for such trumpery we must carry things higher hand (more imperiously).
;

^^To get
&.
It

Blackmore.

or

gain the upper hand me that the

to obtain the

mastery

seems to

old Tory influence has gained the upper

J.

hand.

mm^'S'mZ^:f3,'^ihmB.

Chamberlain,
|b1

if.

P.
t5t

Hand

over head

leisurely, easily (P.),

BS;

jSM,

He set his magnificent main-sail and foresail and main-jib, and came up with the ship hand over head, the moderate breeze giving him an advantage.

From hand
for the

to mouth without making any provision morrow, consuming every day what is earned

M 5 {%)
No winter passes without reports of bitter distress in Korea. The general mass of the inhabitants live from hand to mouth, and can barely support themselves at the best of times.

'l.%-km, m.'A'^^,:^=&mt^^^m'&-

Japan Man,

me.

To

fight for one's

own hand see

Olove,

Fight,

^ ^ Fight.

Hand and glove see

To lend a handto

hi]

Glove.

help (C),

^^
(F.),

ViA%:

To bear a hand

to

be quick

T^;

"Stop, stop, daddy," said a little half-naked imp of a boy, "stop my-cock-ahy." "Well, bear a hand then," said he, "or he'll be off; I won't wait a minute." li sm, II ;t 0, i^ pi^lS i|&^, 5cia, 0, It
till

I get

m^

-K^K

HAN To lay hands on

Lay hands on the
1
IS
ffi

to seize, lay

hold of

(P.),

iMM>.

villain.

^.

Shakspeare.

Hand in hand with

*. *B
ft.

the hands joined, close together,

(P.),
Ifil

linked in friendly fashion

@ *B c,

ISl

i6

M^'.^^^^M,^ ^ iXy
Burns.

But hand in hand

we'll go.

^^m^UnTo shake hands with (P.),&^:j^(3t).

who have

to salute

by grasping the hand

(The monarch is) forced to shake hands with the very politicians just brought before the house the abolition of the royal

prerogative.

^ m ^ S ^ SIHandle

Ouida.

To give a handle

to

to supply with an

occasion (P.),

The defence of Vatinius gave a plausible handle (furnished a fair opportunity) for some censure upon Cicero.
Melmoth.

To handle without mittens

vigorously (P.),
:=P

or gloves

to treat with;

out any superfluous politeness or gentleness

to attack

^>
jlt

ffi

it

U ^ m%^%\^ ^ ^^^.m, ^ S (^.

it is

He

declares that

time for the good and true

men

to handle

the impostors without gloves.

igi

g ^,
Our

BJf

&.

N. American Review,
title,
;

1887.

A handle to one's namea

friend

H ^Wto his

the Mayor

has>

now a handle
-ta

name

^he is Sir

Charles Withycomb. ^, 4ife

Sw

# ^ in ,

:;i

if

^^^w

ill

tt

Handsome

To do the handsome thing by another person to behave liberally towards him (P.), it t|E ^H S5 ^ M,
;

m # (%)
She hoped
it

the handsome thing by

would be a^match, and that his nephew.

his lordship

would do

WM&m^'^^.Xmmm^^ Mi* if tB

Sa.

Fielding.

[164]

HAN
The handwriting on the wall
the announcement of an approaching catastrophe (P.) See the Bible, Book 31. At the feast of Belshazzar the of Daniel, V, 5 king of Babylon, there 'came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote, * * * And this is the writingthat was written, Mene, Mene, TeJcel, Peres. This is the interpretation of the thing. Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. * * * In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom.' ^fe; ^&, ^,

Handwriting

7ii

^ i; (^)

(iffc

Jfe

^M, ^ M # ^ Hi M M, *^ a it ft SI 3E fe

m B* OS. mmmm,mms&m:t:tm,^L'^mm

To hang

fire

to delay the

accomplishment, to come

to

no decisive

result (P.), t^

m;

MM, M ^, ^M, M
for four

:T>

-^ iX)plot, too,

The

sole evidence of Oates,

which had been supported began to hang fire.

months by the

mmm^^^.'^TiU^.
To hang out to
I say, old boy,

Green.
(S.),

lodge, live

E M;^ M,UM,
Dickens.

where do you hang out

:^

S,

1!P

* M ^ *

To hang

in chains

to

suspend a criminal's body in an

(P.),

iron frame, as a public spectacle

m,mt&m ix)They hanged him in chains 1^ )lf tS Elli ^ ^for a

^ |

:^

^,

show.
Tennyson.

HAR
To get the hang
meaning,
drift,

[165]

of a thing

to understand the general

;

or principle of anything (F.), PB fi

To hang hy a thread

to

be in a very precarious posi-

tion or condition (P.),

=f^ M;^*Sitn^,

^
^

The emperor's

life

hangs by a thread.

Hank

Hank

for

hank

on

equal terms

(0.),

M ^^

iiS>

If Tve become partners, it must be a hank for hank arrangement (an arrangement where we shall have equal profits).

Happy

Happy-go-lucky improvident,

heedless (C),

M^',M

In the happy-go-lucky way

1^

of his class.

^ - SK, S JK ?C ^,

IS

*S-

C. Beade.

The happy despatch

suicide (C),

H M; S

it,

It was to provide Lord Harry Brentwood with a seat (in parliament) that I was to commit this act of happy despatch (political
suicide).

JS#'5'?f^WS3*^-

Mistletoe

Sough, 1886.

Hard

Hard and
(P.),

fast

strict,

that

must not be swerved from

m m;, mm,m-M,^'i%mm^m m. To go hard with one see Qo, ^ ^ Go. It shall go hard hut I will or if I do not I shall most surely ^, jgM?, /p ^; ^ (X)(P.), iJJ
if

i^'

^1

go hard tainly go with her).

It shall
Bfl

Cambio go without

her,

(Cambio

shall cer-

jf>

^ ^ frimmediate

Shakspeare.

Hard hy

in the

vicinity, close to (P.),

|fi yS.>

The news next obtained

several persons

of the elephant

was that he had

Jft,
Jffi

killed

hard by.

^ m ^#

fl

^ m ;t ?t E,

iHtH

* iJ

ffi

W #J

A.

Chambers's Journal, 1887.

[166]

HAS
Hard
(c),

lines

harsh

treatment,

unfortunate conditions

%\]m;m w,

mm, mm m).
o. Eliot.

That was hatd lines for me, after I had given up everything for the sake of getting you an education which was to be a fortune to you.

fEMisi,'^^&,simm^^Hard up having httle money

to

pay one's debts, in

money
Every

difficulties (C),

Jgjg

^ It, ^ H f^, ^ n,

man

in

England who was hard up, or hadla hard-up friend,

in loan, with or without security.

wrote to him for

i%,
-g-

money
:ff

Inl

Fa&
as a

Sesant.

Hare

As mad
"Oh,"

March hare

crazy,
is

insane

(P.),

3S

Mr

said the admiral,

"then he

mad?"
him
in irons

will

"As a March hare, sir. And I'm make him worse. It is a case for a

afraid putting

lunatic asylum."

A ^ a* a.
Harness

C-

Seade.

To

die in harness

to continue at one's occupation until

life

one's d6ath, to refuse to retire from active

(C), j^

m (M)'
Nevertheless
it

was

his (Lord Shaftesbury's) constant prayer that

he might "die
activity.
'a>

in harness," and his last years were full of unceasing

i&

mm ^ & ^ m nm ^, m M i^ m i^ mw-, Hour, B, %M S* * IS a. *& *5

'^
;?:

1.

Leisure

j^ 1887.

m^
on

Harp

To harp on the same

string

the same subject (C),

m
ll^

M ^M ^, B W. ^^ M, ^A M

to continue speaking

CM)-

happens,

His mind, she thought, was certainly wandering, and, as often it .continued to harp on the same string.

^1

^ tt iD

Jlfc-

James Payn.

Hash

To

settle a man's hash for schemes, to ruin him'(S.),

overthrow his ^^m, Wi^^M'Mi

him
to

HAU
At Liverpool she
have
settled his

[167]
him but
Klliot

(the elephant) laid hold of Bernard,

hash for (killed)

and would came between them.

Reade.

m m ^ m m.
Hat
To hang up
at

one's hat in a house

to

make

one's self

home

in a house (F.)

Visitors usually carry their

hats in their hands

when making a

short \dsit

to

hang
(S)

up the

hat implies

special intimacy or a regular

invitation, 7f

m&^mw.M^ Wi^^,itmmm ^ ^, m m
To pass round the hatto
solicit

^ g; g S ia IS,Ji If A A ^

subscriptions (C),

W
M.

A had hat a
Hatches

good-for-nothing fellow,

^ ^ "^ K',

To be under hatches
poverty.

to be in a state of depression or

Old-fashioned,

||S;EP,ftK(l&^.^
till

He

assures us

how

this fatherhood continued its course,

th

captivity in Egypt,

and then poor fatherhood was under hatches.

Hatchet

To bury the hatchetto

friendly (C.)
;

cease

fighting,

to

become

phrase borrowed from a

Sic

Eed Indian

a ^, S" ^ m PP ;g ^ ^ To dig up the hatchet to renew

custom, ji Se Jfc :3e, 4^ (m) (ffi ;^ Ji

{g
^J

^,
ft

H ^ ^r
Jtb

;2:

It

ffi

^)-

hostilities (C),

To take up the hatchetto make war

(C),

m M;
(F.),

^
jg

To throw the hatchetto

tell

fabulous stories

Haul

To haul over the

coals

see Goal, M^

mli

Coal.

[168]

HAV To haul in with.

To haul
an
off

to sail close to the

wind in order

to

approach more closely to an object.

Nautical phrase,

to

sail close to

the wind, in order to avoid

object.

Nautical phrase,

^^; ^^, ^M,MM.

To haul round (of

the compass.

the wind) to shift to any point on

Nautical phrase,

M It 1^

IrI

W ^ M.,
Nautical

To haul the wind to

to that point

turn the head of the ship nearer

from which the wind blows.

S; :S M., ^ M-M m, ^ M^m M, M mtRmnnmrnm m.mz-:fy ^ mum)strike or hit him (C), To have at a person try
phrase, JM
to to

have-at-him

is

a stroke or thrust.

And therefore,
blow.
=i$

Peter, have at thee (I'll hit thee) with a down-right

ft ;i 1

^ #,

i:

^ JK ^ .

Shakspeare.
it

To have at a thing
Have
at (I'll begin) it

to

begin

or attempt

it

(C), M.

with you.
Shakspeare,

M pa ?
it

To have
some

out with a person

to

settle

up a disputed
(C),

point with a person, to challenge another because of

offence of

which he has been guilty

^Wt;

marched back to our rooms feeling savagely inclined to have it (demand from Forbes an explanation of) hia selfishness and lack of consideration.
I
out with Forbes for

S ^ # ft

tlft

A It-

Macmillan's Magazine, 1887.

To have a care to
Have a
care,

be cautious (C),

/]

i5; g,

^ ^ gj,

my

dear

sister.

K , S i*,

ii }*

If

HEA
To have nothing
(P.),

[169]
but

for it

mm mm; m mt{, mm
nothing for
it

to

have no alternative
]ii

ib ix)-

He had

hut to disperse his army.

He had like
n(X)-

to

have

he came near having

all fell

(P.),

^ M:

Wherever the Giant came,

like to have-

before

him but
;

the Dwarf had

been (was nearly) killed

more than once.

fltf,

^,

Hawk

# -^ * A ?K iJ, W >t # A S6 jK ^ BS ^ i^ A It ^ MS Goldsmith. B it * ^. To know a hawk from a hernshawto be clever,

Ik'

:?;

wide-awake (C), PJ :;

-f^

fil

^,

M*

(fi^)-

When the wind

handsaw).

is

southerly I

know a hawk from

a hernshaw (or
Shaispeare.

^ S- !*
Hawse
To come

tnj

^ 9f

iii fiP

S f&

in at the

hawse holes
(F.), 3/E

the lowest grade

to enter the

navy at
7jC

7jc RiP

/h

^;

^A

Hay

To make hay while the sun shines

to take every

advantage of a favourable opportunity

(P.),

^# ^
;

Head

To have a head on
of

one's shoulders
(P.),

to be possessed

judgment and

discretion

i.'M;

^ '^Wi (X)-

To be sure, her father had a head on his shoulders, and had sent her to school, contrary to the custom of the country.

To eat

his head oif(of a horse) to do little or no work, a; costing more in food than he is worth (C),

^^^

(It was my duty) to ride, sir, a very considerable distance, on mare who had been eating her head off (resting lazily in her stable).

a.

Wi^'i?,'%^&B.^a.it'^M,,mn^'U-

Blackmore.

To take

it

into one's

headto
head to

conceive a sudden no-

tion (F.),

^mmm;m ^, wj ^ CMy
it

Francis had taken

that evening.

into his

stroll

over to Whitestone's

[170]

HEA To turn one's head

give

to

make vain

or unreasonable (C),

Well, he fairly turned Ball's head; the more him up, the more she wouldn't.

we wanted her

to

5p ft.

Haliburton.

To put out
Emma
5t

of one's head

to forget, drive

away the
was

thought of (C),

B ft; B m, M m,M^'ft- M m)had meant

Ji

at last, in order to put the Martin's out of her head,

obliged to hurry on the news, which she much caution.

to give with so

^S

ffi

E3

^ * ft i^ T, if # af

a ?S -t # ii a ,
up a
British

Heads
coin.

or tails ^

cry used in tossing

The

face side

and the

reverse side of the coin

tails, a term In tossing the

are

known

respectively as heads, with reference to the

significance.

queen's bust stamped on that side, and as

which has no particular

coin for the decision of any matter, the person

tosses cries out 'heads or tails?
'

who

His companions replies with one or the other, and wins or loses accordingly,

S ^ ^ ^, ^ - fE ^ gl a ^ # #^, IB:2; jE
If you come out heads which he is about to toss),

(says Cripps, addressing

little

Ethy

shall go;

if

an old sixpence you come out tails

from)

I shall take
.this

it

for

a sign that we ought to turn

tail in (retreat

here job.

ffl5,

aij

F ^ a ^ *, ^ IS

til

Mij

a^

:5fc

^, Si

-ft.

ji E0 5i Blachmofe.

To make neither head nor

tail out of anything to be unable to understand or find meaning in any statement or event (c), j

Mn m;mmu%,^.m^
Mrs. Oliphant.

You
nor

tail of

did say some queer things, lua'am, and I couldn't what, you said.

make head

^ A, 5* ^ f^ gs ^ 5t IS. i^ ?* w f, s :^ ^ ^ If.

HEA [171] Over head and earscompletely (C), %^; M ^i^

Kit is over head and
ears (in love),

and she

will

be the same with

him afterthat

fine rescue.

Slackmore.

He

is

over head and ears in debt.

Head-over-heels

hurriedly,
'It

before one has time to

consider the matter (C),

M;

'ft,

'^^RW,M

m B m m)This trust which he had taken on him without thinking aboiit it, head-over-heels in fact, was the centre and turning-point of his school
life.

^:t<ii

ifi>

gt,

n^m

(^

&

Hughes.

To give the head

He

to a

horseto

allow

it

freedom (C),

mmmKMi^^ &
shoulders (C),

gave his able horse the head.

Shakspeare.

Head and shoulders by

the height of the head

and

AM^;^M-'M (M)taller

My

son

is

head and shoulders

than his mother.

To come

to a

head

to ripen,

approach completion

(P.),

The

plot

was discovered before

it

came

to a head.

Head and
(P.),

front

the

outstanding and important part

&:)
good conversation in Christ "
;

"Your

"As he who
is

called

you

is

holy be ye holy in all your conversation;" of the matter with the writer.

this

the head and front

iS
Heap

}ft

s "t BB
Jfi, Jifcij

# B i* ^ IS ^ )S * ^. la ^ ^- # ii m ^ . S B & ^- Arnold.
fi'
ifc.

ft

-t:!/

fi^

a
f^

Struck

all of

heap completely astonished (F.),

was so struck
all of

'i^"

I thought he'd fainted top; he

a heap.

[173]

HEA
To hear
tell of

Hear

to hear by report, to be informed of

man becoming a dressmaker.
encouraged

(F.),

I never heard tell of a

Heart

To take heart

to

become hopeful,

feel

(P.),

It is difficult for the farmer, particularly in

Fife, to

some

districts

of

take heart after the experience of the last few days with their

ceaseless torrents.

mm.
BS
JBl

S^

ife

&L^,m^^ !t,i^p B JS S ;^ ^-

iMjHj,^^;f;K'C>-aiii^,
St.

Andrews

Citizen, 18S6.

To break
to one,

one's heart mortally disappointed

to die of disappointment, be
to cause bitter grief or sorrow
ijff

^^

Jil

v^ -^ j^

?E, ?E

^ ^ S, 5E :^ ^ a
it

He

his heart (caused his

(Lord Aberdeen) entered into the Crimean war, and death from grief).

broke

M. Arnold.
But
been
his friend talked,

and

told the other officers

how Greaves had

jilted

and was

breaking his heart (dying of grief)

In one's heart of hearts in

the inmost recesses of the

heart, privately, secretly (P.), |t

:^ a; |i

^ :^ Hi

M:txm>mmyi^m,^M{X).
In his heart of hearts he feared lest there might be some flaw in the young man' s story.
James Fayn.

To carry

or wear one's heart upon one's sleeve to expose one's inmost thoughts to one's neighbours (P
)

it

^m,m M ^ ^. iH U *a 1^ (X)sisters,

In his youth, and in his unreserved intercourse with his

he (Beaconsfield) would have appeared to carry a warm

sleeve (displayed

IieaH

upon his

unreservedly inner feelings of kindness)

fi

Sf

^ :S S6 ;t tS,

*i -.

Edinburgh Review, 1886.

HEA
'Tis not long after

[1 73]

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peek at (by daws are meant captious ill-natured people).

b3f

^, i6 S? a

'It ffi

-&,

-^

<I-

A II

ffi "BT lii-

Shdkspeare.

Heart and soul

He went into

enthusiastically
if?

(P.),

W.^'^ 10 M I*, it

^ * {%)

#
i&

15:;

^5 iJ

the uclicme heart and soul (with enthusiasm).

His heart is in the right place

to

see Right, ^^ Right. To have at heart be deeply interested in ^P

(P.),

What I have most at heart is, that some method should be thought on for ascertaining and fixing our language.

^ ^.
)5

Swift.

To take anything to heart to feel deeply pained about anything. To be much affected by it (P ), <^ ^,; ]^
ffi

,mmM
it

i&.

^ 'H (^)
to feel one's

He took

to heart

(was vexed) that no invitation came for his wife.

To take heart of grace

courage revive (C),

To get
She

or learn

by heart

to

commit

to

memory

(P.),

fell

me

say the

name

to laughing like one out of their right mind, and made of the bog over, for her to get it by heart, a dozen

times.

SPf

JS

S,

1^

F P + 3i>

451

M^
;

IE.

M. EdgewoHh.

To have

one's heart in one's mouth to be frightened or startled (C), i^ 'H ?^, IS; M, 'It *i (M).

"Old Thady," yon do?"

said

my

master, just as he used to do,

"how

do

"Very

well, I

was not well

pleased,

thank your honour's honour," said I but I saw he and my heart was in my mouth as I walked
;

iK -M W It, f . i6 .a ^ ^ S # ^ 0, #, ^- Edgeworth. ^ ^ ft, M i ^ IE iSSic lit

along with him.

'ISit.

To

find it in one's heart to be willing (P.), '{f 1^

to

bring or induce one's M-. -^ '5 {%)

self;

[174]

HEE
He could not find it in his heart to refuse the little fellow's request.

Heaven

In the seventh heaven

or exaltation
(P.), ffi

;ft.

in a of intense WS^ SS@

state
;

delight

ifi,

i^

^,

William Henry, for his part was in the seventh heaven. * * * These days at Stratford were the happiest days of his life.
Hf
EP

* S S Sa

-fii.

James Payn.

Good Heavens!
Sir

an exclamation of surprise (C), -^ ^

broke in loudly,

Henry

Steele

"Good Heavens!

Well, he is an

extraordinary

man."

Heavy

Heavy

in urged an

hand deficient
(C.)

in verve, requiring to be

phrase originally used in driving,

(Jft;

ii #6;

iz9 ::&

Mc,

M 1^ (M)

^ ig #

ife

^ ;& ig

1^).

He was
just a trifle

a kind, honest fellow, though rather old-fashioned, and

heavy in hand.
James Payn.

Heel

Laid hy the

heels prostrated (F.),

S$C

%
15

in,

AS.

^%,m%,Mm m-

Jifc

^M

When a very active man is suddenly 'laid by the heels,' sad as the dispensation is, there are sure to be some who rejoice in it.

#
to one's

Blackmore.

To take

heelsto run

off (F.),

H + a^ ^ ^

heels

Timothy's Bees' s Ben first kicked out vigorously, then took to hii (scampered away), and sought refuge behind his father's legs.
G.Eliot.

^JKi^S.
;

Down at heels or out at heels having bad or untidy shoes in poor circumstances (C), MM:M^M.,\&^M
I

am

almost out at heels (in very low. circumstances).

^m^^St^m^im^'^Um.
To
cool one's

Shakspeare.

heels see

Cool,

M M Cool.

HER
To tread upon the heels to
One woe
follow closely

ri75]
(P.),

ii,^;

doth tread upon another's heels (follows another closely).

.

:T^

- if

SM

iiB

M. only vulnerable part

Shakspeare.
(P.),

Achilles' heel

the

^^^

When

vulnerable, she held

Thetis dipped her son in the river Styx to make him inhim by the heel, and the part covered by her
the water.

hand was the only part not washed by

(Hanover)
able England.

is

the Achilles' heel (only assailable point) to invulnerCarlyU.

'It

^ti>g-Sai5anrSigW, jHs^Sfar^#-

Helter

Helter-skelter

in

haste and confusion (C),

ML

CoUey held up a white handkerchief in his hand, and Breytenback fired, and down went the general all of a heap, and then they all ran helter-skelter down the hill.
f^

^ fL e BS ig - H, 4^ JS F -^ Bi a H, T
?ij
III

;fc, >fe

jS
llj

lie

te 7^ Sc it,

Sf i:

ifi

ffi

BS

a.

H- H. Haggard.
restless (F.),

Hen

Like a hen on a hot girdle very

\^ j^

To

sell one's

hens on a rainy
(F.),

day to
;

sell at

a dis-

advantage or fooUshly >& tf*. (Si

^^

S M g &) [%)

W # "K S M ?C H H

"=Never mind our son," cried my wife; "depend upon it, he knows what he is about. I'll warrant we'll never see him sell hia hens of a rainy day. I have seen him buy such bargains as would

amaze one."

^S
Here

;'<:

igt

0,

^ a Si

^.,

t6

It,

jlfc

- S* H ^,

iS; 15:

A !^ ^ &

Ooldsmith.

Neither here nor there of no importance

(C), |i J

slow and steadfast voice,

'Touching what neighbour Batts has said,' he feegan in his usual it may be neither here nor there.'
'

f, ;^^iIfc0ftiSSl?-lil-

Blackmore.

[176]

HIG
Here and there
rare intervals
(P.),

scattered about thinly, occurring m^; ^ M,, m -, ?M WL, Mi BM

at

The Unitarians are, perhaps the great people * * for taking what here and there on the surface seems to conflict most with common sense, arguing that it cannot be in the Bible, and getting rid of it.

;f

jlt

-ffij.

M. Arnold.

Here's to you I drink to your good-health (C.) A somewhat old-fashioned phrase used before drinking a glass of wine or cordial with a friend, Xl ^, JSl

Here's to budgets, bags and wallets! Here's to all the wandering train (The poet calls upon his hearers to fill their glasses and drink to the health of all Jolly Beggars).
:

Burns.

Hide-andseek

To play hide-and-seek with any one

elude their pursuit (F.)

to

seem to
to find

Hide-and-seek
nt

is

a children's

game, in which one hides and the others try

him out, t M. il m (tr)

^ ^; ?i # ^, m M H, M M, SJ - ?*, - 5a g^ (IE ^ H 75 /h Sa M c
-Ji :5:

High

On high aloft,
^.

in or to heaven (P.),

KS
lark
seat

ffi

(^)(to heaven).
(aloft).

^
Shahspeare.

The Thy
S"

mounts up on high
is

up on high
ra

^ ft Hi

* -

Shakspeare.

High jinks

uproarious
M.
iSa -]-

fun, great sport (F.), J^

^^

gies shouting

^^m &, &

There he found the eleven at high jinks after supper. Jack Bagcomic songs, and performing feats of strength.
ffl,

Sn i6 iS Hi it IS :i

- A, ^ u "&, je^ mm ^ m m n-^ m ^ # a S. Hughes.

:ft

High and dry

out

of the water, in

a'

dry place

(P.),

HIN
of

[177]

Just where-the eastern curve begins stands Kingscliff, a cluster white cottages, fronted by a white beach, whereon some half-dozen of stoilt fishing smacks are hauled up high and dry.

^.
High time

Good, Words, 188T.

fully time

(P.)
it is

Used where a

limit of time

has been reached,, and

necessary to delay no more,

It was now high time (very necessary) to retire 'and take ref reshment against the fatigues of the following day. ^. ?K H Jit n* :?c -sr ii ,i., fg- ffl 3 ML S,

Goldsmith.

High, words

an angry discussion

(P.),

^ 'a M ^, IS
;

Their talk that day had not been very pleasant?; words, very like high words, had passed between tham.
Ji

^^B ^, :if:Ilg,ili2.fftM^l

G.Eliot.

To be on the high horse, to

have a haughty demeanour,

ride the high horse to to be overbearing (F.); i^

at the Oyster

He's an amusing fellow, and I've no objection to his making one Club ; but he's a bit too fond of riding the high hm-se

(arrogant).

High-falutin'

in a pretentious

.style,

pompous

(S.),

His enemies have done their best to enlighten her as to the hollo wness of his 'high-falutin' professions.

^ ^ SiM ^Hinges
Off the hinges

Edinburgh Review, 1882.

in disorder, in a disturbed

state (C), flS

Up

to the

At other times they are quite off the hinges, yielding them selves way of their Insts and passions-

[178]

HIT
Hip and thigh
mercy
(P.),

Hip

in

no half hearted way, showing no

:f]
;

:^

M^

^f^m

K^, MM M

ifl^,

"Protestants, I mean," says he (the priest) * "are by the eara, a drivin' away at each other the whole blessed time, tooth and nail, hip and thigh, hanmier and tongs."
gg, IS Si

3^8

S;, BB

^ iS #
to

HalihuHm.

To smite hip and thigh

slaughter (C),
'

overthrow with great iKmmm-MmMmMmmmm).

H.Conway.

We shall smite them hip and thigh (defeat them utterly)' he cried.

m;fcig^B,Si^)if;A:^M^,iB!Sfr^;fg-

To have on the hip

struggle.

to gain the '^

advantage over in a

A wrestling phrase,

^WAh 1.M,, ^ ^

If I

can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

il;

JEII

$S

iSf

fl-

Shakspeare.
(C.)^

Hit

To

hit

oflF

to describe in a terse and clever manner

(Goldsmith) concocted a series of epigrammatic sketches, under the title of RetaUation, in which the characters of his distinguished intimates were admirably hit off with a mixture of generous praisfr

and good-humoured

railery.

m'^^m^,mm&immyfm^m^,m^s^MA&,m
fCitS,

SA-B T^
oflF

W.Irvimf.

To

hit it

together

to agree, suit

each other (C),

You should have seen Kemble and him together j it was as good any play. They don't hit it off together (findach other so congenial) so well as you and I do.
as
'

MA.7t:t6SnlSSi:i^jlfcffla-ffl,.

James Payn.

To

hit the nail on the head to speak appositely, to touch the exact point in question (P.), 4* ^) *&

HOB
We
would hardly be

[179]

have already had Quintilian's witness, how right conduct brings joy. * *,* And Bishop Wilson, always hitting the right rail on the head in matters of this sort, remarks that, "if it were not for the
practical difficulties attending
it,

virtue

distinguish-,

able from a kind of sensuality.'

ft

SUIT,

Ma

tfe isc

jR

isi, S8i

^ B ft -^ ^ sa S f^HC? ).
Matthew Arnold.

gS

^ ^.
hit

To

upon to
hit

light upon, discover (P.),

1^M;W-^t
Goldsmith.

have

upon (discovered) such an expedient.

I can never hit on's (recall exactly his)

name.
Shakespeare.

To

hit out

to strike with the fists straight

from the

shoulder, to

box in a

serious fashion (P.), fT

^ ^;

ffl

Hither

Hither and thither

(P.),

various directions, to and fro m^m^;mmmm,WL^WL^,m-:&:^

^in

H. M.

S.

H. M.

S.

(a)

an abbreviation

for

Her Majesty's ship (P.),

Service
(P.),

(6)

an abbreviation

for

Her Majesty's

Hobby

To

ride a hobby to follow a favourite pursuit, or introduce a favourite subject into conversation with a childish
eagerness (P.),

m^mM;m m,M.mm^MSi.m

mm:tm(.x)Nevertheless,
horse, for it

siderable persistence.

ladies have hobbies which they ride with conMrs. Jennynge's hobby was a sort of hearseconsisted in a devotion to the memory of her late second

some

husband.

%,

ilS

SA^&

til

liL.

James Payn.

To

ride a

hobby to death

to

weary people utterly with

(P.),

one's peculiar notions on a subject

^ M.\ K M>

[ISO]

HOI
To bob-nob

Hob

to "associate

on familiar terms

(F.),

m w,m^M^' B m ^ c^)-

^ M-j

He is not very particular about his acquaintance, but hob-nobs with every one he meets.

Hobson

Hobsou's cboice no choice at all (O;) Said to be derived from 'the name of a Cambridge livery-stable keeper, who insisted on his customers taking the horse that was nearest the door,

^mm^m)m mm ^^mmmB,MA^
No university man would ride him; even upon Hohson's he could get no other to ride).
choice

M^^^^^jMlB'f*

(if

#^
Hocus

Jlfc

H,
'

Blackmore.

Hocus-pocus deception underhand dealing (F .) Said to be a play on the words "Hoc est corpus" used in
the mass,

mt^;mm,^&,M^B:^,m^m,m

Our author is playing hocus-poctis (hoodwinking his readers) in the very similitude he takes from that' juggler.

Hog

To go the whole hog

[American Slang]
,

to

got, to refuse to be satisfied

[i;

have everything that can be with merely a portion.

i&,

# il M; ^

A i& ^ JE SS

a pity.
:=F

But since we introduced the railroads, if we don't go ahead, it's We never fairly knew what going the whole hog was tUl then.

*n

S if ^ M %. -^ *& *n

2,.

SalihurUm.

Hoist

Hoist with or by one's own petard

destroyed by one's
s
^(3!t).

own machinations framed

(P.),
.

for the destruction of others

m s A S;
a
mouse-trap.
-.

f^ ii

g,

f^ ?*

It's too disastrous

victory.

I'm

hoist

by my own petard, caught

ill

my own

'

Wi-

Howdls.

HOL
Hoity
.absurdly
(G.),

LlSl]

Hoityrtoity-:-an exclamation signifying that the person

addressed has been speaidng ox acting petulantly and

m A :tm
'

m WL'n
!

M^ s^mmi^Ji mm:tm, Brf m ^ m mm

cries

'

Hoity-toity

' '

Honour

' ; '

madam

is in

her

airs, I protest.'

Hold

To hold by^to

support, approve of (C),

All :ft

^ S^.
made

Even the paterfamilias who did not " hold by an exception in honour of the Bard of AYon.

'

';

stage plays

^,&.^m^i&:m^mmAiS!ii'^^lkX)^.

James Payn.

To hold

forth of something

to

speak in public, generally in praise

(P.),

^^; mW:, ^ MMm, W^^> ^

^M'hlt^
elders, used to

petty coQJuror, telling fortunes, held forth in the market-place. L' Estrange. l> tg db, ; TU fe 56.
are great speculators on the prowess of their AoW/oriA (harangue) to one another about Williams's
i

The small boys, who

great strength.

To hold

oflf

to remain at a
(P.),
off.

distance, refuse to join in

^\

any undertaking

mM;^ M ^^U ^,
'

M,^

If

you love me, hold not

jta

S S6, ir 31 ii. To hold onto last, continue

?*
:?:

Shakspeare.

(P.),

mM;MM,^i&^,
years after the bishops

mf^MfMm(X)The trade held on (continued) became protestants.

for

many
Jit

if#=feiit^^^ii(^.^,
^.

mi^

M,mm:^m^ ^
Svnft.

To hold out

to offer resistance, not to

succumb or yield,

A -consumptive
ior years.

person

may

hold out (not'succumb to the disease)

[183]

HOL
To hold goodto
be valid, be applicable
Gfc).

(P.),

# ^ Sf
No man
nothing.

^M,M

-Bf JEl

IIB

will

be banished, and banished to the toirid zone, for

holds good ivith respect U>
(is

The mle

valid for) the legal

Macoaday.

To hold

in play

to

keep fully occupied with secondary

is

matters while the attention

diverted from the

main

point at issue

(P.),

P^^ii,IH^^;^^,
tmtil the

Gronchy was to hold the Prussians in play

routed Wellington.

emperor had

To hold

one's

own

against

to contend successfully

with, to compete with, to maintain

what one

is strug-

glingfor(P.),^ffi;^t;,]^^,Mfl,S#^T:).

To hold water

A phrase M7JC^M;^g|:^^, ^ mm.m,m XM.nm){i^m ^ mm. .

to bear close inspection (C.)

generally used negatively,

Our author's next argument

will

not hold water.

Hole

Hole-and-corner
But such
is

secret,

underhand (C), 12

^ ^ HI
;

the wretched trickery of hole-and-corner Buffery.

m*^*J;tll;tf.

KWSfftlJtti-

Dickens.
less

No one could say that it was a hole-and-corner business, far that the assembly was packed (filled with confederates).
IC

A : H, 7 tl
Catholic

Jit 75r

16

. , M H ^ S #.

-g-

a A-)f
James Payn.

Holy

Holy water

water blessed by the priests of the Roman and Greek Churches, Catholics keep it in their houses, and use it on getting up, on retiring to rest, and when about to go on a journey. It is generally
placed in stone basins or fonts at the entrance of churches

and is sprinkled on the worshippers more impprtant sersaces of the church,

at

some
7jC

of the

(^

l|

HOM

[183]

R^mmn^mx^ mm :t7K^mAU
mn "^mm :k m. m B :tmm ^^n)Home
At home
It

MzMm.,Km^M.Mmmm'^7,mm!^7ii,m

familiar, on easy terms {G.),W^;M!iM iW)'

There was admiration and more even than admiration in his eyes. was a beautiful expression that I cannot define or put into words * * that made me feel at home (friendly) with him at once.

The Argosy, 1886. ^ ^ S ^ -a. reception or entertainment given in An 'At Home'a

BP

the afternoon or evening

(P.),

^^WL'^^W^^'Z

Now

it

so

give an entertainment he called his

happened that Mr. Yates, the manager, was going to "At homes," and this took but

To be

*at

home'

to people

^to

be ready to receive

visitors (c),

m:tm my
which
grasp
(P.),

m;Am^,Amm:,m:tAm,
to people to say something and whose meaning they fully
says do, do, do
it

To bring a thing home

interests pebpl,

i^mA:^m;^mMm iXl
wood-pigeon;
it

"You're

like the

all

day,
to

and

never sets about any work itself." That's bringing (a saying which rouses the attention of people).

home

people

liJftllSS4iiKHn*Alffi@t.

tB*^^f,

JiSSf^KSi

To come home
(C), j f&

to a person
fi]

to reach one's conscience

^ >&;

IS

^ 5^ a, gg ^ (M).
cams home
to the

The words
poor

of the preacher

poor

man

(touched the

man deeply).

To make one's self at honie to act as if one one's own house (F.), :^ ^ M; f^^. ^^,
I

were in

^^ i^

was asked

to

make myself

at

hom^ and

take off my shoes.

[184]

HON
Honour bright?

Honour

do you pledge
'

your,

word
is.

for it? (F.)

A phrase used when a man

''k
.

wishes, to ;be perfectly sure

It also used in

that he is not going to be deceived-

afSrmatiohs to
:;fc

mean

do pledge

my

word solemnly,'

T>

**M

Jit

(t) (Jt 75 ?S.A *S a,

nm'K:t M.?
duel
(P.),

An affair

of honour

dispute

invoMng a

He hstd to leave London owing to a honour in which he was concerned.

*,

fatal result from

an

affair of

nK

jff

S-,

m,^m BS

;t:

# B5 ^ ^ & * # ^.
which can-

A debt of honoura debt incurred at;.plajy,

'

not be recovered by legal process, and is therefore considered more binding in the social code of laws (P.),

R^mmm>it :tm ^ ^ . ^ mm. mnmm

He had all
the

moment

along meant to pay his father's debts of honour, but the law was taken of him, there was an end of honour,

tb be sure.

# IS :^ ^ ^ #. ^.
feeling (P.),

iC.

Edgeworth.

A point of honoura scruple arising from

I^M

delicacy of

^ M;

1^

B,

mmiM).
ice

'I

will not," said.Lochiel,

" break. the

That

is

a point

of

honour with me."

,1

^ ^ S: -&.
Macaulay.

Honours of war
army
flying
to
(p,.),

the

privilege granted to a defeated

of a

march out

^^^-rmit i^; ^%%^mm

at 1

town or camp with colours

The sameday

p.m. arrived .a

letter

"ihg permission to the officers to retain their

from General Stielagrantswords and to the army

the honours of war.

iJiMUM,1&.''&tk^Mm.UM'^.

Edinburgh Review, 1886.

HOO
The honours rested with him lie was
cessful (P.),

[185]
the most suc(X).

mm m^; ^ -^ m &,m nm
^.
act as host at

evening would have rested "with Eatcliffe, * * had he not lowered himself again to his ordinary level.

The honours

of the

3^

#,

SIfF

S J^ ^ ^

Edinburgh Review, 188S.

To do the honours to
The Princess
of

an entertainment

Wales did the honours

at the Grarden party with

her usual sweetness and grace.

?eS:t,5*^jEffil,f^A, ^^HlfgSA.-in^^-

Hoof

To beat or pad the hoofto walk

about

(F.),

mm'^ (S)The watchman was

of the evening.
left to

^ 0;M

beat the hoof unmolested for the rest

Hook

By hook
"I do

or crook

by

some means or
'?*

other,

through

some device (C),

m.^m:^m;W.

m.)-

not think," he replied coldly, after an unpleasant pause, "that William Henry cares much about Shakspeare; but he has probably asked for his holiday thus early in hopes that by hook or by crook, he may get another one later on.'

Off the hooks

see Hoohs above, ^ ^ Hooks above. On one's own hookindependently, on one's own
sponsibility (F.),

re-

; mjL,

B f^

^,

li

^ tt S, il

ffi

^ mmu,

fiK

(S)-

in his hand,

The very eyeglass, which headed the cane he carried so jauntily was out of keeping with their eyeglasses, and looked like some gay young lens who had refused to be put into spectacles, and was winking at life on its own hook.

i 3^ ;t 14

H.

-^

^ ^ S.
(S.),

James Payn.

To hook itto run away

"Hook it,"

mM; mm,MW.. ^
will catch

he shouted, "or the bobbies

you."

[186]

HOB
To draw in
one's horns

Horn

to

be

reticjent

or timid (C),

* M ^ (^>
"This is not his opinion," said the doctor, drily; who having been betrayed into frankness by the other's seeming acquaintance with the subject in question, now once more seemed inclined to draw
in his horns.

\:^u^mmn,^ntmJames Payn.

To show

one's horns to show signs of a devilish nature (G.) Hornie is a popular name for the devil, whose characteristics, according to the popular conception,

were his horns, his

m,

and his cloven ^ gg ^ M M M M' m. ui m Mm n m) m M. :t ^ u

tail,

feet,

Mr. Burchell." "A very fine day, Doctor though have some rain by the shooting of my corns (callosities in the feet)." "The shooting of your horns!" cried my wife, in a loud fit of laughter. (Mrs. Primrose suggests by her remark that Mr. Burchell had a devilish nature).

"A fine day,

we
shall

I fancy

Ooldsmifh.

To be on the horns of a dilemma to

of extreme difficulty

he in a position

from which there seems no way

of escape (P.),

m%m'^;:k^ i^m,m ^Mm/^

To
leave the city
is

am on the

horns of a dilemma,

dangerous,

to stay is imprudent.

i:^.

Hornet

To bring or
to cause

raise a hornet's nest about one's ears a host of critics or enemies to rise up against

one (c),
The
but
ears.

iiE^;mWi,^^^^,M[n^M m).
and kept in bounds, had brought a nice hornets' nest about their

chief ofienders for the time were flogged

thfe victorious" party

^^mm,m mm, ^m.^m; ^^m.m -i.^ a, m n & m

Bughet.

HOS
Horror

[187]
for the 'blue-devils,' the

The horrors Another name

symptoms
He had

of delirium tremens (C),

^ ^; 3 j|, H S

an attack

of the horrors

two nights ago.

Hors

Hors de comhat
French phrase,
Already

rendered

useless

for

fighting.

^Wim-fJ;^MM^,M^,mm.
were hors de comhat.

five of the six

Horse

A horse laugha coarse,

One
night,

unmeaning laugh
usual,

(P.), PBJ PBJ,

Mr. Yates heing funnier than

if

possihle,

single horse-laugh suddenly exploded

among

the fiddles.

To

flog

a dead horse
is

to agitate for the revival of

creed that

extinct (C),

ii S ^; H * fl M,
flogging a dead horse.

Arguing against

Tom

Paine

is like

Horse-play

rough amusement

(C),

^ ^ :Z fH

':&; ffi

To be sure it was a boy, not a man, and child's play is sometimes preferred by the theatre-going world even to hbrse-play.
li SI ja

K,

H a # . *llii, ^ 4a ^

-if.

-Reade.

To take horse
He
-fe

^to

journey on horseback

(P.),

H^

_t,

took horse to the lake of Constance, which

SE

is

formed by the
fiS

entry of the Rhine.

tt ^a

aU

SI 88,

88 :^ ?K :EP

M H r
jJE

# *.

Addison.

Host

To reckon
(P.),

or count without one's host^ to calculate without considering fully the practicability of any plan

wM;mM,^m^zmM,^nmmA

[188]:

HOU
His feelings, in fact; were precisely the same as those on which Mr. Harris had counted without his host (rashly).
James Payn.

Hot

Hot foot-quickly

(C),

m&^^;^.^inW^,iK
some
fifty

The stream was deep

shallow, for wliich he

here, but

yards below was a

made

off hot-foot.

^-

Hot coppers
those

Hughes.
^the

unpleasant feverish symptoms

felt

by

Bmm;m^mm,m m
In hot "water
He was
would take

who have been drunk on the previous night (S.), m m, n E(ffi)-

mmmz

You'll have hot coppers to-morrow after to-night's spree.

in a

state of trouble or

worry (C),

3m',

far of tener in disgrace than Richard,

say, in continual hot water,

it

and kept me, I may wondering what extraordinary trick he

into his

head to play next.

Annie Keary.

^^'3^i.'i>,:?f^^mX^9i^n^&^^m-

Hour

At the eleventh hour

obtain an advantage

just in time

and no more

to

(P.),

^5J^B^;SSl!l^S.;5:

The

chieftain decided to sign ; but at the eleventh hour.

The small hours

(C),

the

morning hours
;ii

after

midnight

T ^>?

ra

5 M, a ??, M M

^,

j|

* 5n la,

just playing that last rubber which possesses such elastic and has kept many a better man up to the small hoars (out of bed until one or two o'clock), who otherwise makes it a principle to be in bed by ten o'clock.
attributes,

He was

^-

James Payn.

To keep good hours to

return

home

at

an early hour

every evening; not to be abroad at night (C),

^ M;

HOU
The landlady
good hours.
said she

L189]

would have no lodger who did not keep

In an evil hour
inspiration,

under
(P.),

the influence of an unhappy-

acting from

an unfortunate impulse, in

an unlucky moment
In an
evil

M MU; & U B, M^ ^,
to give his son a latch-key.

hour he consented

House

house to house visitation

to

series of visits

made
?S

neighbouring houses in regular succession

(P.),

The minister announced from the pulpit that he would make a house to house visitation in Hope Street during the coming week.

To keep house (a)

ment
(P.),

to

maintain a separate establish-

M ^ ?^

j^; iM jl

- m, ^ mmM., ^ M>
lives

My

mother no longer keeps house, but

with her married

daughter.

(6)

to

manage domestic
sister

affairs, to act as

housekeeper

(P.),

i^mm^; ^ ^,

'i^

m,mmB (X)all

His widowed

keeps house for him.

To keep open house

to

be hospitable to

comers ("P.),

Everybody in the country knew the Colonel, and everybody knew Drinkwater Torm, and everybody who had been to the Colonel's for several years past (and that was nearly everybody in the country, for the Colonel kept open house), knew Polly.

Harper's Monthly, 1886.

From the house-top in a public

used of an announcement

manner.

Generally

publicly

made

(P.),

^ -^ ^3

[190]
aloud, or proclaimed

HUG
This thing with variations was whispered from ear to ear, or spoken from the house-top, until there could be no doubt whatever upon the subject.

House

of call

a house where workmen of

in need of
(P.),

a particular

trade meet,

and where those

workmen can

engage their services

#fg^;XA:SM*^,
call for

The inn served as a house of Exeter market.

farmers returning from

How

How mucll? a satirical expression,

person
phrase

impljdng that the

who
(S.),

is

addressed has used an absurdly learned

i

M M ^ H^

(JH:

75

^^

:2:

S,

"^B 5'I

"The plant is of "Genus how much?"

the genus Asclepiadacae, tribe Stapelieae."

How's your poor

vi.

feet?
-m.

in vogue at one time

(S.),

a senseless interrogation, much # M i| ^ () i| :i

Jg.
(jifc

Hub

The hub

of the Universe

the central

city of the world.

A name often applied in jest to

" Calcutta
Pg ?

Boston, Mass., U.S.A.

swaggers as

if it
ffit

ftg,

S BR i

;*:,

- 5c T ;t * ^-

were the hub of the Universe."

Daily News, 1886.

Hue

Hue and
A hue

cry

a clamour in pursuit of an offender

this house.

(P.),

and cry hath followed certain men into

Jg-nfPB^.^,

ii^S&^MAAifc^.

Shakspeare.
(P.),

Hug

To hug the shore

to

keep close to the shore

Jg

We were afraid to venture out to sea, and decided to hug the shore.

To hug

one's self

to chuckle with satisfaction

(F.),

j&

HUS
He hugged
himself at the idea of their discomfldure.

[i9i]

Hum

To hum and haw

to hesitate in

speaking (C),

'IS

'rSj

There came a pause, which

Philip was the
first

after

humming and hawing

little,

to break.
sij,

^
Bumble

B#

inia

# 1^ fr

# f^ m

,f

^, t

^;!

t * 15

B-

H. R. Haggard.

To eat humble-pie mumble or umble

at a feast, :^ ^J

to apologize abjectly (P.)

Humble,

pie

entrails of the deer,

was made from the umbles or and fell to the lot of the inferiors
IB.

m^,'^]W^<

With the

Constitutional party, take

greatest alacrity the malcontents in France, the old up your parable: "France is eating hum-

ble-pie!" they scream out; "the tyrant is making France eat ble-pie! France is humiliated! France is suffocating!"

hum-

Hunk

^- -^^o^^i ^S IS H ^ # ^, ft An old hunks a niggardly mean fellow (S.), iI5 ^;

ffi Efl
.

ra

"Not one word for me in his Bunker, " a miserly hunks."

will.

* * *

hunks "

replied

Mr.

^*IS-=:0.

^xt'l^V^-^^ft.^.iK^^^Agiven t6 the Saturday

Husband

The husband's boat A name

boat from

ing the

London which brings down to Margate dursummer season the fathers who?e families are

at the sea-coast (C),

^^^: ^i^^A^n^^U M,

I never shall forget the evening the 'usband's boat come in.

when we went

to the jetty to see

,

Mistletoe

Bough, 188S.

[X92]

IDO
Husband's teavery weak
tea (F.),

^ ^ ^; ^ 3?, ^

To hush up
The matter

to

keep concealed,

to suppress (P.),

^^
some

is

hushed up, and the servants are forbid

to talk of it.

Hush moneya

bribe to secure silence regarding

(P.),

iniquitous transaction

ft

ii^

M ^; It D ^,

A poor chambermaid
money,
JS

has sent in ten shillings out of her hush-

to expiate her guilt.

&

M ^ ^-

Guardian.

There was, besides, hush-money for the sub-sheriffs (who had been bribed to keep quiet).
i?-

M. Edgeworth.

I.

To break the

ice

see Break,

igf}

Break.

Idols of the tribe (Idola tribus) errors of belief into which human nature in general is apt to fall (P.) A phrase, with the others which follow, invented by ^, '^ M^^ '^, ^U Francis Bacon,

M^

^M^

m,

mA:zm m-

mm m m !^ ^ m m m, &. m A m^u

^^,ffiffi

Teachers and students of theology get a certain look, certain conventional tones of voice, a clerical gait, a professional neckcloth, and habits of mind as professional as their externals. They are scholarly men, and read Bacon, and know well enough what "the idols of the tribe" are.

:K

ffi

m - 1".
(P.),

-f^

M I? a. r ^ ^

;t

5SI

^.

Holmes.

Idols of the cave (Idola specus)

fall

which people living apart from the world are apt

into ^^m^;^mm,my^m,mn-'m
errors of^ belief
to

:t^,m^^.mAzmm

ILL

[193]

The frigidities, leading to nothing, of the old Sinico-Japanese scholarship, a scholarship full of the idols of the cave, must give way to the open-eyed methods of the West.

Japan Mail.

Idols of the forum or market-place (Idola fori) errors of belief arising from language and social intercourse (P.),

m ^, B m m m,

iii

i?^

^(X) (X^

Idols of the theatre the deceptions that have arisen from the dogmas of different schools (P.), P^ iR

If

If

phrase has often a pecuhar use It calls attention to a statement, of which the opposite might have been taken for granted, and may be translated "do not suppose the contrary," (jlt

you please

This

when

inserted in a sentence.

^f^mm.^B^j #

^^ A

m^^ m A

^si^

m M>f m &, "^^^m^ B v^i^ B

Bank is respected, if you please, even at the East End of Ix)ndon, and perhaps more there than in fashionable quarters, because it ia
so rare.

Ignis

Ignis fatuus{see Will

Wisp).
It's

o'the Wisp),

^^

(Will o'the

lU

an

ill

wind that hlows nohody good few events

are misfortunes to every one concerned (C.) Sickness benefits physicians, deaths put money in the pockets of

undertakers,
;S;

fires are

popular with carpenters, 1^ JfJ

igj

m)

m ^ A m, mmm^ m. Amwmm^m
wi
an
ill

ij^

j^mmn ^. %' ^

^ . ^:^i^>^ #

't is

that took

tlie

wind that blows nobody (any) good: the same wind Jew Lady Kackrent over to England brought over the

new

heir to Castle Eaclirent.

B>i:ifASli^Bi^^a:^-t!l-

M.

Edgeworth.

[194]

IN
Imperium in imperio
ment
(P.)

Imperium
Improve

a government within a govern[Latin],:;t R:^icjt(35:).

mr].

To improve the occasion to draw moral lessons from any event when it happens (C), ^I^W^Wi A M i^mm). H; m,

mmm

mm^m,mA

Holmes, who was one of the best boys in the School, began to improve the occasion. "Now, you youngsters," said he, as he marched along in the middle of them, "mind this; you're very well out of this scrape. Pon't you go near Thompson's barn again; do you hear?"

^^*.3tJlS, ItSrH ^In nubibus

tence (P.)

Suyhes.

in the clouds, not having an actual [Latin] ,ium^mm^;mmmm,m

is still,

exis-

The above scheme

we

believe, in nviibus.

Japan Mail, 1887. i6^!SSaJlltlg,roftl3?g^MThe ins and outs of anything its whole working, the

details of

anything (C),

-Ji-{U;-;g-^, ^^

Now

so

many

things arnie cross and across (happen in an unex-

pected and contrary fashion) in the countless ins and outs (varied experiences of life) , that the laws of the Crippses failed sometimes in

some

jot or tittle.

iS

/&

^ SS H-

Blackmore.

No, if you want to know the ins and oiUs of the Yankees (external and internal characteristics of the people of New England) I've wintered them and summered them; I know all their points, shape, make, and breed.

'

mi^^pi^i^Bu mm^i^ ^, m ^ ^ m M ]k & ^ M M

Hi',

-i]}

\^i

j^

^1^

:it-

Halihurton.
(F.),

In for it

in a

critical or

dangerous situation

^^

The speaker imagining I was going to rise, called my name. I was infer it (could not escape from the critical position), put my hat down, advanced to the table, and dashed along.
i^

m :^ if. S iE :S m, -^ ^ I?, a 1: ^.

Beacmsfield.

INT
In medias res

[195]
into the middle of a subject (P.)

right

m T].
St

[Latin],

m.m^m;m^tm,^m^m (.%)
ice,

At last I desperately broke the troducing the subject abruptly).

rushing in medias res (in-

isi

B,

-t

* IS f-,

Jt

H ^ 5i. IS IS

Jj

*.
[Latin]

The Mistletoe Bough, 1885.

In loco parentis

in a parent's place

(P.)

JH

This stately personage, probably for Miss Burt's sake rather than
Iris

own, was about to place himself, as respected Miss

Josceline, in

loco parentis.

*^

* J6 SB a

>->

M,

ff af

^ i^Ji ^ it
lift

-fit.

Jarnes I'ayn.

In with a person

^
I

$t

*a
2S.

#.

'ft

J on friendly terms with him (^)*f M' ?0 *> *i ^. *i a ^

(F.j,

ra.

am no

longer in with Jones and his

set,

and seldom

see

them.

^ M J6
Indian

* m A, :^ S
its

ffi

#.

^ .a H.
(P.),
(350-

Indian summer

the autumn season in North America,

beauty and mildness
PP
;

a season noted for

X 5^

fiP

^t

^ -a m ^ a k H ^ :^ i^ &

In the one case there was Mr. JosceUne wooing and winning; Mrs. Jennynge in an Indian summer (delightful state) of rapture and Miss Anastasia beginning to suspect what was going on. ^i flij :*.. ^^^^ISiSBSfl-Kifc -Cs .a Si H

-W * * ^ ^ A, *n IS EP H S 3c, E * ?a, -
Infra dig
'

fiij

lifll

7!r

iS

ffi ffi <1-

Infra

a contraction

for infra dignitatem (Latin),

(F.),

beneath one's dignity'

^:^#^;:^^lS,tE

Beards continued in favour until the 17th century, when the magistracy again opposing the change of fashion as infra dig., declined as long and as resolutely to part with their beards as their predecessors had done to adopt them.

Lady

Jackson.

Inter

Inter nos

between ourselves
see,
JfiR

speaking confidentially.

Used when (C.) [Latin] Compare the French, entre

.

nous ; which

pT

M ^D ^ ^0 (MO

iU T]

(i* Ji

[196]
I don't believe in

IRO
Tom's
sincerity
;

but that

is inter nos.

Ipse dixit a dogmatic statement made by a writer without adducing reasons (P.), Wt e,Wi Wi, i!^M

^M

But he does not adduce a single example in support of this theory.

Mr.

's ipse dixit is all

that

we have

to rely on.

*fe*& B(^BBB.

Jap<^ri

MaU,

1887.

Ipso facto in the fact itself (P.) [Latin] Used where something is said to be inherent of necessity in some.

thing

else,

^*

fir

; fiP

tJc Jib

^ , ^ ;*: ^^,

His confession

of ignorance of the

language -isi ipso facto a con-

fession of unfitness for his present oflSce.

jii^

*a ;i

m *?

:^ tg

^
on

-ffi

^
fire

To have many irons in the

jects carrying

to

have

many

pro-

at one time (F.)

Irons are here the

*^

used in the laundry to heat the box-iron, and renewed from time to time, ^^3fe^;i^^4'itM
bolts,
(tr)

(K ^ ^

# ?^ ^ M SE ^ il.
!

JSl

K K -^

You dear little critter (creaturej, you, take care you have too many irons in the flre some on 'em (of them) will get stone cold, and
;

t'other ones will get burnt so, they'll never be no good in natur' (of

any further

use).

And then he (Lamb)

tells

what other

literary irons are in the flre.

Thus without risk he got his twenty per cent. Not that he appeared in these transactions he had too many good irons in the fire to let himself be called a usurer.

Hf :i-

Reade.

In ironsfettered
He was brought in

(P.),

ft; m H, M m, ^ II, M

irons to the capital.

ITC
An inch
An

[197]

weapon

of cold iron a stab from a dagger or other (P.), "^ t "t A, fij (^). ^,

^^^

inch of cold iron brought this wonderful career to a close.

Irony

The irony of fate

the curious providence which brings

(P.),

about the most unlikely events

-^^

ii7

/p

Mt

the irony of fate, the Ten Hours Bill was carried in the very when Lord Ashley, having changed his views on the Corn Laws, felt it his duty to resign his seat in Parliament.

By

session

itn.^,m^n
ip
Sfe

^,

Jlt

BJ jR

I + Si M . #. ^ ^ &
it

75r BiJ

i^

3l ffl ii^;iB#, ii Leisure Sour, 1887.

Ishmaelite

An

Ishmaelite

one whom every one opposes and

(P.),

who

opposes every one, a person in a constant state of feud

with his neighbours

M^; 0%, ^S^?^?m:S

of his pursuits,

Poor Martin, in consequence

maelite in the house.

had become an Ish-

Hughes.

Island

Islands of the Blest imaginary islands in the West, thought to be the abode of good men after death (P.),

S il ^M ^ m iX) (*a # A 5E ^.
:*r

IH:

illl

llj,

S'J

MP^E ^ S M J* S).
:3^
lift

Soon your footsteps I

shall follow

To the

Islands of the Blessed.

zongfeiiow.

^:^B^m'^m,^n-^mm'^.^Issue

At

issue

(a)

in controversy, disputed (P.)

Used

also of

men,
tn:

(b)

at variance, disagreeing,

(350

(S

it

AM

ifl^

^ f^ ^ *a B S m m /F
been
lost sight of

^ Wl; ^M, ^v^>

The

real point at issue (in dispute) has long ago

in the heat of controversy.

The neighbours
matter.

are at issue (quarreUing) about some domestic

Itching

An

itching palm

an avaricious disposition (C), ^ r^

JAC
Let ine tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are rnudt coBdemned to have an. itching palm { To sell and mart your offices for gold

To

undeservers.

Ivories

To show

one's ivories

to digj)lay one's teeth (S.),

The n^ress showed her

ivories in a long rippling laugh.

To wasli one's ivoriesto. drink (S

Itliuriel

Ithuriel's spear
,

the

.),

ffe

M Pi M ?g
,

(ffi)-

which exposes

deceit

weapon of the angel Ithuriel, by the slightest touch (P.);

^M

>

Miracles, the mainstay of popular religion, are touched

riel's spear.

by Ithu-

They

are beginning to dissolve.

J.
Jack

Jack-at-a-pincha person suddenly called upon to perform some duty (F.) Often applied to a clergyman without a fixed position, who was frequently summoned to act at a wedding or a funeral in the absence of the
regular minister, {K }^
I5:, :

^ Jack and Jill common names at one

ffi,
Jffc

M ^ ^ ^ ^ MmZA 31 ii , f^ H
A;
ffi ffi
jH:

li).

time among the

Jill for

English peasantry. Jack for a man, Occurring frequently in rhymes,

a woman.

^^;^M,^^,
^Bg.ir

^^mmA,isbmm
Jack
shall

Nought

shall

have Jill; go ill.

Shaispeare.

JAC

[199]

A Jack-in-office a person who presumes on his official position to be pert or rude (C.), M"^IIA ^; M^
1 hate a jack-in-office.

^^

-fe

SB

^ H A #. *
British

flij

Ji

^-

'^<^^oi'

A A

Jack Tar a

seaman (C),

^S

7jC

^;

^U

Jack of all trades a man who devotes himself to many different occupations (C), W^^-^ifl^^ttl;
He
should,
as I tell him, confine himself entirely to portrait-

painting.

As

it is

as I ventured to
Sei

remind him,

he does landscapes also. 'A Jack is master of none.'

'

of all trades,'

^ If m eg * 'frifc S6 ia

vft

tt

B a.

TJ 1:

M S (U

?!.,

Si /C

mW*ffBSai.0,*lKfISS. *-1^fi#which

JainesPayn.

A Jack-with-a lantern or Jack o' lanternthe ignis

fatuus,
flies

about bogs, and often leads travellers

to destruction (F.),

^ik;nm (fo c&mf^mmz

^ ,
;

He was
where.
itfe

a complete jact-o' -lantern, here, and there, and everyiAt,

EP id !^

Jit

ffi

^#

^ ^.
(F.)

SalihuHon.

Jack Sprat

in the rhyme,

a diminutive boy or man Immortalized # fi 11 ^, JP /h ;^ A, ^ ^ (S) (^

Jack Sprat could eat no fat. His wife could eat no lean And so il^-was,, between them both.

They
-Sc

licked the platter clean.

:fe

:^fC

* H, ^ >P
(F.),

^.

S ^ ^= iE S, If S ^ it ^

Before you could say Jack Eobinson

immediately
1^ 1.;

in an instant,
^'J

$A, ic g, for learning to

M,

-U

"Minerva has too bad a character

be a favourite

with gentlemen," said Lord Clonbtony. ?& H. ffi 75 ?e 5& B8

^ *M E

ifi

14,

St il *^ ;^ ^-

[200]
"Tut! Don't

JED
tell

me! I'd

get her ojf (secure

a husband for her)

before you could say Jack Robinson, and thank you too, if she 50,000 down (in ready money), or 1,000 a year in land."

had

ft ja

s,

p l.ra,

16 S6

^ . (@ : :g - *^), snam^a
M.
Edgeworth.
'
;

Found under the

contracted form

before

you could say

These men are not the warriors of commerce; but its smaller who, watching the fluctuations of this or that market, can often turn a thousand pounds ere we could say J. E.
captains,

A cheap-jacka travelling vendor of goods (P.),

Cheap-jacks have their carts beside the pavement.

/J"BR;

Besant.

Jail

A jack-in-a box see Box, A jail-bird see Bird, ^

Court of
Court
of Mrs.

Mj BU Box.
Bird.
St.

hiJ

James

St.

James's or

James's

the

English

(P.),

^^,^mmmixi
St.

A third described,
Hastings at

with gay malevolence, the gorgeous appearance James's.

Macaulay.

^ms.A^^m,mmTSi^m^A,^^mm^
Jaw

Wm^W. Jaw a vulgar word

Ifc-

for

'

talk

'

or

'

impudence

'

(S.),

Confound the beggars how fond they are of talking. they would rather go without food than without their jaw.
!

I think

Hf :^
'

# :^ ^ S

til-

Reade.
1
=

'

Stop your jaw ' Hold your jaw '

'Be

quiet.'

Jeames

Jeames

colloquial term for a footman or flunkey.

So used in

many

of Thackeray's works,

:S l

Jeddart

Jeddart or Jedwood justice hanging the criminal first and trying him afterwards (P.), ^Wi VI

^M

JER
The
and
case of
dealt out to him.
last of all, or rather
fi

[201]

Lord Byron was harder. True Jedwood justice was First came the execution, then the investigation,
not at
all,

the accusation.
:5fe

58

m E :t ^,

jf

^1],

^ a ^ le m ii2. s s ,

Macaulay.

Jehu

A Jehu a coachman or one fond of rapid

The driving is like the driving he driveth furiously.
of

driving (C),

Jehu the Son

Sihle,

of

NimshiJ

for

mm''Sl>M^E.,^^^^mM^so

n Kings, IX
;

^0.

The minister was a Jehu when he rode abroad indeed his people nicknamed him. ^ifc'i^ll:taf, g&^An:W.P^,AiSfe4=lJifciinf. He was able to recognize the * * vehicle * ; the Jehu was like-

wise the same.

'S^^mm&.M..^^m.m.W.W^Jericho

S. R. Boggard.

To go

An

to Jericho to go away, go into retirement (S.) The allusion expression used contemptuously.

comes from the Bible, II Sarmiel X, 4, 5. Hanun took David's servants, and shaved oflE the one half of When they told it unto David, he their beards * *. sent to meet them, because the men were greatly Tarry at Jericho until ashamed and the king said your beards be grown, and then return," ^; f^C,
' ;
, '

Mrs. Jones was rather cross, she made a little noise, She said she did not like to wait on little vulgar Boys.' She with her apron wiped the plates, and as she rubbed the Said I might 'go to Jericho, and fetch the beer myself.'
'

delf

iiSfr^m-ffi^. iiiaMisiiTf^^, 5i5^sie*^-^

S
Jerry

* ^ * S-

Barham.
(P.) Jerryfi.;

Jerry-work

unsubstantial work in building

have this significance,

builder, jerry-built

I^^

Two lumps of plaster fall from the roof then the curse begins to work.

of the jerry-built palace;

Pall Mall Gazette, I884.

[202],

JIN
A jerry-shop a public
(S.)

house where only beer

inferiority to

is sold

So called from

its

a fully licensed

house,

^mjs-Mm ^ js s ^ 51] m m:tfSim').

thrash

Jessie

To give a man Jessie to

He
at length lost patience,

him soundly

(S,),

tX
for

the man.

And

I can

tell

and doubling up his sleeves made you he gave him Jessie.

i&i

^^x-m'is.m,

m &^%ii, m A

A,

m m &.^mm, &
;

Jew

To jew a

manto cheat him (S.), A A,mmm)very valuable

Sfe

S1^',

JS^

#M

A Jew's eye something

from French joai^Ze,
Jib

(S.)

Probably
(ffi).
'

K^:^%;^3^Sg
by the cut

The cut of one's jib

I

one's personal appearance. slang, mm;m^,M^,^myK^m m).

K - ^ Si gg,
knew him
at once to be a person Ep

Sailor's

^S@

of his jib.
j

ift fip.

Jingo

By

Jingo
One
of

a mild oath having no

definite

meaning

(S.),

in a very coarse
she

was

all

them, I thought, expressed her sentiments on this occasion manner, when she observed, that, bjy the living jingo, of a much 6f sweat.
Goldsmith.

1"0,

^ia^^, ^:^al Jff^SBB.

slightest provocation (P.),
it}

A Jingoa bellicose Briton,

war on the

an Englishman eager

for

MM^&^^

There was a very large and a very noisy war party already (1877) It was particularly strong in London. It embraced some Liberals as well as nearly all Tories. * * * The men of action
in existence.

got a nickname. They were dubbed the Jingo party. The term, applied as one of ridicule and reproach, was adopted by chivalrous Jingoes as a name of pride. The Jingoes of London,[ like the Beggars
of Flanders, accepted the

word

of

contumely as a

title

of honour.

In

order to avoid the possibility of any historical misunderstanding or

puzzlement hereafter about the meaning of Jingo, such as we have heard of concerning that of Whig and Tory, it is well to explain how thfe term Came into existence. Some Tyrtaeus* of tjie tap-tub, some Korner* of the music-halls, had composed a ballad which was sung

JOB
at one

[203]

f these caves of bannoiiy every night amid the tumultuous applause of excited patriots. The refrain of the war-song contained the spirit-stirring words, We don't want to fight, but, by Jingo, if we do, We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too.'
' '

mm

:&m B^ A, - ^i^, B m m m. m s n m m m ^Am-&m^:^9^mmm,7b-m&m *, ts ji ^

It,
'1^

mjkSimmmm,-^^^<^, =t jf m-w,^ mm i?
:

g, 5^

IP ig

M ^ ^, ^ Sc S< S H ^ A BS

$iJ,

S U S, 3l

ffi

Si t^,

\&^:^m A^,a.msi^,m^m'd;m.mm^.
;

Some one whose pulses this lyrical outburst of

to
stir,

national pride failed

called the party of the enthusiasts the Jingoes.

,%1t}MJSmi.%ANote.

Justin

McCaHhy.

Tyrtaevs

a deformed Greek poet who inspired the Spartans by

his martial songs, 7th cent. B.C.

KomerThe German
e.

Tyrtaeus, a native of Dresden, slain in

battle, 1813.

M?s.m,MR'^^m-b-s^.m^WA,-w

Job

^m.m,^m - ^ a + = p? t. A Job's comforter one who comes avowedly to comfort a friend,

but

who

Bible,
to

Book of Job.

really annoys him (P.) See the Job had three friends, who came

him

in his trouble as comforters, but spent their

time in reproaching him,

^ B f^ It |^ M ix M P3
is,

i^^^mA{X)(M.mm'^i^
A
Job's Comfobtee.

&^Ammmz,m^3^%,mf^Mmzm,m
What
when
visiting a sick

mm mm,^

a morbid propensity some people chamber, to relate all the melancholy news they can remembef, instead of cheering the patient with light and bright conversation. No better example we would say could be found than the following: One of our actors was taken suddenly ill, and confined to his bed for a fortnight. When the turn for the better came he rose, and a barber was sent for. After some time a quaint little German fmsSed into Jbe rooip with Ah, my friend, you vas ill?
have,

'

'

[204]

JOE
Well, dis weather ia popping 'em offi by dozens " Suddenly he paused with the lather brush in .his hand, and, looking at the sick actor, said, " Vy, I shave a man like you on Tuesday, and on Wednesday whiflf he was dead."
!

^,

^mA&iMcm&,^^icf^m,^^:i^mnmM.iim Am & ^ ^^ m m, m M. m m m ^-' -m M m. }^ mm, & .

mwm,^mi^Ap3,m-A^,^mm,&.s^yf^mmmm
n:tfi.,A^mmmm,ssi&mA^'sf-mm\Si,:^x^-m

'hi^^'^mA,mmBAM,mB.^M'Mm^^,ii!i&^m,

m,&mm@mmB,f^,M.m:imm-Am.m,MiAmmik, St. Andrews Citizen, 1886. M.MZM ASi^Job's-news

news of calamities (C), M ^; KI

there can nothing
-li,

'Ib>

M iW

From home

?>

Bf ?K

**

tS ^- ft

,i.

come but Job's-news. BB B.

Carlyle.

Job's-posta bringer of bad news (P.),

vention.

# M * ;^ A {%)
Carlyle.

This Job's-post from Dumouriez * * reached the National Con-

iS^M^^A,
The patience
of

gft-SfUS/f^KM^t-.

Job very

great patience (C),

^ ^,;

Mr. Pratt has certainly the patience

& ii

of

Job.

K ^ *., K :f ^ fa . ^> itwork done

(P.)

M. EdgewoHh.
for each se-

To pay a person by the job to pay him

parate portion of
is

A jobbing-carpenter

one who

is

ready to do odd pieces of work when sent

for,

mX;MX, Xi#[, ;f-0X*^for a

^,^'Wft;2.XiSM^S(^)immX;ic|SJi

To do the job
That
last

manto kill

him {.),Wi%M lit,

him (caused
his death).

debauch

of his did the job for

Joe

A Joe Miller or Joe a stale jest (F.)

with

Joe Miller was a witty actor at the beginning of last century. His jests,

many
'

others added, were published in book form

I don't see the Joe Miller of it
'

in 1737.

signifies

JOI
'

[205]

I don't see the wit in it,'

WW.^ M :t^m;

M^

Take hackney' d jokes from Miller, got by rote, With just etiongh of learning to misquote.
Byron.

Jog

To jog
gotten

anotliet's

memory

or another's

elbow to

remind another
(F.),

of a duty or promise apparently forft.).

H i; m ai, a ^ ^ #.
still

To jog on

to proceed Idzily and heavily (C),

^ S; S

l*hus they jog on,

tricking, never thriving.

John

John Doe and Richard Roe

to

names used in law cases

and defendant
This form of words was
!^ 75

represent the lessees of the plaintiff

in an action Of ejectment.

abolished in 1852,

^ ^m A, m
John Bull
current,

Km WM mm mm ^^m, mm m-"^ A
^W. A;
^^W(P.)

a representative Englishman
made

Dr. Ar-

buthnot's History of John Bull

the expression

^m
(S.)

A;

^M A ^tW ^ (^) (^ M^ ^

John Orderly the

at a

signal to shorten the performance

The master who remains on the outside platform of the booth, and takes the money in, cries to the actors Is John Orderly there?' This is a signal PnJ ;^ jjr for them to cut short the performance, $^
show
'

^Timm^.^B^-^^^^^M^ ^- ^ n
ii

;S Bf SI

-a).

Join

To join hands with

one's self with
(P.),

to take as

a partner, to associate

'&'^;^#,^^,l^,Jgii (%)

[206]
"I smoke my
flatter

JUM
pipe and think how unappreciated Keats was, and myself mine is a parallel case. Then, like Brace's spider, I
try again."

"And,

"when

like him, you will at last succeed," said Ella, confidently; merit joins hands with perseverance success is certain."
-1:0

-r iS

James Payn. :i:mmmW,:f}m^, ^ ^ a. To join the majorityto die (P.) A classical phrase, m iH:; 5l, *, }i If it K ^, g M III, ;g 5S, #
iSf'

ifS

^ 0, ^

HiJ

5*

^ <

)S

*,

?!f

^ ^ 2.

ffl

^, :^

>.

illj

-(III

General Ward,
Force,'

who commanded

the

'

Disciplined Chinese Field

had
fl'

just

"joined the majority."

M^
Joint

B ^ Jt ^ tl a^ , Si E ^ iS ^. PM Mall Gazette, 1887.

(P.),

Out of joint
f!S

in confusion and disorder ^ iL, ^ ;^, I& s, ^ fL M *

(^)...

^^

fii

you?

what under the sun is the matter with look as if you had had the cholera; what makes you so dismal and your hane so thin? What's out o'
minister,' says
I,
'

'Why,

You apd Captain Jack

joint

now ?
ito

IL us Se -, ^ -& ^ SrH ^. m H anf^^tM^^^.^^ffi

rr

^ IS,

IBj

ft SB

^,

HalihurUm.

The times
Jlfc

are out of joint-f^

-lit-

M ;^ B*

Shakspeare.

Jonathan

Brother Jonathan
An American
;

a typical

American (C), ^^A(i^).

Republic in stars and stripes was also represented from Yokohama and two Brother Jonathans, _one from Tokyo, another from Yokohama, supported their countrywoman.

:S,

Jump

.r:A^, SlKjferaJS:^. To jump a claim to seize upon

Japan MaU, issy.

a mining claim

by-

force, or in the absence of

one who has a prior claim,

mmwiW^ n m-/4x
ffi

^^ ii

fill

^ at m.

w^

m m m,
iri

um^m

He was
jumped

called

away on

b'.isiness,

and

his absence a stranger

his claim.

KEE
To jump
To

[207]
(C.)i
i

at accept with eagerness mm,^n^it m).

to
his surprise,

'M

it'>

^ ^H

Susan did not jump at

this remuneration.

Reade.

Justice

To do one

qualities or

justice to recognize or display his good good looks (P.), ^M',

^^^

M.^M

In one bracelet was a photograph of dear little Charlie, taljen from a picture done in oils, very like but not doing; him justice (making him appear as pretty as he actually was}.
;
" '

M^,m7^mmmnmmm?r^ m h .^
a).

si

The. Miitletoi

k, ss Bough, 1885.

sc

In justice to out of a desire to treat justice demands to (P.), m."^

fairly,

doing what

K;B^^ it,m.m.

In vain poor Lady Clonbrony followed the dowager about the rooms to correct this mistake, and to represent, in justice to Mr. Soho, though he had used her so ill, that he knew she was {in Englishwoman.
3S

M ^ it g- # a It,

iiB

;p

^ i 1 * IS Se *
"ih:

A,

El

iBl

m ^^ ^ Tbnmm K,^ Wi uum'^mmm

a^

mm ^ iifi

^.

M-

Edge-worth.

K.
Kaow
To kaow-taow

to

behave in a submissive manner

(F.)
(jH:

Chinese loan to English, PP gg;

^ |? M % (S)
must do

%-^xmmit^\
"To
have to kaow-taow
ifii

to Arnold, too, as I
Ssi

of course."

E^
Seen
Keen
If

g KJ

up Bi, >^

m yf-iiz-n ^.
(S.),

of a

job eager

for

work

M^^^WdW^M,
I

you

offer to take
ai

charge of those young brats,

must say you

are keen of
*d

job.
Jit

^M-H-mtlW

^?L:i: i
to

-ffi,

Siii^ si

^ ^ )K IS : it A.
to court (F.),

Keep

To keep company

have a sweetheart,

[208]
This
is

EEE
Miss Kennedy, and I hope

I'm

siire

that you two

will

get to be friendly with one another, not to speak of keeping company-

(becoming lovers).
ft

* S, g ^ ^ ^to or

Besant.

To keep an eye

on

to

watch (C), Si;

^ IS,

Hfc

Whilst they were eating it, leaving Mouti to keep an eye to them,, he went some way off and sat down on a big ant-heap to think.
. :i 3& F -^ 3i t m- ^ # ai ft K. R* S* i^ ^ S.R. Haggard. %m,^'^i^^m,m^m^m:fe

B*,

Si

tl,

81:

To keep in with a man

with him (c),

^ M

remain on friendly termsi ^m^n;m^^m,f^m^^m.

to

TbI

(M).

I always told your father he thought too

much

of that

Watson

;.

but I would keep in with him if I were you, for they say he's coining: money.

The Mistletoe Bough, 1885.

To keep

one's

hand in
'it

to

employ one's energies

hand

(C.)^

^^^,m^ Mm,
else

mm).
in at Oxford, or wherever

You'll find plenty to keep your

you

go.

7 ^ ^.
To keep dark about anything
M.m).
If

Hughes.

To keep body and soul together see Bod%j, M fl Body.

to preserve secrecy (C),

them.
*n

you have tastes for the theatre and things, don't talk about Keep them dark.
-ffii.

-i "BT

Besant.

To keep up
hind
(P.),

continue alongside not m^mm;-^^^m,^^'^^,mm

to
of,

to fall be-

muix).
"Please, our way."
sir,

we've been out Big-side hare and hounds and

lost

EEE
" Hah! you ,
couldn't keep

[209]
up
(fell

behind), I suppose."

mmm^^'&Mto one's self

Hughes.

To keep

to

be retiring in one's habits,

of a reserved disposition (C),

^f

Ji:

^PS

^>

We do not see much and keep to themselves. To keep in view

of

our neighbours

they live very quietly,

to

have one's aim or attention fixed

Jjlf

in a certain direction (P.), ^^

^ :E;

6^J iff

&>

He had
the firm.

always kept in view the probability of a dissolution of

To keep in countenance

to

lend moral support to

(P.),

has He might as well be a West India planter, and we negroes, no more care nor thought about us than if we were in Jamaica or tlie Shame for him! But there's too many to keep him in other world.
countenance.
S6

ig;

^,

^ ta M,

7!;

MS^ a U ^ ^ A,

Sfe :f=.

':

^ ^ B 5E, ^ a ^ ^^ ^ ^fiS

-lli, jlb

nT SI Edgeworih.

To keep

to refrain

one's countenance to preserve one's gravity, from laughing (P.), -aiK;f^f^^JffiS;5:

of any great man at court and never to keep his word.
are,

The two maxims

his countenance,

always to keep

mm^nm ^,^ ^^ ~m, H,U'M''$^,mm^-^mSwift.

To keep house see House, ^ m House. To keep pace witli see Pace, M ^ Pape.
ICeeping

In keeping
It

suitable,

harmonizing

(P.),

^i

g;

P^

-g-,

44

was in keeping (harmonized) with the scenery around. Mrs. H. Wood. ffl ra BI :S UC OE

a position however keeping with (suitable to) our resources.

is
;j:

We shojild occupy

much
c

against our will,

m
fl-

#^

-Br,

S * A )S

ffl>

a <% M #,

*S Jt.

?5P

.{fti.

Japan Mail. 1887.

[310]
Kettle

KIC
A kettle
(F.)

of fish.

a confused

state of affairs,

a muddle

Kettle is here

iovUddle&

net,

WiM'^;

ML

^ Wi

(1^) (Kettle ffi ilb

JB f^ kiddle, BB

-&)

There, you have done a fine piece of work, truly J you have brought up your bastard to a fine purpose not tha,t I believe you had any hand in it neither that is, as a man may say, designedly but there is a pretty kettle of fish made on't at your house.
:

5^ S8

# f, i* i^

^ Ji PP 2. ^,

^itSni*;i^*BfLiS9
Melding.
gives-

^.

Key

The key of a position

control

the point whose possession

A

over a position or district (P.)

;$:

militaryiiU,

M m I? S- M ii ;^ M ^; M M m%m,%%^'i^i^mMm, m m m. ^, a # ^n W. To have the key of the street be locked out

mm
iBT

phrase, j^

ffi;

(jH:

rni.

to

(F.)^

mf^m-,
'

^>"

^i

;m;

p^ (M
'

a,

m^ ^a

(t^).

There,' said Lowten,

you have the key

of the street.'

SiH,Ma'#EBP'ili.eS3^.

Dickens. (P.),

Gold key
Hardly
=S fl

the
:?:

badge of a chamberlain

M M> W

will that gold

key protect you from maltreatment.

M#

tB <* ii

M :^ S ^ &

Colendge.

Keystone

The Keystone State

He

a popular name for Pennsylvania,

State.

comes from the Keystone

Kick

To kick over the traces

ordinate (F.)

to

become ^^oIent and insub"^

A phrase taken from horse-driving,

I]

you,

You must not kick over the traces, Lady Anne. * * You are growing
Sf
?f:
,

or I shall be forced to suppress-

trifle

too independent.
SiJ

^ ?*

Jit

* A }* fJ ^ S H S Hd ^ :^ b6 ^ Jn a H (tt"t), Haggard. B$ B # 3^ E M ^.
-ff.

-R.

To kick the beam

to

be deficient in weight, to

fly

into the air (said of a scale in a balance) (P.), yf

^^

KID
But in Ms present survey
of the age aa his field,

[211]
he seems
to find

that a sadder colour has invested all the scene. The evil has eclipsed the good, and the scale, which hefore rested solidly on the ground,

now

kicks the beam.

m, '^

fa ?fit

m,

^ m m X^.

Gladstone.

To kick up dust

to carry on a

valueleiss discussion (C),

Amongst the manuscript riches of the Bodleian there was a copy a certain old Chronicler about whose very name there has been a considerable amount of learned dust kicked up.
of

To kick the bucket to die (S.), JE 1% P? :r pJc, 7 (ffi). To kick up a row or a shindy to cause a disturbance, to be violent in behaviour (F.), il II ^ H; S ^, Ifl iL ^, M ^ ^ t^, ^ m, ]K n, m I* (S).
;

Master Mash, who prided himself upon being a young gentleman was of opinion that they should kick up ti row, and demolish all the scenery.
of great spirit,
.i Wf
IS,
gl5

IT

JBl

a?

# ?R J: ij,

^^*
?S Si t* IS

i ^ ^, 11 fi IB e* ^ M ;f SS: ifc S- From "Sanct/ord and Mertoa."

S:

get

Hawes shrank with disgust from noise in his prison. * * " Beggars no good by kicking up a row," argued he.

To get more kicks than halfpence to

abuse than

receive

more

profit, to be badly or roughly treated (F.),

CffiT).

Let the sweet woman go to make sunshine and a soft pillow for the poor devil whose legs are not models, whose efforts are blunders, and who in general gets more kicks than halfpence.

^&mm, ^ M mm:t.
Kidney
Of the same kidney A - ?L {f} M,

o.

ekol

of the same nature

* 13 - #,
IP]

(P.),

IP] jf?

ff

ii (^).

Fellows of your kidney will never go through more than the skirts
of a

scrummage.
-M St 5*

na

l!S>

A Si A ^

Hughes.

KIS
EUl
To kill two birds with one stone to
one exertion (C),
effect

two

results

with one expenditure of trouble, to gain two objects by

- ^ ^ H ;- ^ M #,- ^ tt f',
disinter a patient for oar Inquisition.
neade.

We

will kill

two birda with one stone

leathern gallows, and furnish a freSh incident of the

mm^ m
r^

f^

M,

i^v

m n i^^'
m.mW(. H-r^J

To

kill one's

man to

fight a duel with fatal results to

one's opponent(C.),

WiK^n^,'i^
of age,

He was a famous shot, had killed his man before he came and nobody scarce dared look at him whilst at Bath.

E
King

ffii

B#, ^ SC JE II #.
to call the

M. EdgewoHh.

To be unwilling
^tiJ, ^n Jt,

king one's cousin

(F.),
^fi.

to
;

be in a state of perfect satisfaction or elation

^i
so

:t^

H^

g Jg,

(tr).

He

wouldn't condescend to
is

present time (he

much

call the king his cousin just at this elated with his prosperity).

ffli-

Halibwton.

The King

of Terrors

a name for death

(P.),

JE

K 3E,

Her rival was face to face with that King of Terrors before whom earthly love, hate, hope, and ambition must fall down, and cease from troubling.
all

m.,mmmm^ ^JimX&,^mE.%Kiss

H.R.

Haggard.

To

kiss hands^-to kiss the hand of the sovereign on accepting or retiring from high office (P.),

MM>M^,
)

To

kiss
"It
is

and be friends to become

reconciled (F

fp

into

my

teeth.

want

not generous of yon, Mr. Heigham, to throw my words I had forgotten all about them. But I will set your

of feeling against friends."

my want

of gratitude,

and

we'll kiss

and be
It,

^^s, ;jfW^E:fe^, s-^MSS,

m;?: ft is a

KIT
"I can
better,

[213]
is

assure you, Mrs. Carr, that there

shall the
Jit TJr

nothing I should
)l?

lilce

"When

ceremony come off?"

B * A,

;t

^ ff

S;

ifi

2.

^,

aisr BJ ff it

" Now you are laughing at me, and actually interpreting what I say literally, as though the English language were not full of figures of speech. By that phrase," and she blushed a littlethat is, her cheek took a deeper shade of coral" 1 meant that we would not cut each other after lunch."

11

Si

^,

ffi

^W

i?5

B-

ir.R. Haggard.

To

kiss the rod to submit to punishment meekly and without complaint, i& M; It li f^ ^J, "H-

^H

Kismet

Kismet
ift,

fate, " it is so ordered " (C.) frequently used by Englishmen, =&

An

Eastern word

^ 5^ -^; ^ ^ in - t^ - ^ ^ # bU ^, ^ M 75 m * M.
(iia) (!:
is

Kismet! This

the finger of fate, isn't

it,

my

boy?

^^, &i&m^,^J-iS7F.WmMite

Temple Bar, 1887.

To

fly a

kite

to

sustain

one's credit by obtaining

colloquial

accommodation bills. commercial men,

G.
is

phrase

among

^ ^^,1&^^, 9\-^^ ^{^7i

He may
go bankrupt any day.

only flying a kite at present.

Kith

Kith and kin

(Jason)

relatives,

and connections by marriage

near him
;

(P.),m.mm.M,mmm).
had none
of his relations

no wonder he was no
;t fS

kinder to poor Sir Condy than to his

own

kith or kin.

m
It

IK

P_J

& :^ ia iJ. .R

<S"

^ m, ^ ^ W ^ :t M @. m a -a-

E, i^

ii gj,

M. EdgewoHh.

wag a

sair vex (sore trouble) to a' (all)

her kith and kin.

Kittle

Kittle cattle to shoe a difficult person to manage (F.), fil BB ;^ A; ii #;^ A, 31 ;^ C^). But 1 am not so sure that the young lady is to be counted on.

She

is kittle
jifc

cattle to shoe.
Sir

dfe

A,

^^u

^,

/r;

St ds, e*

M ij #

sfc

m.

G. Eliot.

[214]

KNO
To bow the knee to Baal
:

Knee

conform to the prevailing or fashionable worship of the day (P.) See the Bible, I Kings XIX, 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal,'
to
'

To bow the knee before

In the course

to

submit

to (P.),

{^;M) ^>

of the year 1859 several of those

eminent Frenchmen

who

the knee before the Second Empire had frequent and friendly conversations with Macaulay on the future of their
refused to

bow

unhappy country.

^A^
Knife

^ ^ ^ If *J ^ M * M it m ^,
knifedeadly
strife (P.),

ti

K 1. 5Irevelyan.
;

War

to the

^ fe ^

?E

War

to the knife

now
Reade.

'^mm.^mmi^.

So the strife settled down into a personal affair between Flashman and our youngsters ; a war to the knife, to be fought out in the little cockpit at the end of the bottom passage.
i^ :a #= P e ^ W 15 5 ^ '> A<0 A *, # Hughes. '^^'km^,^m^i^nmi\-s.n-^mm'>. ft

STr

iSt

Knock

A knock-out an auction where the bidders are

lusion (C),

in col,

^, ^T It M, =^

m-m-M-M ^
jHj

tr iit II m) (ta *B JD IS. Jgi ff)-

^E

^m

This was a "knock-out" transaction; twelve buyers had agreed not to bid against one another in the auction room; a conspiracy illegal but ciistoraary.

&m'^^,7bmnmm.m,m'M.^-Y=iA,:s.ni'SL,^
lii-

Reade.

To knock under
Our government
i^

to

submit completely

(F.),

# B&; @

is

not going to knock under because they have

iC>

suffered a few reverses.

^ J* Jg, ^ ;? # a ^ ^ ^ ff, IS W

tB g.

IT.

R. Haggard.

KNO
To knock up (a)
This
1 feel
is

[215]

to fatigue (F.),

^; #,

^ ;^, W. ^t
it

my

only holiday, yet I don't seem to enjoy

the fact
^yamn.

is,

knocked up with
f^ :

my

week's work.
-S'.

ft,

^ ^,

tt

^ ii ^ &.

(6) to

awake by rapping

at the door (P.),

i^ P^

So the

women were knocked up and

H.
Eevely, quoted in
'

set to

blow the

fires.

Edinburgh Review,

'

188S.

To knock on the head to

frustrsite,

break up, destroy

Mr. Hinckley told us some very interesting facts connected with the original survey, * * and knocked several ignorant delusions on
the head.
it 5^ *,

ifSr

Si

S ;t #, # ^ m # n^,

JJt

^ # m.
W.
11. limselt.

To knock
1. (^).

oflP (a) to discontinue (F.),

^;

Jh,

E, Jh

When the varlet knocked off work for the day that he was possessed of a strange manner.
(6)

it

was observed

to cease

work

(F.),

f?X;mX, ^^,fiX (S).

^ X Hf M-

They gradually get the fidgets. This is a real disease while it In the workroom it has got to last, until the time to knock off. lasts.

^X

;i

ft,

j!P

15 nr

,^.

S,

.1^

'f

1*

Besant.

To knock about to
aim (F.), I am no chicken,
good
deal.
-Bl,

wander, travel without definite

and
have knocked about
^r-

mm;m.m,mmM&mn^ (S).
dear,
I
th.c

world a

now

&m'^MJil';m'^mMone is about to be what know To

prudent (C), ^D

mmmm

n- naggavd.

far

sighted

and

^fl

'^

^ Jt It, ^ ^ B ;^ 53,
is

She makes the most and keeps a mean.

,

of

him, because she knows what she

aboat

'

Matthew Arnold.

[216]

uuckle

LAN ^______^ beaten, To knuckle downto acknowledge one's to submit mM;-^nfm.,M^,^A^u K ^ (S).
self
(F.),

We

knockled down under an ounce of indignation.

a*,

^ e 9 .

!S Ji

ftt

^ SS &
;

Blackmore.

To give a man a rap on the knuckles to administer a sharp reproof (C), :fe JD t# t^ ^ ^, MIS, SS K (M).
grossly mistranslated a passage in the Befermo the Bishop were not dead, I would here take the liberty of rapping his knuckles.

The auther has

if

and

L.
Lady

Lady Bountiful
Every one
felt
it

a charitable matron

(P.),

#:^ A;M
of

Lady
J: s&

Bountiful,

that since Mrs. Armytage was playing the part was better that she should go through with it.

iis*

^ ^, a m ^
how
I see

)ffi

5-

J"^^

P^y^-

Xamp
Xand

The lamp To
see

of Phoebus

a poetical name for the sun, ^

to see in

the land lies

'ft

what
for
it.

state matters

are (C),

^
how

?K in
5^, ns

W ;* ^

'tt ft,

' /I .# (^)M. Edgeworth.

Now
i6

the land

lies,

^ 75 *p tt J^ in

^ m 1g &

and I'm sorry

Her hostess clearly perceived * * "how the land lay,' and was exceedingly indignant at the supposed neglect of her favourite.

ft.A,M'^1^K,Wi.kM-

James Payn.

To make the landto come

ship approaches
it

in sight of the land as the

(P.),

from the sea

H ^ 1^

Jlfi

(SO (M

He made

the land the sixth day after leaving Melbourne.

The land

tish phrase.

of the leal heaven (P.) Originally a ScotOn one celebrated occasion Mr. Gladstone used the expression erroneously, as applying to Scotland,

%^i;%m,mmm^i^)i^i^M^m^

LAT
We'll mfeet and aye he fain (loving).

[217]

In the land

of the leal.

i6^'tl6l5cffl^,ja^li:t*aBf.

Baroness Nairne.

Largd

At large (a)
It

free, at liberty (P.),

m^inrm m (X).
together,

9 ^

il

t^J

:^, ft

was thus that the little party in the Prior's Hostel conversed on a footing more confidential and familiar than would have been possible had they been at large in the world without.

;?

tfe

in ji
(6)

:2.

&

&

James Payn.
(P.),

in a wide sense, generally

# jl

"^Ws,^

a;&,j^^(3fi:).

Their (the English people's) interests at large are protected by

their votes. Gladstone.

Lark

To have larks
What
IE
larks

to indulge in boyish tricks (F.), J^

J^

;:

we had when we were

falls

boys!
ilj

S, Si

^ESS

B#, 1= <BJ ag f^

15.

"When the sky

position (c),

we

shall catch larks

an absurd

statement, used to throw ridicule on any fanciful pro-

mmmnM^n;mmm^m^,

The stationary state may turn out after all to be the millennium: economic expectation, but for anything we know the sky may fait and we may be catching larks before that millennium arrives.
of
id?

-BT

^,

J 3c

Larrikin

Late

an Australian rowdy. Derived from the word flay ^ H ^ gl ^ (M f^ *] ;^ B)Used with Late in the daybehind time, too
Larrikin
larh, to
tricks,
;

^ ^ (

m ^ SI *

iiJ

Ift,

J^

JE 3c IS ^, fJ Si Contemporary Review, 1886.

#W

|l

late (C.)

reference to long periods,

^M;M,MR,E.^ (^)
visits to

" I am not goiag

to stand

your eternal

him."

"You have stood them for twenty years? rather late in the day to object now, isn't it?" she retharked coolly.
H. R. Haggard.

[318]

LAW
To laugh
to scorn

Laugh

to treat

with ridicule

(P.),

J^

Lochiel would undoubtedly have laughed the doctrine of nonresistance to scorn.

Macaulay.

To laugh in

one's sleeve to smile inwardly while preserving a serious countenance (P.), Bh ^,

^^

lalughed

His simplicity was very touching. * * "How they must have at you in their sleeves, my poor Willie!" she answered,

pityingly.

K 5^ ^ E,
to

?i^ -BT

S ^ (*

*,

f*

^ 0, ^, ffe^ l.t
JamesPayn.

'&:^^m%nn^m.^,n^i^m1m.. To laugh out of the other corner

be

made

to feel vexation, to

of the mouth have the laugh turned

;;^

against a jeering person (C), {

"Nonsense!"
laugh
o' th'

'1

'fi

^ ^; i A
You'll

said

Adam.
o'

other side

" Let it alone, Ben Cranage. your mouth, then."

ig'

A,

ss t- 0, ja 46 ^, "19 in-t '^

g j 1

;s

?fe

0, ;f

-fii

a f- , M t 1^
O. hliot.

To laugh on the wrong side of one's face miliated(G.),^M;l?-^^M ^

to

be hu-

By-and-by thou wilt laugh on the wrong side of thy

face.
Carlyle.

m n. a?,
Law

-R?

iET'

^ 13 M

i!

%.

A law of the Modes and the Persians an unalterable

We looked upon every trumpery had obtained in the school, as though and Persians.
little
it

custom and liabit which had been a law of the Medes

fiKiM/TtirS^^.
Law-ahiding

ITugfies.

obedient

to the laws (P.),

^ ?i M ?i #,
;

Yet the road is not worthy of this reputation ;jit has of late years become orderly; its present condition is dull and law-abiding.

m ^^^ r- & ^ "^ fa & mw, & ^m'E.m m ^

m^3

Lay

LAf [219] The lay of the land the general features of a tract of
,

country

(P.),

J^

#;

M ^,i%WiitM^ (^)had a very fair idea of the lay of John possessed a small compass

Fortunately, they both of them the land; and, in addition to this, fastened to his watch-chain.

m 'h nm\ McTo lay about one

He'll lay about

S. R. Haggard.

to strike

on

all sides (P.), ;fe

?& ^L

him
f^

to-day.

'

'^

a? eg

ffi

^M

*l ng
;

^.
in consequence

Shakspeare.
,

He lustily

laid about

him but
off.

he was brought to

the ground and his head cut

Bunyan.

To lay byto

save, store

away

(P.),

^ f^; Ft ^, ^ #,
income.

it

He had not yet, been in his power

it is

true, paid off all the mortgages, still less had

to lay

by anything out

of his

g ^ 1$ f ^.
To
lay

Oood Words, 1887.

down
it

the law

to

speak with authority (C),

who had no
Bede.

down the law to a stupid neighbour the best of bis farm, it was also an agreeable variety to learn something from a clever fellow little Adam
Though
was pleasant
to lay

notion

how

to

make

^,mn^M!mm,^^-i^
(P.),

m&m Auuwiik.m 'm w ^,

'C>

^%

m M A, m

Bm

m,

m ia n ^
?<s

s, i^

i^ li

7t

^ ^r
make

^ ii^mm^, a e is, *n ss #- ^
o. Euot.

To lay the corner stone

to

a regular beginning
Wi

m m.
^

m ^; M # ;t i^,
^ #

|i]

^,

S, ^ S, H m,
all

I verily believe she laid the corner-stone of fortune? at that very instant. i?B ft )i^ ?K ;^ sn ;t ^, BP ff jifc B

her future mis-

mm^i&.M. Edgeworlh.

To lay heads together

to consult (C),

mm,mmm)-

S ^; TS fi,
own

Then they laid their heads together, and whispered their version of the story.
Besant.

[220]

LAY
To lay
to heart

to

ponder deeply upon

(P.),

^-

it?*

To do Alice justice, though she listens to such not lay them to heart as she might*
^t 3S
-tii.

lessoias,

she does

Edinburgh Review, 1883.

it

Lay

to thy heart.
:fe.

^ IE

To lay
I

^ lowto

Shakspeare.

bury

(P.),

^;

M. CX).
Shakspeare.

saw her

laid low in her kindred's vault.

^ ^mmm^'l&Mm^TTo lay
I

violent hands on

to

murder

(P.),

f#^ ^
;

Upon

do believe that violent hands were laid the life of this thrice-famed duke.

To lay by the heels

(F.)

to render powerless, to confine

Originally used of imprisonment in the stocks, a

inflicted

punishment

on vagrants and

others.

The

ancles were inclosed in a board, the culprit preserving

a sitting posture,

Tim

mm^\Bm:tm,m^A&^m^.M
!

m;m &, M M, MM, mMi'^)i$b

Poor old Benjy the rheumatiz has much to answer for all through English country sides, but it never played a scurvier trick than in laying thee by the heels.
Hughes. m7(:'j!.m&&,^mmyf:^m,^^mim^To lay one's self out for to direct one's energies towards (P.), - i^> - it;Mm, M ibWi^, mm. m.

"And now," said Mr. Colliber, " you will take chambers in PaliMall ; you will join a club I can get you into as good a one as you have a right to expect; you will drive in your cab to tlie office every day you will lay yourself out for giving dinners.

% W

a iJ 5V
-ffic

* ^,

bT

,11

^ BB ft,

ti

-fi^

- ^,

JBl

H^^
Besant.

To be

laid

up

to

be unwell, to be confined to one's

room with

sickness (C),

Wi?^'^ f&W, I^M

M]^M>

LEA
is

[221]

In the East Indies the genera! remedy of all subjett to the gout, rubbing -with hands till the motion ruise a violent heat about the joints. Where it was chiefly used, no one was ever troubled much or laid up by that disease.

15: gA.

;?:

S.

SirW. TempU.

To lay
(P.),

mm;:^mmm,^B n ^ m, m mmn^ mm,mm i% e, -^ f^isa Ht , ^ (%)

in.

to store for use on an approaching occasion

The

aboriginal peasantry of the neighbourhood were laying in

pikes and knives.

Macaulay.

To lay

it

on

to exaggerate,

to

do anything extra-

vagantly

(F.),

B^M;B^SK,f5SmM,
it

Now you

are laying

on surely he could not get so high a

;

salary.

**S5,SMKS,
Lead

'tel?7!c:;?cS*tt:^tii

To lead one a pretty dance To lead up to to conduct to

fashion
(P.),

see Dance,

^ Wi Dance.

in a gradual or stealthy ^^-m-^ :^W(.;&^^m,&.m

of insidi-

Mr. Fleming * * does not even accuse the incumbent

ously leading

up

to Mariolatry.

M&t!a^M^Leaf

Saturday Review, 1887.

To take a leaf out of another person's bookto imitate him in certain particulars (C), ^M; tP IK
Do you know,
Arminius, I begin to think, and

many
come

people in
for taking

this coimtry begin to think, that the time has almost

a leaf out of your Prussian book.

a^, ^ac^^S^S^t'^E.M^To turn over a new leafto begin

life

^- Arnold.

a different

mode

of

(C),

\&mMM;MMm>tf,m'i'Mm,^^,
new
,

suppose he'll turn over a

of the establishment.

leaf,

now
'fi^

there's a lady at the

head

,^^mA^m,

lg

^ #: M ^

^-

^- ^i^ot-

[222]

LEA
To leak out
whicli
is

Leak

to

become gradually known

(P.),

(of

sometliing

kept a secret)

mM;^MfH E, S &,

It leaked

out that the governor had some private dealings with

this speculator.

To spring a leak

to let in

water

(P.),

m (X)-

7jC;

^ A, ^

Wliether she sprung a leak, I cannot find, Or whether she was overset with wind, But down at once with all her crew she went.

m,

iVAi&mm^-

Dryden.

Leap

Leap-year
year.

a year

of

366 days, occurring every fourth

Ladies are allowed to propose marriage to gentle-

men

during leap-years,

p^^(I^M##:H"@"/^

But
before
;

1 don't

remember any one having given me an engaged

'

ring'

and

it's

not leap-year (the year when ladies propose), neither.

m^^m -k^r-t^l^ ^^J-^mLeast

James Payn.

The

least said the soonest

little

speak

(C),

ifc :fc

mendedit is prudent to a ^ igj :fe, a |ij 1^ ^,

The old lady * * ventured to approach Mr, Benjamin Allen with a few comforting reflections, of which the chief were, that after all, perhaps it was well it was no worse the least said the soonest mended.
;

Mij
lii-

w m m^f^ m.^ ^M~f, ^ ^ ^ ^,

:s s:,

&mm m^

mt Dickens.
is

Leather

Leather and prunella

exterior,

(or prunello)

what
is

on the

non-essential (P.)

Prunella

a cloth used

by shoemakers in making the uppers

gp 51

of boots,

# (^ gp 5^ # ^

?rij:S,

e E B f^ M M )
ffl

Worth makes the man, and want of it the The rest is all but leather or prunello.

fellow:

Pope.

LEF
leather

[223]
likely to sell?
All- the rest ia

The question is, How is the book and pnmdla (does not matter).

^m^nm,m.mMu
M'^V- ^-

^s

# *n m bs e,

s; i^

m ^^mm
(P.),

James Payn.

Leave

To leave
lie

off

(a) to

cease or desist from, to

abandon

his roaring

(John Bull) began to leave off some of his old acquaintance, and bullying about the streets ; he put on a serious air.
Arbuthnol.

ifn

^ f^ W. ^.
(b)

to discontinue

wearing

(P.),

M ^, M^>^ ^>
oflf

He

goes in his doublet and hose and leaves

his wit.

%^-mmm^,m^mmBM-B^m^To leave out

in the cold

Shakspeare.

to

neglect, exclude
Ip)

from

participation in anything (P.),

Pf?;

^^

^'J,

^ IS,
left

When

the next administration was formed, the earl was

mtt

in the cold (got

no cabinet

office).

T^

ft

S JK ]

BSf,

IS

ffl

S 3S

[Sj

K,

?P

^ i^ S-

To leave

in the lurch to abandon, leave a friend in uncomfortable situation (P.), an || ^; ?i]

^^
me

m,mm
"My only excuse," said he, "is that it never occurred to think that Tracy would leave me in the lurch."
RIJ

to

iS . PS

SI

S &

God Words, 1887.

Leek

To

eat or swallow the leek

to

submit

to

what

is

hu-

miliating (C), w^ /p :fc ,

^^

m m m; m^a

3ca'^ E^m^,

m,

E.

^
^

One has heard of 'eating the leek,' but that parison with that meal of the Sepoys at Dustybad. 11 EP Jg 6M^ fli ^, I' rifl

is

nothing in com-

A*#

STr !i^

*W

:t

il,

MM'^M^Hc. &
It

Jo,imes

Payn.
very

large leek (undergo

was certain that he (Mr. Erin) would have to swallow a a very painful mortification) first.

Left

Over the

left

see Over, M^M Over.

L234]

LEG
A left-handed complimenta
apparently meant to
flatter,

saying which, though

really depreciates.

An

unlucky piece of

flattery (P.),

m&m^;&.MZ^
marriage in which the
legal

mix).

left-handed marriage
bride
is

not admitted

to

the same social footing as her

in

husband (P.) These marriages are Germany, f^ ^

and customary

:^

mm m m :tmm(x) iitm m
off,

^^m:tmm; ^M ^m^ ^
i^.

& mm mn
;

Leg

To give leg-bailto run

It is

escape (F.), SI

^ il,

{f}

aMmMm,mm,n^(%)by no means improbable that

active horses
tlie

start

and

under them,

will

marauders, with a good have given leg-hail to (eluded)

their pursuers.

t])

-iil.

Daily Telegraph, 1887.

Even an attorney under which he lives.

may

give leg-bail to (escape

from) the power

Blackmore.

#fiipmiS#^&,^;&B|^S3fi3iS^1&-

On

one's legs

erect,

about to

make a speech (P.),

^ J

He

(Major Scott) was always on his

topic, the merits

and he had only one

legs; he was very tedious; and wrongs of Hastings.

M, ?* ^ H # ^ ! -a.
On
its last

Maeaulay.

legs

about
If

to perish,

ready to

fall (P.),

I entirely agree with your condemnation of the London coal tax. I read with the utmost satisfaction the denunciation of it by Lord

Randolph

Churchill.

he holds to his position the tax must be on

its last legs.

ni:mm^w.mm,--^,'M.mmit\^-^m'mw^ Hamuli %\imm.,^m.^% SB ft ^ m E m j& ^

li! 'Pi,
flij

jit

la

&

iiif

SI

m in.

Gladstone.

Without a leg

to stand

on having

no support

(C),

LEN
And
Why,

[225]

that fool Kimble says the newspaper's talking about peace. the country wouldn't hcwe a leg io stamd on (would be ruined).

mm, KiJ^HB-*W1#W
They compared
one had a
notes,
leg to stand

HSi-t-til)^.

G.Eliot.

and agreed that no system but the separate on (had any chance of succeeding).

To give a leg
Give

to

to help into the saddle (C),

^ Jt l|

me

leg, I say,

John I am not
;

as active as I

used to be.

To stand on
one (c),

one's

own

legs

to

be dependent on no

&B^;:^wmmA,^m-m,Mi^
coiuer.

Persona of their fortune and quality could well have stood upon
their

B'^m^mu^,mmAm,m&^iL^.
To shake a
loose leg

own

legs.

to lead a dissipated
m #
E!

life (S.),

I sui'pose he is tired of that

He's settling down now; he has shaken a loose leg in his time. now.
Kl !a Yt gf S- aS

^,

ffi

iS

;iif>

^ E ii
^>

ft-

To make a leg to bow

ing one leg backward
So in they come

in the old-fashioned way, draw-

(P.),

^ S;
leg.

tT =f SS

If

JE.

each makes his

&.

And
1,1:

flings his

head before.

M p m mmm^-n,
his leg

n m ' ;t.^.

cowper.

He made
#, tt

and went away.

Swift.

BB 3l-

Lend

To lend a hand to
You
They

help (C),

^^ #
;

gfi, frf :fj

*H

l?J,

see the manufacturers.

all

daughters.

Here they are, with their wives and lend a hand, and between them the thing is done.
Besant.

mV-!iSi^

Length

At length (a)
And
numb,

at last, after a long time (P.),

%%;:^
and

till

as she watched, gradually her feet and legs grew cold at lens^th she could feel nothing below her bosom.
fS-,

F g= 2. ^, HJEilt * i? %^-

fSi

*,

^ ^g
-H'-

H'J

H JMT, ^

^- Haggard.

[226]
(b)

LET
to the full extent, omitting

nothing

(P.)>

^ Mi

The newspapers reported

his speech at length.

At

full

length stretched
stretch thy

out to the full extent

(P.),

|g;

# ft, # ^ # J, # ^ @ ft (X).
Here body
at full length.

fi^S?*ISl,

)lli^Jlt*anrft<.

Wordsworth.
(F.), Up;

Let

To

let

on to

pretend, to intimate to people

'1 vow,' said

Mr.
it

Slick, 'I

wish I hadn't
ffi

let

on (allowed people to

know) that I had

A
To

Si)

?E a-,

W ^ ' ^.

at all-'

A it *n 3^ ^ ^ S ^ ^ 5jffaliburton.

let fly or let

drive (a)

to discharge a missile with

force (C), 1]

m-M :k^m^,^m,mijm^,n
there, as I thought

I looked up,
rifle

and

on and

let drive, first

was the calf. So I got with one barrel then with the other.

my

S,MXtk *^(6)

S.R.
:

Haggard.

to

aim a blow

to strike at with violence (C), B^

He let

fly

he made him

let

with such stoutness at the giant's head and his weapon fall out of his hand.

sides, that

m,^tkm^mmmTo
To
let the cat out
let alone
see Cat, |i
fil

Bmyan.
Cat.
(P.),

to leave

unmolested, not to approach

It really

was not poor Aleck's

fault

he

is

gentle as a

lamb when

he

is let

alone.

H. R. Haggard.

To

let

well alone
'>

to refuse
,

to interfere
;

where matters
2>

are already satisfactory (C), nj

M
,

ffi

il rr

mH

I5f

^ M M # Pi M ^ HI ^ a ^ IM l :^ *.
,

LET
Let alone
ISr

[227]
'

^,

itfe

a phrase signifying much -& ^, fe ^ 1^, H :^ m m,

this livelong day, (a copper) to

less
"sr

HM ^^ M
'

(F.),

m,

have not had,

Nor brown

buy a

bit of

one drop to cheer my heart, bread with let alone a tart.

To

let

into

cheat

(S.),

li;

Sfe, ffi

m>

U M, ^ ^
unnoticed

(ffi)-

He was let in for a good hundred pounds by his son's bankruptcy.

To

let slide

to allow

anything

to pass

(S.),

mm.
"I
call this friendly.

asked myself

last night.

come to see me, you are."

or will they let the ragged

Yankee

slide?

Will these boya And hero

Besant and Rice.

To

let go of

anything

to relax

one's hold of

it

(C),

He let go of Bessie in hia preplexity and iaj^JSm^^t.^. -^S^^i^BSfLet be!no matter! (C), li ^; iSJ
Lerni.

fear.

H..R. Haggard.

^ ^, li 5:,

ffi ;$:

Do No

not draw the curtain.

longer shall you gaze on't lest your fancy
it

Paid.

May

think anon
J*
?f: "sr

moves.

n 0,
Leon.

s;

a@
ffi

IS

iij

9:

ii?

a ^ m IS

ia<-

Jj&t be, let

be!

^ 3c 0> fl ^', M
To
let

Sha,Jcspeare.

beto

leave alone (C), :^

M;

Wi

M^^^M
flK.

Would it not be well to her to go hers, in peace ?

let

her be, to give him his way and leave

^ IS a m, . ^
Letter

fir

I& St,

**

:fe l?5.

M PP S

S. a. Haggard.

To the

letter

(P.), ifi iJi;

exactly, following instructions minutely m ^ ^ m ^nix,mm,m^7^m,

-Bj,

[228]

LEV
He was overbearing, harsli, exacting, 'and insisted on his orders being carried out to the letter.

Level

^mm A. Red. letters-see Bed, ^ ^ Red. To do one's level best exert one's
t, iis

A^ ^

ii

M, :^

fi

flj

Besant.

^to

self to
'

the utmost

His Level Best is the name of power (F.) a work by a Mr. Hale, published in Boston in 1877,
of one's

t^m^,wmm
He

gi('^)(.iib

7i

-^ a:s t'\- -b^.

did his level best to get

me

the post.

To have

one's head level to be discreet, to have a well-balanced mind (F.) An American phrase, ?3 Q

m^m,m^miK,mm,mmiam(w.
"The
' '

mm.

jury must be

mad!"

I guess not, Pat. They've the reputation of bfeing a level-headed

lot.'

m'A^m!&>(^m,w^W:
Macmillan's Mag. 1887.

To level up
what
is

to bring
(P.)

what

is

lower to an equality with

higher

First used by

Lord Mayo

in 1869,

The
levelled

up

older officials with smaller salaries applied to have to the salaries of the new-comers.

them

# M> 3- $F e.
To level down to
bring what is higher to an equality with things that are lower (P.), tifc ^^ i^ :^ #, j^
;

n {-xi
The Govenmient, however, did the
the salaries.
reverse; they levelled

down

LIE
Lick

[229]

To

lick into shape ^to give form or method to a person or thing (F.) The phrase owes its origin to the fahle that the cubs of a bear were born shapeless, and were
licked into shape

by their mother, I^ fa f^ ^, -^ :;S. JSR

;

M,mitm^ m^(!^)m^mm m ^ ^^, ^ m ii

He
is

a good-natured, pleaaant young fellow, but needs some

licking into shape (formative discipline).

To

lick the

dustto

fall

in battle (P.)

Old-fashioned,

His enemies

shall lick the dust.

S*^^-

K
To

ft,

1:

Jgi

W t &

lick the spittle ofto crouch before, to be meanly servile towards (F.),

flff#I^A;^A^T>^S,
little.

His heart too great, though fortune

To
PfC

lick

a rascal statesman's
:*:,

spittle.
iff

K i SI ^ BB ^i 38
IS

M JK W El A, W ^

^#

.1,,

BJ

Hfc.

^^fi-

Lie

To give the
When

lie to

to contradict flatly (P.), Hl /^

S^

the indictment performed the the

lie direct.

another traducer went the length of including Margaret in by the assertion that a female relative of Mr. Erin's more delicate work of the autographs, he gave him

^ ^ p S S.
To
lie

James Payn.

into

be in childbed

(P.),

T^&;^ M, M=F,^

(%).

When

Florimel designed to

lie

privately in,

She chose with such prudence her pangs to conceal. That her nurse, nay her midwife, scarce heard her once squeal.

To

lie to

to

be stopped in her course

(of

a ship)

(P.),

[330]

LIF
We now ran plump into a fog, and lay checked the speed of the vessel).
to

(took in the sails and

&^^ m
To
They lay

'Sl

m,

lie to one's

workto work
work and
finished

Mm Vi W m Mn m:fl.
it

Lord Dufenn.
(F.),

vigorously

j^ij i^

to the

by mid-day.

To To

lie

on hand

to

remain unsold

(P.),

^ M H ^; f?
(P.),

lie

on one's hands
lay

to

hang heavily

:^ S
;

Time

on her hands during her son's absence.

Bf -^
,

^?^
To
lie

ffl

Sa

s.
to be the
J^L,

with any one

duty of any one

It lay,

(P.),

to belong to any one, M W] m ^ ^ A H

make
upon them.

M M,

she said, with Henry, to

overtures of conciliation.

The charge

of souls lies

SMS^TJr^^ffiS.
Life

Bacon.

To the

life

exactly,

so as to reproduce the

original

person or scene,

M^MW:;M"^,M "^, mMiW^.

Spectator, 1887.

Victor Hugo, who delighted in that kind of figure, would have painted him to the life.

As

large as life
(P.),

of

the same size as the living being

represented

J^fftAl?,

^^:#/MM;^
-t,

He marched up and down

as large as life

before the street door like a peacock,

and twice

as natural.
?15

m : if F^ . ff, ig

IS

^,

MW.^^,'^^Wi'kWi,MX^To hear a charmed

life

^ JL =t *a

>^:

/h ?!> 1^ Saliburton.

E^

to escape

death in almost a

miraculous manner

(P.),

^^

^l

W'

M'MM ^, U
not a bullet struck

Claverhouse seemed to bear a charmed

life J

him.

LIG
Lift

[231]
or face

To

lift

up the eyes
phrase, 81

to look
;i:

with confidence.

A biblical
1 will ^i
lift

#;

# g,
hills.
"il-

#,

K SI, SI

ft.

up mine eyes unto the

\ii

n &i.l^
shalt

n , S M, m m :&
up thy
face unto

Bible.

Thon
J* 10

E 8S W ^

lift

God.
Bible.

To

lift

up the head

Ilk

to rejoice,

triumph,

biblical

phrase,

^ ^ ^,
shall

JiKB,
he
lifted

m^,

%t

M,

And now
about me.

my head

up above mine enemies round

To

lift

up the heel against

to treat violently (and

ungratefully).

biblical phrase,

jg
up

#;

3^

SSt

WM,

#
me.

He

that eateth bread v/ith

me

hath

lifted

his heel against

own

Talfourd, in the bitterness of his soul, exclaimed that Literature's familiar friend, in whom she trusted, and who had eaten of her

bread,

had

lifted

up

his heel against her.

fl^-f

ft.

* jS B +1, :^ nf if ai * S :t i E S5 *:. Trevelyan. f^Ml:^#, J5KS#^, ai^SS-

mM
lift

jsa

i^

To

up the voice

to

cry aloud in joy or sorrow.

BnC,
::fc

A biblical phrase,
And
They

jg I^; ?1

^ M 1#,
I-

Ji^

P#,

Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

mm^W.m^.
shall
lift
Sfb

Samuel.

up

their voice, they shall sing.

leaiah.

# ^ E 31
To
lift

i^ Pg.

up the horn

to

be arrogant in behaviour.

biblical phrase,

m^:^;M2i^,jl-^,
;

^1:^,13:^^
(proudly).

Lift not

up your horn on high speak not with a Wi Dead.

stiff nech

A dead lift see Dead, ^

Light

To see the
(P.),

light
ffi iH:,

to

be born, come into actual existence

^;

ifi:,

^ .a

Ife

^ ^ Hi H (X)-

LS32J
the light.

LIM
The good brother! But
for

him my poems would never have seen

^-

n R. m m, ^ m f^ w,
To make light of to
regard (P.),
But

n m%, ^mmmn^^-B^.
Besant.

treat as of

no importance,

to dis-

mm;^&^,mnmmmM,^&L
made
light of all plebeian notions,

my

father

"Don't you be
George;
'14

so aggravating, old

man,"

said the good natured

to

"and you, Mr. Meadows,

should

know how

make light of

an old man's tongue."

It

W H ;t ^ S;, W 0, ^ A^, i^^ a, xw^asaj

one's

To stand in To
set light

own

light

see Stand,

by to
by

undervalue, despise

(P.),

^ ^ Stand. ^ || 5
;

He

seta light

his wife's notions.

To bring to light

to disclose,

make known

(P.),

^^

The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light.

To come to light
Come,

to

become known
come thus

(P.),

^ ^ ^ ^,
;

let us go ; these things, Smo.ther her spirits up.

to light,

?KM,S^**,Jlfc^^^jlfcltA,ffi.M*Stt,.

Shakspeare.

Light-fingered gentry

pickpockets, ^ ^ ^ ^ S
See Have,

Like

Had likecame

near

(P.)

Limb

^Z,m^^'^m^m{M. m Have). Limb of the law a member of the legal profession, lawyer m W ; W m, ^ W M ?^ m. (S).
(F.),
creditor over
tions

fMMi^; ^,^
a

Then, when this base-minded limb of the law * * grew to be sole all, he takes him out a custoiiam on all the denomina-

and sub-denominations.

jit,^ n?
I^ 1;

it

#
ffl.

Bip,

te

f^

ft

R t&,

7^ ;g

* fi :^ '>
M. EdgewoHh.

@.

LIO
Line

[233]

Hard

lines

harsh

treatment, undeserved misfortune

It's hard lines (The treatment out embracing my child.

is

harsh), though, to go

away with-

The

line of beauty

the
(P.),

ideal line

formed by a graceful
* * that

curve of any kind

But you know what

'^

Z^ M; MM^miX).
:

mean by

the artistic temperament

way

of taking the line of beauty to get at

what you wish

to do or say.

^ m m, skmmmm
Linked

w.d. mwdu. i^m^Linked sweetness long drawn out something which

'ik

pleases the senses for a considerable time (P.)

;

line

of Milton's often quoted written originally about music,

xmmmW(.zm,Knm^\z).
In notes with many a winding bout Of linked sweetness long drawn out.

Lion

A lion or a great lion a very popular person (C), M;

We (Bulwer and
may
imagine.
iS ?*
Disraeli) are great lions here (at Batli) as

you

* -a,
The

^ tl ^ A ^share

Disraeli.

lion's

a disproportionately large share

will take the first
;

(P.),

See Esop's fable of the lion a wild ass.

who went out hunting with

share" he
said,

"I

" because

am king and the second share,

'

as a partner

with you in .the chase,

- iz^;i^M^,^ 'T ^ ^,

M,

S 36

ffi

IS .n

^ S).
James Pay n.

Mr. and Mrs. Armytage had their bottle of champagne, of which the latter, it was rather ill-naturedly said,, got the lion's share.

^AMWlMZfi^-

[234]
Lip

LIV
To make a
I will
Jlfc

lip

of face (P.),

to have a sullen or mockine expression ^Mm;nm,mf^m (xi

lip at

make a
or

the physician.
tiii

^ la, S af i5
carry a
(S.),

2.-

Shahspeare.

To keep
It' s

stiff

upper

lip

ill-tempered
upper

m^, m^-MBM, ^M^ A (M).

woman
should carry sueh a
stiff

to

be stubborn or

lip

a proper pity such a clever (possess such a bad temper).

To smack one's lips to express satisfaction (F.), :^ Q # ^ ^; # m m ^, M fl fe ^, ^ M Ht M, S

She enjoyed the supremacy
of these

use a very inappropriate (because lips over it.

names exceedingly, and, to common) expression, smacked her

Live

To

live

downto

prove an accusation false by a consis-

tent life (P.),

w Mi)Xin m,^^mm Bm7%m

IIS

He
1&

decided to remain in his situation, and live

^ it

/fC

ffls

W *. *S ^ ^ -, JU ^ IE
anything

down the scandal. ^ &.

self

To

live

up

to

to

prove one's

worthy

of

something excellent by one's life (P.) Punch satirizes an aesthetic man and his wife who, having obtained a fine piece of old blue china, resolved to live up to it,'
'

s 5^ gf a s? :^; fe ip, m #, a a m IB ^ ^ ^mx,'^ a # ^ fn +Bm(^)(fr ^ a m, m ^ - #, m -^ m S a S ^ ^ M *^ A, ^ M B n ^ S).

Ji^
nn

15:

Jia

ffl

nn.

ffii

Liver

White-livered, lily-livered, pigeon-livered, milklivered cowardly; meek -tempered (G.) The liver was considered formerly to be the seat of passion and

bravery,

M A^ ki U)
*a i ii

'fe

fi

*,

Of

-&

^,

^ M . m M S).

S "t ^ M,
S.n.

S 'M)

Curse him, the white-livered Englishman!

n%Km'hUm,m.^Wi-

Haggard.

LON
Go, prick thy face, and over-red thy Thou lily-livered boy.
}ft

[235]
fear,

S ^,

Jit

75

S,

S 7& SS, mIS-

Shakspeare.
gall.

am pigeon-Uvered (too
:^[C

mild in disposition) and lack

S; ai it

S, ai /> Sn

Shakspeare.

Loaf

The loaves and

benefits (P.)

fishes

the actual

profits,

the material

A phrase taken from the New Testament.

Christ fed a multitude with some loaves

fishes.

S ^ K g ^ 1, ^ 1 ig (^) (0? i^siRi^ m HSK /h

;

and a few small Those who followed him not for his teaching but for the mere gratification of their appetites, were said to desire the loaves and fishes, ^ f f^, fJ
'J

temptation of playing the political

the loaves and fishes of
oflBce.

Thenceforward he was rich and independent, and spared the game with any pressing regard to

&'^w^ m
> W\ Wi

^ M M ^-

^ is m :^ i^ A, & &i Wi m ^

^ M. ^m
is
i

M,

Tf.

Edinburgh Review, 1887.

Lock

To lock the stable-door when the steed

to take precautions too late (P.),

stolen
It}

M ^i * ^ IS sp, M ^ :^ a B^ (^). IB ^ 3fc* I, C ^ P^,

Log

Log-rolling laudatory criticisms in literary reviews bestowed on each other by private friends, according a literary practice much to be to a mutual compact

condemned
There
i^
*:

(P.),

2*i^^^J;J]3^Sm^^f^^
no excuse
for literary log-rolling.
It is

is

certainly

detestable offence.

^ ;t

fel,

ffi

S if, a? M ^ a

it , Jifc IR ft S North American Review, 1887.

m.

Loggerheads

To be at loggerheads, to come or fall to loggerheads to quarrel, disagree (0.), M; ffi ilf t!/ %, *a 'f'.
,

couple of travellers that took up an ass,

fell

to loggerheads

which should be his master.

L' Estrange.

Long

In the long run

:^;

eventually, before

all is

over

(P.), 2{

%%:

\,mi^^,mm(X).

[336]
A

liOO
statesman in the
lotig;

run must yield to royal

solicitation.

ftJ*2.A, SS*::?^aWS^l;St.

Trevelyan.

The long and the short

briefly

of a matter

in its most important aspects, the important principle contained in any subject (C), -^ :ft M; But my mother wouldn't parf with him if he was a still worse incumbrance. It isn't that we don't know the long and short of matters, but it's our principle.

a matter viewed M
^K^ *

:P^1S4' :^ M.-faisi^^tStiB;^*.

fiP

-fe

^ m S S, ^

iS: i^>

:^

# *^

+B 8S. i6

It,

G. Eliot.

By

a long chalk

very considerably

(F.),

^; ti,

I^

S.

Soon after Bordeaux she had words, (quarrelled) with the lions. They, in their infernal conceit, thought themselves more attractive than Djek. It is vice versa, and hy a long chalk (very much so), said

Djek and Co.

^ ^ ^, a ^ ig,
Look

a ih ^

ffl

i^

^ Ki A,
1^ ?1;

3t

fiij

:^ ^,

^M

aj.fB35l*aPi-&To look after to attend

lieade.

to (P.),

^ a, M
JiBl

li,

M
&

Politeness of manner and knowledge of the world, should principally be looked after by a tutor.

%A

fif,

t H ^ ft

*,

EB

:*. =61

?^ BS ^

Hit,

99

-ffi:

44 ;i Locke.
CO.),

Look you!--please

observe what I

am

saying

It was a place where professional singers women, too, look you, nearly as bad as dancers, not to say actresses came and sat on a platform and sang for money.

i^m.,K*m^To look alive

promptly

McCarthy.

or look

sharp
alive,'
'

(F.),

tt

M;
it

to hurry, be quick, M t^, ^ J, ^ M (S).

,

act

"Tell young gent to look

Their life, bitter as sharp and learn a good

says guard opening the hindboot.

$ * pa ^ If 0,-ti - d; ^. ^ ^- g ?.
was, would be bitterer
texts.
if

Hughes.

they did not look

many

m^W.^^W:&^'

Beade.

LOO
To look sharp
after

[237]
to

watch carefully

(P.),

-^ J&

The moment I became her sole guardian I had sworn on my knees :sbe should never Mil another man; judge whether I had to look sharp after her.

Blue. To look blue see Blue, To look daggers see Daggers, ^ fH Daggers. To look a person upto visit him (F.),^;KW>^
fjfi

you

But Lucy would have me come and look you up I had rather face a battery of my own cannon.
-fc.

and

I assure

S ?i

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.
jfi

To look

in

upon

to visit informally fC),

Ki;

:36

1^,

"I had no
" Yes
;

idea you

had a

visitor here,

Mrs. Jennynge," he said.

m,-&'^m.^n.,7b-^mmMm^-

Miss Josceline was so good as to look in upon us." James Payn.

To look

in the face to examine boldly, to refuse to shrink from examining (P.), JE ;1@; , /p ^jg,

Sir

or to look

Condy (was) not willing to take them even in the face.

his affairs into his

own hands,

^^SE, feiB,, ^CSi^J-i^lB^lil^^mJlf.

Edgeworth.

It

was many a day, however, before she could look her own mis-

fortune in the face.

James Payn,

To look to to
look to the garden.

take care of

(P.),
;

^m\Mm,nm(X)'
of her servants

She hated to water her flowers now she bade one

m-^fl'JJRMjftTE.^^M-ASiHf^^. That is your look out you musi provide

Reade.

against that

(F.), j{f if

;2;; ig;

S a^

:i

rfn

a,

ip*, jfb

fi:

a a

m i: i li ^ -a.

# if a S ^ m {<r>;^^
itfc

[238]
If

LOO
he chooses to vote for the Devil, that
is

his look out.

To look out
tions, to

to

guard against dangers,

(F.),

to take precau-

be careful

E^ BS; Kf ii,
if it

^ it M E,
does,

:^

Time sometimes brings

out,

its

revenges, and,

you may look

Mrs. Bellamy.

S * H B6

JiB

B.

S.R.

Haggard.

To look over (a) to read over (P.), ^, M W M S(3:). M, S^ *,

Meet presently
BP Bf : at the palace
is,
;

^ # ^ ;|5 ^
look o'er his part ;
:i
for,

every
is.

man

the short and the long

our play

preferred.
J9f

g ft f ^, # A W

^ X. S a - 51, g
^^-,9^^^^^,

(h) to

overlook, allow to pass (P.),

am

willing to look over your fault for this time.

To look

for a needle in a haystack to search after anything with very little chance of finding it (P.),

There is little use searching for ing for a needle in a haystack.

him

in this crowd

it is

like look-

To look through coloured spectacles

judices (P.),

to

see things

not as they really are, but distorted by one's

own

pre-

--lii^Mj^^.fflrS^BgM, ffil^feBR

People who live much by themselves are apt to look at things through coloured spectacles.

To look forward
The children are

to

to expect

with feelings of pleasure

all

looking forward to your

visit.

To look about one to be cautious and wary (0.),

M. IR

LOS
John began
to think it high time to

[239]
hok about him (take
pre-

cautions for the future).

Loose

To

loose one's purse-strings to give money towards some good object (C), JSl it, ^^ 4H Kl; it

M^
(F.),

On

the loose dissipated

Her husband
I fear,

m'^-MWL,^%,W W,

is,

on the loose just now.

A loose fisha dissipated man (F.),

;^

A,

^m

:2;

A,

m^ see

^ ^ ^F J&; ^ ^
fiS:

fit

jg ;^

A,

^ (S).

In short, Mr. Miles was loose

fish.

E BS W 2., ii M Sf l:,
Xose

ffi

S # 1&Tile,

Seade.

Having a tile To lose caste

loose

^ ^ Tile.

of polite people (P.),

to be no longer welcomed in the houses mM; M. m, ^ ^M, ^ A

:=f

He

has quite

lost caste

with religious people since the late scandal.

To

lose heart

to

become

dispirited (P.)j

i&,"

M ^.

MfM,mM.,M.U(X)Deprived of solid support in the rear, the tuen in front will probably lose heart, and be easily driven away or arrested.

^ ^ ;t, J* ^ S &. To lose the dayto

You
will

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

be defeated

(P.),

ft^it;

^W,

the day, those

m n m ^ mm, nc m m mmti^m.m ^ m^~ m ^m m m

H. R. Haggard. /p '^; ^H

be shot, and your houses will be burnt, and if you lose who escape will be driven out of the country.

m,^li!^>f^M.^W:m^PiLoss

To he

at a loss

to be unable to decide (P.),

Jane herself was quite at a loss, quite bewildered to think could possibly have ordered the piano.
Miss Austen.

who

LUC
Love

A love child an illegitimate child (P.), ^ ^ T

It

jg

was generally supposed that he

Tvas a love child of the old earl's.

Love in a cottage

to live in the fashionable

marriage without a income world ^ S ^ IS ^

sufficient
(P.),
;

fi]

Lady Clonbrony had not, for her own part, the slightest notion * * anybody out of Bedlam could prefer, to a good house, a decent equipage, and a, proper establishment, what is called love in a cottage.

how

mmM0.^m^^^There
is

M. Edgeworth.
dislike

no love lost between them

(P.),
;

each other

they ^ ^S ^ K S, S *B ft M, ^ M (^).
Fortnightly Review, 1887.

There is no great love lost between the English Conservative Cabinet and the Bulgarian government.

A labour of love any

of reward,

task done without expectation

it

and

solely for the personal gratification

affords (P.),

^^%^^mm;'mu'ist^,K^m
to

To make love
"And
you're

to

woo, court

(P.),

H, |^ J^ :^

^ j,

e!'ft',:IJi6(S:).
making
love to her, are

you?"

said Cute to the

young smith.

H IS IB ^ d; E A
' '

0,

t'P

IE i^

^ if IK,
g^. /|-

;S:

jlfc

: W.

Yes

tion.
S;j

returned Eichard quickly, for he was nettled by the ques"And we are going to be married on New Year's day."
'

'

g ^ ^ Rl,

183=

;?:'ia,

^ # 0,

S;

)l^

i* 7c

EH
^,

SS Ji -a-

DicUns.

Luck

Down on
"

one's luck

in low
run

spirits (F.),

^ ig;

5|

He

is

down upon

his luck," thought

Hawes.

liucky

To cut

one's lucky

to

off,

decamp

(S.),

3^; 51,

lAJB.
He had better
cut his lucky, or the police will catch him.

Lug

In lug- pawned

(S.),

^ Z ^ ^ B; ^ Z^^> '^ 1'

'

My fiddle is in

hig just novf

To lug into

introduce violently, to dr^g in without

sufficient cause (F.),

^ V$;

"^ S.,

M * A, 3S A,
i

It doesn't matter what the subject is, always proivided that he can lug in the bloated aristocrat and the hated Tory.

Lump

A lump suma sum which includes many small items,

a

^ IS, M !i ^ A Kl H ftsum given

(P.),

Besara.

at

ments

^mMmmMm.^ &zi^M.,m
for * * should

one time

to cover several smaller pay-

^mzmwc(X).
The amounts asked
be granted in a lump sum to
|

the Imperial Government.

Daily Telegraph, 1885.

Having a lump in

^ PB;

51, in

one's throat J^mffi I^ It,

quiet
(I felt

^ tfcS (M).
The lump in

ready

to

weep (C),
my
throat

He grew more grave and

grew larger every moment

and slow.

every

moment

readier to weep).
Belgravia, 1886.

^ (ti * B#
To lump

;?:

iJ lu t 5

&)
(S.)

it

to

put up with

Generally used in the

(ffi)

phrase: S^;

^,

S>

^,

f[ 3S

g 51
it.

(T

^ B^

?I

75

'nimzw)I
?ic

you don't like

it,

you may lump

^ ;p .,

It

ia 3 S S: B5
gti

B.

Lurch

To

leave in the lurch

tion (P.)

to abandon in a helpless condiLeave, see ^ Leave.

ifor

At lurch
pose)

hidden or secreted (generally

a bad pur-

(F.),m^;M:M.MM,mm^,mm,mm{w

To give a lurch

to

tell

lie,

to deceive (S.), Sfe

IS

[S42]

MAI

To have an
:Jfc

M under the girdle to have the courtesy

by the title Mr., Mrs., or Madame (C),
'?{'

to address people

^,

, /h M ^ ^
as a hatter

ifn

ffi;

1^

-M^
(F.),

Mad

As mad
I

crazy, dangerously insane

fellow,

^
as

know him very

a hatter.

well. He's a very good He's called Madman, you know.

but as

mad

^,tkm^
ed
(F.),

&

Hughes.

As mad as March hare dangerously mad,

"Oh,"
said the admiral,

crack-brain-

mu;mm,mmm.,^n m im"then he
is

mad."
in irons

will

a March hare, sir. And I'm afraid putting him make him worse. It is a case for a lunatic asylum."

"As

Like

madin

an excited fashion, hurriedly

(F.), 5^^;

figure that

None would have Jmown the staid, respectable Meadows in this came flying over hedge, and ditch, and brook, his hat

dangling and leaping like

mad

behind him.

To go or run mad
The world
18:

after anything

to conceive a vio-

lent passion for it (C), 45

is

^, -gf j^,

^ ^, ^ (H).
Dryden.
;

running
?!

mad after

farce.

A it

'fi>

S?

^ 6
speech (P.),

Maiden

Maiden speech first

^ M ^ ^ >I ^

He (Lord Byron) was greatly, indeed childishly, elated by lae compliments paid to his maiden speech in the House of Lords.
fft,

3* il fl -a.

Macaulay.

MAK
Mais,

[243]

In

tlie

main, for the main

for the

most part

(P.),

;jc

These new notions concerning coinage have, for the main, been put into -writing above twelve months. /

&mmmmmm.-\'~mMm,Bmt.^^^Make
To make
at

Locke.

to

run or move towards

(P.),

^ S.;^ ^>

Tom rushed at Jacob, and began dragging him back by his smock,
and the master made
at them, scattering forms

and boys in his career.

Hughes.
of, to

^.-s&mmmm.mm^^To make
Now
as
if

as if

to make an appearance
m

feign

(P.),

n mm

Mr. Feeblemind, when they were going out of the door, made he intended to linger. m, i& & f^ i^ ^ Bunyan.

To make away with-

to

put out of the way,

to

remove

The gentlemen had somehow made away with their obstructiveness.

Harper's Mag. 1887.

To make away with

one's self to

commit suicide (P.),

ly,

which disposed several

j^,

The women of Greece were seized with an unaccountable melanchoof them to make away with themselves.
Addison.

To make
(P.),

little

account of to regard

as unimportant

m;mm,^sxnM,^'^^n,B^m&Mm,
council

The

made

little

account of his opposition.

To make believe to
Her view
no
necessary to
of the case

pretend

(C.i,

fP; f^ f^,

# f^, ^
found
it

was that

his Highness' s Secretary, having

belief in the genuineness of his master's pretensions,

"make

believe very

much."
iC-fll-

KPP^^JSl J^M,

mmnm^,^M.mwimm:mmtzM.,^%^ m^, James Payn. S^ti:^^M i

[24:4]
'

MAE
i

To make forto rush

towards

(P.)^

1&

^,

31,, !^I

|5

for

Oil seeing the man, the animal dtopped the woman, and made him but he escaped into the callage.
;

aS

Chambers'! Journal, A W ft ^. To make free with see Free, ^ m Free. To make friendssee Friends, ^ m Friends.

1887.

To make eyes at
amorously
(F.),

or coquet with, B mM m^, M U M^, m,mm,m^n Bt ^mmm m).

to flirt
,
;

to gaze at

U &, B

Many Professors, in her long experience, had come and gone, some of them dismissed for kissing the governesses, and even the maids others for making eyes at the pretty girls-

mmm^x.iS: M.mm'SiS'A,mm*,'^mm,mmiM^
To make
one's

mark see Mark,

^ ^ Mark.
to

To make bricks without straw

work without hav-

ing the necessary materials supplied (P.)

phrase
J^C;

taken from the Bible, Exodus V. 7. f^ t| :J{t :^

told to

People do not look pressed, or in a hurry, or taskmastered, or make bricks without straw.
IK-

M,X^^^mMm^
To make a point of

Besara.

to consider as important,

to take

care not to omit, to be very careful about (P.),

yf^^^

n,

z m iX).
had been Malone
it

a mere reptile, who makes a point of the a matter of importance that the Globe was) a theatre instead of a playhouse.
If it

Globe being (considers

^ m ^ P. s (* ). ri ^ ^. if j& >& n f& s James Payn. ^i^@, BB^TSMB-feTo make off to run away (P.), ^ ii "^, CT Si, ^ ^,
J?; ire
sfr
jei
;

5i m m.

MAK
Lord Wharton crept out
party.
o his sawpit.

[245]
and made
off to his

own

Oentlemen's Mag., 1886.

To make

lig-M

ofsee

Light,

hS Light.

To make

one's self at

home see

Home,

^ M Home.

To make up anything to a person to compensate him' for it, to give him an equivalent for it (P.), WWii
But
I

hope

it is

made up
B'J 5fe "sr

to-

you in another way.

m S6 ss m
gone
?

.a

a IS.
up

^r-s. oiip?ut.ra.

Hafe yon got a supply of friends to make,

for those

who

are

To make up
When
mind
to
I

one's

mind

^to

decide, resolve (P.),

^^;

reached the end of

my

railway journey I

made up my

walk home.
All the Year Round, 1887.

^ ^ Shift. To make waysee Way, ^ ^ Way.

To make shift see
Shift,

To make

one's bread

to earn a living (0.),

M-^;

^ m mi
But
for

you I should be making

so.

my bread

by

this time, or rather

attempting to do

*.

James Payn.

To make out
understand

(a) to

discover, to find out exactly, to

;
,

(P.),

^ # ^ #, # ^t, S PJ ^ # ^,
the most ancient medals from a letter with

Antiquaries

make out

great diflSculty to be discerned'.

n:^ urn
It is
ter).

urn-

Fdton.
her out (understand her charac-

not everybody who can moie

1S&?t.'&,1^m.K^^^%-

Good Words, 1887.

[246]
(6) to

MAK
establish, prove (C), j;

m m mThere
is

^ ^, P BJ,

f!l

PJ,

no truth which a man may more evidently make

out

(prove) to himself, than the existence of a God.

m^S,^,:A^W:mm.
Sometimes
it's

Locke.

why we

haven't

made

out our case yet.

(c)

to contrive (C),

P^J;

fiK

J&, JS

ffc

(M).
stories, it

with foreboding looks and dreary death-bed a wonder the child made out to live through it.

What

was

To make bold

see Bold,

hu Bold.

To make bold with

By
school,

to venture to deal

with

(P.), 1

the time I was twelve years old I had risen into the upper and could make bold with Eutropius and Csesar.
Blachmore.

& ^ St * ^.
To make against

to be unfavourable to (P.),

^^ ^

sion,

There was a keenness about his eye, and an acuteness of expresmuch in favour of the law but the dress, and general bearing
;

of the

man made

against the supposition.

To make free with see Free, ^ ^ Free. To make good to make compensation for, to pay in full (P.), m m, m ^, m &, m m, ^ ^ ^m(X).

On looking into his affairs he found enough to fill him with dismay. Debts, mortgages, mismanaged estates, neglected cottages, the mansion going to ruin, besides all his old arrears to be made good
(paid up).

M^,^^-WM^^^^-

Quarterly Review, 1887.

To make a figure see Figure, ^ gij Figure. To make much ofto treat with great favour

(C),

MAK
As his wife had remarked, he always made much and her importance had risen of late.
'
'

[247]
of

Gwendolen,

To make head

or

headway against
some

to progress, to
5||

strive successfully against

obstacle (P.),
rj,

s it ii, j^ ^, ^ -^ It ^ ja 5i ^ a

j5j

#m @

^
;

Everybody was in terror of his life, and no one was powerful enough to make head against (resist) the freebooters.

3g.
if

Argosy, 1887.

I think, Mr. Goslett, that

to sleep, I might

make headway with

she'd only hold her tongue and go that Case in the morning.

To make up a quarrel to become

He
rel,

friendly (P.), Jp

remembered, in his
to

careless

and that he wanted

make it

up, as he

way, that there had been a quarhad done many a time

gt^^SI, e.*S^^^.

Good Words,
(G.)

1887.
is

To make

it

up

to become friendly

This phrase

found without any previous use of the word quarrel as in the preceding extract, ^H iJl^O M,

^^,^UW,M

mm).
After the old man's death his aona,

who had been long estranged,

made

it

up.

To make up with

to

become reconciled

to, to

regain

the good will of (C),

m # ^ '&;^ :& ^ la P ^,

Many
usage,

a rascally captain has made up with his crew, for hard by allowing them duff twice a week on the passage home.

:t ft, SI !t

#A

Pil

Sc

- ^,

^ ;t @

jifc

ffl i|.=S-

'C^ ;t 7X R. H. Dana.

[248]
To make of-^o

MAN
give a reason for, to account for
(P.), JI^

I began to feel a pain I knew not whcU to make of (which I could not satisfactorily account for) in the same joint of my other foot.

is jR

W SI RS PP

f|.

^. g?

-ai.

SirW.

Temple.

To make over

M^ w m-, m mm^,m^,jE ^ ^ s, # ^ ^j ;& m

to transfer in a legal

manner (P.),

all

Shelley made over to her a part of his income,, and she retained that she received from her own family. .
'

a>

15 Hf

e A 1,

:2.

-SB ^,

^ jE 55 3- *&^m, Mi^-ia e a
Edinburgh Review, 1S8Z.

To make tracks

see Trades, Mj ^ Tracks.

;

Man

Man

alive an exclamation of astonishmeit, used where one hears or imparts startling informatiojn (S.), f^ Pffi

mm
them,

"31

pflj

^ A m, ^

ffl

m m Jt a m^^m^m
will

m)m).
"Haul
quick,
alive."

Ede!" shouted Robinson, "or you

drown

man

^' '

Seade.

You are wasting my time with your silly prattle;" said Meadows sternly. "Man alive! you never made fifty pounds cash since yon
were calved."

To a man

every one

without exception

(P.),

i^

They had, to a man, been willing enough to give their verdict for the old man's execution.

Wl^t^llitia.^M^J!jlfc^A.5EP. H.R.Raggard.

A man of Beliala wicked, depraved person. A scriptural phrase, MA;J^m^^(i:75SSJ5^).

Susan replied Isaac, you are good and^ innocent j you cannot fathom the hearts of tlie wicked. This Meadows is a man of Belial."
!

'

'

'

'

SI

1!

# It ^ a IS &, c.?t a #, ^ A &.

s^

A,

::^si

w fiiK M s A *.ffi
Reade.

MAN A man of Ms word a truthful or

i[249il
reliable person (P.),

He Has promised me the manuscript by man of his word. I am sure to get it.

Saturday, and he

is

of straw an unreal person, a product of the imagination (P.), "^ X; hl^, :^ ^, &t^,

a man
ffl,

:fc

i^

S IS

:?;, aff

* Jl *& ^,

-fife

7J IS

^ arl^, is ft 2,

ifii

^.

M^

This plotter, this deceiver of the innocent, on

whom

you vent

your indignation,

is

a mere

man

of straw.

The

reality is a very peace-

able, inoffensive character.

A man of letters a literary man, an author (P.), '^ A

He had
of letters."

mentioned in the

last five

minutes that he was " a

man

1!rjai2.S-M2.ft,'iaiLB, fB=ift75r^S1'

A.

JamesPayn.
interested in

As a man

of letters.

Lord Byron could not but be

the event of this contest.

W-W^^'^^-

Macaulay.

A man of the worlda

man who

is

well acquainted

with society and the world at large, a terests lie in worldly things (P.),

man whose

in-

^A,mm.w^^A,Ammm:tA,m^^A,
JLAW.
like a

^ M:^-;^^7&
Lord Byron
said

What Mr. Wordsworth had man of the world.

said like a recluse.

^mmmm,mi^mitAM,mw^m&9.m
^Iti^-Ett^tAil".
As a
Mcxaulay.

he was well aware that, when a new arrival comes under discussion in any community, the general tendency
of the world,
is

man

to criticise rather that to

commend.
James Payn.

a fm ib, ^ So ji &. The man in the moon an

ffi

m7iAmmmA,m^m'^^mik^m^,mm^m
imaginary person who in-

habits the

moon

(P.),

m,nMmmm{^^mmmmn^ a^

^M; H ^ A,nWt,

fi-

[250]
in the

MAB.
She don't imow where
it

will take her to,

no more than the man

moon.
SaZiburton.

Every man-jack
exception
(F.),

every man high or

Ji

low, all without

T;

M ^ ^t ^. - #, - ^,

^A,^Ai!ff^(S).
jack

There happened, too, to he a man-of-war in harbour, every manor, rather, every officer-jack of which, with the exception of those

on watch, was there.

Manner

S.R. Haggard. m 'M m-^ 9i; -^ mn ^ ^By no manner of means, not by any manner

of

means
Shall

quite the contrary, in no way, on no account

of oar reasonable de-

mands ?
IS

we submit to this arrogant treatment By no manner of means.

"sr

* &

Maie

To

find a mare's nest to make an absurd discovery, to make a discovery which turns out to be a hoax (P.),

He retired with a profusion of bows and excuses, while Mr. Eeginald Talbot followed in silence at his heels like a whipped dog, who, professing to find a hare in her form, has only found a mare's nest.

m^ ^mwifi m i^ m m m, ^ mw m ^, ^ la
i^

Mi

:^*B^fl!4^*?E* 4>^^.
Shanks's
I

James Payn.

mare the legs (F.), f^M%;l^M'^MM,

am

riding ShanJcs's Tnare (walking) to-day.

Mark

Grey. The grey mare see Orey, ^ To make one's mark to distinguish one's
||ii

self (P.),

The atmosphere of society is scientific and aesthetic, and its bound to be moderately well off, have, for the most part made their mark by their brains.
leaders, although

m.

S m,:fL^Sil ) A.J& t|;t a

.E-tti*.

Edinburgh Betiew, 188S.

MAS God bless the mark!a superstitious

nally used to avert evil.

[251]
utterance, origiit

Afterwards

came

to

have

very

little

meaning="

I beg your pardon,"

Ji 5^

H
my

To be ruled by
master,

my
ifi,

conscience, I should stay with the

Jew
.fc

who (God

bless the

mark)

is

a kind of devil.

IS,

^ K] S; . K ^ H ^ ^A#@SSA.ESS.-lil-

=?

^ 3i * A,
God

3 -^

Shakspeare.

God save the mark

an
it

invocation to

for mercy,

I saw the wound, I saw here on his manly breast.

with

my

eyes

God

save the

mark

;S It

M :t B&
;

ES

^-

Shakspeare.

Beside the
'f' 6tr

mark^inappropriate,
tf*

out of place
'fB :fe,

(P.),

7p

>P

-t,

^ -&, :^ *a a,

J^

iiu

it

&,

There is a circle of elect spirits, to whom the whole strain paper will, it is most likely, seem to be beside the mark.
tl #., ia

of this

^ ^^firTfJ-H^.A, ^ j1 d^ ^ ^

&jlfcSAIS>^iiMS:#ii5ll
Gladstone.

ft'-

Marriage

Marriage lines

a marriage

certificate (C),

M^lM

lines

All she saved from the fire was a and other important papers.

box containing her marriage

Marrow

To go down on
He

one's

marrow-bones
me
till

to kneel

(S.),

shall taste it instead of

he goes down on his marrow-

bones to me.
f^ ft

&.
one's

Reade.

Mash

To make

mash
fall

to

gain a devoted admirer, to

(S.),

have some one

in love with you

'^

In]

:5l

^.^ ^,

^,

# T -^ A, # - ^- 'S A

[252]
You need
fF

MAS
not be so particular about your dress.
Jn

You

have made

your mash (have already an admirer).

B fi T ^ Ig A, S ^

Jifc

SS

fiS

^.

for you, and when he guts among his kind he " mash " he made, and calls you a jolly little thing, and hints at a darker ending than you ever thought of when folly shall have become vice.

He feels contempt

boasts of the

Jl^

iSc.

#,

. 8* #,

JlS JiE

@ ja M -a-

St.

Andrews

Citizen, 1887.

Massacre

The massacre of the innocents

by the Speaker
of a session that of the

the

House

of

Commons

announcement at the end

many
' '

of the useful measures proposed

during

its

course cannot be discussed or passed for

want

of time (P.)

The

historical massacre of the

innocents"

took place at Bethlehem, after the birth of Christ. King Herod who had been told that a babe, destined
to be a king,

for the massacre of every

had been born in that village, gave orders male c^hild therein,
(3it)

^
iff

jsi,

^ ji, ^ s M $, IS ^ M $
a
JSl

^^C (T m 1^ ^
Jffc

S S,

^^
Mast

Bm ;^ il I, m # !
BS BU
ffi ]:

fg,

iif 'It,

^
'S

^ ;i

{ti

)1$ ffi fij

M W J! ^,
sailor (F.)

See Bible, St. Matthew, II.

To serve before the mastto

The
the vessel.

be a

common

sailors' quarters, or forecastle, are

in the

bow

of

Richard Henry Dana has written a wellknow book 'Two Years Before the Mast,' that is, Two years as a common sailor,' "^ 7jC 7jC :^, 5E

'

There was once an

fore the mast.

earl

who went away and became

flk

a sailor beBesant.

*E tS

^ - -a

ffl

-g,

la

S^

7J<.

^.

Matter

MEA [253] A matter of course something which naturally follows

a thing which excites no surprise or attention
(P.),

As
it,

for the certificate

which

Sir

Henry Maine awarded us, we took

I fear, very

much

as a raatter of course.

^it4Jl^ff;tit*-ffii-

Nineteenth Century, 1887.

Great was the good man's horror at finding himself shut out of his own house. Had he been alone, he would have treated it as a matter of course.

B-A.Iij:^llj^S^^.
Matter-of-fact

Sughes.

unimaginative,

prosaic (P.),

-^

M^

Mealy

Mealy-mouthed

soft-spoken, using mild language (C),

plain.

She was a fool to be mealy-mouthed where nature speaks so

L'Estrange.

Mean

To mean well

or

kindly Ijy

to

have friendly intentions

(P.),

towards, to intend to aid or benefit

M;

^ s ;
1

'ft,

MZ^ ^M,m^^m,i'fMm& cx).

Macaulay.

'ff

He had meant well by the cause and the public. Si^jlfc^, J.if]KaS. Kffl:tSI^-

do not think that your cousin means kindly by you.

A mean white a name used in the

without landed property,' '^

Southern

states of

America, and. elsewhere, as in South Africa,

white race are in a minority, to signify
'

when the

a white

man

UM ^; M M H & M
S
il
ijfs i^'

By

all

means

certainly, assuredly (P.),

S>

Mr. Elton, just as he ought, entreated for the permission ing and reading to them again.

of attend-

S If it m,l3 M

f-

^ 4- f- il

*,

36

Ifij

s -^,

[254]
"By
all

MEA
means.

We shall be most happy to consider you one of

Misa Austen.

the party."

By no means certainly

not

(P.),

>i^

^ ^; ^ ^ #,
so

The wine on on the other.

this side of the lake is

by no means

good as that

gi5jlfca?a, HKinfCifeSt^^-JS.

Addism.
fight with
fi J?

Measure

To measure swords with another to

using the sword as a weapon
(P.),

him
Jll,

^ ^ *a @?,
So

St Ji *i

iRi,

^1]

m^m,^m^m,^
bhaispeare.

^J};

we measured swords and

parted.

^MnWTiHiMmWl.To measure
(P.),

one's length on the

;

ground

to fall flat
filr

1^ It

i^ it,

# ^ - ^, ^ # * * iD & (fS

mAm&)(X).
If

you

will

measure your lubber's length again (wish to be thrown

Shahspeare.
(P.),

down

flat again), tarry.

;

taM^fkm^ S ^m -^, BJ :^ iS S ^ ffi IB.

To measure strength

to

engage in a struggle

of

The factions which divided the Prince's camp had an opportunity measuring their strength-

To take the measure of a man's

his character, to decide mentally
fit

foot

to see

what

is
is
fiS fil

how much a man

for or will venture to do (F.),

^M a)(S).
The
of John's foot

^ ^; ^ t^, A on ^,
-fe,
,

natives about Mooifontein had. pretty well taken the measure by this time. His threats were awful, but his perform-

ances were not great.

%nK'^mn

Sii^, mV^^^izl^fJif^S^-

H.R.Haggard.

MEU
Meet

[255]
to

To meet another half-way to come

him on
antagonist in a conciliatory spirit

terms with

the basis of mutual concessions, to treat an

(P.), tlx

^;

^M^

Margaret * * was indignant with her_cousin that he did not respond to his father's kindness with more enthusiasm. "If he had behaved so to me, Willie, I should have met him half-way," she
afterwards said, reprovingly.

^mmn.^m'i& urn, m^-mw:7;r^it^.m,:^m

^,

tarn

>l&

)l

%^

:iL

^-

James Payn.
(P.),

Memento

A memento mori something which recalls death

Strictly speaking, the phrase

memento mori means

re-

^MM) ^M, 5EC::ii*E^, B ^ M ^ ^ P f^ ^ HD 5B C: :^ m ^ % ^ b n).

memher
pt
to die,
ffi

(35:) (Jfb

1 make as good use of head or a memento mori;

it

(thy face) as many a man doth of a death's never see thy face but I think on hell fire.

^ m i^ * 2, A ^Merry To make merry

Shakspeare.

to indulge in laughter

and joking,

to

enjoy one's self (P.), 5

They made merry

^;

^ ^, ft ^, 11 ^ ^ ^,

at the poor farmer's plight.

The king went

the ear).
31!

to

Latham,
fit 2S. ffl

to

make merry with

his

mother and

Meum

Bacon. S ft ^2 ^ S, ^ Meum and tunm my property and thy property (C),

m A *i m).
tory, I forget

re-appeared with the "Nouvelle Heloise," a philosophic hisby whom, a discourse on superstition (vulgarly called Eeligion), by d' Alembert, and one or two works tending to remove the false distinction civilization had invented between mum and tuum

He

and the

classes of society.

^.&.^nmmmA,xM^mminm-^m^Ammmm),
^XM-ia:^?-, 3S3-I^J
Reade.

[256]
Might
resources (P.),

MIL
"With might and main

-with

all

one's energy

and

:?;;

M M # #t, *>&!: iS, ^ M

fox.

With might and main they chased the murderous

Mild

Draw

it

mild

do not exaggerate
milk

(S.),

pT

5i ::fc

MM
-rs,

Milk

To cry over
(c), '^

spilt

to indulge in useless regrets

m M ^; II M m s, ^ n ^, s a t^
no use crying over
1i tl, *5
spilt

But

it's

milk.
Blackmore.

m g

IS

iS^

* &.

That accounts

for the
(F.),

milk in the cocoa-nut

that

explains matters

mWtm U

1 1 B, 1 1 ,^;

He has some land in the settlement belonging to him. That accounts for the milk in the cocoa-nut that explains his anxiety to have us move out there.

Milk-and-"water

tasteless,

having an insipid character,

feeble (C), it 7jC;

M^

^, 1^

M *l ^, * M, M M
Heaae.

A milJc-and-water

bourgeois (timid, feeble-minded citizen).

'-miMMyf:mm&The milk of human kindness natural

pity,

feelings of
;

sympathy, and generosity

iPi 'ft,

(P.),

B :^ ^, fi )s ^ s,
I fear thy nature
It is too full of the

% H it j5 t >&, A ^' mm,n

[Ri 'ft,

milk

of

human

kindness

To

catch the nearest way.

Miller

'

To drown the miller to

thing
(F.),

put too

much

water in anyif:).

7K^;m7KM^,i^^mm^
is

This toddy
Jlfc

?S

m?

not worth drinkingyou' ve drowned the miller. fi, * Ji 7lc Jt , SS Ji i)t.

MIN
Milling

[257]

Milling in the darkmans

murder at night
ficjld,

(S.),

#^

Men

were

men then, and

fought in the open

and there waa

nae milling in the darkmans (no midnight murder).

Mince

To mince matters

to gloze over, to represent in too

(P.), ji

favourable a light, to be mealy-mouthed

j^

But not being a woman much given

to mincing matters, she puts

her meaning beyond a doubt by remarking that she had heard tell people sent to Paris for their gowns, just as though- America wasn't good enough to make one's clothes.

K,mwTsmAmA,^^^mm^m,^m&^A^,mm
yf^it

M ?Kdemolish
(F.),

Edinburgh Review, 1887.

shatter, completely to de-

Mincemeat

To make mincemeat ofto

stroy, to

mM]

m^,Wi^,)l^ ^,

The next speaker made mincemeat

opener in his address.

of the

arguments urged by the

Mind

Mind your eye be

'Perhaps
it

careful

(S.),

nffi

ti; W^ >&,

pf

'M.,^'KizMMM A- iij, n m m m m).

may be so,'
say
I,
'

but mind your^eye, and take care

you don't put your foot in

it.'

ifeSjS^^I^-

Haliburton.

We must mind our eye,

every week.
-^

George

a good many tents are robbed

^,

^ ^ ^ -^ 'h

iC*.

#M

ffl

^, *^

IS tR B :^ d> m.
Reade.

Mint

A mint of moneya large fortune (C), MM,^M,~'

mmm).
She went on as
if

she had a mint of

money

at her elbow.

[358]
Miss

MIS
A miss is as good as a mile a failure is equally a failure whether one comes very near succeeding or not
;

a
as

man

will lose the train equally

by being a minute

by being half-an-hour too

late (G.),

^ :!t,^ M> W SX

Had

the

tie

parted one instant sooner, or had I stood an instant

longer on the yard, I should inevitably have been thrown violently, from the height of ninety or a hundred feet, overboard; or, what is
worse, upon the deck. However, " a miss is as good as a mile;" a saying which sailors very often have occasion to use.

BS IS

-ffi,.

iJ.

^. Dana.

Missing^

The missing link

a creature
is

between a

man and

monkey, whose discovery

necessary to the establish-

ment of Darwin's theory of the descent of men from monkeys (P.) The name is often applied to men who
resemble monkeys,

Mm; ^ M :t i&m

0,

AMR

^ ^b- MM mm.^,w Am
ing
link.'

mm ARmmmm^-M,^mn^mm,wc
urn m.MM'M,
name
of
'

We had a tutor at coUege who rejoiced in the

the miss-

Mistletoe

Kissing under the mistletoe It is usual in England and other countries in the festive Christmas season to hang up a sprig of mistletoe from the ceiling. When a girl passes under the mistletoe she may be kissed. T]ie
practice is a source of

much

merriment,

ffi

^ ^ /^ T

iRl

;^

PJ^, ]:

g TS

'ft

f^ 1^

^ - m &)

Mitten

MON To get the mitten make an

to

[259]
offer of

marriage and

be rejected (C), :^

W f^ mUl MWi ^ M M^ M
0. gave

It is

rumoured that pretty Miss

bim the mitten last month.

To handle without the gloves or without mittens

to treat

unceremoniously, to deal roughly with

(P.),

/p

Modus

A modus

Vivendi

mutual agreement under which

(P.)

people can live in

harmony

[Latin]

49 :^ ;^ $5;

Unofficial conversations take place

modiis Vivendi has been established,

those from China to retire decline to do.

from time to time, but no home companies wanting to their own field exclusively, which they
the

Japan Mail, 1887.

MoUy

A Molly Coddle a pampered or effeminate person (F.),

^ ;^ A,
if

-BI fi& J0l rft

S ^, ^ ^ ^ (^).
much about
going into the Guards

"I don't think I were a man."

I should care

in^Sfe^f^^T-, S!:^SIIAi^'if*

"Why

not?"

"I don't know; I've seen some of them; and I think they are rather Molly Coddles."

^^
Monkey

-tiL.

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

Monkey's allowance

sailors' phrase,

hard blows instead food |g 4^ ^ ^; , ^ S, of

;5:

(S.)

To get

or

have one's monkey up

irritated (S.),

i'C,'

^^

rT jI,

to be enraged or H f* it iB, M
JP*

[260]
He got his the intruder.

MOO
monkey up
-

at this last piece of insdence

and struet

To suck the monkey^(a) to drink rum out of cocoanuts (S.) It is a common practice for sailors to buy
cocoa-nuts, extract the milk,

and

fill

them again with

rum,

mm^^ff:m:^m;mtf:m)(7K^m:;tm
to

mz.mm.
(b)

suck liquor with a straw from casks (S.),

ffc;

I didn't peac/t

(become an informer) at Barbadoes when the men

sucked the monkey.

Month

A month of Sundaysan indefinitely long period (S.),

He could easily have revenged himself by giving me a kick mth heavy shoes on the head or the loina that would have spoiled my running for a month of Sundays.

his

Moon

A moonlight flittinga
tenants

secret departure

by night of

who

are unable to pay the rent of their house

m m. (^).
of

They took a moonlight more in the old country.

flitting

soon

after,

and were never heard

Shooting of moons removal of furniture by night from a house whose tenants wish to defraud the landlord of

bought his houses; I

let his

houses; I told

sponsible tenants;
likely.

I warned

him when shooting

him who were reof moons seemed

S5

ftj

iR

* IF

E6 ;t-

JBemnt.

MOT
More

[261]
(P.),

To be no moreto

be dead
aa,

^.^ ^ ^
Cassius
is

44c. :*: fi?

7 W T M M il
-fi,

T, f^

5E,

M ^"- m,

no more.
!

tfSTr^iSE^You'll have heard that

Shakspeare,

my father is

no more.
Miss Muloch.

Ji 1, ^ iS, t* af

igs ;ir )9f

More and more with a continual M *; ?^ M B, ^ ^ /p B,

J!IB

ft/-

increase (P.), ^,

\ii^m,^.m^

As the blood passeth through narrower channels, the redness disappears more and more.

Morning
Mother

To grey or gray of the morning

see

Omy, ^

hIj

Gray.

Does your mother know you're out:? a quizzical expression used to a person who seems too simple and
childish to take care of himself

S;

il

a,

^ HJ * 1^^:^, >^ S i&, m MK ^il 3C,

(S.),

'^

^tl

"^

my property to track asked me if ' I didn't wish that I might get it back ?' I answered 'To be sure I do! it's what I'm come about.' He smiled and said, Sir, does your mother know that you are
went and told the constable

He

'

out?'
i6!fe-g-2R:S,

3^^^?i5, IB*^1.W,

P^

^ffi^m,g=g:

Mother-wit^
It is

^natural

sagacity, good sense (P.),

% ^D;

extempore, from

my mother- wit.
shakspeare.

ila7bmmmm,^^^'^m.

Mother's apron strings a phrase used to signify watchful maternal care of a child too young and
'

'

thoughtless to take care of

itself (C),

i^HHM^M'T',

Little Smith, fresh from his mother's apron-strings, beaten by the cock of the school, Jones.

is

savagely

^II#,Sto^Jr.

IJ.

R. Haggard.

[262] Mount

MUC
To mount guardto
act as sentinel (P.),

m m

Their destination reached, they picnicked as they had arranged, and then separated, the bride and bridegroom strolling off in one direction, Mildred and Arthur in another, whilst Miss Terry mounted guard over the plates and dishes.

- &,m mm ^h
Mountain

m.,

^ m mm, m "^ m mof a

it

s.r.

Haggard.

To make a mountain
a small matter making

mole-hill

to

magnify
(P.),

unnecessarily important

'

stuff

molehills, as

and nonsense, Segrave! you're making mountains out you always do.'

of

Good Words,

1887.

Mountain-dew Scotch whisky

(F.),

llj

^ (^ ^ M it

,.M)(S). A drop ot mountain-dew is very comforting out on the cold moors.

Mouth

Down in the mouthsee Down, ^ gu Down. By word of mouthverbally (P.), n M; Iff M,

The message was given by word
of

S,
antici(P.),

mouth

it

was not

written.

To have the mouth water

to

have feelings of

pated enjoyment, to look at with intense longing

For 'tis said he lives bravely where he is; yea, many of them that are resolved never to run his hazards, yet have their mouths water at his gains.

Much

Much of a muchness very similar, differing but slightly (C), /fB ^; H :^ ^, ^ jf A ^,^ ^ M M, 'fi *

- f^, %mitWi,i^\^^
The

FhI,

i T JHi:^ 5 iWd.
JS'l

miller's daughter could not believe that high gentry behaved

badly to their wives, but her mother instructed her. "Oh, child, men's men (men are men}; gentle or simple (gentry or common people)
they're

much

of

a muchness."
g.ehoi.

ms,^A^M'^mAMt^Mm,m&im^mit^.

NAI
Muflf

[263]
(F.),

A muff an effeminate, timid person

The other boys mained firm.
called

him a muff

for refusing to go,

but he

re-

Mug

A mug-up to prepare for an examination

lege phrase,

(S.)

col-

j|j

^;

^ #, ^ ^ ta

life

P,

S ii #

must go home and mug-up

for ne;xt Saturday.

Mummy

To beat

mummy to thrash soundly, give a severe drubbing to (c), m fT; fr ^ ^^n,fr ^ mw,frm
to a

The two highwaymen caught the informer and

beat

him

to

mummy.

^ n 3 ^ 1 H is,

Sf

fis fl"

Mump

Mumping-day

the

# 4^ 5E.
which

21st of December, a day on

the poor were accustomed to go about the country begging (F.) To mump is to 'beg' or 'cheat,' ^f H J'El

Mutton

To eat

one's

muttonto

dine

(F.),

#;

IS !^,

-t:

IS,

M
Mr,

"Will you eat your mutton with Williams at the gate of the jail.

me

to-day,

Palmer?"

said

Reade.

Nail

To

nail one's colours to the

nately to surrender (P.),

refuse UM^P^; ^ WlM ^"^M

mast
to

obsti-

"There," he
will

said.

"I've nailed

my

colours to the mast.

lives here."

That

show these gentry that an Englishman

^ A i &
On
the nail

^- ^-

Ii<^9ard.

immediately, without delay

(F.),

IP

flj;

[264]
I'll

NAT
give

you twenty pounds down * *

twenty pounds on the nait.

Sesant.

^nmUd-t^,'^^^^To
hit the nail on the
coffin

head

see Hit,

A nail in one's
strong liquor,

N'ame

t&M i 0; ^A m -'^mia^mm ^ n? i m z m) m. the day for marriage (C), ^ To name the day
gin, whisky, or

hu Hit.

facetious

name

for a glass of

brandy

(S.),

to fix

So, soon after she

named

the day.

To call a person names To take a name in vain

Ij'

Call. see M> use the name thoughtlessCall, gy to

or irreverently, to swear profanely

by the name

(P.),

Thou
I

shalt not take the

name

of the

Lord thy God in vain.

Sible.
its

#Sllf^.always
call

Chancery "it."

would not take

name in

vain

for worlds.

Napping

^ ^. To take

H. B. Haggard.
or

pared, to

catch one napping to find him unpresurprise him when off his guard or asleep (C),
;2:

S
year.

;t,

a A, ^ H, II M m (m
in his bed. S. Bviler.

They took him napping

No, George,

'4i^^%^W.^mmmTom

Weasel won' the caught napping twice the same

:?:

^^
SSli,

7C J 15
,

U M^

# - a ^ A m ^ :^ St. :^ ^
jft
,

Si^Pg^^-Bi.

-Reads.

General Boulanger is an active and energetic minister, and when this war about which everybody is talking does break out, he does not mean France is to be caught napping.

JfeS8?tHf, 7^5&^**Sf'fiffi^:*:&,

^^B#AA

Contemporary Review, 1887.

Nature

In a state of nature naked

TJie

(P.),

# St ^ #, ^I ^M
;

man was found in the cave in

a state of nature,

and raving mad.

NEC
Naught
To
set at

[235]
7P Si; 'P

naught

to disregard (P.).

S #. ^

Be you contented To have a son set your

decrees at naught.
II

^ ^ 1^ na ^ t6 ii t- ?* . f
Ne

^,

H ?* S ^.
'C^

ShaUpeare.

The ne plus ultrathe extreme limit (P.), g H; 7^ KJ, m S, M, ^ j^ -^ :^, ^ *, H it, i^i^, * d^, @

^ mm.

There stood on the Spanish coast a pillar with the words "ne plus ultra" inscribed upon it. After the discovery of America the ne was
taken out.

Of
(to

all

some minds) * *

the pleasures of the exercise of charity, the very greatest is the satisfaction afforded by the fact of the

recipient of our bounty having once occupied a social position equal

or superior to our own.

This

is

the ne plus ultra of the delights of

patronage.

^mmmA,ssw>^Mm^^^m^^T^:^A,&mw:
'IS

Near

^ IS a S ^. The near side

James Payn.

of a horse

the

left side (F.),

;fe

:fe

To be near to be stingy or fi5= SI5 ^, /h m, %i -^

parsimonious (C), :^

^ m).

'IS

With

all

her magnificent conduct as to wasting alcoholic treasure,

she was rather near.

^.

Conway.

Neat

Neat as a pin

very neat and tidy

(F.),

^ ^ ^ W; ^
R.H.Dana.
together
(of

Everything was as neat as a pin in the house.

Neck

^W^^,mm^liia,%y(^fl-ff-^m. Neck and neck keen and close, close

two
|l?,

competitors in a contest)

(P.),

A|

H ^a ^;

in S^

If

new-comers were to bring in the system of neck-and-neck trading.

To break the neck

Break,

of anything

see

Breah,

^ m

[266J

NEP
On the neck ofimmediately
Instantly on the neck of this
bella

after (P.),

I^ SB; :^

fiP,

came news that Fernando and

Isa-

had concluded a

peace.

Neck

or

nothing at

all risks (F.),

W^;

^ i<zWi,

Neck and cropcompletely

(F.),

^B;%^,mM,^
it

item
a

man

Finish h jm like you.

off,

neck and crop

he deserves

for sticking

up

to

Blackmore.

A. stiff

neck

obstinacy in
stiff

Myf'^;

m fj :^,

A scriptural phrase, ^mm0 immm).

sin.
neck.

'|^

Speak not with a

f^ 1* M ff.
Ned

Pscdm

LXXV,

B.

To make one's ned out of to make money from (S.) Ned is a slang word for a guinea, II, ?^ F^ {IS (^).

-fifi

There are a good many people there from other parts, and always have been, who come to make money and nothing else, * * and who intend to up kUlock and off (depart with all their property) as soon aa they have made their ned out of the BJuenoaes.
ft # ^ 3K # K ^ ^, fl m ,^ ^ *J B9 ?K, ^ ^ K it Haliburton. -K^M*^@#41fiK, fiPfiSISifBli-a.
,

/|r

jH;

ffi

SlJ tfc ,

Needle

To get the needle

Take care
lest

to get irritated (S.),

H ^; ^ j^,

he get the needle and send you

off.

Nem

Nem. con. a contraction for neminecontradicente [Latin]

=without a
dissentient voice (C),

IPJ

^;

ffi

;^

m T] m).
This resolution was agreed to nem, eon.
jifc

Ml

S,

Nepture
i

A son of Neptune
god of the

- m M :^ ^
^a

J5S

#.

sailor (P.)

Neptune was the Latin

sea, 7j<:^;

Sg^ jj?,

^ fl BE ^ T, JS^

NEX
process, but are considered as a son of Neptune.

[267]

After once crossing the line, you can never be subjected to the

3E

? &.
one's nest
arf

^.

-ff-

-Dana.

Nest

see Feather, ^ ^ A mare's nest see Mare, ^ Mare.

To feather
ment
it is

Feather.

A nest-eggsomething laid by as a start or commence(C.) In a nest where hens are expected to lay, customary to place a real or imitation egg to tempt the hens to lay others beside it. This egg is called the

nest-egg,

m M; mM,

n\

M,

W ^, ^^ W::tm,m

Books or money

laid for show,

Like nest eggs, to

make

clients lay.

S. Butler.

At present, however, as Margaret reminded her cousin, there was not enough of them though so far as they went they had a material value to become nest-eggs they could not be considered as savings

or capital to any appreciable extent.

;t ft

#, :^ Bl f^

^ * &

<^"'"s

Payn.

Never

Never say

die

don't despair

(S.),

^ "T ^ JE; f^ ^ #
?

and

Will you give him my compliments, sir " tell him I bid him " never say die ?
fg
:5fe

No. 24's compliments,

&

>ft

Si pg

ma,

-s-

=.

+ \a^^M,mwi!iFi>t!<s:^.
Eeade.
(F.),

Newcastle

Newcastle hospitality

roasting a friend to death

(P.) (0.),

Next

Next

to

-nothingalmost nothing
same way, kept
for

^MM^i

Her

table the

next to nothing.

Next door

to

anything

see Door,

^ M Door.

[268J

NIN
Next
one's heart

very dear

to

one

(P.), Sfi '&; IS- *&>

They could talk unreservedly that lay next their hearts.

among

themaelves of the subject

Nicety

To'a nicety

with extreme accuracy jg s ^, ^ ^ /h, 3\ t^ M m f4, 'i^mnm,^^:^

^^exactly,

(P.),

nf

:fe

The room was

all

arranged to a nicety.

Nick

In the nick of time

eiactly
jiB

at the proper

moment (P.),

Things are taking a moat convenient turn, and in the very nick
of time.

'It

g M ^ li a

;^f: :5fe

;?:

^,

;^

^ -^ B*.
JaTties

Payn.

In the nick

exactly

at the proper

moment

(F.),

jg

rJ';

He * * gave us notice in the nick, and I got ready for their reception.
M. Edgeworth.

Old Nick-the devil

And

(S.),

^ ^ ^ M, M ^ H 'M);

the old man began to step out as their way against old Nick.

if

he was leading them on

Haliburton.

Night

A night-cap a
It

warm

drink taken before going to bed

m mi
ffi

Nimrod

A Nimrod-hunter (P.),
ist too,

A;

^ (^).
Murray's Magazine, 1887.

The friend was a mighty Nimrod, mighty traveller, mighty naturalin his way.

&M^^mmA,i^^mmm.mmmmNine

A nine day's wondersomething

more
(P.),

which causes
is

great

excitement for a short time and then

heard of no

:ft,H^*;fiS:^^m,^AaM;S^,

NOB
King Edward.

[269]
it

You'd think

strange

if

I should

marry

her.

Gloucester.

That would be ten days' wonder

That's a day longer than a wonder

at the least.

Clarence.

lasts.

mmmm,i^mWt%B^m,X^-'U^To the nines

Shakspeare.

to perfection, splendidly (F.),

^^

Praising a man's farm

to the

nines (as

if it

#A:tH3E, ^a#SSI^IS!^Bran new, polished

to the nines,

were perfection).
Halihurton.

m if. A
Nine
tempt of
part of a

Jft

i*

3te ?!.

Eeade.

tailors

make a man a

popular saying in con-

tailors (F.)

man, jl

A tailor is often called the ninth ^ :Km:^ 1& ^ ^{^ 75 ^

Nip

To nip a bung

to steal a purse (S.),

^M;MM,1^^,

Meanwhile the cut-purse in the throng, Hath a fair means to nip a bung.
Popular Ballad, 1740.

To nip in the bud to

any mischief
is

destroy at an early stage, before

(P.),

done

tfctf|5Si^;?Bm^fF

From the above

of the rising,

it is

quite clear that the king

of

had ample warning

it

and possessed the means

-ffii.

nipping

in the bud.

^#,

lis

^^

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

No

No go see Go, ^ fly No enda very great

Times are so hard.

Go.

sum, a great deal

(F.),

M i ;M ^,
Reade.

Box

at the opera no end (costs a great sum).

it^SLt\mm,Wi.m^M,mmimx>.'^^-

Nob

A nob of the first watera

(S.)

very high-class personage

Nob

is

a contraction of nobleman, Ji S

^ It #, * ^ A, ;^ n, m % m).

A ^5

[270]
Oae
nobs
of the first

NOM
cornfoitj folk are

banning

to take

an

interest in us: I see

water looking

witti a fatherly ^-ye into

our

affairs.

Noblesse

Noblesse oblige
well

This phrase implies that a

is

a high position

person in constrained to perform his duties

by a sense

of his position; high

rank has

its obli-

gations (P.)

A French phrase, &.^mMM%^S.; Ella spoke most of

a ft t M &, f- S)
James Payn.

Naturally
the poems.
Jib

noblesse oblige, as Felspar hinted

75

i ^,

ftj

7E IS

Jsl

jifc

^ ^ "

^;f

m&

! ig,

flij

Nod

A nod is as good as a wink to

is

a blind horse

there
or do

no use repeating a sign

(F.),

not choose to see

^ -m^ ^'BWi KM'^U

is

to those

who cannot

SiSS :t.S, aWB^y. The land of nodsleep (F.), S;

a*|g, jitBjBAMa^Noggin

Thinks I to myself, a nod

as

good as a wink to a blind

horse.

Haliburton.

Stf

"^

tiil

SU,

The ehildren are now in Ae land of nod (asleep).

To go to noggin-staves to go to pieces, confusion (F.), $4?; "^ {%) E. Silence, or my allegory will go to noggin-staves.

to fall into

Nom

^ f^ , S aa is If Nom de guerre a
[French],

"ii

2,

f,

aiF JSe

E * * ^.
J5f

Klngiley.

name assumed

for a time

(P.)

^nc^.) vmm.

; M Mt , 1^

:^

8,

Hobart, being then a Post-Captain ashore with nothing to do, took a prominent part, under the nom de guerre of " Captain Eoberts."

^,1A'^^M' Nom de plume

(P.)

Spectator, 1887.

fictitious

name assumed by an author

[French]

,mm:t^i- si;jg'i

Mm^M^nx

NOS
Several of the pieces publisbed in 1801 under the
of

[271]
nom deplume
fflt

" Thomas

- =P A W ^ - ,
^"hAMi'tilBfJ^Ifose

Little "

were written before he (Moore) was eighteen.

ffl

a.

^M

ti-h SJ JW fiJ . . >t tl: , S5 Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th. ed.

With, one's nose at the grindstone

hard at work

(C.)

Generally used of mechanical or uninteresting work,

'

The

clerks,

with their noses at the grindstone, and her father

liis

sombre in the dingy room, iworking hard too in

way.'
Mrs. Oliphani.

^.

To snap

one's nose off

to speak in a cross tone to any

(fl.),

one, to address a person sharply

m,^m,m et, m ^ m).

his nose
off,

M '& ^ M

>

JM

"I observe that Mr. John's things have not been laid out for him properly, as they ought to have been," she said suddenly, snapping
as Jervis said.

m.mm,mm^m'^,w]M^smmwt&-

Mrs. oupham.

To measure nosesto meet (F.), @f gl ;M El> *B iS (^)We measured noses at the cross roads.

To make a To turn up
He

person's nose swell

to make him jealous

with contempt upon

one's nose at

to look

has the harsh, arrogant, Prussian way of turning up his nose

at things.

%WiW:'^m,\^^'&mmmy^m^%WiTo put a man's nose out

mortify

M.ArmU.

him

(F,)

of joint to supplant him, This phrase is also found in the

'

form

'

his nose has lost a joint,

SM

tt

I??,

^ S- ^

was jealous of her (the elepbony afraid that she woald get some others as of him, and so another man might be able to work her, and his own nose lose a jcnnt, as the saying is. ifl? te #, i ta A, =^ fti s, Hij li j^ js m. js

He

as fond of

^aaa

ma

[272]

NOS
To cut
nose to spite one's face to act from anger in such a way as deliberately to injure one's self
off one's

If you refuse to go because you are angry with me, you be cutting oft' your nose to spite your face.

will just

a ^ 05 m.
To lead by the nose to
follows you blindly (C),

influence a person so that he

^3; mWir^M ^'S^m M

is

Though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he nose with gold.

often led by the

Shakspedre.

Pepper. To take pepper in the nose^see Pepper, ^ To put or thrust one's nose into other's affairs to

interfere with another person's affairs

unwarrantably

I liked the fool

man

well enough,

and showed

it, if

he hadn't been a

and put

his nose into

my

business.

jdv

^ ^.

Reade.

To wipe a person's nose m. mm, it m,

mm

to cheat him
;

(S.),

^^
of

M,

I've wiped the old men's noses

got a pretty good

sum

money

out of them.

Under
to

one's nose one (C),

^ a
me up

in one's immediate proximity,

hH; M Hi :&
Hii,

close
B,1,

iU

*i

Poetry takes under my nose.

so entirely, that I scarce see what passes

M SS

Hii.

P<ype.

To pay through the nose

He had
Jifa

to

pay an extravagant

price

to

pay through the nose

16

for those curios, I'll warrant.

a 5c IS

^ >f

-ftft

i^

B m J: ^-

NUM
Not
Note

[273J

Not a

bit of it

see Bit,

i^l

Bit.

A note of handa promissory note,

a promise to pay a certain

a paper containing

sum
'

of

money

(P.),

W-'j

"

Why, my dear lad," he cried,

'this

note of

hand of Shakspeare's,

priceless as it is, may

be yet otjtdone by what remains to be discovered.'

Now

Now and thenat

He who
will

intervals,

occasionally (P.)

Used

both of place and time,

/FU^;l^i^^flfi,^ ,^

resolves to walk by the rule of forbearing all revenge, have opportunities every now and then to exercise his forgiving

temper.
^.

Atterhury.

A mead here,
ji

^ - ^ #, ^ -ri * 1 & m,
and without
cordiality.

there a heath, and

now and then a wood.

J.

>t^

* SA ii ^ K.
Vraylon.

He (Lord Byron) now and then

graciously

praised Mr. Coleridge, but un,

Nowhere

To be nowhere
In
edly
fiction, if

to fail to secure a leading place (0.),

we except one or two

historical novels,

which avow-

owe
ifc

their existence to

a laudable admiration

of Scott, Italy ia

literally

nowhere.

'h

M M.M^T'& ^-

^ Bs S-, ^ s; ^ i^ *^ m ir s s It 'h sa-M?iffl

Athenaeum, 1887.
effect, useless (P.)

Null

Null and void

of no

A legal phrase,
will

The document began by stating that the testator's former

null

was

and void.
//. jK.

)^.

Haggard.
Jl",

Number

Number onea person's

'

pelf (0.),

QG
very

:^

ifB,

He

ia

very fond of

number one'=he

is

selfish.

[^41
But
let roe

NUT
hear about yourself Angela; 1

am

tired of

No.

1,

can assure you.

9.

H. R. Haggard.
for everything (S.)

Nunky

Nunky paysthe government pays

The
letters

i^t{n% here stands for Unele, short for 'Uncle Sam.'

property were jocularly read 'Unele Sam.'

Sam
raise

'

government 'Uncle thus came to mean the Government, and gave to the phrase to stand Sam/ which see, tU fi
States
'

U. S'., stamped on United

see that the stern alternaor ruin, dictate the saving of every penny; visit one of the national dockyards, and the commeats you make on any glaring wastefulness are carelessly met by the slang phrase " Nunky pays."
tives, carefulness

Walk through a manufactory, and you

a; ig

M it ^,

)lf

I,

^ 51 tS,

i^ :^

m,

MMM

ffi

^, 1&-

Nut

^^,7l^nimm^^m^,r&Mm^,^^^^- Herbert Speneer. To be nuts toto please greatly (F.), ;^ ^ X ^ B'? ^;

(These) were rmls alike (equally agreeable) to the civilian
planter.

and the

To edge
"nuts

his

way along
its

the crowded paths of

man sympathy to keep

distance,

life, warning all huwas what the knowing one's called

(excessive pleasure)" to Scrooge.

To be nuts on anything
(F.),

mm-,

to be extremely M^n, MM, f^ M,m

fond of

it

iij> CffiT).

My aimt is

awful nuts on Marcus Aurelius.

Wm.

Black.

A hard nut to crack a difieult problem to solve

(C),

mmMm-^z.mm.,mmzm,m^,mm,mm

m.mmmAm

OAB.

[275]

Om the contrary, he HiifliaacMng'liy ffteed a third question, that, namely, of the true wishes of the testator, whose' will had been made kmown some houra before ; aiLd reaUiy this was rather a hard nut to
crack.
-US ::r

fc

^ tg St Jl
a.

i; fr,

:Tr^

m 5, gg * m 2, ra M,
Good Wordi,

Jib

ra

a,

Ji

BJ )* ^ ^ ^.
nutshell

1887.

Nutsliell

To

lie in

to

be capable of easy comprehenJK

sion or solution

(P.),

rI

ft; ^1

M ^,
^

BJ

&,

^
The

There waa. no need, to refer to Heimann or any one else. whole thing lay in a nutshell. T s sa a, gf IS lie g, 3!F ;?: jis ^ A-

&m

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

T asaimiiate
lies

in thai nutsheli

the written to the spoken style: the whole thing (is capable of aolutio.n by that method).

Japan Mail, 1887.

In a nutshell simply and

That one admission
of yours,
'

tersely (P.), if

ill

J 53 f

he

is

almost entirely dependent on

his pen/ states the whole case for

me

in a nutshell.
Garnet Payn.

&.m%^^&^
0.
Oak
Oar
Spiort one's To-

oak

see Sport,

^ ^ Sport.
officiously in other's
(F.),

put in one's oar

to interfere

aflEairs,

to break into a conversation uninvited

lis
is

m (S).
@S
my
BB gC
tft

not the first hand that has caught a lobster, by putting in her oar before her turn, I guess.

She

ii. )|^

#,

/TC

-li

J&.

Haliburtok.

I put

oar in no man's boat,

Thackeray.

l6l^:f=PS*A.*-

To

lie or rest

on one's oars

to cease from hard work,

to take

an

interval of rest (C),

W^ ^M, M-M,^

[276]
I
to rest

OBS
had finished my education. * * So on my oars.
I left Paris,

and went home

To ship oars
for use.

to

place the oars in the rowlocks, ready

A nautical

phrase,

To

mm,mmmmm). toss the oars to raise

M M-M^ M^,^^
phrase,

the oars vertically, for the

purpose of saluting.

A nautical
to

S ^', M IS
^ M; f^ -^j

To unship the oars

remove the oars from the rownautical phrase,

locks or thole-pins.

mmmmmnrmmm).
Oat

To sow
tion

one's

wild oats
(P.),

and excesses

to indulge in youthful dissipaM Wl M^M^, ^ ^^f U,

out to be something

Dunsey'a taste for swopping (exchanging) and betting might turn more than sowing wild oats.
O.
Eliot.

*i'?t^ ]k.-

Ob

Obs and sols

objectiones

et

solutiones (P) (old-fashioned).

(These objections

and proofs were placed in the margin

of theological works),

M^;

"^

^, V^'M, ^i^,

^ Wi
school

Bale,
divinity
;

Erasmus, &c., explode, as a vast ocean of obs and a labyrinth of intricate questions.

sols,

Burton {Anatomy of Melancholy).

Observe

The observed
tion (P.)

of all observers the centre of attrac(A quotation from Shakspeare's Hamlet, Act

in.,sc.

i),ii^^^;^AmM s.-tBmmiX)

children admired him : partly for his beautiful face and silver hair * *; partly for the solemn light in which we beheld him once a

We

week, the observed of

all observers, in

the pulpit.

iJ.

L. Stevenson in Scribner's Mag., 1887,

ODD
Occasion

[277]
at certain times (P.),

On

occasion

when necessary,
to give

Then they went on

once

that very week,

for

down

inatructiong. He was to start at he was to follow certain lines laid his guidance; on occasion he was to act for himself.

him

if

possible;

mmm^, ^ m ni.^,m s^ m m'^FM'^ m, >^ ^

S W ^ #

9^ i^ sk Besant.

I am glad to find you can stand your own trumpeter on occasion, though I wish you would change the tune.

Smollett-

Odd

At odds

(a)

opposed

to, differing

from

(P.),

jfc

M ^
;

He will not fail to notice that he is somewhat at odds with Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Eby, since he not only spells the title of his Society differently from those gentlemen, but divides it into two words, which neither of them is disposed to do.

^Jf :?^

#^#
(6)

-tfi/.

Japan Mail, 1886.

at a disadvantage (P.), :^

ij

^ i, :^ ^ a, g
skilful, that

What
fight at

warrior was there, however famous and odds with him ?

could

Thackeray.

Odds and ends

stray articles, casual pieces of informa-

tion, things picked

up in

different places (P.),

##;Jg

few more odds and ends (stray remarks) before the conclusion
ti:

of this article.

^ ^ Jt 3t

#, J

m S?

jH:

S: *S

Spectator, 1886.

Then there was poor Jacob Dodson, the half witted boy, who ambled about cheerfully, undertaking messages and little helpful odds and ends for every one.

By

long odds

by a great difference, most decidedly

(P.),

IS781

OFF
He' is by long odsda the abte&t of t&e eamdidiates.

No Ckddsit'a of no. consequence (F.), MMl^^^t'^

'

'I

have lost

my hat."
Come
without one.'

' '

No

odds.

/fC^ tf BS

2R. 3!P if

J*

^
of,

Odour

In bad odour

ill

spoken

having a bad reputation

m,nmmm,mA-mmmrefused

Hia father is in bad odour with the town' s-people, through having them a right of way which they claim.

m?tumm<^MA,^^^m.Mm::f:itr&itkyf^mt&Aa.
Odour of sanctity

It was at one time believed that the

The
'

corpse of a holy person emitted a sweet perfume.

He
'

expression

odour of sanetity is now used figuratively died in the odour of sancttfey '^' He died having
'

a saintly reputation/

P MMMMr^li'^ ^W^M
Tf,

Oflf

To be
At

oflF

to refuse to come to an agreement (F.),

his

i^

last

when

hand was on the door they

offered
it.

him

twelve

thousand five hundred. peremptory. If he was

He
off,

begged to consider of they were off.

No, they were

^ ^.
Well
off

Reade.

^in

comfortable circumstances (P.),

^^

/^ 4"

A:tm,^bm,'mmr&m:tm,mnmix).
He seemed to be
very well off as he was.
Miss Austen.

Be

off -with
ss.)

you

go away

(C.)

peremptory order,

" Be off with you'!' Get away, you mins:!"''' he shouted. |9-:A:Snb 0, SSitt*. ^^igi:ag|i H.R. Haggard.

OFF
I

[279]
working', sometimes doing no-

OfTand on
' '

sometimes
'

thing (c),

WLfFWi.m;-m-\-m,ii^mm'^ m)'
;

Dear me!' Now tfeat's very iinterestiing,' said Mr. Joceline "you could have got two shillings a line, if you pteased, tov writing a poem thai took you bow loxijg T
%,

M t if - j^.S fi^ ^
' '

B#.

Well, perhaps two' months,, off and on."

:^

# ^ , :^ *^ S # PS
free
ffi

fla

J-

Ji^mes Payn.

Off-hand(adj .)

M>M ^,

and easy, without stiffness ^ ). j* i^^mmx)(^^UM ^ f^ m,

(P.),

considerable powers of pleasing

Having a bluff off-hand manner, which paissed for heartiness, and when he liked, (he) went down with

the school in general for a good fellow enough.

(adv.)

without prepapation or calculation, immediate-

ly (P.).

^mmm;j^mm,^^m,^nj^,M

He

can give you off-hand any information about the capital you

may want.
The strong-minded Lady Southdown
sals of

quite agreed in both propoher son-in-law, and was foi converting Miss Crawley off-hand.
'>

mib'A
Off by

ffl-

Thackeray.

heart committed
afterwards,.

to

memory

(P.),

^m,mm (^A
day or two

MM, ^^Wi,

Mr. Quirk, in poring, over that page in

the fourth volume of Blackstone's Commentaries, where are to be found the passages which have been already quoted (and which both Quirk and Gammon had got off by heart) * * fancied he had at last hit upon a notable crotchet.

S. Warren.

Off one's
The
fact

head crazed,

distracted (C),

M;
off

Sf i

'I^.

was the excellent old lady was rather

her head with

excitement.

[380]

OIL
To give the
Then back
a good claim.

omce

office

to forewarn, tell

beforehand

(S.),

after

me

I'll

give you the

office.

I'll

mark you
III

out

^
Oh

ftJ

m Ei S 3K, a it ^ M
corruption of oyez

tJ:,

Jiff

fil

Hm

^ i^ ^ a.

Oh Yesa

(listen),

the cry of heralds

making a proclamation

(S.),

WM;W^MW,^M

mean her

Well, then said the crier, 'Oh Yes! Oh Yes! His Majesty's, (I Majesty's) court is now opened.'

Oil

To oil one's old wig

of

England
oil

slang,

make the person drunk. MWi^M At^ ^-^ m)to

(P.),

North

To pour
ters,

on the trouhled watersto

peacemaker

pacify mat-

to act as

^-MM

Wi',

f^ 1^

A,

to

In my telegrams and letters to the Times I did all in my power throw oil on the troubled waters, by explaining mutual misunderstandings and combating the false accusations made on both sides.

S A, ^

,W

m jt t
?i

jHs

^ # ;t ^, g?

ig,

* +i M M #

iffi,

jOf

Jife fSlJ

S-

H. Mackenzie

Wallace.

Used

of the actual process

-'^i^Mm,Mm75^{m

may

fell upon the Arno's deck. I believe this with safety be claimed as one of the earliest recorded instances of the practical application of oil to the troubled waters.

Not a barrel of water

^mmm

Ti

m - myiim-f m,

^mm mm m 7i s^ zm,
Seribner's Mag., 1887.
;

Oil of

palmsmoney
oil

To strike

(S.), vft 7jc

H ^, ^ M, M ^ ().
of petroleum
(P.),

(a) to

come upon a bed

I knew it (the oil) was there, because I'd been in Pennsylvania, and learned the signs; it was only the question whether I should
strike
it.

'~

!l.$^^M>i&^tg'SfejKiIlft:^-

Sesant and Sice.

ONC
(6)

[281]
(S.),

to

make a

valuable discovery of any kind

O.K.

0.

K.

facetious contraction for

^ |B; li

'

all correct '==' all right,'

Out

To hold out the

olive branch
ix).

If}

to

make

overtures of
ffi

reconciliation (P.),

M,Mmmm
Olive

^P

^,

^ fP ^

The suddeu appearance in these circumstances of Chamberlaui with the olive branch in his mouth adds piquancy to the scene.

^ g iH. An olive-brancha
Bessis

Times, 1886.

child (P.),

M;^ ^ ;^ S, SI

ffi

:^

This young olive-branch, notorious under the name of Timothy's Ben * * had advanced beyond the group of women and children.

;i

^J>.

G. Eliot.

On

On

for

anything
for a

ready

to

engage in

it (S.), lit

BD

Are you on

row on the

river ?

Once

Once and
I

for all

finally, irrevocably (P.),

W^S
by

must

tell

you once and

for all that

you

will get nothing

kueeling to me.

m^^m, ^ i& ^ m %, ^- ^ ^

"s.,

^iMK"^H.
JR.

Haggard.

Once upon a time

a somewhat old-fashioned and pedantic phrase used to introduce an incident or story which took place at some indefinite time in the past
(P.),

'^m;^,^^>&'m,^nBmm'm
the year, on Christmas of all the good days Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house.
Dickens.

Once upon a time

Eve old

3&56lcStl5lit-i',^lfe.^^^i^4S^ttS.

Once in a way
occasions (C),

sometimes,
/fT

at long intervals, on rare

# <i
;

-,

F^

*; ^.

^M

Ife

She knew he was might take too much.

of

no drunken kind

yet once in a

tl way

^ (S^)a

man

Blackmore,

[283]
On-ce

OPE
and agaim

repeatedly, often (CJ, JK ^; ~*

tin

S7

have told you once aud .again that you must not smoke in this

room.

One

At one agreed,

in harmony,, of the

same mind

(P.),

^U

tSjIfc-i.&.(3SC).
"We have read treatises by the dozen on style and rhetoric from and tihere is none that we should be inclined ourselves to adopt as a class-book. So far, we are at one with Mr. Morley.
Blair to Bain,

H ^ Sr ^ S6
One horse

iS

*C>

i|j>

ffi

EP-

Journal of Education, 1887.

third-rate, poor, insignificant (S.),

"FIB;^

One of them destroyed Manitoulin, my Mand of the Blest, with a few contemptuous criticisms. It was, he declared, "a very onehorse sort of place "

W. H.

Russell.

O.P.

0. P.

publisher's contraction for *out

)S i^ (M ^).
with a

of print,'

which

see,

Open

With open arms ^gladly,

warm welcome

(P.),

They were both received with open arms by the Mayor and
Dewar.

old

^mmSW^lk^fiiWmWn. An open secret piece of information

^a

Seade.

not formally

declared, yet

known

to every

one

(P.),

:^

^ Bt; M

It

was an open

ecclesiasti-cal

secret thai, almost every one (of Lord Palmerston's appointments) was virtually made by Lord Shaftesbury.

E^^AWIiCjHi iSAff^^^ifi,.
Open as the day
(C),

Leisure Rour, 1887.

^utterly

wi&out deception or hypocrisy

H^

M E;

la

m ^ a, S ^ *a ^, m f^, ^

It

(M)-

OPE
Open
as the day,

[283]
secret of the fact that

he made no

he was alone

in the world.

James Payn.
Arthur, on the other hand, learned quite everything about her, for her life was open as the day.
^ iM JS

^ & *;.

^ B Si eg 5 ^ - ^ S,
-i;)!

fiiJ

JK

as S

H. R. Haggard.

Open sesame a phrase which causes doors to open.

Baba and
the words
the

See

the Arabian Night's Entertainment, the story of Ali

Forty Thieves.

When Ah Baba

uttered

"Open Sesame"

the door of the robbers'

cave opened,

mf^i^w; mm,m^,mm,tJimmf^

The French do not

it

may

of all

believe in love. This is a sweeping statement, be said, but if not accepted as a fundamental truth the surest "open sesames" to the arcana of French society fails the observer.
,

^ R +0,
The

&^M^t^yi^m, m
SSJ

^ tl

iS.

^ m m i^m m^ mi^ mm, m ^ mat Review,

i65l

-ffi/.

National

1887.

spell loses its

it

power J and he who should then hope

to con-

jure with

would

to the door

Arabian tale, which obeyed no sound but " Open Sesame."

much mistaken as Cassim in the when he stood crying, "Open Wheat," "Open Barley,"
find himself as

^,

:;?:

see Ball, ^ fS Ball. An open question fact or doctrine about which ferent opinions are permitted & ff S .^ M^
To open the
ball
a
(P.),
;

P9, ;A:

^ fM P5 ra 48 ?? P5 ;i ^, S '^ ^ # pg, EI P iL n?, 1 P S

iis

i ^.

75r

it i^ p^ 15, /h

-fi/-

Macaulay.

dif-

"Whether the

ed, or sufficiently well led,

Army is suflSciently organised, or sufficiently providmay be an open question.

^ # A,

JHs

ftij

>S

Ai

J?

^Jf

S, 2.

f.a

M m.

Spectator, 1887.

To open the eyes of a parson-^to make him aware the real state of affairs {C), WiWk^;

of

^M^MM^

This 'last flagrant case of injustice opened the commissioner's eyes. *- ffi "S ^, =gf ^J 3C jHs

*^

Kt**-

[284]
Opinion

OUT
To be of opinion

to judge, consider (P.),

^I'Ut&iMt

Gladstone was of opinion that the tax was inexpedient.

Mrs. Sedley * * was of opinion that no power on earth would induce Mr. Sedley to consent to the match between his daughter and the son of a man who had so shamefully, wickedly, and monstrously treated him.

P M * A, ^ if *, ^ ^ SC # la.
tfe

ffi

A -f a*fB^?img.#is,

#^m

Thackeray.

Order

To take order
vision (P.),
Is

to take steps or measures, to

make

pro-

m^mm,i^zm,n:tm^,Mn(X).

to another irresistible

any rule more plain than this, that whoever voluntarily gives power over himaan beings is bound to take order that such power shall not be barbarously abused?

^mA^m.nm:^mmmi^m,m^ni&A,mm&,
^ y.
To take orders
Macaulay.

to

become a clergyman

(P.),

A ^ JP

Though he never could be persuaded

his favourite study.

to take orders, theology waa

Macaviay.

The order of the day

what every one

is

striving after

^ m m).
'

'

dressyourself asfast
is

Think no more of love, but as much as you please of admiration asyoucan;" said Miss Broadhurst, "dress, dress

the order of the day."

Other

a*r,:**IJJ#, 04-0 B3Fji,^.^^1il. M. Edgeworih. The other day lately, some time ago (C), "^ ;ft H

*<h4l.0, PFSSK^II^, ti;?:

S il 2i ^ * S It, If 15 ^

Did. you see what the brigands did to a fellow they caught in Greece the other day 7

S*5l*l&MSIill-A,#^1BI^,^S.
S. S. Haggard.

Out

To be out with any one

the person
(F.),

to

have a disagreement with

yf^mM; ^^0,^

M,^ ^, M Z^

OUT
If

[285]
I shall not visit

you are out with him, then

him.

Out and out

Now, I'm

thoroughly, completely (C), ^^;^M,

proud
of the house as

as

any one.

I believe it's tha

best house in the school, out-and-out.

AAJHjHsMg^, ^a^aibiiiife, #a^jltJl#,

ttJg-isS,g-ffi-

ma

Hughes.

To have

it

out -with any one

see

Rave,

|rl

Have.
"I

Out of the way

Besides, he

odd, quaint, unusual

(P.),

'|g;

our

toil,

I loved,

had always Romething amusing to say that lessened and was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that laughed at, and pitied him.
Goldsmith.

^lt;t^,BS^l,^>si>;faa^.RS5?.ml3i.

Out of sorts

condition (C),

indisposed, not in good bodily or mental ^ W; ^ S, :^ M, ^ ii. # ^ ^ M

sorts,

M'tf^^n m).
I

am

out of
ii>

however, at present
ii

cannot write.
jifc,

Why ?
?;f

I *B

cannot
i
I

tell.

^ ?a *
-fJl.

^ :^ 1^, >P tg fL *,
1

M a in

iJ

# S6 ^

Macaulay.

To out-herod Herod
tyrant,
:fc

to

be extravagant in one's lan(P.)

ffi

guage, to storm as an actor

Herod was a

typical
is-

7f:

M I? (#M
;

A JH

-c

M t)

J^

I fancy " said he, " your praise must be ironical, because in the very two situations you mention I think I have seen that player outherod Herod, or in other words exceed all his extravagance."
' '

,P^

IB ii

iS:

K S # Ji

-at-

Smollett.

Out of place

unsuitable,, improper
of pl^ce.

(P.),

'&;

>P H!,

All this delicate consideration for the feelings of an impecunious

young person was deplorable and out

M' ^1^^^i^^n& ^.

.,

James Payn.

[386]

OUT
Out of pocket (a)
'

actually paid (C),

M^lMUM f^

Ovi-of-pocket expenses.'

(6)

put to expense

(C.).,

^ ^^ H ^, ^ #, B^ # yW-

Mephistopheles, either because lie was a more philosophic spirit or was not the one out of pocket, took the blow more coolly.

He was

both out of pocket and out of

spirits

by that catastrophe.
Thackeray.

see Print, ^ ^ Print. Out of collar without a place. Servants' slang, ^ ^

Out of print
The
Jit.

^m&mm,nm^si,xmmm-

old butler has been out of collar since last autumn.

^- ;^

Out at elbows

see Elbow, ^ fq Elbow. Question, ^ ^ Question. Out of the question or danger Out of the wood escaped from a
see
difficulty

Ji *, B

&

* f^ ^

m.

You

are not out of the wood (safe from danger) yet.

The excess

of

women

over

men makes

it

impossible for
the

all to

be

married Mormonism not being our way out of from this difficulty).

wood

(of escape

- * ^ #),
An

BJ

^ ^ S6 ^ f

4Sl

fi

]Kj

n ^ ft &

out-and-outer a thorough-going fellow, one preeminent in any capacity (S.),

^H^JE^;

M^^
5Si

Master Clive was pronounced an out-and-outer.

Am^m^X^,m^-^m'S^i^AOutrun

Thackeray.

To outrun the constable

A

to

become bankrupt (C),

Reporter,

minute of the Financial Board, published in the Cambridge shows that the University is in danger of outrunning the
9iJ

constable.
-ffXS

}e^?a ^

a SBB M *

IE,

K^A^^ M^H
<(f

IS ;^ l -S-

Joumai

Education, 1887.

P
Over
Over and above

[287]
(P.),

in addition, besides, extra

somehow

^ ^;

Well, she didn't think

(excessively) well-off.

that Zee-Zeet was over and above

English Illustrated Magazine, 1886.

Over and over

^ ,

iiii

frequently, repeatedly S H; # ^ H S M H a # ^ S ^ M (^)

(P.),

She had (heard), though

constant topic.

over and over again.

For

it

was Toby's

Dickens.

Over the

left

understand

t]je

contrary of what

is

said

(S.),ix:5l;R,E 35:^(0).
The cook
you
at
all).
HiJ Jit

will suit

you very well over the

IS

left.

(He

will not suit

^ a: R W BB 1-,
Overland

^S

-e-

i^

(jBi

M^

5f; -e-

i&

wit.

An

overland-farm

Devonshire

dialect,

a farm without any house upon ^ B "k it ^ Bi^-i:}] ^'^'Z

(S.),
.H.

Owl

To take owlto

be offended

M;

tS:,

W ^:

P.
To mind
one's P's

and

Ct's

to be careful in one's be-

haviour (c),

^'m;nn,m^m^,y3.m^^,M

s m).
P's and Q's

Your aunt is a very particular woman, and you must mind your when in her house.

To be p and

qto be of the first quality (F.), H ^;

?.

Ji

Bring in a quart of maUgo, right true, And look, you rogue, that it be p and
ift

iS 41

* B,

=ft

**^

E3 :t

- JB ^ 3K Jt S T/
Rojdands
(1613).

98

^ Ji S Jl ^ S-

L288]
Pace
paces

PAG
To try an animal's
its

paces, to put

an animal through,

to find out

how

it

goes (P.)

ambles,
paces,

trots, canters, gallops

those

A horse walks,
its

are
will

different

which an intending purchaser

examine be-

fore he strikes a bargain,

in

fRi,

^ ^- ^ ^, ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ mm,mM m m (X) (^ ^f ^ -, ^ ^f m,
when
I

I had, in the usual forms,

came

to the fair, put

my

horse

through

all its
Tl]

paces.
JIfF

^S

* Bf,

^ ,S ^ ^ ^ in ^ ^ M.

Goldsmith.
(F.),.

To try a man's paces

to see what are his qualities mm;m^nminm,m^-Pn'u,m^'u^m

We take him (the preacher)
at first

on

trial for

a Sabbath or two,
ff MSaliburton.

to try his paces.

-^

^ ^ S ft
as, to

gin

- M fg ^

i5t.

M ^ iS

To keep pace with

same speed

to keep alongside

of, to (P.),

go at the

progress equally with

MM^

Agriculture (in the States) has kept pace with manufacturing industry, while
it

has far outstripped commerce.

Edinburgh Review, 188S.

Old as 1 am, I feel a pleasure in making any person whom I meet on the way put his horse to the full gallop, to keep pace with

my

ti^otter.

f
Pack

MMm& &<Mm^To talk pack-thread use improper language

,1,

HaliVurton.

to

skilful-

ly disguised

(s.),

Bmm

mm-/^n^7r.M,m:m^%%,x
off, to

(ffi).

To be packing-to go
Now, be packing
;

leave a place (S.),

dfe

^,

do not wish to see you again.

To pack cards to

^m, mm, mm (mi

cheat, to act unfairly (0.), f^

-JSI-

/p

PAI
She has packed cards with Cxsar (entered into a with Caesar).
\

[289]
jJeceitful

compact

m^^ik^lSMcSB^*. To send a man packing to to send him off (F.), ;S ;

Is

STmkspeare.
j

dismiss hiin summarily,

/^ ii,
I'J

51,

:^ li, 1^
Macaulay.

none

of

my lads so

clever as to send this jud^e packing ?

^.P;r>f*ffi^,75^* AH^ibSlltlr^li^y.

Pad
Paddle

A pad in the straw something wrong

fairs

(JF.),

^; ^,

In

To paddle your own canoe to manage your own

without help
(s.),

af-

i^m;&&.^m,^mAm,
I care not at all.

My wants are small, If my debts are paid

when

due.
life.
i

I drive away strife in the ocean of While I paddle my own canoe.

# # il M ^, M S ?f B ^ & i s ^ ^ *M, a^ M S a? =g of *Xt:

ffl ffi

B^. Clifton.

Paddock

To turn paddock

A
Paddy
Pagoda

to haddock provincial Norfolk phrase, :{^^;^M>

to

dissipate

property.

ClM,

M M^

A Paddysee Pat, M ^ Pat.

To shake the pagoda-tree
easy way.

An

to gain a fortune in an Anglo-Indian phrase, ^ M;

^@

Pair

A pair of stairs a flight of stairs,

To pair

a staircase

(P.),

i^

(a) (of a member of Parliamtent) to abstain oflf from voting, having made an arrangement with a member of the opposite side that he shall also abstain. (P.) A customary Parliamentary practice, ffi^; "J

m&mzm,^m^m^m^-A,m^mm'

[390]
(6)

PAN
to take as a partner (P.),
off

A 1^;

'S'

#,

f^

# (X).

He paired

with Miss Sedley, and Jos squeezed through the

gate into the gardens with Eehecca on his' arm.

ft ?

@.

Thackeray.

Pale

To leap the pale

one's income

to get into debt,

IS

to

spend more than

||,

(S.),

5 S H; ft Jil

M ^ in

Ul,

Faint

To palm

off

anything

to pass

anything under
^M

false

pretences, to get another to accept ignorantly a false

article (P.),

tS

gfe;

fri,

E :^ ^,

JSl

iS fL

Once upon a time a Scotchman made a great impression on the mind in Natal by palming off some thousands of florins among them at the nominal value of half-a-crown.
simple native

*^4i,miSA,M'^AW^IB;f:S;.
To bear the palm
palm
leaf or

S. R. Haggard.

to be pre-eminent (P.)

The

leaves

of the palm-tree were used as symbols of victory.

A
{{{

branch was carried before a conqueror,

A m m Mm,mmrw^- m, ^m^^^^mm

It was certain that, with Mr. Freeman for editor, the essential element of illustrative maps would not be neglected, but his own which are admirably selected bear the palm.

mmM,m^ti^t.M,:fiimmW^m-

Athenaeum, 1887.

Of man's miraculous mistakes, this bears the palm.

Palm

oil
'

money
JL
;

(P.)

So called because
Psr

it

'greases the
vft

palm,

* 51 m il,
to

^ , e

7JC

^ A. ff S*,

Fan.

To pan out to result,

I

appear in the consequences

pan out

(S-)f

mean

to wait,

and

see

how

things

before I invest

more

capital.

PAR
To savour of the pan see
Savour,

[291]

^ ^ Savour.
in a very

Pap

Pap with a hatchet kindness

done

rough

He means

well,

but his kindness

is

pap with a hatchet.

Paper

A paper lorda lord of justiciary,

title

a judge bearing the

of lord (C.)

Scotch phrase, IK Jb Hi

@;

^^

A paper wara dispute carried on

mm).
Pari
Pari passu

in writing (C),

simultaneously, in a
^
UT-

like degree.

A Latin

phrase-, HT^

Ml - W,

'^U

m,

M^

(t^ ^)-

Again, assuming that English composition was taught in the lowest forms, and some way up the school, should it be carried on pari passu with Latin up to the sixth?

Journal of Education, 1887

Parish
Parsnip

To come upon the parish

see

Come,

Hfj

Come.
do not

Fine words butter no parsnips

clothe or feed the persons to

fair promises

whom

they are

made (C),

Who was the blundering idiot who said that "fine words butter no parsnips ? " Hall the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no otl\er sauc^.,

^
Part

SE

g, '^ B

A If g n {i, *'if: ITS, tUTJ^ir:^, ^flATirf^jHj I& # a ^ 5* v* ae H; m *, ^ W A # If,

==
flB

16-.

'

'

'

Thackeray.

Part and parcel an essential part, what is inseparably bound up with something else (P.), M; M^i'lSi

[292]
erously for the sick

PAR
gave their money that day gladly and genand the needy, they should make the oflfering hut part and parcel with the larger ofifering of living minds and hearts laid continually through the Spirit on the altar at once of the Father and the'Sori.

WMle therefore they

Re- C. Strong. ^mJ-m^ an able man (P.\ A man of parts fb A; ^ M. ^,

iif

The occasion was one which required a man

parts to hold the oflBce.

of experience

and

^
Parti

Jfc

Bf t-.S

mMl^^^,&i^&^-

Edinburgh Review, 1886.

Parti pris poused (P.)

prejudice, fondness for a cause already es-

A French

phrase, 3l

^ # ^. ^, t^
;

still, after making allowance for parti extended inquiry, the book is valuable.

pris,

and

for

some lack

of

Atkenaeum, 1887.

Parthian

A Parthian shafta

last shot,

a parting missile (P.)

to shoot

The Parthians, it is said, were accustomed while retiring on horseback at full speed, M.

^^M

^A,mMmm,m'^m,^}^mmmA}.
Aunt Esther was
fly at

a venture "I see that it had also food for thought in it.

right there,
is

and that Parthian

the poet

shaft she

had

let

who

is

the favourite"

^ &.
Her pupil rushed
after her, giving

James Payn.

upon her own account a Par-

thian glance of wrath and indignation around the circle as she did so.

^^ti^^^s, ^iiffjts, isiam*, #ifias

BJ^M'i' iSl^BIIW.
Murray's Magazine, 1887.

Becky watched her marching off, with a smile upon her lip. She had the keenest sense of humour, and the Parthian look which the
retreating Mrs.

O'Dowd

flung over her shoulder almost upset Mrs.

Crawley's gravity.

9i

^ ^--

Thackeray.

PAS
Pas

[293]
the right to go before (P.)

The pas
.

French,

the preference, ^ ^; ^,
fi

:Jfc

^,

ffi:Jfe ffi

:)(?*
was

^ 15).

Such a dignified circumstance as pas over all minor occurrences.

this, I say,

entitled to the

Thackeray.

Pass

To pass by
excuse
It

to overlook, to refrain

from punishing,

to

(P.),

mm; Wl^, 'i!^^m, %^, Bm, :k B

if

happen

conduces much to our content, to our trouble.

we pass by those things which

M'M ^God may

pass

Jeremy Taylor.

by

single sinners in this world.

^fi:WmmmA,^^ii.
To pass muster
good not
Your
to

TUloUon.
to

to bear examination, be rejected (C), M;

be sufficiently

^ ^,'^

^^ "^
f^ f^;

excuse, I fear, won't pass muster (will be rejected).

To pass

one's self

ofiF

as to

pretend to be

(P.),

They pass themselves

off as

an old married couple.

James Payn.

To pass offto ^ U, S, Ve-

F^

* ^- ^ Si-

cease, to be discontinued (P.),

^ {%)
sr.eer or

Jh;^, Wt
knelt

For a few nights there was a down, but this passed off soon.

a laugh

when he

^%XMM,^To come
to a pretty pass

Hughes.

to be in a

bad

state (C),

Things are coming to a pretty pass when you take

not being in earnest.

me

to task for

Passage

A passage
ful (P.),

of arms

a dispute, a

quarrel real or play-

immm^MiE) (X).
^iSr

^m;^m-m,^- m, =& m
M ^, - ^ ^
ffl

^m

As for Mrs. A. and Mrs. B. it seemed as if they were miable to encounter one another without a passage of arms.

Zi

IS,

iEf.

S ^ m #.
Good Words, 1887.

[294]
Passing Passing

PAV
very wealthy <P.) Passing rich. used as an intensive by Shakspeare,

m,ms.m,mn, w- m cx).
A man
^M(he was to
rich
all

is
;

frequently

:g

^,

^M

the country dear,

And passing

on forty pounds a year.

Goldsmith,

Pat

Pat, Paddy, or

Paddy Whack

an

Irishman

(F.)

Abridged from Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Patrick is very commonly used as a Christian name in Ireland. In the United States Mick (a contraction of
Michael)
is

used for Irishmen, and Biddy (from Bridget)

W M A {^} (MW M A :t A,^mB&:M^^,^^m'^m%,xmmv^

for Irishwomen, E,

m.;M

mm AM mm, warn mmzm mi

Here's fun! Let the Pats have
it

about their

ears.

mmmm,m^n&m{&mmA)w.^^m:t.
Patch

Hughes.

Not

to be a patch on another person to be in no way comparable to him (F.), ^'^;^S5:SI^Mflf,

f^

^ in, :^it,yfm it, :^-mR,^myt ^cm.

Beade.

He is not a patch
appearance).

on you for looks (much inferior to you in personal

^^m,m:^^mPatrimony

The patrimony

of St.

Peterthe States

of the

Church;

the land formerly subject to the Pope

(P.),

m.^mm,^mmmmixi.
Patter

^M.MM'
(S.),

To patter
Paul Pry

flash

mm;mmm::Z^ n,mmmzn mm.

to talk thieves'

language

f^

^^

Paul

an

inquisitive person (C),

mm&f^mm,'^mmA,mm^i^zA mi
^RIIIf^B^^lS:
Pave
Macaulay.

lS-Mf^^A;f[

He (Boswell) was a slave proud of his servility; a Paul Pry, convinced that his own. curiosity and garrulity were virtues.

To pave the "way

way

for

to

make ready

for,

prepare the

for, to facilitate

the introduction of

(P.),

^^;^

PAY
It

[295]
title.

might open and prepare a way to his own

abolition of purchase in the

j!fc^^!i?^mgQBSffiifejtil&The
reforms.

Bacon.
for further

army paved the way

^-^^mffiSirA^,

7JS:-^al!cH^ll@^fe.
(F.),

Pay

To pay out
Did you

to

have satisfaction or revenge from

see

Greece the other day for

what the brigands did to a fellow they caught in whom they wanted ransom? First they

sent his ear to his friends, then his nose, then his foot, and, last of all his head. Well, dear Anne, that is just how I am going to pay

you

out.

S # 5a ^

5fc

^ Ji, Jl f# - A, li ^ IS #C, m ^ ^ M tB #, J*
m,
If, -BT

a JE, ^ ^ 9J ^ "t

S S M,

Jib

S6 ^ S

?ft

^ ft -a.

H. R. Haggard.

To pay court to show

flattering attentions (P.),

^ ^;
first

The very circumstance of his having paid no court to her at operated in his favour.
^.

M.

Edgeivorth.

To pay the debt

of

natureto die (P.), Jg;

^^

Coleridge is just dead, having lived just long enough to close the eyes of Wordsworth, who paid the debt of nature but a week or two
before.

-ffii@SS82.ft,11tli^^5E#EB^aBISjffiB.

C.

Lamb.

To pay

one's

way to

going into debt, to

of debt (P.),

pay one's daily expenses without meet one's obligations, to live free

A &. M ^i m m - M m, ^ xm,
his way.

But

it

may

be said as a rule, that every Englishmen in the

Duka

of Wellington's

army paid

g ^ ^.
A
his

Ihaekeray.

British merchant

sngar and yards of

have to sell a great many pounds of calico before he can have earned enough to pay
will

way.
Spectator, 1887.

^^%.

[296]

PEA
To pay the piper To keep the peace
frain

Peace

Piper, ^ ^ Piper. a phrase, signifying

see
legal
'

'

to re-

from causing a disturbance.' A man who has been guilty of an ofiFence, for instance a man who has threatened another with violence, is bound over to keep the peace for a certain peridd under heavy penalties,
'

S SI *

(jH:

;^ ?*

# H, in ^- - A?E ^, ^ ^ Ja

Bound over
7t

to the peace obliged to be well-behaved, under severe penalties in case of misbehaviour (P.),

^ #; ^ ^ ^

pp,

j&

ffi

fi,

?i

^ ^mmm

Mr. Layard, one a daring and somewhat reckless opponent of government and governments * * had been bound over to the peace, quietly enmeshed in the discipline of subordinate office.

t^:^-iXWLm,mmWL'^^Wim^m^m^To hold one's peace to keep quiet, to

J-

McCarthy.
(P.),

be silent

She said and held her peace Sad from the cave.
;

Aeneas went

Peace at any price

iticians in the

the name given to a party of polEnglish parliament who object to war

(P.),

under

all

conditions

^iP^i^S^Sj^^

The well-educated, thoughtful middle class, who knew how much wordly happiness depends on a regular income, moderate taxation and a comfortable home, supplied most of the advocates of "peace," as it was scornfully said, "at any price."
of

#,

jiff

IS

IS So

Peach

To peach

IBJ, J*l ;?: gfc IBS

# -a.

/.

McCarthy.
(S.)
"g"

^to

carry information, to be a tell-tale

(Used with the prepositions against and upon),

It
iHl

was the lad who had peached upon him about the grocer's cart.
<i,

^ S, a *S g ^ ^.

fiP

Jlfc

S -a-

ThMkeray.

PEG
He
to fag for them,

[297]

never dared join us, and used to toady the bullies by offering and peaching against us.
Hughes.
is

Pearl

^,l^X^M,Mm,S.m^:^&.^^:tm^^^. To cast pearls before swine to give what

to those

precious

who

are unable to understand

its

value (P.)

A
P!,

biblical phrase, PJ

S^ Bf !S;

Hi*

5i

^,

^ |g #

Through him the captain offered them fifteen dollars a month, and one month's pay in advance; but it was like throwing pearls
before swine.

-laJss, ig^^spp^g^is,
Pecker
One's pecker

^sMijaM^BS^fe-aij.

H. Dam.

one's nose
;

(S.),

To keep up
spirits (s.),

one's pecker

^ (^).
be cheerful, keep in good
right to-morrow.

to

mm^'t\;Mm,^m,^Mib' mReade.
irritate or displease

Keep up your pecker, man you will be all A, Sc ;?: rT Ft 4\ M BJI f- BP M 1 ^.

To put up another's pecker to

He

of that,

thinks he can do what he likes with me. I am not quite sure if he puts up my pecker. bT IS it IB iJ #fi;, -bT St SK K'J ^ j.

aM

^m

a ^*

Peep

Peep of day
He came
ia
at

the
peep

first

appearance of day

(P.),

^ 5B

S^

of day.

m M ?R

ill-

Peeper

To

close one's peepers

to shut one's eyes (S.), P0

T
the
at

The next question was how long they should wait to inmates close their peepers.

let

^^
^.

P^, iJ

m ^ ^ M S # ]i M Bf

ffi

m ^ *,

ifl

nfi

Reade.

Peg

A peg a

drink of brandy and water (S.) An Eastern The full expression is a peg in one's coffin,' phrase. from the deadly effects of drink on Europeans in East'

ern countries,
;*:

yfc

f It
;

# fT, & M ^
ifi
IBl

^JClPl

1^

(ffi)

B0 *M

e1

il&

ii 7X

1^ mi

it

^fl

ffi

[S980
,

PEN
Allow me to mix you a peg; generous view of the matter.
it will

enable ydu to take a more

'

To peg away to persevere (S.),^ ^, ^:^mw! (ft).

"Peg away, Bob,"
ingly.

J];

ffl

:^,

?S[ iS:

said

Mr. Allen

to his

companion, encourag:

To take one down a peg^ to

sions, to humiliate

lower a person's preten-

him

(F.),

W'fffefi^^i^Jf'ftfe,

Hi

The

brilliant

young

athlete

wanted taking dowii a peg.

Literary World, 1882.

To come down a peg to be lowered or humiliated (F.), i^ A Hi M; S ri ^, W T tt, S E, ^J ^ ? Cir).

Well he has come down a peg or two, that's
like
it.

all,

and he don't
Haggard.
(F.),

1&:^]&mmmm.%,^m%:^m'iBi-

mn.

Penny

A pretty penny^a large sum,

pretty
'

much money
to

-^

The owner had spent what he was wont penny on his books.

term playfully, a

G. Eliot.

A penny-dreadful the name given

to

newspapers de-

voted to the publication of accounts of murders, outrages, and such sensational news (F.), ^; fg

g^^

'

'

You

fiend in

human

form, what

is it,

I wonder, that has kept

!

me

from destroying you and myself too ? Oh you need not laugh; I have the means to do it if I choose; I have had them for
so long

twenty years."

George laughed again, hoarsely. "Quite penny-dreadful, I declare (you speak, I assure you, in the style of a cheap sensational newspaper)."

BiR. Haggard,

PEN"
Of
in
fuls.'

[300]'

all thfese

there

is

what may

for

want

of a better title

more than an abundant supply always ready be called the Penny Dread'

S 5& II
to

"ST

itii-

Edinburgh Review, 1887.

A penny for your thoughts a

one

playful remark

who seems immersed

'

in thought (C.)
give you a

made The full

if

expression would be
tell

I'll

penny

you'll

me

your thoughts,'

^ M, '^ "^ E^, M ^ '& ^.

"A
penny
for

Judy looked a
tlioughts,

little

bit puzzled at this.

sister.

your

Judy," says

my

M. Edgeworth.

Penny wise and pound

profits or savings,

foolish

careful about small

and

and

foolishly blind to larger

more important gains

(F.),

/h

iz,

/i*

^ ^ i^'^

s B {%).
He (the king) engaged her (the elephant) Champs Elys^es during the three days f6te.
for this.

to perform gratis in the Fifteen

hundred francs

HHt-aft, aEES^m5^*ii?fll, ^St^, SEE

But Huguet was penny-wise and pound-foolish
took her gloss
oflf.

to agree, for it

Showed her
::?:

gratis to half the city.

W^ ^ ^ ^.

B#, fe

- in re ^,

ffi,

^ jf fe #,

ift :A:

:Rf:

/> Reade.

To turn a penny see Tarn, % To think one's penny silver

of one's self (F.),

^ Turn.
to

have a good opinion

(^).

a^/pJi;SIIS, i:^

Penny

gaffs

cheap places

of entertainment (C), (g

m m m).
Penny
gaffs

have a dozen audiences every night.

Contemporary Review, 1887.

[300]
Pepper

PET
Pepper-and-salt a term applied mingled black and white (C),
One was a
-habit,

to a

kind of cloth of
;flj
;

H fe :^

&

Low-spirited gentleman of middle age, of a meagre

face; who kept his hands continually in th pockets of his scanty pepper-and-salt trousers.

and a disconsolate

^*^-A,%^>'m^m-i:, m &m
To take pepper
(Old-fashioned),

m n ^, :^
irritated (F,)
1S^,

in the nose

^to

become

m ^ M 0.; M

- M-'f M, m
my

bearer)

Because I entertained this gentleman for he takes pepper in the nose.

ancient (standard-

Chapman.

Perch

To

tip

over the perch to

die (F.),

^&M;^M,&
_

Either through negligence, or want of ordinary sustenance, tL

both; tipt over the perch.

Urguhart.

Person

In person
The

not through a deputy, with bodily presence

Thackeray.

curt reply brought the earl in person to Becky's apartment.

It

is

his highness' pleasure that the

queen
Shahspeare.

Appear
yc

in person here in court,

:i iU

A ^ ^, 2 ,e g ^
own

^-

Petard
Peter

Hoist with one's

petard

see Hoist,

gtj

Hoist.

Rob, ^ ^ Rob. an auction Peter Funk where the bidders have a

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

understanding.

see

secret

See "knock-out."

Peter

Funhis

the

Petticoat

^ AM ^ MW Zi^M Petticoat-governmentthe rule of women

American term,

(M

B.)4^1:

(F.),

f|

He has been under petticoat-government mother, then his sister, and now his wife.
fj

all his life.

First his

<a - 4. -t M ^^

iS;

H a ;t T, 18 SU

jS^

^ , ^

flij

K * J,

ifB

4-

PIC
Petto

[3011

In pettoin
Wbatever

secrecy, in reserve (P.),

M^l'^Wi,'^^,

else they

might hold undeclared in pptto.

North.

Philadel-

A Philadelphia lawyerthe sharpest njian living (C),

pMa

^zA,mAm).
Enough
reference to
to puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer, is a phrase used with

some very perplexing matter.

Philoso-

The philosopher's stone

after

pher

an imaginary stone, sought by alchemists, which had the property of transmuting everything it touched into gold (P.), Hfi -^

That atone.
Philosophers in vain so long have sought.
Milton.

Pick

To pick a qnarrelrel (P.), t

-to

search for an occasion to quar-

t;lt:

Fritz,

At last Dennis could stand it no longer; he picked a quarrel with and they had a battle-royal to prove which was master.
4ji.

^ !

M. Arnold.

To pick holes
' '

to find fault, to criticize (C),

B^

^^

Hang

the fellow,"

murmured Mr. Erin

to himself,

" he' s begin-

ning to pick holes already."

James Payn.

To pick a bone with one

blame him (C), '1

to find fault

with him, to

Jl

^,

'fS,

IS

(i^)-

It's Just look at my nose, and you will broader, and flatter, and snubbier than ever. I consider that I have got a bone to pick with (reason to find fault with) Providence about

soon change your mind.

that no9e.

^ a,

it SI is #, IE ffi *,

B# S i: E ^ #. r* af ^ m lO * a%, iE S * #, IS ?^ iS #- * 31 ^ ti ta *RiJ

ife

-H: Itr

:*:,

Jit

H. R. Haggard.

[303]
.To pick up

PIC

(a)

to obtain in

a chance

way

(0.),

fS'

^',

He asked
a blockhead.

his friends about him,

where they had picked up such

-(6) to

grow

stronger, recover health (C);

TC-A

A pick-me-upanything taken to restore

a tonic
(F.),

the strength,

mm;mm,mmzm
me
kill separately, to

CffiD.

1 find the syrup you gave

a capital pick-me-up.

To pick

off

to

shoot one by one

(P.),

The sharpshooters picked

off the stragglers.

To pick

to pieces to criticize harshly, to find fault with in a jealous fashion (F.), P 3i; -^ iP IK

# ^

The ladies were drinking tea, and picking their neighbours to pieces.

miKn^:^m^,nmAmm.^m,yi:fs mmTo pick a hole

him,
to find a

in a man's

coatto
his.

find fault with

weak

place in

character (F,),

Vf^'^M

m;mmm^.,M mm, Bm^miw.

It is difficult to pick a hole in our minister's coat;

he performs

his duties too faithfully.

The pick

of the basket

the very best of anything (C),

It cannot be pretended that we have thus far succeeded in obtaining the pick of the basket.

Daily Telegraph, 1885.

Pickle

To have a rod
ishment in
I

in pickle for

any one
(F.),

to

have a pun-

store for

any one

Sli K %;=?f ^

have a rod in pickle for

Tom when he returns home.

PIE
ricKwickian

[303]

In a Pickwickian sense

in

not applicable elsewhere (P.)

Dickens's Pickwick Papers,

^^

a merely technical sense A phrase taken from W.'^ '^ f^

^M

'

He had

used the word in

ita

Pickwickian sense.'

Pie

To go

to pie

to fall into

confusion

(P.),

jt^

^;

^ ^l,

Your military ranked Arrangements going all

say of set types, in a similar case) rapidly to pie.

(as

the typographers

m fC Jg #, JE m ta USPiece

Carlyle.

To give another a
pleasant truths (C),

piece of one's

mind

to

speak

bluntly and unceremoniously to him, to

tell

him un-

^mm,mmB:t-mmmMmmm m).
mmn,lkm^Sl>'<r,^M.%n,mmmOf a piece with similar
Scarcely any other part commencement.
to, like (P.),

^M;Wi}^^M>\S.m^^,M.

On the door-step of the house where Hilda lodged, stood her landlady giving a piece of her mind to a butcher-boy both as regarded his master's meat and his personal qualities.
H. R. Haggard.
|^

#, ^3
;

of his life

was of a piece with that splendid

Macaulay.

To piece outto

increase by adding (P.), JD Wi) Ss

^,

Whether the piecing out

I cannot
tell.

of

an old man's

life is

worth the pains,

^^

^ M tE ^ &

'Si)-

W. Temple.

Piece-work work done and paid for by each separate article made or job finished, and not by the day or
hour
(P.),

^ ^ X *; m X

(ii:

X * i^ K,

:f^

[304]
Nothing
CQiild

PIG
ing at a lathe ,for nothing, in the old days; would
at the Brewery, doing piece-work ?

be a more noble spectacle than that pf myself workit be quite as noble

Pig

A pig in a poke something bought without inspection, goods accepted and paid for blindly (F.), BS K K Jt.
;

He
was

would have greatly preferred to have the pi:ecious manuscript,

like the others, for nothing, but, after all,

what was demanded of him

better than being asked to give hard cash for ^ pig in a poke.

^-^

;i

H,

i5 Sg

a d

SB

^ !&, # i P .

James Payn.
(S.),

A pig's whisper a very loud whisper 1^ M mm-, mmzm:s;^m,mm:t^mm:^mm).

(a) (&)

:^

a very short space of time

(S.),

^f

Ml

mmm).
To drive To bring
loss, to

^^,M
^^Miz
a

one's pigs to

market

to snore

(F.),

one's pigs to a pretty

market to

sell at

manage

one's affairs badly (F.),

H ft S ^;ff

Pigeon

Pigeon

or Pidgin-English the corrupt language, half English and half Chinese, used in commercial transac-

tions throughout the

Far East

(P.),

ffi 7jC

^ |g; ^ ^

The grammar

of Pigeon-English is

not English but Chinese.

Sayce.

WMm^^:iL%m,m%^lSCi^,I>m^^^m.
To pluck a pigeon
greenhorn
(P.),

to cheat a simpleton, to fleece

mmm-MM ^, ^ m, ^ ^f^M

"Here comes

a nice pigeon to pluck," said one of the thieves.

PIN
Pigeon's

[306]

milk an imaginary substance, which simple boys are sent to purchase on All Fools' Day (April 1st.)

Pile

To make
On the
little pile it

a pile

to realize

a fortune, to get wealthy

(F.),

other hand,

if

the old

man

year or two, he would inake that

little pile,

should only go on for another and a very comfortable

would

be.

Pill

^ m GildTo sugar the pillsee Sugar, ^ ^ Sugar.

To
gild the pill see Gild,

A bitter or hard pill to swallow a disagreeable experience to undergo, something wounding to the pride (C),

Sir
tion,

Hamilton could not help recognizing the truth of this observabitter pill (listen

but Metternich made him swallow another

to

another disagreeable truth).

Pillar

m-irj-iKmn^.m^mTT-mm^)- Pubuc opinion, me. Prom pillar to post from one refuge to another, hither
and thither
From
(P.),

M^ w MrMm ^
left

Bt, Cl

^ m :^,

that day until the day he

the port he was chased from dog.

pillar to post the

same

as

if

he were a

mad

;i

>& it-

Scotsman, 1887.

Pin

On

the

pin watchful (F.),

the pin to see
'fi>

jjif

f3j.

mm.
He was on
who

^ ff S*, ^ M

should be chosen.

m !i It * @
To pin

mm,

m& mm^-

one's faith to

fix one's trust (0.),

^ ^ ^ sE,
;

Those who pinned their

faith for better or for

worse to

the'

pack.

[306]
Pinch

PIP
At
or

on a pinch
at a

in a

difficulty CF.),

M M; ta ^, Mswift.

They

pinch can bribe a vote.

i&mmnm.^,mmn%AWim^^-

Instead of writing, as on a pinch he loved to write, straight on^ from his somewhat late and lazy breakfast until the moment of dinner found him hungry and complacent, with a heavy task successfully performed, he was condemned, for the first time in his life, to the detested necessity of breaking the labours of the day by luncheon.

^,
t>

RS
-BT

jifc

ft

^ s ^, ? Si f^ I Bj, !g ;S X *, a m a, tS ^ It ^ ^, K u * :^Bft
ffl,

;a

jB:

Trevelyan (in Life of Macaulay).

To
Pipe

feel

where the shoe pinches

one's

To pipe

eye to

weep

(S.),

see Shoe, M,^ Shoe. U;^M,^ iU)Hood.

(He) then began to eye his pipe,

And

then to pipe his eye.

To put a

person's pipe out

(F.),

appoint his plans

discomfit him, disMM;^ M,m^,mM,Wi^

to to
Thackeray.
.

James Crawley's pipe

is

put out.

^mmWrn^.
%%'K>P-M.Wi&,'^li).^m^mM.
Put that in your pipe and smoke
remark and think over
it

He couldn' t think of putting the Squire 's pipe out after that fashion.
Haliburton.

it

listen

to

that

(F.)

This saying generally

"b

accompanies a rebuke, |H

Jffc

S'
;

m Z,

"You

are getting too old, Mr. Watson, to play these pranks,""

said the professor.

"Your work

in this class

is

not worthy of a
it.'

schoolboy of fourteen.

Now

just put that

m your pipe and smoke

Piper

To pay the piper to

ment
(F.),

defray the cost of an entertain-

# #; M #, f^ m, ft (S).

PIT
All very well to have friends

[307J
and give them a champagne supper.

But who

is

to

pay the piper

Piper's

news see News,

^ ^ News.
French,

Pis

A pis allera desperate resource, a last shift (P.)

To pitch and pay to pay ready money.

Fitch

Old-fashioned,
:=F

^ ^ To pitch a yarn
# la
;

:f

?f^

?a

M ?g # (T& ^ m ^
wonderful
stories{S.),

5i

ffl)

to tell

^^^;

The skipper
gusto.

is

in great glee to-night; he pitches his yarns with

Chambers's Journal, 1885.

To pitch in or into to attack vigorously (F.) Used either

of actual blows or abusive language,

;^ ;^

^ ^;S

*lif

That curious fancy

deed, every kind,
if

for

"pitching in" at people they only half

or, inis

disapprove, which marks a certain kind of English audience

the "pitching"

only improved

itato

"invective"

and becomes "an ornament

Labouchfere.

of debate'/

is

deeply gratified by Mr.

m^ aw ,
"Dear Tom,
piteously.

Kij

it Jt -t

^,

jit 31J

^ -^ 1-

;jf

s ^ inSpectator, 1887.

I ain't going to piloh into (scold) you," said

Arthur

To pitch
1

it

strongrto

act or speak very

warmly

(F.),

wonder he did not overdo

it

then, he pitched

it

so strong.

Daily Telegraph, 1885.

[308]
Pitcher
Pitcliers
(C.)

have ears there

are listeners

who may hear

A proverbial expression.
and
I

See lEar,

M S ^ 5;

pitchers ba^e ears,

hav? many servants.

Place

Out of plaee see

Give placeyield,
Victorious

Owi,

fl Oat.

retire (P.),
first,

^; ^,

S|

#,

^ ^ {%).
Dryden.

York did

with famed success,

the Dutch give place.

To

his

known

valour,

make

A A al ^.
To take place(a)
It is

to

happen

(P.),

jg it, it

^ (^).
suffer

stupidly foolish to venture our salvation

all

upon an experiment,

which we have
to take place.

the reason imaginable to think

God will not

^wm-.^,^^^mimm. m. ^
(6)

^,

* a i ft .m , ii

to take precedence (P.),

m.^;

^^,^^M,i5

As a

British freeholder, I should not scruple taking pla,ce of a

French marquis.

%.

Addison.

In place

(a)

present.

Old-fashioned,

^ S hb, j^
;

|if

Then was she

fair alone,

when

none'

was

falr'ili

place.

* # , A, - ^ M #, ft ;i^' I^Ti^m is ^ ^
EdmHind Spenser.
(&)

suitable, appropriate fP.), -&; -g-

g,

'g- jS;,

^ H!,

He

did' niat think'

JBi

the remark in

lilace^

m
Plaguy

jifc

:?c

& as it.

A plstguy sight very much, e^teediiigly (S.), ^;% *,

The lawyers looked' like sb many miiiistei's all dressed in black gowns and white bands on, only they acted more like players than
preachers, a plagtiy sight CVery rHuchl more).

RS

* # SI s * a ^ f&

iffi'S
"iSi-

^,m^'%.- m-m-^-^

s,

n,

5i pfc <a Ealiburton.

[^6^]

Pldn

Plain as a pike-staff very plain or evident (C),

'

MM Mi

Prune it of a few useless ritea and literal interpretations of that and our religion is the simplest of all religions', and makes no barrier, but a union, between us and the rest of the world."
'

sort,

*,

Ku

^ ft tf 3c T -

-tja

ft #,

^
is

^ a is^

tit

^s

^. :^

m
an

'
'

Plain as a pike-staff (that

veiy evident),

'

'

said Pack, with

ironical laugh.
fi

^ >& ^ S,

Jifc flij

A f * .a *

^!.

C?.

Eliot.

Plank

To walk the plank see

To bring
into play

Walk,

^ ^ Walk. ^ Bm^ ^ m>nB

to

give an opportunity for the

exercise of (P.),

m, M, ^:t,

The very incongruity

all his

of their relative relations birought into play

genius.

Play

To play one
'

false

to deceive

him

(P.),

MM',&&'^

Now, look you here, Anne, said George, in a sort of hiss, and standing over her in a threatening attitude, " I have suspected for some time that you were playinjg me false in this business, and now I am sure of it."
' ' '

ISI

E ^ . 4-

Hi)

K A S ^ ^.

H. R. Haggard.

To play

hell (and
(S.),

violence

Tommy) with to abuse, treat with m ^; # ffl, ^f 3S ^, Jt #, ^ H, Sf

(ffi).

(They) hang their priests, seize their galls (girfe), and play hell and Tommy with them, and all because they speak French.

^ ^ ^ 13 H
To play
fast

iSi -ffi.

HalibuHon.

at fast and looseto trifle with; to use in a dishonourable way (P.) Also found in the form play
'

and

loose

; '

see fast,

SE0^ffi;^^^ll,

KS

If!,

m mmi

[3101
"It's a shame,

PLA
and
iS
loose with a

by Heavens," said George * young girl's affections."

*,

" to play at

fast

# .,

nr

m 2. ^ -a.

Thackeray.

To play

one's cards

to carry out

a scheme

(0.),

M 1^;

We have seen how Mrs.

Bute, having the game in her hands, had

really played her cards too well.

W A ;i ^To play

2hacheray.

of another person, to

into a person's hands to act for the benefit manage matters so that, unknow-

ingly, another person, often

an enemy,

is

benefited (P.),

m (^).
(This
is)

simply playing into the hands of lazy ne'er-do-weels (goodObserver, 1885.

for-nothings).

Ji:^3li^i^*ff#!liiSB.

To play truant
absent one's

to stay

from school without

(P.)

leave, to

self

without leave

Properly a school

phrase

elsewhere used playfully,

ffl :2:

a a n x(^)(# ^ K, ^
'

^ # ^ ^ ^ ^,
;

Mig,

mnm.m).

"What!" said George; who was, when in an amiable mood, that worst of all cads, a jocose cad, ' are you going to play truant (go oflf without permission), too, my pretty cousin?"

# i it, <h A S 2. A, M # It ai ^ Ji ^ y. K % ^ H, ^ i* ^, C
tf>

Bf,

fj

]K^

?f i^, If

35?

!I!F

H.B.

Haggard.

To play one person off against another to use two people for one's own purposes, to make two people act
upon one another
(P.),

so as to bring

about a desired result

KWi;mm,^^ikK^ m, ^\i\m^m.

chance in a moment, and commenced to play

the occasion referred to the quick-witted old crone saw her off one of her visitors against the other with consummate skill.

On

PLA
To make play

[311]

to take the lead, to lead off (F.)

A
Ifflr

phrase taken from the racecourse,

^
of

JE.

:^

^ i
;

Grey Parrot made play * * with Duke

next.
^.

Eichmond and

Florio-

Daily lelegraph, 1885.

Played out
force(P.),

of no further

service, exhausted, bereft

of

5i;*ia^,BJ

H ^ffi, IC ji|^l[, ^F

and
out.

There is a popular impression amongst the vulgar of this country of America, that the part of sovereign has been long since played

^^

^.

Weitminster Review, 1887.

From

some reason or another examinations were rather "played

out (rejected as of little value)."

Daily Telegraph, 1885.

To play the
(P.)
ffi

r6le of

to

act the part of, to behave as

theatrical phrase,

^ ^l im {&, ^ ^ (X) (SI

va)-

fire in the cave was an unusually big one that night, and in a large circle round it were gathered about thirty-five men and two women, TTstane and the woman to avoid whom Job had played the-

The

r61e of another Scriptural character.

'^m-&,

HBtf itSJ,f^^SraS-A.
fast

S. R. Haggard.

To play

to act in

and loose with to treat dishonourably, an unprincipled manner towards (P.) Also
'

found in the form

see Supra,

to play at fast

and loose,' Thackeray,

^ ^ Supra. To play one tricks to cheat

able (F.)

or deceive, to be unreli-

Used

playfully,

Mli;^ffi,^tt,^
talkative.

He waa now an old man, * * but active still and memory pZaj/erf him tricks (was untrustworthy).

His

[313]

PLO
To play a part to
dissimulate
(P.),

be deceitful, to be double-faced, to

IS

^;

#,

fi^

t^,

B ^ K,

-i'

"I
more or

really

am much

obliged to you,
all

my

astonished to find that she possessed a heart at

less

aunt," said Jolin, utterly all, and had been

playing a part

the evening.

&,Wi&m,mm,^Sr^.m3s.^.
Please
If

H.R. Haggard.

you please

see i/,

^^

If.

Pleased as Piihch
You
would be

highly pleased
J^ift tt

(F.),

^^

pf "E;lfe

could skip over to EUrbjie whenever you wished. as pleased as Punch.

!fe

Mamma

:;?:

H?,

"BT

^m, m IS,

KiJ

# HSc 5eS:*^.
R. Grant.

Plough

To put

one's Hand to the plough to commence serious work, to undertake important duties (P.) biblical phrase

'And Jesus said unto him No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of heaven', jS ;:fc
see

Luke IX,

62.

H ^ M S #, M
;

:fc

^,

Mi

ffi,

^, ^

ffi ft

fj,

To have been the first publicly to preclaim this principle, is no mean boast, and now that they have put their hand to the plough
the Preceptors will certainly not look back.

A^

|S

Jifc

S W,

its

PC

# S IS #

iti/.

JourrMl of Mducation, 1887.

To look back froiii the plough

has been
seriotisly

tb

abandon work

that
Bti,

undertaken

(P.),

^m.,^mm m, ^ mm mm.
To be ploughed-^to
College slang.
fail

^^ ^
;

JE.

i^

to pass in
iiS

an examination.

Fhecked

also so used,

^ ^ #.

ill

;^

am

sure to be ploughed at the final examination.

POC
Pluck

To pluck up courage

or one's

heart or one's spirits

.aside (C),

-^tO; regain confidence, to

throw fear

S^

He willed them

to pluck
)fi.

up

their hearts.

mmf'^^&i^

Knollys.
his tail

Carlo sat and whimpered, and then wagged up more and more spirit.

and plucked

Pluck up thy
?*

spirits.
'

^ ^ H *H IIoff

Shakspeare.
title,

To pluck
self (c),

to lower one's to descend in rank or ^m;m^,Mm,mm,^BBiik,mm

it

T m)one's self
(P.), 1^

Flume

To plume
regarding

upon to be proud of, M, ^ M, M, &. ^, ^ M,

hia virtue.

to

boast

i^B^

The idea .of a man pluming himself on

fkmW^^BA,:^{I^Pi%f-Nay, very
performing
it.

^"i'-y Telegraph, 1885.

likely (Mrs.

Bute Crawley) thought her

herself

act

was quite

meritorious, and, and plumed

upon her

resolute

manner

of

Thackeray.

Borrowed plumes
the wearer
(P.),

mm B^
I

ornaments which do not belong ^ jg P^ {f ^, fi M ^, E ^ ^'^ &,0 ^ ^m^,\^m%i^Mz^

to
;

do not wish to appear in borrowed plumes.

PiC

Si

^ ^ S IK * A A (t- S ^ ^)
one's

Pocket

To put

hand

in one's pocket

to

be charitable,

to give

money

in charity (C),

M^^U ^i '^ ^BM,

I dare say Dr. Goodenough, amongst other philanthropists, put

his

hand

in his pocket.

G.

Eliot.

[314]

POC
To be
in

pocket to

be a gainer

(F.),

Jt

M)

^ #> A
i
ff

He is

1,000 in pocket over that last transaction.

To be out

of pocketto

lose,

be a loser

(F.),

Jff

or -was not the one out of pocket

Mephistopheles, either because he was a more philosophic spirit, (who had lost money) took the blow
coolly.

more

All idea of a Peerage

seats in

was ont
lost.

of the question, the baronet's

Parliament being
(}

He was

two both out of pocket and out

of spirits

by that catastrophe.

ii

S ^ m ** ^ ?S - ^, ^ B Jc*, Ff ^tjfei^a
Tkacheray,

A pocket borougha borough where the electors

so

were few in number that a single powerful personage could control elections and send his own nominee to parliament (P.),

^i,v^tE#&I^^M:&MB(^

for

?S,
?ii

-^A H+ ^ ^ SS M W J^ ff ^^Mii* SKil&^Ma^#, ASS:**, ^^#nr3S*}E^, ^ Edinburgh Review, 1886. ^ S : &

-ff

In the autumn of 1834 he (Disraeli) is full of his possible Wycombe, which was practically a pocket borough.
fi; FbI,
?ij

return

To pocket an

insult

to

submit

to ali insult without

(P.),

retaliating or

showing displeasure

?E 7P

IfB 'BE;

The remark was a rude one, but the man chose to pocket the insult.

Shakspeare uses pocket up in this sense

Well,
rufl6aii

must pocket up these wrongs.

To pocket
"AVhat
is

dibs

to receive salary or profits (S.),

^^
other
{Beggars

gives a

man

position," said

Tommy,

"is to

make
'

beggars (people) do the

work and to pocket the dibs yourself.'

here merely a slang term for 'people,' '-men.')

POI
Point

[315]

To make a point of see Make, % ^ Make. To stretcli a point^to make an exception, to

& rule
less strictly (P.),

observe

Wi^;

'>il^

^,^^rMWt,

f^

wt-m {%).
Oh, I suppose I shall have to stretch a point when I invite people
to

my

house.

^SBlt^SE^, ^g*&^^9iH6;.
Point blank

James Payn.
(P.),

directly, plainly, explicitly

3l

ifi;

Praise everybody, I say to such; never be squeamish, but speak out your compliment both point blank in a man's face, and behind his back, when you know there is a reasonable chance of bis hearing
it

again.

^&

jHi

^A

0>

^ A fP ^ ^, It A, * to A Wtu,

flij

To carry
6'J
;

one's point

to obtain

to persuade others to act as

iSn

^^ M Ja , ^ t ^t t m i& m m, in M (X).
,

an object sought for, you wish (P.), 3^ il^ @

had
carried her

Lady Clonbrony was

particularly glad that she

St.

point about this party at Lady

James's.

* .

fill,

M. Edgmorth.
to give force to a

To point a moral
add
to the

moral precept,
(P.),

to

moral force of a remark

^f

l|

jl;

|S,

Here at least was a judgment ready made to point the moral of the pious, and stiraulate the fears of the timid.
Edinburgh Review, 1887.
.

To the point
My

apposite,
like

applicable (P.),

/fa

H;

M^>
much

spoken answer,

my

written answer, was not very

to the point.

^ n <^Zm,il?m-.m^:^m,Ht>f^^^m'iiiTo come
to points

Belgravia,1886.
(P.),

to fight

with swords

^J];M

They would have come ^ Jif A BP * ^Iffi,

to points immediately.

SmoUeU.

[316]

POO
A ^ase in point-^a
under discHs^ion
case

which

illustrates the subject

(P.),
^f,

m n\ mum w
I
tell

MB; ^ M, :^ W :t^9,^ ^ ;t * k w.
is

you the lad

Jit

is selfish.

scription to the charity

fund

His unwillingness to pay any suba case in point.

HP

S; & 5*,

15

^ S ?, -^ :^ 11 1i SO # fE - if,
ridicule, to chaff (F.),

^ :& H ^.
,

Poke

To poke fun at to
One was
besides

tf Ji; tT

so pleased with his tutor that

I

my fee.

he gave me a pot of beer thought he was poking fun at me.

A pig in a poke see Pig, ^

Poker
Old Poker-the
As
if

hu Pig.

devil (F.),

^ J^;M )l, ^ M, m I {%)

H.WalpoU.
spread
(P.),

Old Poker was coming to take them away.

-^^I'^^MJK^^.a*^Pole

Under bare poles^with no

sails

^ 5g ig

We were scudding before a heavy

Polish

gale,

under bare poles.

To polish
Well,
sir,

oflFto finish, settle

(S.),

J^ BO

^ ^; ?t M,
ofi"

he stood up to the Banbury

him
!l

I couldn't finish him, but

Bob had

his coat

at once

man

for three minutes,

and polished

off in four

romids easy.

nJ^,

:5fe4.,

^:=f:tET*S^,m^2feBPai*3SJl,^^g
it

^M ^ &>
Pooh

f A

ffi

*S

ffB

#,

59-

^ ;t A. SS

f#.

Ea 1@

^,

BP 7 S Ihacheray.

To pooh-pooh to
He seems
to

ridicule, to treat

with contempt (C),

pooh-pooh the question * * that it was absolutely of Navarre to bring peace to the kingdom as long as he adhered to the church of the minority.
.

iflapossible for

Henry

31!

iP

^ ?!J.2 =F, to live

H SKft'Mi:A;t|!tt-, fiP-B::?;t6ii
Athenaeum, 1887.

SJ^itigS,

jlfcfflmffitf':=P:^,-t-a.

Poor

Poor as a church-mouse
enough

very

upon

(P.),

MM MM; \hmm,M

poor, having barely

POS
'

[317]

" One of our young men is just married," Dobbin said, now coming to the point. "It was a very old attachment, and the young couple are as poor as church mice.

Pop

To pop corn
phrase,

to

parch or roast maize or Indian corn,

until the grains explode with a

m M^;

'Mf

MM, ^^iz^, ^ 'M>M^ m,

to

pop

(C.)

An

American

To pop the question

I

make a

proposal of marriage

suppose you popped the question more than once. Sickem.

^&m^m,yf^lt 'k^Position

To be

in a position to

to have the time, opportunities,

"1 JSl; 'S, tE,

or information requisite for (C),

-^

ilt,

The

official

referred to,

who

is

in

position to

know (has means

of

knowing).
Daily Telegraph, 1885.

You will get a good salary I am not in a position ed by circumstances from saying) exactly how much.

to

say (prevent-

a
Possess

!l? ii.

@ ^ ?K

7jt,

it

K St ^ T, i6 * ^ s ^ &.
of to
obtain, secure
(P.),

To possess

one's self

^ ;^;

We possessed ourselves of the kingdom of Naples, the duchy of Milan, and the avenue of France in Italy.
I mi
ii,

Am:knm,p3,mmm
Addison.

Possession

Possession is nine-tenths of the law, or Possession is eleven points in the law, and they say there are but twelve a dictum used to assert the great importance which the law attaches, in disputed cases,

to actual possession of the disputed property (P.),

^\

[318]

POT
To take possession
At
sion.

to occupy, seize (P.),

iii

M;

iSi

length, having killed the defendant (he) actually took posEes-

Possum

Goldsmith. SmSSSaTSE-^. miiKfT-ffi^^To act possum or play possum to dissemble (S.) The opossum has a habit, when pursued, of rolling itself

up and pretending

to be dead,

I^ JE

# ^I, ^ tt f^

It's

illifcBlF,

almost time for Babe to quit playing possum. gib^:^ilifiS^f^*^- Scribner's Magazine, 1886.

Post

Post and rails tea

ing in
The
stalks
it (F.),
is

tea having a number of stalks

is

float-

u^m^m.y^m:z^, mm^i"^).
The bad, from
popularly
the
as

tea

more frequently bad than good.

occasionally found in the decoction,

known

post-and-rails tea.

Pi,

^^M^' '

Daily Telepraph, 1886.

Pot

To keep the pot boiling (a)

Keep the pot a
ice).

to continue the

fun

(F.),

bilin', sir

"

said

Sam.

(The party were sliding

Dickens.

on the
liiil

0, ar

ffi

S (^ ^ :*
(C.)

it ^N ;

Iti.)-

(6)

to get sufficient

funds to maintain one's house-

The phrase is used contemptuously by artists and literary men, of work done merely for the sake of the money to be paid for it, )^ P ;^
hold in comfort

By
boiling.
$}.

these

and a

score

more

little

pretty arts I just keep the pot

&m mm, ^ Hi^ ~-\- ^.m, ^ m mm m, m &. &.fk's&

Reade.

ffl^^^ffll-

Something made him unwilling to exhibit himself before her in

the degrading occupation of "pot-boiling (painting pictures solely
for

money)."
James Payn.

POU
To go
to

[319]
(S.),

pot to

be ruined, or wasted

^ T I8>
;

All's one, they go to pot.

Pm-^mi^My
bran new
Sfe ^;f

Dryden.

farm, stock, and utensils, these young blood horses, and the
vessels I

was building, are

ife

all

gone to pot.

^ HI,

.S,

ffl.

,1,

R if iS 2.

m.

1^

-ff

^-

it Bi Halihurton.

i5r

Pot luck

ordinary fare

the meal

which an unexpected
:B:

guest receives (C), IS

M;

^ S M M, B ^ :^

it,

But he never contradicted Mrs. Hackit a woman whose "pot luck (ordinary fare for guests)" was always to be relied on.
;p ai

^ ^ m <R, m US M ^ ^ &
A ia ^,
P-

George Eliot.

He
-tlil

should be very welcome to take pot luck with him.

ffi

>Kf>

^ fC a &.

Graves.

Potato

The potato-trap

slang term for the mouth,

m,m.mm.
I
{

gave him a blow on his potato-trap.

Pound

To claim

flesh to demand payment their payment involves where of debts due to one, even much suffering (P.) The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, where Shylock the Jew

one's

pound of

insists

upon Antonio giving him a pound

of his flesh,

according to

an agreement previously made,

("^)

^{%;^

:^

H m M ^ :^ ^ 5E ^ ^ 3g ^lft W K m,m xm m ^,ik\9.n fk-M.]^, it sj m

The
sultan's view of

Germany

is

that he ought to seek for the

help of German oflncers and of German financial guides, on the ground that all the other great powers want their pound of flesh from Turkey.

ffiSc

^.

SK^

?ll

:i S&

w-

FoHrdgMy

Review, ISST.

[320]
To pound away

PRE

to

work hard

(P.),

^,^:ti,mn
newly-found work.

However, Goldsmith pounded away at

thia

Pow
Powder

To hold a pow-wow

to

have a riotous meeting

(S.),

Not worth powder and shot

or cost (F.j,

not

worth the trouble

:^m.^%M^^-'n,^^mm::t>x
not worth powder and shot.

The plaoe

is

jifc*is?*:^ffl:

jam.

Pray

I pray, pray, or prithee an exclamation which often

accompanies a question (C),

expanded to the extremities
through the receptacle
?

^ f^

But, pray, in this mechanical formation,

of the arteries,

{^). {f f^, 1$ when the ferment was

why

did

it

not break

Premium

At a premium much
if iS 11, Jn
,

sought

after, increased in value-

7jc,

^ m it K, ig S M
men
i.

GSC).

Suicide
suicide).

is

at

a premium here (the

here are fond of committing

Reade.
the-

Jt t|

iS

H W,

K Bf.

Servants are at a great premium, masters at a discount, in

colony.

Presence

Presence of mind

the
H;

power of

controlling

one's

nerves in positions of difficulty or danger; power of

self-control (P.), |i

^ ^, t ^, ^ S #, I^ P ^
my
a,
iS

'Helena!

my
*J,

dear Helena!' I exclaimed aghast and losing

presence of mind.

a
and

;ic

tl

^ -6

:*: wi-

^ :W, is

jsjr

^ 2.

#15

^ M.

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.

^oth men changed colour but retained

their cunning.

their presence of mind'

it iJ

Reade.

PRI
Pretty

[321]
difficult

A pretty time

of it

of affairs (F.),

^-^

a or unpleasant condition ^, ^ M^ M M, M ^, BM,

Mr. Samuel Erin had

like a

man

for the present a pretty time of it. He was caught in a downpour of hailstones, without an umbrella.

James Payn.

A pretty

go

an awkward position,

a critical situation

Supposing now, that some of them were to slip into the boat at night and cut the cable, and make off with her ? It would be a pretty go, tliat would.
SI

m ^ m 'g ^

HAdK

t>;t^tt3tJi, tiJlt^MA,
-to

MiJ

mm

S.E.

Haggard.

Prick

To prick up the

earsappear attentive (C), f

show signs

of interest, to

When

mentioned Paris, I saw your friend prick up his

ears.

To prick out

to plant for the first

time

(P.),

ffi; lit

To prick up

one's self

to

make a

display, to

show

off

Prima

Prima
(3S:.)

sight, apparently [LatinJ, ^ facie at m,mMmz,-'^M^a,mm,mm,mmM ^

first

(P.)

mr].

having already made his opening speech, a statement now v/ould prima facie be irregular, and the judge said so, whereupon Mr. Pinlay turned to his learned friends, the Attorney-General and Sir Charles Eussell, and showed them a letter, and conversed with them earnestly and in low tones.

At

this stage, the learned Counsel

Jit

BJ

^ 1f ^ ^ K ;t #

fif ,

B <@ B * M

*fi3

^ ia IS, ^ 19

m^^, &-mm=.Am:t, mm mm%mSt.

Andrews

Citizen, 1887.

Fiize

To play prizes to
They did not play

be in earnest.

Old-fashioned,

prizes * *

and only pretended

to quarrel.
StUlingfleet.

^^M*KK>7J#f^tBPIiBB.

[332]
Pro
Pro and con
favourable

PRO

(a)

for

and
pf

against, favourable

and un-

(P.),

m;
and

^,

* ^, :^ #,
'vrrived,

ffl

^,

BK

Mr. Tupnian and Mr. Snodgrasa

this stage of the pleadings,

as

it yriyS

most opportunely, ia necessary to explain to thera,

all that had occurred, together with ^e various reasons pro and con, the whole of the arguments were gone over again.

(b)

arguments for and against, minute discussion (C.)>

Very many thanks to W. M. for his kind contribution to the pros and cons of King 'William the Third's pronunciation of English.
IT

S,

* ^ i

sSt

S.

Illustrated

London News,

1887.

lover,

After a few pros and cons, they bade her observe that her old Ephraim Slade, was a rich man * * and if she was wise she

would look that way.

Pro tanto so
That

far, in itself (P.)

[Latin]

BP

jifc

JfiR Jft,

(right) does

tend to attract, or rather to drive,

all

ambitious
tanto is

or powerful
beneficial.

men

into the deliberative arena,

and that pro

ii

;t Sg #, st ib
manently
(P.)

iiS

ti^,

B1

>&

tte..

Spectator, 1887.

Pro tempore

for

a short time, not permanent or per-

[Latinj

,mm;vi:m,^m,^^u

The body was then

Soho.

deposited, pro tempore, in St. Anne's church,

Pro forma
[Latin]
,

for form's sake, merely satisfy rules m 'u mm, m m, mwtM^ '^ mxM;
to
(P.),

It was merely a proformd meeting ; the real business had already been discussed.

PRO
Procrustean

[323]
uncomfortable couch, where vio-

Procrustean
fills it (P.)

bed an

lent measures are necessary to insure that the person

Procrustes was a famous robber,

(P.)

who

lived
lie
it,

near Athens

He

compelled his prisoners to

If they were too long for
off,
if

down on

a certain couch.

their limbs were

chopped
JSl

too short they were

stretched to the required length, ^] Ei |t

!g,
trg

^ - *& rM 5S A

*a

^,

5M

^ tt m A ^ B, ii
;

ifc

if

not

fit

They have some particular theory to maintain, and whatever does their Procrustean bed is at once condemned.
-r

J, 5t

*!f sij

tft,

* )p tt ^ !g

. I-

ffl

*.

i&l^

fJr

^-

^- Whipple.

Promise

I promise
to you,'

you
'you

an

expression generally attached to

'

statements about the future and signifying

I declare

may

be certain' (C),

fc, #fc

T IS S; ^

"Will not the

'
'

ladies be afraid of the lion?

"

I fear

it,
iEf>

promise you.
Shakspeare.

fa

Si4

li-

Proof

To put
My
jfj.

to the proof

to

test, to

try in practice (P.),

paper gives a timorous writer an opportunity of putting his

the proof.
Addison.

abilities to

The proof of the pudding

the tasting of
B;

it,

the actual

experience of anything (C), "^

M,

^B,

MM
M*

that when I am speak' I mention no names ; but it's rather odd, ing of hollow-hearted friends, j/ou should at once name Mr. Tagrag."
'

Si 36

* il

it ia,

"S:

^^S^*

J5S

S>

EP H# Jl as

"The

proof of the
of his

and I've got 5

:5

^Tl^mx, fin

puddinghandsome is that handsome does; money at any rate." ^m,^\!ei' ^, Hernia ^,^B'1^%%&
S. Warren.

^ ^.

[324]
Proud
Proud
The
f
!)

PUL
flesh

inflamed

flesh arising in

wounds

or ulcers

sores

had generated proud

flesh.

B ^ IS a ^.

Daily Telegraph, 1885.

Pull

To pull up

to cause to stop,

to

come
'W-

to

a stop

(P.)

Originally used of pulling the reins in driving and of

thus stopping a horse,

M,m(mmmmmmzM).
arrested) in

M ;Wi ,

,^ MM ^v,
short (suddenly

They thanked heaven they had been pulled up

an
evil career.

It is

such a

relief to

be able to say

'

awful

'

without being pullei

up (interrupted and reproved) by Aunt Chambers.

mW.%MThe coach
stables behind.
pulls

H.R.
up
(stops) at

Haggard.

little

road-side inn with huge

Hughes.

To pull up stakes
slang,

to

remove one's residence. American

succumb, to succeed with

mm;'^n,''^^mu).

To pull through
ficulty (C),

not
it

to

dif-

^v^^m;mmm'&,fjm.n^,iji^
(the punishment),
5.

You
f*
Pf:

pulled through

and so

will he.

*^

JfiJ

til,

-to

ift;

Reade.

To

pull a person through to extricate difficulty or danger (C), ifc ffi *^, Jl
;

him from

^,

^ ^, ^

His extra speed pulled' him through.

*& ^h S '^,
real

.K

Jlfc

^ %.

Field, 1886.

To pull the strings

to set in action secretly, to

(C.),

be the

though hidden promoter of anything

Jf t^ IE

to drive every

The men who pull the strings are down in the Cape. They Englishman out of South Africa.
ffi

w^aut

1^

jJH

H. R. Haggard.

PUR
To pull together to work harmoniously
The new
director

[325]
(C), ^D

^^

and the professors are said not to

pull together.

They pulled themselves togetherthey

prepared for a fresh struggle
(F.),

rallied,

they

^^l^^i^'M.
together.
P^eld, 1886.

The Mddlesex men now pulled themselves a *t 2. A, H- HI ^ ^-

To pull facesto make

grimaces (C),

^ % W., V^ %

m m). To pull a long face to

look melancholy (C),

mm^M,m^'mm,
a

s^'ft'K

mem

B || i^

Sarah returning at this moment, shaking her head, and pulling a long face at the ill-success of her search * * devoted herself * * to admistering sal- volatile. ?<S, il* ffi ^Jf a> 3S SB :p H, It -6 jlfc gi] fii tft EI ?tJ,

D
(a)

M Si ^ a
Fulse

>t)

ra Pi-

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

To

feel one's pulse

to discover the beat of the heart

ffi

by pressing an
(6)

artery (P.),

M ^ M, iO HI, ^ 11 (X).
;

to

sound a person,

to try to discover a person's

secret opinions (C), $g

P M;

^,

^ ^, ^ A
Government was sounded in

wishes to

So much matter has been ferreted out that tell its own story, and my pulse was felt

this
(I

the matter).
eg

id

^-

Southey.
is

Purchase

His

life is

likely to

not worth a year's purchase he survive more than a year (C),

not

^'^%M'^
clear
;

Purgation

To put one
himiself

to his purgation to call upon him to from an accusation (P.), g fi" ^!l S

;ii

If

any

man

doubt

let

him put me
^nriS-.

to

my

purgation.
Shakspeare.

^^ A^Si. ffiia e

[326]
Purple

PUR th& Purple Born in (the) purple born a prince imperial colour, B ^ ^ ^ :t m, ^^^ n, ^M
(P.)
is

To think of that dear young man (Prince Louis Napoleon), th& apple of his mother's eye, born and nurtured in th3 purple, dying
thus, is too fearful, too awful.

m M.

^ * . A,

m^ ^ ^1-, ^^M w, -^ & m,

&. BB in
jHs

ta

m '^% m
Victoria..

JE

^,

?*

^A

"Sr

pT

Queer

To marry
nobleman

into the putple

(P.),

Jlr^

P"!

marrj^ a prince or A ^ ^ # # M M,
to

P^,

Now

had not the

slightest

wish for

my

dear Helena to marry

fi

into the purple.

mita -^

m mm m ^ -k u mm m A n
with

m-

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.

Purpose

On purpose designedly,
Where men
and
to

full intention (P.),

y^^;

err against this

method,

it is

usually on purpose,

show

their learning.

n * On purpose
I

Swift.

to

with the intention

M,
\k

of (followed

by the

infinitive) (P.),

M,

M ^, ^C ^ M (X).
Watts.

you a more sensible improsaion of the imperfection of your knowledge.

do

this,

on purpose

to give

He
learned

travelled the world,

on purpose to converse with the most

men

With

the purpose of with the intention of (followed by the participle or gerund) (P.), ^t; -^ ^ ^, ^,

He left with

the purpose of following her.

To the purpose
as

appositely,
and
1-.

pointedly, sensibly

(also

an

adjective) sensible, practical (P.), IH

'^,W.^,'M

He was

vyont to speak plain

m m fS 91 a SI ^ it

to the purpose.

Shakspem-e.

PUT
To small purpose
practical benefit (P.),

[327]
little

for very MmM

good, without

much

M;

m M M fM, "K ^

if

To small purpose had the council of Jerusalem been assembled, once their determination being set down, men might afterwardahave defended their former opinions.

nrn'^m^t-^MM.Purse

Hooker.

Purse-proud arrogant because of wealth, puffed through being wealthy (P.), 'If It; It A, ^'

up
Rff

^^

What

is

so liateful to a poor

man

as the purse-proud arrogance-

of a rich one ?

&Ammmm,^^AmmmnI wish

obsemr.

we had
Sir #15

never seen those odious purse-proud Osbornes.

Jlfc

^ iM

A,

* ^ 3?. t# ^ H A,

tfi :?;

^ a :i.
jytackeray.

To make a purse
some individual,
i *f
At
;

to collect subscriptions

on behalf

of

to get together a

m m, K Am m '^, mm, mm jSLm,m^

captain's death they proposed to make a purse for tlieof tlieir intentions and refused the kindness.

sum

of

money

(P.)^

tile

widow, but she heard

Push

To be put to the push to be

stances (P.),

tested

by

difficult

circum-

^m;m^Bm^,mmm:tm,n
push

Once he

is

put to the push, his native energy will appear.

To come
'

to the

to

be seriously tested

(P.),

&.mm;MmM:tBmn:tmm,M'^mm(X).
Tis

^^
to

common

to talk of dying for

tested)
'

a,

friend; but

when
talk.

it

comes

the

push (people are actually

tis

no more than

^m BPut

L'JEstrange.

Put about anxious, annoyed, in a flurry (C),

Tom was
rather put iibout by this speech.

>1;S;

^^fSAUm.m^mm^-

Hughe*.

[328]
To put by
A
Jft

PUT
(a) to

thrust aside, to neglect

(P.),

|g ;^

presence which
ft
Jlfc

is

not to be put by.

Wordsworth.

^,

tl

A -^ ^ ^ ^-

(6)

to save, lay aside (P.),

M V^;^

lH,

^B,

Ml^,

Eight thousand servants, fed and half-clothed at their masters' expense, have put by for forty years, and yet not even by aid of interest and compound interest * * have reached the Rubicon of four
figures (goal of

1,000).

Hard put
For
if

to it

in great trouble,
man was
so

sore beset (P.),

MM

he though a

hard put to

it,

what canst thou

being but a poor

woman, do ?
Bunyan.

Put

to

it tested,

tried, placed in

a difficulty

(P.),

M M;

Well, I was never so put to

ia it

Put

^ *i, ^ ^ ^ * W i ^ ^ & on feigned, hypocritical (C),

it'

in

my

life.

^- Edgeworth.
fi^

li

M f^. # f^
him with

Sir Charles obeyed this missive, and the lady received a gracious and smiling manner, all put on and cat like.

fp An IS

ffl

;t

)i*

i^of resistance

^eade.

Nave made a show

was as fond

of shillings as of

pounds

and then gave in.

Mrs. Henry Wood.

which

was

all

put on, for he

^ IS ^, ^ ^ ^

ffi -til.

To put upon to deceive, to treat unfairly or deceitfully to make (one) do more than a fair share of work (C), a a, mA;M.m,&.mmA,^B

&m#

Take care never to know anything about leather, and you won't be put upon (gulled or bullied).
tj

^ IS i ^ S! & ^

ffi,

a iJ SI.

Se<int.

PUT
You
look and talk like a lady born and bred, and
(cheated^.

[329]
I fear

you

will

be put upon

:t. )tt

la

W,

^- Ji ^ :t ^

Jfif

A,

^ Si c j^

ifc 3& SS. Besant.

This is followed by a determination on the part of the forewoman

to find fault,

not to be put upon (have too

and by a determination on the part of the work-girls much work given them).
Besant.

i'h

flfc

X ^-

To put out or put out of countenance (a) to discompose, make uncomfortable, confuse, disconcert (P.), fL; ^ M, ^ ii m E, ^ ^, Wi L m.
She interested him
intensely, to say the least of
it,

and man-like,

he

felt

exceedingly put out (annoyed), and even sulky, at the idea oi

her departure.

M,f!^%-^m,m.W:mm:)(^m,%^^K1t'&.1&i- H.E.

Haggard.

"When
he'll not

Colambre haa been a season or two more in London,,

of

be so easily put out

countenance," said Lady Clonbrony.

^t-

ILKWL1^Mia&$,'iL(6)

Edgeworth.

to dislocate (P.),

ff rrj ff

Uh

WL^M^^^
Field, 1887.

m.
She put her shoulder
out.

mESI^MSf,tff.
To put two and together To put up a person
lodge
see

Two,

^ ^ Two.

him

(P.),

w^m;^^m,mmnmm^

to

give

him accommodation, to

His old college friend Jones lived there, and offered to put him

up
/h

for a week.

ffi

ffg

To put up a horse

to tie it
is
'

The American word

He
*

hitch
'

up

or put
'

it

in a stable^

he hitched his horse

up his horse,

* rode into Newborough, and putting

streets.

strolled

about the

fcmSA*5;SH*a3^.5l^m,

fiPffi?t=&S^l.

Reade.

[330]
To put
I

PUT
up to
at

stop, to rest (P.),

M M-l

W.

M-

M, i?

wondered

what house the Bath coach put up.

To put in a word

to

recommend, use one's influence

Well, sir, if he thinks so well of Mr Poyser for a tenant, I wish you would p^it in a word for him, to allow w< some nevi gates (recomiiK iid that he should allow us some new gates).

^m.mn
To put in an appearance
meeting (C),
Not only did
gentlemen.

George Elioi.

to

be present, to attend a

3]^; M"^,

$i

m^M,m%^^> M
all

all

the lady guests put in an appearance, but

the

?f:m#^A-'#Sll't-,fiP#B3gi(P^:7llS|-aHalf-an-hour afterward they sat

did not put in an appearance
till it

James Payn.
Bessie

down

as usual to supper.

was a quarter

over,

and then was

very silent through

it.

-Y^^m.m,m^^%,^^^m^.
To put heads together
Those two
ladies

H.R.

Haggard.

to consult, plot,

arrange a plan

now put

their heads together.

Reade.

To put off
mcx).

(a)

to postpone (P.),

mm;mm,m
to-morrow for the
;

Let not the Trork of to-day be put

ure
is

off till

fut-

uncertain.

* ?K mS.m H-

W, Jt :^

W ^, ft '^

>t

*,

BP

]fe

4- H fr ^, :^fi L'Estrange.

All parties

and entertainments were,

of course, to

be put

off.

m^^^ZV-, trnm ^mM^(6)

Ihackeray.

to baffle, get rid of

by temporizing

(P.)

St

fff

He put them

off

with promises.

PUT
Hastings,
off

[331]
not excuses, was not to be put

who wanted money and

by the ordinary
ISI

artifices of eastern negotiation.

:* fa It,

;t $i '#

T ^jest.

Macaulay.

Mrs. Wallace was not to be put off by

:^i^&.m^,mmmm^A%^m.^-(c)

James Payn.

to set out

from the shore

off in

(P.),

mt

Three

of

them put

a boat to

visit

the brig.

To put do-wn
He me
to

to suppress, quell,

crush (P.), 35 IE;

M.,m^,m,mix).
does

me

the favour to inquire whether

it

will

be agreeable to

have Will Fern put down.

To put on to
The
little

dress one's self with (P.),

^M,^^(X).
Locke.

ones are taught to be proud of their clothes, before they

can put them on.

^ it '> ^ S gr It S M.
To put up
to

I!!?

^ )t ^ ^.

is

to incite, instigate, teach

a dodge or trick

The servant him up to it.

not leaving of his

own

accord.

Some one has put

A "put-up" affair a concocted plot,

not what
it

an

affair

which

is

pretends to be
H-,

(F.),

ft i; tl it ;^

^,

Sf JK

^ ;^

^ ^ ^ Si ;^ fKm*).
his

^
T-

A
up"

suspicion of the whole affair being what the police call a " put-

one,

was passing through

mind.
f

%mm^^,'t^u * a ^ ^ 5s IF
lai.

A,

;;f

1; It

##

James Payn.

To put up with
(P.),

to suffer, pass over

without resentment
i-x).

s.

g;

^,

;f

^ m,m.Mi^m
t^ i& M,
It it
ic,
jHs MiJ ;?;

Whatever may be the case with Hungary, it must be admitted that Austria will put up with a good deal from Russia rather than fight.

^-k^im '^ ^ ^ n
?ii
jiij

.^,

ir^ ffi

::?;,

pp :

^ ;t

fci

tg II i^

# iH.
Blush.

^ f, m ^

Fortnightly Review, 1887,

To put

to the blush^see Blush,

hi}

[332j

GlUE
To put
to

deathto

execute

(P.),

JfiJ

;^ ?E,

A If ^
,

Teuta put to death one of the

fl-

Eoman

ambassadors.

Snf M M

ifc

- A,

iJ:

5E it-

Arbvxhmu

To put out

value, to disqualify one

of court^to make one's evidence of no from speaking with authority

The
justly

fact that they

wars, put

them out of court in public observes, when they went about

were believed to be opposed on principle to all estimation, as Mr. Kinglake to argue against this particular

war.

Si fs

*S?

fft-

Justin

McCarAy.

QQuality

The quality the upper class, the gentry. Old fashioned and now vulgar, ^ it 4" A dK St #.. ^ #, :fc
;

^{^^m -^m^^m).
By
disreputable.

degrees the " quality" gave up going,

and the

fair, of course,

became

Quarter

:kiim&Lmm&,'M^-^^i^^izm- Athmaexm, 1887. To give or show quarter to act with clemency, to be

merciful, to be lenient (P.),

^B;%^,^^,m ^,
Collier.

To the young

if

you give any tolerable quarter, you indulge them

in their idleness and ruin them.

^*A,/f:nrM-l.,SfJ8E4-tt1t,l@.KIS;t-

Queen

Queen

of the

Maythe
first

village girl

who was chosen,

(P.),

as

the fairest in the village or district, to be queen of the

revels

on the

of

May, known as May-day

|^

"I thought

that you were the spirit of the place, or," he added

gracefully, pointing to a

branch

of half-opened

hawthorn bloom she

held in her hand, "the original

Queen

of the

May."
S. R. Haggard.

%&n.mn^m,^mM,JE,^mm^-

aui
Queer

[333]
be in unfortunate circum-

To be

in

stances

Queer street^-to (F.), :^ ^ ^,

# ^ Bt ^, 5p in m * +
;

No

sir,

make

it

a rule of mine

the

more

it

looks like Queer

street, the less I ask.

Question

^ '^>(^m, ^ ^m^ ^ ^ m-i.m, m m ^ -^ Mi n B. L. Stevenson. M & In question referred to, under discussion (P.), Bf ^J
'j>,

jfa

But

at this

moment Hawes came

into the cell with the bed in

question in his arms.

^ Out of the questionimpracticable, unworthy of cussion /p m ^; # ji a ^, /p p R, ^ g

To
call in question
see Call,
grf

Call.

dis-

(P.),

iK'

Intimacy between Miss Fairfax and

me

is

out of the question.

^m^&'hm.^^M^-'m,:^m^Aterest,

Mim

Austen.

A burning question'a subject causing widespread ina question demanding solution

(P.), Wi
;

^^"^

The people like to be roused by red-hot, scorching speeches they want burning questions, intolerable grievances.

To beg the question

Qui
is

see Beg,

ff\

Beg.
(Qui vive

On the qui vive eager,

the summons who approach them),

watchful, alert (C.)

addressed by French sentinels to those

jp$;

*&,

M >& Wi ^v # ^.
it,

see the

Every one was on the newcomers.

IS id

qui vive, as Mrs.

Jennynge expressed

to

@ S ^ A ^ f. A f ^ ^ '0, m # it 19 *
James Payn.
(P.)

Quid

A quid pro quo something

pense
[Latin]
,

given in return, a recom;

SK

^ m ^,

i5t

tt

m ^, m ^

[334],
I

B
Unfortunately, in this prosaic world, one cammjt receive; cheeks
for

one thousand pounds without, in some shape or form, giving a

quid pro quo.

*mm,ni^lS'S:;tm^ftuits

S- a- Haggard.

To be

quits with a person to have paid another all you owe him, to have a clear account with him (C.)

(Used both of
venged),

money

dealings,

and

of injuries=St

to- fee

re-

f!;;

m i&, M M ^ ^,

J* ?i

M-

*B i,

^W
My
him
(I

ffl JH:

m).
till

spade shall never go into the earth again_ have my revenge).

Pm

quits vnth

pf

Reade.

To cry quits
another

to

acknowledge that

oiie's

account with

is clear,

to cease struggling (C),

^^
he does,

?fl

S;

But

will

he get her to marry him,

-t

wonder.

If

I shall

cry quits with himi, indeed.

:^ *n
Quod To put
in

fife

^K

flfe

, j

ffli

#,

iJ

:?:

tl-

if

^.

H. R. Haggard.

quod

to

imprison

(S.),

\s,m^
can't put old Diggs
oi-

Do you

really

mean

to maintain that a

man

in quod, for snaring a ha*e -without all this elaborate apparatus

Boman- law, ?

R.
The three R's
(C.)

Reading, (Wjritimg, and (Arithmetic (These subjects were formerly considered the necessary parts of an ordiiaa-ry education), #t

H^ H
;

mm).

RAC
writing and arithiiletic.

[335]

Fortunate indeed were the youngsters who for a brief season tasted even of the rich delights of 'the three R's,' as an alderman of that epoch (1850) is said to have designated the mysteries of reading,

BK ^,7i^^^^^BM^lUibbit

Edinburgh Heview, 1887.

Rabbit-it or od-rabbit-it a common expression, having little meaning. Formerly an. oath with the name of
Godinit(s.),

sm; %mm).
in a state of torture, of pain, or of
(P.),

Back

On

the rack

(a)

bodily or mental discomfort

11 "S

i6

:/J ilr

^,mm,m ^,m^,
is

^(X)06

#^^

ffl jft

m).

A cool behaviour sets him on the rack (makes him miserable), and interpreted as an instance of aversion or indifference.
Addison.
(b)

^ 5.
in a state of restless activity (P.),

)^',

M i^>

JE.

Martin's ingenuity was therefore forever on the rack to supply himself with a light.
Jlughes.

To go

to

rack and ruin

go to destruction (P.),
:5:

a m T M ^ 5P, M ^ ^
To work by rack

^m ^.M; ^ ^, -^ %U ^,
^-,

to fall into utter disrepair, to

"sr

j& f&, :^

mm

Everything about the house was going to rack and ruin.

of eye to be guided by the eye alone in working, to work without the assistatice of line or -jI^ rule (F.), :t&, t! '^ it

^MK

M M^

To be or

live at rack (or heck)

and manger

to live

extravagantly,, to

spend money heedlessly (C),

^S
and

It

was her opinion that every one

in the East lived at rack

manger.

[336]

RAI
Rag-tag and bob-tail
together and
correct

Bag

the
who

dregs of the people, those

are always ready to flock

loungers about a city

make a mob

(C.)

Found

also in the

form 'tag-rag and

bob-tail,' see tag,

^^
so-feo,

more
-^

Mr. Gladstone, in

fact, is tired of

being out in the oold.

The
com-

pleasure of leading the rag-tag

and

bob-tail proves but

pared with the pleasure of commanding the House of Commons.

K
Rage

MiJ

:il

S, * ^h -^ t ^ B ^, #g ^ li ^, ^ It SI
St.

Andrews

Citizen, 1887.

All the rage

extremely popular (C), ^ # A '& M

;

" Uncle Tom, " * to the surprise of many that twaddle traditional phrases in reviews and magazines about the art of fiction, and to the surprise of no man who knows anything about the art of fiction, was all the rage.

/MS; ff

ffe

^. j^ I'

Bffl

i4B

%i^,

m ^ m 'hWi^m A, m.% &.

Reade.

%vi%.^*Note.

" Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Mrs. H. Beecher Stowe. it

Rain

It

never rains but

what the same
events,
as
'

pours

a phrase often used when

It signifies

'a rapid succession of events occurs.

some'

misfortunes never come singly, but

its

has a wider application by

reference to all kinds of

mm^i^; - ^ m'r., r.^m'=.,Wi^''^ miMm te mm-m-y^ m it it n, mj^mmm,^ ^ ^ ?i

ifr
ffl).
it

Nevertheless for, in spite of the proverb, ' It never rains but pours," good-fortune seldom befalls us mortals without alloy there were drops of bitterness in his full cup.
'

SSIS^JiSf,/pa:^S5:iiieS-a-

James Payn.

A rainy day a time of trouble and difficulty (C), ^ gB

Thou'lt give away all thy earnings, and never be uneasy because thou hast nothing against a rainy day.
c
if>

d^

A ^ a ff #

iij,

^ S El 5i,^ ^.m^j^yf^mQeorge Eliot.

RAN
Mr. Puneh, in a caitoon,
is

[3371
represented as advising the British for a rainy day."
Fortnightly Review, 1887.

worliman to avoid the gin-palace, and "put by

a^, S^aiiM^!R.
Baise

To

raise the

wind

see

Wind,

% ;^ Wind.
have an existence
;

Haison

Baison d'etre
(P.)
.

claim to

exist, right to

French phrase,

ffi

;^ 51 fi JS

# :^ It f

J,

In the conviction that no real amalgamation could ever exist between the two will be found the raison d'Hre of the high character with which some of the men of the tiers Stat were credited.

S^i^#;tA^#Sake
To rake up the fire to prepare
by covering
it

National Review, 1886-

the fire to lastall night,

coal,

with a large piece of

and throwing

cinders or coal-slack on the top

(P.),

@ ?t i^; ^ j^ A

When
and
sat

down

she had raked up the fire for the nighit, she lit a candle for half-an-honr to read before retiring to rest.

Bampage

On On

the

rampage drunk (S.), ^;

gffl

fi (M).
(S.),

Ban

the ran-tan

excited,
(P.),

roaming about furiously

Bank

The rank and file

soldiers of

the undistinguised mass, the private

'^9Xi

an army

^ 1tW.;^^^W;

While the rank and file of his parliamentry opponents sought to shout or laugh him down, he tells his sister that he was receiving the most flattering testimonies of approval from discriminating judges.

5.

Edinburgh Review, 1886.

To rise from the ranks

of a commissioned

to

be promoted to the position

officer after

having served as a

pri-

vate soldier
ffl

a rare event in
#;
IS '^

aristocratic countries (P.),

^f

ffi Si

^^^^ g(3it)(*:^Ei^

[338]

BEA
To rap out

Rap

to speak

violently,

to
'

utter loudly

(C.)-

Generally used with the word 'oath

as object, J^

^;

ijim,m
He was
judge,

who rapped S-

provoked in the spirit of magistracy, upon discovering a out a great oath at his footmen.
Addison.

I* .

)C>

To rap over the knuckles

to

administer a sharp

reproof, to censure sharply (C), ia f^;

^M,:kM ^

The author has grossly mistranslated a passage in the Defensio pro populo Anglicano; and if the Bishop were not dead, I would here take the liberty of rapping his knuckles.

m.M'k-m^,^^nm%MiS..
Rate

de Oumcey.

At any
If

rate

in

any

case,

whatever be the circumigj,

stances (P.), ii s& in

M;

^ ir,

jgf>

(JOshelter

he could once reach the cave he would at any rate get

to lie on.

and a dry place

M.

a ^ It
in

-i.

-a-

H.

JR.

Haggard.

Reach

Reach-me-downs

second-hand clothes
'

(S.)

So called
'

London because an intending purchaser of such clothes asks the shopman to reach-him-down them in order to try them on, fc ,^; ^ ^, 4K [W (0 WC

:;tm,^JSAVZnM-r^).
Read
To read a lesson to
Oh, you can speak to
fine lesson.

scold or reprimand (C),

^ ^iM
you a

my aunt Molineux

and she

will read

To read between the

more than what
is

lines

to understand
by a
(P.),

something

precisely stated

writer, to see

a writer's concealed meaning

M,

m^m m ^, m

^M ^z m ^mM,^^^'ii f^

g'

^"j@.;#

RED

[339]
;

He has not enough experience of the way in which men have thought and spoken, to feel what the Bible-writers are about to read between the lines, to discern where he ought to rest his whole weight, and where he ought to pass lightly.

iSk ffi

:^tC

hI if f^

# ff ^ j^ Hiin one's

Matthew Arnold.

Eeady

Beady money money which

use
of,

can be immediately made

(P.), ?i,

money

hands

^;

H, UCi

^^

No

ready

money was

required

by the new

heir.

&mmitA,mmm^iAmBear

m. Edgewonh.
last (P.),

To bring up the rear to come

m^/^mm,mmm (X).

^ ^ it,
;

At half-past ten, Tom Moody, Sir Huddlestone Fuddlestone'a huntsman, was seen trotting up the avenue, followed by the noble pack of hounds in a compact body ^the rear being brought up by the two whips clad in stained scarlet.

m^fB^mi^^mZ^m^
Beckon

-A.

Thackeray.

To rckon without one's host see Host, ^ To reckon on or upon to expect (P.), 89 SI

^
BS'

Host.
SI,

You

reckon upon losing (expect to lose) your friends' kindness.

m&M^^miCm^n.To reckon with to

counts with
(P.),

.SirW.

Temple.

call to

punishment,

to settle ac-

mm;%m,mm,mm,^mm.
Tiiiotaon.

His justice will have another opportunity to meet and reckon with them.

%mmA<im^ f!i::.^m-%, ^mwiW'mBed

Bed-handed
the very act (P.)

just in the very commission of a crime, in

No doubt
referring to stains of blood,

taking the place of your servant, and so selling you into ' By the power of my friend Count Perfetekoff," and here he laughed a low, cruel laugh " I was enabled to take these ^retches red-handed, and so ensure the fate they have so long richly deserved."
'

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

[340]

E-EF
Red tape oflBcialdom,
useless official formalities, official
(P.),

primness and circumlocution

"

^^M;^ i^ Mi

Unlike a minister in England who steps into an office with the red tape cut and dried for him, Lord Wellesley had no one to advise him.

Asiaiic Quarterly Review, 1887.

The red Book the

peerage

list (P.),

mm mm.

M It ^; ^ 1^

And let us, my brethren who have not oar names in the Red Book, console ourselves by thinking how miserable our betters may be, and that Damocles, who sits on satin cushions, and is served on gold plate, has an awful sword hanging over his head.

:t IS,

^ M B SS ^

nr

W ;t tJ ^.

Thackeray.
(P.),

A red letter dayan auspicious or happy day

All being holidays, 1 feel as
if

had none,

as they

do in heaven,

where

'tis all

red letter days.

^ i^ ^ #,
Reed

JE

m m ..

Charles

Lamb.

To

trust to a broken reed

to trust to a

support which

will fail

you

(P.),

mm;M^ii\i\h,^mn^,M
trusting to

If

you depend on the Earl's patronage, I fear you are

a broken reed.

Refusal

To have the
buy
(P.),
it

before

refusal of anything to be allowed any one else, to have the first offer of

to
it

^f^m.mxm;m.^^^,mm^^^it

What was her mortification when the dowager assured her that the identical Alhambra hangings had not only been shown by Mr. Soho to the Duchess of Torcaster, but that her. Grace had had the
refusal of them.

mii tp

* * A 2. K &, w ^ R ;fcift*i *i, ss g :^m t J. ^ a s * A, -tif ^ fi* -^ IS :& If * A ga ,

isi
jifc iffi
ffll

RET
Mrs. Flint
will

[341]

never

let

Mrs. Steel have the refusal.

Hein

To give the
release

reins to allow unrestrained freedom, from control (P.), ^, Mi m.,

to

^ M^,

^M

But how could he thus give

reins to his temper

ItfelSJ-BriSclffiSi'ctt^;!^.

James Payn.

S.emoved

Once or twice removed

removed
'

separated by one or two steps

A
person
is
'

of family relationship (P.)

cousin once

to the full cousin of one of his parents, or to

the child of one of his full cousins,

M H& ^

1^

Hor

twice

S J& if #
Our

The old gentleman of our own time, whose grandsire, (once "removed" * * ) gathered the arrows upon Flodden Field. '^ ^ n

mm^ ^mm,^-mm&.^it&^,^^
-tfi/-

James Payn.

cousins, too, even to the fortieth remove, all

remembered

their affinity.

Goldsmith.

Kespect

To pay

polite visit, to

one's respects to any meet one with courtesy

she

one

^to

made one a
IS 3c
;

(P.),

Pnl

^>

mm,nm,nm,m^,mmmn,mw{X).
Her
last pleasing duty, before
left

the house, was to pay her

respects to

them

as they sat together after dinner.

^^.B#,fi=ttliffi;^-a'spects to her.

^iss Austen.

Every day Miss Swartz comes, you will be here to pay your re-

# 0fitJ6''>*aS!l?K,?*)lf >*jlfcl^;tr.gSResurrec'
tion

Thackeray.

Resurrection pie a pie composed of the odd meat that have been unused, and have lain
kitchen for a time past (S.),
The boys would not

bits of

in the

MM "k ml MB, ^W

eat the old gentleman's resurrection pie.

m^Ammmm.'hJ-^?r--nt:it.

E etching

Retching and reaming stretching out the arms and gaping, as when one is aroused from sleep (F.),

'tig}

[342J
Iletum

RIB
To return
to our muttons to return to the main subThe translation of a proverbject of our narrative (C.)

taken from the old French farce of Pierre Patelin,

To return

to

our muttons

Thia mode of progression

Bill

At length upon Spanking

y^WiiJ ^-

made some

impression.

Barham.

Shyme

Neither rhyme nor reason

advised an author,

wanting
(P.)

in sense and

every other valualale quality

Sir

Thomas "More

him his manuscript to read, "to put it into rhyme." Which when he had done, Sir Thomas said, "Yes, marry, now it is somewhat, for now it is rhyme before it was neither rhymenor reason," m^^ m, ^,

who had

sent

^ ^^ ^,W^ WX^

mx,mm^ ^^,^mmmmm ^,mmmmmm,x^M^).

Without rhyme
or reason

'u,

inexplicably,

from no

cause to be easily understood (C), :^ ?B

^ '^',MM

one is accustomed to depend for most and these pleasant little amenities that members of one sex value from another, suddenly, cuts off the supply without any apparent rhyme or reason, it is enough to induce a feelof that social

When

a person on

whom

intercourse

ing of wonder, not to say of vexation, in the breast.

Ji
J!fc

^ A j^, * IS

f,

#
H. E. Haggard.

Bib

A rib a name sometimes applied in jest to a wife.

Paradise

The

allusion is to the story of Eve's creation given in the

second chapter of Genesis, and repeated in Milton,

Lost:^

IE!

^,

P3

^,

S A, li #

(|l) Ifc

SB

He

has gone out walking with his

rift

{wife).

E.IF
Ribbon

[3433

red ribbon or riband the order of the Bath (P.) The knights of the Baih wear a crimson riband with a
medallion bearing the motto
iF

m (a t
(Hastings)

TVm jixncta

:^ li

m,

- mm^i^zm-^,!.
office at

in uno, ^X ?W

He

had then looked forward to a coronet, a red riband,

Whitehall.

a seat at the Council Board, an

^ 1^

igg.

Macaulay.

A blue ribbon the order of

the Garter, the most distinguished of the English orders (P.) The phrase ia used to signify "a distinction of the highest kind,
la

In 1840 he was elected to a fellowship at Oriel, then the blue ribbon of the university.

^ M ^ ^ .
Biek
Rich as a

i-i

& ( ^

ig **

To handle the ribbons

-ffi-)-

Athenaeum, 1887.
(F.),

to

hold the reins, to drive

Jewvery rich (F.),

ig^;^SM^,^#
^^, ^

Poverty prevails among the London Jews to a much greater extent than was imagined sufficient, certainly, to shake considerably popular faith in the truth of the old saying, "Rich as a Jew." KIJ f^ it P It If IB 3i A, Jlfc

A, iSi^^-

^^ m ^< m K^i^ ^ At. m ^i m m, & m &%t ^ &m

Spectator, 1887.

^^

^A

Bift

The rift in the lute the small defect or breach which

will gradually spoil the

whole

(P.),

Mi

M.;m

yf^

m m n K'M, !^ mmu, n m ^

M "^

ik.

"^ &-

m ^ (X).
And Mrs. Cameron, wbo had flattered herself that she could guide her beautiful daughter in safety throagh the world if she could only keep her entire confidence in this way, little dreamed that the "Uttlerift within the lute" had just been made by a school-girl's careless speech and that henceforth the heart and soul of Delia would lie no longer pure and clear as crystal beneath her watchful eye.
1^ 7&
IK S * K M * ii M BB B. ^ :t ^ S H :t ^, ^* se tl B# fJ H. fi &. Si P :^ S ^ SS ;t W, mm>^it^u,B7nm^m^^m^m,iii9n&m^A 1887. Andrews ^ ^ SI ;f #

**
a
it

flfe,

-fite

116

i?S

ill

-ii-

jSt.

Citizen,

[344]
Some
little rift

RIG
had taken place
in the lute of her diplomacy.
Ja-nies

Hight

te^t^^SE. ^:fc^SI, PJa^a^. To put or set to rights to arrange,

order (C),

Payn.
set

g^
When
a
fly

Ifi,

^ ^ ^ f^ #
il;
Sfe

JE, ^ &, I& I&, ^, t ^

rectify,
(i^).

in
SiJ

She put her curls to rights and looked as pleased as fun.

I had put myself somewhat and drove to Herr Kucher.
to rights at the hotel, I hired

Leisure Hour, 1887.

Was
IS KH
y^-

it

not well, then, that he should see a

a?

letter

which put that

mystery to rights?

^ fl .a - ,

!S^

*, ^ M jE, * j^:^
R. L. Stevenson.
sick-

Old Cooper has sel him to rights (caused him to recover from ness) by this time, you may depend on it.
C

*fl iiJ Jit

B#,

^ =&

ffi

B 1S

19c

.^ 7C il

^ C *. ^

St).

James Payn.

By

rights

properly, according to strict justice

(P.),

jE

Had
his

it

not been for the preoccupied and uncomfortable state

of

mind * * Arthur should by rights have enjoyed himself very much

at Madeira.

11*,

jEjE^ gffi iS^-a.

H.R.

Haggard.

right

arm one's

staunchest friend, the principal

(P.),

supporter of any one

;&W;^JB, #|&, -W:^

my
knights.
Tennyson.

Sir Launcelot,

my

right arm, the mightiest of

JSW^^S^Wffl, Sj^R;t^ai^til;

To send to the right-ahout to dismiss without q&kmony (F.), ;^ 3i 3i, ;S ^, T ^ :5: '^, ;t ^
The next ofiFer Eliza would not accept it was from a widower with children, and she sent him to the right about.
JS ii

.
of

Jlfrs.

H. Wood.

doing so, that brilliant young gentleman would have been sent to the right-about with the shortest possible delay. Sn jifc tfe *, ;?c ii5 i ;t if HJ af jifc i|g 19 2. d? *.

Had he had the power

m^m^ ^ 2 ^ ^fiE

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

RIS
on

[345]
a friend

A right hand man a very serviceable person,

whom one chiefly depends (P
.),

1^]

iM^^ ^ ^ A>

The general liked it just as well wanted a pipe (of the wine) for the Commander-in-Chief. He's his Royal Highness' s right-hand man.

-fll-

Thackeray.

His heart

is

true-hearted
sition (C),

in the right place he is faithful and he is of a kindly and sympathetic dispo;

i6 jE;

^ <i i&, jE icii fi, m m, m

girls,

My

daughters are plain, disinterested

but their hearts are

in the right place.

f^

mm&

Thackeray.

Right as a trivet
,

safe
tell

and sound, in a thoroughly

satisfactory condition (F.), 5c

^;

^J,

^
^-

Ifi

(S)all

"Don't you hear me

you that we have found out

about

the cheque, and that you're as right as a trivet?"

^, }*

^ * H ^-

Trollope.

Ring

To ring the changes on anything

various different forms
(P.),

to

make

use of an

expression in a variety of ways, to repeat something in

BB ^U B; ^ m M,
W\

Some of our English authors of to-day have a trick of ringing the changes on a phrase until the ear gets rather weary of it.

^ li SS S *, a ^ H * & li BB BBise

To take
self

Ammz^;wmmAM^mAB^um,nm
mAi'^)im^MA:,Mmikmm&.m^zM).
On one
verley.

to amuse one's or get a rise out of a person by making another angry or excited, to play a trick on another (F.) Originally, no doubt, taken from fishing, where one casts a fly and gets a fish to "rise," ^;

occasion I took what

we used

to call a "rise" out of Cal-

Temple Bar, 1887.

[346]

ROC
To rob Peter to pay Paul
longs to one person
tO'

__^______
to take

what
(P.)

ifightfuUy be-

pay another

The

origin of

this expression is as follows:

church of
later it

St.

1540 the abbeyPeter, Westminster, was advanced to the

;

(In

dignity of a cathedral by letters patent

but ten years

again, and

was joined

to the diocese of

London

many

of its estates appropriated to the repairs of St.

Paul's Cathedral),

fi^A;tiE;^^^^,tT^^
ra

m^m(.-^)im-' 1^5 w

+ ^, % ^

ts:

^ f

How
would be
;Jl

was he to pay
to rob Peter to

for it?

The horse was not

his; to leave

it

pay Paul,
Leisure Hour, 1887.

fM &.

Gentlemen of the long robe

legal officials (P.),
;

judges ^nd

other high

^ # t ^ ?* M, ^

*'J

M iX)-

The genteel world had been thrown into a considerable state of excitement by two events, which, as the papers say, might give employment to the gentlemen of the long robe.

5,

jHj

-^

"Sr

a -^ H a a ^ ^# * * #
The
title of

lb;.

Thackeray.

Socks ahead a phrase

menaces
'

signifying that some danger

is

one of Mr. Greg's books Cassandra or E-ocks' ahead' i.e. The Prophetess
(P.)
' ;

of
/ff

Evil or Danger

Looming

Near,'

bij

^ H 5;

bu SI

"Take him away

sir!"

again, sir,
his

Mr. Bunker put up

It
iii,

Bon' t let him stay.' Eocks ahead, hands in warning.

Besant.

BI

/ir

^ 4..
up,,

On the rocks hard

having no money

left (S.),

Tf,

" Can you lend

me five pounds ? "

ROL
"
I

[347]

am

sorry that I

am

on the rocks myself just now."

Bod

To put

or

have a rod in pickle

to

have a punishment

in store (F.),

^ ^ B m Z; ^M MB, "^ mMM,

'n.m
pickie.

He had
him.

a rod in pickle for his son, whose conduct had displeased

See PicHle.

mm-n>f:M.^n%,Bm^9:Wi^^Roi

Roi faineant a king who does nothing, a only in name (P.) A French phrase,

sovereign

^^mR^M
leaves everything

It

to his

was the old story. grand Vizier, and

The young Sultan who

finds himself a roi fainioM dethroned

and

imprisoned.
Mistletoi

Bough, 1887.
(P.),

Eoger

The Jolly Roger the

black pirate's flag

^.M;^
from her

The Sispaniolor still lay where she had anchored

there was the Jolly Eoger

but, sure enough,

the black flag of

-fe-

piracy'^ flying

peak.

^ ^ H E,
Boland

Jifc

K ^ It J^

R-L.

Stevenson.

To give a Roland for an Oliver

retaliate in a forcible'

to give tit for tat, to

manner

(P.),

^ ^ ^ ;^ JK 0f
;

He withdrew moodily to

a bench, comforted, however, not a

for

little

by tbe thought that he had given Mrs. Carr a Eoland

H'J

an

Oliver.

Xi^m.
He

-H". -R.

Haggard.

then took a sheet of paper, and said he would soon give her a Boland for an Oliver.

jBL oiling

w^&i&-m.m,m'js!>m^ms.mm,-^mm-m. Reade. rolling stone gathers no moss a person who

is

always shifting about makes no money, a

derer remains poor (P.)

restless

wan-

proverb of

Thomas

Tusser's

(15231580),

^A:^^;^5'il^^:^H,^A

[348]

ROO
He had
rolled
te

had

on

been a rolling-stone, which, if it had gathered no -moss, it (made no money, had used plenty of it).
?tC

iiC

M ?K ir Jt it 5, Si ^ tl *- ^, Bt-<iafe*^^J:^(ffl;?;tS James Payn. ^ M, SS El ^ ^ #, i^ at ^).

ffl

Mr. Laurence Oliphant, well-known as a traveller, has recently described his varied experiences in a series of articles in Blackwood's Magazine, entitled " Moss from a Rolling stone."
.

IIS

tf,

3-

M TO

a,

a s ^ as IB-

Borne

Rome was

not built in a day

great
^,

results

are not

to obtain in a short period, patience is required in

the production of anything valuable j

(P.),
ffi

#;

m^M#said Ella,
;

fiS;

^-

|9 ^ ^

s )i *

,.^.

"Yes,"
her artistic

but I

amused by this very moderate compliment to " it is the one with the coast-guard station on it have not had time to put that in yet."
skill
ffl,

^K

;t

- *l, m 1^ *
Rome was

<|-

X *,

-as

A^*

-&.

"I

see,

not built in a day, was it?"

jai?B,isiMa^,-'S8ia;itCt6r(K*-a,f#-^M?. James Payn.

When at Rome do
does

as the

Romans do

or as the

Pope

an ancient proverb recommending prudence in

behaviour.

We

must adapt ourselves

(St.

to the prej udices

and customs

Augustine found on arrival at Rome that they fasted on Saturday; he complied with this custoiii, though it was strange to him),
of others.

A%

Room

Room and

to spare

room(C.), %^il!l; M:}]

plenty accommodation, ample %m,m^ M f^, ^.i] ^

of
;

Come and
If ^ Bg ?E

stay with us to-night

is;

we have room and

to spare.

^ m T ^,

is

H m :* a JUil-

To prefer another's room

to his company to wish another to leave you, to dislike his society (F.),

M* a

pf 'It

?i

^ ^n a

=f ^> 4?.

^ ^ ^ i^ #=

ROP
When
one
is

[349]i

not en rapport with one's friends about any particufor the time they are interested
it is

lar subject in

which
it is

better to

leave them, for

certain they

would rather have our room than

our company.

m ^ @S
Boot

-t^J

#,

flij

^ HI

il,

M *: A as ^ ^ a ^ M f *

5Jc

James Payu.

The root of all evil the love of money (P.) (So called in the New Testament, I Tim. V. 2S),^M -^"^ ^'y

E*,|g--+Hfi5).
The root
of the matter

sound

religious principle,

(A phrase much used by the Puritans, and borrowed from the Old Testament, Job, XIX 28 Seeing the root of the matter is found
deep-seated religious faith (P.)

'

in me'),

mm.9.m;mm.,% m^^., '^nmm..

+
Thou
have got the root
^*l>,
of the

:fL

$,

^n+A
folks.

dost not believe but what the dissenters and the Methodists

matter as well as the church

llSiic;t^M.

George Eliot.

Bope

Give a rogue rope enough and he will hang himself a wicked man is sure to bring about his own
destruction (C),

^^/p,

2'@^, ^56#^;:gC

He is a bad man, and a dangerous man, but let him be. He taking plenty of rope, and he will hang himself one of these days.
a,
i!l

is

-IffllSMA, ?!)?1ii:}!lA, ^^IR.-ar-ffi^.iiBB, 'la^fi':^ H. E. Haggard. a, iEM* i

SMa

-ffi.-

With a rope round

one's

neck
ffi

in

imminent danger
itil

- !^:&iffi, i M#^ ;^

of a violent death (P.), gl

-g^

^ ^JE T ;^ ^, m ^ ^ ^ I^,
7J
fiC;

'14

[350]
ITiis

ROT
country (Central America);
their fighting qualities.

(hanging) was the usual fate which followed failure in this and those who fought in it knew they were

doing so with a rope round their necks

which doubtless improved

S,

JSIl5E-^:*, Ji.ftJSj6^5E**JS, ^iKt6j!j.

Blackwood's Magazine, 1886.

A rope of sand something

eicilj
;

of strength but is utterly useless

?i?
, ,

which has an appearance and unreliable (P.),

"f"
,

^ ^^^^ #5K^Em ^

^ 3S

Where he (Love) sets his foot, the rocks bloom with flowers, or the garden becomes a wilderness according to his good-will and pleasure, and at his whisper all other allegiances melt away like ropea of sand.

/Ltt^ltffi^ilS, SiM:5^-Br&?E,

^ na
Bose

B=, ti

is

^;f

"i B#, 3i

g'

S ^ E, s K it H ^ g, W
JiB

-la

#a
-111.

SfJSI^ffl^SS
,. fe-

^ *, - il ^ IB
Haggard.

;?:

ftk til

H.R.

Under the rose

secretly, in confidence (P.), W>'^', Wi

under the

The Alsatians and we have some common enemies, and we have, rose, some common friends.
Scott.

jlfci^Br^^Ast^-tfiisee

Meadows went to the Black Horse, the village public-house, what farmers wanted to borrow a little money under the rose.
Eeade.

to

m^^m.-^-

A bed of roses a luxurious place,

situation (P.),

a very comfortable

^m^;^m^M^,^m:tm,^0
and shrinking, did not repose
easily understood.
just

That James

Ailsa, sensitive

then upon a bed of roses,

may be

^Mi^MLife could not

Mrs. Henry Wood.

have been a bed

of roses for

any

of

them.

^^i.>KB,|-nrW^J^3fiSi;ir#-a.

Mrs. Henry wood.

(S.)
;

Bot

Rot

or all rot

humbug,

nonsense

A
Si

favourite
|ft

schoolboy's phrase in England,

^^^

(H) (^

ROU
By
inspan.
this time

[351]
if

Mouti had got the horses up, and asked

Ji!F
'

he was to

^ ai 5g ai, B
" No 5 wait a
are unfounded)'
*^
'

M ^ s,
'

pg
.

^
'

iS.
'

^ UC 2. slikely
it is

bit,

said

John
Jg

Very

all rot

(my

feara

he added to himself.

S,

# ^ - ^,

&

B, |g

Ja 11 SB B (f

'fa

^)-

i Q?JC H. E. Haggard.
and drink
hia

Let's stick to him,

and no more

rot (nonsense),

health as the head of the house.

S^EftPltfife.
:

1l-^mm, *ja^^1g#^. ^
Hughes.

Kough

m Rough on hard
IfJ.

lines for, a hardship to (C), 7p tft; IP

There was a universal

for

feeling,
it

he assured

his ward, of

sympathy
as himself

him everybody
;

felt

that

was rough on such a man

to find that he

was not

of illustrious descent.

rough customer

an

unpleasant individual,
(F.),

one

whose manners are coarse

gp

^;

ffl

A,

i^H

^>

I found the blacksmith rather a rough customer to deal with,

A rough diamond a person

terior,

with an unattractive ex-

who

possesses good qualities of

mind and

heart

of

As for Warrington, that rough diamond had not had the polish a dancing master and he did not know how to waltz.
1"! ffl

^ Sn
Round

To go the round to
ferent

-ai-

Thackeray.

circulate, to be carried to the dif-

members

of a society (P.),

If Jfiif

^,

'S',

In spite of the stories which have lately gone the round of the European press as to Russian mobilization on the frontier of Koumania, it is probable that Bussia will no longer pursue the policy of
tearing off bits of Turkey.

;{;

^ f^

flj

^ ^ H ^-

FoHnightly Review, 1887.

[352]

RUB In round numbers mentioning

which has no small
The
cost,
ill

an approximate sum

figures or fractions (P.),

fS.M;

round numbers,

will

be about $3,200.

A round

robin a document, signed by a number of which has the names radiating from the centre. This plan obviates the necessity of any one name heading the list a dangerous distinction (P.),
individuals,

^ mAn-w, m^^mM^m^) (X).

Their names were reduced to writing, to be respectfully submitted was the awe entertained of his frown, that every one shrank from putting his name first to the instrument; whereupon their names were written about in a circle, making what mutinous
to Johnson, but such
sailors call a

Round Kobin.

M # >^ Row

lil-

Washington Irving.

A row

of pins

used

to signify

what

is

of small value

or importance (F.),

mWi:t^-:M&nm,mW,m
he
doesn't amount to
.

"True," would by
a
rov) of pins (is
ife

my mournful reply, "but

ii 5.

a very insignificant person )

af js s

# B,

m ^ A.

ftE

a a ^ -a1882).

Robert Grant,

{quoted in

"Edinburgh Review,"

A row royal a grand fight,

noise
is

a quarrel in which much

made

(F.), :fe

^
It

Pflc, @t gc, J^ ^,

^ id (S)^,

And the end is gereral exasperation, with fines, notices to Jeave, warnings, cheekiness, retorts * * * and every element of a row royal.

Rub

^^'^5Sm^Sl^.f^,
-tjl

fl it,

W a.

Si

#,

tS

K# ^.

K iS ;t ^. To rub down to
M,{X).

Besant.

groom a horse

(P.),

^M; S^%,^

When

his fellow beasts are

He'll play the groom, giA'e oats,

weary grown. and rub 'em down.

RUB
To rub up to renew,
ia j^ ^n ii, -^
I shall I

[353]

refresh, brighten (C),

# :^ ^, m rr ig #, ig j (m
my
lately,

##

Jgf^,

be glad of the opportunity of rubbing up

<#

classics a bit;

have been neglecting them

sag
You
some

it-,

aifiic*t^*^,

a3RB^2,
H. B. Haggard.

will find

me

not to have rubbed up the

memory

of

what

in the city heretofore did.

There's the rub

trouble (P.)
soliloquy

that

is

the point which causes

me

quotation from Shakspeare

Hamlet's

^m.%;nmmm^saiib^^,
dream
#., ffi
;

To

sleep; perchance to

ay, there's the rub.

^ IS y, ?E ^ A ^ y,
Subicon

iC>

0C :#, BP

Jlfc

W ^

To

to venture

cross or pass the Rubicon to take a decisive step, on a great and dangerous untertaking (P.)

The Rubicon is a small river which separated republican Italy from Cisalpine Gaul. Caesar, whose military com-

mand was
river,

limited to the latter province, arrived at this

so

and after some hesitation crossed it. By doing he broke the law, and became an invader of his

country,

^ ^ tt

;-;

*f 7jC|^, IS

"ig

M,

"^ ff

mmR^ m '^ mm ^A-m,^m '^ mmm^m

Compelled to choose between two alternatives, he laid the matter before his wife * * and awaited the verdict from her lips. It came without hesitation. " It is your duty the consequences we must leave.
;

Go

forward, and to victory."

^ uc

;!:

fi It die

R,

tt

^,

#^#

III

ig 3^.

The

was thus

cast,

the Rubicon crossed.

Quarterly Review, 1887.

ibM^!^,'Mik^i&MM-

[354]

RUN
Red ruddocks gold coin (S.), ^ B. (). To rule the roast to manage, to govern, chief say in everything (C), M M'M ^,

Buddock
Eule

to

have the
iC,

# ^,

The new-made duke that

rules the roast.

itm^mM1^&'m-

Shakspeare.

Mrs. Nash was ruling the roast at Caromel's farm, being unquestionably both mistress and master.

MmfSk, &X^!&

T^mM^^(S.),

^rs. Henry Wood.

Rum

Bum queer,
O
Lord,
sir,
Jit

not very good rum

'^

^ ^ ^;'^')z^r
S.B. Haggard.

here's a

go (diflBcult state of affairs).

(iff

IS, 35

y,

* ^ Si :^ if T -^

Silii);

The old un's (one is) a rum what there is of him. '> pt: jlfc A, IS
lit

little

chap but he's a real gentlemaa

;2.

^ M 7- &

a^

A,

m B^

(& ;;r fi', R'J

s^
,

Dickens.
(S.),
Pffi

A rum start a strange condition of affairs 'S *; M ^^ ^, aj *J ^ 'tt ;t i^ (

-ffir,

PSt

"Come,"

said Silver, struggling with his ashen lips to get thfr

word out, "this won't do. Stand by to go about. This is a rum start."
7J

^ 1^ 2. ^. ^ * a & .
ii
;

R-I^- Stevenson.

Bun

Several days running

-^M

several days in succession (C),

Treveiyan.

mi

Fine ladies would never consent to be asked for three Sundaysrunning in the parish church.

mm\myf^-wmm^mnn,-^^ji^n^In the long run

To run

see Long, ^ ^ Long. amuck rush ahead violently,

to

to

go

at

a-

headlong pace (P.) (A Malay phrase. Generally associated with violent and angry collisions), Mt^WiM't

Ready

to

run amuck with any one who crossed him.

m^m,m.'^m\km.W^In their alarm they were ready to run

DmaeU.

amuck

of everything.

te^mii^, Sista,

iS

^ it m mmMa/tfchester QSnardian, 1880.

RUN
But -what do you mean by being
then
j^
fail ?

[355]
rich 7
la it to

run amuck and

^.
of people, the
the average of people (C), ':A;

Besant.

The run

common run ordinary folks,

* ^ m).
'the

M A, ^ &, )M W.,

Perhaps I am scarcely an example of what is popularly called common run' of visitors at the 'Ultramarine.'
2.

jSK

5or
(P.),

James Payiu

The ordinary
usual

common runwhat is customary or S; ^ ^, *5c t;, ^ ^ ^ ffl, H iS ^

I saw at once that these repasts are very superior to the common run of entertainments.

iS-^RB^, jHsBft!lM^i^^^l'C#They had pretensions above the ordinary run.

Thackeray.

1^^mm^&i9i'mmTo be run
after

W. Imng.

to

be popular and admired (C),

A^

" She gives herself wonderful aira,

bitterly.

it

seems," said Bassett, rather

EB.B#ttl"0, ffiia^^^itf^.

iss-^s^^s.
beautiful,

Marsh fired up. "So would any woman that was as and as witty, and as much run after as she is.'

after before

She had been rather fond her marriage.

of society,

and much admired and run

Hughes.

To run down (a)

with
it (P.),

of a vessel or

to sink or overturn

any body in motion, anything by coming into collision

M
'

-Jifc ;

it

M,

2fc,

ft

^,
its

H il {%) i^ ^
voyage from Hong-

The
kong.

'

Hitaernia

ran down a schooner on

All hands were saved.

[356]
As he
to get out of the

RUN
he would call out to fast postmen ahead of him, way, devoutly believing that in the natural course of things he must inevitably overtake and run them down.
trotted on,

-(b) to

speak against, to

criticise

unfavourably (C),

' '

How could you,

31! ill

could you, deceive

me so ? "
119

cried Ella pitifully.

" Suppose

I hadn't liked the S

:;^

poems ?"
jlfc

F
' '

pf

}*

M tg 1 ^ iS,

:?:

ta

Jlfc

if,

M in y
IpJ

Well, then, I should never have told you about them. But didn't you guess the truth, when Felspar used to run them down, and
protest that they were not half

good enough

for the illustrations?

"

James Payn.
(c)

to discover, to

hunt

after

and

find (F.),

S HJ ^
;

"Now, look here," said the captain; "you've run here I am; well, then, speak up: what is it? "
1^

me down;
Bl

-0, t^ 4- * B JS Sf i *& il, ^ ^ ^.

Jib

^, ?* a^ 1BIJS, fg R. L. Slevenson.

To run in

lock mm,Mmm.
to

up

(C),

1& *,

^ ^, ^

Pfl,

Fifty inebriates were run in for the night.

Run on a
new

- ^f (PP

phrase used in printing, to signify that a line is not to he begun, 3Ji^;^3Ji)"f:55fp

jsij

m).

A run upon a banka sudden

rush of depositors and

holders of notes anxious to obtain their

money
:$fe,

(P.),

M ^ # 1^ S # ^ ;t# A, 5S ^ ^
Jossop's
so

IP]

m^

bank has such a number

of small depositors,

and

issues

many

small notes.
If

notice.

cannot cash aibove haU of them without there comes a run, he must have to stop payment this

He

very day.

#, A.

^ ;f K it M BS, ^ :^ tg R^ # M #1 i St, ^^ gJJgJg-^ S JIDC, KiJS H i5SfSt#-i,. Miss Mulock.

iSi
IhI

RUN
To run
it
'

[357]
off,

for it

^^to

make
gfe
;

to

hurry away
is

(F.)

'

For

does not refer to any object, but

a mere extra

phrase,

C ^ 3^

'^

^, fi ^ ^,

5il

gg, ^, il

*.

But just then crack! crack! crack! three mijsket-shots flashed out of the thicket. Merry tumbled head foremost into the excavation the man with the bandage spun round like a teetotum, and fell all his length upon his side, where he lay dead, but still twitching; and the other three turned and ran for it with all their might.
;

mik

is.^ v^, A^-z fp. M m, BJii^

WM

m^ & m m B.W, mm m a iw J' B ^m m mm A, :&^ mm m mi^m, mm^mn ^ & m, m M nmmm ^, mn m ^. z A, m

Pi
:iik,

in

M:)]MM^score

^-L.

Stevenson.

To run up a
Bun up
as that.
l^

to

buy

articles

on

credit (F.),

a score with that Jellico

fO i^

No
:?c

she'd not be such an idiot

til

^ S ^,
it (P.),

i,

c SS iS,
(of tlie

S i^

jIt.

Mrs. H. Wood.

To run on anything
thoughts of

i&

mind)
;

to be occupied

with

^ S J!fH^ H*, ^ rr S,
^&W*S{ij
;

In England everybody's head runs on dukes. :Sja3tS. fllJ'^A'C^B ^.-g'lf

JamesPayn.
;

To run a rigto
To run over (a)
He iills

play a trick

(S.),

to overflow (P.),

M f^ iH f^ i? A S J g
ffiS,

(ffi).

{fi,

i2

his famished

maw,

his

mouth runs

o'er

With unchewed

morsels, while he churns the gore.

^ S in tS
(6)

t*I.

:S IJ

t ft *. ^ * ^ iL'

ft

rS

^ H.

Dry den.
to read or consider in a hasty

manner (P.),

^HS

If

through

m%^MmMM:i^mBTo run out

we run over the other nations of Europe, we shall only pass -so many different scenes of poverty. - H, sij i6 # f A ^, :?: )i # II 'It J^, 4 Si ^ n?
JSfc

Addison.
to

(a)

to

come

an end

(P.),

^M',^ ^,^<

mm,Bm,mmiX).

[358]
When
-up

SAG
twenty
acres,

a lease had run out, he stipulated with his tenant to resign without lessening his rent.

'Am.mBmm^,m^w^m.A^m,m urn s s := + k. smft. ^ Si, ti a ^ g :^ ;

i/j

(6) to

digress, extend,

expand

(P.),

^ R; ^ &, ^
Addison.

Nor

is it suflBcient

to

run out into beautiful digressions.

Bn^**M,
To run up

^2Sc."firS2.S^-,i!l^*a-fe.

(of

a building) to erect speedily, to build in

a short time (C), 1^

XM M; &:t ^ :t,^ B ^Z
value
(P.),

This whole street was run up in three months' time.

Rush

Not worth a rush of no

John

'lit

-^

3^

Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.

Arbuthnot.

s.
Sack

To get the sack to be dismissed from employment (F.) A phrase common in French, where sac (sack) means
knapsack. It has therefore reference to the marching oif of a soldier, ^; !^, /p m, H, 13 iJ, ^r
'

^
jE

m?(tr).
I say, I

wonder what old Fogg 'ud (would)

I s'pose (suppose)
;?;

say,.if

should get the sack,

fs 4-

eh
^,

he knew
sF

it.

^a

ra

^ af f^ M
;

IS

jfii

if

36

^ M"And what
" he
is is it

ai

^.

Conway.
to

him ?"

retorted Evans, with rude triumph;

no longer an

officer of this jail

he has got the sack and orders

to quit the prison."

Reade.

Sackloth

In sackloth and ashes

and repentance (P.) This is a scriptural expression, and comes from the habitof Eastern nations on occasions of sorrow and
grief

in

remorse,

m,

]iinM^.m,mm?&mmztkm^).

^ mtL^M^ (X) m 75 m m ^m, ^ M ^

m fl

ifS

1X,

'IS,

BMR

^^

'It,

SAL
A
mourn

[359]

deplorable error and misfortune, for which humanity should in sackloth and asHea.
J. S. Mill.

^ ^.
Sad

A sad dog a merry fellow, a gay man,

joking
(F.),
I

man

given

tO'

:^mum^A;^m^,^^'J',m
ma'am, your son
is

am

afraid,

a sad dog.

Sail

*A. SSl'^Ii5 5ijKJSfS^^fi-. To make sail (a) to start (of a sailing vessel) (P.),
*i The
sail,
"lifL

a). captain * * gave orders for unmooring ship, and we made dropping down slowly with the wind and tide.
"IJH

M *,

i^

^ iX) m

M 1^;

rfn

^.
(6) to start, go off (F.),

H. R. Dana.

m^im^, ^M, m&. if!)drawing-room was given, and they

Thackeray.
.

The
all

signal to

make sail

for the

arose

and departed.

affM^^ft
To
Strike sail
iX).
(b)

a|fm-il,Ff^3i||aiS.
(a) to

lower the

sails (P.),

iJt;

^ ft,

to

be more humble, to lessen one's pretensions (P.;^

Margaret

Must strike her sail, and While kings command-

learn awhile to serve

Shakupeare.

To
Salt

set sail

see

Set,

^ ^ Set.

B.ather too salt said of an excessive hotel bill or overcharge of any kind (S.), fi; i^,^ '^ iW

MM

Twenty
'> ft

dollars for
,

two days'

stay.

That's rather to salt!

^ Hi - + H- * a * Ssaltof
value, serviceable (C),
>fT (it;

Worth

one's

:^

He loved to earn his money. He delighted to believeToby wa very poor, and couldn't well afford to part with a delight that he
was worth his
salt.

K i% :t
;;f

!@c

IS

*,

ftJ

B tE ^ IS, * SI 2. B , :
i

:?:

tB

- SI M in.
Dickens.

73f

Jfc <if ffl iS:

-Iti*-

[360]
Every

SAM
man who
is

worth his

salt

has his enemies.

ITnghes.

True

to one's salt

faithful
whom

to one's

employer

(P.),

Jfe

Faithful as they were to their

dreamed that the master

hetray them.

salt, they had never so much as they had served so loyally could

^ ^ ^ F ^ &.
of salt

J--^- Froude.

With a grain

see Grain, ^ m Grain.

Sam

To stand Sam
ments
(S.)

pay for refresha contraction for 'Uncle Sam,' a The phrase jocular name for the U. S. government. as the all expenses, means to pay therefore originally
to entertain friends, to
is

(Sam

government

does),

^^^

MM (

Samaritan

one who behaves in a kind and manner to those who have no claims compassionate upon him (P.) (See the parable of the Good Samaritan, St. Luke X, 29:)lfA;J^^tt^BMAmi:2:

Good Samaritan

55

A (^)

(JH: Jft

j!fj

^ ^ S& JD ^ + * - +

;>L

m
of

(I)

niggers to see

took leave of the good Samaritan, me out of the wood.

who appointed two

my

Reade.

Same

All the

same (a)

no difference

(P.),

M S il, M ^
;

"It must be
crossly. * *

late in the afternoon,

then," said the4awyer rather

"All the same to me," acquiesced the Pater. Mrs. H. Wood. *fl^Sfi=, 0,*^S;fi'J a.

m-^BS
;

(6)

nevertheless (C),

W f^
-BT

S|

^ m.
same I cannot emply
ia.
Sii jf: 111 ffl

He may
iim.
,

be a reformed character.
Sfe

All the

:^

# E 3P W

.'fr,

^ ac

S,

W S

SAU
Sand

[361]
appointed term has come

The sand has run out the

to

an end (P.) Sand

ia

here the sand in the hour-glass,

by which time was formerly measured,

M ^ "S SS ^
;

&)." w\ "Hush, my child

^w

never
iip

talk of dying.

Please God, you

have
Ill-

many

years of

life

before you.'

pHi, ife

la

^ a 5E ^ w,
fiS

it

3c, f& :t ^ *^ ir 3t i^ A *
' '

She shook her golden head a little sadly. has run out, and perhaps it is as well."

No, doctor,

my sand

m Si ^ @, }S ^ ^ m ^ ^ t, ^ 0> s* &,:^ s, * B# MB S.R. Haggard. m^.'^^^^^&Km^-

A rope of sand see Rope, ^

Sang
Sang
froid

-l

Rope.

ment or

coolness, calmness in the presence of excitedanger;CP.) French, ^ ^ ;t ^, I P ^ ^.

little lot.

Then Robinson, who had never lost his presence of mind, and had now recovered his sand-froid, made all four captives sit round
together on the ground in one

it ^ :*
Sans
Sans fa^on
French,

Tf

* 't
5:

Sli

ia,

^ IS to ^ @

iii

^'

4^

:&

/t

without
t^J jfii
;

observing

strict
*6J

etiquette
3ft:
i

(P.)

^ i^

:=f^

M^ * f
S

(^)

mm).
will

^
Satin

Will yoa both come and dine with me to-night sans faqqn; there be nobody except Agatha and Mr. Heigham?" asked Mrs. Carr. iiS B, f& jSi F>3 0, '^ Bft^ #, , It H.R. Haggard. J Tla! 5 ?I5 SI
'
'

^ M^A

NX SA*
London

A yard of satin a glass of gin.

What is sauce for the
like things demand
goose
is

slang,

W^

Sauce

sauce for the gander

q^

like treatment (C),

^AM

^ /N ^ M

WJe,

^ ^ HI

:|2,

- # in

>i:,

M ii ui^m).

Now; what's sauce for the goose ia sauce for the gander; if you put a pressure on one class to make it train itself properly, you must put a pressure on others to the same end.

^ A-i ff M, M 3& #. # ^P E tS SB fJ -

Matthew Arnold.

[362]
Savoir
Savoir vivre

SCA

knowledge

of polite life (P.)

French,!^

(X)mm
Miss Nugent had always seen him in large companies, where he was admired for his savoir vivre and entertaining anecdotes.

Savour

To savour

of the pan

to betray its origin (F.),

^ JS

;4^

This story

is

unmistakably by a

woman

it

savours of the pan.

To savour of the frying-pan to show

signs of heresy

Bishop Nix of Norwich.

. '

suspected of heretical opinions,

men

used to call the persons whojn savouring of the frying-pan.

Southey.

he"

}ft

il .

A 1^ ^-

Say

To say one's say to say all one has to say, to tell one's wn story in one's own way (C), g g, fg;; ^W.>^'^
Ladies and gentlemen, the the

workman has

said his say,

and

hope

company have been amused.

Reade.

^;r

f te If It a IM -a-

Sawney

A Sawney a
AC^).

Scotchman, a raw uncouth fellow (F.) (A familiar form of Aleooander, which is a very common
Scotch name),

l|:^MA;Mf?;^^,:'Si^M;^

The Duke of Buccleuch opposed the Thames Embankment; 'and Mr. Punch, represented his Grace as obstructing the progress- of a
'bus labelled
as conductor,

"Embankment,"
is

driven by John Bull, to

whom

Pmich,

man."

" Drive on, John, never mind the ScotchThe cartoon was entitled, "Sawney stops the way."
calling out,

(^ A m), ^ m m It 'mi^ A ^ B, m m m m ^ ^, !& m. ^ &B^m As:^,mm&m^&.m^m A&%^m^y(^

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

-Scarce

To make

one's self

scarce to

retire,

withdraw, go

off

SCO
respected

[3631

As soon as ever they understood the object of their feared and commandant, a general desire manifested itself to make themselves respectively and collectively scarce.
11 1^

;t

^ It, # A jS il 31
a lady
tells

3i-

H.R.

Haggard.

you decidedly she can't stop to talk to you, and when she appears up to her eyes in cleaning house or something of that sort, the next thing to do is to make yourself scarce.
O. Eliot. ^f^m.m^Wm^m,ncM:ii'j[ig. The Scarlet "Womanthe Church of Eome (P.) A

When

Scarlet

term borrowed from the Bible, Revelation XVII,

4-,

If all these things are true, truly, in

" the Churches

of

the language of Mr. Primmer, Scotland are running after the Scarlet Woman."

& m^ ta M.m n, M,^ W, ^?[^M^Opinion!

veterate

-1^

m ^ m m m m^m m t> i^

ik Scotsman, 1886.

it's what the believers in the Scarlet Woman contumacy they used to burn people for it.

call in-

fr

jUi

^ A,

Wi

&.!k.m-&i-

James Payn.

Scarlet fever
(F.)

feminine

preference for military

is

men

The

British military colour

red,

^Xti^;M
have

Our young ladies, since the an attack of scarlet fever.

arrival of the militia,

all

had

Scissor

Scissors
editor,

m ^M, - ^ M Tl; M m ^ U mm m. mmmm, Mm B n ^ ^:tm) m).

his

and paste who cuts out own use (C), -

the

extracts

implements of a newspaper from other journals for

They saw in the applicant for the editorship merely an inferior whose duty and probably lain in the scissors and paste department.

Scot

Scot free quite uninjured

(P.),

^^^,UmWW.,

[364J
I could not
I

SOR
name
a single

woman

of

my

acquaintance of

whom

have not heard some story or other.

Even dear good

old Hester

doesn't

come

off scot free.

Scotch

Scotch fiddle the

itch

(S.),

M]MM,^m
(F.), :fc

(ffl).

Out of all scotch

I did

excessively

^;

Ji

Jc, J5D

Jf

not scotch
;

in -

my mind I

spoke plainly

(F.),

1^ >& 1, 1$, fc F4 )& m.

m,

mm^^

#
7jC

>&

(S).

Scrape

To scrape acquaintance with any one to insinuate one's self into terms of familiarity, to make friends in
a chance

way

(C),

ill

ig Jg,

*B

^^

fiSc

The man had scraped acquaintance with her had thought him very agreeable.
Jit

at the fair,

and she

A*

-Hj

m ^ # iS t,

-p-jEl^jHsApr^lfc.
to
to

Scratch

To hring one

to the scratch

a decision (C), >&

m(m
I'm the
tg
ffi

cause one to come ^ mm, ^It^M, ^^Z'^^

up
to the scratch.

fellow to bring old Bryce

9!|

^*

li

S l! ^, IP ;Hil.

George Eliot.

To come
to
;i

to the scratch

to declare one's self to

come

decision, to act decidedly (C),

^ m-, -^ ff, -^ s M, -^ tf K ^f
it is

1^;

/It

^ ^,

'id).

Indeed, had it not been for a little incident about to be detailed, doubtful if Mr. Bellamy would have ever come to the scratch at

all.

mM

^#*a
Sfel",
5iE

^, IS JR :t f * &, ia T^ S: W SB #. ^ tE ^ It K ff ^ S, ^ :^ ir ^, ;i a*
ffi
-ffi..

MiJ

-R.

H. Haggard.

Finally, to

my patron's
Monday

theacratch, and
in the music

room

great content, I consented to come up to night I had the hardihood to present myself of the Adelphi.

2.,

153

# ^ * IMSI ^, S A # K ^.
devil (F.),

Reade.

Old Scratch the

M%;M.W {%)

SCR
"Sam,"
like

says she,

"what on
7
'

earth

ails

you, to

make you

act so

Old Scratch in your sleep

-feB

M =, nc%m^, mm * tj i^itsE a ^.asmy affairs to

/f:

Haubunon.

I'd as soon intrust

Old Scratch as to him.

2.

^ JS K It

^lte,

g ^ ;i SS 4-

Mrs.H. Wood.

scratch team or pack a number of individuals brought together accidentally or hastily (P.), '^ :Z,

seems now to be generally understood that Constantinople itnot to be defended by this country, unless Hungarian feeling should make Austria fight, and unless a scratch pack of other allies can also be obtained.
It
self is

M^:k^,^^v!^.
(C.)

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

Screw

A screw loose something wrong, a disturbing element

Said when two friends have a difference, or when something wrong or unpleasant happensin one's affairs,

fa
'
'

M a MM WJefiferson forgot to insert

one

little

word,

'

'

said I

" she

should

have

said, 'all

white men.' *

*"
IR,

fii

H, -^ >?

& * IE

ita

A - "> '> =
is

&

1ft

Wr -

A S S" Well," said he, "I

must admit there

a screw loose somewii,^a."

Haliburton.

%^B,Wim,1^'km^^^M?S.&-

An

old

screw a

miserly fellow

(F.),

tf

^;

iP :

;5i

This gentleman and the guard knew Sir Pitt very well, and laughed at him a great deal. They both agreed in calling him an old screw, which means a very stingy, avaricious person.

ikm J^^fS

5g^^^SE2.^A, 3**^, -MA

screw to draw
one's sa,lary
(S.),

To draw

one's

%,

He's a reporter on the Newe, and dreiws a handsome screw.

[366]
To screw

SEA
resolve to act decisively, to
strike (P.)
7, 60.
'

one's courage to the sticking place to summon up boldness to

A quotation from

Shakspeare, Macbeth,

I,

But screw your courage

to the sticking-place

and

we'll not fail,'

#^rfn#i,

^^^M; M ^> ^
his courage to the

He

either did not fear him, or

had screwed

sticking-place.

^*#3^.ti,SMiJ^B*SSfel,^^i*:^- James Payn. To put on the screw to limit one's credit, to be less bold and venturesome in business undertakings (C),

To put under the screw

Regularly screwed m).

to coerce or compel (C), ^

(S.),

drunk
;

if; gg SI,

-^fc

tt

:fc

To put the screw on

apply force to (C),

to bring pressure to bear on, m M 1] m, ^ M, M^mWto

Wi.

He knew where he

could put the screw on George.

Thackeray..

m*tl^-(t4^, MSJifflM*.

Sea

At

sea

in a

state of perplexity,
(P.),

unable to give any ex-

planation or solution

raM5e^;iKMfi^,^
for his niece lookshould be so wrapped up in
affairs

mmIt

was disgusting that these two young people

ed as much at sea (perplexed) as his son one another and their commonplace

as to

have forgotten

"Vortigernand Eowena " already.

Vet ft "1
I could not

James Payn.

have been more at sea had I seen a Chinese lady

from Pekin.

ftliS-A?PSitfl*gJig3fc^,
Mrs.

H. Wood.

SEE
Half seas over intoxicated
Season
unsuitable times
(P.), jlb

[367]
(SJ,

^;

gg If

iM.)-

In season and out of season

at suitable times
H?F
;

and

at

&

li#

g^

-^

He made many
out of season.

enemies by these things, uttered in season and

;g}

^.
oflF

Macmillan' s Magazine, 1S87.

Second

To come

second best

to

be defeated (C),

^ W.W.

left us,

we named tlie gentleman with the diamond, however, soon after that " Httle mill," as the young fellow John called it, where he came off second best.
Tlie Koh-i-noor, as

^,

ii BP

m *, M 1^ ^

fliJ

^^

A *^ ^>

^ ^ }i -t
0.
Tl'.

ai

^ :a &

Ili.lmes.

See

To see doubleto
You
never

be drunk (C),

^ BK
I

knew me

see double

when

had a bargain

to

make.

^Sit&ic,

asifi^;t3#, ac*wi-s6?a#ii&7-tii-

To have seen better days

social position, to

to

have been in a higher

(P.)
:fc

have been in a better condition

Used both of persons and things, -f

ifc

S
(*i

ft '^ -^
;

la,

M^ ^ ^^^^
:fe
,

(3*:)

A*M m
Haliburtoh.

He's an Englishman, and,

I guess,

has seen better days.

^%%mK,^'Pr,il^%M.}&1tm^'^-

To see

to

anything

to

attend to

it,

take care of

it (P.),

He's above thinking

of

farming

tools,

he

sees to the

bran new

gig.

Haliburion.

She (Lady Palmerston) saw to everything.

E .1
To see

JW St

^ A, BS - -a

^-

PMie

Opinion, 18S6.

off

to accompany to the

place of departure, to

witness the departure of (P.),

5'1

^ ^f, ^ -^ @>

[368]

SEL
Before he could say any more, in came Bessie herself, saying that the driver was waiting, and they went out to see her sister off.

* s. s ^ f, E s B i a A W^^miH-&,m^M.nflfe

^;f

w e $ A B S ^r
S.R.
Haggard.
to

To see well and good

consent (C), li ?^;
An'
if

iij

to

think

fit,

be willing, to
,

:t, '^

^,

it

your reverence sees well and good, 'em as soon as I get home.
J* 'K
fiflf

I'll

send

(M^ my boy to tell

-BT
ifi/.

^ 11 S,

i6

tji,

EP

^ '> ^ tt & # ^

George Eliot.

To see a person

at

York

first

an

expression of ex-

treme unwillingness, used where one is unwilling to do a service or grant a favour (F.), bM fSt ^; ^^ H,

If
fact,

a girl like Miss Jenny nge had done it [though, as a matter of she would have seen him at York first (never been willing to do
it

such a thing)]

would have been

civil,

and

that's

all.

f-

fifc

S,

?!1^

J^

aH

Sf,

BiJ

IS

ilfc

-ffi.-

James Payn.

Seed

To run

to seed

to

excess of growth

grow to excess, to beconrie weak byand lack of pruning (P.), :ic 3

am

inclined to think that there

is

such a thing as architecture

run to seed.

Sell

To

sell

another

man to

deceive

him

(S.),

M;

Sfe

^r

Did

I ever tell

you how the young vagabond sold

me

last half ?

To

sell

to

a man up to force him to become a bankrupt, compel him to have his property brought to auction

Then he would send

her out of
tlie

in his

bills,

sue her,

sell

her up, and drive

place stripped to the last farthing.

K I? * m ;t, PJi-* -M

iS-.

Besant.

SEN
To

[369J

sell out (a) to leave the army (P.) This phrase was used when commissions in the army were bought and sold, a system abolished by Mr. Gladstone's govern-

ment in

18.69,

#; ji

ffi,

^HS

5 ^, ^ 1^ ^ M.

It

was in
SlJ

this period that

he quitted the &uards, and sold out of

EP B# ,.

the army.

8S

^ i^,

3i

ffl

H,

;iS Ji

Thuckeray.

(6)

to get rid of investments, to take ready

(P.),

money

in

place of investments

M ^ }StM; ^ WtM & ^,

them
at

still

a great loss would be incurred by selling out of

period of depression.

To

sell off

to part with the whole of anything

selling off his

(P.),

-^

George heard of a farmer who was

miles off near the coast.

sheep about fifty

#^

^ d K f# - :^ A JS 8
Send

3S,

+ ^ a * *,

)if

-#}& if.
Reade.

To send
ly (P.),

to Coventry

see Coventry,

^ ^ Coventry.
him about

To send about

one's business

to dismiss peremptori-

^m;m:t,^^,n:t^^,Bm, (X).
hia

XJpon this I was, naturally, mollified, and sent

business, hoping to

have seen the

last of

him

at

Highmore.
Beade.

^ ^.
Seniores
Seniores priores
the precedence

elders

first, let

the older people take

(C.)

[Latin],

^;fi#R^,^g
"let favour go
by
seni-

We
ority."

say at school

'Seniores priores"

u,x'^^)^,^nm,^
Reade.

[370]
Serve

SET
To serve a person out

to retaliate

or fancied wrongs, to wreak a revenge

upon him for upon him

real
(C.},.

"Little brute," cried

serve

Hawes

viciously, "I'll

work him **
Si"

I'll

M mmm m n, ^h m ^, m
nil
-lii.

him out."

>^

m(tp ^),^

m m^mm
Reade.

To serve a man right

to

to be a right treatment for

I'C),

him,
Jlfc

punish him deservedly

|i ^

jft

^;

H^

fi&

^ j m).
way
has lost his place, but this only serves him right after the in which he has discharged his duties.

He
careless

To serve

one's turn

to be useful

on occasion,
(P.),

to assist

or prove serviceable

when needed

jS

ffi;

-& /B, |^

He
as

is

not a

flrst-class servant,

but he will serve your turn as long

71^

you remain here.

m:^ ^ m m
Set

m A, B m m y& &
to
|ij

t^

m m. ^ ^9, m ^ it '^
for (P.),
;rp

To set about -t; A ^,

commence, make preparations

t&,

* li, 3Ili, S i&,

set

a (X).
Black.

They gave him hints that he might

provide himself with a living.

about doing something, to

To

set one's cap at

(of

woman)

to try to captivate,

to try to obtain as a

husband

(P.),

II

,=^

-gg

^ A JK

" Yon won't like evei-ything from India now. Miss Sharp," said the old gentleman but when the ladies had retired after dinner, the wily old fellow said to his son, "Have a care, Joe; that girl is setting her cap at yon.
;

'

;t fl *5 J*, J*

SK

^.

Thackeray.

To
To

set one's face

set the teeth

^ ^m Face. on edge see Edge, ^ |5 Edge.

against see
Face,

SET
To

[371]

set one's face like a flint to be resolute and determined (P.), ffi if? ^; ta j& g| ;5 pI i^ ^fc,

They were a couple

like a flint.

of lion-like

men; they had

set their facea

%mA^nM:ZA,Bm&^M^To
set against or over against
site side

Bunym.
oppo-

to place on the

from, so as to counterbalance or make even (P.),

m
ffi,

ffi;

*i

m,
(2S:).

:^

^, M ^

i:

M,

^ s ^ m, fe n *b
farrier's bill

to

There were cows to be paid for, with the smith and be set against the rent of the demesne.

^ St.
In
fact,

M. Edgeworth.
one vice
is

to

be

set over against another.

m m -wt mm, m
To
set

s^]

^ mm, mm ^
begin
(P.),

*&

r- h. Dana.
;

on foot to
was

start,

^ ^ # $5.

I'l

^.

A subscription

set

on foot

to relieve the

women and children.

m&m^, ^-WAikm-kA^^-kTo

set the Thames (or a river) on fire to be energetic and able, to be a man of light and leading (P.), [fj Iiiiil;-';.%MA, ^m,WL^{%).
They
set

no stream on

flre,

and count

their duty to the state

satisfied

when they have paid

their taxes.

jft

a,

HP nr

s * -a.
(P.),

-^apai -^''. isse.

To

set oflF (a) to start

f& :-

;# Jt,

^ 1;, ;g ^ {%)
J?*.
(P.),

He
0^

set off for

Bedford early that morning.

ffi

a m IS EP ^ ,

K fa ^.

(fo)

to embellish, adorn, display to

advantage

m m (X)That
is

a becoming

glass,

Gwendolen or
;

is it

the black and gold

colour that sets you

ofi' ?

91-MMflittle

George Eliot.

Miss Crawley had a good taste. timidity only set them ofi'.

She liked natural manners

S,

Ji 1 It

^ ^ -a-

Thackeraxj.

[3721

A set 'rtfiF-^what coimterbalances (P.), M

As a
little set-oflF

^ :Z M, ^ ^
I

against the pig'-master's

bills,

make heavy

entries against the'

good squire.
Slackmore.

MM

iSi-

To

set in

to

become

settled in

a particular state

(P.),

The afternoon

set in dull.

To

set sail to start on a voyage

(P.),

^^7;

^,

f^

set sail in

Henry had taken the child she brought him a vessel bound for Africa.

in his arms * * and

aft,

g. IS SB 3c.

Mrs. Inchbald. to restore, re-establish (P.),

To

set

up

^ %; ^ ^ M,
again).

So he tried everything he could think of to get set up (strong

^n&fi^ m^,^7^^Wi, SXm^Tt"Oh,

wealth)
f.,

Hughes.
(restore

that's

no news."

It will quite set

and no mistake. ji M a ^ f* ? ra BB,

him up

him

to

jHs

M -^ K
to

ffi

mm{<&^),m^Wt'^S. Warren.

To

set

up for to pretend

be

(P.),

f^ f^
at the

-f^,

^ i^

and
Wi-

Henry White swore he would take rooms set up for a gentleman.

Tremont House

^Ma
To

^ S,

if

jgi

S 95

?ij

P5

S S ^SS M, S f^** ^
R. H. Dana.

set store

by

see Store,

^ ^ Store.
to despise (P.), &. 1^

To

set little

by to value Slightly,
ffi

M - a @; :^
parts,

BS

R,

/h i, IS
if

m,

m ;t (^).
come into
these

His Prince, the Lord

of that country, will shortly

and

will

know the
hira.

reason,

they have any,

why his neighbours

set so little

by

SEV
A set to-a fight (F.), # ^
They had a
;

[373]
tT

^,

i^ CB)-

set to the first night

they met.

At a dead

set

in

a state of stagnation, at a standstill

Things are at a dead

illness of the secretary.

set in the society just

now, owing to the

To make a dead

set at

one's attentions (C),

M 'B; M MMM - A> '^ mm

to single out as the object of

The

old lady

made

a dead set at the parson.

Settle

To

settle a

man's hash to

kill

him

(S.),

^ ;^;
'

Sfc :2:

Give He received some terrible kicks on the back and legs. him on the head!" "Kick his life out!" "Settle his hash."
'

it

Meade.
I

I take

no blame

for settling his hash.

Rt L.

Stevenson.

To

settle

downto
life

adopt a regular mode of

life,

to en(P.),

gage in one's

work,. to cease to wander about

"Surely," thought Angela,

find

"he

is

settling

down; he

will

soon

work."
Besani.

^ ^.
Seven

The seven deadly

sins

pride,

envy, wrath, sloth,

-fc

covetousness, gluttonv, lechery (P.),

JB

^ ;a% ^R, 7^

Sure,

it is
it is

no

sin

Or

of the
fiij

deadly sins
j

the least.
J!P

jtti

:?c

a i^ P

P.

S ^, ^ ss S5 i: fe * in.
Shakspeare.

[374]
at

SHA
Seven leagued boots
boots which carried their wearer an extraordinarily rapid rate (P.) (An expression borrowed from a well-known fairy tale), -tl fft -fc

la /hia, It

^A

^ ^).

(Mr. Carlyle) would be much better if he didn't take health by the throat (aa it were), bathing as if he were a little boy in the Serpentine, walking as if he had seven-leagued boots.

'h

^,

K ^ :^ f^ ^ ^

-fa

a.

nil

;t )R,

BiJ

;8t

til-

Jane Carlyle.

The seven sleepers seven

Christian youths

who

fled

from persecution in the 3rd century, and fell asleep in a cave. They did not awake until their discovery more than two hundred years later. The story occurs in
various forms,

-^mM ^M^MU,^ M -b ^

Then came a

noise sufficient to

awake the seven

sleepers.

roasted ox

scarce, restore

and a lethargy like that of the Seven Sleepers would you to the use of your refreshed and waking senses.
&.
Scott.

it

M K . i&
lose

ffl

Shade

To

fall into

the shadeprominence (P.),

-to cease to attract attention, to

m Pi m mm,m:^ in ^, '^^^^ U iX).

The Aryan came
But, finally, the original Semite to the front.
fell

it,

^m,^

more and more into the shade.

H. H. Haggard.

Shake

To shake a leg
the concert-room,
if

to

dance
will

(F.),

WM;MM {%).

I explain that the stage is

they

ready for them, if they like to act; or sing; or the dancing-room, should they

wish to shake a

leg.

SHE
To shake
f,

[375];

one's head^-to indicate disapproval, denial,

(P.),

or dissent

^ 0c (X)-

mW; ^ ^ M,^M, ^ it,^^,^

"When he read the note from the two ladies he shook his head and observed, that an affair of this Sort demanded the utmost circumspection.
3*

^ No great
::&

"ST-

Goldsmith.

shakes

of little value or account (S.),

fit,

^;

MJES, il SM

JE.

il::fc ffl'
it

Oatmeal is no great shaees at best; horse as real yellow Indian corn.

ain't even as good for

S SI * . STo shake by the hand

grasping the hand
But she smiles

Haliburton.

or

shake hands
by the hand.

(P.),

fl

to salute by ^ :^ H; tf ? (^)ffi

as she shakes her

Sharp

Sharp practice

grasping behaviour, conduct which

is

i&

defensible on legal grounds but

yet considered un-

generous or ungentlemanly

(P.),

;^^;

^^,^ M ^

"I

call this," said

Tommy,

in a great rage,

"confounded sharp

practice."

Sheep
Shelf

To

cast or

make

sheep's eyes

see Eye,

^ ^ Eye.

Laid or put on the shelf no longer engaged in active work, set aside to make room for more active workers
(P.),

^iiLmM;i>imMm,M:tmm>nifM,i^
a man to do when he's put on the shelf and has no home ?

What is
^.

Good Words,

1887.

Shell

To

shell out

to

pay out money

time

(S.),

% ^ % ^, %
,

You

shell out this

have no spare cash.

[376]
Shield

SHI
The other
question

side of the shield

(P.),

^the

other side of any

R M;RSI, If ,#M, K ;2:S:]g,

The story is told of two knights, who, meeting under 3 post from which a shield was snsx>ended, fell to quarreiUing about the material of which the shield was composed. One held it to be gold, the other silver. From words they came to blows. After a bitter struggle, they discovered that both were right, since one side was gold, the other
side silver.

mm.mm,m-Am%mmm,m &^m,^anm^^n
Shift

To make

shift

to contrive with

difficulty (P.),

He had erected
infant grandson,
pliant bit of

a mill in miniature for the diversion of Edward's and made shift in its construction to introduce a wood that answered with its fairy clack to the murmurthat turned
it.

ing of the

rill

* ?, S
good

ffi

tt

-e-.

Ji ^make
<. Sfe

S. Mackenzie.
shift to eat

By my
clothes.

other labours I
iS ft

and drink and have

^mifp^ ^ I *,
Shilling

:^

^ ^, M @ ^ H -a.
GoldsmUh.
to

become a soldier (P.) To Soldiers, on enlisting, received a shilling from the recruiting sergeant as a sign of the bargain having been

take or get the shilling

concluded, '^

^^

MM, ^%,

^% "k^,'^ - m

"

am

ready enough to become a recruit," said Allen.

' '

But you can't find

tlie

man

with the ribbons

and

the shilling (the

is

recruiting-servant.)
about.

Patience.

The

recruiting sergeant

always

You

will get that shilling.

Shine

To take the shine out or off ofto surpass, to outshine, to outvie (F.), mM^mM^it,^-my^,m-s^ h,

SHO
He
Is the first

[377J
;

man
oflf

of the age

and

it's

generally allowed our

doctors take the shine

of all the world.

'X ^6 ^-

Haliburion.
will

You
tajje

become a

rival potentate to
directly.

my

governor.

You

wilt

the shine out of

him

mm0m%m&m^A,n&.^mwmt^,n&MW: Reade. ^ Jl ^.
Shoe

To tread the shoa awry to be unchaste: (F.), ^l^^;^ A, @ ^, 315 ^, at fs m., ^. M m. To tread the shoes straight to be upright in one's conduct (F.), JEM; MM> i^m,:^ "^ m ^, 1^ ^ ^T

To throw an
'

old shoe after one This dings to wish good luck to the person,

is

done

at

wed-

An

old shoe

means long

life,'

BSM
ffi

il5

^ ( M 75 S # tT *
in a state of nervous

To shake

in one's .shoos

to be
51,

terror (C),

^ ; ^ ^,

# ^ m)of the people

When Mrs. Proudie began to talk of the souls always shook in his shoes.

he

^m.m^VinA,mA^A^m.'^,n&mmnviA. Trollope.

To be in another person's shoes to

position as another (C),
;

be in the same
it!!

S ^ & E *t ^ :&

(i^)-

"Oh! would I be in Arthur's shoes after fourth lesson?" said the little boys to one another.

^ 5.
To step
Jl-

Hughes.

into another person's shoes to take the position previously occupied by another (C),

ffi

e,

M Jt @l, m

idi

A -t M ;&

ilfi

fit.

^^^ e
ffi. It is

evident

"That will do, sir!" he thundered; "that now what would happen if you stepped
:A:

will do.

very

into

my

shoes after

my
^'

death."
i

^m#

0-

:5fe

& -g m

nT

ig

E^

1, ftl

a 9E T
1887.

Good Worda,

[378]
Quite a

SHO
diflferent pair of

shoes

an altogether different
tout

case (F.)
autre chose

Probably a corruption of the French

'

an altogether

different thing,'

Wi, iC

f.mxic^mm^]
Promise and perfermance are a
'

')

very

diflferent

pair of shoes.'

Where the shoe pinches where the difficulty or cause of discomfort lies (C), m B; Wt M: M M B ^, B M

"He

discharged

me from

visiting the premises."

Jli
'
'

"That was not very PP it &.

polite."

And

threatened to horsewhip

me

the next time I

came

there."

" Oh, that

is

where the shoe pinches (what irritates you).

"I do
with her in

not believe

it;

and, anyhow, I will not have you

flirting

my

presence."

'

Ah

that

is

where the shoe pinches."

F. Marryat.

<,

SS
-to

To shoe the goose

be tipsy

(F.),

m m CB).
Shoot

To shoot the

pit

of

to cheat a landlord
(S.)

by leaving withflitting
'

out paying the rent

.Compare
'

'

moonlight
see,

and 'shooting

moons;

which

S ^; ^ ^ |a

Shooting of moons

see Moon, ^
see Cat,

|tj

Moon.

To shoot the cat

Shop

^ ^ Cat.
own
business

To talk shop

to

speak exclusively of one's

or professional affairs (F.),

^ ;# IS ?*

SI

^ ?i ^, H

SHO
"When
make them happy
! '

[379]

he had a few clergymen round him, how he loved to

"Never talked shop

to them,

did he?" said the archdeacon.

A. Trollope.

Short

Short commons
rations (C),

want-

of

sufficient

supplies,

scanty-

^m^-^;mm^^,^n^Wi,'^WL
upon short commons

mm).
He
for

deserves to be soundly rated and kept

bills.

backing

Good Words,

1887.

A short cut a quick path, a path which saves distance,

a method which saves time
(P.),

^ @; S 1^ ^ @, ^

"See yonder how our young people are enjoying themselves;" and he pointed with his whip to where Ella and Anastasia, accompanied by Vernon and Felspar, could be seen approaching them by a
short cut.

^m&,^m&mn^Wi^m-

James Payn.

Catechisms of history, manuals of arithmetic, short cuts to a smattering of science, and guides to universal knowledge.

Edinburgh Review, 1887.

Short shrift
priest's

Uttle time to repent, but a small

#^MS
JflJ
;

interval

before the infliction of punishment (P.) Shrift was the

absolution, jt tt :i

^t B# ^t

^ M miX).
thief night

The neighbours would form a posse in a twinkling, and chase the and day till they secured him; and then short shrift for

the poor wretch.

% & M X ^t^ ^ M

iSt-

Macmillan's Magazine, 1887.

The short and the long of it briefly, the sum and substance
Long,

the whole matter stated

of the matter (P.)

See

^M

Long.

SHO
Shot

Shot in the lockerfunds

in

hand

(F.),

^MU;^

"As long as there's shot in the locker,

said the generous fellow.

ah&shgill

want for nothing,"

2.

Thackeray.

Shoulder

To

turn,

show

or give the cold shoulder

to

tre.at

coolly, to repulse (P.),

?&

^ ^ S 5 #, ^ ^^ ^ !i,
;

Since I discarded

him

for

Nave, he has turned the cold shoulder

upon me.
Mrs. Henry Wood.

Some time ago you had a friend whose companionship I thought was doing you no good, and I gave him the cold shoulder.
/I^Mit.-

James Payn.

To put

one's shoulder to the

wheel
,

to

commence
lt>,

working in earnest (C),

^, ^,
"Still,
Ifc JI

Mi&,

^ M)6 ^s*
ift
iC>

t&M il

iij-^

M >&

m).
insisted

you have only to put your shoulder to the wheel," " Time and patience conquer everything." the secretary.

S,

BB <S

IB m ai ^. i* SK B* U,M^7fB^,

:ft

BB

a, ?c

T tg S

James Payn.

Show

To show

off

to make a vain display, to display for the

(P.),

purpose of exciting admiration

$S fg ;^i^,

il j^,

Mmm,mmmm,mmAm(X).
"You
should have seen her dress for court,

Emmy,"

Osborne

cried, laughing.

SR,

mmf&f: H .a, To show in to

iS <i

"She came to my sisters to show it oflf." iik ig'B, sji, -Bri^, ft^fCfwAmftiiPSii Thackeray. -te ?K S ffi 2. j*^.i, ^ i^. m.

at

conduct into a house

(P.),

^M

^\'M>

Without suffering me to wait long, my old friend * * * embraced me with the most cordial welcome, showed me in, and * * assured me that he considered himself peculiarly fortunate in having under his roof the man he most loved on earth.

ffc

Jh

K ^,

m * ^ ^ ^ S.

Qoldsmilh.

SHU
To show
to a

[381]
conduct thither
(P.),

room

to

^ &.M.
s ^.

She was so fatigued with the journey, she wished to be shown to

her room at once.

m m m&m, mms^m,

sc

bp jm

^ a =^ i m

giv

F. Marry at.

To show o^e's teeth to display signs of anger (C), Sc ^ ^ m, m mmm,w m,^ urn, ^ i^nm). To show one's handto reveal one's plan of action (P.),
Mr, Heyton shows
his

hand.
James Payn.

Sfcar^^miE^t^lS.
To show a person up^to
real character,
to.

disclose

reveal to the world a person's a person's villany or hypocri-

sy (P.),
Ifii

51

^itm^%m;%m,m^^^K, %mn ^ 1^, m^ :R ^i, ^ M 3^, ?^ ^ M lU ^

tij

"You are ahar, Uncle Coetzee," was the cool answer. "English with the English, Boer with the Boer. You blow neither hot nor cold. Be careful lest we show you up."

A^
Jg 5^

^ >& ^ ^^
BS
16,.
jfe

0,
ffl

iS

A,

J*

a" It if

m f* m7bWimK,%K's^ ^ a,,* ?ft:S m S S:^ ^ a *a

,

ifi>,

KiJ

Slf

tfS

H. R. Haggard.
display of right-hands in voting

A show of hands a
A
often calls for a

chairman, wishing for the decision of a question by a meeting, show of hands.

rShrub

To shruh aboutto

get along tolerably well, to be in

a fairly good state (F.),.^ ic

# JS M
;

ffi

# ^,- ^ #

"How
iH
ifc

do you get along

this

wet weather?"

Pt PS 3 aj, i* iHf.m.tt itI

"Well,

shrub about pretty comfortably."

Shut

TO'

shut

upto be silent (F.),

^ ^ m;^'^ ni m, m

[382]
"You
it's

sm
shut up, Johnny.
If I

pay Reed out

of

my own

pocket,

nothing to anybody."
'> *^

^,

;?;

ff

ng,

^m

e g? s a ^ Si ^, S
him
(F.),

SiJ

-^UMB-iL-

Mrs. H. Wood.

To shut a person up

to silence

"^"^

^M;
also

Though we agree with Mr. Skelton in wishing that we had

Maillard's account of

the colloquial

we cannot doubt expression), shut him up.

it,

that the Reformer (to use

Athenaeum, 1887.

To shut the stable-door "when the steed is stolen to take precautions when too late (P.), C ^ ffi ^ BS
;

M l# ^
And

II

M^S ^*^
,

jS:

it

m (5:)

then

it all

came out

the

old story of shutting the stable-

door on the stolen steed and separation, when the mischief of constant

companionship had been done.

36
Jit

-ta

'It,

fi^

#s, -^mmuti^m'^m^^^^,
-;^C

Sick

m ^. MMetoe Bough, 1887. The Sick ManTurkey (P.) A name given contemptugjlfcBfMf;t^ii3,^EIl
ously, in view of its approaching partition

which has
ife

been expected for the past century,

5^^
It

(3!t)

Cm

IH:

^ ^ ^ ^ S, i *E H', :? ^ ji ^ gg, m J*
;

:=f;

was with

Sir

Hamilton Seymour, the English ambassador,

that

the czar held the famous conversation on the subject of "the Sick Man," and the partition of Turkey, when Egypt was to have been

England's share.

)^^^,nm^'SLM%mmm%^Side

PuUic opinion,

1886.

To put on
ner
(F.),

side-^to be arrogant and assuming in man-

mim;)^m,^m,^^^,^m,m^
put on
all

You will
the oiRce-

the "side" you please

^when you are outside

Bessant.

&t).

SIL
Sight

f383]
when pra
made
to

A bill at sight a bill which will be cashed

sented (P.)
six
Bills are often

be cashed three oi
S.\i

months

after presentation,

M M',
I'll

M M^> ^
bill at

I'll

pay you

off that kiss

will,

with interest;

answer a

sigM

for

it

(pay at once), I

you may depend.

Halihurton.

BJj.

A sight of things a great number

Bought a
stairs.

of things (F.),

sight of furniture couldn't hardly get

some

of it up-

i:

m ^ J: - ;^ *, a

TIC

tg Ji

^- ^.
;

O.W.

Holmes.

sight for sore eyes

pleasant to see (F.),

pleasant object, something

::;fe

^ S ^ R,

IS,

@
my

"I hope,"
lamb
is

said she, "my lady will come and see me when with me; a-sight of her would he good for sore eyes."
5iS

m 0, ^ ^ '> * * tl ^ B#, ^ A t6 S
*:, 5* JE

IR 36,

@ a ^ <h
R<^^^-

aS

HIS
noise

&
silent,

SUent

Silent as the grave

making no

saying nothing, wholly B^^m;^MM,WiU,^ ^ S, - S li ^, H m S P, ^ P in m,

(P.),
ilj

>Jc

"Livesey," said the squire, " * *

I'll

be as

silent as

the grave."

mmWB,nm^,^-^^>f'^-^.
Silk

^-L.

Stevenson.

To make a

silk purse out of a sow's ear

to

make

a handsome article out of coarse and inferior materials

He
to

claiming.

flung the PhanorAenologie to the other end of the room, ex"That smart young fellow is quite right! it is impossible

make

a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

p mm ^ii5X?-fESifesftts-ii,
tie

:^sEif0, ^ta
bonds of love
'fl,

:i!jA, 5i^if.am,::?Ct6fbt5J^ii*^1fc.

Mathew Arnold.

The silken
and

the

soft

and

invisible

affection (P.), 16 'ft;

* ^, E ^ ;t

^ ft, ^

[384]
'It is

SIM
the secret sympathy,
silver link, the silken tie.

The

heart to heart, and mind to mind. In body and in soul can bind.

Which

# If # nt
m n m ;^
ffl

!P

* ^,
^ MScott.

jc>

ifiv

fi ah p^,

'!

=a

Silver

Every cloud has a silver lining

there

is

always some
(P.),

ray of hope in the darkest condition of affairs

3^

"I have a bad headache

for her tears.
'

'

It

to-day," said Helen, by way of excuse has been gloomy weather lately."

s # # J*
"Gloomy

-J*

fl?i-

within and without," he assented, igiving a meaning But in every cloudy to her words that she had not meant to imply. you know, however dark it may be, there is a silver lining."
' '

3^

# # a 1* 69, ^ SB * ia a

Bfl

EP

^^ W

B#, Jib ?ft f

^ ^.

Mrs. H. Wood.

A silver wedding the celebration

anniversary of a wedding
(P.),

of the twenty-fifth
:JE

H + BE ^ ^ 'S ^;
the-

The jubilee of her Majesty will be immediately followed by year making the heir apparent's "silver wedding."

+
Simon

5E,

?E ^ ^ ;t S :^.
Simon Pure
is

FoHnightly Review, 1887.

The real Simon Pure the

tor (P.)

^A M ^mm.mi^:tA,mMnm,M^m,Mmf^^
;

a personaa character in Mrs. Centlivre's play, A Bold stroke for a Fortune. He is personated by a Captain Feign well, who is nearly successful in obtaining a wife and a fortune by his dissimulation but the real Simon Pure, a Pennsylvanian Quaker, turns up in time and proves his identity, A,

real person, not

miX)mfn^mm,^mm^Amm.Mmu^ ^m '^ m m m^,m^ m m ^ ^mm, mm f^

SIT
And then Mr. Toogood had
ter in triumph.

[385]
is all

" Crawley
Sii

only written one short scrap of a letrightj and I think, I've got the real
?!l 75r

Simon Pure by the heela"

Sf

A,

^ a# *t ^ m ^ ^ ^ ^ m f^, s; X 0, % m Trollope. . * A, S B ia S iS ft ^Si ^

Ba,
'Jj

Jlfc,^

-A.

Siuk

Leave him fail

Sister

Mm to siak or swim do not aid

or succeed

Mm,

but
/p

let

by

his

own

efforts (P;),

;1@

^;

Sister

Anne the

sister of

Bluebeard's wife.

watch from a tower

arrive.

to see if

She kept the expected aid would

See Bluebeard,

W^^Al^^lH^ H ^
said

"Sister
there's

Anne is on the watch-tower," nobody coming."

he to AmeUa, "but

S^
Sit

(BJ.

Thackeray.

He was

prospecting

down

the road, like another sister Anne.

JamesPayn. mjE*^>f ^S^m,f^1tlS:@^2.tt. To sit down with to have to be contented with,

receive whether

to

we

like

it

or not (P.),

^ If # # W
;

Mr. Simpkins got the ten thousand pound prize in the and we sat down with (had to rest content with) a blank.

lottery,

W ^ SB
To
sit

Gi-

Goldsmith.

bodkin

to

be squeezed between two people (C),

There is barely room between Joa and Miss Sharp, who are on the front seat, Mr. Osborne sitting bodkin opposite, between Captain

Dobbin and Amelia.

m^MmAmmm3S.m..A,^f&mm&-t^^m.
Ihacheray.

To

sit

up

for

any one

to await

a person's return after

the usual bed-time

(P.),

^ m^ M'A^'^;U^^
for her.

Her own

mai-d should

sit

up

W'wm,'^m^yc-M,^&>'^To sit upon a personto snub him

&
(F.),

Eiix>t.

^ ^; ft 6,

9m

[386J
self

SIT
He asked, outside, with shame, how it was that he allowed himthus to be sat upon and ordered out of the house by a mere girl.
Besant.

^^&
To
sit

on thorns
sitting

to

be in a

state of discomfort or ago-

He was

on thorns

all

the time afraid

lest

she should refer

to the late event.

To

sit

out anything

to refrain

from taking part in

it

(C),

?fmmm;^mm,^i^^,mmi^Pk,^-n
BP^*SBS. ^'
Bough, 1885.

together lately, SI i^ ^ &

Frank danced beautifully, but somehow we had given up dancing and used to sit out our dances together.

lil^m^Sffi,
sit

5i6^^:f:iBlS,

Mistletoe

To

out

to

stay longer in one's seat than another

can

(P.)

parties

Very frequently used in accounts of drinkingwhere the guests strove to drink as long as posorder to outvie each other,

sible, in

^ ^; ^ ^ ^

SS:,

w *B T,

the estate he gave the finest entertainment ever was heard of in the country ; not a man could stand after supper but Sir Patrick- himself, who could sit out the best man in Ireland.

fe On coming into

A ^ ^ m, ^ w
*

3fc

A M )S -a).

^ SS BJ, ?R S M ?P B? M # A,
ife
tfe

ffl

i!P ^;f 5?:

#,

tft

1#.

SM

E, t&

^^:^ K, SI g
M. Edgeworth.

-til-

To

sit

on the fence

to refuse to support

reserve one's decision as a voter (C.)

An

any party, to American

phrase,

m ^^ "t^n '^ ^fM, mmum,m ^,n

and prefers
for the present to sit

My

father is scarcely in

the Democrats

sympathy with either the Eepublicans or on the fence.

Bf

M M ^
sit

To

eggs

:^ tS

A jKj A It M, A ^ ^ *, m ^ ft, ;S JK US (S).

to

remain too long as a guest

:Ht

(F.),

SKE
Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other
the same, differing in nothing (C), -'

[387]

essentially,

^ ^ JT
it's

"^

^
but

in point of fablea

There's been a good deal of fun my opinion is that

of the other.

made
all

of rabbinical fables,

over the world

six of one

and half-a-dozen

it,
Six

3 i: 1f

S W /> a, :^ A I g B S5 if S W /> a George Eliot. 15 3^ T 11 SO ^ ^

,

H'J

jHj,

JJl

Ifi..

Six and eightpence

the usual fee charged by a lawyer,

Always remember, Mr. Ebbarts, that when you go into an attorney's office door, you will have to pay for it first or last. In here, you see, the dingy old mahogany, bare as it is, makes you safe. Or else it's the salt-cellar, which will not allow itself to be polluted by (By 'mahogany' is meant the six-and-eightpenny consideration.

The salt-cellar is another mark

Mr. Eobarts was to be looked on as a guest. of hospitality. As long as Mr. Robarts was in the lawyer's private residence no fee would be charged}.
attorney's dining- table.

m &^ m, m M ^ - A n
m^,
sH'm.'fi^

&9

^^m

?^

:t.

Pi,

*^

9.m,is.&&my!^m, iii^m^^,

mm

^
ik

At

sixes

and sevens

in disorder,

ill

arranged (C),

3f;

proclaimed in

All goes to sixes and sevens a universal saturnalia seems to be my peaceful and. orderly family.

sa

:5:, ;;f

^ # .

J&

# iu i L if * ^-

scott.

Skeleton

The skeleton

in the house or cupboard the secret cause of grief or shame in a household (P.),

^M^^

After that first and last visit, his father's name was never mentioned in Pitt's polite and genteel establishment. It was the skeleton in the house, and all the family walked by it in terror and silence.

*,

;S tS IS

^,

K SK 4S S?

-ai.
I

2/m( kimy.

[38^
Skin

SKY
To escape by the skin of one's teeth

to escape very
(P.),

narrowly, to oome within an ace of falling a victim

wi^ mm-,

mm^,mi^^,m&Mm,m^'i%
he had, aftfer an almost heroic Palmerston ministry, and

It is true that ten years before this

resistance, yielded to accept" office in the

escaped only by the skin of his teeth.

.t Sfli^ffif ^> ^:^asli;##fiL

To save
oae's skin

ffS

B-

Leisure Hour, 1887.

to get off

without bodily hurt (C),

We meet with many of these dangerous hard for a man to save both his skin and his

civilities,

wherein

it is

credit.

s^B^iSai, jiB;tiI2ti8#WSWJi^.*?fJ^#-tii. L'Estrange.

Skip

To skip over to

pass unnoticed

(P.),

!^M;

MM, ^

A gentleman made it a rule in reading, to skip over all sentences, where he spied a note of adrniratidn at the end.

mm, sum ^ -A ^.
Skirt

sm/t.

To

sit

upon a man's
him
(F.),

skirts
ffc;
it

Sky

# ^, ^ To sky a pieturie to place

against

meditate revenge ^ ^ (^).

to
i2'

in aij exhibition so high

up on the wall as
vation (P.)
favourite picture,

to be virtually

excluded from obser-

Artists always dread such a fate for a

^Z'^'mmmMM Am^M.zm{X){mmz
This flight of Eastern, imagery was due to his picture having been "si;ied" in the Academy.

mmm.M;^^mM:t^,7l^^

&

lii'

James Payn.

To laud
of (P.),

or praise to

mm m-,^ mm, mm- m^iX).

many

the skies to' be loud

persons to the- skies.

in praise

Indeed he was lauded by

^ # A @ St'il -

James Payn.

SLI
Sleeping

A sleeping partner a mesmber of a firm who takes no

share' in its

management, but merely

receives part of

the profits

(P.),

f^j&fMi'^^mMm^mi^mm

His sole motive in oonaenting to become, as it were, a sleeping partner in the shameful plot, of which his daughter was the object, was to obtain possession of his lost inheritance.

H. R. Haggard.

Let sleeping dogs

.

lie

of the past (C),

ffi

do not ^ iS
man

refer to unpleasant events

"t

Ifi;

jS
and

^^
it

19:.

let

Peter Scott was a jealous "sleeping dogs lia,"

to begin with,

was best to

Sleeve

RiJ S/r

^ @. ^ A, # ]K i^ S, ^ S i fl *>
St.

WJ :^

# lH-

Andrews

Citizen, 1887.

To laugh in one's sleeve'see Laugh, ^ To carry anything on one's sleeve to

the public gaze (P.),

Laugh.
it

reveal

to

mmmMm W&,
at.

a^m,':

a,

Se
after

epigram he should be
;

(the poet) should talk well, but not with an obvious striving sensitive, but not carry his vanity openfor'

ly

on his sleeve

the daws to peck

Slide

To let things
?fi

slide to refuse or neglect to interfere, matters to leave to develop themselves (F.),

H^ Q^ ^ St , ^ ^ ^ 51 #, ^ T S (^).
?fi
,

She was not one

inaction,

of those diplomatists

who advocate a

masterly

and

let things slide.

t
Sling
Slip

&WM:?f^^^MAone's

James Payn.

To sling

hook

or one's

Daniel
(S.),

to

move on

(S.),

To

slip off

the

hooksto

die

5E;

MM

2J, S^

Pray to God in heaven, unless you wish to see me run away. And if I do he slips off the hooks. ipl:t!p::?:iH^^*, ^itM?c*, ^^S:^*,'fi&ii5 Blachmore. jg ^.

[390]
To give the
slip

SLI

to escape secretly
?$ IS II

(F.),

f|j

^;

& ^r
BP nr

" You can give them the slip, "you know, miss, when you get on shore," suggested the waiting-maid, with the utmost nonchalance.
II
:i jfg

# i$ ?P ^

,-t,

a, /> M,

Jft

ill

^ ,

^.

Anon.

To

slip

through one's fingers

struggle (P.)

(a) to

die unexpectedly

and without a
rni

Said of a sick person,

M
(b)

(.Xl

iiafM

AWi

a).
through his fingers.

The

sick

man

will sooner or later slip

to escape

from a person's grasp (C),

^mm,^^mAmm^,mmmA^mf^.m
# i, M K, K # * ^, # Sa (M).
E

K :& ^ |?
; ;

He would not let the thing slip through his fingers never yet escaped him and never should.

* a debtor

A,
To

*^

~i*

-la

#,

^ ^ :^ Ji 3i

-Bl.

if.

Mgeworth.

slip one's

wind

to lose one's breath, to die (C),

"You

give

"and he won't

slip his

him the right stufi, doctor," wind this time."

s^id

Hawes

jocosely,

To

slip into a

man to

give

him

a sound beating
(ffi).

(S.),

la

B ^ ^; ?i It, # fr, s *r, ?s tT

many

There's

a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip men cannot count on anything until it is actually in
their grasp (P.),

- UWi^U; ^'^ '^>'n ^.^^

to us with

is Greek, and comes down an example. To the best of my recollection, the ancient legend runs that a Greek philosopheT was discoursing to his pupil on the inability of man to foresee the future ay, even the event of the next minute. The pupil may have, perhaps, granted the uncertainty of the distant future, but he scouted the notion that men could not make sure of immediate and consecutive events. By way of illustration, he proceeded to fill a goblet.

"The

original," saya Charles Eeade,

SLY

[391]

mw w m i^ A^^ m m, 7i - ^m*s m, ^nmmn^:^

iit

M *, a! H 13 *n, J& BR m S 16 i *, ^ - * JE li 2,

E,

"I predict," said he, sneeringly, "that after filling this goblet, the next event will be that I shall drink the wine."

ran

in.

Accordingly he filled the goblet. At that moment his servant "Master, master! a wild boar is in our vineyard!"

The master caught up his javelin directly and ran out to find the boar and kill him.

He had

spirit that Sir

the luck to find the boar, and attacked him with such Boar killed him, and the goblet remained filled.

Slough

A slough of despond a state of utter despondency (P.),

(See Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, The First Stage),

She seemed to be stuck in a sort of slough of despond, and could not move in any direction to get out of it.

Slow

A slow coacha lazy or inactive person (F.),

A(f;)-

'{f

^;

You

will find

your new colleague rather a slow coach, and averse

to all reform.

Sly

fkyiiXtv^?kmu^,7immy!^mA,Km-ij}mmm. ^, ^L i ^ (M)On the sly secretly (C),

BB;M

"I thought you were down here about it?"

iJia^K. a^^JH:^^3tJlfc^
? fe

"0nly on the sly, Mrs. Walker." A, H ;F ia ?J. BS B-

^- Trollope.
attended that meeting:
Eeade,

He
on the

was beginning
sly.

to

doubt
ill -i-

this clerk,

who

mt. ^ ^, ^ *

ii

^>

fe

*n

^ ^

Small

A small-beer chronicle a record of

Othello, Act, II, 1,161,:

insignificant do-

mestic eventS'(C.) (The phrase comes from Shakspeare,

suckle,

small beer,')

m m).
many
distinction.

'To fools and chronicle ^iT i^ ^ i^ i& %^iB | , ^ *

;

jg: :5:

This small-beer chronicle is scarcely justifliedlby the fact that of Agnes' s acquaintances and correspondents were persons of

^. ^ 3^

s mmit.^mik.m^'^m.^^^ mm A, m&t&m.,n Athenaeum, 1887. ^ IE ^, 5* :^

'g- -a-.

Small hours

see Hours, M

stl

Hours.
like
if^

Small talk conversation about unimportant things

the weather or the every-daj'^ events of
fe^

life (P.),

m,m^,m.vkmm mnmit

a m,

in

p s 3^

map

She was aborbed in digesting Eolfe's every word, and fixing his in her mind} and filling in details to his outline so small talk
;

stung her.

Smell

To smell a rat to

detect something

wrong

(P.),

^%

Of his attachment to the doctrine of the Trinity the Bishop of Exeter may make what protestations he will, Archdeacon Denisea will smell a rat in them.

I*'l'@ iit S^ H-fe

fl

S|, -tJI-tJIgfe,

H^^^ jp^^
Matthew

tft,:-M^-tS*-.ia^K^li:^-^JE5t-ai.

AmM.
fiS,

Smoke

Tb end
ffl

smoke come no practical result m iJcj^; m s m ji # - ^- ^, - iim

in
to to

(P.),

IS

Now, however, the whole thing has ended

S i^ 4Snap

flij

& ^ IS li,

in smoke.

^;f

/K

^.

Japan Mail, 1887.

To snap

one's fingers

for (C), /p JK ;^

at to defy, show one's contempt E; * ^ g m, @ il, :^ -St BS ft,

IJa;e?

You live with me, and snap your fingers at

and all his crew.

SNU
'Bah, a

[393]
him.

God

I snap

my fingers at

Ohanceis the only God!'

mmmm^.
To snap a man's nose
off
Well, well! you needn't snap a man's nose

H. R. Haggard.

to speak sharply to him (C),

off.

Come, what has

ift]

the young

man been

doing

?
flif,

"i i, ^.^P

Ji^

A.Jt e, ?u

^ ^^ A, -

?;?

f^

M ^

Good Works,

1887.

Snuff

To take
You'll

it

in snuffto take offence

the light by taking it in snuff; darkly end my argument.
K'J

(F.), :<P

S M M,
;

mar

Therefore 1= JBl

I'll

S 1 ^ ^:

Jit

*:

^^# K

fi

^.

di

J3l

3r<

jL

mm,'^^i^:^^yf^&'^^In snuff-oflendea
He dares not come
in snuff.
(F.),

ShaUpemr.

T^'^n;^
;

, ft K,
you

IS if

there for the candle

for,

see, it is

already

Shakspeare.

And whereas in
re infecta, a little

^m^^M^
A

and distaste you may fling away from such patience and words may do your business.
snuff

ikM mz^mik ^,

^Bmm,-^

Cap of Oray Hairs for a Oreen Head, 1886.

To snuff pepper to

take offence

(F.),

^ S; M M,
cities in

I brought them in, because here are some of other room, that might anuff pepper else.

the

j^

Old

l-'lay.

Up

to

snuffcrafty, knowing
to snuff
3[fe

(S.),

^ ^; s
easily.

11,

^D PJ,

m ^n (ft).
He is up
life

amd

will not be
Jif

camght so

J* a

s,

:^

^^
die

m iE

iij lii-

To

snuff
The

outto

(S.),

Jg;

Wil

M.,

B M, ^ '^ %

old tailor snuffed out last night.

[394]
So
Only
"

SON
so-so

very

indifferently, not well (C),

^^M

How

do you find yourself,

so so," said

my

dear fellow ?"

"Only

Mr. John Spanker.

Dickens.
,

^^i^^B,m^mmAnd
so

on

and the like, and other similar words, acts,

or events (P.),

^ m, U ti ^ M, ^ m, ^^ iX)-

heard of a house here or a house there, and went to see it, but it was too large; and of another, but it was too small; and of a third, but it was not convenient for her purpose; and so on.

He

g,

aP It Sn it

lii-

Besant.

Social

The
Soft

social

evilprostitution
(S.),

(P.),

-^

^ . ^ 9
|5c
;

Soft

sawderflattery

J5

-H*

s,

itO^> ff
nature.

It is

done by a knowledge

of soft
lit,'

sawder and
Jffi

human

51^

^ f:

'It,

]ii^

ig

m t6 *

&

Haliburton.

Soft soap

complimentary
is

speeches. (F.)

person of

insinuating manners

said to be soapy,

H S^ ID '^;
[French],

Soi

Soi-disant
Charges

self -named,

self-appointed (P.)

Bm;i^m,^Lm,B^m{xi mm].
of seduction

Harchoux and

their soi-disant patrons * *

trumped up by young women like Annette must be subjected to a very

searching investigation.

^'m&V;MW.^ELWi^^Some
Some
of these days
,

Saturday Review, 1887.

soon, before very long (C), ^^,fiR

;ffi

^
Son

7I?

i^,

^,

5i

Fb^

mi
by
sailors

We shall be visiting you

Son of a sea-cook
to their

some

of these days.

a term of contempt used iA ^ mm^mmzm)(Mi

companions
(S.),

B.; J^K

df^ (7j<

^H

Captain Chamier would

call

me a

'

Lubber, and Son of a Sea-cook.

'

sou
Song

[3951

To

sell for

an old song

to sell very

cheap (C),

for the yery worst old song,

Oh, Kitl Kit! The firm ends with me. I must sell the goodwill if it once leaks out what a fool you are.
?* 7^ .^

K IS , ^ IS - 5* S,
Sop

iti/-

Blackmore.

To throw a sop

to Cerberus

to try to pacify
(P.),

a greedy
TU

enemy by granting him

favours

|5

^ M'

For, instance, the Transvaal Convention that Mrs. Carr mentioned an admirable example of how such pandering is done. No man of experience can have believed that such an agreement would be wise, or that it can result in anything but trouble and humiliation but the trouble and humiliation will not come just yet, and in the meanwhile
is
;

a sop

is

thrown to Cerberus.

;J:

W,

3i

* M EP B* IS f^ &

^- R- Saggard.
trf

Sore

A sight for sore eyes see Sight, ^

Sorrow:
ing to a sentence

Sight.

Sorrow

a word used in Ireland ^^

(*F.),
;

to give

a negative mean-

:=F

fg, ?5

S {%) {MWM
when

The

birds were singing,

hit

and I stopped whistling that they might

hear them; but sorrow

could they hear (they heard nothing)

they got to the park gate, for there was such a crowd, and such a shout. ^1^ a, s^. W' i, Ji jE^o^ W!., &.

^^ mMm # ^ g F5 Eg, ^ if
iij

^;f

r^,

BSS

ig

m u^ ^ ^ A, * n nt llik
M. Edgeworfh.

flj^.

Sotto

Sotto voce
[itahan]
,

in
iB

a subdued voice, in a whisper (P.)

FfT

^i

:? ^

m,

-fiJ

iU

E ^, IS ^ (X).
he said
sotto voce.

"She's worn out and upset, poor

Uttle thing!"

^'mWiU,'^'^^^^^'^^Sour Sour grapes

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

it is

a thing despised because

unattainable

[396]
,

BPJL
A
.famished fox once saw some clusters of ripe black grapes
trellised vine.

She resorted to all her arts in vain, At last she turned away, beguiling The Grapes are sour, herself of her disappointment and saying and.notripe as I thought."

hanging from a

for she' could not reach them.

'

'

Esop's Fables.

Sow

To SOW wild
young

oats

to

be wild and extravagant when

/i?

(P.j, /!?

^ Ei ^;

iJt ?-E

ffi

iiiJ,

ffi'tt

to

"Upon my honour," exclaimed Sir me to be your condemnation. If you

Brian,

"your excuse seems

fellows often are,

were a spendthrift, as young there would be a chance of your sowing your wild

oats."

!i

^ . ^

&

Good Words,

1887.

To SOW the wind, and reap the whirlwind

have recklessly and wickedly and punishment (P.), ff; JR J53. |i

to be-

suffer a dreadful

S # S; S K S M,
captured

To have the wrong sow by the ear to have

the wrong individual (F.),

A,

^ IE
Jft

MM-fi^^=S&;t^

(1r).
this

However,

m ^ # It K SO A"It's
all right,

time he'd got the wrong sow by the ear. Hughes.

old fellow,"

he

said,

clapping his hand on Crawat last."

ley's shoulder,

"we've got the

right

sow by the ear

?P M H 1 ^.
Spade

A. TroUope.

To

call a

spade a spade

to

use sincere, straightfor-

ward language,
uses (P.),

to be straightforward in the

terms one

Tnmmm^^mmv^&mm ^m,
M
K^m

Viola! when will yoU leave off using such terrible words. Our poor fath0r always said he never knew such a girl for calling a spade a spade. a# Jfe :^ ffl jHj !1 Hi tS . sS 151, V* II it li fit J
ft

*
11

vjf:

.;t

* ?,. *
la

.a<

ii

5.

F. Marryat.

SPI
Speak

[397]
ample testimony,
(P.),

To speak volumes

to furnish
to

to,

be

important testimony,

be very significant

^ ;^^

Does

it

not, then, speak volumes as to

is,

what the

instinctive revolt

of the attitude

to find her taking

it

quite as a matter of course

that a high-bred,

well-behaved young lady of eighteen should be roused to an outbreak like the following.

mm m &. + A m <^ f^^ -k, n m M S S, - ^ # :^ M #, M K3? f* ^ W, 3P B 1- ;t ^

PJC ;?:
!

iiim&
ife.

m m, inT^

t.

St 2.5^1*,

KfSSfllll

nHB

Spectator, 1887.

To speak ofworth mentioning

They have no
institutions of their

(P.),

own

to speak of,

no public

buildings of any importance.

To speak well

for

one

to

speak in his favour, to be

to his credit (P.),

It speaks well for

mm;m^,n:tm^,^^M (X)that his servants always remain long with

him

him.

To speak up
(C.J,

to retort, to address

a superior saucily

mm;^m,Kmmm,mmw:m,-p{^m m).
is

followed by a disposition on the part of the forewoman to and by a determination on the part of the work girls not to be put upon, with an intention of speaking up should the occasion arise.

This

find fault,

Spear

Achilles' spear

It

was said that

this spear could

both

wound and

cure,

mm A,mmm^^mm^mmA,^-mm
A)
(X).
frown, like to Achilles' spear. with the change to kill or cure.
Shakspeare,

i\l

M ^ MW; W. ^ At^^ A.^B

Whose smile-and
Is able

}jj]

^,

Spick

Spick and

span very

neat and trim

(F.),

M'M]^f^
Haliburton.

A
Jgf

spick

and span new

gig at the door.

,

iP 88 2.

M ^ if ,i # J^ Pg ^K

[398]
Spin

SPO
To spin a yarn

^to

tell

a story

(C.)

sailor's plirase.

Blow-hard (as the boys called him) was a dry old file, with kindness and humour, and a capital spinner of a yarn.

much

Spirit

Out of spirits

melancholy, gloomy,

sad

(P.),

M fS fl

it

He was out of spirits, he had grown very silent, he did not read; seemed as if he had something on his mind.
R. L. Stevenson.

Spliced

To get splicedto be married

My
old

(S.),

if

^; JSK H, -S" #,

room-mate got spliced

last

Saturday.

Split

To

split

on a friend
-t

to

inform against him, to reveal

(S.),

a scheme in which he was concerned, to betray him

tu -t
(ffi)
;

^,

(*i

^M
'

-&

^.
a).

a ^ m, i: m, m, py 1^ ^, *
'

to twist his

Eobinson sighed, ' What is the matter ? said his master trying head round. "Nothing; only I am afraid they they won't split; fellows of that sort don't split on a comrade where they can get no good by it."
'

jt
g-

ffl?

,g.

- Sf, K ^

ffl

IS

K -t

pg

0, M ^, =g

0,

ims

ffi

^ a.

Reade.

To

split witli

to quarrel with, to separate

from

(F.),

He has spilt with his old partner and is now in business for himself.
Split

uphaving long legs (S.),

^ A ft * # # ia 3K,
(P.)
ifc

;S

P S;

;ft Jgl (ffi).

The favourite came from Lincolnshire, a

IS

tall, well-split

up fellow.

BB fi

p.

Spoil

To

spoil the

Egyptians

to get supplies

enemies

A Scriptural phrase,

see Exodus,

from one's XII, 36,

mmmm-, mmmmtrm m, m mnmAmnb m a ^ S, m 05 ^ ^ IS B8 + - ^: H + 5^ )ffi

SPO
jng

[399]
spoil that

him

More, he might even be able to less than his due.

Egyptian George, giv

H ff ;t tt.
To
Spoke
f

H. R. Haggard.

spoil for a fight

'It

^; m Si,
Wheel.

to be very anxious for a fight ^ ^ ^, 1^ ^ gj ^- (m

Wheel,
get

(F.),

To put a spoke in another's wheel see

M^

Sponge

To sponge upon anotherto

money

or food in a

mean way, to take advantage of to obtain money from him, or a

another's good-nature
place at his table
(P.),

The ant lives upon her own honesty; whereas the fly is an intruder, and a common smell-feast, that sponges upon other people's trenchers.

A;t:feli=l',S^?l.

L' Estrange.

To throw up the sponge to

quished, to yield (F.)

confess one's self van-

In pugilistic encounters the two After each principals are accompanied by second. round these seconds wipe the faces of the principals and prepare them for the next round. When a principal refuses to enter for another round his second throws

Wi c^)

; :f St S ^, ^ f^, * M, B M m m, ^ A ^ ^ -ni^, m m -m -'^:tum,^^ A:^mum,mw]^m^m

up the sponge, fg

()hm

Brooke cannot find it in his heart to stop them just yet, so the round goes on, the Slogger waiting for Tom, and reserving all his strength to hit him out should he come in for the wrestling dodge again, for he feels that must be stopped or his sponge will soon go up
in the air.

EP

a 11 S *

^.
the sponge, and
left

Hughes.
the Star line

The Union Line has thrown up

in sole possession.

m ^A-

[400]
Spoon

SPO
It takes a long spoon to sup
or evil spirit (C.)

with
that

him he is a
'

devil

The proverb runs

;

It takes

a long
is

spoon to sup with the devil

profits are sure to

'

is,

the devil

so

crafty that if one forms a league with him,

most of the

go

to hipi,

tS^tfa^M^fl^;

^^

n m m M^,mm :t, ^ mzmm, m mmm ^, M m ^ ^ ^ fi

-a).
'

'

Does she not eat with the family

"

tion;

"Wlio? she?" exclaimed Moniplies aa if surf)riged at the ques"they would need a long spoon (who) would sup with her, I trow.'

,1

mA^MM, se^'ifd^A^m'^'sS^Sorn with a

wealth and luxury
(P.),

M ii fi

P4

.p;f

f^

w.^w mm,

nf B,

m A, %M,
mouth

^^m^
Scott.

silver spoon in one's

bom

in
P^,

^ jK ^ ;S ^; ^ g *

What The settlement I have made is more than enough five thousand pounds more than enough. One can see, young fellow, that you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.
' '
!

M
Spooney

?i5,

M^
girl

lit

Ea

i^

* ^ ^,

JE T-

^ s ei ^ ^ ^,
1888.

:$AIS^^P?*7if^iS:S:ftA^^-

Longman's Magazine,
of her (F.),

Spooney on a
'

foolishly fond
why
I

^;il

'

The reason,"

said she, "

voked any attachment was because

if

I had never either formed or prowas "always so spooney on girls."

SH

iSfe

&
is

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.
getting spooney

George on him.

getting spooney

on that

girl,

or she

is

X Marryat.
Sport

To sport one's oak

sitors (F.)

to shut one's

door to chance

vi-

college phrase,
;

Cambridge, ft p^

p^

common at Oxford and ^, umnu^'^-mit

SPR
Rumours
of

C401J
and
fre-

high play at cards * * oi prepetuaUy sported "oak"

esteem in which Routh was
'.

(continual seclusion in his room), non-attendance' at chapel,

quent shirking

of classes, lessoned the

'

held'by the authorities.

S^

Spot

mm, -^.W^ k mW 1^ m^^On the spot-^just there, immediately, of place (P.),. ^m;n^,wtm,m m,
it>

Edmund

Yates.

without change
it

m,

m iX).

Though they had caused the death of many men during the last two years, they had not yet, as it happened, murdered a single one on the spot.

^-^

m m a, m fs, '^ ^ W Pg A ^ *;2.

f'

m &^^

B^ ^ A, mm ^ ^ w
Heade.

It

was determined upon the

ta

spot, according as the oratory

on

either side prevailed.

^M1^
Spout

^ la,

BP Bf

m ^.
(S.,),

Swift.

Up

tHe spout

at the

pawnbroker's

A 7 ^;^ Ti

me two hundred that ia, I owe and the gold tops and bottles must be worth thirty or forty. Please .to put iSat up the spout, riia'amj with my pins, and rings, and watch, and chain, and things.
There's that dreasing-case cost
for it;

two

^ ^m -t m, m ^ A &. .ws, m ^, ik ^ M R mj', Thackeray. mm&ii^mi^mmmWi^,-' 'M ii^ ni^ if-

Sprat

To thro-w a sprat
ffi::^

to catch a

whale

to venture someffl

thing small in order to obtain a large return (C), /h

*;

fit JSl f|
' '

- * ^ ^ ^^ t S M M K, E ts, e K M tfi:^ (i
f'J,

A-mn

pounds.

What are yon at ? Are you mad, Tom? Why, What a sin!"
Did you never hear

there goes five

'
'

of the

man

that flung

away a

sprat to catch

a whale?"
..

-^ ^.

ffl

'h

m^u,0'3'i^&m #,.* m

*, r^ m- Reade.

/Spread-eagleismboastful American patriotism (P.) .(Coinpareit with English Jingoism and French Chau.vinism),

mmxt, u m ^MMmkm i& ix).

[402]
When we talk
United
of of the
States,

SPU
" spread eagleism " we are generally thinking but the real spread-eagleism is that, not of the American republic, but of the Eussian Empire.

^ 2. ft -a.
Hush,

FoHnightly Review, 1887.

lord.

my

You

forget that

you are a

British peer.

No

spread-eagle for you.

If -a.
Spring

Besant.

To spring a mine upn one

to surprise
its

him,

to lay

a plot and announce suddenly

completion
ff*

(P.),

.'^:fc^,am^
"But,

S fS 5, nt
is

tt

^,

jS

^ *

my

dear Samuel, this

so altogether unexpected."

mm^-^^mw.m, &^m^K1k^9i
"^is the discovery of the manuscript,'
with
pitiless logic.
'

put in the young fellow

"It

is

like springing a

mine on me,

my lad."
James Payn.
(P.),

iSS5-,jltKffiSilM^:;*:Jg-

To spring

to one's feet

to

rise

up suddenly

^
of

He sprang

to his feet,

and pushed the woman, a buxom party

about thirty, from him.

H. R. Haggard.

Spur

On

the spur of the

momentacting
(P.),

under the
;

first

impulse, without reflection

^ J:

i^

^,

"vt

BD, HI

The
reality,

criticism offered

on the spur

of the

moment had

been, in

M,mmn,Umi^m^m.n,*-M&'iiTo win
one's spurs

advanced by way of protest against the whole document. James Payn.

to gain a

reputation (P.)

Origi-

nally used of feudal warriors who, by doing some deed

of valour,

won

the spurs of knighthood,

jL^ ,% T ^

sau
The encounter in which Charlea Townshend only a preliminary skirmish.

[403]
won
his spurs

waa

Trevelyan.

mare

All square
"Sit

all right, quite satisfactory (F.),

^M, M

still, it

will

be

all

square."

But in his heart he knew that it was not "all square," and that they were in imminent danger of death from drowning.
H. R. Haggard.

On

or

upon the square

honourable,

fair,

even

hon-

ourably, fairly (C), j^ jE; SS :&,

on the square ?

* ^ IE iS, & 51.

got to say to that? Hughes.
treating

Ain't

it all

What have you

jHs^5t5P2.^ffl:, Jfti^jHiS^IBlf. For now rm, upon the square with you (I am
and
fairly),

you openly

I must be straight as an arrow.

Edgeworth.

iSSfl'^^tSPl^^it'K.SiiEfgKESn^-a. M.

To square up
clench the

(a)

to

take the attitude of a boxer, to

to fight (C),

fists

and prepare

^JE^Mi

The speaker proceeded mined way.

to square

up

to

George in a most deter-

m.mA,&&^'^zm,m3immmmm- H.B.Haggard. (6) to settle, adjust (P.), 1^ ^l M m,W^ ^ m,f^7m. (X)-

^m
!,

On
retire

squaring up accounts with his partner, he found that he could with five thousand pounds.
ilf
ifel

# ^ ^ is,
(P.),

iK #: it

# Mi # S

t#-

2 =^ ^.

"T

To square anything

to or

jE^;m^,m^,
^ M-

*B

with M,

to make m m ix)-

it

agree with

These marine bodies do not square with those opinions, but exhibit phenomena that thwart them.

Me

Woodward.

ffi

To break squares

to depart

from an accustomed or

[404]

STA
To break no squares
difference (C), SD

to give

no

offence, to

S M M, M

'^, ^<

make no Jt A, ^T^ A,
(F.),

A square meal a full meal which satisfies

Let us have a good square meal as soon as

# ^

we

get into the village.

Stab

On the
ment),
I

stab
(S.)

paid regular weekly wages, on the

('

staff of

a firm

% m.n m xm - ^; mmn :t & X m)the stab, but do odd jobs

Stab

'

is

here a contraction for establish-

am no longer on
or

when

required.

Stable

To lock

stolen

shut the stable-door

when

the steed

is

see Shut,

Stage

A stage whisper a whisper that can

who
are near (P.)

^m

Shut.

be heard by

all

The

object of a whisper is to keep

;

a thing secret,

^ S ^ fi S

fg

^ HP

ffl

;S:

Iffl

M
BIL

Stake

At stake

^in

peril,

about to be contended for

(P.),

^.

He wrote to tell the king [that the honour of himself and his brother sovereigns, whose conscience they directed, was at stake.
w^

4- 2g,

m ik m, m w^ m m mmn, m ^ ^ ^ A^ m m
3i as

-fe.

National Review, 1887.

"Do not

speak of him, Johnny."

of him.

"I must speak

A man
is

isn't to

hold his tongue when

everything he has in the world

I?

at stake."

SI5-

A. Trollope.

Stake and
Stale
Stall

rice

a wattled fence.
lie

Provincial English,

To To

lie in stale

to

in ambush.
]!f^

Provincial English,

ffl

f^;

ffl

{^, f^

stall a

debt

^,

f^

Hi RK

(^

^ :^ m).
its

to refrain

from pressing

payment.

Provincial English,

^ ^ Mi] ^ m,^ mM ^,^

STA
Stall

your

mugbe off, go

away

(S.),

^S ^^^
;

Stand

To stand by to be

faithful, to assist in a difficulty (P.),

The man that stands by the sun shines again.

me

in trouble I won't bid

him go

whei)

To stand at ease

to take the restful position allowed

to soldiers in the intervals of drill (P.),

^^tii^L^,i^

m iX).

By

their rattles

and

slaps they're not

'

standing at ease.'
it

^ ^ M S S, Sl f; f* K,

?*

*fi

^ Si.

Barham.

To stand on end

to stand erect (P.)

Generally said

of the hair of a person

who has

got a fright, ig aC ; Jl

m,mm,mBiX)mMm\i^,^mmsmwMy
hair stood on

mmm'^B,
When

mmmmm m-

my

head

like quills.
-R-

l. stevemon.

I think of the souls of the people in that poor village,

my

hair literally stands on end.

K ^ gj.

rt

^ w ^, ^ #:^ ^.A^mAm.-4,^mmm^m
A. TroUope.

To stand

to reason

to

be logically certain, to be an
;

undoubted

fact (P.), fj 'ft Jt 51

J^ 51

M 2,

tiH^

UM

If you were heir to a dukedom and a thousand pounds a day, do you mean to say you would not wish for possession? Pooh! And it stands to reason that every great man, having experienced this feeling towards his father, must be aware that his son entertains it towards

himself.

yf^

Wiiammmmm^m,ihmM%BAM,=f'mA, m m m,m w-, m ^ ^-it'& A. ^m

iS: 7!r

ikM.
-w

^^.

Jhackeray.
It stands to reason that I must either be driven along with the crowd, or else be left behind.

^^#

ffi

^ -^ *. & a Jt,
iEf

Jtti

ilif'

^(is

:t il

^-

^- Trollope.

[406J

STA
To stand on ceremony

to act

and ceremonious in behaviour,

with reserve, to be stiff to be backward (P.),

Mordecai absolutely refused

(this bond),

declaring that

now he

had the power he would use

* * that a

it

to obtain the

utmost penny

of his debt;

man Ijring on hia deathbed was no excuse to a creditor, that he was not going to stand on ceremony about disturbing a gentleman in hia last moments.
^,
ffij-

Si

-^^

;?: ffi

?i

(tt>

&),

:g f#

m A at ^ S ^ If,

ia

M. Edgeworth.

To stand in
(P.),

one's lightto hinder his advancement mm^Kitm^;mm,^m.u,m.mm.

girl' slight;

Don't stand in the poor us in peace.

for pity's sake, Greorge, leave

# ^ c
"BT

;?:

ir

m ^ *? ^i si^.ir i6^, iiis^ssp

Reade.
is

&.

At
light

seventy, as at twenty-seven, he

found standing in his own

fear.

on many occasions through nervous

Iff

S-

Leisure Hour, 1886.

To stand in need to

require, to be in

want

of (P.), ft

So I proposed that we should try to go out and get a bath, which we stood sadly in need.

of

H, R. Haggard.
I stood in need of a comfortable dinner,

^ilifia

SBI5.

Goldsmith.

To stand toto "My lady,

uphold, to be faithful to (C), i^^;Wi.

"Whatever you say

whatever I say you'll stand to." I'll stand to."

To stand

to one's

gun
;

to offer resistance, to defend

one's self (C),

tnl ffi

ffi,

*i

^ ^ T, S , S ^ (^).
S. Warren.

Titmouse, though greatly alarmed, stood to his gun pretty steadily.

S^]agWaifJ;A:^-SE.fsBBiS;?:ii,SAe.

STA
To stand

[407]

treat to pay the expenses of any feasting or merriment (C), If ; g^, m, f^ ] m)He ordered in a glass of negus from the adjoining public house,

some discussion, which ended in an agreement that he should stand treat that night, and Titmouse on the ensuing one.
after

To stand out

to object, to refuse to agree^ to separate

(P.),

one's self from others

R If;

!Jl ffi,

:^

^ ^,
ia

If

the ladies will stand out,

agreed.

let

them remember

that the jury

not

all

Tf.j^'SL.

Swift.
tires

He
|.ets

always stands out and higgle?, and actually

them

till

he

a bargain. Goldsn
ith.

83

^Jh.

Miss Monica Thorne stood out, but Mrs. Grantly gave way.

To stand

in good stead
ffl;

to

be useful, to prove of good

service (P.), ?^

ffi,

H 16, i^ ft '^, ^ i4 S

"Thank

you.

It

may

stand

me in good stead some day."

set aside for

To stand over
(P.),

to

be delayed, to be

a time

m^;m.m,mm,mm.,mm^,'i&m.(X).

a habit of giving and lending whenever he was asked, buying whatever chanced to take hia fancy and paying for it or letting payment stand over according as he happened to have
also of

He had

money
3SE

in his pocket or not at the time.

^.

if

^ i !i ^, ii ^ B# ^ ^,
for

KiJ

BP

^ # M, ^ ^
Good Words,

M'J

^ #.

1887.

To stand up
You
hate.

to

champion, speak in defence

of (P.),

are always standing

up

for the black people,

whom the Boera

Haggard.

&?S.AmM:^mA.m7i^^mm-

S.E.

[408]'
Star

STA
His star is in the ascendant vours him (P.),

he

is

lucky, fortune fa-

mjEmMmm^M,^Mn^,m
^a ^

so,

His feelings of resentment (became) more lively, and not the less because the expression of them had been stifled, while he had considered the star of Titmouse to be in the ascendant. ?iiiB7f:"Bri^5i,ii :^ ti s^ s^ St -a, 5.

&.^^-mmm^Mm.^-

m^m^iS:.

S.Warren.

A man's
"Yes,"
good

good star a lucky

said Ella patiently;

influence affecting his

life

star just saved her

"she was, of course, the Pre" (her from saying the Pretender) " Prince Charlie
.

in disguise."

B ju ^ fi (^ M # ^ It ^ s r # ^ s; ns f ?#M ^ a A, ^ PT M a th It s a p at ^) a Bf
-te

jHs ,

ftf ;fc

fls jisF.

James Payn.

The

stars and stripes or the star-spangled the national flag of the United States (P.),
want

banner

^ jK (^ ^

I don't

to see

my

husband walking into his

proi)er place in

Westminster with stars and

stripes flying over his head.

^ 7S
Stare
to

iE

S M &

Besani.

To stare in the face

to

be very evident, to threaten,

(P.),

be ready to overwhelm

^^;$@BPl,,5i^

Euin
Is
it

stared

him

in the face.

possible for people, without scruple to offend against the law,

starea

which they carry about them in indelible characters, and that them in the face, whilst they are breaking it ?

]SSrJtti:tA^>:t^a

^K:^ nTK*,
Statiee

flB

fi ^ #:, :^ #,::?: tM.^ ^^mi&,n%m ^m.m'^^- Locke.

Like statiee

or stacia

a phrase used in comparing

j:fc

or

estimating anything

(S.),

gj.^

fe If :^

fel

^D

^,

It is the moat costly government in the world, considering our means. We are actually eaten up by it it is a most plaguy sore, and has spreads like statiee till it has got its root into the very core.

.Bi

ss

itt

tfe

., II] ?c

T # m.m m^,-%m^.^&^'
.
v..

f H, ^ # 5P ih -&.

.V

Haliburton.

STI
Status

[40 9J
position in

The status quo

the
much

which

affairs actually

are, the present situation of affairs (P.)

[Latin],

It Avas
little

hardly too

to

assume that a

little

further thought, a

more consideration

of future probahilities,

would have
w\

led to

the maintenance of the

statvji

quo.

^ ^m 1^ ^
!B.
"4^.

tt

2. It.

Wi, n ^m m ^ ^ # S *:

^ik

^ ^, m '^ ^:t,
Good Words,

^
-^-

1887.

Stave

To stave
with

off

difficulty (P.),

to prevent, to keep back for a time and B^;^m,m'i^,m^n m,

know
of.

I have more influence in the land than you even, I could stave off the war.

Perhaps,

*;,

-;i

"Sr

^ &.
him
to stave
oflT

H. R. Haggard.
the inevitable ruin for a few days

This aid helped

longer.

Steal

To

steal a

march uponto
is

gain an advantage over an

enemy

or a competitor without his

knowing
$!j
I

it,_

to act

before another

aware

(P.),

:^

A ^ :^M,M

I long to see
as yours.

S5

^ B K? H J* S 1^, ^ B S^ ^ A 0f S ? : ^n
yC-Mlast,

you happy long to behold the choice of such a heart Pray, do not steal a march upon me let me know in time.
'C>

A,

ill

ifcSa-g-^^^. ffl^
At
stole a

M. Edgeworth.
earlier

one morning, happening to awake

jail.

march on

his nurses, and, taking his stick,

than usual, he walked out and

tottered into the

mmm:^M,m^^^^mf,^'r\siAmmp3.
Stick

Reade.

To

stick

by to

be faithful

to,

not to desert

(P.),

^ ^;

He thought what a savage determined man Osborne was, and how he stuck by his word.
ft

^ :^ #

Ihackeray.

To stick at nothing
(P.),

to

e:

mm.

#;

'i-a

JE,

^^ ^ m, mmm

be undaunted or unscrupulous
'^.,

iJ

^a

[410]

STI
"I came here to-night, to rob your house," he said. "I have been lying beneath your bed for hours, rehearsing as to how it should be done, and resolved, if I met any resistance, to do worse than rob, for I am one that sticks at nothing."

^^mm,M^7i-i:^mtk^>
To stick out
He would
about the

James Payn.

to be stubborn, to refuse to accede (P.),

lot of

have clearly liked to stick out; but there was something us that meant mischief, and at last he struck.

^,n^'4:tn^^^,^^^Wii>^%To
stick to one's colours

R-L.

Stevenson.

to

be faithful to a cause, to

refuse to yield (P.), y^ P!; ^^

M,

^ ^, & M, ^^,

The lady had made a great mistake in putting'her supremacy to a test so crucial, but, having made it, she stuck to her colours.
:^

^, IS

BS

m te ^ ;t ,
up
up

K'J

5*

M * PP JS *(.

Jarnes Payn.

To

stick

for

to

champion, speak in defence of (C),

I'll stick

for the pretty

woman

preaching.

A poor stick a person without character or energy (C), ^ ^^ M ;^ A, il !^ i6 it ^ ;^ A, (k).

;

pp

Tfc

He was

a poor stick to

make a preacher on
off (S.),

(of)

To cut
It

one's stickto go

^ *; ^

|g,

-ftfi

t,

stick as

was plaguy lucky for the doctor, I can tell you, that he cut his he did, and made himself scarce, for Alden was an ugly

customer.

g :t A,

iSS ;?:

^ fi m.
persevere
(F.),

Haliburton.

To Stick into
Si6(1i?).
If

S, UJ;
chance
ti

M ^., H ^ 0,
t/f

you

stick in, there is quite a fair

cv.

of

your succeeding.
Jif

mm^m.

&.

m !S m n t-,

^ t^ m

# &.

STO
To
stick

[411]
(F.),

onto

overcharge, to defraud

If

^ ^
;

sticking

'Come, landlord,' said he, it on with the wines.'

'this bill

won't do; you have been

To
Stiff

stick one's spoon in the

wall to
?E

die

(S.),

JE;

To

stiff

una corpse (S.), M;

Sunday the Sunday

^,

MB

(ffi).

Stir

Stir-up

just before

Advent

(S.),

Mmmmm:tmmmmn B;mmBm:tm
H
(ffi).

The

collect or

Church prayer

for this

day begins with the words

'Stir up,

Lord,

we beseech

thee.'

School-boys

who

are looking
'stir

forward at this time to the Christmas vacation, irreverently or poke each other's sides on this day.

up'

^,

jifc

^ ^ -a.
of
(P.),

Stock

To take stock
minutely
opportunities.

to observe and estimate, to watch ^ 5; tT g, # JS, M ^, M M (X).

trade to take stock of

" You seem to have observed him very closely, considering your

" i have.

It is

my

my

fellow-creatures."

^, ^l!^;t,^18:A,^S;JEIS&m-iil- James Payn.

Though the countess is certainly taking stock, of Miss Eayne, when she considers herself unnoticed, it is with anything but a gratified
expression on her countenance.

=f!l

/h Sa

.El

A::^ m

2&.

H'J

fg

S ^ A, B ^
F. Marryat.

To take stock in

to value, regard with trust or con-

fidence (P.), fg fi;

iB, ^ ft, it IE,

f^
;

"1

(X).
much
stock

Marse Dab himself, however, never appeared

in the genealogical advantages he enjoyed.-

to take
,

2 &.

mm m.^^ n m &
?^

mm

^ E.m "f- :^ &. Blackwood's Magazine, 1887.

&M

[412]
Stone

STO
Stone-throwing
finding fault with one's neighbours from Christ's saying He that is doubt taken (No (P.) M'ithout blame among you, let him first cast a stone at her'S-^. John VIII, 7.),
'

J^^-^^^^JJtifT^
m:

^,M^B'^^^).
the self-depreciation of the capital, and the occasional outbursts of Nihilism are only the natural results of the autocratic system.

A#

The stone-throwing

spirit,

^ W, ^
more

ffilj

ffifc

^, i

^ ^ . m m.
ifS

JSC

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

A stone's throw a short distance,

(P.),

a hundred yards or

- ^ ^ ii; W ^, ^ ^, - H^l 2te?&

of the

Eebecca and her husband were but a few stones' -throw

lodgings which the invalid Miss Crawley occupied.
'^.

Thackeray.

To leave no stone unturned

^to

adopt every possible

method of search or inquiry, to take every possible means towards gaining an object (P.) (A phrase borrowed from the Greek author, Euripides: Panta
kinesai petron.

Polycrates asked the Delphic Oracle

how

best to find the treasure buried

the general of Xerxes, on the field of Platea.

Oracle replied, Turn every stone),

by Mardoniiis, The
iH!,

M If ^ m, il - tt :^ ^J, a 5^ a M ft m m M # M IS m ^ m, mmmmm^.^ :k m %^ -^ m M &- mm m "^ m ^, mmm It 5, m m It ^).

S,
(jffc

M^ MM', ^:f] W.

i^,

may
ifB

But Mr. Irwine '11 leave no stone unturned with the judge rely upon that, Adam.
tii-

you

^
"

Qeorge Eliot.
'

We shan't leave a stone unturned on either side,'

said Mr. Quirk.

S.

^]&Mm,^^i&m'&^U:fymM-

Wamn.

STR
Stool

[413]
Between,

To
To

fall

between two stools see

#1

Be-:

tween.

Store

set store

by

to value, to

think highly of

(P.),

writer in 2he Times "assigns four reasons for the growth of influence and popularity in Japan. He does not himself sel; great store hy that influence or that popularity.

The German

RlJ SSs

^ Ji a 2. &.

Japan Mail, 1887.

In store

ready,

waiting, soon to disclose

itself (P.),

If he portrays persons generally as well as he does places do not doubt) there must be another treat in store for us.

(as I

Story

James Payn. mm^m~^-^m,'^KSnm'ilWeak in the upper story crazy, feeble-minded (F.),

^mmmAW^.-iia^mu^Wimmmismm\m^

His brother,
story.

whom we met

to-day,

is

little

weak

in the upper

"

Straight

To give a man the straight tip-^to, instruct him exactly how to proceed (F.), ^g g ^ SHM ?I, ^ S5,
All he had to do was to give him the and buv. -tefK^Jlf '*l3l,^-l&^,"Br^.
'

straight tip
" ;

and

let

him go

Betant.
;

Strain

To

strain at a gnat to make difRcultites about something insignificant fP.), /h M^i^Wt.;

'^M^U, ^ ^
'

Strait

You are just the chap to strain at a gnat and sjwallow a camel. Saliburton. j*^AiE''>M;A:fc, ii5iB)i#*#;i^A strait jacket or waistcoat an article of dress put ^; ii^ on a madman when he is unruly (P.),

MAM

..-:

is accredited to a -keeper,, who has invested him the order of the Strait Waistcoat.- George Gaunt, instead of going as a -secretary of legation to a foreign court, has been entrusted to a keeper and'is watched as a madman. HE #. IS 14 SI fis B# , ^. IS.

George Gaunt

>vith

"

'

^ ^ %W^:^ A

KS

-*_

'.

Tliackeray.

[414]
Straw

STR
The last straw

that which
itself,

finally causes a catastrophe

an event simple in

but able in conjunction with

back),'

ether things, to cause a calamity (P.) (The proverl? runs

'

It is the last straw

which breaks the camel's

If there are any real tragedies being acted out in Oldbury just now, you may depend upon it they are unsuspected ones, or that all the good people are busy heaping last straws on the fainting camel's

back.

^ ?a Hf ^
i!)

jfe

ir

Mm

:;&,

J*

^ ^ ^ , ^ u,
(P.),

Mij

^ M igij, #

&(.

Annie Keary.

In the straw in childbed

^M;^^,^'^,^

m(X)And how do I find my health after all this opium-eating ? Why pretty well, I thank you, reader; in the phrase of ladies in the straw "as well as can be expected."

de Quinoey.

Not

to care a straw, or

two straws to
is

be perfectly
is

indifferent (P.)
worthless),

(A straw

the symbol of what

myf^M;^^,^1t,^^,m^^^
have cared two straws about the woman.
Murray's Magajsine, 1887.
(P.)

I don't think she could

^W.i&SH'yS^-^-ft-^^W&ibidder in such a case

A straw bid a worthless bid (at an auction)

is

(The
is

unable

to

pay

if

the article

knocked down

m,

^^i ^ M ^ ^M m M 2, &m (X) inb ^ M.m m m :z A, m m mmm

to him),

A man
a

of

straw a
(P.),

creature evolved
real person,
:^^

and wholly unlike the

from the fancy an unreal person,

dummy
who

X A;
who

A,

M,^MMAiX).
The man
those
of straw,

^ A, ^U A,

offers bail, is furnished the

money by

stiiKulated the outrage.

^-

Reade.

STR
Strike

[415]^

To

strike work to refuse to continue latjouring at the wages or under the conditions offered (P.),
;

HI #
his

Strephon and Phyllis

taken as
tj'pical of
(P.),

a pair of

rustic loyers, generally

a sentimental young

man and

sweetheart

-1W^^;-S?i'ft5a^, ^

He brought his lovely wife to a romantic-looking cottage, covered with roses and myrtle, and there their Stephen land Phyllis-like
existence

had commenced.

F. Marryat.

To strike

one's colours

to surrender (P.),

T ^5

Jfe

Anastasie was aware of defeat

she struck her colours instantly.

^mmmik^:^m,SSi-fm^fStrike
this,

RL.

Stevemon.

me

bargain was made, and

luck or lucky an old phrase; used when a money exchanged in token of

;

^ij

::fe

5FIJ,

IT

$j

a js m m ^ ^ :^ 1& ig.
Beaumont ^nd

"Come,

strike me luck with earnest, and draw the writings." "There's a God's penny for thee."

j, ?K, 1^

:^

w f m i^ m.^, mmm&.-x^n m.
J

xdetcher.

To

strike a bargain

to

conclude a bargain

(P.)

The

striking of hands was a sign of a bargain being con-

cluded,

WL^;^m,'&m,m^^ w.
;

Mr. Miles answered by offering to bet he should make the best servant in the street; and, strange to say, the bargain was struck, and he did turn out a model servant.

S,

Jlfc

*:

^ ^6

;ffi

H,

-te

^ - fa ir 55 ;t (1 .

Reade.
i

To

strike all of a

heap to astonish,

dumbfounder (F.),

He

was not struck

I ran to Paley and told him what had befallen nipon the house. all of a heap, as I thought he wo^Id be.

SUE
Strike while the iron
opportunity, act
is

hot

do not miss a favofirabie'=

when

the conditions are favourable

' '

Let George cut in and win her, " was his advice.

'
'

Strike while

the iron's hot, you knowr-while she's fresh to the town."

fe ;t 3t Sg H, ^ ^ S ?g So ^ 3R, fi ^ ft ^ B# Thackeray. m:^^mmmmfimm>^A brown study^-a state of mental absorption, a dreamy
Si; jHs
jC,
jlfc

Study

condition of

mind

(P.),

^ ?i

-bfc 'ii!

Jji*

/p

-&^,

i5

He'll poison his patients

some day when he's in a brown study.

F. Marryat.

Sub
Sugar

The Latin form in confidence, of under Rose, ^ Rose. A sugar-plum something very nice (C), ^ iO S;

Sub rosa

secretly (P.)
gij

the rose

see

Stf

For

this pretty toy

Mr. Conway Dalrymple liad picked up a

gilt

sugair-plum to the time of six hundred pounds.

mm^-n-MMiS^.

a. TroUope.

Sup

To sup with Plato

god
existed,

to die (P.)

Pluto was the Latin

spirits of the

of the infernal regions

where the

dead

j^^m It"^^; m^X^^, ikM'S.lt^,

To-night he shall sup with Pluto.

Su;pper

To

set one his supper-^to perform a feat that cannot

(F.), f1= ^f^

be imitated or surpassed

ii^

at ^^

"fi

Sure

As sure

as a

gun certainly,

without

fail (F.), ^>

^;M

He'll Send youja summons, as sure:as a gun.

la

ju.

fti

IS

^ is c ia.

,.

SWE
To be sure certainly, no doubt
(C.)
.

I417]
(^n exclamation

having no decided force or meaning),

Lord, what a

^ -^
S.

i2>

^,

life

mine

is,

to be eore.

Warren,

Surprise

A surprise party a party of friends who appear unex^

pectedly at the house of some one of

theit"

acquaintance,

bringing food with them. This is usually done in the evening, and a dance or other amusements follow. An

American custom, yf

m:t^; ^

il^M'k

:tmm

^J^b

Swallow

One swallow does not make a summer

iSL

we must not
(P.),

^ - m'^ %; m ^ '^ B m^,^-^ mmm:tmm, m m z ^ m. ^ ii m, ^^ mm &^ m

When the Family Culas were about to be executed unjustly, with the consent of all the lawyers and statesmen in France, one man in the. nation saw the error, and fought for the innocent, and saved them; and that one wise man in a nation of fools was a writer of fiction."
' '

frame a general law from one single phenomenon

"One swallow does not make a summer, for all that," M&,^ m:^'m)tsiK{m-"'i>wimy^ ^,yp'i^mm^'bm^^ ^ Am'M

&

Swear

To swear by another to
follower, to
?&,

be his imitator or admiring

admire

all

his actions (C),

?*,
it

^ ^;

^'^^

n II ^ ^, it #.

5it

m ^ m)^- itan-yat.

"I

suppose I oughtn'tto say

before you," observes Miss Smilea

presently, " because of course you swear by everything Briiiish."

^ 4f # ^^ ^ ?f 5E M #
Gilbert smiled.

ilife

&

" The performance was

oneas it looked, I think i mak^s these people swear by Monckton."

not quite such a risky but of course that is the sort of thing t\at

^ M^^B, ^ it if in
^^,
'

Jit

f^@.

1^ ?P

& + 3- ^ ^,

::^

fti

Good Words, 1887.

:[4i8]

SWE
To swear

(of

a magistrate) to engage formally the

for the

services of

men

government

(P.),

^:^m.WM

special constables,

Governor Lanyon is sending Eaaf down with power to swear in and enforce the law at Potchefs* room.

^&mm:^,WinTlknmTo swear like a trooper

ly (P.),

.,

H.R.

Haggard.
free-

mmWLm;mnmm m.
F. Marry at.

to use profane

language

She was perfectly tipsy, screaming and fighting like a Billingsgate flshwoman, and swearing like a trooper.

^ &.
To swear
off
intransitively),

to renounce,, give up (C.) (Often ^,^^,^^,^1^ im).

us.

used

"Will you have a drink with

Jack?"

"No, mate,

have

stvorn ojf (given

up drinking)."
(C.)

To swear out to

renounce, give up

Old-fashioned,

Your grace hath sworn out housekeeping. WBik^myf^ il :ilf^P ^.

Shakspearc.
jfii

Sweat

The sweat

of one's

brow or facehard labour (P.),

till

?F;^X,^^X*,^g(^).
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, unto the ground.

thou return

Genesis, III, 19.

'Tis the sweat of our brow,

Tummus, none

of

'em (them) think

on

(of).

iSlllf,JlfcSSHilJT^;fit,BS^^a.jlfc^. Blachmore.

Sweet

Sweet on

or

upon

attached

to,

having a fancy
said.

for(F.),

"Mark my words, JRawdon," she Sharp one day for your relation."
tS 0,
her, hey?
' '

"You

will

have Miss
SS,

^. ?* ^ IE 36 f, c

*^ir.

:t

H l

H IS M ; ^

ft.

"What relation,my

cousin, hey, Mrs. Bute?

officer.

James sweet on

inquired the waggish

M.^^m^m-^^M-

Thackeray.

SWI
A
Sweet tooth

[419]
and
dainties

liking for sweetmeats

somewhere in

All people with healthy physical appetites liaVe a sweet tooth their heads.
!

W ^ ^ tl m ^ S i IS . A
One's sweet will

ifir.

If :& ai 5t If Miicmillan'k Mag., 1887.

j

uncontrolled wishes, the unrestrained

A
phrase generally used
;

desires of one's heart (C.)

somewhat
If

sarcastically, fl

>&

a ^f s it m)
ings of their

m^-^mm^

^^

:^
.

^ ^ :^, ^

'f|,

m.)

only the idealists can have their way, and work out the yearnown sweet will, we shall soon be a teetotal, vegetarian, and non-tobacco-smoking people.

m M. &m M m m, itm n ^ '^, '^

elegant (F.),
all

fji

m m^, m ^ -^

(quoted in Edinburgh Meview, 1887).

Swell

Swellhandsome,
And
Si >you'll

^ M; ^Jsf # ^(S).
>

show me

see you, won't you?

^ 3R ^ ?* i. u*, -^

your pretty things next time I come to All your swell dresses and bonnets, and so on?
jif

*:a

n"p,

*& ss

in

- +3

A swella man dressed in the height of fashion (F.), ^

m cr;who
To swear at his nephew, however, this careless, sniggering youth, looked and talked like a "swell," would, he felt, be more than
useless.

S,
Swing

JIf

:^ Jt

ffi

Ifi-

Sesant.

To give
to free

full

swing

to

from control

(P.),

M,mMm ix)our senses

j^ SB
?

to indulge freely, to loose, f^^; ^ Wb, M ^^ ^ M^

let

But, "Let us return to Nature;'^ do you mean that we are to give full swing to our inclination, to throw the reins on the neck of

Jgi 515.

Matthevj Arnold.

To have full swingto be allowed free and uncontrolled exercise (P.), Mi^ M M; M m ^W, M % If *, M

[420]
Every one has

SWO
his full swi.ng,- or goes to the devil his

own way.
Hazlitt.

Swoop

At one

fell

swoop
(P.),

catastrophe

in one unlucky' blow, by a siKgle ^g; - # a, - ^ (^).

/f^

jf^

At one

fell

swoop

it

had cleared the sideboard

Of glasses, decan-

ters, silver waiters.

Swop

To swop horses
exchange at a

critical

crossing the stream^-to make an time when all one's energies

(F.),

should be devoted to the business in hand

yf

Sword

At sword's

points

bitterly hostile

(P.),

'MiJll^TJ^U

This the captain took in dudgeon and they were at sword'^.poiuta

at once.

mmAWim:k^,pmmm:^mThe sword
Having
of

n-s.

Dana.

Damocles

Damocles
bj^

was a courtier in was answerHe was

the palace of Dionysius the Elder, ruler of Syracuse.

extolled the felicity of princes, he

ed in the following fashion

robes,

his master.

invited to a sumptuous banquet, and, arraj'^ed in royal

was given the principal

seat

but over his head

hung a sword suspended by

,

a single horse hair.

By

this Dionysius

of

meant to intimate the precarious nature the power and felicity of princes, M^lTJM^'^,

B t; WiB^^m,mm2.~wm,Mmm - m, mum m Mr^^^mm- \^,.m ^ m * ss ^ in

jlfc

&).

it is said to he the Czar's wish that the aged Emperor of Germany's end should be peaceful, and that it is only because he would not that his last moments should be disturbed by the clash of

When

arms, that he desists from action, it will be seen by which the sword of Daniocles is suspended,

how

thin

is

the thread

TAB
ii.

[421]

&.

ffl

^,

:^'<ik

n^ n

5E B*,

m a le ^ s 5,
St.

j^ bj

t^

Andrews' Citizen, 1S87.

To put

to the

sword to

kill (P;),

M.^ SXM;^ 5E,

T.
To a

T exactly (C), m'^;M^,M^f: m).

said I, "there is a pretty show of girlb, that's certain, they wouldn't condescend- to the like of me: I was thinking were some of them thait wouldjust suit^you to a T." ^,
_

"Well,"

^but

fhei-e

^ 5,

1.,

^*

iF-

#,

w ff js m,m^yf^m6^, m ^@
;

& ^ #
The
fool forgets, there is

Haliburton.

an Act oi Parliament,

iand that

we have

complied with the provisions to a T.

IS ii

g
Table

A St sp^ mn^m,mm^mm'Bm^%^^,:^-&
'

iil.

Reade.

To turn the

the reverse the position of two val parties MM>]M^^ ^,M M - ff, =^ - Ut *B K, m K If m HU ^ *B K ;^
tables;
(P.),
JlJJ

riffi

J^ii

fi:,i

JH3

mm.my dear boySj for even at Eugby. A ffew yeare later, when Arnold's manly piety had begun to leaven the school, the tables turned before he died, in the school-house at least, aind I believe in the other houses, the, rule was the other way.
It

was no

light act of courage in those days,

little" fellow

to say his prayers publicly,

?E ir, It ib ^y, fe

^*

m ^ ^^* ^ ^ ^ ia.
i'
514

iiSf

Si

- ,

l^iltf

^M

JiS

ffi

^
A

Hughes.

Table d'hdte^the public dining

French phrase,
I
fjl

table at;a hotel (P.)

(3^) (?*
fi5c)-

jg f 5^

*^^^

was very fond

of dining at table

d'Mle anywhere.
MisUetoi Bough, 1885.

Upon the table-^known to every one, a matter of public

discussiohCP.),

A ^^ ^n; *

^ la, 5^ ;t ma,

[4S2]
;

TAK
I will not, however, take

up the time

of this

I mean your time,

;

by recapitulating all that I told you on that occasion the facts are, so to speak, all upon the table, and I will merely touch upon the main
heads of the case.

BS^

Tag

Tag, rag, and bob-tail

Ragtag,
iX).

^ la

flS

Btlie ill-dressed

S..S. Haggard.

rabble (P.)

See

mX'f; ^ ^m^ Z A, M\^ B'^^^M

and
bob-tail to the wedding.

He
Tail

invited tag, rag,

^mmmAJ;0Lnmmm.
To keep the To turn
tail tail in

VEatrange.

the

waterto thrive,

prosper

(F.),

(a)

to retreat in

an undignified way (C),

tail

"Never thought I should live to turn one soldier to another as they passed out.
So
jlt

in this way, " growled

j1 IB
(b)

-Iti/-

English Illustrated Magazine, 1887.

off, to

to

go

turn back

(F.),

^ *;-%*,

lH

^,

That night two supers turned

tail.

Tailor

Nine

tailors

make

man an

old saying

see Nine,

E M Nine.
Take
To take aback
"A
what
? "

to bewilder, astonish, surprise M;mA m m,^^mm,Mm{X).

asked Hardy rather taken aback.
Kl
1nf (gl.

(P.),

^
had

S S S* K m K,
For, to

Dickens.

hand

in a dead

woman, might take him aback,

as

it

taken me.
Mrs. Henry Wood.

To take back

to recall

words that have been spoken,

to retract (C),

j&m

wi

m;

mm
'
'

m, mmv^m m).

^mmm,^ M ^ ^,M

fg

You were afraid to gothat was the real reason.' "Take that back," I said, "or you will repent it." K S * is ft, fj ^ ::iJ Sfc ff ^, ^ B, Si EP 31
HiJ

SI

%%

B f. S

TAK
To take home to
to
Jael * * did not at her friend's words.

[423]

one's self

comprehend (C), ^D
all

to understand, completely *D ^J, BJ Q, T ^ m).

to herself the peculiar

take

home

meaning

of

To take

after

to resemble, to imitate (P.),

#;

JH, 'W>

Thank God you take

after

your mother's family, Arthur!

mm,m^,ii(m'Hn^M.mi!L.
We cannot but think that he has taken Si^J^l^ilfef-^Wa^^^after a

G.EUot.
good pattern.
Atterhury.

To take the cue to

The
Si
ladies took the cue

understand a hint
and
retired.

(P.),

i#.

:*:

-f-

JK,

^ 3i

ffl

^.

H^eade.

To take

to the road

to

become a highwayman

(P.),

The pewterer was unfortunate in his business and took

to the road.
saia.

mw>miSLit%%,mi^mnmTo take down {a) to humiliate,

g.a.

lower the pretensions

^Mmm mi
lit

of (C),

m.tixi:;MB-&m,m^mm^,m^^
a bit, since that gent at the hall

Our reverend's been taken down

his pipe in the church porch.

iitMISB#^JKf^'ft.M^. A. Jessopp in Nineteenth Century, 1887. "The fact is," went on the other, "that I thought you wanted taking down a peg."

%^ - Am. m m sx^ m mm ^ m.if

fi
'>

'^.

Good Words, 1887.

(6)

to take the place of the scholar higher

up
?!l

in the
/?fe

form.

school phrase,

?!l

fi

# fi ^

;2:

To take flight to

go

off (C),

m^;mm,m^,m^,

^ m m).
My good Matilda,
and, what
flight for
is

am

sick of this.
I

inuch worse,

I have been bored to-night, have been snubbed. Suppose we take

Cannes ?

Qodd Words,

1887.

[424]

TAK
To take

in good part
add one

i6

to tease or receive willingly (P.),

,mm;m m, m m, m m, m m (X).
1 will just
;

little

word, TJtterson,

.that

I'm sure you'll take

let it sleep.
Jit 75^

in good part

this is a private matter,

fr 4* 4. iS

IS r*

^ ^ 16

^m f

and

beg of you to

^ J* as M mm &.

g!

^ ^,

.-

H- L- Stevenson.

To take anything to heart see Heart, ^ To take in hand- see Hand, ^ %^ Hand.
To take hold ofto
seize,

t^ Heart.

occupy

(P.),

tt |g;

ffi,

But there was something

of the letter that took

in the delicate

handwriting and perfume

hold

of

my

imagination.
Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.

To take

in

(a)

to deceive, delude (P.),

^ S; M I?, ^

"At all events, everybody was very hard upon him just because they were taken in," argued Margaret. "If he had acknowledged what they admired so much to have been his own, they would have seen nothing in it to admire." gll ,1: =a= in 0, ;t, ;?: f

a^

M^#A

^^@

^^;?C^;tnTg|-a#^.

James Payn.

Here were two battered London rakes, taking themselves in for a moment,- and fancying- they were in love -with each other like Phyllis and Corydon.
i^
Jib

^S;n A.*, ,^^1f 1,

'-^

-isK

gl

^ li m ^ B if := A, :^^:l:t-fll.
(P.),

B$'

ra

Sc ra. Thackeray.

{h) to escort to

a room

As for Miss Huntley, she rather prided herself upon her immunity from "airs," and would have been quite content to accept Mr. Buswell's arm, had .that person been requested, to take her in to dinner.
.

M i^ tl ^ fg 'h
off
(a)

*a,

fte

*a

:?:

IS

E#^
.

&

1^,

^ ^ A ft *

STr^MSBI^tAUli, fl'J^^|g^^JltA;i^t*fe3^!l
Good Words, 1887.
off,

To take
(P.),

to mock at, to make sport to mimic n fi; mm, WLm,^%m.,m^% (X).

Halihurton.

Taking' off (making iym of) the Factory Ladjes.

^I^X^^jfcA-

TAK
(6)

i^25i

to

murder.

Old-fashioned,

^ ^; ^ W A #
Shakspeare.

The deep damnation

of his taking off.

^UWt:k9?. To take

one's self off(a) to go away (C), 3^

was he when the meal came
to

H;

^F

Sincerely thankful

an end, and

when
a.
thei

Brian, with a

murmured

excuse, took himself off.

Good '.Words, 1887.

The stranger suddenly took himself off, and was no more seen by young lady. ::?: i- m^i^ ^ A, m mm, '^ :t

m^

&

*s

A. TroUope.
(6)

to

commit

suicide (0.),

m m).
"You
you
1^

9 ^;
'

M,

^,

people, the very best thing they can do

call

argue," said Mrs. Wallace, "that, in trie case of wicked is to take themselves off,' as it, since in so doing they do the world a service."
r^

mm n, &n m m m t.m, mta & m^, m ^ ^ w: ^ ^

James Payn.

mmR^AB,mikmnw:A,mi^m&M^,7!r^

To take on
"Dear

to

be affected, to be overcome by one's

ffj
;

feelings (C),

It

'Ft,

:^
so,

J5f

ic, iS

P,

It

tfiE

(M).

heart! dear heart!" cried the squire,

sister;

who

was deeply at-

tached to his
'Sc
-i]]

"don't take on
'
'

my

dear good Joan."

Blackmore.

in

M & ^ ^is

"It
IS

a pity you take on

so.

Miss Briggs," the young lady said,

with a

cool, slightly sarcastic air.

li^

Jib,

js

* *, a bt ^
STf

ii

f^, # ^ It fi
is

B, #-

m"^ 'h

n,^m%
gUrgle(5

"My
*riS

dearest friend

so

ill,

and wo-o-o-on't See me,"

grief.

out Briggs in an agony of renewed

fi

PP ?P

:^F^

"t

^ A

ffi 'f^,

?B

ji- ng 0,

^ g S^ ;^ jl *:, ^ H
feeling.;, to

4(1

&,

Ss;.

Thackeray.

To take

it ill
(P.),

to

be hurt in
;

be grieved or

offended

M Sic'ft ^ %M 'S^M '^MWM m.

,it
ill,

The school boy took

idleness.'

'--'-*

that the teacher reproved

him

tor

[426]

TAK To take in dudgeon take in anger ment ^ ^; # B, If 1$ (^).

to
(P.),

to

show resent-

The governor took it in dudgeon that he did; not receive the customary marks of respect.

To take

it

out

(a)

to take exercise,
;

to

relieve

one's

physical energies (C), If

^ S If #, # M ^ :^ im).

Her limbs were elastic, so that she seemed when she walked as she would like to run, jump, and dance, which, indeed, she would have greatly preferred, only at Newham they "take it out" at
if

lawn

tennis.

flteMifM#&sn, #^^^fi'.^, -io#^0fe^*,lf

(6)

to obtain

an equivalent

for a loss sustained (C).

Harry.

"Can't you keep awake till you have stated your Case?" asked Come, old boy, you can take it out in slumber afterwards.'
' '

K m f^ ^, m r- mm &
SKBi,
.BlKSlffinl-ai.

mm ^ M, ^ M mwtm,
to

m'^Si Besani.

To take it out of a person

exhaust his energies (P.),

So they tried back slowly and sorrowfully, and found the lane, it, plashing in the cold puddly ruts, and beginning to feel how the run had taken it out of them.

and went limping down

"S^

&^^^^Z^.

Hughes.

To take part

to share, act

along with others

(P.),

:^

Take part

in rejoicing for the victory over the Turks.

To take place

to

happen

(P.)

see Place,
gij

^m

Place.

To take by storm
To take stock in
come by one

see Stock,
to secure

Stock.
to over-

by one great effort,

single blow (P.),

Pl^A; ^J^W,

TAK
girls
'

[487]

In face^nd manner and speech she was of those; sweetly innocent who take men's hearts by storm.
4*C.

:t

ilj>

Sf

I? W

1>

^ &

itvs.

H. Wood.

Of course, at my age, I was soon all right again, and going to take the world by storm to-morrow morning.

^ It ?^ ]k Ht % ^.
To take
to

Reade.

to
;

applv one's

self to, to

conceive a liking
Gfc).

for (P.), i& if

tt %,

# * M, BS^

Miss Betsy won't take to her book.

Men of

learning

greater honesty than

who take to business, men of the world.

discharge

it

generally with

^ ^ W ^ ^.
The
squire took
to

Addison.
her very kindly (was very well pleased with her).

mmmiSKm^.
To take
to one's bed

a. xrouope.

to

be prostrated by illness
he took to his bed.

(P.),

It is quite true that at times

"te^HJB^^ilSjcS

lit

It-

Letter quoted in Nineteenth Century, 1887.

To take To take
' '

to one's heels
to task

see Heels,

^ M Heels.
with
(P.),

to reprove, lecture, find ffiult

* ^; li. 15: PI,

I

PI

^,'^U,mm,vkM iX).

only saying what Dr. Cooper has just told me, that Mr. Josceline's life must be counted by hours. There is no hope."

am

K # ^ JS #
"
still,"

SiJ

BS

B,

^ 4, g

-to.

urged Mrs. Armytage, irritated at being taken to task and, as was evident, with the approval of the. company by a lady so " the truth must be told, we are inferior to her in the social scale taught, even of the dead."

^^

tie

&"

James Payn.

To take

too

She knew he was of no drunken kind might take too much.

much to get drunk (C), JS fi; K^ yet once in a way

(il^)-

man

Blackmore.

TAK To takS in tbw conduct, to take charge of

^to

(P.),

fm

Brian stood in the middle- of Pall Mall, shaking his stick at number he took, and causing some interruption to the traffic, until he was courteously, but firmly,' taken in tow by a policeman; who jenaarked that the roadway was intended for wheeled
Sir

the cabman, whose

vehicles

and the pavement

5^ s^
it,

for foot-passengers.

m M, a
IS,

m^

jfe

A,^mK^,^^m.^-A,n mm Good wm-ds, iss-. m k m ^ f? mm^.

m.t.

To take turns

^^to engage in anything alternately, each one in succession being allowed to take part (P.), 5;

I think a good

way

will

be for each of them, even the youngest,

to take turns in ordering the dinner

and seeing

it

prepared.
Besant.

g.

ifB

* 4- IS ^ &

To take up

(a) to

put in

Jail (P.),

witnm,m
they spread
!

For many a time, when they take a

that he's turned informer like the rest.

man up,

it

about

Charles Lever.
(h)

to help, aid, patronize (P.),

^MlW}

W,

ife ffi,

mm,mm(X).
He told his story from the beginning: how he had experienced nothing but failure and disappointment; how he had been taken up by the queer old-fellow at the chop-house, etc.

-(c)

to engross,

comprise

(P.), -&

of

1 prefer in our
cite,

which

is

seven years.
'^ f-

'.perhaps not
fi",

countryman the noble poem

much

inferior to the Iliaa, jonly it takes

Palemon and Arup

^ ^ il A ^ JS W- * Pg M K #.:t if, ^ .^aH, Jk nryoen. n ss w, "^-^mm^m.mn^-h^w^m25.

\

His new duties take up nearly the whole him nothing but his evenings free.

of his time,

and leave

iM

B-

TAK
(d) to

[439]
(P.),

reply to, to interrupt with a criticism

Meantime a shrewd woman was there listening with all her ears, who had vague suspicions about him, and had taken him up rather sharper than natural, he thought, when, being oflf his guard for a moment, he anticipated the narrator, and assumed there were two burglars.
a woman, too,

One

of his relations took

him up roundly,

for stooping so

much

below the dignity

of his profession.

^ *l,

ft

^ ra a E .
occupied, engrossed

L'Eslrange.
(P.),

Taken up wholly

^ flgS-'ftS
^

in

Mr. Fraser did not answer him immediately, so taken up was he noticing the wonderful changes a week had wrought in his ap-

pearance.

;2., Sf:

M It &

lite

*, ft

*^

fiP

^ .

S.R.

Haggard.

To take up the thread ofto commence

discussion of (P.),

again where

a stoppage has taken place, to resume the treatment or

mmM'r^,MM,m^nm(X)fell

Harry possessed a ready sympathy; he

easily

and

at once

into the direction suggested by another's words. Thus, when Angela talked about the Palace he also took up the thread of invention, and made believe with her as if it were a thing possible, a thing of brick

and mortar.

Km^-'mms,is^^i^.mAis,mmm.mw^m
Besant.

To take up arms for to

defend, champion (C),

^ ^;

Miss Smiles takes up arms at once for Mrs. Beverley. P- Marryat. "> *a, BP if aib i *J

AaW

*A

To take upon
to

one's self to venture (in a moral sense),

(P.),
ffl

undertake a responsibility

:;

^^g

^,

[430]
so,

TAL
"Well, well, well!" he murmured. "But it doesn't do to say you know, Mr. Segrave. At timea, I confess, he appears to me to take too much upon him."

Good Words,

1887.

The parliament took'upon them to settle some church questions.

call

an assembly

of divines, to

To take a man
(P.),
If I

at his

word

to believe

what he says
It

H^srfnft^^jJKJlB
ilJ
-t^a

^ A,

(X).

should decline all merit, it was too probable the hasty reader might have taken me at my word. SS

^ a f? f JS S fs ^.
fiS

;&

Iij

/fii

;t

;?c

*B

* W S ra # ^ af 1
,

"BT

Goldsmith.

To take a telling to
ly (c),

receive advice or a rebuke patient-

mm;m^>%m,mn m.
He
is

He

won't succeed.

too proud to take a telling.

-ftfei^-tflK^, -ftfeiij^Sii, :^fctllifiii.

Valk

To talk a person's head

to

oflF

to be excessively talkative,
'^%;^^,^
a,

weary another with talking (C),

MM'^^,mm^i,m^^m Kmm. m).

nr
'f9

I only hope, Heigham, that old Pigott won't talk your head off; she has got a dreadful tongue.

&

H. R. Haggard.

To talk a person up

to cajole

words, to persuade a person to

a person -with flattering do some action (P.), ~f

I sent for Mr.

Flamborough.^and they talked him up as

'

finely aa

they did me.

^fflif*lcfil'?K,

^Sllftili#6a^^.
by talking,
!, li

Goldsmith.

To talk over
to

to induce a person change his opinion by talking with him (P.), HJ

Jl

to persuade

ll :^

m,

;& 1^ i& *a
m

35:

i&, il

% ^

Sc

^& iX). Miss Kennedy looked embarrassed. She had betrayed herself, she thought. "I knowI know. But he talked me over." s M ^ 'J- sa ^. )w, s* ^ , s ^ ^ a P, 0, 16 *n,

BS

Tandem

TAN [431] T6 drive tandemto drive a coach to which the horses

are harnessed one in front of the other,
l?y side (P.),

and not

side

BM^-iI-^^.^ iX).
^^i^^Athenaeum, 1887.

He had already given up driving tandem. iaBIS?f:4$Il!lWffi 15

Tangent

Off at a tangent
edly
(C.)

This phrase is used of quick and sudden movements, where a person breaks away unexpectEspecially used of conversations,

^,

^ M t, gS?a ^ *, ^^ M ^ M, m) ii^m &. mn-^ mm 1^ ^).

P
own
#,
sayings and doings. IS

fH^M^^;
2S:

life

Slie could scarcely say ten words, except about herself; so when Bassett questioned her about Sir Charles and Lady Bassett she said "Yes," or "No," or " I don't know," and was off at a tangent to

her

^T

E * ^ ^ P >t tl il M i.

'bl

#,

;S

a E^^

ll

-fife

PT-^;

K EP ^ n a

ife

&

a ;t S" .

^^ade.

Tantalus

A Tantalus cup a cup in which the water vanishes as

soon as the thirsty person attempts to drink (P.) (Tantalus was a tyrant, who for his many crimes was tortured in the infernal regions by having water ever at his As soon as he tried to drink, however, the water lips. slowly receded, and left him dry with thirst), ||;
.a
7jc

:=?#!:,

A 7% M mm,nm^i^ %
^.
i^

^^

m in

^ # - m t^, m IP 7K a
;

fig

# ^ &).

Nothing occurred to interfere with the plan of action decided on by Hilda and Philip no misadventure came to mock them, dashing the Tantalus cup of joy to earth before their eyes.
H|J^i,4feliaa:-f|5t:;2:*f, :^MIt.^llfe-fii-

H. R. Haggard.
(F.),

Tantrum

In one's tantrumsin a bad humour

^^M.,Wl

W A (S).
When
Van
Siever

he

saSv Dobbs Broughtbn he had been in her tantrums.

told that gentleman that Mrs.

A. Trollope.
'.'

What, you are in your tantrums again!"

said she.

[433]
Tape
Tapis

TAS
Tape
or

Red tape see

Red-tape,

hI}

Eed-tape.
is

On the

tapis

for carpet),

(Tapis under discussion French 1^ MMM^,Ml^ t^,lE:^MWi,MR,

(P.)

Well, as
it will

my engagement to Lady Catherine is still on the tapis, be as well to assume that I did not (give her a chance of marBough, 1885.

rying me).

^ JS IT
seems to
in

-lil-

Mistletoe

The Schleswig-Holstein question comes on the

tapis,

and no one

know much

of

anything about the place geographically.

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

2fc

^ M ^ #

Tarred

Tarred with the same brush or stick possessing the same peculiarities, marked by the same qualities (C),
iD

m-

i^,

- ^ M M,

in Hi

-^

(IS

As a sample of the self-trained and self-educated amateur, he was, however, tarred with the same brush as John Lawrence.

-tfi,.

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

all

"We are

tarred with the

same

stick-

we women.
JReade.

Tartar

To catch a Tartar

to capture what proves to be a troublesome prisoner, to seize hold of what one would afterwards willingly let go (P.),

M:^%f&l^M;^

Which might end in our catching a Tartar. f6 ^ SUS. , 3S! a? JK SI ti jSC^t: -a &.
jlfc

Wilson.

Keckless Beginald soon found he had caught a Tartar in his

master.

new

JJE

*l,

:^[C

ffi

5c

4c

Eeade.

Task

To take

to task

to reprove, find fault

with

(P.),

^Ml

Mrs. Baynes took poor madame severely to task for admitting such a man to her assemblies.

mmm^A<mm>f^^iiL:Sim,^mtmp3,m&&A,m
iHJKISS.,

Thackeray.

TEL
Tattoo

[433]

The

Tea

see Devil, % |5 Devil. A storm in a tea-cup a petty squabble, a disturbance

devil's tattoo

marked by much
16,

noise but of no importance (C), A^

^ ^ J :S & mi
all

For

that, his sympathies

had been
little

recent squabble.

What

a ridiculous

entirely with her in the storm in a tea-cup it was!

he thought with a laugh.

7b

'h^Mii^,^vi'&^Mdrunk
(s.),

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

A tea fighta social gathering where tea is the beverage

^m.;^mmM,'^mm-

Teen

In one's teens
He
(the great

between the ages of 12 and 20

(C),

Cond6) was a ripe scholar even in his teens, as the

Latinity of his letters proves.

"

Edinburgh Review, 1887.

TeU

To

tell

on

or

upon

to affect, influence (P.),

^ ^ S.

His previous exertions had told on

his constitution.

mmS&^S ^'H^t^mMi.m'^.MI^^lk^^Quarterly Review, 1887.

"Pull yourself together, Bradshaw," said the lawyer. suspense, I know, is telling upon all of you."

"This

# A. it 'g'.^ S!
To

tii-

^- ^- Stevenson.

tell ofi" to count separately, to

fft,

number in order (P.),

tf
-

^ tf; *
several tasks,

- - tf ^, ^ tf,

ifi

ifi

3-

(3it).

But one day after chapel, as the Eobinson recognized the boy by

men were

being told off to their

his figure.

To

tell tales

out of school

to repeat in public

what

has passed in the vate matters (P.),

company

of intimates., to reveal pri-

nM^L^; ^^rW^fl^, i>\-^,

went on,

"Look
us and see

here, Dnflliam," he

"we want you to

tell tales

go with

somebody; and to undertake not to

it
<lr

out of school."

S JS

;ft, ;?:

M ?a SH.

Mn. Henry Wood.

TER
Temper
Go<i tempers the wind to the shorn lamb- GJd makes misfortunes bear lightly on the feeble (P.) (A.

French saying

of

which Sterne has made

use),

5ciCtl

:^" You are very kind," saidMrs. Crawley. " We must only bear with such fortitude aa God will give us. We are told that He tempers the wind to the. shorn lamb."
it

S
Ten,

'fi

Ja

, SS

^ W ra ig ?c SI M A.

S&

-ffi-

A. TroUope.
j

Ten

to one

ten chances
-^^

certainly (C),

^UA ^ A ^r^U % ^
upon the
title

to one,

almost certain, almost

Whenever the reader

lights

which Fox had waded

through so much to earn, it is ten to one that within the next halfdozen lines there will be found an allusion to the gallows.

Trevelyan.

,,

One often thousand

an exceptionally excellent person

She did not know that she herself was a woman of ten thousand. She spoke believing herself to be a common type of humanity.
*!
>1

^ as 3 :^.
or

James Payn.

The upper ten

highest

ten thousand
society
(P.),'

those moving in the

be bound, the upper
ten)^

M A :Z ; 1.^ W:-^, j^mAmimi^wc^nm^mw(X).

London
But
it will

to tens of thousands (including, be utterly unknown.

I'll

James Payn.

Tenter-

On tenterhooks in
:iF

a state of discomfort or agony

(3t).

(P.),

hook

^,-

it,

^ ti, ^ , in ^ if E
it

must say

I should like to have

settled as

soon as possible, be-

cause it keeps a
Sl

man on tenterhooks, you know-^and feeling like a fool.

-til.

A>

jHs

* f ^
;

F. Marryat.

Term

On good

or excellent

S *i # mm *B i,^

terms
iff
,

friendly,
W:^ (^).

intimate

(P.),

THA
I

[435]
Reade.

am

not on good terms with Sir Charles.

5f:

^ ^ it W m E
He

*i #. '

On termsfriendly

(P.),

^M;^m {%).
set.

wasn't on terms with Flashman's

^mn-^tcm,^^^mTo come to terms^^to make ^, ^,

a bargain
(P.),

Hughes:

)S

m-mmm.

^;

When

George returned to the farmer, the

latter,

who had begun

to fear -the loss of a customer,

came

at once to terms with him.

jaS

^. "The Manor House

Reade.

does not belong to me."

"So I understand; but I should think you could come to terma with your brother."

^m^,^^&.fi
Terra
Terra firma dry land m{X). [!4T].
their stalwart

if

ti

iRi -%

Ji la

-s-

-a.

Good Words, 1887.

(P.)

[Latin]

"Mill;

^M,m

Another foaming breaker supplemented by a vigorous shove from arms sends their unwieldy craft up high and dry, and the spray-splashed passengers can step out on terra firma.

Scribner's Magazine, 1887.

Tete

A tete-k-tte a confidential conversation (C.)

but

[French],

" You will forgive me, Philip, for interrupting " may I ask what is the meaning of this ?
"sr

your t6te-&-tte,

jifc,

* # K s^-^^
one's tether
;fT

Philip returned no answer.

Tether

miJ'^^To the end of

proceed (C),

Saggard.
is

^J

^;

as B ^J @

far as
JlH,

one

able to
(Ua).
tether

-^

K 0f IS Jl
end
of

I tell you plainly I have gone pietty well to with you.

thts

my

Thank

Thanks

to this this
Jib

is

the cause, the result

is

due to

this (P.), ap

^wi,;Wt^mm wwl, mmm^ [X)-

[436]

THI
If we are to believe the book, thanks to the American social system, she had a series of wonderful escapes from ill-considered matches.

mm,^,^^T-ki^&.mf&^There Thick
All there see
All,

Edinburgh Beview, 188g.

^ M AIL.

Through thick and thin

daunted by nothing
(P.),

through
him

every

obstacle,

^a^igflilJ;MSiiL
in swearing to himself

The

first

dawn

of

comfort came to

that he would stand by that boy through thick

and

thin,

and

.cheer

him, and help him, and bear his burdens.

Thick-skinned

not
be

sensitive, not easily

rebuked

(P.),

"Ah! you wouldn't

if

you saw Annerley Hall," returns the

baronet, too thick-akinned to recognize a rebuff.

iit

n :f m

iU

& ^.

F. Marryat.

Thin

To run thin to

seek release from a bad bargain

(F.),

Thing

The thing
'

exactly

right, just

what ought
means

to be (F.),

'

You

are not at all the thing (by any

as well as

you

ougljt

to be),

my darling boy," said Mrs. Sharp to Christopher. Blc^kmore. S^AiSS*t'fb0,}ft:;?:ftlS.

the thing, he was energetic enough.
All the Year Sound, 1887.

Where energy was

To know a thing or two

to be wise or

cunning

(F.),

"Mr. Levi," said he, "I see you know a thing or two; will yon be so good as to answer me a question ? " %n,mmm,m^^%^~--^m^M.'&^-r<^'s. Reade.

Thingumhob

Thingumbob, thingumebob, thingun^my or thingamy a word used to replace a name that is forgotten (F.) (' "What d'ye call him ? is soin^etimes .usediii

'

this way),

m;mm,mm,-'.m B T

mm^

if:).

THI
"Make
escape;

[437]
"he won't

we

shall

your mind easy," replied Mr. Miles calmly, have him before the day is out."

" Will

you, sir ? that

is

rightbut how 7 "

"The
it."

honourable thingumbob,

Tom Yates'

friend,

put us up to
Heade.

miC%m,1immW!.li..
There was Mr. So-and-So and Mrs. Thingamy.

^^m&^^A.
Think

Wilson.

To think better of it
don a
You
resolve (P.),
will

gS:

to change one's mind, aban^; ^ tf. tf (^)to

Hfl
3fe

think better of your determination.

ZHckem.

mn'S.^m:i^" I said plainly that I will not marry him."

"I know you did, my dear, but Mrs. Garniei* and I fancied you might have thought better of it."
ft -a.
-P.

Marryat.

To think no end of a person

opinion of his character
(F.),

to

haye a very high

^ fi; j i& M, |^ S, 4^

He thinks no end of his new

groom.

Thirty

Thirty-nine Articles the statement of the doctrines of the Church of England which every clergyman must sign (P.). (Theodore Hook when asked if he was ready
to

sign the Thirty-nine Articles, replied flippantly

if

"Yes, and forty

you wish"),

H+

jft.

ft

PI;

g|

izg

+ ^ 5F ^, M cH H +

:fL).

Mr. Punch, like the Thirty-nine Articles.

jjtii.

Theodore Hook, had not any great reverence

for

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

[438]

Thomas

A very
(P.)

THR Thomas an unbehavirig,

(The disciple of our Lord

incredulous person
bore that

who

name

refused for a time to believe in Christ's resurrection.

See the Qospel of St. John,

XX, H,^^,'^M^,^i

^ ^ zi + , - + H, - + S

fii).

Moreover, when he sees the look :of hair and the love-letter and perhaps there may be other discoveries by the time he returns ^he must be a very Thomas not to believe such proof.

Thorn

^ H i. To sit on thorns
of

James Payn.
see Sit,

grj

Sit.

A thorn in the side

annoyance
(P.),

or

the flesha perpetual source

m^- 1t^;
a thorn in the

MM^^, ^ B,^
flesh.

There was given

to

me

mm.&.m^^^Sir Charles

st.Paui.

demurred.

"Oh,

I don't

want

to quarrel with the-

fellow ; but

he

is

a regular thorn in

my

side,

Thousand

S S6 ?^ * ^ S6 PF 3c # Ui. A thousand and one a very

JiJ,

Reade.

large
;

number, an

in=f"

numerable

collection (P.),

::fc

=F^

'E ?^

^ ^>

"f"

B",

The servant girl entered, bringing a slip of paper upon a salver, the name, no doubt, of one of those thousand and one persona wh were now always coming to ask permission to see the manuscript.
Ji ^ * ^ - '> M, Is as if A 2E. A ^ 19, !a * B# B# ii 11 ^ i^ #.
ffi

^-f

Jit ;A:

=p ?K

?15 jHj,

James Payn.

Thread

^ g^ Hang. To take up the thread ofsee Take, ^ Take.

To hang by a thread
see

Hang,

Iti

Through

Through hands finished,

executed (C),

MV-;M%f

"reach

"And now," continued the butler, addressing the knife-boy, me a candle, and we'll get this through hands at once."
R. L. Stevenson.

SiMV-^-

THR
Throw
To throw the great
ciast^-to venture
.take.a stiep of vital iiiijiortance (P.),

[439]
everything, to

W ^ M ^'> ^ mm, ^ urn -Mi-^ mmmwzM (%)

In a word, George had thrown the great
ca$t.

"^

iflSl-,

^SBf^ma^-1!^.
the eyes of-^see Dws<,

Thackeray.

To throw di^st in, To throw the handkerchiefto

wife, to choose a wife (C.)
-

^ t^ Dust.
^

m.,mm,m it, muM,mmin M,m ^ m m) m

pretty

women

select a woman for a (The Sultan is said to select for his hai-em in this fashion), 'f^;

Presently he looted up, probably for the return of Davey, and perceived her waving her handkerchief toward- him a signal which, the female oracle of the "Ultramarine" would have reprobated exceedingly;, to her it would seem only one step short of "throwing the handkerchief."

Bf

-Iffi

IftI

ig

JiB

H,

1st

^ BJ *t^
falls

?R

^,

1.

Iftl

mm^m^iS,^,m^-f<S%Her highly-flattered mother

James Payn.

straightway in love with him, and he might have been encouraged to throw the handkerchief at once, had the frivolous Alice been equally impressionable.

nit, ;=r^ *.

* ^ a* :^ ^ ^ n,.iL. Bum&m^.
Edinburgh Review, 188S.

To throw the handle

the
little

which remains
:

after the blade to one (C),

^^^MW ^

to

lose

even

The question is Will you at all better yourselves by having now one of your hot fits, speaking with promptitude and energy, and, in fact, going to war ^ith, Kussia for what she has done? Alas, my dear friend, this would be throwing the handle after the blade with a
vengeance.
36 m K W, nJ ^, ^ ^ *:. S^:^ # ^ * Arnold. ^ -aTo throw dirt or mud atto abuse, speak evil of (C),
j^ .

jlfcBgSK?*J^S#3feiiSM^H, Ji^as^iirr^
^,
SB 1%
'It 'K,

^;f

1^ SS

id? 3fe

^^-

Then throw dirt at the plaintiff. He is malicious, and can be proved to have forsworn himself in Bassett v. Bassett.
:

11

E ii ^ E a

[440]

THR
A woman in my position must expect to have
at her than a less important person.

more mud thrown

nfllimmm&^.
To throw
man)
i6,
to

F. Manryat.

show a man that she

rfij

one's self at or at the head of(of a wois eager to receive a pro-

posal of marriage (C), Wi

^ ^ tt ^, E (*i ^ A

^ T^^m^tM) ^ B^ m) (m
throw themselves
at a

As

for the girls, Claire, they just

man.

&.
They say that unless a
men's heads she
SI
.
-ffi/.

BesarU.
girl fairly

throws herself at the young

isn't noticed.

S. B. HowelU.
(in Harper's

Mag., 1887.)

To throw over to abandon,

ledge
(P.),

to cease to aid or

acknow-

mm;-SLm,^m,'^^ mlet
if you're going to throw us begin fair."

"Look
tell

here, Musselboro;

me

over, just

me i

so,

and

- if

^ i..
to

"I'm not going

with you."

throw you over, I've always been on the square

A. Trollops.

i6M^IISg.it,^^#iJttt*.
They say that he is engaged to a her over for the widow.
i..
girl in

England and has thrown

H. R. Haggard.

To throw stones

to find fault

with other people

(P.),

There is an old proverb about the inexpediency of those in glass houses throwing stones, which I always think that are in society) would do well not to forget.

who live we (who

A)^;f:,^ffa^^^^*,|ti7X^;?C;fe.

F. Ilarryat.
;

To throw *, ii
"What
duty?"

up to
(3fc).

reject, cast off (P.),

|fi

?E

i,

^
my

do you mean. Lady Bellamy, when you talk about

TIC

[441]

" I mean the plain duty that lies before you of marrying your cousin George, and of throwing up this young Heigham."
BB
ffi

jUs

* l& ja Ji &

H-R-

Saggard.

To throw up the sponge

see Sponge.

flil

Sponge.
to,

Thumb

Under the thumb of completely

subservient

quite

under the control and direction of (C),

(!&

A^@

^^A,mA^%
plain,

Your cousin Greorge is very fond of a pretty woman, and, to be what I want you to do is to make use of your advantages to get him under your thumb and persuade him into selling the property.

H. R. Haggard.

From the death of Louis XI. female influence was constantly on the increase, and we may designate the century from 1483 to 1589 with the exception of Louis XII' s reign as the era of the ascendency of women and favourites. The kings were either nobodies or were

under the thumb of their wives or mistresses.

=P ra
-ff

A + H , sS - T A
"ff

-t-

:^

iHs -ff

PbI,

^ S& ^

>f^^,

SS)J&fle1^^il^^'&-

National Review, 1887.

"If you think I'm going to be afraid of Mother Van, you're Let come what may, I'm not going to live under her thumb." So he lighted his cigar.
mistaken.
in

* a ^ is

5ffi

ia s:

iJ ?*

^ ^, la ^

I6r,

g6

JE^ :t> s^.

To
Tick

bite one's

thumbs

at

to

show contempt

for (F.),

On tick on
' '

credit, not paid for (F.),

^;

lit,

ifSr

Won' t you be tempted now 7 " he added to Susan

Potter.

She

laughed.

"Not with these things. I should never hear the last of Potter found out I went on tick for finery.
liil,

it if

tSE

W li 5S 1*

H ^-

^^-

s-

^oo<i-

There are few, I guess, who go upon tick as much as we do.

5)SiiaA*nS^#^4^^^ifc^

Saliburton.

[443]

TIL
To tick offto mark
separately after examination (P.),

He would drop suddenly upon his cousin J.Oseph us, and observe him faithfully entering names, ticking oflf and comparing, just aa he had done for forty years, still a junior clerk;

igj

^*

'

Bl'-

JBesant.

Ticket

To go any
American

ticket

^to

vote

for "any cause (F.)

(An

political phrase),

M^l ^M,^W>^^
they'll

Yes, I love the Quakers.

hope

go the Webster
\m'i

ticket.

Haliburton.

Ticket-of-leave
(P.),

the name applied to convicts who

ticket-of-leave

are

allowed their liberty on condition of good behaviour

^m :t\& m, Mc 1^ ^ ^ m n :tm A
dangerous parties.

(^)-

They found themselves outlaws,

will in that line: in short,

men, or what you

That's the ticket- -you have done the right thing, that's well done (S.), ^

* IE ^

(ffi).

Tide

To

tide over

to surmount a

difficulty

temporarily

(P.),

m^;mm'A^,m-^m mm.
Such questions as these are sometimes very anxious ones in a remote country village where every pound spent among the inhabitants serves to build up that margin outside the ordinary income of the wage-earners, and which helps the small occupants to tide over many a temporary embarrassment when money is scarce.

^m Sim % m - ^ '^m:r.m '^'^ ^9[; si'm,^ m^m,m

^
Tile
ife

sf

jiiii

Hj,

=&

^ {# 2. a B)
:^ )&
as

'> fe, i sfc ii &. Nineteenth Century, 1887.

A tile loose something wrong with the brain,

dered brain
(S.),
;

a disor-

jp$

M
is 7

"i^

iL,

flS

f5

^,

# ^,

Do you

think I

am

mad

aa

he

Attack a
tile

man who has just

breakfasted with me, merely because he has a

loose ?

TIM
Time

[443]
(P.),

At timeboccasionally

ft

^;

^ ^, JS Jl, M ^,
:

She knew that at times she must be missed.

In no time
IS:

En,

M ^ It, m ^ pi (m).
listened a

verjr quickly,

with great speed

(F.),

P| BB;

They
slipped
bolted.

down

moment, there was no fresh sound. Then Brutus the front stairs in no time he found the front door not
;

From time

to

time at intervals (P.),

^ B#; ^ BS,

^"

She lived with them entirely, only visiting her grandmother from time to time.

m^^#^raM,m'a#ggS:|ie:ifBB- MmAmten. In time (a) after a season, when some years have passed(P.),

Ji?^;^^^,

^jef.(3fc).
to resolve that they should both

Emma
come
,

was now in a humour

in time.

Jib B3f

^ ^ * ig ,S ft ^ r M A iK # HI 3K

lil-

Mus

Austen.

fi'))

punctual or punctually, not behindhand

(P.),

Impey posted back to Calcutta.to be in time for the opening of term.

To have a good time to

American
It

enjoy one's
'ft

self (C.)

(An
(i^)

phrase),

^ ^; T^

S M, ^m,Wi^
ffil

was

also largely

ing,

who seemed bent on making

i(P^

due to the vigilant politeness of young Haverher have a good time.

?e 5,

i!>

2.

H li S fd,

ffl

<^ 1S :t J IM
ffowells.

* i.

H. D.

(In Harpe>:'i Mag. 1887).

American, when he has spent a pleasant day, will tell you a good time. that he has had B ^.^ 'K }S T H, I'J iC!i a, JS 5i B9 A. Trollope.

An

'

'

-Mm^

^A

To have a much (0.) m. Si

real good time

to enjoy one's self very

m m, mm, m m ^ ai m) m ^).

(An American

phrase), IS

^;

::fe

^ Jg, -^

[444]
How
you
:*:

TIM
will enjoy
it,

I guess

you'll

have a real good time, as

1&. iKf> ;*: 1* F. Marryat.

our cousins say.

*J

is,

iSi

11 i*

# Sn S6 ^ iL I& W S,
(P.),

For the time being

season or occasion only

mm.
It is the leading

temporarily, for the particular M 1^ # ^ Bt> "^ ^

;

1^)

boys for the time being who give the tone to all either a noble institution for the training of Christian Englishmen, or a place where a young boy will get more evil than if he were turned out to make his way in London streets, or anything between these two extremes.
the
rest,

and make the school

Time out

of mind from a remote date, as long as any one can remember (P.), 3!^;^^'R^,lS'P?n;S

Having, out of friendship for the family, upon whose estate, Heaven I and mine have lived rent free time out of mind, voluntarily- undertaken to publish the Memoirs of the Rack-rent Family, I think it my duty to say a few words, in the first place conpraised be
!

cerning myself,

i,SF,?a.*Sr1H:,i6ifit:5fcil^f, i(PS3-i.^;f)lM*..
M. Edgeworth.

To take time by the forelock make no unnecessary delay (P.),

^ |^

to act
jfjj

promptly, to

S&

^ ^, S

Now sir, it's got to come to blows sooner or later; and what I propose is, to take time by the forelock, as the saying is, and come to blows some fine day when they least expect it.

jR.

L. Stevenson.

Timeo

Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts. A line from the Latin
poet Virgil, signifying that an

enemy

is to

be feared

even when he appears friendly,

jgj.

Kf

;?:;

ss Kf it

A ;t 15 fl, ai '^

SSiJA^I^/?^
i85

M S 15 ?^

TIP

[445J

WAm^m:t.m,mmAm^>^^m,M=mw
"Come
in here, there's a good fellow, I

want to speak

to you."

" AVhy is he so infernally genial?" Danaos et dona ferentes.

'

reflected Philip.

"Timeo

If.

H. Haggard.
(il)-

Tin

Tin-money

(S.),

1k^;

^=f',

^,n ^ %

"Monstrous nice girl, 'pon my honour, though, Osborne," he was good enough to add. "Lots of tin, I suppose, eh ? "

Tip

m.%^&iM. To tip the wink to

Thackeray.

give the signal

(S.),

g? &. Bt IS;

For without putting on his fighting face, he calmly replied that he had seen Mr. Metaphor tip the wink, and whisper to one of his confederates, and thence judged that there was something mysterious on
the carpet.

A,

ll6

# Sa fe, ^ ^ SS ^B H,
tip of one's

* II

ifc

fa

iiiJ

nr

;i

* 5on

Smollett.

On the

tongue

ready
to say

to be uttered,

the point of utterance (C),

P Hiffi^g-^Ji,
where
I

wliiJCI

It

Jellico.,

had been on the tip of my tongue and the trade he was doing.

had

just seen

j(

^ |g.
Mary Wells ran
in,

Mrs. Henry Wood.

with an angry expression on the tip of her

jfe

tongue.

^M
To
tip

Sff

?iJ

55 1" iS

A,

iffi

n^
to

l",

B ig

iiJ

^ ^.
Reade.
(S.),

up^to pay money,

open one's purse

^
my

" I should have liked to

to his friend in confidence,
'

make her
'

little

present," Osborne said

only I

am
-ttfe

quite out of cash until

father tips up.

^,

^ Wf js * ^ 0, ^ 'g * M S ^ 5i *& i6 ^ ?R -^ t6
Si

ss nia, miE :& n^ ^ s

Tliackeray.

ill

a|,

;2. -tti-

[446]

TOK
To
tip one's fin-to hold out one's

hand

to

shake

(S.;,

Tit

Tit for tat

'
'

something given in return, just

!

retaliation

Tit for tat

tit for tat

'

! ' '

they cried

' ;
'

Squire,

you began

it,

and

you have your due.

Blackmore.

To

To and

fro

backwards and forwards

(P.), ffi 335

tu

^.

to

and

Speckled spiders, indolent and fat with long security, swing idly fro in the vibration of the bells.

A to-do a commotion, a noise and confusion (P.), ^ S]

His mother, inside the vehicle, with her maid and her furs, her wrappers, and her scent-bottles, made such a to-do that you would have thought she never had been in a stag:e-coach before.
:i.

m,M.^m'^^^mMmM,m^light fantastic dancing (F.),

ahackeray.

Toe

The
to

toe a
trip at

phrase used with reference

i"^)

U^'M^M^
a,s

imU ZM).
MiUon.

Come, and

you go,

On

the light fantastic toe.

^^nn,m^M^.
To

toe the mark to be careful in one's conduct (F.), -^ til iTji; ii It jt, /j> i&, -^ (w. what I am! I'll make you toe the mark, every Now you know

nm
for?

mmn

soul of you, or I'll flog

you

all,

and

aft,

from the boy up.

*^f!fF^^.llSS*&,:7:.^-^a).3E-S;i. H. E.Dana.

Token

By

the same token

moreover, likewise, nay more

(C),

hou^e,

Why, 1 caught two of their inflammatory treatises in this very By the same token, I sent them to the executioner at Marwith a request that he would burn them publicly.
'T, !. ^.

seilles,

ffi.

M.

MM^ZJif m

^ ^ ;^ ^.
;

lieMe.

More by token moreover, in truth (C), Rn B.

JK

I'J

(M)-

fON

[447li

Whether it were St. George, I cannot say; but surely a dragon was killed there, for you may see the marks yet where his blood ran down, and more by token the place where it ran down is the easiest way up the hillside.

^
Tom

ifil

ii ,

^,

lU

ffi

i &.

^^ KliiK i. -K *

fiP jlt

nr

^i

RS

J.

fit

iK . It, Hughes.

Tom, Dick, and Harry

the multitude (C),
But

ordinar}', insignificant people, M ^S W^ ^l^SS H ^ M, ^ ^ A,

Army ? "
Tom,
B.
it.
lie

all
-ifi:

are not preachers and captains in the Salvation

m I*
:?:

;i

A,

* ^ g
iS^

65

A t* ft
are,

flK.

"No; there is Dick, and Harry."

my
iC'c

cousin Dick.

We
ifn

very properly,
'>

& ^m
ffi

JL

*K

*,

ffi^

ITS

BesarU.
If that girl isn't in love

girl

with you she is something very like does not pop over like that for Dick, Tom, or Harry.
;t.
;?c

Tommy

BP IS * y M *tt K s*; *M ^ 5* i$ i /L * ? ft -t H. R. Haggard. m^^-^^a.HSmmSWl^Mi^. Tommy Atkins the typical British private soldier (F.),

The Commanding Officer at Woolwich Garris6n order forbidding soldiers to be seen carrying children In the privacy of his house Tommy Atkins may still, I his baby in his arms, but beyond the domestic circle the parent in the soldier.

has issued an in the street. suppose, hold

he must sink

^,
Jti

a gS . ^ SS 4-, fi # * W^ fe/h ^ * 5t gg "X, ' * ii M~B#; -^ -* js 5a ^ ^ ^, # a ^ 3g ^ ^ A ^

^
IS :
Jif ,
ff-

?f:

s; *4

fij iJ:

>?,

fl'J

jy:

fit.

Andrews

Citizen, 1887.

Tongue

With
And

the tongue in the cheek

mockingly,
*f^
z^iM).

insin-

cerely (C),
if

mm-, ^ K

ffi,

ffi

statesmen, either with their tongue in their cheek or with a fine impulsiveness, tell people that their natural taSte for the bathos is a relish for the subUme, there is more need to tell them the contrary.
*n

* fl

Sfc

A,

tSl

A K ^ la # ^ If S, it /> ^ if ^ ^ ^
Matthew Arnold.
silent (P.),

-&F^>*BlS*Ji"nr-&. To hold the tongue to be

'Tis

^ !; M
tongue.

D,

seldom seen that senators so young

Di-yden.

Enow when to speak, and when to hold their ^> i^ ^ ^ ;^. 18 * H K a f S, *n

Jlfc

[448]
Tooth
Tootli and nail
ly (P.),

TOO

exerting every energy,

' '

violently, fierce-

)k^mm;mij,m^,mm,^m,^m.
the verbiage,
fall
little
' '

She would then ignore

the public singer, calls
it,

as ihat intellectual oddity,

and
a

tooth and nail upon the musical

composition, correcting

it

peevishly.

t- S !,

li

316 jC>

a a*

i^ 1^

#,

BB

?ic

.,

^ ^ :^ i 2. EReade.

There are men that roll through life, like a fire-new red ball going across Mr. Lord's cricket-ground on a sunshiny day; there is another sort that have to rough it in general, and, above all, to fight, tooth and nail for the quartern loaf, and not always win the battle.

A,

- -w * If s IS *t AT,
,

BB

jj

n
hi]

g,

a ja ja i^ ^
Beade.

^^^.riS^"Sr##.

A sweet tooth see Sweet, ^

In the teeth of
(P.),

Sweet.

(a)

in direct opposition to, in spite of

m:mKm;um,^^mm (X)

fly antagonistically in the teeth of circumstances, bent on following our own resolute path, we take ourselves out of God's hands and must reap the consequences.

But when we

^.
prevailing ill-fortune of the family.

Mrs. Henry Wood.

Grace Crawley's fortune was made in the teeth, as

it

were, of the

A.
(&)

Trollope.

in presence of, with something right before one

(P.),

fiy

iS

^,

# ^, ^
knew what

ffi, ff.

^f

(X).
of so

The
message.

carrier scarcely

to

do in the teeth

urgant

a.

Blackmore.

most people's opinion, a very estimable man, but he had the talent by no means a despicable one of maintaining his personal dignity in the teeth of tlio most adverse circumstances.
in

He was not,

;&
;i-

;!-

IS, SI

^ iJ X ^^

4!-

^ ft ii ^ a# ^, ^ # &.
.It

3r>

:7c if& 3ic ^ 3-, Kfg i Murray's Magazine, 3887.

&

TOP
To throw anything in
with anything
(P.),

[449]
one's teeth

to

reproach one

m fn iX).
You've got the
too, that she
girl,

B ^i ^ M
it

B,

m ^ 'M^.m M

and we must keep her: and keep her well

in your teeth that she has

may

not be able to throw

made "such

sacrifices" for you.

'
'

She was

ill,

and she gave you a

letter for

me.

Where

is it ?

"

I confess that the first part of your information is true, Mr. Euthven, though I don't know why an act of benevolence should be thrown in my teeth, as if it were a crime.'
' '

i -#,

M g 5: ^, S; i m ;i ^,

12 5*
ffl

;;f
1
i

3i 1

JSr

IS,

- ^ 16

^,

7!r ?I1

From

the teeth outwards^without

real significance,

merely on the surface (C),

a'^S^i^^^^i''. ^

JNIuch of the
the
teetli

Tory talk about General Gordon lately was only from

;;f ife :3

outwards.

il 3K 1*

^m

;itF

:* .

^,

-g- 1^ 3S 15^ S5 E. Daily Newspaper, JS86.

To have cut
' '

one's eye-teeth
him

to

be crafty

(S.),

^ Vj;
'

Can we
I think

trust

to look after himself?

'

' '

we may.

I guess
fin

he has cut his eye-teeth.

m&,'^'nm,m.^&
Top

B mis^.
you! a morning
saluta;

The top

of the

morning

to

tion (C.)

(Now

slightly old-fashioned), fg

^^

j& if
Silver,

You, doctor Top of the morning to you, sir 7 " cried broad awake and beaming with good nature in a moment. '^ ^, ik mm, 0, mjs ii m,
'

'

mm

mm

^ *
jB.

^ s-

L. Stevenson.

To the top of one's bent

limit

fully, wholly, to the furthest

ic.),mm.;mmMiJ,mM^^,m^^mim).
to

Accordingly Goldsmith was "foo'ed

]K di

the top of his bent."

mm m&mA^m.Mnu%-

w.

irvir^,.

[450]
case,

"If his mfister were a mere rlreanjer, in fact, .which is not theyou would saj that he encouraged him. in his hallucinations."

M m^ A A,
"I
i6
see;
of his bent."

m^^ wm, k^
fiP

ia

^,

m m m ^iam,^'iSi
.s i* s at -a.
James Payn.

he humours him, like the prince in the play, to the top.

M 6

T,

&

SB

iij "p

i aE dF. M

,i.

To top

one's boom

to

hurry

off (F.)

(A sea phrase),

"Ah, well?" he sighed, "I suppose that I had better 'top boom' again?"
la ic 0,
III,

my

#j **

X s sa ra ^.
S.JR. Haggard.
;

"Do what?"
'

'

mean

had

better leava Madeira."

iSifS5S8il*ll4*i4l&.

A top-sawyer a first-rate fellow (S.), i ^ A ^

Km).
Well, he
nife,

-t t?

may be

a top sawyer, but I don't like him.

jif

m^^^iwit AIM,

* IT ^, ^ BB ^ :^ ^ m.
Reade.

At the

top of the tree with no superior, in

the fore{JJ

niost place, at the

head of one's profession (C), |^

" Indeed, Mrs. Armytage, we have on the very top of the hill."
' ' '

all set

our hearts upon being;

Mmm'0^A,^^mM>t\^mMmI don't know as to that,' was the grim reply, but I know who. has set her heart upon being at the top of the tree."
' '

w m^ B, & m ^ M^,Wi^^t.^Touch
Touch and go

>(^

u,

f^

mm

>ii>,

'^ w^

m m &i&m
very-

James Payn.
critical situation,

said of a

where a

small influence will turn the scale (C), '>

^ BD ^; ^

'It was touch and go (my escape was a narrow one), doctor, wasit?" inquired the other, with a seriousness as strangely foreign to the phrase, as the phrase itself was to the speaker's usual manner of
'

expressing himself.

^m-'AnB,^^,mmm-'j>mwM^mmm:^m& James Payn. tS^M^f^^^-^mt.^^^.

Toir
In touch witll
ma:te

[451]
inti;

^having a delicate appreciation and

of,

knowledge

in sympathy with

(P.),

J^ ft

would be impossible to discover a more ideally perfect ambasis Lord Lyons, but the republic is not popular in Paris "smart" society, and, while Lyons himself does not "go out," the embassy is, like all embassies, in touch with smart society.
It

sador than

#i^jajliS^ES, i*t6
Certainly this
is

5il-ffii.

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

office

parson, that he

is

and function of the country not quite in touch with any one in his parish if he
inherent in the

be a really earnest and conscientious parson.

Nineteenth Century, 1887.

To touch persons

off

to

be too clever for them, to be

(F.),

more than a match

"Well done,
touch them off."
-116

for

them

fiFf

tM

^^

J9f

my good boy,"

returned she;

"I knew you would

iHf

0,

s ii /> ^^, Bf a #,

ifc

^ c

i. Jl

-ffl,.

* ti Goldsmith.

To touch
ness, to

it off to the ninesto act with great cleverdo anything perfectly (S.), ^, Wi^

MM M
"I

If I<Jidn't

touch

it oflfto

the nines,

it's

a pity.

never heard

yoQ preach so well," says one, "since you were looated'here."

jltajK, i6*HtftSISSnS.M-ffi(.

Haliburton.

Tour

A tour de force an exhibition of one's prowess (P.) (French), ^ MM ^ B 'l^^M, Si ^^ ^ A iX)

,

"That is not worthy of a mathematician," said Mr. Fraser with some irritation " it is nothing but a trick, a tour deforce.
;

Tout

mmtf,^m.m:tl MBThe tout ensemble

(French),

S. R. Haggard.

the

whole taken together

M If K i^ m

I'S- :fc fi,

(P.)

-ej, ilS

* ^ ^

[452]

TRE
"What a lovely woman this is," said Mrs. Bellamy, with enthusiasm to Miss Lee, so soon as Philip was out of ear-shot. " Her tout emembU positively kills one."

'hmi"B.jiti^*sirs, a*I:^^K,'ffiaa4ASEM^!l
i?.

R. Haggard.

Town

A man about town a

who spends

fashionable gentleman, a

man
(P.),

m^m:tx;mmmm^zA,BQ ^^m^
&mm^mmmm,A{X).
' '

his life in city clubs

and in pleasure

Why

should I give her pure heart to a

man

about town?"

" Because you will break

it

else," said Miss Somerset.

Tracks

To make tracks
^p

to

go

off, to

depart quickly

(S.),

W; ^it^

M m,

-wi ffi,

^*, SHP ^* m.

^ fg

I'd have made him make tracks, I guess, as quick as a dog does a hogr from a potato field.

'hMti6isE^BIJit*,*nH*::^i5. SalibuHon. I am glad that the old gentleman has made tracks," said John. K^J^G, i&i^ABm.mm^.^&m- S. S. Saggard.
'
'

Trade

Two

of a trade

two
M
^T
two

people in the same business or

profession (C),

^ A.; ^ ^, W ^
of a trade
-n"

W^^,

Wi

It is proverbial that

If S,

M W ^, if ^ t6
lal

#.

seldom agree. Edinburgh Review, 1886.

(F.),

Trap

To understand trap
My good lady
Mearns.

to

be knowing or wide-awake

understood trap aa well as any

t6
*II

woman in
Scott.

the

^ 2.
Traveller

jif

a If, i* ? T 2. ^ A,

-ai-

To

tip the traveller to deceive, to formation (S.), aicAPS^;!^^, Aha! dost thou
Iff,

fill

with false in-

f^ffiM/lsEAM

tip

me

the traveller,

my

boy ?
Smollett.

S^ /h

^, J*

Sfc

S JS 4. M-

Tread

To tread the boards

to

be an actor, to follow the

stage as a profession (P.),

^ m, M^:^M, ^ ^^

TRE
The
and
theatres occupied a

[453]
in society.

much higher position

Kemble

his majestic sister, Mrs. Siddons, trod the boards.

^mM.:^7bi^,^^mm^^mi^.
To tread on a man's corns
."

James Payn.

to

annoy

or hurt

him (C),

for

by

Only," he added, "I'm glad I trod on Master Pew's corns;" this time he had heard my story.

Jlfc

ajp fe

B H S W a :i ^ ^.
toes

H-J^- Stevenson.

To tread on another's
him
The
is

to

annoy or exasperate

(P.),

mm m A:tm

m-,

^M A, mm A, m

Am,^'^m(X).
there
old West Indian families are very proud and sensitive, but not much possibility of their having their toes trodden upon in anything like the way that made Mr. Froude' s last book the subject of such an outcry by some of our Antipodean friends and relations.

M%&.M.^^-&-

Spectator, 1887.

To tread on eggs
care, to

to

have

to

walk with the utmost

need

to be very circumspect (C),

fe!c,/>

-^yf^-^^KAnmm
"It's real
as

>& ^t

16, ii If

^ ^ ^ ^; M 'M).
"Why,
it

mean

of

him, isn't it?" says Miss Smiles.

all

might come to her husband's ears any day, and poor Emily
if

will feel

she -was treading on eggs

her

life."

Ilj

fi

^ ^ ^ i.

3?

Eg gg

M vS ^ ^-

-f-

MarrycU.

Treasure

Treasure trove
discovered
(P.),

treasure hid away and accidentally M ^l MM, ^- M, MM^ ^ M^

of

And

so

Farmer Caresfoot became the lawful owner

its

Cratham

two advowsons, its royal franchises of treasure-trove and debdand, and more than a thousand acres of the best land in

Abbey with
Marlshire.

# If M ^ M =S S H - T ^ 5t
,

Kit.

H.R.
Stand.

Haggard.

Treat

To stand

treat

see Stand,

hiJ

[454]
Tree

TRU
Up
a tree

in afix, cornered, unable to do anything

tree this time-

(S.),

m M mi
I'm completely up a

Trojan

At the top of the tree see Top, ^ gij Top. Like a TrojangaUantly, bravely (C), ^^,m.f^,M
He had lain like a Trojan behind his mattress in the had followed every order silently, doggedly, and well.
gallery;

he

iJ^^.
Trot

R. L. Stevenson.
to

To

trot outto show for inspection, io exhibit a company (C), jl; 31 ^, H # ^, B It # ml

^;
[PI
' '

"Come, come," said James, putting his hand to Ms nose and winking at his cousin with a pair of vinous eyes, no jokes, old hoy; no trying it on me. You want to trot me out, hut it's no go."
*^
^ Sfe,

S Jn
;?:

jR

#,

JEi

ffi ffi ffi

IS i: BR

^,

f^

^ H fe,

JK

^*

SK

tl -a.

Thackeray.

Tmant
True

To play truant
True blue

^thoroughly faithful and

'oe it said,

see Play, ^

biJ

Play.
reliable,

stanch

(P.),

Squire Brown,

was a true blue Tory

to the backbone.

:fsmmm'ism&M.:^-vi:^mMnvim-^^True as
steel
(P.), J9-

Hughes.

'&

S .g, i& ^

faithful, steadfast, wholly to be trusted

;f^

It,

-Bi

K ^ ;g,

pljei

^ m.

Thank Fanner Dfeadows, for he 'twas that sent Tom to the priwas converted, and became as honest a fellow as any in the world, and a friend to your George as true as steel.
son, where he

ms^mM:m,mwc^m:s^mmm,
Trump
To hold trumps

bp

jHs

a,

it i *^ it

to be lucky, to be sure of victory (F.) at whist.

(Trumps are the winning cards a form of triumph), m;

The word

is

m^

M MM,m^mi:?S',

TRY
You
never hpld trumps, you
Wi'Jlt

[455]
know

JF *n 5S aj B#
To play
one's
success, to do

m^, mmm^Wm il.

I always do.
Oeorge Eliot.

trump card to

use one's best chance of

if

what must insure success

success i

possible (C),

m^m;mmmw},mmtaim,mm
with power; in reserve; he had
still

He was
to play.

man

his

trump cari

tti.

Besant.

To trump up ^to
motive
(P.),

fabricate,

to

make up with an

evil

m-m;m&,^m,^^z m, m e m

"The

girl

has gone mad."

S * 7- B S ^ ^.
"Good
3^
heavens, you don't say so!"

?,

a * 9 Ji 5.

"Yes, I do, though; and I'll tell you what it ia, Bellamy, they say that you and your wife went to Madeira and trumped up a story about her lover's death in order to take the girl in."

,
:fc

^ i ^ , # m ii, ^ a
one's

#^

rft

* SS tt .1 a.
Haggard.

^ &.
own trumpetto

R.R.

Trumpet

To blow

speak boastfulh^ (C),

blown

After such a victory our old friend the archdeacon would havehis own trumpet loudly among his friends.

^^
Try
To try

Jit

s a St, a ^ ^ ^ f s :B, K)!8 ^

on

t?',

;g

& aim(il)-

A.
it

Trollope.

punity, to test one's power (C),

In several other rooms the poor

to see how far one may venture with U,%M U,M ^ iJ

little

fellows tried

it

on.

jHs^ nrSI^<hA, " Well, then, he is 'trying

doubt
of that.

*^ii#^#:tft
it

^;^.-

Hughes.

on' with Miss Rayne.

There

is

nO'

watched them through ihe tableau."

F ^ f^ JS S 18 a.
To try on to
see if clothes
fit (P.),

Wi^;^:^Wi^

all

In tlie conduct of the show-room and the trying-on room she haS) her ow)i Avay.
f

S^

5iJ

Wf

iS:

ES ^ S: ^,

flS

f5

as W ^ -

Besant.

1456]

TUN To try one's hand at

time, to mak(
<i

to

venture upon for the

first

beginning with (C),

^ |$; ^ lti -^
hand at dearth.
S.Warren.

He had on

several occasions been induced to try his

^m^i&mAWtm,Wm&^M^Tuck
To tuck into to
eat heartily of (S.),

iz^;^^M^>
Anon.

Doesn't he just tuck into duck?

te i^ ?S

*W

;*:

?K-

To tuck up to draw
not to drag or hang
"

tight
(F.),

round one,

to roll

up

so as

^^i^M.^^,^]^ CE)-

said Lord Jocelyn, with a shudder, "you will rise at go out in working-clothes, carrying your tools, and with your apron tied round and tucked up."
six;

Why,"
will

you

A tuck-outa feast,
shop
is

an eating of dainties

(S.)

(A

tuch-

a confectioner's),

M ^l i^ M, M -k, ^ ^, -^

DD

(M).

Old Dobbin, his father, who now respected him for the first time, gave him two guineas publicly; most of which he spent in a general
tuck-out for the school.

Tug

The tug

of

war

the real struggle (P.),

the hardest part of any undertaking, M Mi ^ i^Mh; MM ^ M ^

ladies

m ^ iX).
It was when the war would come.

were alone that Becky knew the tug

Thackeray.

of

^^mm.mii:m^m,mm^m.m^m^.
When

Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war.

-fli.

IS A a ^ Sr M A, as ^ - ^ M MS
Tune

N.Lee.

To the tune ofto the amount of (F.) (A large sum of money is generally attached to this phrase, which implies

an overcharge or excessive amount),

^ 7^

TUR

[457J

Then Mr. Titmouse ventured to apply to Mr. 0' Gibbet that gentleman being Mr. Titmouse's debtor to the tune of some fivehundred pounds.

^ S, ^ S *^ ft 5 1' ^ . JUil.
Turn

S.

Wamn.
-ii^

To turn

in

to retire for the night (F.),

MMlWtWt
and

" Well,
ing hi?

I'll

turn

in,

I'm pretty tired,'

'

said Larry, rising

lay-

hand on the

old man's shoulder.

All the year Round, 1887.

^ ^.
To turn offto
"Then why
dismiss
(P.),

mi^.;

'i^

j^, )^

M,

Mr

don't you turn her off?"

I turned her off?"

"Who'd

take such a useless old hag

if

^m^m::t,m&^mmmmm,m'^MBMTo turn out to

Reade.
(P.),

prove in the sequel, to result

If

37,000 was private capital sunk in the land without any prospect

of seeing the capital again, and, as things

have turned

out, without

even getting the

interest.

^M.^:^m,it^^m^,mmm^:i^-^'i^The
tidings turned out to be correct.

spectator,

mr.

^'&SSi&mM,%mi^mTo turn the corner to

pass the crisis (C), :^

Dichens.

mm; ^ UU Z^' ^ ^ ^
;

be on the

way

to recovery, to

To turn up

to

show

one's self, to appear

i^,

to

happen

MBmm m)"Perhaps
-^

unexpectedly (C),

^ ^i M

^MMt^ M ^, ^

my
355

sister will
jitf

turn up."

^ S*
How

m ^.
if
P"

"
^=

can she,

^ it ?t H f?,
^ m,
;i.

the roads are impassable?" ^# BS ?t5 ?I5. Blackwood's Mag., 1886.

He's turned up, by Jove, a trump (nice fellow)

Bt,
-tH

all of

a sudden.

^.

tU

?l

(ii ) H t- A.
a
to

S. Warren.

And nobody
stand her.
iU ;^

ever turned up that was able, in any way, to under-

A>

^ il - A til

#-

Blachmore.

[458]

TUR
But isomething- might turn up; and' it- was devoutly to be hoped that Dr. Tempest would take a long time over the inquiry.

m ^ # a >t * g Dl ;t ^, tl ^ 31
To turn up To take turns

4SS B3r

BB ?E ;t

Si:,

75 at

S Wrr Sit . S^K

-1-

H &.

Trollope.

one's nose at

see Nose,
glj

^ M Nose.
(P.),

see Take,

Tak-e,

By

turnS'

alternately,
by turns the
;

one after another

ifB

They
Of

feel

fierce

extremes

bitter change extremes by change more

fierce,

An!VS,^P^mKmW.
To turn To turn
one's one's

Milton.

coat see

Coat',

^m

Coat.

repulse' (0.),

back onto refuse to acknowledge, to ^ E; mM, W^, Sp ;t J5 M ^ m, B

He

could not consent to turn his back upon helpless travellers.

m/^it(tmA^mifM,iS.my!^in-

W.Irmng.

To turn a deaf ear^to ref tise- to listen (P.), 7f.^M;^ mm, in 5e 5, 5 f^cx).

The Russian government

against Nihilist conspirators
sidence, but the English

in the last few years

made

repeated
their re-

applications to the governments of France

and England for protection

Paris or

who made

London

government has turned a deaf ear

ift

to

the

requests niade for legislation.

iE

ifc

^tcA,

4a 3R, S H f ?a-SiftJl?licia, Wiglil aisite^^ m.m ^m, is is a i* n a j* s 5,

fl5=,

ffilSl

;ff

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

To

turti one's

hand

to

to be ready to

work

at (C),

can turn
'A

my hand to
i& &
bT

anything.
fiP

Tf.

M-^,

4:

m mintoxicate,
;

W.
to

Irving.

Tb turn the head of to

moral balance of
(P.), >?

destroy the

@f

mm^M,^ M, ^H,
si

"If you only knew how much

ik ^'i^'^>m!,

mn^ m,ji n a e. m

weI meanI-i-made last week.

^ ;# s jk ig.

TUR
^

[459]
'

" -r

' '

Blease do mot' tell

me

that.

You might

turn

my

head. '

The youth's

head'ia^turned with reading romances.

He was but a stripling of sixteen,, and being thus suddenly mounted on horseback with money in his pocket, it is no wonder that his head was turned;

^ ^ ^, K E Jl * M-lii, M 'S ^.
To turn
to

W.

Irving.

in one's grave a phrase used with reference dead people, when something happens which would have annoyed them exceedingly when alive (P.), ^- ;fiE
i^J-

5E :^

^ ^g it AM a
,

Jfb
,

K^

A ^t ^ *D
li#

iS^

is

E ^ S (Jt <i *i a
Jtt:

^*^

i^>

# 01

Oh, William Slagg, you must have turned in your grave. nS Conway. :& IS , ac ;>t^S; ^. :*n, idP a^f :^ JJHH.

To turn over to

transfer (E.),

mm.
"Ks well
the-

^M;^^,WM,^
Dryden,

You

turn

me

debt no payment does demand. over to another hand.

m^m^^mm,^'$t^AmA^To turn on
tempt
A:

one's heel

to go- off

with a gesture of con-

(P.),

- m m.
eflFort

mm^^it;wi.mm^,^^^]3,m

very dry recognition on Miss Anna-Maria's part replied to the made to salute her, and as she turned on her heel, she said to her brother, "Breakfast's ready," and left the room.
I

^,

ift

{U

S,

H S B * .

C. Lever.

To turn out in the cold

from a pleasant situation
It

to repulse,

reject,

remove
{t},

(P.),

/p

|fi;

fS Hi,

sense he

was a warm evening, as his father had observed, but in one had been turned out in the cold, and he felt it bitterly.

James I>ayn. EP % ^^ m % ^ To turn over a new leaf^see Leaf, ^ glj Leaf. To turn round one's little finger to manage with ease (C), ^ ifl S S; iS ;t ^ ^ , 3i #g ;5: T^ E S 7 :^m).
ffl

^t>,

[460]

TUR
" But he turns you and me round his little finger, old boy no mistake about that."

there's

Hughes.

To turn a penny
I attend sales,

to earn

money

(C),

Il>

M ^, ^
;

and never

lose a

chance o^ turning a penny.

To turn the tables see To turn tail see

To turn
from
(P.),

Talle,

^ fj Table.
of,

Tail,

^ fj Tail.
to to

to account

make good use m ^M m Mm m :t,m^/i%^m,^

he would turn them to good account.
?!F

profit

It is possible that

m tl #

ffl

^,

nr

i|Sf -fit.

Thackeray.

The Americans

are a time

and money saving people, but have

not yet, as a nation, learned that music

may

be turned to account.

^mm^^^mt.^.
To do a good turn to
be of service
(P.),

E.R. Dana.

55^^;

{fJ

^,

Indeed I tried, at Angela's suggestion, to do you a good turn with Philip Caresfoot.

?ft

mor

H. R. Haggard.

To do a bad
Go

an

ill

turn to
name.
I chose.

injure (P.),

W^-'MM,
my
friend, for

to Crawley.

Use

my
if

He

won't refuse

I could do

him an

ill

turn

tl
,

fiB

m,

-fl

:i

fi'

5.

Reade.

and a dangerous fellow; but he has more brains and more power about him than any man in the Transvaal and you will have to be careful, or he will do us all a bad turn.
fellow, Bessie,

He is a wicked

&

m m i] n m ^ ^-^ m,'mm 4- 'i\ ^smn^-^mn^m^^

,

ES/f,*^SA, JL1Slt#A,BirB*fcMSrri^^ftA,
H.R. Haggard.

To turn the stomach

to cause sickness or loathing (P.),

TWO
The stomach turns
against them.

[461]
Jlazlitt.

Tweedledum and tweedledee two things which differ

very slightly, and are very insignificant at best (C),

Twenty and twenty many, innumerable (C.)

and tuenty times==once and again),

{Tiuenty

^ ^
;

rT

B^

(
I

ffij

S,

S H).
it

(ift)

have hinted

to

you twenty and twenty times by word of mouth.

S. Richardson.

^n^&L^^iimik^To twig a person

his meaning, to

to

comprehend him,

to understand
(S.),

know what
is

his intention is

WS

^n m,

M ^, # a my
an old hand he
will twig the oflBcer."

"stay," cried he, "if he

I twig

you now,

my boy, Sam

Slick, the

miC,m'^M^,m!tm^MW:&^fiP;

clockmaker. Halibwton.

In two two's^immediately, without any

EH
glj,

delay

(F.),

a SP, ^ /p 5i Ji(S).
indeed?" says
I;

"Do
fit

they,

"send them

to

me, then, and

I'll

the handle on to them in two two's."

Haliburton,

To put two and two together to

draw a
logical conclusion (C),

reason logically, to

MM;
so

'^ '^

&M, B
I

With one thing and another now cannot put two and two together.

am

knocked about that

:?:

- S * , - at X
^E i^ *t

J".,

^ ^ M M,

ft

& te ts s a m.
Slaekmore,
together,

Gwendolen was a woman who could put two and two

1^

*l I?

a ;i Jf A -a(or

Oeorge Eliol.

To have two

strings

bow see Bow, ^ M To make two bites of

Cherry.

a second string) to one's Bow. a cherrysee Cherry,

^M

[462]

UGL
Two
can play at that game another person can taliate in the same way (C),
re-

% 'XWf^M^^^'
her feet.

"

Woman, what do you mean? "

don't you call

cries the visitor, riedng to

"Now,

me any

names, or you will find that two

can play at that game."

F. Marryat.

Mr. Bassett had * * invoked brute force in the shape of Bur"Well, sir," said he, "it seems they have shown you two can play at that game."
dock.

E ii ^ S- f-

i#. ffi

,1 :i

* WJ Kf, K 9
;

0, ,

ife

Two upon

ten two eyes on ten fingers that is keep a watch on his movements or he may steal' (S.) (This watchword is often passed round shops when a suspici'

ous character enters), -g >&

-ffi

'li

H ^; gg H
be weak in the

Twopence

To want twopence
a man's
'

in the shilling

to

brain, to be crazy (F.) (The head

is

called sarcastically

twopenny,' as in the game of leap-frog, where

the boy stooping

down is told to

'tuck in his twopenny,')

Twopenny

Twopenny-halfpenny

of

small value, insignificant

mm mm m.
The next day we took a prize called the Golden Sun, belonging to a creek on the main, a. twopenny-halfpenny little thing, thirty-flve
tons.

aH +
Ugly

jE,!,

S;-Bl.

G.A.Sala.

u.
An ugly
customer

an

unpleasant individual to deal

with, a person to be afraid of (F.),

M ^M]"^ Mr M

UP
XTncle

[463]
(S.),

My uncle'sthe
^-

pawnbroker's

-g

H;

M^, ~t^

"If you won't lend me, I must starve."

WPfC

# ^ 11 ^ a - S ^ 5E ^.
my
uncle' s.
'

" Go to

'

Titmouse groaned aloud.

XTncle

Sam the
call,''

people or government of the United

.

States (F.),

^^;^^AS,,^|i|gc;i^ iWsaid the Clockmaker,

"We
Sam,
as

you

call

the British

"the American public Uncle John Bull."

Halihurton.

nf^J|Scfl?^*^aWIHil.

She was called the Catalina, and, like the vessels in that trade, except the Ayacucho, her papers and colours vfere from Uncle Sam.

M,mm^n,m.mmmmm>(^-^&'nUnction

r-h.

Dana. to soothe

To lay a

flattering unction to the soul

III. 4),

one's self with a pleasant thought (P.)

(A phrase used
f^

by Shakspeare, Hamlet

B lilt m.
And he had answered her,
that

g M; ^

^ H, W

when

that she sent him straight to the devil she heard in after times that uaunm, George Euthven, had

shot himself, or gone to the dogs, she might lay the Blattering unction to her soul that she had sent him there.

* E ^ 0, ?* ?* S IS ;t m.
Tip All up
affairs (C),

JIf

51 E ^ A ^
destruction,

Pg SH,

)lf

3K

H ft @ ^

f.

F. Marryat.

certain

a hopeless condition of
'S^i-

-^^ %1tmM;^,^ mM^:^'^^,

pn&f&,

S 51;t ^, ^

(m
to stop in the cart
.

.John realized that it was all up, and that would only mean certain death.

H. R. Haggard.
Pippin was as white
.^9

death,

and I thought

it

was all up myself.

'Tis all

f^ ii

^ $S - ^

up with the
;i

villains.

H, i

"Sr

*ili.

S. Warren.

Tip

and aboutgo

longer in bed, dressed and

moving

about (C),

B^j{it;as^^^m^tai^ii,i

[464]
It

UPP
was then a
little after five,

and there was already a

stir,

an.

occasional footfall along the principal streets.

By

the Whitechapel

Eoad

there were a good

many

the time he got to up and about.

M& ^-

Besant.

see Arms, ^ ^ Arms. ITp a tree see Tree, ^ ^ Tree.

Up
in

arms

Ups and downs

rises

prosperity

and

adversity,

successive

and

falls (F.),

-m-

m,

- ^ - M, ^ m tH
twa

The ups and downs

excellent cartoons.

of the rival parties furnished subjects for

UMUMU ^Up
to a thing or

FoHnighlly Review, 1887.

two

knowing,

skilful (F.),

^^

HM

As King Solemon says, and that man was up to a thing or two, you may depend, though our Professor did say he wasn't so knowing as TTncIe Sam, ^it's all vanity and vexation of spirit.

Halihurton.

Up

to

something about

to carry out a

scheme (C), 7^

Old Jacobson * was as curious as anything over it, and asked the squire aside, what he was up to, that he must employ Crow instead
of his

own man.
i> ffl

a :i A, SB Up to the
Upper

^ S #, m a.* M ^.

eyes

Mrs. Henry Wood.

see Eyes,

^
t=

wi Eyes.

The upper handto

periority (P.),

control,
fij,

power of governing, su-

^ M;^

S ;t 1i, * a,

t!&

ffi

#-,

Finally, the reports were that the governess had "come round" everybody, wrote Sir Pitt's letters, did his business, managed his. accounts had the upper hand of the whole house.

^^^^S,Mf=ir*,BJfeM#A,^gSBgL^S^.
,**iia^,f=JiiMB,9^;t^m$liiilJ2.. Thackeray. The upper ten or upper ten thousand see Ten,
15 Ten.

VEI
The upper storythe head or brain nil's, m,yt-w,mm'^)get

[465]
(F.), flg
;

g|, gg

flg,

You see, the point we should gain would be this, if we tried to him through as being a little touched in the upper story whatever we could do for him, we could do against his own will.

Upside

Upsides with (a person) on an equal

I

footing with (F.),

am

upsides with

my

neighbour now, since :my new trap has

arrived.

Y.
Vad6

A vad^ mecuma useful book of reference that can be

carried about. [Latin]
,

li

,,

II

Ifi

^M # *, H ^f

See the last mentioned gentleman's 'Admiral's Daughter' The grand vad& mecum for all who to sea come.

Veil

To take the

veil

to

become a nun

(P.), fij

M^

.^B

Shortly after the news arrived of her lover's death she took the
veil.

m - sg M s:
Beyond the
the dead

;2.

AA
:fL

4fc,

ri EP

A ^ ^ ;a.
of
ifr,

veil

in the other world, in the regions

^^

(P.),

^ T; ^ ^t

:2:

T,

# Pi A

The tale was finished in London on the 3rd of November, 1844, and early in December read by him from the proofs ready for publication at Forster's rooms, to a little party of friends. Reader and hearers are beyond the veil there is not one left to us now.
;

m i^ + - ^
To draw a

ti

-67

* sa ^. ^ ft.

*if

?!i fi"

^ SI.

iftj

^ a a,

veil over

to conceal (P.),

^ H; ^ ^, 3

[466]
matter,

VIR
There may be whole pages, close-written and full of stirring whjch I have chosen to conceal; there may be occurrences which it is best, at this time, to draw a veil over. ilk ^a Is! #, Jli H'J 36 St fiS SS, fi (p i 5fr jg JJf /h

^ ^ H

Vengeance

With a vengeance extremely,

(C),

forcibly,

unmistakably

@ ^
;

SJ,

^i,

# ^*, i ^, - ^ M ^ (M).

He

could be logical with a vengeance.

The Sispaniola reached Bristol just as Mr. Blandly was beginning to think of fitting out her consort. Five men only of those who had sailed returned with her. "Drink and the devil had done for the rest," with a vengeance. jE'^'f^ r&

m m

M^M; m ^m M, ^^^^ M

mm

^w

mmmm,^M^^.
Vice
Vice versa

R-L.

Stevemon.

making an interchange
tliey ougiit to

of positions, placing
(P.)

two things each in the place of the other

They never laugh when

[Latin],
(weep

weep, or

vice vbrsd

when they ought

Jft
-ffij).

to laugh).

James Payn.

Victory

suffer as

Gadmean victory a victory in which the victors much as their enemies (P.), W-W^&M',
is

Virgin

Virgin soilwhat

fresh

and unused

(P.),

MWiMM',

I am convinced that comic opera, or rather operatic comedy, has an immense future before it in this country. One may almost call it
virgin
soil.
?5g
gij,

ft ?f ^ ii ^ t ^ :i ^ l fc -a. ^ ^ B ^ EP If ^ f ^
jS^ ffj "BT

5^8 SiJ,

^ * ft

jgi

tS

Good Words,

1887.

Virtue

To make a virtue
is

of a necessity to do willingly what cannot be avoided, to submit with a good grace to what
inevitable (P.), -P^'i^

3*

^,

^ M m ;t 7P # /p M,

E^M ^It; &.^

'ft

^<

a,

% :^^ ^ ^ 3K HB
-

Making a virtue of necessity, there are many in England who begin no longer to regard Constantinople as a British interest of the first magnitude.

M,ittk-^,%Wf!i^^,7^%7e.m'^.

ForlrdgMy Review, 1887.

WAI
Viva

[467]
me-

Viva voce
dium
of

using the voice and not the pen as the

communication
(P.)

[Latin.]

(The

literal

signification is 'with the living voice.')

fg;;

KJ,

The

sole

examination

is

vivd voce

and

public, but, I

was assured,

of not the least importance,

Wi

S,

Sy

^ 13 S S

-til-

Journal of Education, 1887.

Dr. Johnson seems to have been really more powerful in dicoursing vivd voce in conversation than with his pen in his hand.

m^^ mnm,mmm-'n^.
Voice

s.t. coundge.
(F.),

At the

top of one's voice

loudly, in a high voice

Each spoke at the top of his voice, so that the altercation was heard far out in the street.

Volte

Volte face

a complete change
(P.)
last

of position, a reversal of
,

conduct or policy

[French]

gS:

=^

13^

ff

Bfe ilfe

Nothing in the

two years had happened to

justify the

Con-

ference in executing a volte face.

1^

fllj.

Journal of Education, 1887.

Volume

To speak volumes

see Speak,

fij

Speak.

WWait
To wait upon

(a)

to

pay a formal

visit to (P),

^ #;

The Countess had actually come to wait upon Mrs. Crawley on the failure of her second envoy.
yf\]

^ A.
(/) to

Thackeray.

attend to the wants of a person

(P.),

HR f#;

We

were waited upon by a very slovenly maid.

[468]
To wait
.

WAL
for another's shoes to look for another's death because one wishes to secure property, money,
or a situation (C),

M ^ A:ZJE B^^M M WL 'M

He

swore at them, and said they were waiting for his shoes.

Walk

To walk the plank this was

a punishment frequently imposed by pirates on their captives. (The unfortunate victims were made to walk along a plank, part of whose length overhung the water. After a few steps the plank tilted, and they were shot. into the sea), >tS (Jffc

^^

nm '^ n u }L,n mf^, mwiummm^ K7i

It is also fo

b3 deplored that captors should be able to exact

to

ransom by threatening
!R ;t OT
I

make

their captives

walk the plank.

Maeaulay.

M "S

-ffi/-

had

to take it or

walk the plank.

1'j

7J :^ if a ss e ^, 5
To walk
one's

M i^ ss ; ^.
off (S.),

mmde.
jl

chalks to go
* cut his stick,

^;

ffi ffi.

te
is

The prisoner has *

off to

and walked

his chalks,

and

London.
?(E

gH

B E :i

(* ),

Itfe

!! :&

^ U.
any

C. Kingdey.

walk over the

courte, or a

walk over

an easy

victory, a victory gained without

real competition

'i%:tm
He

m mi
E

gained the Newdegate prize easily It was a walk over, indeed. -^ ift -ff 1 g, f$, BS ff a.

a#

E*

To walk the chalk

duct
(s.),

line

to

be particular in one's con(ffl).

mmmm-.^irm
the chalk line.

Make him walk

To walk into a person

soundly
(S.),

m Ml MM, Mm, MM [&)

to scold

him,

to rate

him

WAS
To walk
into

[469]
eat heartily of
it (S.),

food to

IS

#;

^
^

Wall

To go
If

to the wall

to

fail, to

be unsuccessful

(P.),

quacks prosper as often as they go to the wall.

fit

^ if S K
He
to the wall.

a m^.m^m^^n m.

Ihacheray.

grows rich as the village grows poor; and so the Moslem goes

St.

James's Gazette, 1887.

Charles's hopes had to go to the wall,

g M W a ^, 7& 5l # ?S # :^
The
Wallaby
writing,

}!f

^-

-If-

Senry Wood.

finger or handwriting on the wall Handwriting. flti

see

Hand-

To go on the Wallahy track to

search of work
(S.)

go up country in (An Australian term), %M^J^'>

War

War to

the knife

see Knife,

^
Ba,

hiJ

Knife.

To put on the war-paint

conspicuous fashion, to

to dress one's self

up in a

wear one's

finest clothes (F.),

i(T

:ji^ss;
"Have you

^-# mrr^

-#
?"

tr

#,

soen the hero of the evening

" Who? Do yon mean the Portuguese governor in his war-paint?" 15JA,i*?&flS^^^:t^*iIffi5K- -ff- -R- Haggard.

Wash

To Vash
more
to

one's hands do with (P.),

ofto

refuse to have anything

y^niiS^;MM,^Mf:^^^,

me, you would hardly think "Poor Thady" was the he is a high gentleman, and never minds what poor Thady says, and having better than fifteen hundred a year, landed estate, looks down upon honest Thady; but I wash my hands of his doings, and as I have lived so will I die, true and loyal

To look

at

father of Attorney Quirk

to this family.

a is ^ ^ f-

)14 iiJ lit

5P =?

iCc

^.

EP

:^

65 *B s:

[470]
To wash

WAT
private matters before strangers (P.),

__^
public to speak in

one's dirty linen in public of unpleasant private affairs, to discuss unpleasant

^* ^ in m^* ^ M^ A
"But Lady Alexandrina
"Yes,
of course; I
is

^ ^ ^ IS

jSI

:).
it

"I have been so pressed since my iQarriage," he said, "that has been impossible for me to keepjthings straight."
"

know. I do not like to trouble you with my nothing, I think, so bad as washing one's dirty linen in public; but the truth is, that I am only now free from the rapacity of the De Couroy's."
affairs;

there

A. Trollope.

Wasp

A wasp's nest a place where there are plenty of enemies, a place where one is unwelcome (P.), JiJ

^^M;f^^

m^m
It

(X).

was into a wasp's nest that the imprudent Louise thrust herself.
Illustrated

London News, 1887.

Watet

To throw cold water on an enterpriser-to discourage

its

promotion, to speak slightingly of

it (P.),

J^

7jC

It was to be hoped Mr. Godfrey would not go to Tarley and throw cold water on what Mr. Snell said there.

^ ^.
beginning.

George Eliot.

Colman threw cold water on the undertaking from the very

iltVlaSBf, ^MSSf^S!c^^. W. Black. Among them was Aurelia Tucker, the scoffer and thrower of cold
water.

* >& 1# In deep waters

# ^ 2.

*&

#,

Jn

1^ Si. 96 f^ f&

in

M i-

Besara.

difficulties,

puzzled

how to act (C),

Once he had been very nearly in deep water.

^ ^^^^T^^m^-

A.

Trollope.

WAT
Of the
(C.)

[471]
excellent
to precious stones),

first

water

of the highest type, very

(A term originally applied

if

One

nobs of the

comfort, folk are beginning to take an interest in us I see first water looking with a fatherly eye into our affairs.
;

To hold water to

be tenable,

to

be supported by facts

mmmm.
That won't hold water
Jit
;

it

does not comniend

itself to

reason.

;j

^ 1^1 S*

;?C

-& il

&.

R- L. Stevenson.

To make the mouth water to be excessively alluring,,

to cause desire

and longing

(P.),

^^M',

iJKIS,

I could tell you things that would make your mouth water about the profits that are earned in the musical branch of our own trade.

SC

ffi

gg

^.

Good Words, 1887.

To be in hot water to

be in trouble or dif&culties, to

have people angry with one (C), in

^ M M iK;

iXi

7K

Tom was

in everlasting hot- water as the

most incorrigible scape-

grace for ten miles round.

^M-&To back water to

Kingsley.

reverse the forward motion of the

(P.), |^.

boat in rowing, to row bacbwards

BS

|^
for

j|S

The captain gave orders

just avoided a collision.

to

back water, and none too soon,

we

;ni-6ipil<b'iim,

Mt6%*K, ^iifi!J:^25L^.
R. H. Dana.

The water works or the water pumps

of tears (F.),

the shedding
Thackeray.

^ M; S

1^,

vft.

M T ^0 M (S).

"Oh, Miss B., I never thought to have seen this day," and the water-works began to play.

i.,&'i-m,^7S.P,'n^^^Q,m'i^mm.^l^.

[472]
knuckles,

WAY
"Thank you, Dobbin,'' he said, rubbing his eyes "I was justjust telling her I would. And, O so. dam kind to me." The water pumps were at work again
commenced
to shed tears).

with his
sir,

she's

(he again

;i, Bf,

:5te

4.,

#,#

j^c

)l

s^ it

iti.,

W B^ X ^ ji a ^ a.
Thackeray.

Wax

To "wax

fat and kick manage through too

phrase),

to

become unruly and hard

to

great prosperity (P.)

(A biblical

M^^^^fiI{^;^m^Jlfi/j^^

During the prosperous period when our revenue was advancing and bounds, it is to be apprehended that waiters as well aa sailors waxed fat and kicked.

by

leaps

^A^,

=tS:^^^.;Si.
(a)

Blackwood's Magazine, 1886.

j!g,

Way

In a

way

somewhat, in a certain sense (C), f^;

The people of the boarding-house continued to amuse him, partly because they were in a way afraid of him.

ffi

It :t

A, S6

i!S ;

1 i^ :&,

* ft

jte

# ^ >f S

'ta ;i, lit.

Besant.
(6)

agitated,

much
is

concerned

(F.),

^M ^, ^ ^,
-fg

The poor
jifc

father

in a

way about
"

his son's misbehaviour.

Once

^ s,. * ? in a way rarely,

bt

fi'

?r

'C>

?s RS fs(0,),

occasionally

^;

fH

rf,

Once

in a

way a man might take too much.

Blackmore.

AfE^^^fcMiig^tHf. In a fair way of likely to,

with every likelihood of (C),

time in his

Rothsay had come back to England in a life, of making money.

fair

way, for the

first

Wilkie Collins.

In a good
MS

m,

mmm m).

wayprosperous,

prosperously (C), -^

WAY
He
quitted the militia

[473]
,-r
:

already established in

and engageil in trade, a good way in London.

liaving brothers

To make

one's

wayto

be prosperous, to

rise (P.),

He
te

(Disraeli) is

determined to

make

his way.

& li ft JS E To make way to step

give place
(P.),

Edinburgh Review, 1886.

aside so as to leave a passage, to

il g&;

US, jl & R, il HI Ji :^i

Make way

there for the princess.

To go the way
Poor

of all flesh to die

of all flesh.

(P.),

AMM; H^
an obstrucJD IS :^ 4&
,

Lamb has gone the way

In the

way proving

an

obstacle, causing
(P.),

tion, not

wanted, not welcome

be (you
are) a

^ S&

You may
a
little

charming person, but

just

now you

are

in the way.

They

resent your presence.

jS

n"

&

James Payn.
strange that I
felt

It

may seem

in the

way

in their company.

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.

Out of the

way strange,

eccentric (P.), :^

ffi

iT

Anm(X)In her drama, which was so effective on the stage, Djek did nothing out of the way.

in motion (P.), Wl; ^f Wl, S!l (5C)Arthur was perfectly charmed with everything he saw, and so was Agatha Terry, until they got under way, when she discovered that a mail-steamer was a joke compared with the yacht in the matter of
motion.

Under

way

^mm^nSH'^-il,

ibm^hm^^-m%.

m R. Haggard.

[474]
come

WEA
To be by way of being

to be able
^

to

into the category oi (C),

'^'

M;

be classed "^ ^:

as, to
ilfi

M,

Phipps

Tras

by way

of

being somethiug of a musician.

Good words, m?. m:)jm-^mnmmmBy the way a phrase used with remarks made incidentally,

and not belonging

to the

main

subject
511

(P.), i|)

m-,

X m, m m m m u^m 3 *, ^ n ^

With this and showing the tricks of that dog, whom I stole from the Serjeant of a marching regiment (and by the way, he can steal too upon occasion) I make shift to pick up a liyelihopd.

H. Mackenzie.

To give way
upon

see Qive,

^
:^

h^ Give.

To go a very little way with

(C), :^

to

have small influence

(i^).

'1%

i]

m E ^, Wcm m iJ
fatlier

Her well-meant apology for her little way with her companion. * <C' ^ , -re ^ -a i* i M,

went, indeed, but a very

K ^a H ,

s3j

3c

1,

a -a.

James Payn.

Ways and means necessary

procuring them
(P.),

funds and the manner of

^M) sH^W :Z ^,m W: :Z ?*,

and he was
it

This passionless character is illustrated tjy lewis's position in the Cabinet aa Chancellor of the Exchequer during the height of the

Crimean

War and

to its close,

thereforfe responsible for

finding the

ways and means

for carrying

on.

Wesiminnter Review, 1S87.

Weak

Weak

as a cat very feeble (F.)

ia

weakness),

WM ^^,M M %, ^'^^^, M M

(Alvrays of physical

John looked round, and

to creep into his heart.

for the first time a sense of hope began Perhaps they would survive, after all.

lil

5E

ffi.

WEA
"Let's go up and see. It is no good stopping here; food somewhere. I feel aa weak as a cat."

[475]
we must
get

m^:EAa^^, SiS^jSHBM^.
As weak
as water

-H-.-R-

Haggard.

very

feeble (P.)

(Used both of

moral and of physical weakness),

MM',

MM, M H,
am
as

'^'S.m
Sir, I

a).
only just getting well of a fever, and I

am
fS

weak

as

water.
ifc

^,

^ ^ tl Ji,

Si

:qf:

1!

-Bl.

Reade.

"Wear and tear damage resulting from constant use and from occasional accidents (P.), iS J^

A^A

The increasing wear and tear of life, reducing leisure and making brevity in letter-writing, a primary consideration, supplies a third
(reason).

Jlfc

ai S K
^ -^
2.

iifc

ft g,

H
Sg,

S - H, il US Bt ^MiS ft t m g BP ^ H M a -a MacmUlan' Magazine,

tf
.

:2.

a?

1887.

The
jifc

castle walls

have stood the wear and tear

ss

of centuries.

S H, ii W , ^ M S a,

:;fC

Mf

^.

Edinburgh Review, 1SS7.

To wear on

to pass slowly (of time) (P.),

^^

j^

^;
vVith-

After the Bellamys' departure, the time wore on at Madeira out bringing about any appreciable-change in the situation.

^,m-S.m.^. To wear one's heart upon

peck at

S.R. Haggard.
one's sleeve for

daws

to

to expose one's private feelings to unfeeling

criticism (P.)

(A phrase from Shakspeare^

see Heart),

in fact, a fair specimen of an English maiden upright, and wholesome-looking. What more may be in her, her intimate friends alone know, for she is not a woman to wear her heart upon her sleeve for daws to peck at.

She

is,

fearless,

i; s, ta S8 sf sf IS 5E * 3S :^ if^, 14 ;^ s, ^ 1@ it a, n ^. s s ;t ^, tn ^ a #, 7^ # sa *p , F. Mmryat. i S? ^. ^ i5 S IS A; a A ^ ft # &

J
fife

-ar

if.

HI]

) ;?;

sij

ffi

ifc

[476]
Weather
'

WEL
The weather eye-^the sea phrase), M M, M
eye of a keen observer (F.)
^^ :^,

(A

^ M ^ f&, ^ M M.f^
&m

m m m m -^^ ^,m^ m m a. -e mmmi^mZat

Job Teturned in a great state of nervousness, and kept his weather ey& fixed upon every woman who came near him. M '^ ^, sH" ic ^if : m

B^^
some
i&',

S. R. Haggard.

But you keep your weather eye open, Jim,

^,

ffl

?*

3S J: M Rl a ^0 ^

^-

H-L.

Stevenson.

Weeping

To return hy Weeping Cross

to regret deeply
(F.),

undertaking, to be in a state of lamentation

m -u, M m
Which

-ra,

mm, mm (t).
is o'er,

The lawyers' harvest- term

to their purses

brought good store,

Cross.

But many

clients, to their loss,

Do

return

home by Weeping w M w m,

M^%
Weigh.
^f
i6

tfi BJf.

Poor Sobin, 1765.

Under weigh in motion

(P.),

^T i&;

fi",

ffj,

m.
were soon under weigh again.
EP 4? iK
fi'

We

^ PF ;X

^-

C. Lever.

Well

Well, I never!

an exclamation of surprise

(F.),

^:

^;

iBaid she,

Thisalmostcaused Jemima to taint with terror. "Well, Ineverl" "what an audacious," emotion prevented her from com-

pleting either sentence.

Mn^yf^t^^^"^!

Thackeray.

"Well, I never!" said the old man. "My stay-at-home Jess wanting to go away, and without Bessie, too What is the matter with you?"
IS

^,

S. >P

^A ME

fi
Iff

fia

ii

sf, tpiSfe

f^

#, i*

Well-to-do

in

^ ^ PC a^ ^ a ^ 7j 0: 5g la H.R. Haggard. ^ >i ^.

,

comfortable circumstances

(P.), /J\

j^.

Moreover she had a distillery of rum and arrack in Kingston itself and everybody agreed that she must be very well-to-do in the world
te
STf
-ffi:,

if

^ S ii

131.

G-A.

Sala.

WHE
Wet
To wet
liquor
'

[477]

one's whistle
(F.),

to

take a (friendly) drink of

mm; M M, Ik- ^^ M, mMC^).

me down
the decanter anji some glasses.
will

'

Musselboro, reach

Perhaps Mr. Crosbie

wet his whistle."

"He

don't want any wine,

nor you either,"

said Musselboro.

mm&^^&,%^mm,m!lf'MmiiWhacker

A.Tnllope.
to believe,

A whacker a statement that is hard

lie (s.),

a big

mmitm]'^&mitm,mn,^m
"we
haveil't been within

"Oh, there's a whacker," cried East; a hundred yards of his barn.

"S" "SI

ifi-

Hughes.

What

I tell

you what

This phrase

calls the attention of the^

listener to

some important statement (C), "^

H^ ^
;

-know something about that place (the House of Commons), I and I tell you what besides,, that if there had not been this interruption, Mr. Disraeli might have made a failure.
I

think,

i6 S If t^ ^ ^ (in K) ^ *:, M ^ ^Jf ^n, Jit ^ # i!, ^.^^^JlfctC:^ S,3^SIi!l?!la-,S>f;a:^Jlfc-f6.'.

^ ?* M
Sheil.

What

not

various things

difficult to

mention severally

In these rooms in Wine-Office Court, and at the suggestion orentreaty of Newbery, Goldsmith produced a good deal of miscellaneous writing pamphlets, tracts, compilations, and what not of a more

or less marketable kind.

4fe,SM

Wilis

i^

^ mm^-m.misi^ m.- i<m,^. ^ ^

'i'

Wheel

To go on wheels
make

to

advance smoothly and rapidly, to

rapid progress (C),

& ^ Wi M; M ^ M

m,

The thing went on wheels. Richard Bassett was engaged, to Jane' Wright almost before he was aware.

[478]

WHI
To put a spoke
in a man's wheel to interrupt his EH. ^> career of success, to embarrass him (C), f^

You have put a most formidable spoke in the extension of the borough.
5ft:f

my wheel by preventing
1887.

;ft}i^a*IS^,Ji|fti6if^tS-ffic Good Word!,

While

To while away

to pass in
(P.),

amusement,

to

spend for

purposes of amusement

W^lU^'M^,^^
;

in her album,

riding with her, and copying music and verses and playing chess with her very submissively for it is with these simple amusements that some officers in India are accustomed to while away their leisure moments.

And so he went on

S ?t it iS ^ &.
Whip
The whip hand<the
control, the

Ihackeray.

power of ruling (C),

Why, Anne, do be reasonable if I gave you those letters, I should never be able to sleep in peace. For the sake of my own safety I dare not abandon the whip-hand I have of you.
;

# S, 5* m ^ fS 1f SS ;a, ^ I? 8c m
til.

j!i

iS #,

HiJ

ii$

:^

H. R. Haggard.
The
secret of all success is to

know how

to

deny
is

yourself.

If

you

once learn to get the whip-hand of yourself, that

the best educator.

f<r^**ij^, sifc*n^a=Affl, ^^siiejfexts

Whistle

To pay dear

for one's whistle to pay too much for some coveted possession or pleasure (P.), '^ ^;

^^

He jilted the girl and married an earl's daughter dear for his whistle.

but he

paid

We went off in very great state,

less

but

still

having to pay with need-

heaviness for our whistle. G. A. Sala.

White

At a white heat
excited (P.),

in an intense passion, very angry

or

iz:^;izmmm,M^^m,Wi^,m

WHO
They let their thinking be done for them, in by Parisian journailists at a white heat.
lISC

[479]
all critical

moments,

iiS

b"

^-

Contemporary Review, 1887.

is

A white lie or fib -a statement which

but really and essentially
false (P.),

verbally true

IH

ji: Bfi

# ;&

"S"

>'

Between them both, Helen was in a corner. She might have been capable of telling a white fib and saying she had not the letter, rather than let her father see it.
it fe

M A HI, ^ ?* K *i #,

lite

&m,^X-mmfliM.ltiS^. "White as a sheet intensely

1^ f^ 51 ga, ?: IS^ Mrs. Henry Wood.

^
;

Sll

pale (P.),

in

fi

IK

Next second a
room.
ing feebly.

terrible crash resounded from the other end of the George turned white as a sheet, and sunk into a chair, curs-

ia&m,'mn-nf^,mif^S2.mWhen
violently all over.

Haggard. they took him out of the black hole after six hours' confinement, he was observed to be white as a sheet and to tremble

HR.

A fe, IS m ;^ B. A whited sepulchre something

inwardly corrupt
(P.)

lieade.

outwardly fair but

(A Scriptural phrase), ^ 3E

^ n, ^ 41 {^) M m).
So that (bad as I may be. Lady Swansdown) I consider myself a woman than you (and such as you) are. Oh, yes! I know you don't stand alone. I know there are plenty like you in the best society whited sepulchres, fair without, and rottenness and dead men's bones within. ife SI :^ , *s i ra *!E A, 5ft ih s; fti f ? li
better

ffi?

* ^a S A, Bl, ^ *n ac :^ ts

St, S

^^

-iJis

it t-

J* 2.

ft:*&#JiB.B.

F.Marryat.

Upon the
(P.),

whole taking

everything into consideration

m^^m::t\mmm^,mm-^M^m
the whole,

Upon
feelings.

Emma

left

her with softened and charitable

Miss Austen,

[480]

WIL
There is a wide gulf fixed there is a great and per manent cause of separation (P.) (The phrase is taken from the New Testament see the parable of Dives and

Wide

Lazarus),

^ ^xmm.^'^M'^;^n^m,'M m

as she is called by her familiar friends, would seem companion, both in station and age, for Lady Swanadown than Mrs. Beverley; but between the countess and Lady Pat there is a great gulf fixed.

Lady "Pat,"

to be a fitter

*E,

-g-

ff 5* li ^ A . * *, E

-fb ?|J :?:

tg

&

-til,

s S5

^ II

F. Marryai.

Wide awake smart,

Sir
ia

clever (C.

Si; H'lt,

HIS,
;

Bate Coombe

likes to be

admired, even by an old maid but he

it.

too wide

awake

to let her see

&m & ^ m ^ Am m, m ^Wi,:^^UJ^^.

To give a wide berth

^m m: ^ ^
ns^

m.,

f&

5L^

F. Mamjat.

to avoid (C),

M.;MM<^M,,
dear.

Always give the redcoats a wide

.SS

berth,'

my

3E

S,

MS

B# B#

M ii f Abe scolded
(F.),

G.A,

Sola.

Wigging

To get a wigging to M(S).

However
from his
advance.
S SB
it

^KWM>^

while, as for the

father,

him long to pardon John Mouckton tremendous wigging which he would doubtless receive he had no difficulty at all about pardoning that in
did not take

^^

B#,

m BP tg ^ |g ^ m *^ m, S
chase

i5-

Sf 3K, as

Pf:

*^;^l|-#,^#ilJI:5fcMla.-a.

aS
(P
)

Good Words,

1887.

Wild

A wild goose

a foolish and

fruitless search

"Wouldn't to-morrow do -for

Wheeler.

this wild-goose

chase?" inquired

Will

Will he,

nill

he

whether he wishes or

not (C),

7fi

WIN

[481]

An imprudent marriage is a different thing, for then the consequences are inevitable when once the step has been taken, and have to be borne, will he, nill he.
1=
'I&

^ ^,
o'

il?

;#^

S # ^-

Mrs. Oliphant.

Will

light

the "wisp-^-the ignis fatuus or phosphorescent which hovers over marshe's; anything which

deludes or deceives (C),

m >X; ^ M, % 'X, Wi MM
me
hope, the light of hope."

"I am

very, very miserable; give

"It would be a

will-of -the- wisp, Willie."

fij,

Jit

-^

3te

M,

is

f ife ifS

E.

WUlow

To wear the "willow (a)

seat

to

occupy the lowest place or

io,

m i^ m^mrnm -,m^m.n^M.\\i, m
mourning,
to

(&)

to be in

be in grief

(C.), ^1^

t ^ ^,
;

This went on until the summer of the year 1657, when her father it to her that she had worn the willow (grieved for her lover) long enough, and would have to ally herself with some gentleman of worth and parts in that part of the country.
gently put

A,

a^E
But

ffi

5an estimate
of Hazlitt is quite

G- ^- Sola.

as high

compatible with the

total

strongest political dissent from his opinions,

and with a

freedom
of)

from the charge of wearing

painting.

the willow for (deploring

the death

Ht

-lil-.

Macmillan's Magazine, 1887.

Win

To win the day

Yet
if,

to

be successful

(P.),

iSi.^;

^'^,%

on the one
girl, it is

side, there

stood cold science, and on the other

a suffering

ridiculous to acknowledge that the girl always

won

the day.

^
-j^.

ffl

^,

ss IB

*?-a

?& S6

s )^.

jifc

^ ^, ^

;ic

ir

Bs IS

Sesant,

[483]

WIN To win at a canter

mmm).

to

gain an easy victory (C),

W^

Petty finery without, a pinched and stinted stomach within; a case of Back versus Belly (as the lawyers would say) the plaintiff

winning in a canter.

^ 9^ wi m ^ m s^, m ^
Wind
In the "wind

Pi

mif^

m^m,m mnm^m.

about
now ?

to

happen, talked of as probable

All of a sudden the coach stopped.

'
'

"Hallo," said

my

uncle

what' s in the wind

'

He never has a kind word to say of me even I believe there's someone else in the wind!

when we're

alone,

^ A ^ i^

't'

-fti-

F. Marryat.

To get wind to

be talked about, to circulate as

news

His return had got wind, and every farmer under ed to ride with him into Huntercombe.

fifty

had resolv-

"And now,

since

we

are to go," said

Lady Clonbrony, "pray

let

us go immediately, before the thing gets wind, else I shall have all the

world coming to condole with me, just to satisfy their

own curiosity."

S^

iS;

^-

M. EdgewoHh.
obtain news regarding, to learn

To get wind ofto

about (C),
I could get
;

F4 w #, ^mm.M m).
wind
of the

amount

given, now,

if

wanted.

Macmillan's Magazine, 1887.

Luckily Mr.

Hodge

speedily got

wind

of

our misfortune.
Q. A. Saia.

^m^miliJa,Mism:it.WNii^^.
To go
to the

winds

to be dissipated, to

be utterly lost

WIN
Few men can
this little incident
all

[483]

bear to see a sweet and pretty woman in tears, and was too much for John, whose caution and doubts
of.

went to the winds together, and have not since been heard

ata as
At

g St,
this all

S 1 ft, -^ it ^ ^

ra

^.

H.R. Haggard.
went
to the winds.

young Fielding's

self-restraint

^^mmmtik>t>^,mw:^^^In the wind's eye

(P-J,

Reade.

right in the face of the wind, pointing directly to the quarter from which the wind comes

t ;

3t Ji

a,

JE

S sj iX).
was taken
helpless, with her sails shivering,

At

last,

however, she

fell

right into the wind's eye,

dead aback, and stood there a while

W S H e, *9 i S S ^.
To
raise the

R.L.

Stevenson.

wind to

obtain necessary funds

(F.),

He thought of various expedients for raising the wind; and at length resolved to try his old friend Robinson.
To
raise the

wind some lawyer

tries.

^m^wtmmm-

j.

& s. smm.

Betwixt (or between) wind and water

See Between,
to anticipate

jgij

Between.
sails

To take the wind out of another's

another, to gain a clever advantage over a competitor

Ex-Bailie Laverock announced the important fact that one gentleli;,500 loan at 3J per cent, and another gentleman had offered him 500 at the same rate. This quite took the wind out of the sails of the party in power. They looked aghast at each other, and it was evident from their countenances that the Ex-Bailie's statement had a terribly depressing effect on the

man had offered him two-thirds of the

majority.

St.

Andrewi

Citizen, 1886.

It's

an

ill

wind that blows nobody good

see III,

mill.

[484]
To wind up

WIS

to settle,

to

bring to a conclusion (P.)

(Generally used of the formal settlement of the affairs

of a business firm that is

broken

up),

^ ^; j^ M> IS

If

you

like to retire

and leave me to wind up the concern, a cheque

for 10,000 is at your service.

M^^- ikWith
this beautiful

Mistletoe

Bough, 1885.

metaphor, I shall wind up (bring my remarks

to a close).

Wing

To

clip another's

wings

to

hamper

his movements,
fij
./K.

to lessen his

power

of action (C),

M^M%; ^
wings.

This failure of the bank

iEi

will, I think, clip his

ws^M

fi^

go

^ - *:,

af

>ir

a M ^ IJ *

&.

To take under

one's

wing

to protect, ^patronize (C),

We heard you were under Lady Patrick's

were
safe.

wing, and

felt

that you

^ASm
you under

T,

!1 5* te dS F. Marryat.

As

for you, Miss Blla,

with your papa's permission, I shall henoo

forth take

my

wing.

SB.

ffi.

Jameg Payn.

To lend wings

to

to increase the speed of, to hasten

I could hear hails

and

his comrades,

coming and going between the old buccaneer and tins sound of danger lent me wings
R. L. Sievemon.

'&^,&&m^.
Winking
Like winking
Nod away
at

quickljif
ISI

eagerly

(S.),

in

M^

a,

him,

you please,

like winking.

in i* |g ;t,

, SA

t-

Dickens.
)

Wisli

To wish to goodness

to be vtery desirous (F

WOL

[485]

' 'And to be lying all thfe time' horribly sick in your berth, and wishing to goodness you were back again in the schoolroom learning about the feudal system, " Lady Mordaunt suggested.

Wit

Murray's Magazine, 1887. iK'l>^^^!tB#'re;tJSSlJ^At one's wit's end in a state of utter perplexity, wholly

puzzled

how

to act (P.),

^H

tf-

S S$ Ml
;

tig

li

Mr. Felspar was almost

at Tiis wit's

end how

to act.

To have
^f

one's wits about one

quick at seeing

M in
if

jp*,

to be observant, to be and acting (C), ^ ^ S M .S S ^ ^ ^, i& ^ ^ : (m

;

liE

Cripps,

his wits

had been about him, must have yielded space

and bowed.
Blackmore.

Whatever might be urged about William Henry, said that he had not his wits about him.
16,.

it

could not bB

James Payn.

Witch

To be no witchto
The Editor
is

be quite sharp (C),

at a riddle.

fli

H;

B M,
irritat-

clearly

no witch

Wither

Our withers are unwrung

ed
(P.)

we are not hurt or

m,
JSl J:t

(The mataphor

is

taken from a galled horse),

75 it

WaB#^ ^

;5:

A ;t * ^ -a).

Let the galled jade wince; our withers are unwrung.

Shakspeare. tti^^^iSaiJtSSfS'i-, 0^^til"I know you are," said Bobarts, who knew the man well, and cared nothing for his friend's peculiarities when he felt his own

withers were unwrung.

a?

mmmm^A,m'Mmmm^^,m^M^mm'S:,
^;f

a,

^ 0,

ffi

*n J* la

^ Ha-

-4. Trollope.

Wolf

To cry 'wolfsee Cry, jt hIj Cry. To keep the wolf from the door to
to sustain
life, to

obtain sufficient

avoid dying of hunger (C),

& &. M

[486]

WOO
Giving the people that employment to which they had always been accustomed, and without which they would in many cases have found no little difficulty in keeping the wolf from their humble doors.

^f^^m,^>:f^&&.Ulia^^-

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

A wolf in sheep's clothinga

pretends to be quite harmless

dangerous person
(P.),

who

>^

fln

M '^

Ami
"There are three thousand men
in the British

army," announced

the old vrouw oracularly, and casting a severe glance at the wolf in sheep's clothing, the man of blood who pretended to farm.

^
ftii.

B:^.mmAm,Mmmm-wk,&Ai^m^mPi^^
H. R. Haggard,
tion (P.),

Wonder

For a wonder
ffi

strangely enough, contrary ^; -^ ^ g tU M m ^,

i^,
sea-sick.
lit
flJ

to expectaffi

^m
Reade.

Jisi-

For a wonder he was not

fife

PfC

S 59,

it

.-t

^ -a.

Wood
Wooden

Out of the wood

see Out,

Iff

Out.

The wooden spoonthe

prize supposed to be conferred on the lowest graduate in a college list (F.), j|b ;;jt

#^*llll^;^:tnp

(S).

Here is something about a wooden spoon that he says he quite expected to have won for a prize, but the examiners have gone and given it to Mr. Richard Lutbridge instead.

^*, T&ajtS&i^ai^Jdr&S, iiB'fe;?:!?^. Annie Keary. Wooden nutmegs citizens of Connecticut State

in

America (F.) (The name arose from a swindling transaction successfully carried out by a merchant of Hartford, the capital of Connecticut.

The people of this noted for state are their sharpness in commercial transactions),

n'U;^^,n'^^n K,:^^m,mm
:5:

M S

A.

li

^ ^ m ^ A ^. Sc

JSl

jJfc

P$ :&).

WOE
He
nutmeg.
called

[4871
wooden

me

Yankee

peddler, a cheating vagabond, a

To draw the wool over

Draw.

one's eyes

see

Draw,

^ t5

To go a wool gathering
ed (c),
'
'

to

go astray, to be bewilder-

xm.m;Km.m.,mm,^m>^mm).
misconception
?

What

" asked the Pater, whose

wits,

once gone

a wool gathering, rarely come back in a hurry. Mrs. Henry Wood.

little

it.

'&

The unhappy
and

manwhose head was

never of the strongest,

his wits always going a wool-gathering

went stark, staring mad.

G.A.
Sala.

m,'^%^%m\^To be wool-gathering
(C), i&

to be in an absent-minded
?!|

state

ffi

^;

- i& JK : ^

Jlf

M m

Mr. Eobarts had come round to the generally accepted idea that Mr. Crawley had obtained possession of the cheque illegally, acquitting his friend in his own mind of theft, simply by supposing that he was wool-gathering when the cheque came in his way.

A
1-,

jgr

IB

^ M ^J ar m
iiJ

Jit

at B

S,

H5 3: ft JE it

# 3K, MS ^ m.
Trollope.
{ij

M if B M

m ^ ;t ^,

ii

iC> ;?:

^, n ^

e.

A.

To have words to have an angry m m;Bi MM, 'i^ib^m mm,

He is

discussion (C),

'^u^ mm).

a poor, sneaking creature, and my brother George, he caught Crawley selling up some poor fellow or other, and they had words.

pr1lfi7^-:tiC>fB^A, iSm^^^A^iffifiJicSlnr

A man of his word

Upon

see

Man,

B ^ Man.
you
(C.)

my word certainly,

surely, I assure

Upon my word, you answer

as discreetly as she could

do

herself.

Miss Austen,

[488]

WOR
By word

Work

To work the ropes

of moutll

see

Mouth,

^ ^ Mouth.
manage a scheme

to control, to

without being observed (C),

UM;i^M,^^ ^ ^,
is

How
you.

our mutnal friend worked the ropes

more than

I can tell

H. R. Haggard.

'

To work up
cial

to investigate thoroughly

and with a
(3it).

spe-

purpose

(P.),

m ^; W ^, # ^
of his
still

Having some private means

own, (he) had gone out to

obscure problems.

India for the purpose of working up certain

it.

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

To make short work ofto

easy victory over
(S.),

finish quickly, to gain

an

:f Q

^ :t; M^, M, B, Mi M,
work
of the soldier-officer.

mmm).
We all
thought he would

make

short

mm-w^^mMrMmm^'u.
World
All the world and his wife
Miss. Pray,

g. a. saia.
ex^ceTp-

every one without

company ?
and
his wife.

jf

*:'>*&
S.

ra

madam, who were A.

the

B.^^M
there was

Lady

Why,

all

the world

A man of the world

sensual indulgence,

see

Man,

0^

Man.

The world, the flesh, and the devil love of pleasure,

and vicious propensities (P.),
JJC'J^

He renounces the world, the flesh, and the devil, preaches and prays day and night.

Worm

To worm out information

subtle devices (P.), T5

to obtain information by ^ ^ E; f| ff M H, ^ ,
Jii

By the aid of liquor he wormed #-ljBJSifelgE^;tS:.

out

tlieir story.,

Reads.

WRO
By
these

[489]
of

means he wormed out

Mr. G. the whole story

of his

adventure.

G. P. M. James.

Worse

The worse halfa playful name (Better half is a common name for

for a

husband

(F.)

a wife), 2t

^; J? At

It would be a nice amusement for some of these long evenings, and the preparations would serve to occupy our time, whilst our worse

halves are out shooting.

g,

iS5 "BT

a iS ii ^ * &

F. Mamjat.

Worst

If the worst comes to the worst things turning out very badly (C),

in the event of S ^ ^ ^# E. ^
;

mllMm:^, ^mH-H^ig, SMilnJ^nW;^

mm.

"If the worst comes to the worst," Becky thought,

is

"my retreat

secure."

ffl^i

0, ^

:^fia,3l^(illf#1ii-

Thackeray.

Worth

Worth
Upon
while.

one's while

-advantageous,
it

profitable (P.),

the face of the thing,

looks as

if it

might be worth your

Good Words, 1887.

BS^It^tJiat^^.tClTSr^PSSSItam.

Worth
Wrinkle

one's salt

see

Salt,

'm Salt.

A wrinkle-a valuable hint

'Now,' says the Major, your born.'
IS
;A:

(S.),

M HK fe; M

PbT

If

'I'll

give you, SUck, a

new wrinkle on
Haliburton.

^ 0. Si ^, is

ISI

i*

# iS 11 ft.

Wrong

The wrong

side of sixty or seventy or seventy years of age (F.), 1^

more than sixty M,^M^^>M^<

The old woman answered, "that though her master was a deal on the wrong side of seventy * * yet he was as alert, and thought no more of going about, than if he was as young as the gentleman who was now speaking to her."

[490]

YEO
X.
Double
And
S6 0,

a superior quality of beer (C),

'A pint
of

1.^ &'M (WQit

I said,

- /f ^ & tS,

double X, and please to draw

IS

mildl'

^ ^ ?R )t-

Barham.

T.
Tarn Tear
To spin a yarn
between what
is

see Spin,

hII

Spin.
is

Tears of discretion

an

age

when one
is

able to judge

right

and what

wrong (P.), yf>Wi

A mere boy. A very lad. Not come to years of and never will, if he goes on raging in this manner.
I'm afraid the cat got out of the bag the years of discretion.
ift JBS

discretion yet,

when Mrs. Pasmer came

to

is Si 'fa E2, 3* it &.

^*A

ill

tfe

B'J

^*# M

:t *P *E,

jHs

W. D. HowelU.

Tear of grace

year

dating from the birth of Jesus

Christ (P.) (Equivalent to

Anno Domini,

or year of

Our

My

story begins in the year of grace seventeen

hundred and

sixty-four.

Tellow

Tellow Jack the

with Yellow Jack.

yellow fever

(F.),

M^,& (S)R. L. Stevenson.

I have been in places hot as pitch,

and mates dropping round

Teoman

Teoman's duty
The

or service

excellent work

(P.),

% X;

shattering of the false image

ff^fS^ ^,

had done him yeoman's service. A. Trollope. ]!ft:^^5!l-&.

In the gratitude of his heart, George would wiUingly have given a thousand pounds towards * * the erection of a statue to Hilda Caresfoot, whose outraged pride and womanly jealojisy had done him
such yeoman service.

WiWi^,dt.MK-i.mP,i^'i^-'^%iiZ^1l^.

H.R.

Haggard.

SUPPLEMENT.
AGE
A.
A.E.G.

The A.B.C.

of

any subject
(P.),

its

rudiments,

its

elemen-

tary principles

^
^3=

Pg;

^ tt, ^ M, # M, A R

Many

farmers seem not at

iJ

all

inclined to observe the very A.B.C.

of just debts.
,

of morality as regards the

payment

m*
ft 3t

t>

iffi :^[:

# 3i

u ii 2, ^ ff 0,mmmfSijE.m
Spectator, 1887.
;

Father and mother lived in King Street, Soho he was a fiddlemaker, and taught me the A.B.C. of that science at odd times.
jifc

it

^-ssuK^sc^, A P5 a.
(s.),

?csiemigi&is, ans^ffJifcifea
S^o^(6)

Abraham

To sham Abraham
rance
f^

^^

dissimulate, pretend ignom\^^w^;W,uv^^M^m^,w

to

to

(ffi).

drat it, that yon know as well as I do. Gammon," replied Mr. Quirk, with not a little eagerness and trepidation. Come, come,

"Ay,

'

'

its

rather late in the day to

sham Abraham."

IS

^M

it;,

Bf

&

Bft, ;?:

^ 35

f^

Iffi

&.

S. Warren.

Acknowledge

To acknowledge the corn

statement
(S.),

to

admit the

trujih of

mm mi
' '

W.

Mi
say

W f^, B ^ Bl^ ^ M,
arrested

M^

said he he uttered them. He did not use the pronoun he, did he ? " "Oh, yes, he did he said he was drunk he acknowledged the corn?" The Court (getting impatient at witness's stupidity) "You don't understand me Iwant the words as he uttered them. Did he say 'I was drunk' ?" Witness (zealously) "Oh, no, your Honour; he didn't say you was drunk. I would not allow any man to charjje that upon you in my

What

did the

man

when you

him ?" " He

;

was drunk."

"I want

his precise words, just as

presence!"

[492]
(K)

AME
a
ffl

Df, Jit

AM m E, (^) ^ #
ti

tfe

m,

W)

s&

*D

^H
IE
jft

a fg,

* ;&

tfe

HE

s S,

(=g:) :A:

S.

Jlfc

&

Law

Magazine, 1887.

Ad

Ad nauseamuntil
subject (P.),

people are tired and sick of the

mm^nmmxm m; a m n, ^ a
so

And

so on,

and

oh ad nauseam, proceeds that anonymous re-

tailer of petty scandal.

flS

;=, 1

^ tS

a, us

A IS ^.

Edinburgh Review, 1887.

AH

All of a heap

in a

state of collapse (C),

| f^

IH

The Somerset thus

defeated, bit her Up,

and

sat all of a heap.

All the same

nevertheless,

notwithstanding

(F.),

fjj;

The captain made us trim the boat, and we got her more evenly. All the same, we were afraid to breathe.

to lie a, little

R. L. Stevenson.

Alt

To be in

alt

to be in

an exalted frame

of

mind (C.) An

expression taken from the vocabulary of music, fg -^

"Come,
a

prithee be a

little less

in alt," cried Lionel

"and answer

man when he speaks to you." ^K^Ml^iS^MlBffc, A^?ft,S^;t- Madame

pensation for wrong done (P.)

D'Arhlay.

Amende

An amende honorable a sufficient apology

and com

[French], :^ ^J ff |^

The result and peace.

jHs

of this

determined conduct was an amende honorable

5:

et It

^, *

m ir M ^ 3F ^. a ri i^ i&.
Fortnightly Review, 1887.

AU
Apronstring
side (F.),

[493J

Tied or pinned to a woman's apron-strings continually in a woman's company, unwilling to quit her

mm^^ii^;

@.'{t,

mm^m,%ii:m&,

If

was a
of

ashamed
strings.

fine, young, strapping chap like you, I should be being milksop enough to pin myself to a woman's apron-

m m m m i^w^mm m ^ ^, JSfU :^ ^ &.

And
strings, as

^j!

x-n^ m x^m, & ^ ^ m

Dickens.

as for her, with her little

husband dangling

at her apron-

a call-whistle to be blown into should teach me my duty

when

she pleases

that she

At

At

all

events
events,

in any case,

whatever happens

(P.),

At

all

he besought George to go through with

it

before

the orders came.

%WL%'k%,mik'^^.1li,'9am&^-

Thackeray.

At arm's lengh at

a certain distance, so as to avoid too

(P.),

great nearness or familiarity

fi

M;

^ i^j ^ fS

If she would confide in nie! if she would even speak to me of it, I might do something to convince her of her folly * *. But no, she never alludes to it; she keeps me at arm's length.

fiS^iaiftjiSMtiimiffi, fiJl^'ttfclSjSafS.Jlfc*,

a^Hi^
[French],

An

^ 8S # Au fait to familiar with,

EP

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

accustomed

to (P.)

She appears to be as au fait to the ways

-Itfi,

of the

world as you or
-P-

I.

1H

*^

^ * . 5t,

ib SI

1I

- It ^ ^.
(C.)

Marryat.

Au revoir goodbye for the (literally 'until we see each

m).

present

[French],
^i]

m m] (p
0,
J

other again'), :^ -^i 1?

;2:

bp

w
Jlfc

^'i

^ n i
f^

m.

Arthur took off his hat. "Then we will consider that settled. Good morning, or perhaps I should say au revoir;" and, bowing again, he left the office.

#, -

3t

gmWf
ffl

If f a Sf &

a
J9f

HiJ

RS

^ SS ^

^B

1ffi, fi T, #-t, S. R. Haggard.

[494]

BAR
B.

Back

To be on
(F.),

one's

back

to

be helpless, to be prostrated
:fj

m ^ m M; ^ mm f^, m m ^
!sLyi^

cm).

The doctor staked his wig that, camped where they were in the marsh, and unprovided with remedies, the half of them would be on
their backs in before a week.
'i&

m ^m mi^ i&m m,

m ^ m s,,

m^ ^ {^
&.

B. L. Stevenson.

To give the back

Had
ers

is

to leave or quit (C),

5']

# =&,

even Obstinate himself but

felt

what I have

felt of

the pow-

and

terrors of

what

yet unseen, he would not thus lightly have

given us the back.

Bunyan.

Baker
Ball

A baker's dozen tliirteen (P.)

are the sign (F.),

See Dozen,

^ ^ Dozen.

Balls or the three Golden Balls a name given to a pawnbroker's place of business, of which three balls

^ m (S).

^ m, M }S> i^ JS, & ^ M, ^ ^

of

Take my ticker (watch) and such and send them to Balls.

your things as you can spare

Thackeray.
It is not generally

known that

the three Blue Balls at the

of

brokers' shops are the ancient

arms

Lombardy.

PawnThe Lombards

were the

first

money-brokers in Europe.

m,m&m&i^ 1
Bar

ffi

m ^-

Lamb.

The bar

(P.) (In the days of chivalry, knights of illegitimate birth carried the arms of their family with a black diagonal bar

sinister

the sign of illegitimate birth

across

from

left to right),

^ ^i m^, MB, ^ ^,

m^BM B

-3

BEA
Why,
yours
still

[495]

Philip, my ancestors were princes of royal blood yihev herded the swine in these woods. I can show more than thirty quarterings upon my shield, each the mark of a noble house, and I will not be the first to put a bar sinister across them.

Ik'^^i^t^.m^B.m^To bar out to refuse to admit

H. R. Haggard.

the masters of a school

revolted in this
P3 P?

(P.)

(Scholars in

England frequently
ffi 15:

way), /F

^ Ut ^ A ^;

^ M ^ f3, B

Eevolts, republics, revolutions, most

No
Bl

graver than a schoolboys' barring-out.

Tennyson.

&.

IBark

His bark

he uses strong lanis worse than his bite "^ guage but acts with mildness (C), njt

A^S A
this

father's bark is worse

However, I dare say you have learned by than his bite.

time that

my

^BS^Sicif^iiJTjlfciif,

^ 2p
Basket

^iSF^S^mwaiSK,
Sarah

-til.

Tytler.

To be
over

left in
(F.),

the basket
;

to

be neglected or thrown

^ M S , ^
r.g

^,

^^

^ (S).
Barham.

Whatever he wants, he has only

And

all

to ask it other Suitors are "left in the basket."

'&.m^i^m,mm.Bath

w #, ^ ^ #, fA^wm -a.
(F.),

Go

to

Bath be
to

a beggar!
"51

^f ;

^^

^,

-^

^ (S)-

"Go

Bathl"

said the Baron.

^ IS a 0, tt if
Beak
The

&
(S.)

Barkam.

beaks magistrates
i^il

(Originally magistrates,
(ffi)

judges or policemen),

:& "g; #1 Si *&

(M

11 #1

"I am going to petition the governor to send us out police to guard our tents."
"Hurrah!"

"And

even beaks,

if

necessary."

[496]
Bear

BEA
To bear out a man

to lend

him support

to

back him

Every one will bear me out in saying, that the mark by which you know them, is their genial and hearty freshness and youthfulness
of character.

^j!

lit

&

&.,

To bear

m t&m^ ^ ^a bob or a handto

so short of

Suhghes.
assist, to join others

in

We were
a hand.

men, that every one on board had

to

bear

R. L. Stevenson.

To bear down upon to approach ^; ^ m, iBi If m m).

jffc

deliberately (C),

^x

As soon
bearing

as they got

will-preserved

down
jH: fi'

on the quarter deck, Arthur perceived a tall, with an eye-glass, whom he seemed to know, upon them.

man

K M,

Ifij

?K,

fl& iei

y IS ^ 2. &

S. R. Haggard.
(P.),

To bear

in
ffi

M 12,
It will

mind to remember, recollect i& ^ B (.X)^, E #.,

-^

jC,

be borne in mind that Mr. Aubrey had given bail to a very

large amount.

SC !E

i.

M it F a t"

.Bt

ig

^ i% aj #

S. Warren.

A bear leader one who acts as companion to a person of distinction (P.), PSic^W*;^^, :^*f^ # ;& A m.
Once more on foot, but freed from the irksome duties of a "bear and with some of his pay, as tutor, in pocket, Goldsmith continued his half-vagrant peregrinations through part of France and Piedmont, and some of the Italian State.
leader,"

* P3 iS,
It

2SSl

^ :^ ^U H Si g.

Washington Irving.

was somewhat beneath the dignity of a gentleman cavalier ta * act as bear leader to the joskins and simpering city madams that

came

to see the curiosities.

'^^m'k^M^t'H.

G.A.

Sala.

BEA
To play the bear withto
The
ff
last

[497]
injure, to dainage (F.),

storm has played the bear with

iii

my

crops,
i

?5C

m a> ^

* -

Seat

To beat the bush

pursuit of

to search as sportsmeik

do when in

game

(P.),

n^liT^m m, ^ ^ B M

ever, the truth

Mr. Maurice, again, that pure and devout spirit, ot whom, howmust at last be told, that in theology Ihe passed his life beating the bush with deep emotion and never starting the hare.
sa St IS, 3t

^ ^ m^M, mmf[^, it ai

-la-

^ ss

4:e sfs

?s

-ai-

Matthew Arnold.

To beat a retreat
as a sign for

to retire (C.)

(Originally a military-

phrase, having reference to the beating! of the

drums

making a

retreat), ?.^

^ !& :S S tS Pf S^>
;

^
5i

iin

^^

-a).

She introduced Percy to him. and Percy soon beat a retreat.

The

colonel

was curt but grumpy,

iSfe

m 1^ ^ 13 E ra
-ft,.

;^

^.

fM^

i*

^ f^ ,
(P.),

Si neade.
E.

fill

To beat the
So fight
I,

air

to struggle in

vain

^MM^;
-Si-

not as one beating the

air.
?!;

is in ;a g

^,

^^

^mA^
air.

i?B

These
literally
jlfc
'

men

labour harder than other

# mmenresult,
^,
Jib

Paul.

nil.

This

ia

beating the
JSa

^ A ii

A K ^ SJ S=,

iiS

-^

JS^

f IB

^^X^
Reade.

^ JUfi,.
Beau
Beau
(P.)

ideal-^highest conceivable type,

finest

specimen

[French]
ambition

m m; .^, Mm:t^m, m (X)

them a beau
ideal of a

mm].
My
is to

give

welcome.

Beauty

S:IIF^aa@i:aHii- charlotte Bronte. ^ The beauty sleep the sleep taken before midnight (C),
^,

SiW*

A
make

medical man,

who may be

called

up

at

any moment, must

sure of his beauty sleep.

H. Kingdey.

[498]
Beast

BET
Beauty and the Beast

a lovely woman with

is

an

ugly-

male companion (C.) {The expression an old nursery tale),

borrowed from

^itAil^^f^#;fl^#

Beauty and the Beast was what they called us when we went out walking together as we used to every day.

S^
Bedfordshire

81

* # ilJt S.
for Bedfordshire
to the land of

H.B. Haggard.
retire

To be
(F.),

to be anxious to to bed ^mmm;W:m, s m, m a m m m in).

Nod."

"I'm going

"Faith, I'm for Bedfordshire."

ff

?,

a?

AH

Stf

! &.

Swift.

Benefit

"Without benefit of clergy

criminals

(During the Middle Ages,

being able to recite a

who

could prove that they belonged to the

to th-^ extent of

Church, even

verse of Scripture, were allowed to escape punishment.

known as benefit of clergy. Notorious offenders often escaped on this plea, like Will of Harribee, who knew his neck-verse see The Lay of the Last Minstrel, The phrase is now used loosely, as in the following extract),
This privilege was

m. It

m ^^^^nmmmi^-^n'^MK

yfWc;?[^M.WM^M,MA
'sm

She would order Goody Hicks to take a James's powder, without

appeal, resistance, or heneflt of clergy.

ia

^ S,

Thackeray.

BSte

A bete noire a
The

person particularly disliked, the pet object of one's dislike (C.) [French] ^;

A^^
who
is

ladies of the party simply detest

himLady

Pat,

bit of a wit, calls

him her

bete noire.

)P i^

-ffi,.

F. Marryat.

BIT
Between

[499]
or the door-post spoken confidential-

Between you and me and the post

A phrase used when anything

ly (F.)

is

See Bed-post,

ij Bed-post.

Big

A hig wiga
person (C),

person in authority, a high or powerful

izm ^, i^M"^,

:k

A ^^, BW, ^
to

mm:tAm).
"Then
I will leave you, uncle,"

said Clare,

telling the big wigs that there is nothing

more

"to the task o be done or known

down here."

~fm,mvS'Sm,^MIM'S^^Sooner or later one of the big wigs will be settled one way or other.

Edmund

Yaies.

will take it up,

and the point

^.

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

Bishop

The hishop has

set his foot in it

the contents of the

to the zeal of

dish are burnt (F.)

(A jocular reference

bishops for burning heretics),

)^^ &; M^,i^M

this
id?

"Why

sure, Betty,

thou art bewitcht;

iiif

cream

is

burnt too."

sii't,

151

a fe,

j*

^ ^.
is.

jHs

?L fs

a !S a ^
swift.

"Why Madam,
iiA,
:ai7i

mm ^mtell

the bishop has set his foot in it."

^isj-

Bit

A bit of one's mind a good scolding, a serious reproof

{^.),m
' '

m;izm,izn ^
have to
her

Hm-

I shall

bit

of

my mind

(remonstrate sharply

with her)" he said, as he stepped across the Close.

Bite

^nmiim^m,tB,^^f^^ii1m^^^' A. Irollope. To bite the thumb at This was formerly a sign of

contempt often made use of by those who wished pick a quarrel (C). |g || He f6 m);

to

To
'Tis

see

Wear I a sword men bite their thumbs ?

gij,

a ag
of

g A it S ^
i5;

Randolph.

no less disrespectful to bite the nail of your thumb, by way scorn and disdain. Jit aii mmt.^^,mm.mmu-%i^ii>-

Rvles of

Civility, 1678.

[500]
Slack

BLO A black sheep an ill-conducted person,

society

member

of

who

is

not considered respectable (C), 55cS;1$

I'm looked upon

I'm forbidden the house.

pest

a contamination.

as a black

sheep

Edmund

Yates.

Black Monday
She now hated
that what
is

the

Monday on which

school re-opens

called

my sight, and made home so disagreeable to me, by schoolboys Black Monday was to me the whitest

in the whole year.

111.
.

Fielding.

Bless

To

bless one's selfto be astonished (C),

Could

nmm)Sir

^ ^ ^^,
;

Thomas look

in

upon us

just

now, he would

bless

him-

self,

for

we

are rehearsing all over the house.

jE^^^it^
Blindman
Blindman's
and the fun
the others),

-ta-tii.

Miss Austen.

buflf

an

ancient

game

still

very popular
blindfolded

with children.

(One of the company

is

of the

game consists in

his efforts to capture

^ ^^; | g ^

Jgi,

Bf

FJ*

^ ^, % g

Mr. Burchell, who was of the party, was always fond of seeing some innocent amusement going forward, and set the boys and girls
to blindman's
bufif.

*^t*;t^1il.

Goldsmith.

Blow

To blow over

to pass off, to

be heard of no more (P

"Gracious me! an execution!" said Lady Olonbrony; "but I heard you talk of an execution months ago, my lord, before my son went to Ireland, and it blew over; I heard no more of it."

M. Edgeworth.

BLU
To blow up to B, M. M(lr).
If I

[501]
reprimand
house
(F.),

scold,

^ M. }^ ^; M

hadn't been proud

of the

I shouldn't be blowing you

up.

Blue

Hughes. ^*ajBi^iSI^,il5?ftSJJl^lltlJ*-ffi/. beginning and, for him, The captain was too "wide-awake" upon him at once, gave him a grand blow up. S. H. Dana. ^^ia t mi^M ^iSS i**, EP B* IH] blue funk a state of terrified expectation, a condition

mH m
'H

of frightened suspense

(S.),

S ;t,

'IS;

32fe

'IS,

^ it ^ ^>

ffi

}^ if

(ft).

Altogether I was in the pitiable state

known by

school-boys as a

"blue funk."

S;?*)iBr^, EP^^p;fWM^-ffi?S?FS^^l

s R. Haggard.
(Bluebeard was
'

Bluebeard

A Bluebeard a

brutal

husband

(0.)

a brutal noble in Brittany

chevalier Raoul.'

who married a number of wives and murdered them. His real name was the
The
last wife

whom

he wedded was

entrusted on one occasion with the keys of the castle

during her lord's absence, with strict orders, on pain of death, not to open one special room. Her curiosity, however, proved too strong, and she disobeyed, only to
find therein the corpses of her predecessors.
to her relatives for aid,

She sent
looked out

and her

sister

Anne

from the watch tower

to see if the rescuers

were coming),

m^jiM,

t^m^^^^^^,^jiM^^m&}'^ mm, m ^ m n ^ :t iij'dz^, m^ >^:t, M.m fi

Why, such a
regular Bluebeard! Of course you

know how he

treated another girl before he married

Lady Alexandrina.

^- Trollope. ?^1njSI^., }*0^ ^.-liiof British Governpublications the ofiicial Blue Books are blue in ment (P.) (So called because their covers

colour),

m.&*;^Mmm:t,m-^mmiXj.

[502]

BOS
At home he gave himself up
The
latter portion of

m^mmmmm&^%of the English blue-book.

to the perusal of Blue Books.

Ihaekeray.
(is)

Lord Beaconsfield'a speech

upon

p.

208

A HIn the blues

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

melancholy, low-spirited
to sit idle,

(F.),

M
If

'^%hM^;

F^l

fi {%).
we should
all

we had been allowed

have fallen in

the blues

(had an attack of melancholy).

R. L. Stevenson.

Bob
Bold

To bear a bobto

join in chorus (F.),

1^QMM^;M

As bold

as brass

(c), ;?
duct.

^;
came

:=f^

impudent, without modesty or shame ^n m, m M m).

Thackeray.

Fred Bullock told old Osborne of his son's appearance and con-

"He

in as bold as brass," said Frederick.

-^

^-

Bou

Bon

mal grewhether one likes [French], ^ Ml m n,yf B

gre,

it

AW M M^

or not (0.)

(M)-

Bon
ISf

gre,
iii

mal

gri

we had

to wait our turn.

^ 13 H ^, A bon mot a clever

IS
'It

ilS

^ If 11

jil

gg

a.

R.H. Dana.
;

saying (P.)

^ m, i& m m.

[French], rg "a

im m]

The bon mots of the mother were everywhere repeated. ^ -e 2, , ^ a -t *l ig 11 &. M. Edgeworih.

Bonne

bonne bouche
pleases (C.)

^mm). mm\.
2.

a sweet morsel, something which [French], ^^'M u,'m

m ::tm,%^

If I could ever believe that Mandeville meant anything more his Fable of the Bees than a bonne bouche of solemn raillery

by

S,

B.

S. T. Coleridge.
ifj.

Bosom

A bosom friend^a very intimate friend (P.),

"What
&

^ ^

S ^ ^, M ^ S ^

a strange history that was of his marriage!"

llfc

5B.

xij
me
" So I have heard ;-i-but he is not quite to have told aie all the particulars."
iflP

[503J
bosom friend enough with
45:

is Sa If,

iSl

53 ;t, Si i at

m 6 i: I?
-ffii.

fl&,

* ^ * i[ ^,

* l;
A.

(Kf

K*

Ti-ollope.-

Bowel

Bowels of mercy
tiij

compassionate
>&,

feelings,

pity (P.),

mzti:^;mm

^ >& m, -t >& fc ^ (X)seeing

;

And at least it would be a face worth who was without bowels of mercy.
Mi

the face of a

man

B.

R, L. Stevenson.
|rJ

Box

In the same box

equally embarrassed (C), n;nmmm,mmh^ w, e ti ti, ^

- :^ ii
" How
c
'is

7
jft

^
la

-rg

'tt

?^ m).
?

is it
:?c

that you are not dancing SS

"

M Sc

Ssomething inaudible about "partner."

He murmured

"Well, we are in the same box."

Brass

A brass farthing a symbol of

He
him.

TrI

tB

^ &.

.H.R.

Haggard.
(C.),,

what

is

worthless

could perceive his wife did not care one brass farthing about.

;SiK^iB, 3SH. E. Haggard.

Bread

To take bread and

(An old-fashioned

salt

to

bind one's

self

by oath.

phrase),

Mf^;jttf,ffijfiL:^^,^

Break

To break down (a)

" They had better not
she suddenly breaks

to lose control over one's feelings

try,

" replied
cries.

Lady Swansdown, and then

down and

5.

F. Marryat.
(6) to fail in

health

(P.),

^#T;^^W^,#
;

I have worked hard since I

came here but

;

since

Abner

left

me

at the pinch it hasn't been man's work, Jacky it has been a wrestling-match from dawn to dark. No man could go on so and not

break down.

=g,

jlfc^

X ^, ^ ^ A

^;f

t6

ffi

#, i

M PS, ^ IT ^

,1., IS;

R3

mt^^&.S&^^^jSim^-

Reade.

[604] To break
off

BRI
"with to
cease to have communicationa

with, to renounce the acquaintaiace of (P.),

^ ^5

Wil

him once more

Well, then, I consent to break off witb Sir CJharles, and only see as a friend.

Reade.

To break up

to be near death, to shown signs of approaching dissolution (C), ifi: A. ffi 3t ^,

"Poor Venables
strolled away.

is

breaking up," observed Sir Brian, as they

0.

^-

Good Words, 1887.

Brick

Like bricks

quickly, without ceremony

or delay

(S.),

Bump they come against the post, and out flies the

fare like bricks.

^^mmmnn,^mmmM;S!S^Si.
Bring

Dickens.

To bring

into play

to,give scope to (P.),

to cause to to m i] Wi iJ ^ W^,
act,
,
;

set in
'at

motion, '^ (X).

The very incongruity

all his

of their relative positions

brought into play

genius.

Macmillan's Magazine, 1887.

To bring about
plishing

to cause to

happen, to

assist in

accom-

(P.), 15:

^;

f^, S JS ^ *,

15

fi!c

(^).

There are many who declare that they would be willing to bring about an Anglo-Eussian alliance upon the terms of giving Russia her

head in the direction

ar

of Constantinople.

m T S,

il- .El

S M^

Hili-

FoHnigUly Review, 1887.

)

To bring round
"How is
"Much
' '

to restore, cause to recover (P

;^

poor old No. 50 to-day

the same."

Do you

think you will bring

him round,

sir

?"
Seade.

BUG
To bring up
ing
(P.),

[505]

(of

a sailing vessel) to stop, to cease mov(ist).

w^m;i$m{mmmmw

He was still
in the bay.

plunged in meditation when the cutter brought up

Good Words, 1887.

Broken

A broken reed see Reed, J,

New brooms sweep
office are

fji|

Reed.
to
ilK

Broom

clean^those uewly appointed

great changes (C),
ffr

apt to

make

'^ ^J fj

If

new brooms do not sweep

ffi

clean, at
31?
ilif-

any

rate they

sweep away.

SP

^ f= ^ t6 ^ $ if

-fS;S^ Blackwood's Mag., 1887.

*^T

Broomstick

To jump the broomstick

"jumping the besom."
marriage), $L #f gi;

to live

with a

woman

with-

out having legally married her (F.)

It

(Sometimes called constituted an informal

BJ3

^ ^, #

IK JE

S,

M ^ # :^

This woman in Gerrard-Street here had been married very young, over the broomstick (as we say), to a tramping man.

Bubble

Bubble and squeak

fried beef

and cabbage

(F.)
'J5^

(Also

used contemptuously of what

is little prized),

'^

Bank and

title!
;

bubble and squeak

bubble and squeak! No, not half so good as English beef and good cabbage.

Buckle

To buckle

to

to set to

one's self diligently to

work at in work (F.), &

earnest, to apply

||6

:^, fH

:@

We
Buckler

all

buckled to with a

will,

^^g'llM^^, #Hic E3!IS li ^To give the bucklers to yield,

to defence (F.), gg

doing four hours a day. a. R. Haggard.

to lay aside all

thoughts
{t,).

|^

{/t,
is

/p tt

^#

tnl

;&

Age

ia

nobody when, youth

in place,

It gives the other the bucklers.

Old Play.

[506]

BUY
To take up the bucklers
fashioned),

to struggle, contend.

(OWffl).

U ^ U i^,
;

US. tfc

C^ ^,

^ :^ M

Charge one of them to take up the bucklers Against that hair-monger Horace.
Decker.

Bull

A bull in a china shop something

it

will

in a place where do an excessive amount of damage (C), -K

^ ^

more

Poor John! He was perfectly conscious of his own ponderosity so perhaps than his sprightly mother-in-law gave him credit.
like a bull in a china-shop.

He felt

it

!?

^ ,

m; ;^

iS,

'te

A m :^

ffi

&

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

To take the bull by the horns

to attack something formidable in a bold and direct fashion (C), :^ "^

when he was walking

said * * *.

Happening, therefore, to meet Monckton one windy morning, into Kingscliff to keep .an appointment, he resolved to take the bull by the horns, and, extending his hand,

Wi^S}&,7i^Mf$^m,n^mB
Bullet

Good words, 1387.

Every bullet has

by
fate

its

what

soldiers will fall in battle

(<^.),'9t

billetit is appointed beforehand it is no use

contending against fate

&^

'^,

W^M^

"Well," he remarked

consolingly,

"every

bullet has its billet."

'S^Un,nSL^iil%.
No one
of life as

H. R. Haggard.
bullet

talks

now

of

"every

having

its biliet,"

or thinks

an "appointed span."

!a H#

^ A, S [ m 5E & ^
off

fir,

iC 1^ jffi 5i :t *1 ^. Contemporary Review, 1SS7.

^M

Buy

To buy
of

^to

secure the freedom of by paying a

money

(P.),

# ;# #

ffi

5flJ,

|ft

^ J^ i^ ;t,

sum fil a.

CAN
If

[507]

of the girls were discovered by the alcalde to be open evil they were whipped, and kept at work sweeping the square of the presidio and carrying mud and bricks for the buildings yet a few

any

livers,

reals Ca coin 2^^- in value)

would generally buy them

oflf.

M M, ^ ^ t K, ^

fe

nr

^
'

Ifc.

^- S. Dana.

c.

Calf

To eat the
(F.),

calf in the cow's belly

to

be too ready to

anticipate, to be over sanguine of obtaining

something

m :t 'M -^, ^ >^^%:tit, mm, 1^ m^^n^

made
shift to

I ever
calf in the

avoid anticipations; I never would eat the

cow' s belly.
S- Richardson.

Calflove the juvenile passion of a young man girl, immature sexual affection (C), |? ff^ 'ft

for a

S E.

'Twaa no * * flery-furnace kind of calf love on my matured and sensible admixture of gratitude and sincere
SS
^;f

part, but a
affection.

^,

ilfe

M^ a
Cake

* ^ i^ ^ gf
ffl

If

if;,

SS

i^

li

-f^

B3

#,

ffJ

B|

B iX, ^ ^
Sola.

-til-

G.A.

My

cake

is

dough
all

I am quite disappointed
these traverses,

(F.),

E.

Notwithstanding

we
ifc

are confident here that the

match
Si

will take, otherwise

;g- Jib

my
a;

cake

is

dough.
Bl it
ffl JtJ
IiJ is , Iffi, Howell's Letters.

^ PUS

:t

5f^

^%,Xm:^^Wi^Cannot
1

I cannot

away with

this

I detest

it,

abominate

it

Couriers and ladies' maids, imperials and travelling an abomination to meI cannot away with them.

carriages, are

SE^Jif.iilB}ra^.-g';;f1t-#,^Sa2,1ti-

Hughes,

Candle

To hold a candle
is strictly

to the

devil to
^n

diverge from what

right or moral, to do knowingly

PJ ^D : 3a
;

what

is

wrong (C),

?B ?*,

JS ,

[508]
way
to mischief.

CAR
Here I have been holding a candle to the
devil, to sho-w

him

the

m lb m^
Lady

iSfe

?E.

^a
sake

fi5

P5

a
SK.

S<^<i-

Bassett's vrrist

went around his neck in a moment.

little, little

"Oh,
-ar

Charles, dear, for

- Bf IS
Cap

candle to the devil." hold a a ^ ^ ^ A ^ W- it i^ * f 0> ei y. S

my

If the cap
consider

fits,
it

wear it if

the remark applies to you,

well (C),

^ %^%%^-^% m-^.^^
is

The truth
takes
it
J

is,

when a
I

searching sermon

preached, each sinner

to himself.

am

glad Mr. Plawes fitted the cap on.

ft

ifS

f :t II K . iS ^, fJ Fr ^ ^ it A, 1& a ^ ^ Reai^. W, ^ ^ H ^ -&. a W rr S tg

Je;
.Kl Jib

The cap and bells These

were licensed
jesters.

were carried by fools in the

office.

middle ages, as tokens of their

See

(The "fools"

"King

Lear"), ?#

^ fp

1^

And, look you, one is bound to speak the truth as far as one knows it, whether one mounts a cap and bells or a shovel-hai (is a fool
or a bishop).

To cap the globe

to surpass everything

(F.),

By $g

"Well," I exclaimed, using an expression of the district, "that caps the globe, however."

S3I Care

ffl

^ S:* 1-,

;A:ig^

B.^MiJ

ISiffi

ffl

S aj^.

C. Bronte.

Care killed a cat This proverb refers to the depressing effects of care upon the bodily health. (It even killed a cat, which has nine lives. See Cat), ;i g|

S^

|g

m * ^, Si A ^
"Come, come,"
cat.

ifl:

jjj

?E,

M ji j a # &).
jsa

said Silver, "stop this talk. Fetch ahead for the doubloons."

* * Care killed a

^ & II

nr &

R, L. Stevenson.

CAS
Carry

Csogi
indif-

To carry
ference
in an

it off
(0".)

to refuse to succumb, to pretend

is

(The phrase

used

when a person is placed

and
tries to

awkward

or humiliating position,

hide his feelings of shame or confusion), yf

M;

"^ "M

Frightened too
like Satan..

I;

could see that

but carrying

it off,

sir,

really

R. L. Stevenson.

To carry off (a)

or supply

to
is

help to pass, to aid, to supplement

(P.),

what

lacking

|&

i;)?/ ;

JliU

g ^ ^ 0C).
own

She was one who required none

appearance.

of the circumstances of studied

dress to to carry off aught (supply anything deficient) in her

A. TroUope.
(b)

to cause the

death of

(P.),

WcM;M :S:j^M,M
Temple.

K n iX).
The change
SI 5c ,
of air carried
iSc

him
-lii.

off.

*, K

^ ?E

Carte

Carte blanche full freedom, anything as one pleases (P:)

ix).
There
II

perfect liberty to act in

[French]|

-(M

S It ^;

mm].
is carte

blanche to the School-house fags to go where they like.

ffi.

^ * ft ^^ ;t 'Ml *. tB EI 1il<a
sent off

Hughes.

Amelia once more in a carriage to her mamma, So he with strict orders and carte blanche to purchase everything requisite for a lady, of Mrs. George's Osborne fashion, who was going on a
foreign tour.

Hi

Cast

^ K SCast down dejected,

:?;

Ihackeray.

in low spirits (P.),

ii fg *r

^ m.
I

H^

if;,

For my, part,

was horribly

cast

down.
I^-L. Stevenson.

M i& i6

I"J

* St S ^-

[510]
Cat

CIR
A cat has nine lives a proverb expressing the prevailing belief that
it is

very

difficult to kill

cat.

See Care,

He

struggled hard,

and had,

as they say, as

many

lives as

cat.

Catch

To catch it to
"Poor
IIS

get a

punishment or scolding (F.), |^ J| ;

he
says, smiling.

Sir Bate.! catching it again,"

nl

^ 0,

SI

"i.

E 4* H E

3?.

^ A E ^(F.),

F. Marn/at.

Chalk

By

a long chalk

by

a great distance, very far from

reaching a prescribed

mark

^ H S M # '^ t
J

and teach him manners, by a long chalk.

Here, Polly! Polly! Polly! take this man down to the kitchen, if you can he is not fit for my drawing room,
;

Change

To put the change upon a person

You cannot
lived

to deceive

him (C),

put the change on

among the

me so easy as you think, for I have quick-stirring spirits of the age too long to swallow

chaff for grain.

SI,

H5iL:fe^,fta^"prjJl^In]S;Ptt^, jac^:^tHil.

Scott.

Child

Child's play
effort (P.),
It's child's

something very easy, work demanding no

%m;M,m,^mi^m{-x).
stufi'

play to find the

now.
R. L. Stevenson.

m.1^m&,Si^,^mit^.
Circumstance

Circumstances alter cases it is necessary to modify one's conduct by the particular circumstances or conditions of each case (P.),
jft

^^ ^;Bt^@^

London between August and April is looked upon as a nightmare. But circumstances alter cases; and' I see that it will be the best and most convenient place for you.

^Wl^,
i^'iii-

'k

An

m.m n ^,

^-Km.,m^

i\^

mm,m^

Mn.Menry Wood.

COL
" Here
" Circumstances alter cases," interposes Mr. is luckily no question of stripes at all."

[511]
Hodge in my
ifc

behalf.

^JSS^^^H, 1tje?c
M
Clean
Ifi/-

!,>?

^,

^#M^ M
G. A. Sola.

pg

To show a clean pair

of heels

to

run

off (F.),

^S

These maroons were runaway slaves who had bid a sudden goodbye to bolts and shackles, whips and rods, and shown their tyrants a clean pair of heels.
SlJ,

ft

K ^ ^ 2. A, 4- a Ji i^ l ^ !t Tf ^.

G-A.

Sola.

Clear

To clear out

to

go

ofif

entirely, to

go away (C),

^ ^;

women
41

But, mercy on me! everybody is clearing out. get ten minutes' start of me.

I shall let these

ifS fi'

&

F. Marryat.

Coach

To drive a coach and four through

provisions
of,

to

break the
(P.),

to find

a safe means of evading

J5

You always told me that it is easy to drive a coach and four through wills and settlements and legal things.
H. R. Haggard.

Cock

All cock-a-hoop for anything

eager for
it (F.),
;

very much excited and

"as the house-

& /p ^ H PJ ;^, H >& 1^ ^., ft >&

for it," struck in Cattledon,

"All cock-a-hoop maids are."

Mrs. Henry Wood.

That cock won't

fight
JH:

^ ^f; ^ # ^.
I tried to see the
(this

that expedient will not do ?* ^ #, ^#M

J^b
(ffi).

(S.),

arms on the carriage; but

that cock wouldn't fight

was

of

no

avail).

isiS^III^5J:^^,
Cold
Cold without
I laugh at fame. :spirits

*S7J^-fii-

C. Kingsley.

in cold water and without sugar

'

Farne, sir! not worth a glass of cold without.

Lytton.

^^^,^i^^Z,i^7f^m-m^i^:i^nm^.

[512]

COM
To come

Come

byto obtain (P.), #;

;

M iX).

That Christianity might have been worse employed than in paying the milkman's score is true enough for then the milkman would have come by his own (obtained what was his due).

M mm a, ^
* * *

:t.i^

'fi

m%A

:t

X m, mm-^ &.m Si 9, m
W. Black.

To come m, ^, ^
came

over one

in,

mm m m).

to act like * * * to one (C.)>

Also his ideas of disqipline were of the sternest, and in short, he the royal navql officer over us (acted towards us if he were an officer of the royal navy set in authority over us) pretty considerably, and paid us out amply for all the chaflf we were won't to treat him to on land.

S.R. Haggard. Wi.mm,%-A&.&m.'&ih^mTo come Captain Stiff over a person to be arrogant in behaviour towards liim (S.),^^; ^A. i^iS IrI

I shouldn't quite

come Captain
if,
-tife

Stiff

over him, but I should treat

him with
16
fla
;?:'

a kind, of air, too, as

j>i

hem',

ii

jte

Si

::p

^,

^ ^^a fall, down come

S, ;f

ffl

^;f

a tt , #, :S ^ - S , IS,
-S.

how

delightful.

Warren.

a lowering of a person's dignity

"Now I'm
coloured,

and

said that this

your worship's washerwoman." The dignitary was rather a come down.

urn 0,Si'^^'^';ii*s(iss,

M^,m%m.nTo come
,

m^Kmmm-^,m^m
Reade.
(P.)

to

hand

to'

be received
;

uspd in

letter writing),
letter

"Your
said

came

to

1& ^J ( iT J5 It). hand yesterday morning, Dr. Tempest,"

a. xronope.

^ Mm

(A phrase

much

Mr. Crawley.

^Mmmn<m^n,mMm,vl^^ikMfk
To come
(Generally used of some secret),

Commit

im To commit

mmmm.
is

to light to be disclosed, to become public (P.) "S, ^; -^ M, m. {%}

for cox^tempt

because he
justice (P.),

to send a person to prison dispbediept or disrespectful in a court of

Bmmm;m^mkmwi.i

&:

ORB
the fear bl the only thing
opinioh.

[613]

Aiid even over the angnst persoii of the judge himself there hanga tflat he cannot corfimit for contempt, public

f^,

k7f:'kmi.mM^ M, a fe S ^ ^ 4-

H. R- Haggard.
perfectly cool

Cool

Cool a^ a cucumber composed (C),

'
'

not agitated,
ill,

and

BM; >& ^ tL, # . ^ im);

Never

fear.

Miss Nugent, dear, " said Sir Terence "

I'

m as cool

as a cucumber."

*t IB f

if*

0, SI

^ 'h

/P

!f-

'fS.

tl il

s -aJE ;22

if.

Edgeworth.

Cdusin

Cousin Betty

liialf-witted

person (C),

jp$

^^

A;#ffiA, feA(m).
I do not think there's a man living or dead for that matter that can say Foster's wronged hiin of a penny, or gave short measure

to a child or a Cousin Betty.

'J-

^,

^ H A &.

Mrs. Oashell.

To

call cousins

to claim relationship (C),

^W.',^My
it,

My new
^.

house......is to

have nothing Gothic abbut

nor pretend

to call cousiUS with the manslon-hoVise;

H. Walpole.

Cover

Covers were laid for so

for so

many dinner

was prepared

xmm
ri ii

many guests m).

"fe-

(C),

mii^^^;!!^^^
Ihackeray.

Covers were laid for four.

i^

Crack

To crack a crib

to

cdmmit a burglary

(S.),

H^

tf

The captain had been

all

their jjaJ (companion), arid, while they

were

three cracking a crib,

had with unexampled treachery betrayed

them.

Credat

Credat Judaeus
[Latin].

a phrase implying disbelief (C) (Tbe quotation is from Horafce Credat Judaeus Apella, The Jew Apella may believe it!),

^A

[514]

CRO
"Would they for a moment dare to hold up to public ridicule and contempt the very persons to whom they owe admittance within the charmed circle? Credat Judaeus. Such incomparable baseness is
simply incredible.

m &.xw:mmw:-^^, x^mu,i)km&m.,
*, if^^/E.mSt'gjS^ABBB.
Creep

Ham

^mmsn
(F.),

Edinburgh Review, 18S7.

To give one the creeps

They gave me the

to cause

one

to

shudder

creeps, the

whole

lot of

Croesus

nm^A,'tM^:^mmm,&:ii'^^&. Croesus a man of great wealth (P.)

them, and that's a fact S. R. Haggard.

(Croesus was a

wealthy king of Lydia in Asia Minor),

^^

;fI5

if,

It is money you love, and not the man and were Croesus and footman to change places you know, you poor rogue, who would have the benefit of your allegiance.
;

his

M *, ^ # S A &. ^ ffi S ^ & K a BB nc'^M2.mm,m&i-mm^:tm&iiC^M^- Thackeray.

^Jf
flt ifc,

ift

fi.

Cropper

To come a cropper
length
(F.),

to get a fall, to

tumble at

full

it; it ifc.^ M,

# ^ - ^ C^}. ^^ ^g
;

He came
Cross

a cropper yesterday while out. riding.

To

cross

swords to

have a duel (C),

(gl).

Captain Richard * * would soon have crossed swords with the spark had any villany been afloat.

^M^To
cross the

G. A. Sola.

hand with silverFortune-tellers, who

in England and other countries are most frequently of Gipsy race, begin their operations by having their hands
crossed with a silver coin.

They pretend

that this

is

an indispensable preliniinary
b sh
Itb

to divination,

[;

:5fc ja ;ffi ^.i la #). He went on his way with the grenadier, a sweep, and a Gipsy woman, who was importunate that he should cross her hand with silver, in order that he might know all about the great fortune that
,

?*

m^

4+^

n ,

:f

iBT

he was to wed.

CUT
Grow

[515]

Crow's feet the wrinkles which age or trouble causes to form about the eyes (C), ft^;BS:^;t^tit,

Years had told upon George more than they had upon Philip, and, though there were no touches of gray in the flamming red of his hair, the bloodshot eyes, and the puckered crow's feet beneath them, to say nothing of the slight but constant trembling of the hand, all

showed that he was a man well on

in middle

life.

a ;t A,
Cry

:;?: iff'

S K * ^ B# B# IS U ^.

if. ie.

Haggard.

To cry

to retreat from a bargain, to refuse to out an engagement (C), ji $^; ^ ^, :^ #

oflf

carry

(ife)is

Osborne

will cry off

now, I suppose, since the family

smashed.

n^Mint.Um^fk.^mm'^nmm^expedition, Admiral

Ihackeray.

Miss Huntley and Miss Joy having consented to take part in the and Mrs. Greenwood promptly cried off from it.
3i *^

A.

flIJ

flit

^.

Good Words,

1887.

To cry cupboardto
"Madam,

be hungry

(F.),

J3

M;

^ i^, ti

dinner's upon the table."

^ A, B pa tK ^
" Faith I'm glad
of it;

my

belly

began to cry cupboard.'

Cussedness

Cussedness

wilful

obstinacy, unreasonable behavioui

Could she care for that little washed-out rag of a Frenchwoman, or was it merely opposition, determination not to submit to authorgeneral "cussedness," in short, which had made her espouse ity,

her part

Murray's Magazine, 1887.

Cut

To cut out

to supplant to secure another's place

ffi

or

privileges (C),

|L;

, ^ ^, ^ :^

E-

(HI). in with

In a few weeks some fellow from the West End will come a title and a rotten rent-roll and cut all us city men out.

a^*,mM*Li6^*;tAlil-

Ihackeray.

[516]

DEA To cut one's throat to act so as to ruin one's e I& ^ j^; a f^ ^ m).
He saw
it

self (C),

sJl

now, be had

let

the old

man

die after

he had

executed the fresh will disinheriting him. He had let liim die; he had effectually and beyond ledemjition c^d his own throat (ruined himself

by

his

own

action).

^A2.5E,iglffi^A;t.5E,fiPJi intS^SElti,.

S- R. Haggard.

Cut and thrustkeen,

forcible (P.),

W^l^M (30style,

That is the way of doimg businessj A cut and thrust out any flourish, Scott's style when his blood was up.

with-

^H^

lfi(..

Pr<^eisor

Wihon.

D.
Darken

To darken another's doors his house (C), M n; ii S&,

He
is

the ^ ra (M).
to cross

threshold of

receive him, I shall never

a dishonourable scoundrel ; and if, after this assurance, yon darken your doors again.

^#

::?:

S ?K it IS ^.

JReade.

Daylight

To throw daylight upon

But

-to reveal, display to view

for that accident, the mystery

and the wrong being played

out at Caromel's

Farm might never have had daylight thrown upon it.

Mrs. Henry Wood.

M ^ ;i
De

H ^lofty

De haut en basin a condescending fashion [French], S #; M It, it 1^ *&, P^ i& ^S ^ (M).

It,

(C.)

She used to treat him a

little

de havi en has.

Dead

Dead drunk 5 iij m).

stupefied

with liquor (C),

::fc

^ ^ ^J,
;

Pythagoras has finely observed, that a man is not to be considered dead drunk till he lies on the floor, and stretches out his arms and legs to prevent his going lower.

igf

<t

JSl

OT *l
fil

If

6P :^ IE 11

* *.

* IE ei *, J^ # ^ # W, &

j?,

^fgt :*. A

S. Warren.

DEV
The dead
office

[517]
dfepairttnent

letter office-the

the Post

umm^ zm-, &.m mm.

1

where unclaimed

letters are

kept

(P.), HJC

#M^
at

took

it

for granted that it

found

its

way

to the dead-letter office,

or was sticking

Up

across a pafie in the post-ttaster's

window

Huntingdon

for the

whole town to see

and

it

a love-letter.

To pull the dead horse

to

work

for

wages already

Dead

as a herring stone dead, without any life (F.), (The herring is a fish "which dies immediately after it
leaves the water),

H 52; t^ ^ S.

M ^ Si(S) (^
Reade.

infii

e je&^#, liMM T iil^SI, Mil e mK7jc

as a herring.'

'

'

Dead

a 4. ^ ^Death

To do

to

deathto

kill (P.),

WL^n;WLM,^m,U

This morning a boy of fifteen was done to death by Mr. Hawes.

Devil

The

advocatethe person in an ecclesiastical assembly who had the ungracious office ol opposing the
devil's

canonization of some saint (P.) (The Latin form of the

word is advocatus diaboli. The advoeatus diaboli tried to throw doubt on the sanctity and miraculous powers of the proposed saint. In the following extract Devil's
aduoeate signifies
'

one who

tries to

prove the existence

of unpleasant qualities'),

:tA,m.m

There would be so if the Devil's advocate could produce many such men as James Mill to counterbalance Scott and Mackintosh as specimens of the character of their countrymeni

* M ^ # tg $

ffl

Jt

tm,Ski^m^mAitn^,9>i
suffer (C),

* 1^ ^ R ^ A, t &m^^-

ffi

St :g 2fc Mrs. ouphata.

is last

^E

Devil take the hindmost

mmm'^m^;^A^^mmm,m mmmmmmmmmr.

the

one who'

must

[518]

DON
Mr. Eames was very averse to the whole theory of competition. The "Devil take the hindmost " scheme he called it; and would then

men, and

go on to explain that hindmost candidates were often the best gentlethat, in this way, the Devil got the hindmost.

a
Dine

ill

#, tt

a ^ g A Smake
serve for dinner (P.),

A.

Trollope.

To dine

oflF- -to

^ M,i^- ^i
Thackeray.

Sir Pitt * *

though he dined
it.

ofiF

boiled mutton,

had always three

footmen

to serve

*^BESia#:a:^,tIfflH^#,1fe.
Discount

At a discountnot
popular
fiS

in

demand, not valued highly, un-

(P.),
jff

^m;^^'s^^,m^mm.,mm,w.
est).
of English

fe, tr

There can be no doubt that the old fashioned ideas policy in the East are at a discount.

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

Doctor

To put the doctor on a man

Perhaps ways and means
the old prig.

to cheat

him (F.),

S'c i^l;

may

be found to put the doctor upon

^#^-S"Hrl:jaj:^Mm.

Tom Brown.
a state of oppression and

Dog

A dog's life a miserable life,

misery (C),
I

^ - Wtm; ^MMn^, ^ ^, M^, ^

life

am

afraid I led thai boy a dog's

(made that boy's existence

miserable).

Don't

Don't you

m^.^E.m&M&i^,iam~f^m.^. R.L. Stevenson. know a phrase constantly inserted in con-

versation sometimes apologetically, sometimes to secure the better attention of the listener. Many use it quite

mechanically,

^ :^

^fl

^;

'^

g /f ^^, g :^ ^n (^

said Mr.

"Oh, you don't know what Brighton is at this time of year," Tom. "All the resident people like ourselves keep open

house, dbn't you know, and very glad' to."

DUT
Double

[519]

To take a double

flrst^-to pass for a degree at Oxford

(P.),

with the highest honours

For instance, though

^ ,MM,^7t%

I flrmly believe that you could at the present take a double first at the University, your knowledge of English literature is almost nil.

moment

^^^m.m^Hky^^.
Down
To be down upon a person to
with

H, E. Haggard.
reprove or find fault

him

(F.),

^tKs;^*, E*. B^^ * SK (S).

Good Words,
1887.

Poor Buswell! hia appearance isn't aristocratic, 1 admit, and Mrs. Greenwood was rather down upon me for asking him here.

Mi.-J^m:m^^An^m^M^^Drag To drag
in

by the head and shouldersto

introduce

abruptly and without sufficient apparent cause (C), i|

We have enough to do to think of ourselves (in these days); without dragging in the absent by the head and shoulders.

* Sg
DuU

JfB

3R,

iSt

^ X # -a.

F. Marryat.
(F.),

Dull as ditchwater
What
"Heigho!

wholly uninteresting

M^;

Oh, Lord! Dull as ditchwaterThis

W *g S JB
ac

passed through his mind was something like the following is my only holiday,

yet I doii't seem to enjoy it."

;?:

K^
at

IS?,

m.

-S.

Warren.

Dutch

A Dutch auction an auction where

an extravagantly, high
price,

goods are started

and then gradually lowered in price until the people show a willingness to buy them (C.) (A common method of business among
travelling pedlars),

#iiP4H;i^^gi#^1i,:Jfe

They (the politicians) are always bidding against each other in the Butch auction by which we are being brought down surely, though
by a protracted process, to the abolition of every sort of qualification.

S*

-tj ;i" :fl

#>

^ % ^M^-

Ooldwin Smith in Contemporary Beview, 1887.

[520]
I^utchman
tioa
its

EGQ
Then I'm a Dutebmaii a
phrase used after a supposi
it

Ms been made,

in brdfer to contradict

or

show

absurdity,:^

M Mn^^ ^, f^M '^M ^M^-

"Toiiii" said the othei' dbggtedly, "if theire is as much gold on the ground 6f N6w Sdiith Wales as will make me a wedding-ring, I

am

a Dutchman."

E.
Ear

To give earto
"Mr;
he did
}k
so, ohcfe

listen (P.), i@

?;

if

H (X).
RL. Stevemoh.

TJtterson, ^r, asking to see

you," he called; and even as

more

violently sigiifed to the lawyer to give ear.

^9 i^

^ ^, ^ ^ m^ as M .

Echo

To the echo^-vehemenfcly,

enthusiastically (P.),

<.;

The maSsesi iAr from checking them, are disposed them to the echo.

to applaud

^ WB B, -t A;
&

y(:

f&ye^ ia 'A it,

s.m mis n:t,iaw^

mm
M.

M. Arnold.
urge, incite
(P.),

Egg

To egg on^to miX).

She *otild
girl's

B'^;

mm, M Wl,

ihfen be in

own

dding,

and how

a better position to judge how far it was the far she had bfeen egged on to it by others
Murray's Magazine, 1S87.

^-ftfcA:i^iiiISlB.-

As sure

as eggs is eggs certainly, assuredly (S. (Perhaps a cdrrUption of " as sure as xis x" a dictum
in I6gic), :t #.;

M M ^, tri: fr ^ ^ ME
is

Cffi).

And the

bishop said, "Sure as eggs Ttis here iS the bolci Ttirpin.'

eggs.

ft'-

Dickens.

To have
one's"'

all one's eggs in one basket to risk all goods in the same venture, to have everything dependent on the security of one particular thing

one particular undertaking (C),

ft^

Bi

'g'

M^

or

EXP
1

[531]
All your egga are in

know your

happiness depends on her.

that on^'b^l^;^.

En

En gardenas
[French]
,

baichelor,

in

bachelor's style

(0.;

^'

^ U, M, S
;

^^ &. ^-

#^
^

mm)
Enough

i^m)than enough

tp.dinij^r a repast en gargon with Captain Crawley^^^mm.'^mmmM'mn-M^a^mM. Thackeray.

George cajne

Enough and enough more

(P.), JE. ffl

m;^fMMmmm{X).
The play has wit enough and enough. jlfciU^^ac, l^fe^tS-ii-

Madame

D'Arblay.

Equal

Equal to the occasion

The " Eayen," however,
Sf. 4gJ

not perplexed, able

is

to act (P.),

^ SI if,

more than equal

-Hi-

at

-S-

mS

to the occasion. Edinburgh, Review, 1887.

Esprit

Esprit de corps the desire to defend the institution oi company to which one belongs (PO [French] ft
,

:tmm;mm:^m,mm^^zmmm mm].
esprit de corps

But when her attention was arrested, as in th^ present and hpr friendship were alike up in arms.

case,

her

a,

# il ^ SI S i^;
and;

-Saraft Tytler.

J Ever

Ever

anon

frequently, from time tp time

*&

(P.),

[^

Ever and anon a pamphlet issued from the pen of Burke, Senrg Morley. fe ft i| a /> h

Ex

Ex

officio

by virtue

a*M

of one's office (P.)

[Latin]

;^

;HSlii^(3!t)
public,

[14

T].

All over the Continent, the Ministers of the Crown or of the Reait, ex officio, in either house from the day tfiey are appointed.
file

# JW i^ ft # 3E 13 ^ l S;, ^ffiiW^'^iSM^K^^Hil.
iSt

:A:E,

&eS?SaS, a
Spectator, 1887.

Experto

Experto crede
'experience

believe

(0.)

[Latin],

mKzmm) mri
'-Well,
if

one whp has gone through the '^ :t ml

^ M M^
if

B^
'

puts his

tail

he wags his tail, you know it between his legs, what will he do

is all

right; but say he you pat him 7

#'is, la

^ K s, *n K SI

ift

^,

^ ^ ^ * a i^ M JK

[522]
"Bite me;
JIf
iEfv iffl

EAR
experto crede."
16,

Jig

2,

f, :^

nr ^fC

ma.

Heade.
is-

Eye

The eye of the Baltic

land in the Baltic

(P.),

Gothland or Gottland, an ^ B &i M ^m, '& M^ M

(P.)

The eye

of

Greece^Athens

(A name applied

to it

by Milton, Paradise Regained),

Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of

mMM;^B.:tW^
arts.

F.
racing

To put through one's facingsto examine,

inspect (C),

The Greek books were again had out; and Grace, not at
willingly,

all

un-

was put through her

facings.

A. TroUope.

Fall

To

fall to

eating), (C),
"

to commence with energy (generally said WJ^-.T ^, T m, U W^^ mi

Meg, as she
set

of

The

Bells do, father!" laughed

the basin and a

knife and fork before him,

"Well."

"Seem to, my Pet," said Trotty, falling to with great vigour, 4t#m*llffli*l^T,^.B,Sl^,JilS<a. Dickens. To fall in with to meet with, to come across (P.), ig

mriB^
'

iX).
fall

'

Did you ever

in with

any Yankees ?

'

"One

or two, sir."

Far

*^, i6f-ilA-r:A^. A far cry long distance (P.)

a:

Reade.

(A phrase borrowed from

the well-known

sayingJiE

is

afar cry

to

Lochawe),

It is

a far cry from Paris to Kairwan.

Fortnightly Review, 1887.

^&^M^m,7bmm^m.^.
Far and away

completely, beyond comparison

(P.)

-J-

FIR

[523]

Public opinion is not altogether wrong in crediting the Jews with an amount of wealth larger by a good deal than is their due, and, what is perhaps more to the point, a proportion of rich families far and away beyond anything that is found among Gentiles.

Silt^m.m^m M, MK^^jE^Tault

Spectator, 1887.

To a

fault

even more than

is

is

required, to excess (P.),

The golden youth

generous to a

fault.

&^Ji ^,mmii:&
Taux

W.

Black.

a breach of moral conduct, a A [French], ^&;^^,m^Wi^ (^)faux pas

Then
it

false step

(C)

[?*

m]

was he committed a faux pas.

Tell

Dr. Fell a character mentioned in a verse of Tom Brown's (1663 1704) and often referred to in litera-

ture.

When

a person

is disliked,

but no specific reason

can be assigned for this

dislike, it is usual to quote the

do not love

thee, Dr. Fell,

tell.

The reason why I cannot 8i at ^ ^, i 7c^ g,

M a M , ^ ^ ftof happiness

Tiddler

Fiddler's G-reen
the

a fabled place
tt I^ li

and

jollity;

Happy Land

of sailors (F.),

^ ; ^

il,

^ ^ H,

But we shape a course

for Fiddler's Green.

m
Tield

isi

S ^ ,

Song quoted in

H. R. Haggard's Davm.'
'

To be in the field to be ?!f, # :^ #; H **

a competitor for any prize (C),

^ # (M).
H

hope

From the very first Mitchell perceived that there could be little for him so long as Gilbert Segrave remained in the field (continued

to be a competitor).

W
^.

JS B#,

fiP

*n li

M ^ Sf -

9iJ. K'J

&

a(F.)

H
(An

Good Words, 1887.

Pirst

First chop first-rate, of the highest excellence Anglo-Chinese expression),.!:

^vM^, M.^^ (S).

[524]
Wq,cring^on.,

FOL
"Aator poetry, I bate
^' iSr ^. S^ J*
poetiy*' '
' '

Pen's

is

not first-chop,

'

'

aaya

;fc,

ffi

tl 0.

* > P SI m.

Thackeray.

Fish.

Ifeitlier fish, flesh,

classify, liaAring

used by

Tom

nor good red herring difficult to no pronounced character (0.) (A phrase Brown and Dryden)j ^-

^^ ^^
;

Was

he a Tory or a Liberal, or was he neither

fish, flesh,

nor the

other thing ?

toi5i*^m^,

ffliiftiBis,

fli-sp:

a^ ^

-la

as

Evening Despatch, 1887.

A fish out of water Said of a person who is placed in

a position which
is

strange and distasteful to

him

(F.),

Mj.

I>ai}ce stood there, as

he

said,.
^;f,

" like a
IS in

fish

out of water.
;# :r; X. Stevenson.

H .^.*. i,j& m S, iS sn *
Flea-bite

m :^ *,
JK.

^ *.

A flea"bite something trifling,, a thing of no importance

Doubtless to a
flea-bites.

man

of:

Mr. Aird's fortune such things are but

i

&.m.m^^m,m&m^,mm^my(:
Fling

James.Payn.

To

fling; from
(G.),

to leave hastily in ill-temper, to quit in

disgust

nmf^,^z;'^^m^,mmm^ im.
BS as i^

He

flung from her and went out of the room.

^.9 ^.mj^,
To
fling

^ ^.

S. Richardson.

over^to

dfesert,

cease to assist or patronize (C),

"Of course the old

girl will fling

him over,"

said the physician. Ihackeray.

Flush

g^. * ? Jl!f^ 3g -to a,. Fluphofanythinghaving plenty

S:
B.
Jlfc

of

it (G.),

S ^; 5g

Osborne * * was flush of money and

wife,

full of

kind attentions to his

Thackeray.

nnf&.&&i%m,
Fold

%n m% ^ g
,S

&.

To

fold one's,

hands to.bejdle,

to

do nothing but. rest

one's

self (C.).

^,^

,:^^, ^g ^,

^ ^jgj ^

(|{|),

GAD
To no New Yorker,
of a fortune) to

[525]
(the possession

no American, would that

for folding his hands.

seem a reason

Nineleenlh Century, 1887-

Fore

To the
It

fore

present, on the scene (C),

^6E

(M.)-

never did really occur to him that any one would have the wild audacity to run away with one of his sisters while he, Mr. Tom Beresford, was to the fore.
-,

Triday

E a ^ at :t ^ m. A man Friday a constant

(P.)

W. Black.

and submissive attendant

;.

(See Defoe's Robinson Crusoe),

g ^ '^
;

(%).

flung himself down at little Osborne's feet, and loved him. Even before they were acquaiuted, he had admired Osborne in secret. Now he was hia valet, his dog, his man Friday. Ki g^ i^ 'h w 9f a "F, sa ^ 1? , BP ^ * ^ m Bug* mMmmm^,'k-m%:^M'^,i^mmmf^mmm)5s
ffi
b3f,

He

Thackeray.

Full

To the fullrquite

as

much,

certainly not less (C), "^

was

This place was a prison for debtors as well as criminals, to the full as foul as the Tophet-pit at Aylesbury yonder.

and

In

full

cry

hurrying

fast,

in hot pursuit (P.),

^ BD;

^^

(5:).

Seven mutineers Job Anderson, the boatswain, at their head appeared in full cry at the south-west corner.

Funny

^Um^^lSsn'&^JLUThe funny bone that

R-L.
part of the elbow

Stevenson.
is

which

ex-

posed to nervous shocks (C),

Till

M in #

Hi

(i^)-

They smack and they thwack,

As

if

your funny bones crack. yon were stretched on the rack.

lS"iIf#?iSiia^B-til-

Barham.

0.
Gad
i

Upon the

gad

restless,

always moving hither and

thither (F.),

m^M^;^%,'^^,&U.W^ (S).

[526]

GIV
I have no good opinion bf Mrs. Charles's nursery-maid. strange stories of 'heritshe is always upon the ;gad.
1

hear

&m^ Am m'm, 'mm>f.m,^^rsmAm^m.n,

flaS.^'Pf^^'M&BM^^i^s Austen.

Game

The game

is

worth'the candle^the

results are-worfh

striving for, one 'will ibe 'repaid for one's trouble (C),

George can never 'take what I mean to oflfer; if he should the Egyptian will he spoiled indeed, and the game. will be worth the candle.

M . -#, # ^ 7f:mm, m s-.)! * H. S SI ts, ;^ iS ^ ;t M .^.

Gapes

jifc,

M^

ifc

A at
i^

R. Haggard.

The gapes a

fit

of

yawning

(F.),

^ #; # M M>

Another hour of music was

or affected taste for
it

to give delight or the gapes, as real

prevailed.

ffi

S-,

ir

Jlfc

P 50 in.

Miss Austsn.

Gentle

Gentle and iiu^ple rhigh-born and low-born, noble and peasant (P.), ft^; ^t, ^ (^)-

Every oneruns to

get;

a word with them, gentle or simple.

P-eade.

;j:.tfeS^gm,l^^l?:t-l-.
Gird

To gird up the
work
(P.)

loins

to prepare one's self for

hard

(A biblical expression), |g ,# fS
itself

Jl It

mm,mmBm(X). mmm).
The house awakes and shakes
day's work.
;

girds vjp the loins for the

&mit.A,m II sf^, mmm&.m.,mi^mnm.

Rhoda Broughton.

Give

To give it to a, person to scold or punish him, tack him with angry words or blows (F.), fT ^
M'Gregor pitched
and
Ze/i!

to at-

'

K H.
right

into

him
2.

so

when he

saidiit^-^aue

it

him

Creproved'him in the severest manner).

B#,

mW

^ *J ^
to or

Sfc

fe m JI &.

Rhoda Broughton.

To give on

uponto

conduct into, to open upon

We pass into the

verandah upon'which the salon "gives."

lUioda Broughton.

^.^M'&K^m.mm.

GOO
iGlout

[-527]

In the gloutsulky

(F.),

nffl

(^V).

My mamma, was
Jlfc

in the glojat with her poor daughter all the way,

ir

^ ^ * ^^,

S^

# ;i ^ #

ffl

3S ;i

&.

S. Richardson.

Go

To go
(F.),
I

it'

to be extravagant or headstroi^g in behaviour nm;^^]\mm:;tmm, m ^ ^n (^).

'

heard Master George was

going

it,'

r^ IS?* mm,'^ s bp m m nm. *-

Crolden

from the Saunders. f. Manyat.

The golden howl is hroken

XII,

euphemistical expres-

sion for death (P.) (Taken from the

Book

of Ecclesiastes,

&),M;MT^M, ^M a

Ifc,

^ Oi K m S A
the golden

And
Sn

thus they .go on froin year to year, until

bowl

is

broken (they; die).

Ji#.

t^^^Sii, 5ERS^B.
is lost

fl.

R. Haggard.
Sfe ;tf
;

Crone

A gone coon one who

upon George.
'

or ruined

(S.),

;^

Mr. Winchester did not stop there, he forced a hundred pounds 'If you start in any business with an empty pocket you are a gone coon."

^SSSf^ciB^Jfe, Hj|3feB3FAlil.

Reade.

Good

As good
ing

as a play

(c,),

mmm;^m,mAmm m).
was as good as a play
to see her;in the character of

very, interesting, exceedingly

amus-

He

swore, it

a fine dame.

mmM.m^^mm,^^^m^.
As good

Thackeray.

as gold thoroughly good and reliable (C.) (Generally used Of persons), \&A;MM'^M,

^Mmmm)(mASxmw.
^ & &m m, & m ^
Goose
Si

W'k^

Having said thiis, Grace walked slowly oi(it of the room, neither Mrs. Dale nor Lily attempted to follow her.

and

m,

'^

^ A Am m,
when
the door

-^yr^m:^.
was
closed.

"She's as good as gold," said

Lily,

?^m^,mmB,^7i^fi-^M^^--

^- IroUope.

His geese are swians he places too high a value on own possessions, he overestimates what is his (C),

his

[528]
He
nse the

GUT
(Dr. Whately)

M
ffi

common *J ii ,
-til-

f^ . IB

was particularly loyal to his friends, and, tophrase, "all his geese were swans." 5- #h H t^ ^> BP 3: i^ *:, -ftfe jt -s i^ Cardinal Newman.

All the Lancastrian geese are swans.

l3^Sf^A-g'1liSS(#-lti'-

It?ioda Broughton.

Grass

To

let the grass

tive, to

grow under one's feet to be inacbe idle and lazy (C), :^ M; /^) M>^!

Viola

ia

not the sort of

:t

girl to let
-to.

^ 16 tS ^ i; gc
Green
he undertakes

* ?-

the grass grow tinder her feet. F- Marryat.

A green hand a raw fellow unaccustonied to the work

(F.),

/^^;ir^,

:^M*^A
#

(!?)

" I thought everybody knew Job Terry," said a green hand whocaine in the boat, to me, when I asked him about his captain. 0, JEl if SS :*, (61 :i tft S :! =iSi -g-K. H. Dana. S^lA-^m:t. -til.

*^A

Ground

To get ground
At four
night came on.

to gain,

make up

(P.),

f^S.;MM {%)-

in the afternoon, we sighted a sail under our lee-bow, ga-ye chase, and got ground of her apace (gained upon her rapidly) till

A S, 7& fi & .
to
ffi

G. A. Sala.
(P.),

To hold one's ground maintain one's position S H; & ^ ^ & ^ ^ A ^ (*).

-f*

for an oflBcer when he was not half a seaman, he found little pity with the crew, and was not man enough to hold his ground among them.

Having shipped

St* JSfcAli, i^7X?-*t6i**K'fil:#iii/Gulf

separation, a radical difference

R.H.Dana.

A great gulf fixed: a complete and permanent cause of

and divergence (P.) (The phrase comes from the parable of Dives and Lazarus;
see St.

Luke XVI,

26),

JiU :Zm;:k^^

^m,^^

Between him and Mr. Carruthers there was a great gulf fixed. '&i.%m^'^W:%mjimm. E.Yates.

Gut

To have guts in the hrainto have

inteUigence.

sense, to be full of
;

^ ^ Ji M).
The

(Old fashioned), :^
if

,g. ?Jl

-l"

^ fP {-^'^,
sm/t.

fellow's well enough,

&A^^&m, m i> m %.

he had any guts in his brain.

HAN
H.
HaU
Hail-fellow well-met

[529]

familiar, on terms of asy

|fi; /fi

inti-

macy
was
life

(C.)

(Also used as a noun), 3?

5']
"BI ifl).

1^,

^ (M) (IS ^ t^ ^ ^
It

^^

not, I will frankly admit, a very righteous beginning to a

to

young

be hail-fellow well met with a gang

-tte,.

of deer-stealers.

^,

5*

* iE

-IS

G. A. Sola.
of a hail-fellow well-met with everybody.

His

role

was that

fife!SiJ,

<KLSfA^^ISS^-

Sarah
sell

Tytler.

Hammer

To

sell

under the

hammer to
and
sell

by auction

(P.),

t&"(^).
He threatened to
foreclose,

the house under the

hammer.

Hand

To make no hand of to
W^
No,
sir,
ife

be unable to explain (C),

h^^n%^n,mBnu
I can

^f*

make no hand
t6 1^
ilf ,

of it; I can't describe

him.
Stevenson.

S,

&, S6

:?:

Si

X ;p t6 iS la K A.

R-L-

To take
No one

off one's

hands
Mug

to free

from a burden (C),

fi^^;iaimMM,mM,mfm,^m^ m)will take

Ugly

oflf

my

m&im'^mA,^Amik^^^^^To give
one's

hands, even as a gift. F.Marryat.

hand upon anything to

a promise
(P.),

pledge one's
;

honour

to fulfil

^>

^ "b ^ 1t, V
my

The moment
hand upon
that

I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde; I give you (promise you that solemnly).

R. L. Stevenson.

'HLj

hands are

full

work

to do (0.),

am very busy, have plenty ^ B ^ US tt ^ M S, * ^ im).

I
I
;

of

Robinson's hands were now full; he made brushes, and every day put some of them to the test upon the floor and walls of the building.

Hard

Hard

as the nether-millstone very hard, unfeeling and obdurate (P.) (Generally applied to human character),

iC ^a

miS;

?^ i& El

5^

pf^

4iL,

^^

We in
way
to

the wilderness are exposed to temptations which go some

us
silly

make

and

to keep our hearts as

P <!

^l$^mw<\; ^mH *, #6^^ ^ # S * DC, M 36 H Nineteenth Century, 1887. in ^ S # &.

,ii
'B>

soft-hearted. Somehow, fe* of us are certain Hard as 'the nether millstone.

Hark

To hark back

to return to

a subject which has been

left off (P.),

dtopped, to begin again at what one has

ferently;

they gone and told' Silver, all might have turned out difbut they had their orders, I suppose, and decided to sit quietly where they were and hark back again to " Lillibullero" (com-

Had

mence singing "Lillibullero"

again),

n^ B
'fB

Harum

^ ^ * ^ m W^ ^, 5K ^ a, ^ Sf # "i *j ^ 5^ R. L. Stevenson. Harnm scarumwild, reckless (C), '^^,^^,^^^,

tl-%-,
::t:

ffi-

m m. m)m E i^

They had a quarrel with Sir Thomas Necome's own son, a harum scarum lad, who ran away, and then' was sent to India.
jt, SI
EP

S # :S

-ffi..

Thackeray.

Haste

The more haste the

less speed^excessive haste

is

often the cause of delay (C),

^^

^ij

:^

^;

>C,

fc JI

will excuse
'

Women are 'feckle cattle,' I rememberI am sure my dear wife my saying so in her presenceand 'most haste' is often
ife
;2.

worst speed' with them.

=ft
jfi. It iL, F. Marryat.

SE #JS A 75 SH * g # n, eS ^ a m^Wi mmmi'^ &.m, & tS .E is ^ m.

Hay

To make hay ofto throw into confusion, to (F.), f Wi m iL II L M. iL ^n fll ^, iL in fi

;

disturb

(S).

O, father, you are making hay of

"E,

^ ^, ^ !&, ^ C # if E *g S %.

my

things.

M. Edgeworth.
(P.),

Heel

To come upon the heels of to

follow closely

MOB
comes

[531]

Bread, I believe; has always beeitconaidered flrat, but the circus close upon its heels. (The multitude cjies first for food, but soon it demands amusements.)

A w a un^m^Tit Mm, k =k m w m ^.
Contemporary Review, 1887.

To kick up the heels to

His heels
ffi
ilfF

die(F.),

M; S;^

CffiT)-

he'll kick up.

Robert Browning.

To get the heels of another to i; R, , m ^ BU (S).

outstrip

him

(F.),

O, rare Strapi thou hast

got. the heels

of

me

at last.
Smollett.

, ^flifSg^^tllKtt*, e^t6flSSi1S-

To kick the heels^-to

(C.)

be kept waiting in impatience

The same
Heels.

as to cool one's heels,

which

see Heels,

^m

To show the heels toto

My impatience
has shown
its

ojitstrip (P.),

^ Ji; ^ jg,

heels to ;ny politeness.

^y^m^rA^mm.nHigh

J^-L. Stevenson.

high tea an afternoon or evening meal at which meats and heavy food are served (F.), /] @ /]> f^,
;

Miss Gray need not trouble about dress; she always looked nice. That serge she was wearing would dio capitally, if she did not grudge it, for sauntering about the fields and. garden, being pulled about by the children, and sharing their dinner and high tea.

B3f

m ^ ^M 3K, B S ^ ^ ^-

Sarah TytUr.

Hob

Hob and nob^ a

phrase used of companions drinking together in a friendly fashion (F.) (Hence the verb to
hob-nob, or hob-and-nob),
gffl

@^

^-

/^^ (J3^ 2S. 'ft

^fkzm) (^).
'"

Have another

glass

?"

"With you; hob and nob,"

returned

the sergeant.

I
'

have * * s^n him and his poor companion hob-and-nobbing

JKfflSfflg^.

together.

SiSAffift^fiia,

Thackeray.

[532]
Hold

HUN To hold in check restmin,

to

control (P.),

^ M, ^

M,m.,mM,mmm..
men
should find difficulty in supplying an army of eight thousand Kandahar, which would be sufficien to hold in check the* advance of one hundred thousand Russians from the Caucasus.
at

We

^ II It & iK m A =p ^, ^ + m,m:^i^mm,m^mMm%.
Home
To bring one's
previously lost

flij

hT Pllt ig In S8 . FonnigMly Review, 1887.

self
(F.),

home ^to

recover what one has

^M

&.

'i%;

B M> ^ yt, M. M,

He is a little out of cash just a very good road to bring himself

handsomely.

now * *. However, he has taken home again, for we pay him very

Madame UArblay.

Hoof

To pad the hoof see

Off the

Pad,

h5 Pad.
(S.),

Hook

hooks

dead, no longer in existence

so sharp that Matilda

JE;

The attack was

it

was very nearly "oflFthe hooks."

as his reverence expressed

Ihackeray.

i.

Huff

To take the huffto be offended, to

be sulky

(F.),

Suppose he takes the huff, and goes to some other lawyer.

JtSnlASriBffi^ltia#fi5-

Reade.

Hundred

Not a hundred miles

off or from phrase often used to avoid a direct reference to any place. The place itself or its immediate neighbourhood is always intended. It therefore is equal to very near or very
' ' '

close to,'
(Scene

ffi

M Hi P^
shop,

J^

K F^ (^ M :S ^).

not a hundred miles from Dumfries. Enter small ^rl, with a bottle of cod liver oil, purchased on the previous day.) S. G. : "If ye please, sir, will ye tak' this back ? The man canna tak' It for he dee'd last nicht." {Small girl. "If you please, sir, will you take this back ? The man cannot take it, for he

Chemist's

' died last night. ')

^ ^ ji

la

Jib

S|.

Si.

Andrews

Citizen, 1887.

JAC

(b)

[533J
used of events not far distant

the phrase

is also'

in time,

^ MM; -t ^ M 1^, it ^ fS mmWi^

which wise reflections the reader will gather that our was not a hundred miles off an awkward situation.

From

all of

friend Arthur

:t

ife-

^ S W F, S f S *
as a

^.

H.R. Haggard.
(C), HS

Hungry

As hungry
I

hawk very

hungry

^ E. ^J

made a hearty supper, for I was as hungry as a hawk. RlL-SUvemon. SS;:^-gtaSR, ILiStteiBS^.

I.

In

In flagrante delicto

in
v&

the very act of guilt (C.)

[ha.tiniJEB^m;-:f3^'nmfM,'B^m).

mT].
Yates.

Mr. S. Routh, while playing hazard in Mr. Gruntz's rooms, had been caught in flagrante delicto in the act of cheating.

m ig # M
I.O.IT.

ft,

M is B* f^ ss, ^ m A g # ?s s *.:
Edmund
of

I.O.TT.

'

owe you,' a form

acknowledgment of debt

common between friends. the name of the borrower

The amount borrowed and

are added to these letters, j
burning I.O.TJ.'s was

But pay ? of course he must pay mere child's play.

to talk of

Thackeray.

Issue

To join
to
I

issue

with

to dissent from, to find fault with,

oppose
must

(P.),

^,m.m,^ ik, ^ m, mm,Km mwho

London News, 1887.

join issue with

is

says that cocky

you on behalf of your correspondent, bush-slang for a small selector.

Illustrated

^ ^tkJack
Jack's Bean-stalk
night
(C.)

J.

a bean-stalk which grew up in one

is

(The story of Jack and the Bean-stalk old and very popular nursery tale), -^^

an

&^^^;

0534];
Eor
1

JOH
the' affection of

young

ladies isiof as rapid

growth as Jack

heani-stalk;

Jack Ketch the hangman

(F.),

ft

^ ^; JT ^ ^, ^T

Jos, who would no more have it supposed that his father, Jos Sedley 's father, of the Board of Eevenue, was a wine-merchant asking for orderSj than that he was Jack Ketch, refused the bills with scorn.

^^MMM-

Thackeray.

Jack-in-a-box something which disappears and appears with great suddenness (C), IS Sb jfii 2^
She was somewhat bewildered by, this jack-in-a-box sort
pearance.

re-

^ J^
of ap-

Jar

On the jar ajar, partly open (F.), ^ ii;^i^,^ IKS).

The door was on the jar, and, gently opening stood behind her unperceived.
it,

I entered

and

Job

A bad job Said of what is hopeless or impracticable (F.),

Indeed, the general opinion was that, finding we had reached the mission station in safety, they had, knowing its strength, given up the pursuit of us as a bad job.

*,

m^ ^n'A^m,m.^mm^.

H.R. Saggard.

Johnny

Johnny Grapeau

familiar term for a

sailors,

Frenchman

especially in use

among

:^

mm).

^ A H A (tK

Those vessels went armed too, as befitted the majesty of the bunting under which old Dance had gloriously licked Johnny Crapeau
S^ .

T,

"
flit

iS

A.

Gentlemen's Magazine, 1887.

John

Job,n o'Nbkes
(c),

and John o'Styles ordinary m m; m a, k, # * mi

o'Styles were

peasants

John o'Nokefe and John

I was.

now more

considered than

^y(^AMAm.^m^Ai^-^z-

O. A. Sala.

kee;
Join

[5351
a matter tbtMe decision of a
iif

To join

issues

tb leave

law-court
Plaintiffs
assiiies;

(p:),

M m W; 'ift^m,m m M t
issues, and' tHe trial

c^)next

jMned

was

set

down

for the

Jump

To jump over

or jump the
(S.),

broomstick

to

marry

in

an informal' way.

^,

W lE^m^,

M^

"^

'

Well, the other gypsy man jumped the broomstick with' the

is

no other than Joe Smith, who

Ibvely Princess Cinnaminta.

S H M S- #

Blachmore,

K.
Keep
To keep abreast
not to
fall

of to advance at an equal pace with, behind (P.), ^, B,

MMMMit^M^

He
passing

yet found abundance in' the world.

of. time

to keep abreast of all that

was

to>tBS

B,^^1t^^,^?f:W^iL.

Athenaeum, 1887.

To keep
(C),

in

(a)

to refuse to disclose, to preserve secret

m^)^^nm (mi
;

But, please don't think old Grizzel mean for keeping in what had taken place she was only obeying orders;
;^_

Mrs. Henry Wood.

(b)

to detain schoolboys after the regulb,r hours as a

punishment (C), iU

^l

M ^ ^, M ^MB (M).

This was the third time John had been kept in for misbehaviour class-room. the in

Out of keepingr-unsuitable,
The gay hothouse
seem' out of keeping.
SSS

inappropriate

(P.),

Tf

>;

plants with whifch

it

was lavishly decorated

-#

-rtl.

Edmund

Yates.

[536]

LAP
King's English the standard English,, such as is regarded as 'good by the highest authorities (P.) (Now known as Queen's English), jE^X;

King

M^^XiX)-

She was the most ignorant old creature that. ever was known, could neither read nor write, and made sad jumble of the King's
English

when she

spoke.

King's evidence the name given to one of a band of criminals, who, in order to obtain a pardon, informs against his fellows (P.), Hk; B.^ :^M^Wl,

^ UU

The unhappy man,

turned King's evidence.

to save his

life,

had betrayed

his master

and

G. A. Sola.

Knuckle

To knuckle under

to yield, to

behave submissively
weapon, and

The captain soon knuckled under, put up sumed his seat, grumbling like a beaten dog.

his

re-

S:*6iS-fl-TS., Jfe^^ifBSr?^,

mit^^SUc^:*.
R. L. Stevenson.

L.
Iiaissez

Laissez-faire the allowing things to go as they will, absence of intervention or control (P.) [French], Jf;
Laissez-faire declines in favour ;

our legislation grows authoritativecontemporary Review, 1887.

f^i] ^.

Lapsus

Lapsus linguae

slip of the tongue,

something said

by mistake (C.) [Latin], :^ ^;|B;f;^ g(i^). [i^T]. "I will not answer for anything he might do or say. 1 only know?"

mm %^ mm^,^-^^^^,^m^
"What do you know
' '

More than I

ch.oose,to say.

It

was a

lapstfs linguae (I

should

not have said that I

knew

anything),"

LET
Law
To
liaive or

[537]

take the law of any one

him

in a law court (C),

prosecute ^ ^; ^M & ^, i^ ^ M
to

"There's a hackney-coachman downstairs, with a black eye, and a tied-up head, vowing he'll have the law of you."

T ^ - ^ M .5 ^^
"She was
as

581

A,

M H, a ^ M, g

iES

iS

bad

as.

he," said Tinker.

"She took the law

of

every one of her tradesmen."

^.

Thackeray.

Lay

A lay figure a human model used by an artist (P.), ^

A^;^-,m.m,Mm,m , *
Meantime you
are not to

ffi (3a:).

b a lay

figure, or

a mere negative.

To lay
' *

to

(a)

to cease

from advancing,
(3SC).
'
'

to stop (P.),

j^

Jh; Jhnot much.

S,

S,
'

H , ^ 1^
'

Well, gentlemen,

said .the captain,

if

We must lay to,

S

the best that 1 can say is you please, and keep a bright lookout.
-K-

# i, f# #
(b)

^ *

"ar

&

i- Stevemon.
(F.), j^*

to

be sure

of, to

be certain regarding

!^

"Ask your

"You would
jlt il^

lose

pardon, sir, you Would be very wrong," quoth Silver, your previous life, and you may lay to that."

:t,

lil-

M.L.

Stevenson.

Leap

By leaps and bounds by

advances
(P.),

a series of sudden and rapid

B^ '^l^lBM ^ ,'Mm^m, ^
Spectator, 1887.

The figures showing the advance by "leajjs and bounds" of Jewish pauperism year after year are no less striking.

Let

To

let oflFto excuse, set free

(P.),M^M ^,'&:t{X)that you

We
shoiild

wash your

can't let you face in

ofi".

Lady Mona. It is imperative sight of us all, and dry it too.

[538]
To
let

liXJC
out

rto

disclose, (to

make known what would

otherwiseibe a secret,(P.), '& "M

# ^ r^
i

^ ^ iX)-

Nave
in vain.

let

out one day that he had remonstrated with his daughter

^.Qmm't&m,mMm^i:^,nyfiM^s.
Little

Mrs.n. wood.

The

,the

Little 'Go an examination which (candidates for B.A. degree at the English univeprsities have to

pass early in their course (C), g| ;^; /h IC>

# St,

Then came the sentimental walks with that tall college man, who was reading withtherEeverend Mr. Tuck's^eurate much reading he did! no wonder he got plucked in, the Little Go.

mw\ikm,-'mm. m,mm^^,
IS

mxm
itii-

315

fi

n:k.:^'^M

!*.,

f^

MM

%mm mm.

m It %ii^,m&mwK-^ bb ^ m ^,
ip,

Mrs.

H. Wood.

Locum

Locum tenens-^one 'Who

holds a situation temporarily,

a substitute (I>0 rpLaiin],

S H .M ^E; :S

ffi

M,

i^

^,

And
tenens.

behold, he and his parishioners are given over to a locum

&

n ,

I?

u-^

A,i^^ ^ w -fctic mm^^.

Nineteenth', Century, 1887.

Lombardstreet

Lomhard-street to a China orange something very

.valuable staked against a thing of little value ; very

long odds'(C.) near the

Bank

6i 'England,

(Lombard Street is situated in London and is a centre of great

banking and mercantile transactions), it

mmnm).
"
It is

^^f

i^;

-fi

ff
'
'

0,

Lonibard-Streetto a China orange," quoth Uncle Jack, Jlfc 2. iI-Jt>S 7f &. -fe"!!!.

Are the odds in favour of fame against failure really so great 7 * *" answered my fathw.

^^il:^B,m^mm^,S:m^WimM:k^.
Lucky
To make
He
lucky.

Bulwe,- Zyuon.

one's

lucky to

run

off (S.),

H + a; ^ ^ ;^
we hadn't made our
/),v/-,r,5.

(E^gia)t might,

have got into trouble

:?c,

if

mm^TF. mm,

m ^ ^, at

if

m.

MAB

Make

To ma!ke up to^to
court to
(P.),

ae^k the acquaintance of, to pay-

m s ^ m.
3f

\s.f^;mm,M^,mmnr^m,m.
make

Yoting men of spirit are isadly afraid of being thought to up'to a girl for her money.

Justin McCaiihy.

to

Nay, gentlemen, Dx. Goldsmith ia in the rjght. have made up to such a man as Goldsmith.

A nobleman ought

Wiikm

m m,^'m f mm. ^ ;m ^:miEfz,Pim.n. a, ^m ^ Samuel Johnson. WM ^ iC #!*/

malt; above the

Malt

To have the
-drunk(F.),

wheat

or

meal

to

be

^;ggtr'(m

When the malt begins to get dbove the meal (company begins to get drunk), they'll begin to speak about, government in kirk and state.
Scott.

Mammon

The Mammon
worldly people

(P.)

of "Unrighteousness wealthy and (A biblical expression), iS

^M ^
no;-

:^A;'mMmm'm.m^AiX).
Make
to yourselves.friends, of. the

(i

mammon

of unrighteousness.

m-

St. 'Luke

XVI.

9.

Mare

To make the mare

sperity,
to

to go

'

rto

make a

display of pro-

carry out ^undertakings (F.)

'

(Generally
the

found in the expression

go"),

Money makes

mare

to

izmmm;m^^,m^m.Mijmi^
at).
to

Cfl?)

m'^mm:tm:^
I'm making the mare
too sometimes.

go here in Whitford, without the money

^ ^ !
Mashed
;

S^

-ffic

C- ^ingsley.

To he mashed upon-^to be in love with,

admirer of
(S.),

to be a devoted

mm.

Mm>^M,m

'tt

^M,

M ^,m Mm

[540]

NAB
I'm not one bit mashed upon her, and I don't want her to be mashed upon me; and she wouldn't be in any case; but she interests me, and she's a dear little Vinnie.

Justin McCarthy.

Miss

To miss stays

to fail in

attempting to tack (P.)

Used

metaphorically of other kinds of failure, as below, la

Ah, Jim, Jim, I reckon I've missed

ra ]g,

stays.

H ;i, 18 y, i6

It 3^

Ifc

^.

S.L.
to

Stevenson.

Move

To move heaven and earth

make every

possible

But of course all the Plumstead and Framley set will move heaven and earth to get him out, so that he may not be there to be a disgrace
to the diocese.

^, ^.yf^WC^^

Wl^ ^

%.ij.

A.

Trollope.

Murder

Murder will out

difficulty of

saying which refers to the great keeping a crime secret (C.) (The phrase is

now

current about secret deeds which are not crimes),

mm).
"Oh, thank God! The battle's ours!" replied Mr. Eunnington, with delighted excitement. "The murder's out (secret is discovered), I'll pledge my existence that within six months' time we have them
all

back at Yatton."
Pi

,:^n

"BimWi

MA Ham m-^^-

S. Warren.

Naboth

Iffaboth's

vineyard a neighbour's possession coveted by a rich man (P.) (The reference is to King Ahab (I. Kings XXI, 1^10), who coveted the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, and finally obtained it by foul

zwm m {X)i^ mmm^uj^,m~-\--- $.

OLD
^
Neck
i
*n
jifc

[541]
al-

He was well aware that the little Manor House property had ways been a Naboth's vineyard to his father.
'>
/J>

^ H, ^

315

?s

ffi

a,

ijj

^K^M^
fashion,

til.

Good Words, 1887.

Neck and
There
is

heels

in a hasty and summary

^ tf, ^ *

pulpit, they took

no doubt that when the poor fellow tried to get into the him and carried him neck and heels out of the church.
ift fi?

SA?^g

is

^ ^ P3 ^h,

jlfc

- ^ 2. il &.
Trollope.

A.

Neck verse a
capital

sentence of scripture which criminals

repeated and were allowed for this reason to escape

punishment

(C.)

See Benefit of

^mitm;Bmmi^m^m m).
for there is

clergy,- ?I

^S

Poor rogue! he was soon afterwards laid by the heels and swung; no neck verse in France to save a gentleman from the

gallows.

^,

g m E A, ^ BP R, ^ i* B . M, :^ tl a ^- S ^ il S O. A. Sala. ^ M, *S fi # % -aIS]

?^-

Need

Needs must when the devil drives

to evil fortune (C),

m If g^ m m m).
'

g^

Jgl

we must submit <^ ^; # Ht, S H, '^ B

!

What, you are in your tantrums again "Needs must, when the devil drives."

said she.

'

Come along,
Reade.

Nut

OS one's
He was
gracefully.

the head),

nut crazy, mad ^^;^(ffi).

getting every

(S.)

(Nut

is

a slang term for

day more "off

his nut," as they put

it

ffiH^-H, i*;t^^^JW*5t^.

J.

McCarthy.

Old

Old as the hills very ancient

(C),

^ajM;:^tfl
What you
75:

My
ga

dear child, this

is
Jit

is

nothing new to me, to any one.

have experienced

as old as the hills.

a,

fsi

la ;t,

fi.

A Sa

;t; *^

^ JE ^. ^ a

^^

111

M#

til.

Fr ^, F- Marryat.

[543]

PET
An
old

maid

an unmarried woman who has passed the

is

usual age for marriage and

likely to die single (P.),

During her papa's

lite,

then, she resigned herself to the

manner

of existence here described,

and was content to be an Old Maid.

Thackeray.

One

One of these days soon, m, yf^ A, m m, m m).

He
the impropriety of

shortly (C),

^^

repeatedly reasoned and remonstrated with Mr. Titmouse on many parts of his conductTitmouse generally

acknowledging, with much appearance of compunction and sincerity, that the earl had to much ground for complaint, and protesting that he meant to change altogether one of these days.

&,.

S.

Warren.

P.
Pay
The devil
"I must
'
'

to

pay

a severe penalty,

very serious con('?)

sequences

(F.),

^w^i%m;m^mm.

go home, else I shall be locked out."

too,

There would be the devil to pay then, " says Dick, standing up, and stretching like a big Newfoundland.

ffi

IS

^-

Rhoda Broughton.

Pell

Pell mell

in confusion,
(P.),

heaped in disorder one upon

^l^

the other

mU; ^M^^,
like

Wi,

^M

iX)-

The great force crumples up

gallops pell mell for safety to its

an empty
lines.

glove, then turns

and

own

11

e-

H: R.

Haggard.

Petticoat

In petticoats

(a) still

a child,

still

in the nursery (P.),

An infant freethinker, a baby philosopher, a scholar in petticoats man, when he grew up, who knew almost everything except WnMrs. OUphanl.

self(j- S. Mill).

A^,m^^'VmM^yr^iSim,m'yf^mik^Wm.

PIN
(&)

1543]
form
of'

of the other sex, in the

to
'

woman

(O,^

Opposed
She
is

in trousers,' :^ gE;

^ @ ^,

rU fi (gH).

a Dr. Parr in petticoats.

He never knew when Jane might not make some extravagant display of the student or professor in petticoats.
'

Sarah -Ty tier.

To go

to pigs

and whistles to

be dissipated, to go to
(m*)-

utter ruin (F.),

fisc

^
45:,

iiu

UM ^m.,^%,mm
s.
lias

"Do
?* ^h

you know what has liappened in your absence?"

B#,

^M^
'
'

a- *p

Lambert nodded.

That the concern

gone to pigs and

Sarah
Tytler.

whistles," he said, defiantly.

^KSSl-^B,*n^, raaSIB-BJc^m^-

A pot shot a shot taken calmly at a sitting object (C),

light,

This fanatic, having observed the envoy seated in his tent -^ith a and the door of the tent open, fetched his long gun, squatted down at about fifty yards, and took a pot shot at the "Nazarene
'

infidel.

19 i* tB ig

a + , .a

It 8e -%

^, ia ip

jlt

M Ik ;t A
(P.)

ifT]

ffl.

ffi

..

Mwray's Magazine,

1S87.

Pro bono publico

In some
of the

for the public welfare

oflSces it is

[Latin],

Bank

the custom
is

(to

save so

much

individual time) for one of the clerks

who

the best scholar

tq
^

commepce upon the Times,

aloud pro bono publico.

or Chronicle,

and recite jts entire contents

i

a,

^ BJ

tp

H it ^ il * - A, ^ ;i M 1 ^ HI

at-

^ IS,

1?

A^=^f^,lS^^,7)S^^Si-i&^.

Lamb.

Pins and needles the tingling sensation in a limb which has been benumbed (C), '[4 ;^ )iJ ff ;^

^^

A man * * * may tremble, stammer, and show other signs of recovered sensibility no more in the range of his acquired talents than
pins and needles after numbness.

:kjLA^nmm^, ^ -^t^ mm m

ts,

.^

^ %m
O. Eliot.

-^

[544]
Play
seriously (P.),

Q UE
To play the devil
or

mischief with

to injure, to

hurt

mm; ^ M, ^M, M^, M M (X).

The master-gunner and his mates, loading with a rapidity the mixed races could not rival, hulled the schooner well between wind and water, and then fired chain shot at her masts, as ordered, and began to play the mischief with herBhrouds and rigging.

In short, in your own memorable words, to play the very devil with everything and everybody.
Dickens.

Please

Please the pigs if

all

be well

(F.),

fg

5'I

M f^
"I

S"

"Please the pigs," then said Mr. Avenel to himself,

shall

pop the question."

if

%.

Bulwer Lytion.

Post

To post

one's self

up in

to obtain full

information

about, to learn thoroughly

(P.),

it; ft 5l, IS

^,

for

Tell me all about it; what books you had to post yourself up in your examinations, and how you came out of them.
Jit

S # ^, Sc

/;f

^ H M *, # f# *1
Q-

ISJ, )lf

-tU

^ fS ;t.
Tyiler^

Sarah

dueen

Queen's Englishthe standard English

as
' '

(P.) (The sameKing's English, see King. A Plea for the Queen'sEnglish is the title of a book by Dean Alf ord)

^^

dueen Anne

is

dead^that

is stale

news

(C.)

(A phrase

used sarcastically),

m,m^ m) m m mi

^ ]^-k M.-ZM !K !K^]1k^,W.

"He was my grandfather's man, and served him in the wars of Queen Anne," interposed Mr. Warrington. On which my lady cried petulantly, "Oh Lord, Queen Anne's dead, I suppose, and we ar'n't (are not) going into mourning for her." ff ti S 0, IB ft A, 3? ;B :t B^, m *. '^^ :#, ^-^ ;y^ H ^, in T, |a J^ |g a, 35 ;g j^

S^S

*^ ^g

S;taj2>^;^2.*1ii.

Thackeray

ROA
It.
liaise

[545]

To

raise one's

back

to

grow

obstinate, to rebel (0.),

(i^)-

5M

'If

M,

^ BE,

tn: ffi,

m ?l

back more than once against orders emanating from the palace in a manner that had made the hairs on the hefvd of the bishop's wife to stand almost on end.
raised his
iOi.

He had

A.

Trollope.

Hag

Gentlemfen of the order of the rag military officers ^^ ;^; (F.) (The Rag refers to their red uniform),

It ia the opinion which, I believe,

of the order of the rag deserve.

most

of

you young gentlemen

Backet

To be on the racket
He had
been
off

to

spend one's time in

frolic or

dissipation (F.), t^ Bt jf

Jtc

Ut

'Kl

JS H^

^ (S)-

on the racket, perhaps

for a

week

at a .time.

Daily Telegraph, 1886.

To stand the racket

responsible (F.),

to take the consequences, to

be

;|;

P-l, fiE

S #, M 5^
DaUy

(fV)-

He

is

as ready as myself to stand the racket of subsequent proTelegraph, 1882.

ceedings.

K m 2. *;, ^ ^ m 5p H tt @.
Becord To
beat,

break

or cut the record

it

to

do a distance in
(C.)

less

time than

has ever been done before

ffiX

(A

sporting phrase),

^ ^; ^ fl, B

0il

A Ff ^ B
sec.

m) (
:-}- z:

li It m)-

Speechly proceeded to cut the three miles record nearly by 12

#.

Referee, 1886.

Beel

Off the reel

in uninterrupted succession

(F.),

Mi^',^

He won

three races off the reel.

Boast

To cry roast meat to

fortune to one's
self, to

be unable to keep one's good proclaim one's good luck (C),

[546]

SAI
They may imagine that to trumpet forth the praises of such a person would be crying Eoast Meat, and calling in partakers of what they intend to apply solely to their own use.

:^m,

3.n^^Am &^^'

Fielding.

Boost

To rule the roost

(F.)
/k

to be supreme, to be without a rival The same as rule the M Ml ^ M ^f, m. m. rs, nm-^m c^).
roasit,
'

'^i

He

cruised around in the rivers

and

inlets

and sounds

of

North

Carolina for a while, ruling the roost.

Harper's Monthly, 1887.

Bough

To rough

it

to

endure hardships, to do; without com-

forts or luxuries (P.),

m^;^^^'^B (^);

Take care
it

of

Fanny, mother she

fiS

is

tender,

and not used to rough

like the rest of ua.

m, ?

;a

^ II,

?f:

^ m It A ts *^ it ^, S ^ 1t :
Miss Austen.

Bound

round

0nothing

(F.),

M^; ^m,%^^,^

Alfred told her "the round 0," which had yielded to "the duck's egg," and was becoming obselete, meant the cipher set by the scorer against a player's name, who is out without making a run (at cricket).

n%m'k am5i-m.^,m.n^'^^m i, <& m ii m #, X EP W *S A * - eR, "F H ;t ^ B. H - ;t a, fi !a ^

:=P ift
^/f

il

j\\

:^.

Reade.

Bun

To run

riot

to

roam
(P.),

wildly, to act rebelliously

and

without restraint

mM.;Wi ^,

^i Vi iX)-

When we lean back with folded arms in our corner of the family pew, * * are we thinking of heaven's high king, and our position relatively to him or ia not rather our fancy running riot among our
;

pleasant sins.

St

@ ;t ?S

5)- 415,

m 1M , 11 f^ 8i ^ SC

;!:

2, Pe

115.

Moda

.Broug/Uon.

Sail

To sail close to the wind

to venture upon a dangerous nearness to impropriety or dishonesty, to go to the verge of what is morally permissible without actually crossing

SAL
Sake

t547]
old times, because of previous
to

For

slake's

sake

for

acquaintance
langsyne"),
I've a been (I

(F.)

(Equal

the Scoteh

"for auld

'Ft;"^,^

^'ft,;t:S,l5::=f^ jt(S).
01?

have been) long minded to do't

sake's sake.

0iMmm, XWi^.
Yet
ai
for old sake's sake she
is still,

Hughei.
dears.

The

prettiest doll in the world.

^,

iK

^ :^ ig,

J*

3c it

Bfl

2.

^ - f4 s n n m.
.

C. Kingsley.

Salt

Above the salt in

cellar in the dining-hall of

a position of honour (P.) (The saltformer times was placed in

the centre of the table, and marked the division between the equals in rank of the master, and hiS inferiors),

&;

M, S a ^ _h (^) (It H ;^ ^ f& M a

$-1]

r^l

ffi

Below the

salt

in an inferior position
(This,

(P.),

T"

^;

5|C

To eat a man's salt to

be his guest
guest.
It is
salt

(C.)

partake of his hospitality, to amongst the Arabs especially,

constituted a certain sacred

bond between host and considered unseemly for a person to eat a

ill

7^- fill

M ^ mmm,mnA,^At: m) (s m i^^^,m a ^ ^ ^ S ^ it, ^ A , *, t IS 2:

man's

and then go and speak

;2:

of him),

'f;

ffl

is

One does not eat a man's salt, as it were, at theSe dinners. There nothing Sacred in this kind of London hospitality.

"ar

& ^ m^ m^ M ;i S H
?1B
IS/-

m, '^

Wi

m m 'M, ^ T^ m m m M
Ihackeray.

:^

To

salt a

so that

it

mine may

to sprinkle

appear rich and productive

;

mon

trick,

^ IS M s"
on the

m.

m,^^^^^nmn
^ ^ ^156

some precious ore about it, (C.) A com-

To throw
to the

salt

tail

a ludicrous phrase, applied

;

attempted capture of something difficult to catch. Children are told they may catch birds if they succeed
in throwing salt

upon

their tails,

|n|

^^

[548]
His intelligence
lay salt on his
tail.

SHO
is

so good, tliat were

soldiers or constables or the like, I shall

you coming near him with answer for it you will never
itf^

n^ 'A A ^, mm mm m , m ^ m '^ ^ m
i^
&.
iSi-

M:^

Scott.

The

salt of the earth the wholesome portion of a community, that portion of a community which has a good influence upon the rest (P.) (The expression is " Ye are the salt of taken from St. Matthew, V. 13.
"),

the earth

3E

$S+H

S ^ ^ ^,
;

ffi

;^ M

(Si)

(^

k% dk

ti).

require to call up before us the dissenting community of the its strong underlying sense, not only that it was the salt of the earth, but that its bounden duty was to prove itself so.
period, with

We

^^%M^, M^SiUSoot Scot and lot

The

pm

:r-

1^

m^-

a^ Si

t.

m,

m ^ m m .

yin., Mrs. Oliphant.

(P.),

%m

payment exacted by the parish

lot.

^p

right of voting at "Westminster

was in the householders

paying scot and

Macaulay.

Set

A set down a chance ride in a passing vehicle

(F.),

jg

Part of the journey I performed on foot; but wherever I could I got a set down, because I was impatient to get near the Land's End.
S;

S^
Sewn

S ^ ;i
&.

*,

fel

a ^ fr, # ^ a il ^,
(S.),

fip

K E rt

tfe,

Sa IS

iC>

Sfe

M. KdgewoHh.

Sewn upintoxicated
He * * took
considerably
Ig 1^ ?* care to
tell

ill

^;
#.

^M

(ffl).

you that some of the party were pretty

tf

"sewn tip"

too.

^ ^n,

11 iH )^

^ * P J
to

IhacTceray.
;f^

Shake
Shoe

To shake the elbow

To>ho:^-a goose
or

gamble

at dice, l^

b ^.

"^M mmu (S).

"The smith
goslings,"
is

goslingto engage fruits undertaking (F.), fi 'It;

that will meddle with an old proverb.
all

in a foolish or

^ ^ M ^, ?* S
may
go shoe the

things

icE^^-if,

M^**^^,

Jlfc*!*^.

M. Edgeworlk.

SLA
To
die in one's shoes
to die

[549]
on the
scaffold (F.),

All

come

to see a

man

die in his shoes.

.^^-^-mi^ASight

Barhafn.

Out of sight

incomparably,

beyond comparison (C),

She was walking back through the quiet streets of the old-fashioned market-town to the Bank House, with its peculiar importance and dignity, out of sight the best house in Newton.
=8-

# M, ^ * K M #
an operation ed for the benefit of fools (C),

Sarah

Tytler.

Simple

Cutting for the simples

^^^M BR

to be perform-

'M)-

In the Lords and Commons (what evils might be averted) by clearing away bile, evacuating ill humours, and occasionally by cutting for the simples.

iS

K*^
sit

B'J

"BT

^-

Soutliey.

Sit

To

mm m(m

under

to attend the services of (C),

H IS #

On a Sunday the household marched away in separate couples or groups to at least half a dozen of religious edifices, each to sit under his or her favourite minister.

#
Skin

Ifc

S ^ H ;t : 65,
(F.),

BB SS Si

W S-

Thackeray.

To skin a

flea for its

hide
fij

avaricious

^*

to be excessively mean and IS; * fT /h ^ M, ff ^ K

s^^

"Generous !" I exclaimed: "why, he's the meanest little hunks that ever skinned a flea for the hide and fat." *^ it fii -a"F H, ti tis fli?, IS 7& IS St ^, G. A. Sala.

Slap

A slap bang shop a low eating house (S.)

term),

(A London

T ^ IK /S; #

ffi

/ (@) (f^ WC

^ M)Dickens.

They lived in the same street, walked into town every morning at the same hour, dined at the same slap bang every day.
IS

^Mfine (S.),

Slap up-very

W f^6i^;mm iU)-

[550]

STI
More slap-up still, have the two shields painted on the panels with the coronet over.

^mm^^T,1ia^ :^m,:^^mm.
Slip

Thackeray.
(ffi)-

To

slip one's

cableto

die (S.),

MM^^SiM
^ ^ S^ ^

dreadfully frightened at the prospect of slipping his cable in a foreign land.

He was

'&mmi&n,^.-mji^%mSnail

O. A. Sola.
;

At a

snail's gallop

very

slowly (C),

5S

He, by degrees, would seldom

T' adopt the gallop of a snail.

fail

SifiSfrSllg,

t:HE.
to'

Comhe.
it,

Sneeze

To sneeze
it (F.),

at a thing
;2;

despise

to

think
(IfiT).

little

of

Pf

Jy

*; ilJ
you,
^;f

IS

m, IM

IS

His

offer, I assure

is

not one to be sneezed

;^

at.

^ ^ V* M 1", ^
Spanish

1",

@ ii ia -aSpain which

combe.
latter see.

Spanish castle or

castles in

Spoon

To make a spoon

or spoil

enterprise or fail deplorably (F.)

when an opportunity

is

to succeed in an (The phrase is used furnished to an untried but

a horn

energetic person of showing his skill.

There
flU

is

always

the fear of his ruining the materials), (g

^ 3E. 1^

He, on the other hand, with an exceptionally acute and vigorous mind of his own, and determined to "make a spoon or spoil a horn, had little idea of restricting himself to the ordinary passive part
allotted to the "bookseller."

^^
StaflF

f-S

K'J

^ ^ Re

flIJ

@ S ;t ^.

Mrs. Oliphant.

To have the better end of the staff to have tlie superiority (C), mm; ^ M, MW, (M).
Miss Byron,
I

have had the better end

m
Stick

I&

M fe, ^

^ 3S ai S W

of the staff, I believe'

^%m

^!l.

Rieluirdson'.

A stick-in-the-muda slow person who is wholly withA;

out the spirit of enterprise or adventure (F.), ^) "

^, Mjiflz
^-, IP

k tt

^A

% :^
'

(f;).

This rusty-coloured one

Nicias.
Jlfc

is

that respectable old stick-in-the-mud

i5 il

iirS!i:^ASlfffi.

Sughe.

Stiff

SUN To do a bit of stiff to give money for a

bill (s.),

[551]
bill, to

cash a

mw-ii^imm^^ m).
me
a bit of
I'll
stiff,

1 wish yoii'd do

and

just tell

your father

if

may overdraw my

account

vote with him.

Ihackeray.

m
Stile

m&mmitnMm(a

To help
I
.

lame dog) over a stile

difficulty (F.), 5:
.

to assist a poor fel-

low in a
.

ffl

^ :^ ^ ^, ^ ^ il (S).
;

can help a lame dog over a for doing a generous thing).

stile
.

(which was Mark's phrase

C. Kingsley.

Stock

To make stock of to draw profit from, to make use of for one's own benefit (C), fM=J'M;M^,M
They could not have made stock
in the circumstances.
of
it,

as Susie

would have done

Sarah
Tyiler.

^^ ^
;?;

,11

S, iS ib

^ tt 1^,

BP tg

?!l ffl

m.
is

Stolen

Stolen fruit
It

said of something which

Edward
like stolen fruit.

very sweet (C),

was
us;
it

so sweet to hear

ptaised by one

who did not

know

was

Straw

My eyes draw straws I

am
jffi

very sleepy (C), g,

^;

^
bed.

BE,

m S. # #, )t
I'm very sure
Indeed

BS

(i^).

Lady Ans.

'tis

time for

all

honest folks to go to

Miss.

my
to

eyes

draw

straws. (She's almost asleep).

aS-fi.
Swift.

-^hM^g^B,

i!s,

^^.

Stump

To stump up

pay out money

(S.),

# |^; ^ |p, In
Dickens.

mm).
Sunshine

Why don't you ask your old governor mil&.yr^mm^l&'W%f^M. To have been in the sunshine

to

stump up?

to

be drunk

(F.),

gE;

He was in that condition which his groom indicated with poetiq ambiguity by saying that "master had been in the sunshine."

[552]

TOP
T.
Like a
tansy perfect,
of
its

Tansy

complete

(.)

drink composed
great care in

many

ingredients

(Tansy was a and requiring

"1*

^^mm^ mi
Miss.

composition),

jfl

M 'W ^ ^>

^>

Look, Lady Answerall,

pfl

is it

not well mended?

^<s

/>

0, 3f

* A, * a
to

fi'

^^

5.
-SwJ/l!-

Lady Am. Ay, this is something like a tanzy. ^*_A B, 5, Jft aiJ S

Tatter

To

(A wreck a house of ill-fame of century), g^ M :^ ig # ;^ ^; ^ K ^ ^ ^ S, tr H

tatter a kip
(S.)

^*^

favourite

amusement with the wild youth

last

i>Jl

iifc

ISI).

My
when he
not

business was to attend

him

at auctions, to put

him

in spirits

sat for hia picture, to take the left

hand

in his chariot

when

by another, and to assist tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when we had a mind for a frolic. a ^;f ;t ^, H5 fs a *a tt tt , M'j 1* i 2., ^ M, iJ B) ?t , ia - ift $, 3S ;l ; #, ^ 1, Its
filled
ffisc

m ^

^^

fiis

flij

^^

Goldsmith.

Thumb

Rule of

thumb measurement

or calculation without

the aid of precise instruments, rough

tion (P.),

and ready

calcula-

Mm. We
except a

^m;:r^mmmi,\-iim,mn,m^wc
when
I

never learnt anything in the navy little rule-of-thumb mathematics.

Bjf

was a youngster,
ffl

^
To-morrow

^^

7jc fif I}.,

-M

;;f

#, It

*!j

# It ^ :t

^^

sg

B.

Hughes.

To-morrow come never arrive (F.), H ;f PJ H

Sally.

a future date that will never

;PM^3,
sister!

^M^^ H(S).
be?

You

married to

my

When

will that

Marc.

Very soon,

my

dear! To-day or to-morrow perhaps.

Sally.

To-morrow come

never, I believe.

Top

H-^*raH,JiKiJJatS^2^. Colman. To top up with to finish with (S.), 5jc . I?: (M). What' you drink, Mr. Gargery; at my expense, to top up with.

11

VIA
U.
Ugly

[553]

An ugly
want
(C.)

duckling

something which
^ ^ /h
"you
H?
i5?

is

despised for

its

of beauty but

which afterwards turns out famous (In the fable from which the phrase is taken, the

ugly duckling proved to be a swan),

It :* '^
"Well,"
myself."

#;

lift

M,

"81

said Campion,

see 1

was one
"81,

of the ducklings

m
"but

ife

S 0.

nf.,

i6

E^

^ ^ ^ '>

J* *n

"Oh,
we'll

ah, so

you were," said Babcock, perfectly unabashed, hope you'll turn out more in the ugly duckling line."
iiS

^, a^

m SP ^ ^ '> ^ H f^ 5c E

B m.

F. Anstey.

V.
Va
Vae
victis!

Woe

to the

vanquished!

(P.)

[Latin],

^^miX). mr].
Vae victis (Woe to the vanquished) being of old the only regret expressed towards those against whom the fortune of war had turned.

-^w^mnmBimmi^itm.m^ M^^f^^-syichambers's Journal, 18S7.

Vial

To pour out the

vials of one's

wrath

to give vent to
(P.),

one's anger, to express one's indignation

$^

^^
of Mrs.

West
jgi.

She pours out the vials of her mental wrath on the head for encouraging Staunton to come to Norman House.

F. Marryat.

1554J

APPENDIXES.

^mM^
OLD SAYINGS.
1.

2.
3.

4. 5.
6. 7.

8.
9.

10. 11.
12. 13.

14.
15.

16.
17. 18.

19.

20.
21.
22.

23.

As poor as a chureh-mouse, as thin as a rail, S M i^> # S iD SSAs fat as a porpoise, as rough as a gale, ^;^^fi9, iffiSSnl^. As brave as a lion, as spry as a cat, ^ tSi IM: ^ ^ tO M.As bright as a sixpence, as weaUi as a rat, 9lia Mi Bl <l" SU "^ W. As proud* as a peacock, as sly as a fox, f^ ia 'X &, As mad* as a March hare, as strong* as an ox, 3E S >& 3^> ?L ^ :ftAs fair as a lily, as empty as air, gi^ggSnfUTK^TE, S^ftl^fclStift. As rich as a Qroesus, as cross^ as a bear, ^ ib PS /fc, ;^ftl As pure* as an angel, as neat as a pin, i -^ if @ 'I*, As smart as a steel-trap, as ugly as sin, f& A, P iff AAs dead as a door-nail, as white as a sheet, M ffi {K tK, W 6 JM KAs flat as a pancake, as red'' as a beet, ^ in SB 7jt, g # g. Ae round as an apple, as black^ as your hat, M iH Wi MWM-, As brown as a berry, as blind" as a bat, S' ^ ffi, W AD ^ MiAs mean as a miser, as full as a tick, ^ PjC K, W J'l ' SAs plump as a partridge, as sharpio as a stick, JE^S %Si, ItAs clean as a penny, as dark as a pall, ^ "BT A, H 'AO Ife -If As hard" as a millstone, as bitterly as gall, SI: tO M^, "S ^'MAs fine as a fiddle, as clear" as a bell, ia *lf il^ '1; *S it #> Al RI^S 11 jS As dry as a herring, as deep as a well, l An M, '^ Pi &. SkAs light as a feather, as firm as a rock, tS ^ S ^, tt Afl S. As stifi' as a poker, as calm as a clock, il ^ ft #, As greeni* as a gosling, as brisk as a bee, 1^ SB JS i$7X, ffi

ff!|

^ ^

^M

fel]

M A

^ M ^

^S

^ ^

EQUIVALENT EXPRESSIONS.
1.

2.
3.

4.
5. G. 7. 8. 9.

As weak as a cat; also (of moral weakness) As proud as Lucifer, 5^ ^ ft AAs mad as a hatter, fi nl 2fc,. As strong as Hercules, ^ jb ill J^. As cross as two sticks, fg ^ jfg J^. As pure as the driven snow, M & S 2. d A^ red as a salamander, ^ ^ f^

as

weak

as water,

H ^ |^ gg,
;

10.

11.
12.
13.

14.

As black as a crow, ^ ta M !& As blind as a mole, '^ ft ^. As sharp as a needle, ^ in . As hard as nails, S AP i^ JTAs bitter as aloes, "W As clear as crystal (of transparency), As green as grass, H^ SU # i^.
lift

(Vk ia '^ iH).

ffit

^^M-

fi

^ iS-

APPENDIXES.

[555]

AN ADDITIONAL
1

LIST OF

SUCH EXPRESSIONS.
^ i. ^ gg ^ ^ Br. Sober as a judge, WJ in ^ Soft as soap, 31 ^ ^ Sour as vinegar, ^ ^ in ShIjl

Bold as

brass,

^Tf

Ift.

15.
16.

Pleased as Punch,

"ST

2. 8.
4.

Cold as charity, )$ fa Cool as a cucumber,

lik-

#^
"BT

^ ^.
J^-

17.

Quiet as pussy, i? Sick as a dog, ||

ll4-

Cruel as the grave, "^

5. 6.
7.
8.
9.

Drunk

as a lord,

jS$

MM

18. 19.

"i"-

Dull as ditchwater, jl in ii 7jt. Grave as a judge, Pp PnT-

20.

^S

21.
22.
f,!l

Straight as an arrow,

it in

Greedy

as a pig,

^WkWL'S:'h-

Sure as a gun,

jH.'Pp.

1M.W'&

10.

11. 12.
13.

Hot as love (in August), 5^ in Happy as a king, in ffi M 3E ;t Heavy as lead, fi ^ # UlHungry as a hawk, ^ 0i in !f

23. 24. 25.

IS-

Sweet as a peach, Swift as an eagle,

26.
27.

True as Vain as

steel,

in

^ in ^. ^ ^ in E^^
)

?il.

'fS i'c-

a schoolgirl,
(

Merry

as a cricket,

W$.-k^. ^h^^ i
^JKiO'ttl;,
>
)

^Jm

^ 1^.

a serpent,

H.

Old as

ISe'thusaleh,

i^^HJ^-

Wise

as

I
(

Solomon,
Socrates,

ifinKSS, j^jtiB^.

-*oJ=^E^=5o^-

m
APPENDIX.
'^^'^^ $ '^^^^^

H=HOPPE'S SUPPLEMENTARY ENGLISH LEXICON.

N. E.

D.=NEW ENGLISH DICTIONARY.

A. B.

A. B.

able-bodied.

(The contraction

is

common

in

speaking of sailors
work),

who

are physically capable of their

n^^;m^{iui]mmmz7K^^s,
sailors,

"Of the European wart A. B.'s."

by

far the

most

reliable

were

five stal-

Chambers's Journal, No. 627.

AC.

A.

C.

Alpine club or a member of the Alpine club.

#;
PSI

An

association of those interested in mountaineering,

!^
which
S:
^;f

W^

Oj

^ El # S S- # S:.
F. W. Fanar,
' '

"He'll carry all our provisions and plaids to-day up to the is more than most of our A. C.'s would do."
:^ tl

top,

* -a.
the A. B. 0.
glj

Julian
3/C

Home."
M'J

A. B.

C.

A. B.

C.

a railway guide or time-table,

JJl

^ Ht

^.

Hand me

g S;
About
Turn
pany

BJ

^,

e m -h -

Catch the eleven o'clock Express,

ffi

M M R K.
the

A. Innes, "Shooting

Rapids," Vol. II.

about, turn and turn about

successively taking part (C),

each one of a comH ^; |& M, ^ ^,

^

A woman or two,
of the remains

;t
it,.

SA--

and three or four undertaker's men".had charge which they watched turn about. 51 2, 15 3-.H Eg , 1- ij 5E M, , 5S15 !S Thackeray, " Vanity Fair," Vol. II., c. XII.
2!fc.

[2]

ADVANTAGE
Time about alternately,
"No,
no, friend
PfC

each taking his part in order

S S,
(

iliS

fair play's a jewel^time about, & ^ ^ :t, IS 1% 1 &.

"BT

if

you please."

Account

<

To go to a or one's long accountto To send to a or one's long accouut to

die (P.),
kill (P.),

My heart vere harder than, these rocks if it could beas mjunoved the thought, that 1 have sent this man to a long account.

^ ic S A i^ JE m. ^
^.
Sir

if:

W.

Scott,

25:* , '11> y^M Wl,^:%m:^ >fi " The Monastery," c. XXIII.

A sale for th,e account; as

for cash, is

distinguished from a sale an engagement on the part of the seller to deliver, and on the part of the buyer to receive and paj'^ for the stock sold, at the ensuing settlement, 'S;

Look what the funds were on the

fives

1st of

March what the French

'

were when

bought

for the account.

B#, M fS ^ "f
Across

Thackeray,

'

Vanity Fair.!

Across country^
He
and

in hunting, in the

huntingfield (C),

(Pendennis) wrote to the chaps at school about his top-boots,

his feats across country.

=g.-&^t['A, tl2i.KK.l:a?lh, 2fcm^*?-i?.

Thackeray, "Pendennis,"
c.

III.

Advantage

To have the advantage

other, to possess

of to know more than anknowledge of a fact while another is

ignorant of

it (0.),

^;

M M., M ^, ^H m,^\i A:t^

I haven't the advant-

' '

May I offer you any refreshment, Mr.?

Jfc

age of your name."

at

& fi

ffl

ifi>

T,

^ f& * Ik :^ m.
sir,

"My name is Mapshot,

Scbool of this town."

and 1

am

Miaster of the

Grammar-

Thackeray, "Pendennis,"

c XV.

ANAE
Mter
"After you"
is
first,'
'

[3]

is

good mannetS
(C.)
('*

to

make way for another

'

a polite act

After you " signifies

first'),

please go

please help yourself

^M(M){A^^

Amid
you"

for lighted

the clanking of spoons in glasses, and poJite calls of "After spill's, the conversation streamed into milder channels-

W. Clark

Russell,

"John Holdswbrth,"

c.

XX.
food

Agailiocles

Agathocles' Pot

vessel containing poisonous

A death's head
your gate.

at your banquet

Agathocles' pbt a Mordecai in

C.Lamb; " Poor
Relations."

Aid

To

aid

and abet

to assist as
(P.),

an accomplice,

to help in
IrI

every possible

way

Kl

:?J;

15,

^ |&, *i 5^,

know

you

of aiding

nothing, you must recollect, of the charge brought against and abetting high treason.
Sir W.,
Scott,'

^ ?* M tt W ^ ^s, ^ K :^ *n tS, 5* jU t6 IE It */
" Waverley."

Ala

h la Busde said

which is served from the side-board, no carving been done at the table (French),
of a dinner

Those were the days ere k

la

Eusse banquets came into vogue.

Mrs. Riddell,

"Her

Mother's Darling,"

c.

IV.

All

maid or servant of all work a general servant prepared to cook, sweep the house, answer the door,
etc. (P.),

m'^;mM,nm ix).

been frequently amused with the intense delight with which a "servant of all work," who is sent for a cab, deposits herself inside.

We have

i^.

PickeAs, "Sketches."

Anak

son of

Anak a
33),

very

tall

Numbers XIII,

^,

S ^ le ^ + H * H + H ).

W M.

man (C.) ^, M A, &

(See

Bible,

A m) (M K

[4]
to hold his

BACK
With the help of that good natured son own among his companions.
gS
of

Anak, he just manage^

^ A & ^ i,

1^

S* Si.

fll!

*& te it

^ # 1S,
Thing,"

/f: c.

M^
IV.
"^

^.

W. E.

Norris,

"No New

Anything

Like anything^an

expression used to express a great

measure or degree of anything; 'to eat like anything =to eat heartily; 'to run like anything' = to run fast.
Joking away like anything. (H).

W(WMW>-

Dickens,

"

Sketches.

'

Auld

Auld lang syne days long past, days of old. (The name of a celebrated song of Burns, beginning, 'Should
auld acquaintance be forgot?
'

Auld = old
Hif,

lang

= long
me
so

syne=smce),
I

S Ht

=^

fi Btauld lang syne, do

jai

have a friend in
favour. (H).

office

who

will, for

much

^ ^ - *:, ?l S S 1.
Aunt

:!:

If

tg 15

^ ^ &.
The
and the

An Aunt

Sally

(a

wooden

figure with a clay-pipe in its

mouth, the principal feature in a popular game.

face of the figure is generally black in colour,

head encased in an old w6man'3 cap. Players are supplied with a number of short sticks or batons, which they fling at the figure. "When the pipe is
broken, a score

game

is

is made in favour of the player. commonly most seen at fairs), 'H Hh

The-

m'm&.:^M A,
As soon Aunt Sallies i.

tj

^A mmn:t^^,m^'^Bm
;

as they find themselves

of the back-region

among the gingerbeer

stalls

and

(H).

-AW:mnmm^,A'^mm:^A m
ilfrs.

Edwards, "Ought we

to visit

her?"

Sack

Back and belly

,

used in referring
and feeding the
bellies of

to clothing

and food
^;

clothing the back

belly,

:Jt

^ ^,

It

is

from the backs and

other people that savings are

made with
if
J

t B A 2, s ^, Mz^

the greatest cpnstancy. (HI.

s;

mmm.m-

Anthony Trollope, "Orley Farm."

BANDBOX
T be turned on
one's

[5]

be rendered helpless, Turtles are rendered to be non-plussed or astounded. helpless in this way, and are secured afterwards, at the
to

back

convenience of the captor (F.), 19 5^

I was regularly turned on by your establishment. (H).

^^

IK

M,

#M

my back when I

found him taken up

JHchens, "Bleak

Home."
to

Sadger

To draw the badger (a)

out of
its

to induce the
;

animal

come

(b) figura: hole (F.), 51 ffi ?1 :^ ffi (S). force a to himself, disclose person tively, to make a

person to reveal something

(S.l,

^ i ^ 4^ fT Q ^S. W
is

If the right hon.

gentleman (Mr. ChamlDerlain)

afraid to give

an immediate answer to the question, and having declined to answer any of the charges, then, if it is in order, I will guarantee to the House to take the earliest opportunity I can find of seeing what I can do also to draw the badger. (H). j&^i^M F.g W. : EP Bf f^ ^, gi; ife Bif S#'lf :7:Mf^

^m, ^

In]

^ ^:ai*.

:pf:

jiS

tl

il-

;&

^ iE^ --, ^^^

fi-

is,

m;^|C^ jlfc-g-KU^i^Xord Randolph

Churchill, in a speech of S8 Oct., I884.

Bag

A bag of bones a name applied to a vety lean

Such a limping bag
of

person,

bones as I was. (Hoppe).

^ ^MtaM,
Bail

-^

MH^

&

Diciens, "Bleak

Some."

To hold

to bail

to oblige

some one

to find bail (P.),

Pickwick and

Tupman he had
ffi

^ : A H P? ^ ^ f* ?f
To
bail

already held to bail. (H). Dickens 'Pickwick Papers."

'

up

to get into a corner, to enclose in a

narrow

place from which escape is difficult,

mM^^,j^%M 1^ A m m pi
If

M^; MMW^>
me. (Hoppe).

we can

bail

them up,

they'll fight, believe

Hi

Kingsleyt

t'

Geoffrey

Handyn."

Bandbox

To look

as if one

spruce and spotless,, fi

came out of a bandbox to ^*^ ll; M; ff

appear

[6]
by
pontrast, (H).

BATTLE
The coachman
fresh as

from a bandbox, and exquisitely beautiful'

Dickens,

"Old

Curiosity

Shop."

Barleycorn

John Barleycorn a
is

jocular

extracted from barley,

also,

name for whisky, which ^"i: Mi-'M :^M Mheightens and exaggeoffices

Good John Barleycorn

occasion. (H). in

who always

rates the prevailing passions... was not

wanting in his

on

this,

;^ -g fa,

Bf IS ^^ft-ffi;.

j^ SB 21 'ft 1?, =^ tt te 1^ Jn 3i #, Sir W. ScoU, "Chronicles of the Canongctfe,"

^
o.

9f
I4.

Basket

To bring to the hasket make a beggar of a

,

reduce mendicancy, ^ ^ ^ * ^ g : ^, ^ ^.
to

to

to

]i&,

be praised I am not brought to the basket, though I rather live on charity than rapine. (Hoppe).

God

had

Bat

^^mWM& A,myf^m^^,?^.m^,^yf:W^^!:^^ "The Gentleman To carry out one's bat to hold on unconquered to the a cricketing phrase. (As there must always be
Father Darrell,
Instructed."

last

two players in at the wickets, the game (innings) ends when one of these is put out and there is no other to take his place. The other is unconquered and carries out his hat, has not to give it up to a successor), ^J J[j
Memorable, above all, as the day on which "Walter carried out his bat, after having put together a score of 182.
'

'

'

W. E.

Norris

"Ho New Thing,"

c. 1.

Bath

To go
'

a phrase implying impatience or mild ridicule (C), mm^mmm o^ ^^ it ^ ^ a :s m).

to

Bath

'Go to Bath, " said Austin.

'

'I

say, I

am

going to swim through

this

chasm."

H. Kingsley, " Austin

Elliot,'" c.

Battle

To do

battle

with

XI.

to fight or struggle against (P.), ;fg

There was the chair in which she had so often sat, plying her needle with such tardy grace, while her iuipatient thoughts did battle with the humdrum narrow life she led.
pi

m&m-r-^m ^M. ^ }* ^ BS S, ^ g
;J;
ifi>

ft,

JS

Jfe

ffi

!: ;j. ,c>,

^ a ^ I ^, li B# 3: a ig# -a.
fife

)|i

Mrs. Parr,

"Adam and

Eve," Vol. II.

0.

IS.

BIDS
Beat

[7]

To beat

th.t

lingering in

bouhds^a |3hrase ilsed df a ceremony still many parishes, B ^'^l W(.^^

M^

On a certain day the parochial officials, followed by boys with long wands, go round the bounds and strike the dividing line or wall
all roun'd.

Beetle

Beetle crushers

a jocular

name
!

for

heavy boots,

Yes, but what horrible boots Whoever could have had the atwQcity to fwame such beetle-crushers?
It, mjifcnr'ffl2.?it!

mm^m&m^m^of
to be specially watchgood manners or propriety,

Behaviour

To be on (one's) good behaviour

ful against

any breach

I could

must be

oti

have been more angry than ever I was in good behaviour,.,...

my life

but 1

SeM, "Guy Mannering,"

c.

XVIII.

Berlin

Berlin wool

known

a superior kind of wool used in knitting, also as zephyr, i^ ^ M (MM X^^ M Ji^

We'll put on our bonnets and go out that ia, oue of us will, and the other may take to Berlin wool and Mr. Jonson. (Hoppe).

^M^
Better

;t.

#.

Miss Mulock, "Johti Halifax, Gentleman.'

To better
His

one's self to rise in the world,

;^ ff;

predecesB?>i' in this career

had bettered

hiniself

by

seeking

the practice of some large town.

A
Bids
Bids ahd beadsa kind
I

Trollope,

"Bobtor Thome."
rjj ;

of neckcloth or ruffle, |^

beads.

have not yet been able to laugh hiiii oiit ofrhis long bid and Indeed that is because my mother thinks they become him.
if

S >E

4Jl

KW

Itii'

Mehardson, "Clarissa Harl&we,"

e II, 6.

[8] Bit

BLACK
Bit and
he
shall

supfood

and drink, f^ -^; nf ^,

;

ffc

^.

The University needs a professor of physiology they arrange that have his free bit and sup at the bountiful table of Magdalen.
London Times, Aug.
(S.),
1, 1881.

^,7f:ik^fkM^-

bit of stiff a cheque for money

fStM;^M,^
" wasn't
for five

"I'm

sorry that bit of

stiflF,"

meaning the

bill,

thousand francs." (H.)

^Jf

It

Jlfc

1^ (*l ^ E S m), * 3E =f S
C. Lever,

115

^.
IK
Ifc,

"The Dodd Family Abroad."

bill,

To do a
Black

bit of stiflF to cash a

IK

m;

MH

Black Rod

the gentleman-usher of the House of Lords.

is

(The black rod which he carries gold lion), II ^; J4 t, Ji

surmounted by a

^ 1^^ ^ :& AriS :?:

The key was

in vain.
P3 i^

laid

on the table. Black Rod knocked for admittance

SI

g i^ ^ ,

^ f up

P5

^A

nr ff.

Macaulay, History of England, Vol. II.

Black draught or dose a purgative drug composed Epsom salts and senna, v^ HI; a ?^ IS!-

of

Administering a double portion of black draught by

pensation.
.S
ffl

way

of

com-

"^ ^, 1 Se
ffi,

Bffl

"Fravk

Fairleigh."

Exit Sawbones, looking for black doses.

^)5Si1-

Ji^^^il-

Thackeray, "Lovel the Widower."

To have the black dog on one's shoulder or back to be in a bad temper, to be moody and sullen, P

She had a habit of carrying not only the real black kitten, but the imaginary and allegorical "little black dog" on her shoulder.

::/(:)#

^ &

Miss MuLock,

'

'Agatha's

Husband,"
to a coal

c. I.

The Black Country

district in

the name given

Staffordshire,

and iron

the centre of England, comprising portions

of "Warwickshire

and

J^

fiS

:^

M;

^^

He had been in the iron manufacturing regions,

Justin McCarthy, ."History of

the black country.

Our Own Times."

BLUB
Blind

[9]
outlet (P.),

Blind alley

a passage or road which has no

They (Shelley' s characters^ pass (ireamily before us, emitting a thin, desultory current of would-be philosophy, which tends we do not well see whither; which at last stagnates in some speculative blind alley.

K ^ 2, Sg KfBlood

National Review 1889,

"Dr. Johnson on Modern Poetry."

You cannot

get blood out of a stoneyou cannot get

'

The Scotch pjhrase is You exist (F.) cannot take the breeks (trousers) off a Biighlandman'; for a Highlander wears only kilts, Tfc il
what does not

^^
c.

"You
1^ *:,

cannot get blood out

of a stone,

though,

my friend."
XXV.

n ^, *

pf;

ti i^

Tie

* m m.

H.

Kingsley, "Austin Elliot,"

Blue

Blue-coat boy a pupil of Christ's Hospital School, Newgate, London, or of a like institution elsewhere. The uniform is a blue coat coming past the knees and yellow stockings, this uniform being & survival from

Si^iP^jM-ail^^^^^^ , g ^ # ^ {^ ^ M fe SI :S. ^ ;S ^ ^, M @3
the 16th century,
But the sight of sleek well-fed blue-coat boys in pictures, was at that time, I believe, little consolatory to him.
Charles

Lamb, "Essays of Elia Christ' s Hospital

Five-and-'Ihirty years ago."

The Blue Chamber the room

the corpses of his victims.

in

which Bluebeard kept

See "sister

Anne,"

M H;

if

Mr. Pecksinff opened one door, and shut it were Blue Chamber.

it

again, all at once, aa

Ft. I.

c. 5.

A blue rose

something never yet found, (C),

M ^VE.

Unlike that blue rose of the bibliophiles, however, Gray's ode probably was never written at all.
;
fSi.

Gosse's Life of Gray, English

Men

(tf.Lettefs Series, c.

VI.

[10]

BOOT
To be or row in the same boat^to be uiider
conditions, to
faictB

Boat

the same

exactly alike,

^M

W-',

'^

J\^

^^

As

to listening,

sir,

this sort of thing goes

'

we shall all be rowing in the same boat, on much longer.

W.
Collins,

if

#:^.

"The Moonstone."

Book

To book up^to settle gaming debts. (Professional gamblers are known as bookmen or bookmakers), ^ f^

mm mm.
it,

I wish I could I haven't got

I send

book up to you at such a moment as you all that I can scrape together.

this,

but

Charles Lever,

"A Rent

in

a Cloud," p. 119.

Bolt

A bolt from the blue an unexpected etent, a sudden catastrophe (P.), ^5^S;M^rfff2*S, ^ft;;
*,
m.
il

m iX).

S :& i^, m ^ m ^

;2:

*,

5^ P^

, 3c

In the summer of 1840, there fell on her, like blue," the calamity which all but slew her.

"a

bolt from the

^
Boot

5iC

?E

The London Qaarteriy Review,

"Elizabeth Barrett Browning," 1889.

Boot and saddle

"Once the
line-of

be
march

quick,

make no

delay (F.) (A

military phrase),

% Ji;
is

i^m, ik

M (S) (^ ii ^ W)no
loiterVol. 1.
c.

decided, 'boot and saddle!'

ing!" cried the old soldier.

Mrs. Alexander,

"The Preres,"

XVI.

The boot
there
is

is

on the other leg

(F.),

the

case is different,

a difference

7ppf|^ gjfjj^.^rtt^

'

'The boot's on the other leg with Adam.'

ffi

jss;

fj It

i&y^

n &
Parr,

Jlfrs.

"Adam and Eve,'

'

Vol. 1.

c.

XL

To put the boot on the other leg

to

to

change matters,

do exactly the reverse,

M M,;

ik

U>

KM ^:t,M

BEEAK
fi

[11]

He had not propoaed to entertain his aon at dinner, he rather intended to put the boot on the other leg, as the saying is.

* ^ SI IS H

4Jl

^ K *,

^;f

g!l fi'

:S -to5M Ohamb&rs' Journal, No. 498.

Boots

As

or like old boots

a simile used in a haphazard way-

after adjectives like cheeky, etc., or verbs like swear, etc.

I'll

steek to you like old boots.

Miss Braddon, "Sir Jasper,"

c.

XXVII.

# la ^ S
Bound
I'll

She's as tough as old boots.

lt

^- Miss Bridgman, "E.

I/ynne," Vol. I. XIII.

/|S[-

be bound
"I'll

am

certain, I feel sure,

j^;

-Jl,

^^.
be bound," she said
faintly,

"that you've had no dinner

to-day."
Katherine Macquoid, "Marjorie,"
c.

III.
(S.),

Boy

To be the boy
I

to

be exactly suitable or capable,

is

have been thinking that law

the boy for xne.

Dickens, "Bleak Souse," Vol. II, p. 10.

"But the Viscount's 1^ * ig^ 0,

the boy," cried Pip.

-g-

^ BW S

# *.
poorest

Diekens, "Great Expectations," Vol. II. p. 40.

Bread

Bread and water diet

the

and most meagre

food, w. f:; If these two youths are already possessors <Jf the Hautbourg estate, they are millionaires, and their leading the bread and water life they do is a queer circumstance.

wiik,7Km,^^mm.

m & ^'J^ , ^ m m m mm, m ^m ^

Grenville Murray,

s.m,

^m^

"The Member for Paris,"

eat (P.)

Vol. I. p. 859.

Break

To break bread to
carries with
it

phrase which always

a certain emphasis, ^ IS;

Wi^,

M^

blind man could have told by the rustle of her dress that Mrs. Ascott would have a full explanation before she broke bread again at

our table.

^,

J #:#.

ife

:t

Miss

Ewing," A

* -h i|H!iFlat Iron for a Farthing,"

c.

XXXI.

[13]
Bricks

EBOAD
Like a thousand of bricks
,

with great impetus or force,

very heavily, vigorously, ^ ^^s M^ i],'^

'S.',

It has been said of him. ..that he (Washington) was always on hand, like a thousand of bricks.

Mark Twain, "Sketches,"

I.

Bridle

The

bridle arm the left arm. (Contrasted with the sword arm which is the right), ;fe ^; ;5S ^.

^@

If the

Englishman with his bridle arm had shot the Frenchman

dead...

W. H.

Russell,

"My Diary in

India in the year 1858-9."

Bring

To bring a person out

to

make him talk,

to

overcome

his shyness or backwardness,

^ ^ ^i

\ji

M M, ^ yf
C, "I

I aaked C.

don't

know

if he brought her papa out much? "No," said that he does that, but he talks to Pa."

^"SM&.^n^mi^M^ltm^To bring up short

Dickens,

'

'Bleak Mouse.'
;

a horse to stop suddenly also used generally, to cause to halt suddenly, to arrest suddenly in a career, 1^ ^i ,
to cause

MM

M^, M ^

You were well aware that you were committing felony, and have probably felt tolerably sure at times that you would some day be brought up short.

^
Broad

tH-

Broad church
gelical,

the

^. Trollope, " Castle Richmond." liberal or philosophical party in the

(a) with the Low or Evanwhich inculcates puritan doctrine and the puritan interpretation of the scriptures, and (6) with

English church. Contrasted

the

High church,

the party of authority, tradition

and

ceremonial,

%m^m^m^-^:Z~-U,Umm
Church
is

Out
lie

of the three

parties the

one which most emphatically

takes the Liberal side

the Broad
h

t-

ilS, fi- 53-

2 $, ;K S

i g ft jft Si #, fj JK g Saturday Review, July, I874.

BURN
Broken

[13]
of

A broken hinta hint or piece

indefinite or fragmentary way,

adnee given in an
TTi

^ ^', Wi

Wi->

A broken hint was

4^

always -worrying to him.

Dickens,

#^

ttt

^ ^, a E ^ M .
"The
Cricket on the Eearth."

Buflf

To stand buflfto
If

refuse to budge, to resist firmly,

he does (turn on me) it

is

best to stand btiff to him.

Scott, c.

la

^ 1

:54 ffS

ff

HO

^ m S iS ^ #
IX,

Scott's

Diary quoted by Lockhart, Life of

To say neither
opinion,

buflf

nor styeto
...

refuse to pass

an
it 1"

/pa^mi.;^^^?^-^'^^^^^say you to that?"

"What
(Rl)

"I

say neither buff nor stye to

IB to M. (t^m ft
Sir

jHs P[^

J9f

1,.
c.

W.

Scott,

"Redgawnilet,"
:fc
:$fe

XII.

Bugs

The

big bugs

the great personages, A

S

^J
c.

P ^

The great guns and big bugs have to take.in each f A Jt M. . 21 ^ Bl :^ Aifc

other's ladies.

&

i-laliburlon,

"Sam

Slick in

England,"

XV.

Build

To build on to form BTr S ^

great expectations from,

;^^M;

Mrs. Frere had in truth built largely on her marriage with Darnell.
Mrs. Alexander, "The Freres," Vol. I.e.

XIV.

Bully

Bully for you

a slang term of approbation, # ^; H

Bundle

To bundle out

to be

summarily

ejected,

^ ^; S Hi.

He went bundling
pitiable yell.

out of the open schoolhouse door with a most

0.

W. Holmes, "Elsie Venner,"

c.

III.

Buru

Burn-the-wind-a familiar term for a blacksmith (Obs.),

ait

E (SK E

:S

liiT

m
W.

And' when she asks fortfae boldest man hear named but Harry Burn-the-'wind?
Ml.

in Perth,

whom shall she

Sir

Scott,

"Fair Maid of Perth,"

c.

III.

[14]
Burst

CURRENTE
To burst

upto be ruined (in a financial senseX

if

^^

Then you think that

L. got time

h0 wouldn't burst up?

B
By

l!j Jft

a S L, ^ 4? 31
in

8$ ^J, flij 51: S. f!l y. Charles Dickens, "Our Mutual Friend," (III. S19.) all,

By and large all

by and

altogether.

An Americanism,

You'll search one while afore you'll find a man that, take him large, is equal to one of your free and enlightened citizens.
JSabiburion,

"Sam

Slick the Clockmaker,"

c.

XVI.

Chime

To chime

m^,mm (X).
Eeuben,
too, * *

in with another to express the same opinions as he does (P.), *i IPI 5P' If ^, IrI 'It,

^E

revenged himself by chiming in with Mrs. Pascal.

Mrs. Parr,

"Adam and Eve,"

is

Vol. I. c. III.

Clink

To clink
wine
To
is

glasses

This

in sign of friendship. "When

d'rnnk as a ceremony, the guests touch the

IrI

glasses of their neighbours,

this the

ft; 1^ t^,

^ M ^ jf.
c.

count readily assented, and drank to their future

friendship, clinking glasses rather noisily.

^ Ji i^ *
Cock
Cocker

Mrs. Alexander, "She never,"

XVI.

That cock won't fight

see Cock, ^ m Cock.

pamper
(F.),

To cocker

upto

indulge,

M & (S).
"But it is

m^lMM.,

O'Eourke laughed at this, and Maskelyne smiled transiently. not worth while to cocker up a mere private citizen of the United States in that way."

'^^, M,mmr^ mm M>B,

D.
Christie Murray., "First

is.

^m mm ^m
'ft-

:;?:

Person Singular,"

c.

XXIX.
to reflect.

Currente

Currente calamo writing without stopping

Lit.,
'

with a running pen,'

^ |f ^ ;^. ^ ^ ^^ ^"

H is habitually rapid and slovenly-writing currente calamo. disdaining the "art to blot."
NKhol's "Byron,"

and

Men of Utteva

Series, c.

XI.

IHnners

T& eat
'
'

one's
(c.),,

END dinners

[15]
to

be

stiadying' for the

bar in

London

^mm;mn^m m).
W.E.
Nbrris,

So Philip basmade up his mind to be called to the bar, has he?"

'"Yes, he

is

eating his dinners."

B,

% !a,^ IE ^ a # ^.

"No

Mw

Thing, "

c.

VI.

Dree

To dree

one's -weird to accGmplish one's fate Scotch phrase, ^; j

(C.)

^^S

Austin went to prison in due time, and dreed his weird there, as

we

shall see.

a . #

-ffii.

a.

c.

XXXII.

Ear

To have

one's ear

burn
is

This

is

popularly said to be

a sign that some one

is said to

talking about us.

(The
ill

left
is

ear

burn or be red when something

F^
ft&

said)

CF.),

H ft;
it

A M f& a a (^ S in ^ A
which burned when I

You may be sure made my responses.

?*

wasn^'t Billy's left ear

^
Elephant

a ^n ^ K

-tii).

Jfc f!l -ladi 3*iit fi ^, 1F9 #lS B#, Fitz-Hugh Ludlow, "American Hvmioroixs Gems," p. SJfi.

WaS

A white elephant something which

ject presented

is

at once useless

and costly to its possessor (C.) (It is said that the kings of Siam when they wished to ruin too powerful a sub-

him with a w.
;

e.,

the expense of keeping

^fe^
'i/,

which

i&

enormous),

:5:

i,

S ^ il M ^ it . ^ ^ # ^ m, ^ ^ M M ;& mm) {%mm

ffl

* *

Longbourne seeroed

like to

prove a white elephant to the-heir.

^ )S ^ m, i^ s ^ n A,
End
On end sitting
l^hey

ffii

M^ $F
;

. as 1&.
c.

W. B. Norm; "No New Thing,"

erect (F.),
herself,,

II,

M jt

i: at (^).
in

Mrs. Sprowle: raised

by a
as

sort of spasm,, sur son siant, as

it

say in France

up on end,
0..

we have

New

England.

W. mVmea,

"Mm.

Venner, "

c.

XIII.

[16]
Face

FAIR
To put a bold face upon a matter
there was nothing to be

to act boldly as if

ashamed

of (P.),

^7^

-jf

"Mi

Dundas had
.

little,

or rather nothing, to say in defence of his

own

consistency, but he put a bold face

on the matter, and opposed

the motion.

H m, at H ^ S * it Jg BB B. Macaulay, "Warren Hastings" Essays,

To
set one's face against

Student's Edition, p. 6S4.

to

oppose with determinaset his

tion,

^B
it

ffi

i^;

:?;

Nor was

in the least

t^, tit ffion aesthetic grounds that he had

face against the

whole scheme.

W. E.

Norris,

"Major and Minor,"

11^
(P.),

Face to face with in the immediate

It

presence of

was on the occasion

Mr. Grey.

of his first interview

after the scholarship examination, that

Eobert was

with the provost, first brought face

to face with

^ mnmn^ '&, m m ^^<^,mm '^.i^ mm m ^ m

WMrs. H. Ward, "Robert Elsmere,"
c.

V.

To make a
* *

face or faces

to

contort the countenance

slight contortion of the features

as

The only answer she chose to make to this appeal was that which with a pretty girl is euphemized a ''move," and with a plain one is called "making a face."
iaS

:S

&

F. Anstey,

'

'

Vice Versd, ' '

c.

XL

He's a god or a painter; he makes faces.

Shakspeare, Love's Labour Lost, Act. F.
sc. Z.

649.

Tag

The fag end

when
(6)

(a)

sea-term, signifying the

end of a rope

the strands have the closing time

come

loose,

MW(.:t,MM(P.), J|^

when

the interest flags

The season has come

to its fag end.

Rugh Conway, "Living

or Dead, c.

XVI.

Fair

Fair game that which may justly be hunted, what is open to attack, WiW^;mM^W:1i,^ %m.M'&,^.

FALL
Bourrienne
worthless.

[17]
tlie

is fair

game, but

wliole of

tiis

statements are not

London

Spectator, IS Feb., 1888.

Fair play is a jewel courteous and just treatment is a most valuable and highly prized thing (C), /fH ^;

Fair play's a
jfil

-jewel.

li

^ I?.

B. L. Farjeon, "Miser Farebrother,"

c.

XXXII.

Fair and square, fairly and squarely honest and just, honestly and justly, without hypocrisy (C), 5^iE;

When Mack came

difficult

to look at

it

fairly

* *

it

would be
'A

to separate the

and squarely, he saw how two friends.

c.

^ 3^
D.

iii<

,^wwi=--^.'M.mm mMurray, "Hearts: Queen, Knave, and Deuce."

II.

Christie

In a

fair

way
sitting

of

likely to obtain,

b]"

#;
way

Bf ii,

"^I

^.

She was

up

in bed, already in a fair

of recovery.

W.Besant, "Katherine Regina,"

c.

XVIIL

A fair exchange is no robbery where a

lent
is

fair equiva-

given no one has any cause to grumble, S"

exchange

^^
VII.

fair

is

no robbery, thought
"The Rebel

Sir

James.
c.

Mrs. E.

Lynn

Linton,

of the Family," Vol. I.

Fair weather friends

kdversity, fi

friends
g^
flj

who

forsake one in

fA *B As

m ;^ Am
i^\,

J3B

^;

^,

g ^ M ^ ^ f, fl
. *:,

for Chris, she

had

as yet

no occasion to ask herself whether her

PpI

fair-weather friends would remain constant to her in adversity or not.

jfg

W.W: -^ .

^* % u m^m
W. E.

mn

a#
c.

m
^^

Norris, "Chris,"

II.

Fall

To try a

fall

to venture

upon a

struggle,

^ M la

For a time
their

it

seemed as

if

own hands, and

try once

the Greeks would take the matter into more a fall with their old foe in the

brave squares of war.

-1^.

J. McCarthy,

"England

Tinder Gladstone,"

c.

IV.

[18]

FALL
To
fall

back upon

as

to

assume

as a reason in failure of

another,
I

^:t it

B
-ff-

^,

m 1^ &. ^ M, mm, Mc.

must soon have undeceived

my interest in Charley,
Sf 2K
iHi

her, and left her to fall back upon an explanation for my visits.

6?

IS;-

Conway, "Living or Dead,"

XXII.

To

fall in

with

(a) to

agree to, to coincide with, Bi

^;

"When Lord Valence informed his wife that he wished his sisterin-law to continue to reside at Castle Valence, Everil, at once, fell in with his views upon the subject.
fh

H i BP
(6) to

;ffi Jlfc

18-

F- Marryat,
to, 'tt

'

'Open Sesame, "

;

c.

XVIII.
13

accustom oneself

J*

^ W, ^ :^
fell

^
its

* * Captain Bellenden moved about the world and hours, habits, and customs. Mrs. Walford,
(c)

in with

"A

Mere Child,"

c.

VIII.

to suit, be agreeable to, -&;

exactly fell in with his
116

-^

^,

-& !i!.

His companion

humour.
e.

m ;i ia #, ^
To
fall to
(as of

14 ie>

fs

1*

-&

Maria Edgeworth, "The Will,"

III.

the ground some proposition

{a)

to fail

from lack of support

(P.),

at a meeting)

W'JLM^;
to the ground.

m.mmm,mMi^Bmmm(.-x)* * As the action

is

worded

at present,

it

must

fall

A. Trollope, "The Warden,"

(6)

c.

XIII.

To have no

practical effect,

il
:5fe

5lr Sit,

^ ^ ^.
sir;

M )f S^
fall to

|K

^ [^

>

These were your words,

they did not

the ground.
to

4,

Jifc

7J C

i f,

* il a &.
Reade, "Never. Too Late

Mend."
jffi

To

fall across to

meet with by chance,

^^

^
V.

J3

is,
I

m.

M.
to fall across

happened

Estmere the next day in the park

or
:

H. Conway, "living

Lead,"

c.

To

fall

away to

degenerate, ,1

-ft;

l,^

^^.

FAMILY

[191

Tom * had come up from the third with a good character, but the temptations of the lower fourth soon proved too strong f6r him, and he rapidly fell away.
ar

^ a ai

-ffc

s.

Hughes,

"Tom
to

Brown's Schooldays,"
desert,

I. c.

VIII.

To fall away from

"We shall beat him,"
not
feel, lest this

abandon,

^ ^;

inMt

said

man

should

fall

Hawes, assuming a firmness he did away from him and perhaps bear

witness against him.

C.

Reade, "Never Too Late

to

Mend,"

c.

XVIII,

To

fall foul

ofto come

into collision with, to quarrel

with,

^; a, *a li, ^ ^ ^, *B W,before he

He had not been seated at table five minutes managed to fall foul of every body within reach.
W. E.
Norris,

had

"Major and Minor,"

c.

VII.

To
fall

fall

shortto

be deficient,

:^M.;^S.^,^,i^^would

* * She was very short at the ball.

much

afraid the attendance of her friends

Sarah

Tytler,

"Buried Diamonds,"
;

c.

XVII.

To

fall

onto

attack (C),

Xi:

Sfc

(M).
and began more ener"Ihe Freres,"
(of
c.

getically

Grace.. .had at once fallen on the loaf, than deftly to cut bread-and-butter.

Mrs. Alexander,

II.

To

fall

through.

to be

abandoned

a scheme),

M.^;

* * The next morning his Greenlaws party had fallen through.

Mrs. H. Ward, "Robert Elsmere,"
c.

XXXIX.

Tamily

To be
'

in the family -wayto be with child, to be preg-

nant,
the time.

^^ ^
;

jffi.

I recollect I was in the family

way with my son Nicholas

at

I>ickens,:"Nicholat Mckleby,"

c.

XXVII

[20]

FIDDLE
A fancy fair a bazaar
home
or contributed
special object,

Taney

for the sale of goods

made
for

at

by charitable people

some

H $K ii; ^ ^ #, ^ -^ #

If your Ladyship will but reflect a little after boasting of * * the poonah-painting, -which you execute for fancy fairs.

Fashion

'

[SI

,S.

Thackeray, "Faiis Shetcli Book," {Beatrice Merger).

After a fashion

to a certain

degree (generally said

disparagingly), fairly well, fg ?H; >^,

I could play (on the piano) after

0, ^.
Dead,"
c.

a fashion.
or III.

fa

h6 5? f^.

Hugh Conway, "Living

fat in the fire
j/c

Fat

To throw the

to cause great confusion

and excitement,
it

Jl

;5D Vfe;

MM, MM^ A, 4U yt in J* #
Vol. II. u.

"Just the sort of good, conscientious creature who might think his duty to throw the fat in the fire," thought Claud * *.
:^ li

i ,

it EP

ffl

ra

ic^

;i

a.

W. E.

Norris,

"Matrimony,"

IX.

To

live

on the fat of the land to have every luxury,

^ M JB ^; # # IS M. T ^ ^ 5^, H ^ S ^.
fat o' the land, right straight along, all

Well, I don't suppose but what you'll think we're livin' on the the while.

W. D. Howells, "Silas Lapham,"

c.

XXIII.

Father

The father
c.

of Lies

Vm,

44),

f si

the ^ ^;

devil.
:;fe

(See St. John's Gospel>

M m, M
all

,3E.

* *

When

she listened to Bell Blount

her instincts were derided

theories turned out of doors (treated unceremoniously) as false words, inspired by the Father of Lies.

and her

Mrs.

Lynn

Linton,

" The Rebel

of the Family," Vol. I.

c.

XII.

Fee

Fee simple

absolute

possession,

immediate right, y^
fee

Here were four women, of any one of whom he had the whenever he made up his, mind to choose which.
Mrs.

simple

Lynn

Linton, "Tlie Rebel of the Family," Vol. I.

c.

IV.

Fiddle

To be

first fiddle

to take, the

most prominent place

FIGHT
She
felt

[211
first fiddle.

that she was no longer the

James Payn,

"A

Grape from a thorn,"

lead.

e.

X.

To play

first fiddle

the above,'

Identical take the n^;M^^,m,m ^, m mto

idea of.playirig
first fiddle

with

You had no
"

in

any

social orchestra.

Dickens, "Martin CImzzlewit," Ft. I.

c.

XII.

To play second fiddle ^j H ^ PfHB, Pi ^, M

life

to take a subordinate place, :^

A T, ^ ^ @
ilS>

A.
to play-

She had inherited from her naotlier an extreme objection ing, in any orchestra whatever, the second fiddle.
7|t

H 3^ . 14
field

;lt,

ilia

M af M

-t :^

M Jg A Tc.

Jame& Payn, t'A Grape from a Thorn,"

XI.

Field

To keep the
* *

to

remain unconquered,
iij

Jfi

-ffi

Though compelled

to yield,

stone walls no less than manner keeps the field.

jlfc

man must
SI

that unequal combat in which at last succumb, it still in a

H :^
M,

85:

?!p

fiJ

M II ^
*fi

IS.

* 5. :p S, M '}IW:\M
P<^y^'

:^ t6 ;f si

ft ts

tt

^-

J'^'^''-^

"ku."

c.

Fight

To show
And

fight

to resist,

refuse to submit (C),

^ M

r-^;'^n^m,^-nm mm).
she will bully that
fight.
little

thing,

mission, until

untilsomething
ifS
'

or another

and frighten her into subhappens to make little

Eleanor show
#, -a i5
!DC
jlfc

/h !&,

^ -t 3l ii

J.Sl,ffiKm^,iKf>'^{l!>S-*.ffi^h-^ ^ B til- "li- Kmgslty, 'Austin Elliot," c. XV.

'

To

fight

shy of
them,

to treat with distrust, to avoid,

^;

Some
times.

of

who had

sons also to look after, had,

not only big houses but unmarried eldest it is true, fought U little shy of her at

^,

Bf .a

SS 31

M,

i!F

S*

111-

W. E. "Norris, Matrimony,"

Vol. III. c.

IV.

To live like a fighting-cockto have every luxury MM, P^ and dainty, Si^ ^ '^l

^^

M^^
and

* * There's that brute * * living like a fighting-cock in 'oof (money), while his poor wife is left to starve.

rolling

:^MABPF-aiH. R. Haogard, "Col.

Qaarritch," V. C.
e.

XXVIII.

[22]
Fig-leaves Fig-leaves

FIRE

often jestingly used of

'clothing.'

(In the

Bible, Genesis, III, 7,

Adam and Eve

are related to

have 'sewed
ness),

fig-leaves together' to cover their

naked-

^;m ^:tm,m:^^m{^mmi\]is:u
-I: fi).

^ H $ 1^
Long

before fig-leaves and millinery were thought of.

Temple Bar, 1889, "Sir Charles Danvers,"

c.

VI.

rilthy

Filthy lucre
Perhaps
I

a jocular name for money (C),

to,

psi

^ ^;
X.

ought to tackle

and earn some

filthy lucre.

Mn.

Alexander, ''The Freres," Vol. I.

c.

ringer

To snap
I

one's finger at

to treat with disdain,

Jc ||

am

all for

people getting enjoyment where they can, * * and

critics.

snapping their fingers at

Mrs.

jS.

Ward, " Miss BretheHon,"

c.

TV.

Fire

Fire awaygo on speaking, talk

"Now, Mr. Leader,
question

as

you
me

see

fit,

'f^

if

you

will allow

to put

one more

"
ffi

t s-, it
"Certainly,

s ra - M 5.
away," rejoined Tom.

fire

c.

"^

=:

0,

5,

^ IS ^ 1= It W *.
Hawley Smart, "Struck Down,"
XI.

To open

fire

to

commence

to

speak on a subject of

importance,

Sgi^M;&*;filS,
ill

:$fe^Pwas impatient to

* * Gland, who, like most bearers of

get his task discharged
;A:

tidings,
fire.

and done with, opened

iPf:

/L

^ A, # 4=
P
la

^, iiS^^*S^*, ^^^
Vol. III.
^/c
e.

gj,

-36

IP ra

^-

W. E. Norris "Matnmony,"
i^c.
;

IX.

To

fire

upto become angry (C), .^

fired up:

g
is

^ ^ (m)XI.

Whereupon Grace
she cried.

"what he thinks

nothing to me,"

Mrs. Alexander,

"The Freres,"

Vol. I. c.

FLING
Fish-market

[23]

The language
speech.

of the fish-market Billingsgate, coarse (Fishwives are usually credited with quick

tempers and loud tongues),

It

mU:tm;^M^m>

wag astonishing to him how ladies of standing in sodety, and fashion, should condescend to utter sentiments couched in the language of the flsh-market.
often of rank

J* iK IE

B-

J-

H.

ShoHIiouse, ''The Countess Eve,"

ill,

c.

XI.

Fishy

To look

fishy

to

promise badly, to augur

is

M M'^

* * * Slight as the evidence

for Captain Furness.

against him,

it

certainly looks fishy

JP

Fits

^ By fits and
Itii-

Hawley Smart, "Struck Down,"

c.

XI.
IiP

starts irregularly,

spasmodically,

part in
fi

* * Nor throughout the discussion that ensued, though he took it by fits and starts, did he once take a seat like the rest.
fr!;

3t f B3 ^ * ^ - i^ A 2. # tS -

pg,

B ?8 1^ a
A

2K,

*& iS iK,
c.

m *; ^

JS?

iti/.

James Payn, "Kit,

Memory,"

XLVII.

Flank

To turn another's flank to

gain an advantage over

ffi

(originally a military phrase) (P.), i&

miM.^m%
"Oh, he
"It
is
"ffi,

^; ^

MM,

m).
!

will be all right!" cried Darnell, with a knowing nod. not easy to turn his flank

Ji

M ii

bS

0,

Jfi,

#:

fi

^ @ ^, ?* # ^
form,

16,.

Mrs. Alexander, "The Freres," Vol.

I. c.
;

X.

Flesh

In the flesh alive,

Sir

in

human

^ Jg

'^

^,

M,

James

felt

that

he would

do his best to win the favour

of the little girl

who was

his ideal in the flesh.

jii

*a#*
Mrs.

-C'

# -a.
"The Rebel
of the Family," Vol. I.
c.

Lynn

Linton,

VII.
to

Fling

To

fling out of

to

leave in a bad temper, cf

fling

from,

WWf^^^]'kM.m^>'k1SiW\^,m
flinging out of the hotel

The youngster was

D.
Christie

when he met

Baretti.

Murray "Hearts Queen, Knave omd Deuce,"

e.

VIIL

[24]
Flutter

GET
To
flutter the dovecotes-^tq cause an jexcitement, to
SJ|;

put people in a state of trepidation,. )!g

^^, ^ ^,
"We
-ffi,.

"In
ftfi

for a

shall flutter the dovecotes a

penny, in for a pound," he said to himself. little, I fancy."

i H,

SS fft IJ d>i ** ji? 41 -^ &. D. Christie Murray, "First Person Singular,"

^^

S A :?
c.

a XV.

Fly

To

fly in

the fece

ef to

oppose

reckl'essly,

1^

Jf

Even the lawyers nowadays seem

good as another. mind.
It's flying

to think that one man is as clean in the face of 'Scripture, to my

M& a &
Gaff

m^

B^&s,^^i^'4i^
W. E.

Am^ A m,^

ib
c.

jit

Norn's,

"Major and Minor,"

XL

^f
-^

To blow the gaff to

I've found
it

inform, to turn informer

(S.),

out, all of

it

who blowed the gaff 'pon us.

c.

m
Gaudy-

-g-

f^

^ ^.

6 *1 tt ft ffl ^. Mrs. Parr, "Adam and Eve," Vol. II.

I4.

Gaudy day festival,

Was he
Cambridge?

{V..),.m

W;

^ # (X).

thinking of the old

Eoman

luxury, or of a gaudy day at

m.m^m^=^nm&A^m,mm^m^:tmmMC.

Lamb, " Grace Before Meat."

to

Gazette

To

figure in the Gazette

be a bankrupt (C),

m M, m m m).
If

^ ||

he did not make his fortune, neither did he flourish in

the Gazette.

m EP
Get

IS.

* W H St, ^

:^f:

SIB H &.
Norris,

W. E.

"No New

Thing,"
fl];

c.

II.

To get up
At
least

'J?,

to invent, fabricate (C),

Jg jg,

^
r

p|

have the pleasure

once they got up a death in the family, that he might of contributing to the funeral expenses.
3P f- i^ ^- ?!C j if!? Masson's,

^^S
ifc

^*
"De

Bf

'SI -tS/.

A, !K ? ft Quincey," c. X. p. us.

7-

;*

arrange it,^; ^, "^ |T. But he reappeared again, and was soon swept into a game of cricket that had been got up among the elder boys.

To get up a game to

@ ^.

Temple Bar, 1889, "Sir Charles Danvers,"

c.

V.

HALL
Go-by

[S5]

Tp give the go-by ^to

escape from (C),

' ,

\^M',
I

'^

^
un

m^m).
If so

be that

Adam

can give the

Bailey chaps the go-by,

'.

tell

to come.. .here.

jHi

W &.

Mrs. Parr,

"Adam and

Eve," Vol. II.

e.

18.

Good

The good man of a house-^the AII(5:).

master of a house
;

(P.),

-^^i;

While the good man of the house and the visitor clergyman ishall be bandying about the office between theni.

n.&\^n'i^m^
H.
C.

*5r

m m m t~i^^,:s.nm
'

Lamb,

'

Grace Before Meat.

'

Gooseberry

A gooseberry-picker a third person whd does nothing,

one of three who allows the other two
please (C),
to act as

they

m U

:t

A]
*-,

^ U^, ^ ^ A m):way with

He had
him
'

a sort of "don't

mind me"
:2,

him

that

made

m ** , # 7 ^ S;

quite the perfection of a "gooseberry-picker.'

l&Mm-M ^ :i A
c.

-a.

James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge,"

XLI.

Granny

Teach your granny

ridicule.

an

expression of impatience or

(Often found in the- abbreviated form 'your

(S.),

granny' or 'grandmotherO

m
Ground

^ Pi !^; H 'M ^, 75
tell

(ffi).

"Oh, teach you^ granny!" said Joan, "don't

Mrs. Parr,

me!"
I. c.

"Adam and

Eve," Vol.

XIV.

To break ground
(P.),

to

begin any serious piece 'of work

m X; miL,miz X, ^ m.
fiJ

The "Venetian story," or sketch, in which the author broke was drafted in October, 1817. ground on his true satiric' field
jlfc

^M

la :#, :^
Nichol's

#, ^

1^-

f*

A,

i?^

- =F A

"ff

"Byron," Men of Letters

ofBcial

Series, c. VII.

Hall-

Hall-marked
the thing
silver
is

bearing an
genuine
(C.)

stamp asserting that

Goldsmiths'
il
rT

marked

(Originally used of gold or

at

assayed and

stamped
is

London.)
anybody.

^ M ^;

^ W^ ^ * ; M m).
hall-marked can afford to

Hall,

People whose social standing

know

^si .&..m:m.
D.
Christie

Murray, "First Person Singular,"

c.

XXXVIL

[26]

HOME
Out of hand
unmanageable (C), yfi"^
of

Hand

iJ',

^MM
;

The House was out

hand

in a

moment.
Spectator, 1/1^188 p. 1667.

London

Hand-over-flst
(s.),

:iLsa;

the same as 'hand-over hand' mm,m m, 'X m mW. Clark

Russell,

rapidly

The Meteor came up with the stranger hand-over-flst, keeping to windward of her.
ifi.

"John HoldswoHh,"

e.

VI.

Hard

Hard pan

hardened stratum of sand or gravel found at a depth of from one to three feet in sandy formations (P.), ^^ ;ff ilfi ^^ / {%)

the

Mr.

come

a little deeper than he meant and upon the 'hard pan,' as the well-diggera call it, of the Colonel's
Silas

Peckham had gone

character.

M A.
Heave

snia

^ A,
to

^;f

If

B
O.

ill

a> is ;i

lii.

W. Solmes, "Elsie Venner,"

standstill (P.)

e.

VIII.

To heave
The

to come to a

(A sea term),

cruiser

Cleopatra's gear,

had resort to her guns, trying to cut away the and by that means coinpel her to heave-to.
Mrs. Parr,

S "% 1?
Herring

Ira-

"Adam and

Eve,'

'

Vol. II.

c. 4.

To draw a red herring across the track

a false scent, to lead astray
(F.), fij ;5;

to start

on

IIIj^ ;

A i^ ^

origin of the saying,

Unfortunately, while philologists were busy in hunting out the "a red herring' ' was drawn across the track in

the shape of temse, a sieve.

temse

(fiU

^) 73r ^ A fe IS ^-

Home

One's long

:^ ^, ^ a ii, JE #

home the place where one's corpse is placed, the grave, the place of sepulture, -f^

Notes and Queries, 7th S. VI. 166.

$M
# in.
c.

fii5.

Ealph and the terrier Vic retired to hang the bodj of the slain upon a fir-tree on the back premises, the recognized lonf home of stoats and weasels at Atherstone.
S

S/f

fc *t :& :t li

S|5 ii SL jE gir -g- *n M, Temple Bar. 1S88, "Sir Charles Danven,"

III.

Hors

JERUSALEM [27] Hors d'oeuvre an outside work, an extra piece of work lying beyond one's proper sphere. (French), ^ ^ X
Langham marvelled with what energy * * * he was able to throw himself into such a hors cl'ceuvre aa this.
Mrs.

Humphry Ward, "Robert EUmere,"

c.

XIII.

Horse

One-horse

affair

(a)

an insignificant equipage, a poor

turn-out (C),
to

nM;^-^'^^ m).

It was only the least distinguished of the guests who had ventured come in even what the Americans call "one-horse affairs."

James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirhridge,"

-Q})

c.

XXII.

anything insignificant.

:/h,^l=,^i

Hour

By

the hour together

Mr. Brune would

for

hours at a time, continu-

ously (C),

-m,mmm^i^,mmm).
sit

in a corner,

watching this conscientious

actor and laughing softly to himself,

by the hour together.

c.

^ ^.
Indian In Indian
file

W. E. Norns, "No New Thing,"

XII.

walking one after the other

(P.),

^^

He brought
in Indian
file.

three

young dons with him, and the procession walked

Gosse's Life of Gray, English

Men

of Letters Series,

c.

IX.
Jft

Inside

The

inside track

full of

intimate knowledge
"the

(S.),

He had what
Englifh

the Americans call

inside track" in regard to

affairs, social, political,

and

financial.

tJD

-til-

Gentleman's Magazine, 1889, "An Outpost Adventure," {A. Forbes).

Jerusalem

The

New Jerusalem heaven (P.),

Whether he had passed the dark

fr

flP

^ it ?&; 5c
in a

river,

and was

suburb

of the

New

Jerusalem, be could not as yet have told.

0.

tji.

W. Holmes. "Elsie Venner,"

c.

XXV.

[38]

KITE
To make the best of a bad job

Job

to

submit

to

circum-

stances, to do the best that can be done (C),

^AV
of

It
job,

was only to be expected that she would make the best and not cry over spilled milk.
iS

a bad

ffi

A ^ ,

iiS

:^

^^

'IS, Jit

bT

JET.

^.
c.

James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge,"

LI.

Jonah

Jonah's gourd something which grows rapidly (P.) (The gourd Jonah IV, 6, 7, 9 came up in a night, and perished in a night,') '^]^^M:^^', 'M^t^
'

But

lo

into a tree, as swiftly

and behold, it is here again this morning, a seed grown and strangely as Jonah's gourd.
L>. c.

Seep

m ^ s m ^-^^m,mMfs&js:-'m.&mm& Christie Murray, "First Person Singular," VII. S 3^ # & To keep up (6) to maintain, save from decay, f^ ^;
But the
interest of

heavy mortgages had to be paid, the estate had

to be kept up.
,

jifc

3S

m pp

2. R^ -fir, it ; iif (% lb la.a, iiif Temple, Bar, 1889, " Sir Charles Danvers," c. VII.

Kingdom

Kingdom come the

next world

(S.),

XMlMM^^,

"Ah! 'tis time to think o' sayin' your prayers then, for you're within hail of kingdom come, and no mistake."

-Jhi.

Mrs. Parr,

"Adam and

Eve,"

Vol. I.

c.

VIII.

To come

to succeed to

into one's kingdom wealth (C),

become prosperous, K ^ * # St, ^ M, ^

to
; ,

She only wanted to know

into his kingdom.

how soon Hugh Trevor is likely to come

isf ii#

ia it

S>:

^ S t^ = S: M 3|,
to

S6 ti

fl5

jt

^ -a.
e.

lames Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge,"

XXXVI.
get
(F.),^

Zite

To fly one's kite at

aim

at, to strive to

g
who

They say you flew your kite at that has married that prig, Lord Mewstone.

girl of

George

Cecil's,

^ IB 5* a a ^ ^ B ^.^ IS ii

ffl

II .1 J6

ffi

H. Kingsley, "Austin

^
c.

BI5.

Elliot,"

XII.

LIE
Knife
Before one could say knife
Jack Robinson), it BP;
-fa

[39]
in an instant (F.)
(See

fiP

B# (S).
off.
c.

'Fore I could say knife he was out and clean

BP B#

MM-

-3^-

Parr,

"Adam and
to

Eve," Vol. II.

XVIII.
;

Large

At large
In a
smiled
all

(6)with nothing

do (C),

% m m).
little

M 0? ^ V

:9c

S,

the

way

while he hailed an omnibus * * and hummed and to one of the gates of the Eegent's Park, where he

alighted,

and
Fh^

strolled like a

gentleman at large into the refreshing

1. IS ni, J.

expanse
s
lie

of green.

-i.

B nf ft - ^

f:,

^, a
c.

ffi

H ^ asar-

:#.

-D. Christie

Murray, "First Person Singular,"

XXVI.

Leather

There's nothing like leather

castically in regard to people

a saying used half

who
trust to
(F.),

one thing

M;^ =.'m,^ m f^ ^ m n m^m -Mm %n

and bring

it

into notice

on every occasion

gl

Repairs would be more fairly attended to, and all improvements be allowed for. "Hear, hear!" from the farmers, and "There's nothing like leather " from the veterinary surgeon, who had no land, and was of a cynical disposition.
i^ t: IS . *,

fi *,
Let

1. 'S It SB 3i ;t it

g s @ g -cs - ^ H *, ^ Aa m IS If, ^, :^ S up 0, n si iJ Si A BB B, SB
-t^;

James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge,"

c.

XL

Without

let or

freely (P.),

without any interference, ^ i^ M 'M'M ^ ^ in, ^'K'^im, M m

hindrance
and

She quartered herself for twelve months in the palace drove the servants about without let or hindrance.

^^^ Lie

B'M^,-\-~mn,i&1s:n^,^mmmmm^
Nicho^s "Byron,"

Men

of Letters Series,

c.

VIL

To

lie

down

to

to refuse to fight with, to confess one-

self inferior to without a struggle (F.),

M
i.e.

i)t; "H"

^ ~F

Most

of

them had "lain down"

iSj

to

him
ilc ft,.

acknowledged

themselves beaten.

^^

;t

H-

^,T a

#,

iZ 7P

James Payn, "Ihe Mystery of Mirbridge,"

c.

VIIL

[30]
Log-rolling Log-rolling
the

MITTEN

the

praise given freely to ieach other

fp]

by

members

of a clique (C),

|g

g
j

/fa

^ :^

:2l

ID

A
village

great deal of composed criticism

magnates

not exactly what

is

had set it at the table of the termed "log-rolling," but still

of a eulogistic kind.

m^m.m0L,u^M
Make
To make
(C),

M.m, ^

m^f-

n m:s.mmm
c.

James Payn, "The Mystery 0/ Mirbridge,"

XI.

out

{d) to

accomplish with some difficulty

mmm.^;n'm^m,'^^^'^m m)-

There was a new fund of delight for him during the rest of hia life in the fact that he had made out this visit to his eldest daughter in her Irish home.

51 if

S It

'C>

Ig

-fe.

Masson's

'

'De Quincey,"

X. p. iSS.

Manner

To the manner born

ing an

familiar with every havinstinctive adaptation ^ ^; fa sS. ^

detail,

to (P.),

There
jifc

is

difficulty in this matter, insignificant

enough, but hard

to explain to one not to the

H #, S

i(F i3c :2. S? IS: &. It James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge," c. XXV.

manner born. :^ ^, ^ ^^ gv it ^.

Matter

For that matter I'j m). &,

moreover,

indeed (C),

Ji.;

Si JD,

This sort of thing delighted Philip, and so, for that matter did everything connected with Longbourne and the ordinary course of
existence there.

W. E.

Norris,

"No New

Thing,"

c.

XXL

M.r.H.

M.F.H.

Master of the Fox-Hounds,

M.-XW-^;

an important per-

sonage in a county,

&

S-

Clara perceived it all, and shook with silent laughter, as the M. F.H. described to her at considerable length how in some run last
winter no
less

than ten
it

men had "come

31!

croppers."

S W M m ^,
DS

Hf:

+ A 5, ^
to

3?.'

James Payn, " 2 he Mystery of Mirbridge,"

^ T ^ i^--ta ;t ^, ;?:^^
c.

flg

XXV.
offer of

Mitten

To send a mitten
marriage (C),

to

send a refusal to an

ji;

ffi jtg

m).

PELION
"Now, you
take

[31]
him
a mitten."

my

advice, Cousin Eve, send

Mrs. Parr,

"Adam

and Eve,"

Vol. I.

c.

VIII.
fS";

Mum's the word silence

Mum's
the word,
sir,

is to

be kept

(S.),

MD^

no

offence, I hope.

Blackwood's Mag., 1889, " The Bookmaker of the Outer Ring."

To line

one's nest

to provide for oneself

(C.)

(The same

as 'to feather one's nest'),

^m;mE^,QM^, ^ns\;^m^m,^m m).

Its late owner hid lined his nest so well, both before and after he had assumed the ermine, that he was known among the irreverent as "Fur and Feathers."

mmA,wmm%'^:tm^t^'^mm.
James Payn, "2he Mystery of Mirbridge,"
c.

XVIII.

The

"old

term),

man" one's carnal nature (P.) (A theological A ^; "f ^, fi 1?, 1? ^ iX)-

Sir Marmaduke had not only been expiating his vices for many years by asceticism and spiritual humiliation (though mitigated by outbursts of the "old man").

6 ^,

;p ti ;p

^ f^ ^.
James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge,"
e.

VII.

At once (c)

formerly, to begin with,

^ ^;

"^

^,

At once even the Muses were but

three.

De

Quincey, "

Levana or Our Lady of Sorrows."

To own up

mm^m
D.

make a m).
to

full confession (C), ilC

SS

^ ^;

"I own up," said Mr. Frost, "I was an ass." s^5W^,ifc4.0,Wii:is:^il, 75ll ^ lift m.
Christie

Murray, " First Person Singular,"

c.

XXII.
already

To

pile Pelion
(P.),

upon Ossa

to

add

to

what

is

huge
If I

!K.Mm;n}:.m^z,^^^mn,m'i,
* ^ ;t

you no idea
*i
j!t

were to pile Pelion upon Ossa with grand words, I could give of the catastrophe more terrible than this.
fl3

#,

m f IS ;t A *n * f S r 5^
tfe
-til.

*ft,

fj

-SI

W,

i:
c.

:<i:

jL ii

H. Kingsley; " Austin

Elliot,''

XXIX.

TSaj
Pluck

RUSSIAN
To pluck up

to gain confidence

(F.),

i&V^;^^ycM>

Charles, who had looked the picture of melancholy, began on the othr hand to pluck up a little.
'

James Payn, "The Mystery of.Mirbridge,"

e.

XVI.

Pot

The pot

calling the kettle black a guilty person inconsistently administering reproof, 'Satan reproving sin!' (F.),

2KlS:i:#^EP^^#A;^^^
!

You

think

it's

a case of the pot calling the kettle black, perhaps?

just

I'm black enough, goodness knows but you yourself said that you didn't believe I had sunk to her depth of infamy.

now
ffi

a
Put

Jfl;

^ 1S M A ^

-g-

.W

T-, ti *, K 1^ M ^,
"My Friend
Jim,"
c.

IS

W. E. Norris,

XV.
to in-

To put through

one's paces (metapliorically) spect thoroughly, m-

m^.;mm,^m,u
pg fe nj
::^

Steinberger, like a man of business as he was, wasted no time in preliminaries, * * but proceeded to put him through his paces.

^TE# ^ # ^ 2.
-fe.

ffli

^ - # * :t A,
W. E.
the custom with
(tea) also.

Norris,

"No New

# jt ^ B|
Thing."
c.

5fe,

fiP

IS

VIII.

To put
It

up to
it is

offer (a prayer) (P.),

ff |#; ft

seems

some

sectaries to

{%). put up a short

prayer before this meal

C.

Lamb, "Orace Before Meat."

Putney

Go

to

Putney

lity (s.),

an expression of impatience or incredum m. m w\, mmmmii^mmm^m

;

Now, in the year same as telling a man

1843, telling a man to go to to go to the deuce.

Putney was the

H.

Kingsley, "Austin Elliot,"

Ejght-

Right and

left

in an indiscriminate way,
Sir

c.

XV.
)

freely (F

That he had robbed

Richard right and left she was convinced

c.

James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbri'dge,"

Eussiau

Bussian scandal
is
,

gossip which receives

is

XXI.
it

additions as

transmitted until the final Story

of lies (c],

^ M m.

M -^^mm s\i^7

-mMm;mm

a wonderful tissue

SINEWS
The marker and Lord Charles Barty played
with a vengeance.
at

[33]
Russian
scaridiftl

H.

S3.ngiley,

"Austin Elliot,"

o.

XXVI.

Sea

One's sea-legs
ffi

^^m a

the

ability to -walk steady

on shipboard,

in.
sea-legs.

He

began muttering something about his

Mrs. Parr,

^'Adam and Eve,"

Vol. II.

c.

S.

Seas

The high seas the open sea common highway and under
particular country.
jurisdiction of

or ocean,

which

is

the jurisdiction of no

Three miles from the coast the any country holds good (P.), 5^ ^; ^^
seas,

Horton, finding himself on the high mutinous.

grew insolent and

H. KingsUy, " Austin

Elliot,"

c.

XI.

Seek

To seek odd,

defective (C),

'P^&;M^,^%^ (^).
' '

However, it seems that he would have contrived this expedition, had it not been for the aforesaid, Mrs. Forster, a person much to

j!j

m^ s3itMf-fi-^;tjtg9f#.^A;ti!ife, maaiayiEii
jib

^ &

Gosse's Life of Gray,

"Men

of Letters Series,"

e.

F.

Shoulder

To rub shoulders with

to

have intercourse with,

;S'

to

be intimately acquainted with (C),

M ^ ^J

3fe

He had rubbed
self-respect

shoulders with vice and villainy, and his noble

was gone.
Longmans' Magazine, 1889,
"Little Sister."

SaWi^fi'M, :lSl?K2:iS, E-3EPP1S2^.

Shuffle

To

shuffle or

shake

off this

mortal
J^

coil

to die,

to

get rid of this troublesome Not long

off this
jife

life (P.),

^;

^^,M'M
shook

after the ratification of the compact, old Elijah

coil.
;?:

mortal

m ^?P ;t m, ^ ^fg ^

fiP

fi

m ^.
"Liille Sister."

Longmans' Magazine, 1889,

Sinews

The sinews of warmoney <P,),

%m;^^,^BZ.
A

^Neither is money the sinews of war (as it is trivially said), where the sinews of men's arms, in base and effeminate people, are failing. it IRI IB 3^ 2. :t 4- '. :?> .e. 1 it, II #, *,

^^

i5> ftf

^ ^

^^

lii-

Bacon, "True Greatness of Kingdoms,"

I.

69.

[341
Sistera

SWAG
One's sisters and cousins and aunts the people around us (F.), A; :t A, $L f^ t^ M^ C^h

M^

to

But one can't help having qualms, though one doesn't one's sisters and cousins and aunts.
Mrs.

tell

them

B.

Humphry Ward, "Robert Elsmere,"

(S.),

c.

XIII.

Sort

A good sort a pleasant individual A,nA,nAm.).

There was what
is

^ A ^ @ :&
;

termed in Parliament * * *

"a

general con-

sensus of opinion" that, for a

Frenchwoman, Lady Trevor was "a

good sort."

tt#:||*A#, J^S^^ii*, -<irA,

James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge,"

EP^K*
c.

XI.

Spot

Upon the spotpresent, in person, ^ ^

very fairly successful career.

|5

H,

11

That it is always well to be " upon the spot" was a maxim which had been frequently in Mrs. Winnington's mouth in the course of a

# 3S
Stand

-Ul-

W.E.

Norris,

"No New
;

Thing,"

c.

XV.

To stand

byto be ready,
is sailors'

^ li S H.
"John Holdsworth,"
e. II,

"Standing by "

English for being ready.

W.

Clark Russell,

Stream

Iii t^^c

stream

interested in present-day

aflEairs,

^ t^

who

She wants somebody in the stream; somebody with a strong hand will keep her in order, and yet give her a wide range.
BB

^ m ss ^g,
Sun

X t6 m 8S . # &.
Mn. Humphry Ward,
"Robert Elsmere,"
c.

XV.

Under the sun to be found in this world, in existence. (A phrase used to strengthen a statement), it Ji 5^ ~f,
;

A m.

There
relation.

is

a worse evil under the sun, and that

is

a female poor

C.

Lamb, "Poor Relations."

Swag

On

the swag travelling about as a gold-digger ^.) (Swag is the Australian term for a digger's baggage),

VOICE
Pood
nauseous.
that,

[35]
at,

"on

the swag," I would have jtimped

'

seemed

a S ^ IS
Tall

gr it, -^ flij ^. ^, Bf ifS Blackwood's Mag., 18S9, "The Bookmaker of the Outer Eing."

^M^M

A tall man
And
I'll

of his hands

stout,

brave man.
fellow of thy

(Oldffi).

fashioned),

^ # ^; M 5E, ^ a (& ^ 4- ^ 5i
tall
S,

swear to the prince thou art a and that thou wilt not be drunk.

hands

Shakspeare, "The Winter's Tale," Act V. Sc.

I48.

Tall

talk boasting

(F.),

iz^

'^

M;

f^

W
c.

i'"^)-

"It seems to me that all that is nothing but tall talk, and that he refuses to meet you because he shrinks from the humiliation of it.

MM^Tandem
To run tandem

W. E. Norris,'"No New Thing,"

XXXVJ.

to

follow in immediate sequence, [^

Some made the connection

but in
all

faster and more intimate than others, minds the discovery and Dobroski's advent ran tandem.

, :K ft

*@
D.

sTr

Ciristie

4. . Ff eg, SB -m. *i Murray, "First Person Singular,"

iiir>

c.

XVI.
|^

Turn

To turn

to

to

begin working, to

set to

work

(F.),

X;

ic& (IT).

You

brave fellows;
orders quietly.

are most of you Englishmen, and those who are not are all ...so I can depend on you turning to and obeying

W. Clark

Russell,

"John Hbldsworth,"

c.

VI.

Turned of^older

than, on the wrong side of (C),

^ M;

When Walpole told him he ought to write more, he replied: "What has one to do, when turned of fifty, but really to think of
finishing"?

M
Voice

t6

MJI^it^^^f^, te^s,;LAa5i5G;+#. ^ @, ti S K W E f^ BB B ^.
Gosse's Life of Gray, "English

Men

of Letters Series,"
(P.),

c.

VIII.
.S.
,

The

still

small voice

conscience
when
the
C.
still

.^

>C

3?

would have them postpone

appetite
is

season,

when

laid;

their benediction to a fitter small voice can be heard.

IS IS

it;.

IS ?a ?C

5,

^^

bT -a.

Lamb,

'

'

Grace Before Meat.

[36]

While

YORK For once in a while

Besides,

at rare intervals,

j^

fM

W(ir

some

of us like to feel the

warm sub on
Thing,"

our backs for

once in a while.

W. E.

Norris,

"No New

c.

XXXVI.
in

White

Marked with a white stone

auspicious, happy, ^ %.
marked with a white stone
Person Singular,
'

Yesterday and to-day were to be her simple calender.

D.

Christie

Mwrray,
off

'

'First

'

c.

XI.
;

Wing

To take wingto go
annoyed or

suddenly (C),

^ ^ ;^ ^ ^

So Beauchamp took wing; and whether Lady Brachnell was relifeved by his flight I cannot venture to say.

W. E.

Norris,

Wipe

To wipe a person's eye

"My Friend Jim," c. XVII. to gain an advantage over (S.),

Nothing would have given iim more satisfaction than to see him win her; that in so doing he would "wipe Hugh's eye," as he expressed
it

to himself.

James Payn, "The Mystery of Mirbridge,"

c.

XXV.
Walter

Wizard

The Wizard
Scott (C),

of the

North a name
(i^).

for Sir

^M#^ ^E
Humphry Ward,
'

reading to-night one of the most perfect scenes that even the Wizard of the North has ever conjured.
Mrs.
'Robert Elsmere, " ch. XIII.

He was

World

A world

(6)

a long time ago,

out of

many

years before (C),

All I could

make

him was,

that he and

my

father

had

been schoolfellows a world ago at Lincoln.

York

Il

!^

til.

a
far

Lamb, "Poor Relations."

To wish at York to wish

away

{^),^M.%-^^

'It (ffi).

Eichard remembered them very well, * and wished them at York or even farther.
Sir

Javiea Payn,

'

'Ihe Mystery of Mirbridge,"

c.

IX.

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