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o 



Dictionary 



OF 



Idiomatic English Phrases 



BY 



James Main Dixon 

M.A., F.R.S.E., 

Propss-suk of Enguhii Literature in the Imperial 
University op Japan. 



♦ ■•'♦ 



T. NELSON AND SONS 

Lentlon^ EHinbmrgh^ «nd New IVnt 
1891. 




^a5^.6^ 




s>vcfacc. 



-»♦■ 



The materials of this work were originally collated in Ja|)an 
to assist my students in their English studies, and a Japanese 
c<lition of the Dictionary ipj^eared in the year 1888. The 
phrases that recur so often in English books and in conversa- 
tion, conveying a meaning to the native Englisli ear which a 
rational dissection of their component parts quite fails to 
supply, had not previously been collected in a handy voluioa 
An excellent work, it is true, by a Chinaman, Kuxmg\8 Die- 
tiofiart/ of EnglUh Phrases^ came out about ten years aga 
The author received in its compilation valuable help from 
eminent American scholars, and its definitions and examples 
arc excellent. The objections to the work are, first, that 
British^ as distinguished from American phrases, are con- 
spicuous by their absence ; secondly, that the arrangement is 
arbitrary and confusing ; thirdly, that the examples, though 
apt and good in themselves, do not bear the very useful 
impinnuUur of some well-known author's name. They are 
made for the occasion, instead of having been picked up in 
reading. A fourth objection to the work is, that it is lai-gely 
made up of definitions of single words. 



[ vi ] 

In the present volume, instead of attempting to divide the 
work into chapters treating of ** colloquial phrases," " cant 
phrases," " slang phrases," and so forth, I have thrown the 
whole into alphabetical form, and have marked by letters the 
category to which, in my opinion, the phrases ought to belong. 
This classification may be studied or may be neglected as suits 
the convenience or the taste of the consulter. I fear its distinc- 
tions may not please every one, and that the classification must 
be looked upon merely as an approach to an ideal division, 
which, even in more capable hands, would not be regarded as 
final. 

The division I have chosen is ourfold, and in a descend- 
ing scale of dignity, — Prose, Conversational, Familiar, Slang. 
By Prose (P) phrases, I understand such phrases as Macaulay 
or Matthew Arnold might use in their serious writinga 
Conversational (C) phrases, again, are suitable for use in social 
intercourse, at gatherings where strangers are present, and 
where we weigh our words before uttering them. Familiar 
(F) phrases are less dignified, and are only in place where we 
are speaking unreservedly among intimates. The lowest cate- 
gory of all is that of Slang (S) phrases, which are generally of 
a local or technical nature — that is, they are fully understood 
only by those of a certain locality, coterie, or profession. Such 
is the language of the forecastle, of the school-ground, or of the 
mina 

This Dictionary does not pretend to exhaust the list of 
slang phrases, but only to give those which have crept into 
ordinary use, and are understood, although they may not he 
used, by all educated people. At lea.st eighty per cent of the 



phi-oscs are freshly gathered. I must, however, gratefully 
acknowledge indebteduess to CasselFs Encydoixtdic Dictionary^ 
to the Supplementary English Glossary of Rev. T. L. O. Davies, 
to Wright*s Provincial Dictionaryy to the fourth edition of Dr. 
Samuel Johnson's English Dictionary ^ and to the Slang Dic- 
tionary published by Messrs. Chatto and Windua ^ 

J. M. D. 

Imperial University, Tokyo, 
Japan. 



EXPLANATION OF SIGNS. 



-•♦- 



P. Cfood ProMc The phrase is used in serious composition. 

C. Converiotional. The phrase is used in polite conversation. 

F. Familiar, The phrase is used in familiar conversation, but is 
not admissible in polite society. 

S. Slang. The phrase is vulgar, and should be avoided. 



DICTIONARY 



ov 



IDIOMATIC ENGLISH PHRASES 



-»♦- 



A. — A 1 — first-class; very goo<l. F. **A 1** nt Lloyds is the torm 
applied to a vessel of the best construction and in the best condition 
for sailing. Lloyd*s Coflfee-house in London was the resort of sea- 
captains, and the name " Lloyd's " is still retained for the head- 
((uartcrs of the sin'pping interest in London. Here people get the 
latest shipping intelligence and transact marine insurances. 
They saj the tnow't all packed down already, and the foliif la A 1.— W. D. 

HOWKLM. 

" One of them takes hli Are plnU of ale a day, and nerer leaTM off tmokiBf , •▼«! 
at hli mralfl." 
" He most be a flrtt- rater," lald Sam. 
" A 1," replied Mr. Roker.— Dickbnh. 
IEjr/i/ana(ion.— Mr. Roker replied that he waa a flnt-rate fellow. 

Aback. — To tnke afpacl' — to surprise or astonish. P. Originally a sea 
plirase ; U8e<l when the sails were suddenly shifted in order to stop 
the vessel or give it a backward motion. 

The boy, in eea phraae, waa taken all aback.— Hood. 

Madame Mantilini »tlll tald no, and said it, too, with sneb determined and raaolaie 
ill-temper that Mr. Mantilini was clearly taken aback.— Dicbsmb. 

A B C. — Thr, A Ji C of any subject — its rudinicnt« ; its elementary prin- 
ciples. V. 

Many farmers seem not at all inclined to obeerve the Tery A B C of morality aa 
regards the (layment of Just debts.— Spw<a<or, tfiSl 

Father and mother lived in King Street, Soha He was a flddla-makar, and taofhi 
me the A B C of that science at odd times.— Rkads. 



Abide [ 8 ] Account 

Abide. — To abide by— to fulfil; to refuse to depart from; to carry 

out P. 

Who it the happy warrior?. . . . 

It if the generous spirit. . . . 

Who, with a natural instinct to discern 

Wliat knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn ; 

Abides hj this resolre, and stops not there. 

Bat makes his moral being his first care.— WoRDtwoRxn. 

The rules were fixed, and I must abide hj them.— Tyndall. 

Counsellor Moljmeax steadily abided bj his word.— Maria Edos worth. 

Above. — Above-board — openly ; without trickery. C. The man wlio 
cheats at cards keeps his hands under the table or board. 

" I've no patience with you," he tald angrily. " Why can't you be fair and above- 
board?"— Wm. Black. 
Now all is open and above-board with yon.— A. Trollops. 

Abraham. — To aham Abrafiam — (a) to feign sickness 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 Bethle- 
hem Hospital, and was allowed on certain days to go a-begging. Nu- 
merous impostors took advantage of this privilege. 

I have heard people say 
That sham Abraham you may, 
But you mustn't stiam Abraham Newland. — From an Old Song. 
Exp.— I have heard people say that you may impose on people by a tale of distress, 
but you must not Impose on Abraham Newland (who was cashier to the Bank of 
England and signed its notes. This, of course, would be a penal offence). 

(6) to dissimulate ; to pretend ignorance. S. 



" Ay, drat it ; that yon know as well as I do. Gammon," replied Mr. Quirk, with 
not a little eagerness and trepidation. " Come, come, it's rather late in the day to 
sham Abraham."— S. Warrkm. 

Abroad. — AU aJt>road—{a) in a state of mental perplexity. F. 

The female boarder in black attire looked so pussled, and, in fact, all abroad (iter- 
plezed). after the delivery of this " counter" of mine, that I left her to recover her 
wits, and went on with the conversation.— Holmb«. 

He is such a poor, cracked, craxy creature, with his mind all abroad.— A. Trol- 
lops. 

(6) having the senses confused ; without complete control of one's 

organism. F. 

At the twelfth round the latter champion was all abroad, as the saying is, and had 
lost all presence of mind and power of attack or defence.— Tmackkrav. 

The schoolmagteT wr abroad — good education is spreading everywhere. P. 

Let the soldier be abroad if he will, he can do nothing in this age. There Is an- 
other personage — a personage less imposing ; in the eyes of some, perhaps, Inalgnlfl- 
cant The schoolmaster Is abroad, and I trust to him, armed with his primer, 
against the soldier in full military array.— Lord Brouoham. 

Account. — On a^xottnt — in part payment. A business phrase, used 



Acknowledge [ ^ ] -^^ 

when two persons have dealings with each other, and the account 
between them is only partly settled by any payment. 

"Give th« drlT«r this half •OYereign," whispered Captain Ablewhlta. "Tell him 
it it on account, and that he haa a good fare."— B. L. Farjson. 

To {jive a good account of— to be successful with. F. 

Tlio terrier garo a good account of Uie rata (wai •nccenrul in killinf inanj of thomX 

To lay oiie*« account ivUh — to expect ; to look forward to. P. 

The Jurort must have hild their account with appearing (expected to appear) before 
the Star Chamber.— Hallam. 

To fake into account — to make allowance for. C. 

As to its adventurous beginning, and all those little circumstances which gave it a 
distinctive character and relish, he took them into account.— Dickkms. 

Acknowledge. — To achioidedge the corn — to ailmit the truth of a 
statement. S. 



i« 
•I 



What did the man say when you arrested him ? **— " He said he was drunk."— 
I want his precise words. Just as he uttered them. He did not use the pronoun htt 
did he? "—"Oh yes, he did; he said he was drunk— he acknowledged the com." 
The Court (getting impatient at witness's stupidity), " You don't understand me ; I 
want the words as he uttered them. Did he say, ' / was drunk'?" Witness (seal* 
outly), "Oh no, your honour; he didn't say you was drunk. I would not allow 
any man to charge that upon you in my pretence I "—Law Magtuint, 1887, 

Act. — To act a part — to behave hypocritically; to conceal one's real 
feelings. P. 

Misi Wilmot's reception was mixed with teeming neglect, and yet I oould iiercelTO 
the acted a ttudled part (designedly concealed her real feelingtX — OoLiwMiTn. 

Was the young man acting a part, or was he really ignorant of the rumour T—Wm. 
Black. 

Act of God — an event which cannot he prevented by any human fore- 
sight, but is the result of uncontrollable natural forces : for example, 
when a ship is struck by lightning and destroyed. P. 

The act of God, flre, and all the dangers and aoddentt of the tea, are not accepted 
as ordinary risks. 

To have act or part — another fonn of to have art or part. See Art. 

But I declare I lutd neither act nor part in applying the thumbecrew to the Span- 
ish captain.— 0. A. Bala. 

To art up to a promise or profcMion — to behave in a suitable way, con- 
sidering what promises or profession one has made ; to fulfil what one 
promises or professes to regard as a duty. P. 

It Isn't among sailors and fishermen that one finds genuine blaekguardlsm. They 
have their code, such as It Is, and upon the whole I think they a4i up to It.— W. R. 
NoKniR, In Gitod WordM, 1887. 

Ad. — Ad avizandum, or to anzandum — into further consultation and 
consideration. C. A Scottish legal phrase. Latin. 

Meanwhile I shall take your proposal ad avimndum (consider your proposal mors 
carefullyX 



Adam [ ^0 ] Addresses 

Ad interim — for the meantime; Berving for the present interval. P. 
Latin. 

Th« work U hard, but not hopeleas ; and the road to tucceai doei not lie tli rough 
an ad inUrim teaching of falM creedi.— SjMdoior, 1837. 

The divorce (of Josephine) may indeed be said to liare actoallj taken place ; yet 
the cruel obligation was laid on her of being, in fact, ad interim , the deputy of her 
•accessor. — Temple Bar, 1887, 

Ad libUum — as much as you please ; to any extent. P. lAtin. 

Very well, gentlemen, torture yonr prisoners ad libitum; I shall interfere no 
more.— RaaDB. 

And, with trae Macaulayan art, they are so arranged as to suggest their being but 
specimens from a store which might be drawn on ad libitum. — National Ii4:view, 
1887, 

Ad nauseam — until people are tired and sick of the subject. P. 

And so on, and so on ad naueeam, proceeds that anonymous retailer of petty 
scandaL— I?din2mr0^ Review, 1887. 

Ad valorem — according to the value. P. Latin. 

An ad valortm duty of flve per cent^ is imposed on all goods coming into Japan. 

Adam. — The old Adam — the evil nature within a man. C. Originally 
a religious phrase. 

But Dan was not to be restrained, and breaking into the homespun (colloquial) ~a 
sure indication that the old Adam was having the upper hand— ho forlhwitli plunged 
into some chaff, etc.— Hall Caimb. 

A dam* 8 aU or Adam*s wine — ^pure water. C. 

We'U drink Adam's ale.— Hood 

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

Son of Adam — a man. C. 

But as all sons of Adam must hare something or other to say to the rest, and 
•specially to his daughters, this little yillsge carried on some commerce with tlie 
outer world.— Blackmorb. 

JSq».— But as all nwn need to have friendly intercourse with other men, and 
especially with vaomen, this little village, though Tery retired, carried on some deal- 
ings with the outer world. 

Adam*» apple'^the projection in the neck under the chin. P. 

Haring the nooee adjusted and secured by tightening above his Adam's apple.— 
Daily Telegraph, 1865. 

Not to know a man from Adam — to be quite unacquainted with him ; 
to be unable to recognize him. F. 

"To my knowledge," again interposed Mr. Lethbridge, "I have never seen his 
face. I shouldn't know him from Adam if he stood before me now."— B. L. Farjeon. 

Boyston then asked him if the drunken man was his friend ; but this the other 
denied, saying that he had just picked him up from the foot-path, and did not know 
him from Adam.— Fkrqus W. Hums. 

Addresses. — To pay one*a addresses to — to court ; to approach a lady as 

a suitor for her hand in marriage. P. 

He was said to be paying his addresses to Lady Jane Sheepshanks, Lord South- 
down's third daughter.— TiiAc'KKiiAY. 



Advantage [ 11 ] Airs 

Advantage. — To advantage — favourably ; in a good light. P. 
To see the lower portion of this glacier to adYantage.— Tyndjux. 

To take advanta^je of— to use for the furtherance of cue's own pur- 
poses. P. 
Here was material enough for the craft of William to take advantage of.— Frsk* 

MAN. 

Affaire. — Affaire de crrwr— affair of the heart; a love affair. C. A 
French phrase. 

lie had traTellcd abroad in the intenral, and passed through a rwj lerioui again 
d€ cctur. — Quarterly Review, J8S7. 

Aftei.—AJler cUl — nevertheless; when all things are considered. P. 
Cjciierally used to introduce some circumstance of a more favourable 
or i>lcasiiig nature. 

Yet after all he was a mere mortal.— Wash inotom Irvino. 
" After all, Dalfour," said Mr. Jewsbarj with philoeophic resignation, "there m 
com|)ensations in life."— Wm. Black. 

JJier a man*8 oum 9otd or ?ieart — exactly what he likes or admires. 

" Give me a kiss, my dear boy," said Fagan, with tears in his eyet. " Yoa're after 
my own sonL'* — TiiACKSRAr. 

It was, indeed, a representative gathering, after the Talberts* own hearts.- Huob 
Conway. 

Afternoon. — An ajtemoon farmer — one who loses the best time for 
work ; a lazy, dilatory man. F. 

John was too much of an afternoon farmer to carry on the bnsinets snooesefnlly. 
£xp.— John's habits were too dilatory for him to succeed in the business. 

Age. — To come of age— to reach the age of twenty-one, when the law 
permits a man to manage his own affairs. P. 

Slie was now nearly twenty-three. Having, when she came of age, suceeeded to 
her late mother's third of old Talbert's possessions, she was Independent bo\h by age 
and by income. — Huoa Conwat. 

Agog. — All agog — in a state of activity or restless expectation. F. 

So throe doors olT the chaise was stayed, 

Where they did all get in : 
Six precious souli, and all agog 

To dash through thick and thin.— Cow rmR. 
Kxp.—fHx precious soula, and very eager to dash through erery obstacU. 
He found the village all agog with eipectation.— Rkadk. 

Agreeable. — To make the agreeable to— to strive to entertain; to be a 
pleasant companion to. C. 

With which laudable and manly resolution our dashing major proeeeded to make 
tlie agreeable to his gucsU.— G. J. Wuytk-Mkltillb. 

Airs. — To give oneself airs— to be conceited or arrogant in behaviour. C. 

"And these rIfIs used to hold their heads above mine, and their mother used to 
give herself such airs," said Mrs. Baynea.—THACKSRAV. 



Aladdin [ 12 ] All 

In the air — (o) prevalent ; found everywhere. C. 

Th6M •zpraoloQi and poinU of view were not peculiar to Philo. Thej were, m 
to ipeak, in the air.— F. W. Fabrar. 

He la alive to the fact that " socialleUo rislngi" are in the air all over Euroira.— 
Spectator, Feb. 18, 1888. 

(6) (in military usage) without support or proper protection. 

The extreme left of the AlUed front was, in millUry dialect, " in the air "—that le, 
protruded into the open countrj, without natural or artificial protection to it« 
outer flank.— Oardnkr. 

(c) unsubstantial; visionary; having no real existence. P. Cicncr- 

ally after the word ccuUIm. 
And if our dwellings are castlea in the air, we find them exceetively splendid and 

COmmodiOUl.— TH ACK RRAY. 

A1M<11ti. — Aladdin*a lamp — a lamp which gave its owner, or rather the 
person who rubbed it, everything he wished. P. See ArMan 
Nights* Entertainments. 
Goodwill is almoet as expeditious and offectnal as Aladdin's lamp.— Maria Edqr- 

WORTH. 

In all Its (the career of Henry IV. ) vicissitudes there Is nothing more romantic 
than that sudden change, as by a rub of Aladdin's lamp, from the attorney's ottice in 
a county town of Illinois to the helm of a great nation in tiroes like these.— J. 11. 
LowKLL on Abraham Lincoln. 

Alert. — On tJie alert — watchful; ready to observe whatever is 
passing. P. 

But those who were stationed at the look-out were equally on the alert.— Ca it. 
Maukyat. 

The Paris student. . . .whose fierce republicanism keeps gendarmes for ever on the 
alert.— Thackkrat. 

All. — All along. See Along. 

To he all things to another — to accommodate oneself in every way to his 

wants, moods, or caprices. C. 

She had sworn that more than ever she would b^ all things to her husband.- 
Marion Crawford. 

On all /ours. See Four. 

AH in all — (a) supreme; all-powerful; of the first imi>ortance. 1*. 

The then Prime Minister was all in all at Oxford.— A. Trollopk. 
Fashion, you know, ladies. Is all in all in these things, as in everything else.— 
Maria Edorwortu. 

(6) the dearest object of affection. P. 

Deedemona, a happy young wife, till a wicked enchanter's breath suddenly wraps 
her in a dark cloud, is all in all to (intensely loved and admired by) her husband.— 
BUukyooodCi Magazine, 1887. 

Mamma and I are all in all together, and we shall remain together.— A. Trollops. 

I was all in all to him Uien.— Thackrhat. 

(c) (adverbially) completely; entirely. P. 

Take him for all in all. 

I shall not look upon his like again.— Shakbmpsars. 




Alma [ 13 ] Alonff 

Truli me not at all or all In alL— Tbnnvson. 

When he (Lord Carteret) files, the best head in England diet too, take It for all in 
all (if we consider the matter in every aspect).— CusaTKHrjKLD. 

To Ite all one — to make no difTcrcuce. F. 

Mr. Carker presently tried a canter,— Rob was still in attendance,— then a short 
Rallnp. It was all one to the boy.- Dickknr. 

All of a heap, Sco Heap. " (^^J^ ^tx V-lJv(/VVuC 

All (in) my eye and Betty Martin — nonsense ; not to be believed. Found 

also in the contracted form, All {in) my eye. S. This phrase is at 

least three hundred years old. 

Kiijs ho, *' It fairly 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 miicli MS to say, Yon see it's all in my eye, Slick ; but don't let on to any on* 
about it that I said so.— Haliburton. 

Exp.— lit said, " It really draws tears from me,** and his weak eye began to let 
ofT its water. So as soon as the man went, he winked to me with the other one, 
quite slyly, as if to say,,You see it's all humbug, Slick ; but do not tell any one thai 
I said so. 

Why, ffhe told him yon were rather nerTous about horses, and thai you were 
rather alarmed at what I said about the old mare. That was all my eye, yon know. 
She (the mare) is as quiet as an old cow.— Riioda BaouanTON. 

All t lie same — nevertheless; notwithstanding. F. 

The captain made U4 trim the boat, and we got her to lie a little more evenly. All 
tlie same, we were afraid to breathe.— R. L. SrivcNSON. 

A talk on ethics docs not carry young people at a hand-gallop Into the depths of 
emotion. It has its tendency, all the lamo.— Mrs. K. Lynm Liiiton. 

AH serene — very goo<l; all right. S. At one time a popular street cry 
in liondon. 

" You will meet me tonight at the railway station, and bring me the money.** 
"All serene" (Yes, I shall meet you and bring the money). 

Tom peeped under the bonnet, and found It, as he expressed himself, all 
serene.— O. J. Whytk-Mklvillb. 

All there — clever; able; possessing quick faculties. C. 

Our friend the Judge is all there, I can tell you, and knows what he is aboot 
Kxp.— Our friend the Judge Is a clever nuui, I assure yon, and fully ondertiandt 
how best to actk 

All and sundry — every one without distuiction. P. 

Finally, he Invited all and sundry to partake freely of the oaten cake and ala thai 
he had himself brought from Ballymena.— Hall Caimk. 

Alma. — Alma mater — nourishing mother. A name often applied to a 
university by its gratluatcs. P. Latin. 

Tlic goorl men,— they who have any character, they who have thai within tham 
which can reflect credit on tlicir o^ma muf«r,— they come through (their oowae of 
study at the university) scathless.— A. TROLLoric 

Along. — Along o/— owing to; l)ecause of. P.*" 

" I never had such luck, really.** exclaime<l coquettish Miss Price, after aaolhtr 
hand or two. " It's sU along of you, Mr. Nickleby, I think.**— DicRSjia. 



Alpha [ 14 ] Angel 

AU along — during its whole existence; the whole time. P. 
This impoii WM all along felt to be a great bnrden.— ITRXKif an. 

Alpha. — Alpha and ometja — the beginning and the end. P. These 
are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. 

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, laith the Lord.— R«v. i. 8. 

The alplia and omega of iclence.— HcBaciiCL. 

Here we have the beginning and the end, alpha and omega. — Dickxns. 

Alt. — To he in alt — to be in an exalted frame of mind. C. An expres- 
sion taken from the vocabulary of music. 

** Come, prithee be a little len in alt,** cried Lionel, *' and aniwcr a man wlion he 
■peaks to yon."— Madams D'Arblay. 

Altar. — To lead to the altar — to marry. P. 

He to Ups that fondly falter 

Presses hers withont reproof ; 
Leads her to the village altar, 

And they leave her father's root— Txnnyson. 
On the 16th of May, in the year 1773, 1 had the hononr and happiness to lead to the 
altar Honoria, Countess of Lyndon, widow of tho late Right llou. Sir Charles Lyn- 
don, K.B.— TUAOKSRAy. 

Alter. — Alter ego — other self ; one who is very near and dear to a i>er- 
son ; an inseparable friend. P. Latin. 

I am his alttr ego — nay, he only sees what I choose to show him, and through the 
spectacles, as it were, that I place on the bridge of his nose.— J. Payn. 

Amende. — Amende honorable — a sufficient apology and compensation 
for wrong done. P. French. 

The result of this determined conduct was an amende honorable and peace. — Fort- 
nighUy Review, 1887. 

Amiss. — To take (a thing) amiis — to be offended by it ; to resent it. C. 
Yon will not take it amiss if I take a cousin's privilege.— A. Trolu>fb. 

Amour. — Amour propre — self-esteem. P. A French phrase. 

But, at all events, you shouU save her amour propre from the shock of any rebuff. 
—The Mietletoe Bough, 1887. 

Angel. — To entertain an angel unatoares— to be hospitable to a guest 
whose good qualities are unknown. P. See the Bible (Gen. xviii.) 
for the origin of the phrase. 

He had always esteemed his sister ; but as he now confessed to himself, for these 
many years he had been entertaining an angel unawa-es (had not known how very 
good a woman she wasX — J. Payn. 

In the course of the evening some one informed her that she was entertaining an 
angel unawares, in the shape of a composer of the greatest promise.— W. E. Norris, 
in Good Worde, 1887, 

Angels* visits — pleasant visits, occurring very rarely. P. 

How fading are the Joys we dote upon, 
Like apparitions seen and gone ; 




Animal [ ^^ ] Apple 

But thoM which tooneit take their flight 
Are the most exquisite hntX strong: 

Like angels' Tisits, short and bright, 
Mortality's too weak to bear them long.— John Morrim. 

...In visiU 
Like those of angels, short and far between.— Blair. 

Tht Angel of the Schools or tfie AvfjeUc Doctor — a name given to Thoniaa 
Aquinas, the great scholastic philosopher. P. 

7V) inHfe like an angel — to write beautifully (originally of calligraphy, 

and not of composition). 

This fanciful phrase has a very human origin. Among those learned Greeks who 
emigrated to Italy, and came afterwards into France in the reign of Francis I., was 
nno Angelo Verjecto, whose beautiful calligraphy eicited the admiration of the 
learned. The French monarch had a Creek fount cast, modelled by his writing, 
iliii name became synonymous for beautiful writing, and gave birth to that familiar 
phrase, "to write like an angoL"— Ihaac D'lsRACLf. 

Here lies poet Goldsmith, for shortness called Noll, 

Who wrote like an angel, but talked like poor Poll.— Garrick. 

AnimSkL— 'Animal spirit* — the liveliness that comes from health and 
physical exhilaration. P. 
She had high animal spirits. — Janb Austbk. 

Ape. — To lead apes — to 1>c an old maid. F. This phrase comes from 
an old superstition that unmarried women suffered this punislmient 
after death. 

Toor girl, she must certainly lead apes.— Msa. Ckktlivrr. 

There was also another young lady, strong and staying as to wind and limb, who 
offered to run races with her suitors on the same terms of death or Wctory. But 
Ix)ve*s Ncmeiis came upon her too, for no one ever proposed to run with her on 
these terms, and she presently grew middle-aged and fat. and said that running races 
was unlady-like, and ought to have been discouraged long since, and it was wrong of 
her parents to encourage her. But it was too late; and now she leadeth apes by a 
chain.— Bbsant. 

AppeaL — To apjyeal to the country — to advise the sovereign to dissolve 
Parliament and ask the electoi*s to send up new representatives. P. 

As soon as the necessary business could be got through. Parliament would be dia* 
solved, and an appeal made to the country (a new election of representatives madeX— 
Justin M'Cartht. 

Appearance.— 7\) keep up appearances— to behave in a seemly way 

Ijcfore others. C. 

He was terribly afraid, likewise, of being left alone with either uncle or nephew ; 
ap|>caring to consider that the only chance of safety as to keeping up appeavaoceo 
was in their being always all three together.— Dicrbks. 

Apple.— ^/V'^^ of Sodom— tK specious thing which disappoints. l\ 
The so-calle<l ** apples of Sodom," as described by Joeephus, had a fair 
api)carance externally, but when bitten dissolved in smoke and dust. 

It will prove, when attained, a very apple of Sodom, dying between the hand aad 
the mouth. 



April [ 16 ] Apropos 



Lik« to the applM on the Dead Sea shore, 
All aahea to the taste.— Byron. 



ti 



Apple o/one*8 eye— a much -prized treasure. P. The *' apple of tlie eye 
is the eye-1)all, so called from its round shape : something very delicate 
and tender. 

He kept him a« the apple of hii eye.— Deui. xxxii. 10. 

He wonM have protected Qrace's good repute aa the apple of hU eye.— Thomas 
Hardy. 
Poor Richard waa to me a« an eldest son, the apple of my eye.— Scott. 

To make apple-pie httU — to fold one of the shoots of a bed (removing the 
other) so as to make it impossible for tlie intending occupant to stretch 
his legs ; a common practical joke. P. 

No hoy in any school conld have more liberty, even where all the noblemen's sons 
are allowed to make apple-pie beds for their masters (disarrange the beds of their 
teachersX— Blaokmokk. 

Apple of diaeord — something which causes strife. P. Eris, the gotldcss 
of hate, threw a golden apple among the goddesses, with this inscrip- 
tion attached, **To the most beautiful." Three goddesses claimed 
the prize, and quarrelled over its possession — Hera, Pallas, antl 
Aphrodite (Venus). Paris, son of Priam, was appointed arbiter, and 
decided in favour of the last. 

Not Cytherea (Venus) from a fairer swain 
ReceiTed her apple on the Trojan plain.— Falconrr. 
It (the letter) was her long contemplated apple of discord, and much her hand 
trembled as she handed the document up to him. — Tuom a« Hardy. 

This great and wealthy church constantly formed an apple of discord (a subject of 
qoarrelX— Frrrman. 

Apple-pie order — extreme neatness. C. 

The children's garden is in apple-pie order.— LocKHARf. 

Susan replied that her aunt wanted to put the house in apple-pie order.— Rka dr. 

ApriL — April fool — one sent on a bootless errand or otherwise deceived 
on the first of April — a day reserved for such practical joking. P. 

We retired to the parlour, where she repeated to me the strongest assurances of 
her lore. I thought I was a made man. Alas I I was only an April fool I— 

TUACKRRAV. 

Apron-string. — Tied or pinned to a tcoman*s aproti-stringn — continually 
in a woman's company, unwilling to quit her side. F. 

If I was a fine, young, strapping chap like you, I should be ashamed of being milk- 
sop enough to pin myself to a woman's apron-strings. — Dickrns. 

And as for her, with her little husband dangling at her apron-strings, as a call- 
whistle to be blown into when she pleases— that she should teach me my duty I- A. 
Trollopr. 

Apropos. — Apropos — to the purpose ; appropriately. C. A French 
phrase. 



Arab [ 17 ] Ann 

AjtrojHM (U hott€8 — having no connection with the previous conversation. 

The lecreUry, however, was not the tnKii to own himself Tanquished, oven In anec- 
dote, but at once began to descant— very much nprojtos de bolUa (without anj con- 
nection or apparent rause) as it seemed— upon a curious AngW French marriage cas« 
tliat luid that day appeared in the newspapers.— J. Pavn. 

" Tliis is a strange remark," said he, " and aprojtoi de bof/es.**— R. L. Stbvbnmok. 

Ajn-opoH de. rten — apropos of nothing; irrelevantly. 
The story was introduced apropoa de rien, 

Arab. — A Mti^eef Arah or Arah of the ijutter — one of the uncareil-for 
children of our large cities. P. 

This enterprise le<l him (T/ord Shaftesbury) into the heart of the vilest rookeries, 
to And places where sucli schools might be 0|>encd, and to liunt up the young Araba 
of the gutter to ilU them.— Qi«aW<rrfy Rrvieye^ lhS7. 

The hero and heroine began life as street Arabs of Glasgow.— PnU Mall OaxeiUt tSSS. 

Arcades. — AtradM ambo — both of them simpletons. C. Latin. 

He distrusted the |»cople as much as the aristocracy, and ridiculed the foasilisation 
of Toryism equally with tlio fluidity of Iladlcalism. " Areadre ambo,** he used to 
say, with bis serene smile.— Miw. £. Lynn Lintok. 

Arm. — Arm in arm — walking in friendly fashion with the amis 
linked. P. 

It was an agreeable surprise to her, therefore, to perceive them walking up to the 
house together arm in arm.— Mrm. Olipiiant. 

fn nrmji— carricil alx)ut. P. Generally used with the word child or 
in/aiif. 

That well-informefl young gentleman was not insensible to the glory of acting as 
pioneer and exponent of the Parisian mysteries to a person who, however distin- 
guiidied in his own line, was confessedly in such matters a mere infant in arms as 
compared wiUi iiimscif.- Jl/wrrni/'ji Magazine^ JSS7. 

One of these itassongers being a child, still young enough to be passed off as a child 
inarms.— HuoH Conway. 

At arm*M Uwjth — at a certain distance; avoiding too great nearness or 
familiarity. P. 

If she would conflde in me, if she would even speak to me of it, I might do some- 

tiling to convince her of her folly But no, she never alludes to it ; she keeps roe 

at arm's length.— A/ tirniy's Magtixinf, 2887. 

To fie ujxyn one^s arms. See Lie. 

Wifh opfti armn — warmly ; aflTcct innately. P. 

11ie nuiihopes were all known by name in Barchester. and Darchester was pre- 
liared to receive them with open arms.— A. TaoLUtra. 

In oftru rtrmj»— fighting oi>cnly. P. 

Here I sat for some time |iondering u)>on the strange infatuation of wretches who, 
flmling all mankind in open arms against them, were lalx>uring to make theroselvea 
a futnre and tremendous enemy.— Uoldmmitii. 

A ri^jhl arm. See Rkiiit. 

2 



Arri()re [ ^8 ] -^^^ 

Under arma — bearing arms ; in martial array. P. 

In a moment the troops were nnder anni (in battle array).— Robkrtson. 

Up in amu — roused to anger; ready to figlit. P. 

** No,** taid Kate, now fairly np in armi (really angry and rebellioni) ; " it ii not 
jost, papa.**— Mm. OLipnANT. 

If a tramping beggar were set to work In England, and compelled to do it by mili- 
tary diicipline, all the philanthropists in the country would be np in armi.— SjMcta- 
<or, 1887. 

"I'll knock, I iwear, till I have your neighbonrt up in arrot," laid Ralph.— 

DiOKBNS. 

Arriftre.—-<4 rn^ ]}ens^e—{a) hidden motive; underlying design. P. 
A French phrase. 

Our reason for so doing (placing Mr. Lear above Lewis Carroll as a writer of non- 
sense) is that no nonsense is so absolutely devoid of arritre petuie as that of Mr. 
Lear.— Spcet^ifor, 1887. 

" I thought it was a childish besottishness you bad for that man— a sort of calf- 
love, that it would be a real kindness to help yon out of."—" Without an nrriire 
pensie for your own advantage, of course."— Ruud a. Bkouobton. 

(6) afterthought; something which occurs to one*s mind after a 

thing has been done. P. 

For their sakes and mine, yon will not mind very mach that you are spared all 
these arrttrespeiu^.— S All A u Tytlkm. 

Arrow. — T?i€ hrocul arrow — the arrow -shaped brand with which the 
British Government marks its stores. P. 

This jacket, moreover, was stamped in various places with the Government broad 
arrow.— Hugh Conwat. 

Art. — To be or have art and part in — to be concerned either in the con- 
trivance or execution of. P. 

" My dear,** said she, " it's the foolery of being governor. If you choose to sacri- 
fice all your comfort to being the first rung in the ladder, don't blame me for it. I 
didn't nominate you ; I had no art or part in it" (was wholly unconcerned in con- 
triving or carrying out your nomination).— HALiBunTOit. 

Sundry proMeding« took place which would not very well have squared with the 
public ideas of what is due to the fair sox just treated of, but I dedare that I had 
neither art nor part in them.— G. A. Sala. 

You are art and part with us 
In purging heresy.— Ten NVaoN. 

Ass. — To make an ass of oneself— to behave foolishly. F. The ass is 
taken as the type of folly. 

Do not make such an ass of yourself as to suppose that— A. Trollopk. 

The father makes an ass of himself, or fate cuU him off prematurely. —W. Bksamt. 

The aues* bridge — a name given to the fifth proposition of the Fir^t 
Book of Euclid because of the difficulties it presented to beginners. 
See Pons Asinorum. 

He never crossed the asses' bridge.— v4f( the Year Bound, 18C0. 
He could disport himself with trigonomotry, feeling confident that Dr. Tempest 
had forgotten hit way over tho asses' bridge.— A. Tkollopic 




Assurance [ 19 ] Auiorean 

Assurance. — To make. asHurance doitbty sure — to take every possible 

precaution. P. 

I'll Uke a bond of fate aud make 
Aisurance double itire.— Shakbapbarr. * 

Now that I had a moment to myself, I lost no time In changing the priming of mf 
pistol ; and then, having one ready for serrice, and to make auurance donbly sure, 
I proceeded to draw. the load of the oUior and recharge it afroih from the beginning. 
— IL L. Stkvknhun. 

This horn haft, though so massive, was as flexible as cane, and practically un- 
breakable : but to make assurance doubly sure, it was whipped round at interrals of 
a few inches with copper wire.— 11. R. llAaoARD. 

At.— At all. Sec Atj,. 

At (hat — moreover ; ill ailtlitioii. C. A favourite American phrase. 

It comes nearest (the Irish car) to riding on horseback, and on a side-saddle at 
Uiat, of any vehicle travelling I ever saw.— J. Bursouuhs. 

/V.ttic. — Attic salt — wit or refined pleasantry. P. 

Triumph swam in my father's eyes at the repartee— the Attic salt brought water 
into them.— Strrmk. 

Ezp.—Hj father showed triumph In his eyes at the repartee; it was so charmingly 
witty that it brought tears of pleasure to them. 

To what might it not have given rise — what delightful iutimades, what public 
phrase, to what Atlienian banquets and flavour of Attic salt T— A. TKOLLors. 

Attic bee — a name given to Sophocles, the Greek dramatist ; a sweet poet. 

A true Attic l>ee, he (Milton) made boot on every lip where Uiore was a trace of 
truly classic honey.— J. IL Lowrli. 

Au. — Au contrairt — on the contrary. C. French. 

So we have not won the Goodwood cup ; an otmfrafrr, we were a *' bad flfth/' if 
not worse timn iliat.— O. W. IIolmrs. 

Aufait — familiar with ; accustomed to. P. French. 

She appears to be as nufaii to (with) Uie ways of the world as you or I.— Plorbncb 
Marryat. 

i4fi f7m?irf /«^n>?/a:— in sober earnest. P. French. 

I mean young women of no ciperience, who take everything an ifrand tirina.— 
Wh. Black. 

Av jyied de la lettrt — exactly; without deviating from the exact words. 
P. French. 

Au rti-oir — good-bye for the present ; literally, "until w© meet again.*' 

C. French. 

Arthur took off his hat " Tli^n we will consider Uiat settled. Good-morning— or 
|M>rhape I should say a« rcrojr," and bowing again, he left the ofBoe.— II. R. Hao- 

OARD. 

Augean.-- 7*0 cleanse the. Ainjran ^altlt^— to perfonn a great work of 
purification. P. Augcas was a fabulous king of Elis, who imposed 
on Hercules the task of cleansing his stables, where three thousand 



Auflfustan [ ^ ] Azrael 

oxen had lived for thirty ye^trs without any purification. Hercules 
performed his task in one day by letting two rivers flow through thorn. 

If the Ant ean liable (sink of dnunatlc impurity) wu not sufficiently cleansed, tho 
stream of pnblio opinion was fairly directed against its conglomerated impurities. — 

BOOTT. 

In short, Malta was an Augean stable, and Ball had all the inclination to be a 
Hercules.— S. T. Colkaidob. 

Augustan. — The Auf/ustan age — the period of highest purity and 
refinement in any national literature. P. So called from tho Vaxi- 
peror Augustus, under whoso nde Virgil and lloriico wrote their 
immortal works. 

The reign of Queen Anne Is often called the Augustan age of England. 

Auld. — Auld Reekie — a name given to Eilinburgh because of the smoke 
from its chimneys ; literally, ** Old Smoky." F. 

Hl^ (Shelley's) eye was not fascinated by the fantastic outlines of aerial piles seen 
amid the wreathing smoke of Auld Reekie.— Mattukw Aukold. 

Aut. — Aut Cassar aiU nuUna — either Caesar or nolxxly. P. Latin. 
I mean to be aul Catar aui nullut (either first or nothing at all) in tho concern. 

Ax6. — An axt to grind — a personal pecuniary interest in a matter. C. 
The story is told by Franklin that when he was a boy in his father's 
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 haiids were blistered. When the man was 
satisfled he sent the boy off with an oath. That man ha<l an axe to 
grind — he had a concealed reason for his conduct. All his politeness 
was prompte^l by selflsh motives. 

In the first place, let me assure you, gentlemen, 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. 

If the American politician is always ready to grind an axe for his fellow, tlie 
Neapolitan is no less convinced of tlie value of mutual accommodation. — K. S. 
Morgan, in tortn^fhU\f Review, 1887. 

AzraeL — The mnga of Azrael — the approach of death. P. Azrael, in 
the Mohammedan Koran, is the messenger of death. 

Always, in an hospital, there Is life returning and life departing— always may be 
heard the long and peaceful breathing of those who sleep while health returns, and 
the sighs of those who listen. In the hushed watches of the night, for tho wings of 
A sraeL — B BS A If T. 




[ 21 ] Back 



B 

B.— ^ B, mid S, — a brandy and soda; a wine-glass of brandy in a 
tumbler of soda-wator. S. See P£a. 

" They give you weak tea and thin bread and batter, whereas — " 
" You would ratlier have a B. aud 8. and •otne devilled kidneys/' flnUied Brian.— 
Fkruus W. Hums. 

Babe. — The, babes in the wood — simple, trustful children. C. An old 
liallad describes the sad fate of two orphan children, cruelly treated 
by a bad uncle. 

Yet those babes in the wood, Uncle Sam and Aunt Fanny, trosted six months of 
our existence to his judgment.— /farper's Monthly, SejA, 1SS7. 

Back. — To (jet oiie*H back up — to become roused, angry, and obstinate. 
F. A cat when irritated and ready to spit and scratch arches its 
back, the hair becoming erect. 

To set another's bark up — to Irritate or rouse him. F. 

I've been to see my mother, and you've set her back up.— Bbsamt. 

7*0 breaJs tfie back or neck of— to finish the hardest part of a task. C. 
Sec Neck. 

1 always try to break the back of (flnifth the hanlost part of) my day's work before 
breakfast. 

To ffiir, or make a Intrk — to stoop down, as in the game of leap-frog, that 
another may jump over you. F. It is said that Nafioleon, who was 
in the habit of stooping as he walkeil, was on one occasion used as a 
l>ack by a volatile student, who mistook the general for one of his 
companions. 

The major was giving a back to Oeorgy.— Thackkrav. 

iSjr|). — The major was stooping so that (Oeorgy might leap over his back. 

To tjo back on a jiernon — to betray one. American. See Go. 
I 11 not go back on you, in any case. 

To iKwk the field — (in the language of l)etting) to l>et in favour of the 
other horses in the field against a single one in particular. C 

To Itack vp — to 8upi>ort. C. 

Ho prnlonge<l Ciosar's command, and backed him up (supported him) in every* 
tiling.— Froudr. 

To ftnrk out— in retreat cautiously from a diflficult position ; to refuse 
after consenting. C. 

(TIa was) determined that Morris sliould not back out of the scrape so easily.— 

8he turned to Wlnterbonme, blushing a little, a very little, "You won't back 
out?" she said.— Half RY Jambu, jun. 



Backbone [ 22 ] Bad 

On (me*8 bcuh — ^prostrate ; helpless. 0. 

But hero he wm^ on hii beck.— Wm. Black. 

The doctor itaked hie wig ihet, caniiMxl whore they were in the marsh, and iinpro 
vided with remedies, the half of them would be on their backn before a week. —11. 
L. Stbybmson. 

To (/toe the hack — to leave or quit. C. 

Had even Obstinate himself but felt what I have felt of tlie powers and terrors of 
what is yet nnseen, he would not thus lightly have given us the back.— Bunyan. 

To turn one's back n/wn — to desert ; forsake. P. 

" Uncle," said Mrs. Kenwigs, " to think that you should have turned yonr bock 
upon me and my dear children."— Dick kns. 

Backbone. — To the backbone— thorowghly ; stanchly; essentially. 0. 

They told him solemnly they honied and believed they were English to tlie back- 
bone. — Huou Conway. 

Ballads and Poenu of Traffic Life (Macmillan) Is Mr. George Meredith to the 
backbone.— Am(led0e'« Almanack, 1888. 

Backstairs. — Backstaira influence — private influence of an unworthy 
nature; underhand intrigue at court. P. A backstairs minister is 
one who is not trusted by the country, but is supported by domestic 
influence in tlie king's household. For instance, the lOurl of Ihito 
was despised as n backstairs minister, because he owed his position 
to the favour of George the Third's mother. 

Which accusation it was easier to get "quashed" by backstairs influence than 
answered. — Caalylb. 

Bacon. — To aell one's baron — to sell one's body. C. 

To the Kaiser, therefore, I sold my bacon. 
And by him good charge of the whole is taken. 

ScuiLLKR, translated by Carlylk. 
Brp.—l therefore sold my body to the Emperor, who takes good care of it and me. 

To save one's bacon — to escape from personal injury, generally in an un- 
dignified way. F. 

But as he ran to save his bacon. 
By hat and wig he was forsaken.- Combx. 
Rxp.— Bui as he ran to escape bodily hurt, he lost his hat and wig. 
Jem drew a long breath, and said brutally, yet with something of satisfaction, 
" You have saved your bacon this time."— Rbadb. 

Bad. — To go to the bad — to become debauched; to sink into poverty 
and disgrace. C. 

(He) went, as the common saying expressively |>hrases it, to the btLd.—Pall Mall 
Oaxetle, 

Those who do not prefer to return to the fatherland richer in experience, or who 
do not succumb to des|>air and go to tho bad altofjcther, liave recourse to charitiblo 
sodoties.— L. KATtf4?iiKi(, in XiiuUcMth Century, JSi>7. 

To the had — in debt ; having a deficit or loss. C. 

He was between £70 and £tiO to tlie bail.- Ta/f Mall GazcUe, 188/,. 



[ 23 ] Ball 



Bad blood — angry ami vindictive feelings. P. 

At the battle of Poonah li« regained hie authority, and whatever bad blood had 
flowed between them was clieclced by the prospect of approaching danger.— Di 
Maulbt, in NineUerUh Century ^ 18S6. 

Bad debts — debts of which there is no hope that they will ever be paid. P. 

Among hit aaaete ho liad included a number of bad debts (debts that were hopeletsX 
7'o yo bad — (of meat or fooil) to spoil. C. 

It goes bad more readily than cooked butcher's meat.— IMiiy Newst 1881^. 

Bag. — Batj and ba^jtjatjt — completely ; leaving no property behind. P. 
The phrase was originally nscd of the complete evacuation by an army 
of an enemy's territory, and is now employed generally to signify the 
wishcd-for departure of an unwelcome guest. 

The Turks their saptlehs and mudirs their kairoakams and their pashas, one 

and all, bag and baggage, shall, I hope, clear out from the province they have deso- 
lated and profaned.— GLAnHToNK. 

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

This expression of Mr. Gla^lstone's has given rise to what is known 
as the " bag and baggage policy " in relation to the Turks — to drive 
them completely out of Europe. 

BakecL~/^a{/'-^aJl'ec{- silly; weak in mind. S. 

Hampered withal by a daughter of seventeen not quite right in her head— half* 
baked, to use tlie popular and feeling eipression.— Bbhakt. 

Baker.— ^ baker's r/oi€?i— thirteen. P. See Dozen. Formerly called 
a dcviPs dozen, and associated with ill-luck. 

It is all very well for you, who have got some baker's doxen of little ones, and lost 
only one by the measles.— Blaokmorb. 

Ball. — To Often the ball — to begin. P. 

Waltx and the battle of Austerlits are said to have opened the ball together 
(commenced the operations of the year together).— Byron. 

" This will do," thought the Scot, misled, like Continental nations, by that little 
trait of ourt. He opened the ball (spoke flrst).— R»adr. 

To hdd up the Ml— to oikju a dance. P. Said of the most distinguished 

couple who occupy the leailing place. 

She did not object to her own Jenny's leading up the ball at Mr. O'NeiirB.— Maria 
Rdokwortii. 
Mr. Thornhlll and my eldest daughter lo<l up the ball— GoLDAMiTn. 

BaJ/n or the thitf if olden tnUfs-^tk name given to a pawnbroker's place of 
business, of which three balls arc the sign. P. 

A (lAwnbroker from Alcester had npene<l a branch establishment It was man- 

ai^e<l l>y a Mr. Figg. Mr. FIgg's tliree balls stood out in the middle of the cut.— 
Mil*. IIrnrv Woop. 

Take my ticker (watch), and such of your things as you can spare, and send them 
to Balis.— Til ACK bra V. 



Banbury [ 24 ] Bar 

w 

It U not generallj known that the throe balli at the pawnhroken' thoiw are the 
ancient arms of Lombard/. The Louibanla wore the first inonej-brokert in Europe. 
^C Lamu. 

To ham tlie hall at out* 8 foot or be/ore one — to he in a positiou to coin- 
inand success ; to have things in one's power. C. 

A prettf picture li so much prettier in a gilt frame, and the will probably begin 
life with the l>ali at her foot.— G. J. Whytb-Mklvillk. 
The crisis in George Dallas's life had arrived— the ball was at his feet.— E. YatS'I. 

To keep the ball up or rollimj — to keep a conversation going ; to prevent 
an undertaking from flagging. C. 

He smiled when mj Isdj smiled ; returned well-rounded replies to her queries ; 
kept up the ball of conversation with the dignity of an ambassador.— BlBa £. Lynn 
LiNroN. 

Bxp.—Ylt spoke occasionally, in order to maintain the conversation. 

If the Spaniards had not lost two armies lately, we should keep up the ball for an- 
other year (continue the enterprise for anoUier yearX — Wklunuton. 

To take up the hail — to take one's turn in speaking or in any social 
matter. C. 

Rosencrants took up the ball— Georob Eliot. 
iCxp.— Bosencrantx took his turn in the conversation. 

Banbury. — To taix a child to Banbury Cross— to swing it up and down 
on one's foot. F. Grown-up X)eoplo often amuse children in this 
way, sitting on a chair or a sofa, and repeating the nursery rhyme : — 

Ride a cock-horse 
To Banbury <}ross, 
To see an old woman 
lUde on a white horse, 
Witli rings on her fingers 
And l>ells on her toes. 
She shall have music 
Wlierevor she goes. 
She caught up little Miss Toodlo, who was running (last, and took her to Uanbury 
Cross immediately.- DicBBNtf 

Bang. — To bang the bush — to surpass anything that has gone l>efore. 

" My," said he, " if that don't bang the bush ; you are anotherguess diap from 
what I took you to be anyhow.** — IIaliburtum. 

Exp.—** Really,** 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." 

Banyan. — Banyan-day — a day on wliich no meat is served out for 
rations. A sea term. 

Bar. — The bar sinister— -the sign of illegitimate birth. P. In the days 
of chivalry, knights of illegitimate birth carried the arms of their 
family markeil with a block diagonal Uir across from the right upper 
comer. 

Why, Philip, my ancestors were princes of royal blood when yours still herded 
the swine in lliese woods. I cin show more tlian tliirty quarterings upon my sliield 



Bargain [ 25 ] Basket 

eacli the mark of a noble houae, and I will not be the first to put a bar ainitter acroea 
them.— IT. R. Haooard. 

That was Paeton Carew, a Clinton wiUi the bar sinister across the shield.— Mrm. 
£. Lynn Linton. 

To Imr out — to refuse to admit the masters of a school. P. Scholars iii 
Kiiglaud frequently revolted in this way. 

Revolts, republics, revolutions, roost 

No graver than a schoolboys' barring-out— Tennyson. 

To tcUfor the bar. See Eat. 

Bargain. — A loet ftartfain — an agreement concluded by the parties 
diinking liquor togctlicr. F. 

The recruit took Uie condition of a soldier, with a guinea to make it a wet bargain. 
—Windham. 

/;xp.— The recruit enlisted, and received a gnlnea that he might drink, on the 
conclusion of the agreemrnt. 

Into the bargain — beyond what has 1x;en stipulateil ; exti-a ; besides. C. 

If he studies the writings, say, of llr. Herbert Spencer into the bargain, he will be 
perfect— M. Arnold. 

To make the best of a bad bargain — to bear adverse circumstances in the 
■Ijest possible way. P. 

Men had made up their minds to submit to what they could not help, and to make 
the best of a bad bargain.— Fkkrman. 

i(jrp.^Men had resolved to submit to the inevitable, and to bear their bad lack 
witli the best possible grace. 

Bark. — I lis Ixirh is tcorne than his bite — ho uses strong language, but 
acts with mildness. C. 

However, I dare say you have learned by this time that iny father's bark is worse 
than his bite.— Sarah Tvtlbk. 

Barmecide. — A Barmecide feoM — a l>anquct where there is nothing to 
rat. P. llie name comes from the Aralnan iVij/Zi/j*, where the story 
i8 tr)ld of a rich man, Jkirmeciilc, who invitetl a friend to dine with 
him. Dishes were brought to the table in due order, but there were 
no victuals in them. The host, liowever, pretcndeil to eat, and his 
guest had tlie politeness to imitate him. Afterwards a real feast was 
served to reward the man for his good humour. 

Tommy, ontra^ed by the last kI «s« of claret, tliought the permission, being of a hollnw 
and Ilarmedde character, was a natural ending to a banquet from which he roae 
more hungry than when he sat down.— Drmant. 

A Itarmrcide rotim, that had Always a great dining- table In It, and never had r. 
dinner.— Dk-kknk. 

Basket. — To fte hft in the boAlrt—to lie neglected or thrown over. F. 

Whatever he wants, he has only to atk it 

And all other suitors are left In the basket— Barm am. 



Bat [ 26 ] Beard 

Bat. — On his own bat — on his own account. S. Taken from the game 
of cricket. 

Titmoiua hat loft Spanker and Co. and ii now on bU own t>tt (In business for liim- 
selfX 

Bath.— 6^0 to Bath — be a beggar. F. 
" Oo to Bath I " said the baron.— Barham. 

Beans. — To know beans; to know how many beans make five — to Ikj saga- 
cious; to be worldly-wise. F. 

I WM a fool, I was, and didn't know how manj beans made five. I was born 
jeeterday, I was.— B. L. Farjson. 

Bear. — To bear one Aart/— to be unfriendly to. 1*. 

Cnsar doth bear me hard.— SiiAKEaPBARB. 

To bear out a man— to lend him support ; to back him. P. 

Ererj one will bear me out in sajring that the mark bjr which 70U know them is 
their genial and hearty freshness and jouthfuloess of character.— 11 uou km. 

To bear a bob or a hand — to assist; to join others in work. C. 

We were so short of men that every ono on board had to bear a hand.— K. L. 
Btbvbnsok. 

To bear down upon — to approach deliberately. C. 

As soon as they got on the quarter-deck Arthur perceived a tall, well- preserved 
man with an eye-glass, whom he seemed to know, bearing down upon them.— il. R. 

IlAOaARD. 

To bear \n mind — to rememl)er ; recollect. P. 

It will be borne in mind that Mr. Aubrey had given bail to a very large amount.— 
8. Wahrbn. 

A bear lecuUr—one who acts as companion to a person of distinction. P. 

Onoe more on foot, but freed from the irksome duties of a bear leader, and witli 
some of his pay as tutor in pocket, Goldsmith continued Iiis half-vagrant \Hsrt- 
grinatlons through part of Pnnce and Piedmont and some of the Italian states.— 
WASMiNamN Irviko. 

It was somewhat beneath the dignity of a gentleman cavalier to act as bear loader to 
the Joskins and simpering city madams that came to see the curiosities. — O. A. Sala. 

To play the bear vnth— to injure ; to damage. F. 

The last storm has played the bear with my crops. 

A bear garden — a disorderly gathering. C. 

Mr. TroUope visited the Chamber whilst at Paris, and heard Soult and Dupin. 
He thought it a bear garden.— 7Vinj>I< Bar, 1887. 

Beard. — To beard the lion in his den — to attack a dangerous or much- 
feared person boldly in liis own quarters. C. 

Mist Masterman returned to the inn for lunch, and then prepared for her moment- 
ous visit to the rectory ; for she had resolved to brard the lion in his den (attack her 
enemy in his own house), and to denounce him in the presence of his family as a 
hypocrite.— Cfcamberj'sJounirif, 188G. 




Beat [ 27 ] Beauty 

Fierce he broke forth—*' And d»,ftt thou then 
To b«Ard the lion in his den, 

The Douglas in his hall T **— Scorr. 

Beat. — To hecU ahoxU the hush. Seo Busii. 

To heat the bush — to search as sportsmen do when in pursuit of game. P. 

Mr. Manrice« again, that pure and devont spirit— of whom, however, the tmth 
must at last bo told, that in thcologj he pas8c<l his life beating the bush with deep 
emotion and never starting the hare— Mr. Maurice declared that bj reading between 
the lines he saw in the Thirty- nine Articles and the Athanasian Creed the altogether 
perfect eipresslon of the Christian faith.— Matthbw Armold. 

To ItecU down — to cause a seller to reduce the price. C. 

Perhaps his patient would try to beat liim down Oower his professional charge or 
fee), and Dr. Benjamin made up his mind to have the whole or nothing.— O. W. 

HOLMB.%. 

To Itfot a retreat — to retire. C. Originally a military phrase, having 
reference to the beating of the drums as a sign for making a retreat. 

She introduced Percy to him. The colonel was curt but grumpy, and Percy soon 
beat a retreat— Rbadk. 

To heat the air — to struggle in vain. P. 

So flght I, not as one that beateth the air.— St. Paul (/ Cor. ix. t6\ 
These men labour harder than other men— result, nil. This U literally beating 
the air.— Rbadk. 

To Itcat up the quarters of— to visit without ceremony ; to ** look up." F. 

Sunday coming round, he set off therefore after breakfast, once more to beat up 
Captain Cuttle's quarters.— Dick bns. 

To ItecU ffoose — to thump the arms against the chest in order to get 
wann. F. 

The common labourers at outdoor work were beating gooae to drive the blood 
Into their fingers."— rimes, J8S3. 

That heats the Dutch — that is astonishing. S. 

It beats the Dutch (it Is wonderful) how the thief can have got through so small 
a hole. 

To brat hollow — to vnnquish completely. C. 

The Gntatra was beaten hollow (completely defeated) by the Ma%/to¥>er In the last 
International yacht race. 

To heat the deriVs tattoo. See Tattoo. 

Beau. — Beau idecU — highest conceivable typo ; finest specimen. P. 
French. 
My ambition is U> ftivc thrm a htnu idml of a welcome. —Ciiarlottb IIromtb. 

Beauty.— T'A^ beauty sleep— the sleep taken before midnight. C. 

\ medical man, who may be called up at any moment, must make sure of hla 
beauty sleep.— 11. RiNoaLBT. 



Bed [ 28 ] Beg 

Btauty and the beast — a lovely woman with an ugly male companion. C. 
The expression is borrowed from an old nursery tale. 

Beauty and the beast was what they called as when we wcut out walkiug together, 
as we used to do every day.— IL R. Uauoaku. 

Beauty is btU akin-deep — beauty is a thing M'hich can be easily destroyed, 
and should not therefore be valued too highly. P. 

Marry a woman for her good qualities ; beauty is but skin-deep. 

Bed. — As you make your bed, you muiU lie on t7— you must bear the con- 
sequences of your deliberate actions. C. 

I write not for those whose matrimonial lot is the average one— neither very happy 
nor very miserable, who, having made their bed, must lie on it— but for those whose 
lot has turned out *'ali worse and no better."— Miu. Craik (Miim Mulook). 

" Henry has gone to AlHngton to proix>se to Miss Crawley," said Mrs. Orantly.— 
*' Oone, without speaking to me I "— " He said tliat it was useless his remaining, as 
he knew he should only offend you." — " He has made his bed, and he must Ho on 
it,** said the archdeacon.— A. Tuollopb. 

A bed of roses — an altogether agreeable position or situation. C. 
A parochUl life is not a bed of roses, Mrs. Mann.— Dickbks. 

Bedfordshire. — To be for Bedfordshire— to be anxious to retire to 
bed. F. 

'Faith, I'm for Bedfordshire.— Swirr. 

Bee. — In a bee line — following a straight course, as a bee is supjiosed to 
do. P. 

I'm going to get home as soon as I can— strike a bee line.— W. D. Howklls. 
To have a bee in ojie*s bonnet — to be crazy in a certain direction. C. 

Wtwt new bee will you put under your bonnet next, sir?— 0. A. Bala. 
That Crawloy has got a bee in his bonnet— A. Tkulloi'js. 

Been. — YotCve been (and gone) and done it — you have committed an 
action that may have very serious consequences. S. A remark gener- 
ally made half in wonder, half as a warning. 

I say, young fellow, you've been and done it, you have.— Diokcns. 

Beer. — To think no small beer of anything — to esteem it very highly. F. 

Miss Arrowpoint coloured, and Mr. Bult observed, with his usual phiegiiiatio 
solidity, " Your pianist does not think small beer of himself."— Gkokok Eliot. 

Beg. — To go begging or a-begging — (of things) to find no one to claim ; 
to be so plentiful as to be thought not worth accepting. P. (Jcncr- 
ally said of things that have been highly prized at other times. 

Places like Annerley Hall don't go begging.- Florbncb Marryat. 
Thirty pounds and twenty-five guineas a year made flfiy-six pounds five shillings 
English money, all <*hicb was in manner going a-beniug'— GuLDaMiTU. 



Beggars [ 29 ] Bell 

-__-_^ * 

To 6f 7 the qnejtfion — to nssiimc that which requires to bo proved ; to take 
for granted the very jwint at issue. P. 

" Facsimiles I " exclaimed iho old man angrilj ; " whj not franklj saj that thej 
are bj the same hand at once 7 " 

" Bui that is begging the whole question " (assuming all thai requires to be provedX 
argued honest Dennis, his good and implasUc nature leading him into the self-same 
error into which he had fallen at Charlecote Park.— Jam u Tatn. 

Beggars. — Beggars should not be choosers — those who ask for favours 
should submit to the terms imposed upon them. P. 

Bell. — Eigld &e//«— sounded on board ship at noon, four, and eight 
o'clock. 

The unwelcome cry of " All starbowlines aho7 1 eight bells, there below I do jon 
hear the news 7 " (the usual formula of calling tlie watch) roused us.— R. H. Dam a, jun. 

To hear the hell or can^ aivay the bell — to be victor in a race or other 
contest. P. 

The Italians have carried awaj the bell from (have surpassed) all other nations, n 
maj appear both bj their books and works.— Hakkwilu 

There are certain cases, it is true, where the vulgar Saxon word is refined, and the 
refined Latin vulgar, in poetrj—as in iweat and pfrtpiration ; but there are vastly 
more in which the Latin bears the belL— J. R. Lowell. 

To hell the eat — 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. 

When James lit. was king of Scotland, he irritated the old nobility bj the favour 
he showed to painters and architects. One of tlie latter, named Cochran, who had sue* 
cooiImI to the estates of the Karl of Mar, was especially liateil by the nobles. At a meet* 
ing in the church of I^auder they discussed how best to get rid o( lilm. 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 tlie attacks of a cat, who 
pounced upon them before they had time to escape. They were much eoaoemed 
over the matter, and resolved to do romething 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, antll an old 
mnniie put the pertinent question, * But which of us will bell the cat 7' The <H«tor 
hnil not thoui^ht of this, and wa* s|ieechless.** When Lord Gray had finished, Archi- 
bald, fUri of Angnx, a man noted for his bodily prowers and daring, rose up and 
swore that he would bell the cat. He kept his word, captured Cochran, and bad 
him hanged over the bridge of Lauder. Afterwards he was always known as Bell- 
tbeCat. 

And from a loop-hole while I peep 

Old Itolltho-Cat came from the keep —Scott. 

" I'll tell yon how we'll do it," exclaimed Mrs. Armytage, clapping her hands; 
" we'll ask him (the sns|»ccted clergyman) to say grace at dinner to-night Then 
wo'll see how ho takps tiiat** 

" Htnt's a capital idea I '* cried Mrs. TerciTal fxttt 

" What fnn It will be— at least I mean, what an interesting moment when yo« put 
the question to him.** 

" t»h, hut I shan't put it,** said Mrs. Armytage hastily. . . . 

"Mrs. and Miss Jenny nge most In>II the rat." 

" What have I to do with caU 7 '* Inquirwl Mrs. Jennjnge wildly. " I haU eaU. ** 



Belt [ 30 ] Best 

" Mj doar madMn, it is a well-known prorerb," explained Mrs. Armjiage. " What 
I mean li, that it ii jou who should ask Mr. Joeoeline to saj grace this evening."— 
Jambs Pay it. 

B6lt. — To hit below the belt — to strike another unfairly. P. A pugilist 
is not allowed by the rules of boxing to hit his opponent under 
the waist-belt. This belt is a significant part of a boxer's attire. 
The champion pugilist of England wears a prize-belt, which he must 
deliver to any one who vanquishes him. 

To refer to his private distresses in a public discussion was hitting below the bolt 
Exp.— li was unfair, in a public discussion, to refer to his private distresses. 

Ben. — Ben trovato — well found ; an ingenious invention. P. Italian. 
If the tale is not true, at least it is ben trovato (Ingeniouslj constmctedX 

Benefit. — Without benefit of clergy. — During the Middle Ages criminals 
who could prove that they belpnged to the Church, even to the extent 
of being able to recite a verse of Scripture, were allowed to escape 
punishment. This privilege was known as benefit ofclertjy. Notori- 
ous offenders often escaped on this plea, like Will of Horribee, who 
knew his nech-verse (see The Lay of the Last Minstrel), The phrase is 
now used loosely, as in tlie following : — 

She would order Ooodj Hicks to take a James's powder, without appeal, resistance, 
or benefit of clergy.— Tiiackkra v. 

Benjamin. — Benjamin* a mess — a specially large portion. P. For the 
origin see Qen. xliii. 34 : " But Benjamin's roess was five times so 
much as any of theirs. " 

Berth. — To give a wide berth — to give a ship room to swing at anchor ; 
to avoid a person. C. 

I have had letters warning me that I had better give Balllnascroon a wide berth if 
I happen to be in that part of Ireland.— Wx. Bi.ack. 

Bess. — Bess o* Bedlam — a female lunatic vagrant. C. Bess is a con- 
traction of Elizabeth. 

Will you have the goodness to tell me, miss, why you are dressed up after that 
mad Bess of Bedlam fashion T— A. Trollops. 

Best. — Best man — groomsman ; the attendant on a bridegroom. P. 

It was like asking a young gentleman to be best man when he wants to be Uie 
bridegroom himself.— Jam sa Payn. 

At the best — ^taking the most favourable view possible. P. 

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

To have the best of an argument — to gain the advantage in an argu- 
ment. P. 



14 



In your argument yestenlay, Cliarles, Uie strange gentleman had Uie best of it' 
(waa vIctorX said bis wife. 




Bet [31 ] Between 

To male the. ftcsf of ouc\ iray—to go as well as can 1k) done in the cir- 
cumstances. 1*. 

With these Awful remarks, Mr. Kenwigs sat down in a cliair, and defied Uie nurso, 
who made the best of her waj into the adjoining room.— Dick knh. 

7*0 make the best of both tcorlds — to manage so as to get the good things 
of c-irth and l>c sure of a gcxxl place in heaven. P. 

'1 here Itavo I>cen great captains, great statesmen, ay, and great so-called Christians, 
seeking to make the best of botli worlds (being at once worldly and hearenly In their 
aspirations).— Sara u Tytlbr. 

Bet. — You bet — I assure you. S. American. 
My father's rich, yon bet— IIknrt Jamks, ji;n. 

B^te. — ti^te. voire — pet aversion ; object of particular dislike. P. 
Fii'ucli. 

I1ie lailies of the party simply detest him— if we except Miss Thomeydykc, who 
cannot alTord to detest anything in trousers. I^dy Pat, wlio is a bit of a wit, calls 
him her b^^ nmre. — Flokbnce Markvat. 

Better. — For better or for xcorse — indissolubly, in marriage. C. 

Each believed, and indeed pretty plainly asserted, that they could live more hand- 
Boiiirly asunder ; but, alas I they were united for better or for worse.— Maria Eoai- 

WOKTII. 

To ijfl the }>etter q/*— to overcome ; to vanquish ; to l)e stronger than. P. 

I ^oi the better of (overcame) my disease, however, but I was so weak tliat I s|tat 
bl<io«l whenever I attcmpte<l to write.*— II. Mackknzik. 

Belter haff—a man's wife ; a complimentary term for a married woman. C. 

" Polly heard it,** said Too<tle, Jerking his hat over hii shoulder In the direction 
of the door, with an air of perfect confidence In his better half.— Dickbks. 

Between. — Detttyen you and me and the poMt or the door-post. A phrase 
useil when anything is spoken confidentially. V. 

" Well, l>ctwoen you and mo and the door-post, squire,'* answered his learned 
visitor, " I am not so sure that Sir Anthony Is quite the rose and crown of hit pro- 
fcMlon."— Hi. \cK morr. 

I!ut understand that the name of Dangerous is to remain a secret between yon and 
mo iind the |KMt. (1. A. Sat.a. 

Tlif phrase is also found in the more familiar form, — 
Deiicaen you and me and the Ited-j^onf — don't reveal a word of what I 
say. F. 

Beiurrn 0Mr/«r/rr^— speaking confidentially. ('. 

Steyne lias a touch of the gout, and bo, between ourselves, has your brother.— 

TllA«'Kr.KAV. 

Ktit. Htryno h somrwhfit trnulilcd with Ihe gout, and ro is yonr broUier ; but I 
do not wixh my wonli rr|K»nt«l. 

BeJirren Sryfia and Charyhdis—\tct\K'cen two menacing dangci*s. Avoid- 
ing one, you fall into the other, P. Scylla was a rock and CharyUlis 
a whirlpool on the coast of Sicily, and the narrow passage lictwcen 



Bid [ 32 ] Bird 

was very much feared by mariners because of its double danger. Now 

they are looked on as harmless. 

You hare your Scylla and your Charybdlii, ai pa«tor of the congrogatlon. If you 
preach the old theology you will lose the young men, and if you preach the new yoo 
will alienate the old men. 

lielioeen tioo firts — subject to a double attack ; a position of i>cculiar 

danger in warfare. P. 

Poor Dawson Is between two fires : if he whii>s the child, its mother scolds him ; and 
if he lets it off, its grandmother comes down on him. 

To fall Itetuyeen tioo Moots. See SxiM)!.. 

Uttioten loiud and ivcUer, See WiNi>. 

Bid. — To hid fair — to seem likely ; to promise well. P. 

In the eastern eonuties the old race of small farmers and yeomen have well-nigh 
disappeared, or rather they bid fair to disappear.— CVrnmberx't Journal^ 1887. 

Big, — A big-wig — a person in authority ; a high or powerful person. C. 

" Then I will leave you, uncle," said CUre, *' to the task of telling the bii^-wigs 
that there is nothing more to be done or known down hero."— Kdmunu Yatkm. 

Sooner or later one of the big-wigs will take it up, and tlie point will be settled one 
way or other. —Afttrraj/'s Magazine, 1SS7. 

Bird. — A bird in the hand xm \rorth tioo in the bnxh — a sure lulvuiiUigc 
is better than a problematical advantage, even though the latter 
promises to l>e twice as goo<l. C 

A bird*8-eye or bird-eye tHew — a general view, such as would be enjoyed 
by a bird flying over a country. P. 

Viewing from the Pisgah of his pulpit the free, moral, happy, flourishing, and 
glorious state of France, as in a bird-cyu landscape of a promlsc«l land. -Burkk. 

JVo(«.— Pisgah was the mountain east of the Jordan from the summit of which 
Moses was permitted to see the promised land of (^naan. 

To kill ttoo binU xuith one stone — to effect two results with one ex|>endi- 
ture of trouble. C. 
Sir Barnet killed two birds with one stone.— Dice knh. 

Birds ofaftaiher — persons of like tastes. C. 

Birds of a feather flock together. 

Jlfjrp.— Persons of like tastes seek one another's society. 

Jail-bird — a rogue who is oftcner in prison than out of it ; a hardened 

ofTender. C 

The Jail-binls who pipecf this tune were, without a single exception, the dcs|)crato 
cases of Uiis moral hospital.— Re adb. 

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 
tlie 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 time ; or as if 
we were political exiles, who might be recalled at any moment ; or as if we wore in 
some way birds of passage.— Bksant. 




Bishop [ 33 ] Black 

A little bird whispered it to me. A phrase playfully used of something 
which has been reported and is repeated. C. The reference is from 
the Bible, Eccles. x. 20 :-- *' Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; 
and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber : for a bird of the air shall 
carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. " 

"What A wicked man jou arc!" imiled Mrs. Jcnnynge, admlrlnglj. "A Utile 
bird told mo 7011 could bo rery lOToro when 70a pleased, thoofh I refiuod to 
believe it" 

It was oTldent from tlie colour that came Into Aoastasia's face that she was the bird 
in question (she had carried this report).— Jambs Tatn. 

Bishop. — The bishop luu set his foot in it — the contents of the dish are 
bunicd. F. A jocular reference to the zeal of bishops for bumuig 
heretics. 

" Wh7 sure, Bett7, tlion art bewitclied ; this cream is burnt too.** 
" \VI17, madam, the bishop has set his foot in it.**— Swirr. 

Bit. — A bit ozone's mind — a goml scolding ; a serious reproof. F. 

" I shall have to tell her a bit of m7 mind ** (remonstrate sharpl7 with hcrX he said, 
as he stepped across the close. — A. Trolix>pb. 

Not a bit of it — by no means ; not at all. F. 



«• 



That's rather a sudden pull-up, ain't it, Samm7 f" inquired Mr. Welter. 
Not a bit of it,** said 8am.— Dicjcbks. 



Bite. — To bite the thumb at. This was formerly a sign of contempt, often 
made use of by those who wished to pick a quarrel. C. 

I will bite my thumb at them ; which is a disgrace to them, If they bear It — 
SfiAKxaPKAKB: Romto and Juliei. 

Wear I a sword 
To see men bite their thumbs?— Randolph. 
TIs no less disrespectful to bite the nail of your thumb, by way of scorn and dis- 
dain.— iZiJet ^ Civility, 1678. 

To bite one*8 lipn — to show signs of disgust and mortification. P. 

Tlie advocates on boUi sides are alternately biting their lips (showing chagrin) to 
hear their conflicting mis-statements and sophisms exposed.— Macau lay. 

To bite the dust— to fall in Imttlc. P. 

Tliat day three thousand Saracens bit the dust (were slain in battleX 

Black. — A black sheep— Ml ill-conducted person ; a member of society 
who is not considered respectable. C. 

I'm forbidden the house. I'm looked upon as a black sheep— a pest, a contamlna- 
tion.— Kdmund Yatim. 

Black Afomlay— the Monday on which school rc-o|>cns. C. 

8ho now liated my sight and made home so disagreeable to mo that what Is called 
by school-boys liUcli Monday was to me tlie whitest In the whole year.— Fibldino. 

Black mail— money extorted by threats. P. 

Dlack mail, I sup|H)e«, Is an honest man paying through his dooo for the tins of 
his youth. 

3 




Blanket [ 34 ] Blindman 

Blcteh draught — a doee formerly given by physicians to relieve stomach 
ailments. P. 
Oo, enjoy your bUck dranghts of metaiibytlci.—TnACKSRAT. 

To beat or jnnch another bla^ and blue — to beat or pinch him until his 
flesh is discoloured. C. 

" We'll go down Arm In Ann." 

" Bat jon pinch me black and blue,** urged Gride.— Dickxns. 

Black and white — written definitely on paper in ink. C. 

" I bare found it all oat I Here is hit name in black and white ; ** and alie touched 
the Tolnme ibe bad J net placed on the table with imprenlve reverence.— Jambs 
Payn. 

Blanket. — A wet blanket — one who discourages, who causes others to 
become disheartened ; also, discouragement. C. 

I don't want (said Sir Brian) to be a wet blanket— W. E. Norris. 
At home, in the family circle, ambition Is too often treated with the wet blanket 
(dIsconragedX — Bksamt. 

Blarney. — To have I'issed the blarney stone — to be full of flattery and 
perouasive language. F. There is a stone in the village of Blarney, 
near Cork, in Ireland, which was supposed to confer tliis gift of per- 
suasive speech on those who touched it. 
You are so fall of compliments to-daj that 70U must have kissed the bUmcy stone. 

Bless. — To bless oneself— to be astonished. C. 

Could Sir Thomas look in upon us Just now, he would bless himself, for wo are 
rehearsing all over the house. — Jank Austkn. 

To bless oneself with — in one's possession. F. Generally used of coin, 
especially of silver coin, which people crossed their palms with for 
good luck. 

What I yon trumpery, to come and take up an honest house wltliont cross or coin 
to bless yourself with.— OoLDaii ith. 
The Udy hasn't got a siipence wherewithal to bless herself.— Dick kni. 

Bless you — an exclamation of varying significance. F. Commonly used 
after sneezing, to avert evil consequences -a superstition common iu 
Ireland. 

" Bless you I " murmurs Miss Seymour under her breath— the benediction being 
called forUi by the sneese, not tlie demand for mustard.— Ruoda Brouuuton. 

Blind. — To go it blind — to act without due deliberation. S. 

Blindman. — Blindman*s hujr—&n ancient game, still very popular with 
children. One of the company is blindfolde<l, and the fun of the game 
consists in his eflbrts to capture the others. 

Mr. Bnrchell, who was of the party, was always fond of seeing some innocent 
amusement goin^ forward, and set the boys and girls to blindman's buff.- Goldsmith. 



Blithe [ 35 ] Blow 

Blithe. — Blithe bread — food distributed among guests on the birth of a 

child in the family. An old custom. 

Throughout three long JotUI weeks the rliitors came and went, and ererx day the 
blithe bread waa piled In the peck for the poor of the earth.— Hall Gains. 

Blood. — Blood and iron — military compulsion; the force of armies. 

A phrase usually associated with Prince Bismarck — Blui und Eintn, 

Mr. Carljle has been heard to saj that Rhadamanthus would certainly give 
Macaulay four doson lashes when he went to the shades for bis treatment of Marl- 
borough. This is quite in character for the Scotch apostle of blood and Iron.— J. 

COTTSK MORRUON. 

Bad blood. See Bad. 

HIa Wood waA up — he was excited or in a passion. C. 

That is the way of doing business— a cut and thrust stjle, without anj flourish : 
Scott's stjle when his blood was up.— Ciiristopiikr Nortu. 

A prince of the blood — a nobleman who is a near relative of the royal 

family. P. 

He had a calm, exhausted smile which— as though he had been a prince of the blood 
(noble of the very highest rank) who had passed his life in acknowledging the 
plaudits of the populace— suggested the ravages of affability.- Jam bh Tavn. 

Blood in thicker than icater — kinship will cause a man to befriend his 

relatives; it is better to trust for kind treatment to one's kinsmen 

than to strangers. P. 

" r am aware there is a family tie, or I should not have ventured to trouble yon." 
" niood is thicker tiian water, isn't it? "—A. Trollops. 

In cold blood — without passion ; deliberately. P. 

The suggestion of such a contingency— which, of course, meant total failure— In 
cold blood (without any passion), filled up the cup of the antiquary's indignation.— 
JAMSi* Tavn. 

Blue blood — aristocratic descent. P. 

And thft girl— what of her? to which side of tlie house did she belongT To the 
blue blood of the Clintons, or the muddy stream of the Carewaf— Mrs. E. Ltrm 

LllfTOK. 

The blood of the Hnnkers has, in yourself, assumecl the most asure hue (become 
moat aristocraticX— )tR<4ANT. 

To fnnLe your Itlootl creep— to fill you with awe or terror. P. 

Jinny Gates, the cobbler's daughter, Iteing more imaginative, stated not only that 
she had seen the earrings too, but that they had made her blood creep (Inspired her 
with terrorX— Okoror Eliot. 

Blow. — To blow otrr — to pass oHT ; to lie heard of no more. P. 

"Gracious me ! an execution I" said Lady Clonbrnny : "but I hear! you talk of 
an execution montlis ago. my lord, before my son went to Ireland, and It blew over ; 
I hcanl no more of it."— Makia EDORWonrft. 

To blow up— to scold ; to reprimand. F. 

ir I hftdn't boon proud of tlie linuse, I shouldn't be blowing you up.— Honnsn. 
The captain wan t(K> " widoawnke" for him. and beginning u|ion him at once, gave 
him a grand blow up.— IL 11. Dama. 



Blown [ 36 ] Blue 

Blown. — Blown upon — having a bod reputation ; unsound ; damaged. C. 
Mj cr»dii WM 10 blown upon thai I ooahl not hopo to raliio a •hilling.— 

TUAOKKBAY. 

Blue.— T'Ae Hue ribbon— {a) the Order of the Garter. P. 

I therefore make no vain boast of a blue ribbon being seen Uiere, tliui denoting Uie 
pretence of a knight of the moat noble Order of the Garter.— O. A. Sala. 

Though he distributed peerages with a lavish and culpable profusion, he (Pitt) 
never desired one for himself, &nd he declined the blue ribbon when it was offered 
him.— SpeetatoTt 1S87.- 

(b) the phrase is ahio used to signify " a distinction of the liighcst 

kind." P. 

In 1840 he was elected to a fellowship at Oriel, then the blue ribbon of the uni- 
rvniij.—Athtiueum, 1887. 

(c) a badge worn in England and America by those who do not drink 



iutoxicatuig liquors. C. 

Of course, Mr. Smith didn't smoke, and sportc<1 a blue ribbon as proudlj as if it 
had been the Order of the Garter.— Bimant. 

A blue funk — a state of terrified expectation ; a condition of frightened 
suspense. S. 

Altogether, I was in the pitiable state known hj school-boys aa a bine funk.— 
II. R. IIaooari). 

A blue moon — a phenomenon which happens very rarely. S. Once in a 
blue moon = very seldom indeed. The real origin of this phrase is un- 
known. 

Blue moonshine — fantastic nonsense. F. The subject of a short poem of 
three stanzas in Haweis's Comic Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 

Blue books — official publications of the British Qoveniment. P. So 
called because their covers are blue in colour. 

At home he gave himself up to the perusal of Blue Books.— Thaokkrav. 
The latter portion of Lord Beaconsfleld's speech (is) upon page 208 of the En* 
gllsh Blue Book.— Foriniifhtly RevUvf, 1SS7. 

In the blues — melancholy ; low-spirited. F. 

If «e had been allowed to sit idle, we should all have fallen in the blues (had an 
attack of melancholy).— R. L. 8tkvsn80N. 

Tlie Blue and Yellow — the Edinbunjh Review^ so called from the colour of 
its cover. C. 

Shortly afterwards, and very little before the appearance of the Blut and Yellow, 
Jeffrey made another innovation.— Gborob Sainthbury, in AfacmtUan's MaffosiKe, 
1887. 

The man in blue — the policeman. C. 

Thoee kinds of sin which bring upon us the man in blue are snch as we think we 
shill never commit.— BuA NT. 



Blush [ 37 ] Bob 

To look blue — to seem disconcerted. F. 

Rqnir« Drown looki rather blue At having to pay two pounds ton shillinga (or the 
posting eipenaes from Oxford.— Hugh bs. 

Blut-nose — a name given to the inhabitants of Nova Scotia in North 
America. F. 

How is it that an American can seil his wares, at whatever piioa he pleases, where 
a Blue-noso (Nova Scotian) would fail to make a sale at all?— Ualiburton. 

Bine-devils — dreadful apparitions which appear to a patient sufTering 

from delirium tremens. F. 

The drunken old landlord had a At of the blue-devils last night, and was making a 
dreadful noise. 

lilmt-stocking — a woman who prides herself on her learning. P. 

Lucj (dutcliinson) was evldentlj a very superior young lady, and looked uiwn as 
the bluest of blue-stockings.— (/enilentan't Magazine^ ISaC. 

Sometimes found in the simple form Uue, 

Bulwer came up to me and said, " There is one blue who insists upon an intro- 
dnetion.**- JSdtnburi^^ Revietc, 18S6. 

To fly the blue-peter — to Ix) ready to sail (of a vessel). P. The blue- 
peter is a small flag run up on the fore-mast of a ship, to announce 
its departure within twenty-four hours. P. 

The ensign was at her peak, and at the fore floated the blue-peter.— W. Clark 
RuseiLL. 

Blue Ilen—tK nickname for the state of Delaware in the United States. 

F. A Bluo-hcu is a native of the State. 

*' Your mother was a Blue- hen, no doubt,** Is a reproof to a person who brags, 
•specially of his ancestry. 

Blush. — To put to the blush — to cause one to redden with shame. P. 

Ridicule, instead of putting guilt and error to tlie blush (making guilt and error 
ashamed), turned her formidable shafts against innocence and truth.— Macao lat. 

At the /irsi bfush or at first blush — when one looks hastily for the first 
time ; at the flrst sudden appearance. P. 

At the flrst btuih the landlord would appear to suffer most, but on nearer eiaml- 
nation the tenants are found In the lowest state of poverty.— ATofumal Review^ 1887. 

All purely identical propositions, obviously and at flrst blush (when flrst vlewedX 
appear to contain no certain instruction in them. 

Bo. — To say **bo'* to a goose. See Boo. 

Boards.— 0»i the boards — following the profession f»f an actor. C. 
Lily was on the boards, but Katie could get nothing to do.— BBaAitT. 

Bob. — To l>ear a Mt — to join in chorus. F. 

To give the bob ^to cheat; to overreach. C. Obsolete. 

C. I guess the buitlnrss. 

5. It can be no other than to give me the bob (nothing else than a plot to outwit 
meX— Massbnukr. 



Bodkin [ 38 ] Bone 

A bob — a shilling. S. 

The trip cost me a bob and a bender (a ihilUng and dxpence). 

Bodkin.— 7'o aU bodkin. See Sit. 

Body. — To keep body and soul together — to sustain life. P. 

Mj earnings are so miserable that they scarcely sufllce to keep body and soul to- 
gether (to keep me from starving). 

Bohemia. — A flavour of BoJiemia — a tono of unoonventiouality ; of 
neglect of social rules. P. Bohemia is the name applietl in Loiulon 
to the quarter where artists and literary men live as best suits them, 
wholly neglecting fashion and the elegant world. In France and 
some other countries Bohemian is the name applied to the gipsy race, 
who, wherever they go, live a rough kind of life, apart from other 
people. 

Meantime there is a flavour of Dohemla about the place which pleases new-comers. 
To be sure, Bohemia never had any clubs.— Bssamt. 

Bold. — To mcdx bold — to venture. P. 

" I make bold, young woman," he said as they wont away, " to give you a warning 
about my nephew."— 1)i»amt. 

To make bold with — to tackle ; to deal with. P. 

By the time I was twelve years old I had risen into the upper school, and could 
make bold with Eutropius and Ctesar. 

Aa bold as brasa — impudent ; without modesty or shame. C. 

Fred Bullock told old Osborne of his son's appearance and conduct. " He came in 
as bold as brass," said Frederick.— Tuaokkiiay. 

Bon. — Bon gr6, mal gri — whether one likes it or not. C. French. 
Boa ipri, mal ffri, we had to wait our turn.— B. H. Dana. 

A bon moi — a clever saying. P. French. 

The bon mots of the mother were everywhere repeated.— Maria Kdoswobtii. 
A bon vivatU — an epicure ; one fond of good living. C. French. 

Sir Charles Lyndon was celebrated as a wit and bon vtwint.— TnACKKBAV. 

Bona. — Bondflde — in good faith ; trustworthy. P. Latin. 

The offer we make is a bond^U one (made in good faith). 
But this was a bonAJide transaction.— W. D. Howsllb. 

Bone. — A bone of contention — something which causes a quarrel (as a 
bone does when thrown among dogs). P. 

The possession of Milan was a bone of contention (cause of quarrel) between the 
two monarchs. 

To have a botie to pick with any one — to have some cause of quarrel or 
complaint against him. C. 

I consider that I have got a bone to pick with Providence about that nose.— II. R. 
Hagoakd. 



Bonne L 39 ] Borne 

To make iio hoiien — not to hesitate ; to publish openly. C. 

He makca no bones of swearing and Ijin^. 
Kxp.— lit does not hesitate to swear or lie. 
lie makes no bones of (publishes openly) his dislike of the natives. 

Bonne. — A bonne houclie — a sweet morsel ; something which pleases. C. 
French. 

If I could ever belfeve tliat Mandevllle meant anything more bj his fable of the 
Bees tlian a honnt bouehe of solemn raillerj.— S. T. Colxridok. 

The solemn and heavy tragedy came first, and sent most of the audience to sleep, 
at least in a figurative sense ; but they were revived by the witty dialogue of the 
comedy, which was reserved till the end of the performance as a bontu botidu. 

Boo. — To nay Itoo or l)o to a yoone — a test of courage. C. A man who 

cannot say lx>o to a goose has no spirit, and is to be despised for his 

timidity. 

He looks as fierce as a tiger, as much as to say, '* Say boo to a goose, if yon darv " 
(it will take a bold man to address me).— HALiBURmii. 
Now you are always writing, and can't say " bo " to a goose. ~C Rsadi. 

Book.— /» the books of; in the yood books of— In favour with ; a favour- 
ite of. P. 

I was so much in his books (in his favour) that at his decease he left me his lamp. 
—Addison. 

Tlien 1*11 tell yon what, Mr. Noggs : if you want to keep in the good books in that 
quarter, you had better not call her " the old lady " any more.— Dick sks. 

In the Ixul or yack books of— in disfavour with. P. 

lie neglected to cull on his aunt, and got into her bad books. 

For some reason or otlier I am in his black books.— W. £. Noimis. 

To brintj to book — to call to account ; to accuse of a fault or crime. P. 

" Dy tlic Lord, sir," cried tlio major, bursting into s|»ecch at sight of the waiter, 
who was come to announce breakfast, " it's an eitraordinary thing to me that no one 
can have the honour and happiness of shooting such beggars without being brought 
to book for if— Dicjcsns. 

Born. — All one^s born days — during one's whole experience of life. F. 

At last Nicholas pledged himself to betray no further curioaity, and they walked 
on, both ladies giggling very much, and declaring that they had never seen such a 
wicked creature in all their born days.— Dickkns. 

Not born yesterday — worldly-wise ; not easily gulled. F. 

She was considerable of a long-headed woman (quite a prudent woman), was 
mother ; she could see as far ahead as most f olka She wam't born yesterday, I guess 
(was not easily outwitted, I venture to say).— Hauburtun. 

Born with a silver sjxwn in one*s month. See SfooN. 

Borne. — Bome in ujwn. Sec Bkar. 

Borne in upon one — impressed upon one's mind. C. Generally used of 
some forclxHling or warning. 

It was borne in n|fon her (impressed u|K>n her mind), as she afterwards eipreasM 
it, to beseech the divine compaMinn in favour of the hnus<>less wretches cnnslralned, 
perhaps, as much by want as evil habit, to break through and steal.- Jambs Path. 



BoBom [ ^ ] Bowels 

* 

B08OXIL — A bo9om friend — a very intimate friend. P. 

*' What A stmig* histoiy that was of his marriage." 

" So I have heard ; hut he it not quite hoiom friend enough with mo to have told 
mo all the particnlarB."— A. Trollopk. 

Botany. — Botany Bay — the port in Australia to which convicts wore 
formerly shipped. P. 

Who careth that the retpectable family solicitor had a grandfather by the maternal 
side sent to Botany Bay f— BuAifT. 

BottoXIL — One^B bottom dollar — one's last coin. S. An Americiuiisni. 
I would have parted with my bottom dollar to reliere her.— Bksant. 

To ht ai the bottom of anything — to be the chief instigator in any 
affair. C. 

I am sure Russell is at the bottom of (the chief instigator in) this movement to get 
rid of our present musical conductor. 

At bottom — really; essentially. C. 

He was a kind-hearted man at bottom (under the surface, however roughly he 
might speak).— Jambs Payn. 

Bow. — To draw the long bow — to exaggerate. C. 

Then he wont into a lot of particulars, and I begun (began) to think he was drawing 
the long bow.— W. D. Uowslls. 

King of Corpus (CoUegeX who was an incorrigible wag, was on the point of pulling 
some dreadful long bow (telling some dreadfully exaggerated story).— Tuackkray. 

To have a second utring to one*s bow — to lie provided with something in 
reserve in case of an accident happening. P. 

Moreover, in his Impatient ambition and indefatigable energy, he had sought a 
second string to his bow: ^e public and the publishers showed their sense of his 
abilities as a pamphleteer and a nortUMt—EditUntrgh Review. 

JKqpi —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 : he was gaining popularity as a pamphleteer and a novelist. 

To draw a bow at a venture — to make an attack blindly ; to say or do 
something without knowing exactly what the result will be. C See 
1 Kings xxii. 

" And your mother was an Indian," said Lady Jane, drawing her bow at a venture. 
—Mas. £. Lynk Limton. 

Bowels. — ffi* boioels yearned — he felt full of sympathy or affection. P. 

That evening Alexis did 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. 

At the sight of his Inoffensive sorrow, the mother's bowels began to yearn over 
(the mother felt her heart drawn to) her son.— C. Rbadb. 

Bowels of mercy or compassion — compassionate feelings ; pity. P. 

And at least It would be a fa«e worth seeing— tlie face of a man who was without 
bowels of mercy.— R. L. STBVBNtioif. 

We men of business, you see, Carew, must have bowels of compassion like any 
other.— Mkh. K. Lvmm Linton. 



Bowl [ 41 ] Bread 

Bowl.— ^o bold out — to stop in a successful career. F. A cricketing 
phrase. 

" Bowled out, eh ? " Mid Ronih. 
"Stumped, sir," replied Dallas.— £. Yatbs. 

To bold ovei' — to knock down ; to overturn. C. 

It was within a day of Thursilay's visit tliat Bennet's last dofcnco was thus placidly 
bowled over.— Saiiau Tytlkii. 

Box. — /» t/te same box — equally embarrassed. C. 

" How is it tliat yon are not dancing ?" 

)lo nmrniurc<l something inaudible about "partner." 

*' Well, wo are in the same boi."— II. It IIauciaud. 

To ftox tfie comjfoss— to shift round to all quarters. C. A nautical 
phrase. 

After a week or so tlio wind would roguUrly box the compass, as the sailors call 
it— Blackmorv. 

So my Udy reasoned in her rapid way, and boxed the compass all round (tried every 
metliod of argumentX— Mrs. E. Lymm LiNToif. 

To box Harry — to avoid the regular hotel table, and take something 
substantial at tea-time to avoid expense. S. A phrase used by com- 
mercial travellers. 

Boy. — A tjoy in buUotia — a lail who acts as door-servant and waiter in on 
establishment. C. 

The very boy in buttons tliought more of his promotion than of the kind mis- 
tress who had housed, clothed, and fed him when a parish orphan.— U. J. Whttx- 
Mklvillk. 

Boycott. — To Ipoycott a jyerson — to refuse to deal with a person, in the 
way of buying or selling, or of social intercourse : from Captain Boy- 
cott, a landowner in Ireland, who was so treated during the agrarian 
war about 1885. 

Brass. — A broM farthing — a symbol of what is worthless. C. 

He could perceive his wife did not care one bran farthing about him.— H. R. 

IlAUaARD. 

Brazen. — To brazen out an act— to refuse to confess to a guilty action, or 
to boast of it ; to be without shame regarding it. C. 

As to Bullying Bob, he brasened the matter out, declsrlng he had been affronted 
by the FrankUnds, and tiiat he was gUd ho had taken his revenge of them.— Maria 
Edor WORTH. 

Bread. — To fair, bread and W<— to bind oneself by oath. An old- 
fiishioncd phrase. 

To break bread— to vixi; to Iks a guost. C. Old-fashionc*! in ortUnary 
prose. 

As often as Mr. Staunton was invited, or invited himself, to break bread at the 
Villa dcs Chataigniers, so often did Violet express her intention of eating her own 
luncheon or dinner in company with Hopkins, a faithful old servant— W. K. NoRRia. 



[ 42 ] Break 



Bread and butter — ^material welfare ; what sustains life. C. 

Fonner pride wm too itronff for preaent prudence, &nd the question of bread and 
butter was thrown to the winds in revolt at the shape of the platter in which it was 
offered.— Mrs. E. Lynn Linton. 

Bread'baahet — a vulgar name for the stomach. 

Bread and cheese — the bare necessaries of life. 

A *' bread-and'Cheese " marria^je — a marriage to a man who cannot afford 

to give his wife luxuries. C. 

You describe in well chosen language the miseries of a broad-andcboese luarrioco 
to your eldest daughter.— O. J. Wuvtk-Mklvillk. 

Break. — To break down — (a) to lose control over one's feelings. P. 

"They had better not try," replies Lady Swansdown, and then she suddenly breaks 
down and cries.— Florinok Mabrtat. 



(6) to fail in health. P. 



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. — C Rbadi. 

To break in — to interrupt another with a remark. P. 

" Oh, don't Ulk to me about Rogers I " his wife broke in.— W. D. Uowblls. 

To break ground. See Ground. 

To break off witfi — to cease to have communications with ; to renounce 

the acquaintance of. P. 

Well, then, I consent to break off with Sir Charles, and only see him once more — 
as a friend.— Rb A DC. 

To break up — to be near death ; to show signs of approaching dissolu- 
tion. C. 

" Poor Venables is breaking up," obeenred Sir Brian as they strolled away.— (7o(kI 
irordj, 1887. 

To break with — (a) to break the matter to ; to announce news to. Obsoleto. 
Let us not break with him.— Shakbspbarb : Julius drsar. 

(6) to quarrel with ; to cease to be friendly with. P. 

"But what cause hare I given him to break with me?** says the countess, trem« 
bling.— Florbnck Marryat. 

To break the ice — to commence a conversation where there has been an 
awkward silence ; to speak first on a delicate matter. 0. 

" I will not," said Lochiel, " break the ice. That is a point of honour with me."— 
Macau LAY. 

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

To break the news — to impart startling information in a gentle manner ; 

preparing the recipient gradually for the shock. P. 

It suggested to me tliat I had better break the news to them (of their father's 
death by the explosion of a boilor). and mechanically I accepted the suggestion and 
rode away sadly to the Italian vilU.— Z7i« iIi$iUtoe Bough, 1S8S. 




Breakers [ ^3 ] Brief 

Breakers. — Breakers (Ulead — a cry of dauger. C. The phrase is taken 
from sea-life, where the cry, ** Breakers ahead!" announces immediate 
peril to a vessel. Breakers are waves which go into foam over rocks, 
or in sliallow water. 

It mftrltt hor forget the carking anxieties, the Tition of loclal breakers ahead, th«t 
liad begun to take the gilding off her position.— Blackmorr. 

Breast. — To viake a clean breast of— to make a full and free coufeasiou 
of something that has been kept a secret. C. 

She resolved to make a clean breast of it (confess the whole affair) before she died. 
—Scott. 

Breath. — The breadth of oiie^a nostrils — something as valuable as life 
itself. P. 

The novrls wore discussed in the society whose flatteries were as the breath of his 
nostrils.— iSiftfilmrg^ Revietc, 18S6. 

iSxp.— The novels were discussed in aristocratic circles, whose flatteiics were as dear 
to Disraeli as his own life. 

7*0 take aicay one's breach — to cause surprise or consternation. C 

He was so polite, he flattered wiih a skill so surprising, he was so fluent, so com- 
pletely took awaj her breath (astonished her), tliat when he flnallj begged per- 
mission to deliver a valedictory oration to all the young ladies. Miss nillingsworth, 
without thinking what she was doing, granted that permission. — Bksakt. 

Under one's breath — very quietly ; in fear. P. 

" A. good thing thoj did not bethink themselves of cutting off my hair,** she said 
under hor broatli (in a whisper, so tliat no one could hear). 

Breathe. — To breaUte, one^s last — to die. P. 

It had breathed its last in doing its master service.— Thackkrat. 

Brick. — A retjular brick — a gooil fellow ; a pleasant man. F. 

In brief 1 don't stick to declare Father Dick, 

80 they called him for short, was a regular brick.— Bariiam. 

Like brirksy or like a thousand of bricks — with a great impetus or force ; 

violently. S. 

Out flies tlte fare like bricks.— Dick rns. 

If I lie master discovers what we are doing, he will come down on us like a thousand 
of bricks (give us a great scolding). 

}yith a bi-ick in one's hal—ilrxink. American slang. 

I think our friend over there has a brick In his hat (is Intoiicated). 

Brief. — To accept a brief on beJialf of— to csik>uso the cause of. C. A 

phriiso of legal origin. 

Not a little to Oilbert's surprise, Mr. Buswell flatly declined to make this con- 
c^«ion, alleging that he had not sufl^cient knowledge of the circumstances to Justify 
him in accepting a brief on behalf of (in defending) the accused.— W. K. Norrih. 

To hold a brief for another — to devote oneself to his defence ; to urge all 
that can l)o Miid in his justification. C. 
Vrofessor Dowdcn holds a brief for Shelley. -Mattiiiw Arnold. 



Brinff [ "^ 1 Brown 

Bring. — To bring into play — to cause to act ; to set in motion ; to give 
scope to. P. 

The Tery inoongmlt/ of Uieir reUtlve positions brought Into pUy all his gonitis.— 
MacmiHan*B MagaxiiUf 1887. 

To hriwj about — to caiiHc to luippon ; to assist hi accomplishing. P. 

There sre msny who declare that they would be willing to bring about an Anglo- 
Russian alliance upon the terms of giving Russia her head in the direction of Con- 
stantinople.— i^artni(//ktZi/ RtvitWf 1887. 

To brintj rotnul — to restore ; to cause to recover. P. 



K 



How Is poor old No. 50 to-day 7 " 
** Much the same." 
"Do you think you will bring him round, sir?"— C. Rsadi. 

To bring up — (of a sailing vessel) to stop ; to cease moving. P. 

He was still plunged in meditation when the cutter brought up in the iMj.—Oood 
Wards, 1887. 

To bring to bear — to cause to happen ; to bring to a successful issue. C. 

There was therefore no other method to bring things to bear but by iiertuadlng 
you that she was dead.- QoLn»MiTU. 

To bring down the house — to call forth enthusiastic applause. C. 

Toole on his last a)>pearance in Kdinburgh brought down the house (had an en- 
thusiastic receptionX 

Every sentence brought down the house as I never saw one brought down before. — 
J. R. Low BIX. 

To bring to the hammer. See Hammer. 

To bring to book. See Book. 

To bring to — to resuscitate ; to cause to recover. C. 

I once brought a fellow to (made a follow revive) that was drowned.— Haubuhtun. 

Broom. — I^eto brooms sroeep clean — those newly appointed to office are 
• apt to make great changes. C. 

If new brooms do not sweep clean, at any rate they sweep away.— BIodhcHNNTs 
Magaiine, 1887. 

To jump the broomalick— to bo iiTegularly married. F. 

Three or four score of undergraduates, reckless of parental will, had offered her 
matrimony, and three or four newly-elected fellows were asking whether tliey would 
vacate if they happened to Jump the broomstick.— Blackmorb. 

This woman in Qerrard Street here had been roArried very young— over the broom- 
stick, as we say— to a tramping man.— Dickbms. 

Brown. — Brown, Jones, and Rohinson — representatives of Englishmen of 
the middle class. P. Their adventures were published in Punch. 

After the splendid revelry of the mess-table, Captains Brown, Jones, and Robinson 
would turn out in all the glory of red cloth and gold braid.— A/t«li«foc Bough, 1886. 



Brutum [ 45 ] Bull 

To astonish the Broums — to do something, notwithstanding tho shock it 

will givo to the prejudices of ono*s neighbours. F. 

If we go on to the top of the 'bni, our conduct will astonish the Browns (shock our 
prejudiced neighbours). 

To do brown — to hoodwink completely ; to gain complete mastery over. 

S. See Do. 

His wu an imaginative poetical composition, easily scorched enough, but almost 
incapable of being thoroughly done brown. — G. J. Wuyte-Mkltilli. 

Brown Bess — a musket. F. 

Tlie British soldier— with his clothing and accoutrements, his pouches, haTersack, 
biscuits, and ammunition, not to mention Brown Bess, his mainstay and dependence 
— noUitng punishes him so much as wot— O. J. Whytb-Mklvillb. 

Brutum. — Brutnm/iilmen — a harmless tliunderbolt. P. Latin. 

Bubble. — Bubftle ami squeak— (vied beef and cabbage. F. AIbo used 

contemptuously of what is little prized. 

lUnk and title I bubble and squeak I No, not hnlf so goo<l as bubble and squeak- 
English beef and good cabbage.— Lytton. 

Buckle. — To buckle to— to set to work at in earnest ; to apply oneself 
diligently to work. F. 
We all buckled to with a will, doing four hours a day.— TI. R. Haooard. 

Buckler. — 'To tjive Ute bucklers — to yield ; to lay aside all thoughts of 
defence. F. 

Age is nobody wlion yontli is in place, 
It gives tlie other the bucklers.— OM Play. 

To take vp the bucklers — to struggle ; to contend. Old-fashioned. 

Charge one of tlicm to take up the bucklers 
Against that hair-monger Horace.— Decker. 

Bud. — To check or nip in the bud — to destroy at an early age ; to lose no 
time in suppressing. C. 
Guessing his intentions, she had resolved to check them in the bud.— Dickens. 

Bu]l. — A bulVs fyc— the inner disk of a target, surrounded by rings of 

incn^Asing magnitude. F. ** To make a bull's eye " = to fire a highly 

sticccssful shot; to score a great success ; to gain a striking a<lvantage. 

The Republicans had made a bull's eye, and were Jubilant.— AT* ir Yvrk Herald^ 
Avgnsft /, J888. 

A bull in a china shoj> — something in a pliice where it will do an exces- 
sive amount of damage. C. 

Poor John t he was perfectly conscious of his own ponderosity— more so perhaps 
tlian Ills sprightly mntlierin-law gave him credit for. He felt like a bull in a china 
shop.— ^fwrrcii^** Magnxitu, lfi87. 

To take the bull bt/ the homs~io attack something formidable in a bold 
and direct fashion. C. 

Happening, therefore, to meet Monckton on^ windy morning when he was walking 



Bullet [ 46 ] Bu8h 

into Kingteliff to keep an Appointment, he reeolved to take the bull by the horng. 
— W. K NoRBie, in Good TK<mf«, 1887. 

Bullet. — Every hdUt has Us hillet— it U appointed bcfurcliaiul by fato 
what soldiers will fall in battle ; it is no use contending against fate. C. 

'* WeU," he remarked confoUngly, "every bnllot 1im iU billet"— 11. H. lUaaARD. 
No one talks now of "every bullet having iU billet," or thlnka of life as an 
"appointed ip^n."— Contemporary Reviewt 1887. 

Bundle. — ^o bundle in — to enter in an unceremonious fashion. F. 
I say, Frank, I must have a dip ; I shall bundle in.— O. J. Whytb-Mslvills. 

Buridan. — Buridan^a ass — a man of indecision. P. Buridan, the 

Greek sophist, maintained that if an ass could be placed between two 

haystacks, so that its choice was evenly balanced between them, it 

would starve to death. 

He was a Buridan's ass of a man, and seldom came to a decision till it was too late. 

Bum. — To hum ont^s fimjtrs — to sufibr loss or hurt by mc<ldling with 
something out of one's own sphere,. as by investing in some plausible 
financial speculation, or taking jNirt in another's quarrel. C. 

lie has been bolstering up these rotten iron-works too long. I told him he would 
burn his fingers.— Mrs. £. Lynn Likton. 

To hum the candle ai both ends — to expend one's resources in two 
directions ; to consume one's energies in a double way. C. 

Washington Irving talks of Goldsmith burning the candle at both ends in the 
heading to chapter xxiii. of his Life. 

To bum one*8 boats — to leave no means of retreat ; to act irrevocably. P. 



Then he took the perforated cardboard and tore that likewise into small pl< 
" Now I have burned my boats with a vengeance " (certainly left myself no way of 
retreat), he added grimly.— Jambs Fayn. 

A btirned child dreads the fire — those who have suffered are wary. C. 

Bury. — To bury the liatdiet — to cease fighting. F. The phrase comes 
from a Red Indian custom in warfare. 

But the Harcourts and the Ellacombes, the Gaysworthys and Fitx-Oeorge Standisli, 
were among the more familiar of the guests invitetl to Uiis dinner, which was essen- 
tially a welldreased pow-voow (council) to witness the burying of the hatcliot and tlio 
smoking of the calumet.— Mrs. E. Lynn Lintok. 

Bush. — To beat about the bush — to avoid a direct statement of what must 
be said ; to convey one's meaning in a roundabout faslnon. P. 

No ; give me a eliap that hits out straight from the shoulder. Can't you see this 
Is worth a hundred Joneses beating about the bush and droning us all to sleep t— 
C. Rbadb. 

Oood trine needs no bush — a good thing requires no advertisement; it 




Bushel [ 47 ] Butter 

commends itself. P. Formerly tlie branch of a tree was hung out 
in front of a tavern to indicate that liquor was for sale. 

If It be true that good wln« needs no bush (Is Its own recommendation), 'tis true 
that a good pUy needs no epilogue. — Sbaksspbarb. 

Bushel. — Under a bushel — secretly ; without others knowing it. C. 
Ah, you can't giro a dinner under a bushel— W. D. IIowslls. 

Business. — To go aJtout ove^s husineM — to go off. F. The phrase is 
generally used in dismissing an intruder. 

Bidding the soldiers go about their business and the coach to drlre off, IllU let go 
of his prey sulkily, and waited for other opportunities of revenge.— Tiiackrrat. 

A mati o/biutiness — (n) a man gifted with powers of management ; one who 
can prudently direct the details of an enterprise or undertaking. P. 

lie was one of the most skil'ul debaters and men of bnslneti In the kingdom.— 
Macau LAY. 

{h) a legal adviser. 

The tenant resoWed to consult his roan of business. 

To do the bimttessfor a man — to kill a man. F. 

His last imprudent exposure of himself to the night air did the buslnea for him 
(put an end to his life). 

To have no business in a place, or no buMness to do anything — (a) to have 
no occupation calling one thither, or no right to do the thing. C. 

You had no business to meet Mr. Campion without my knowledge ; It was dis- 
graceful of you.— F. Anstrt. 

(6) figuratively of things. 

A frown upon the atmosphere 

Tliat hath no business (ought not) to appear 

Where skies are blue and earth is gay.— Byrok. 

To mean business — to have serious intentions ; to bo bent on executing a 
project. C. 

He really felt rery much hurt and seriously alarmed, because It never hafl occurred 
to him that the oUior two sliould also moan business (liave serious intentions — of 
marrying Clair).— Bbsant. 

Butter. — BfUtered fivgers — fingers through whicli a ball slips. Used 
contemptuously of a cricket player who fails to hold a ball. F. 

To look aj» if butter irould not melt in one*s mouth— to look unconcerned; 
hannlcfls and iiiiiocont. F. 

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

JSjrp.— These good young ladies, who look so very prim and innocent, are In no 
way better than the rest of us. 

To know on which sid* one's bread is buttered— to be well aware of one's 
own interests ; to be full of worldly wisdom as far as regards oneself. C. 



Buy [ 48 ] Byffonee 

" Pthaw I ** answered hit merenrUl companion, " he knows on which side his bread 
is buttered."— DxcKXNd. 

ifxp.— His mercurial companion, with an ozclamatlon of Impatience, answered, 
" He knows where his Interests lie.** 

To butter Itoth sides of one's bread — to gain advantages from two parties 
at one time. 

Well, as soon as he (the deToted young parson) can work it, he marries the richest 
gal (girl) in all his flock (congregation), and then his bread is buttered on both sides 
(he obtains a yearlj income from two sources).— Haliburton. 

Butter to hitter is ho rdlnh — something substantial is required as a basis 
for what is merely a relish. 

Buy. — To buy in — to purchase goods at an auction on behalf of the per- 
son selling. P. 

The articles were mainly those that had belonged to the prerious owner of the 
house, and had been bought in by the late Mr. Charmond at tlie auction.— TnoM as 
Hardy. 

To buy the refusal of anything — to give money for the right, at a future 
time, of purchasing it for a fixed price. C. 

I have bought the refusal of the neighbouring piece of land for flfty dollars. Its 
price Is five hundred. 

To buy off a person — to cause one to cease from opposition by giving 
him a sum of money, or other benefit. C. 

It was the potential destroyer of their house whom they had to propitiate— the 
probable possessor of their lands whom they had to buy off as best they could. — 
Mrs. E. Lynn Linton. 

To buy up — a stronger form of buy, signifying the complete purchase of 
a quantity of goo<ls. C. 

I was so delighted with his last box of curios that I bought them up (purchased 
the whole lot). 

By. — By this — when this took place. F. 

By tills, John ha<i liis liand on tlio sliultora— R. L Stkvbnson. 

By-and'by — after a time. C. 

He hoped, could ho overtake them, to have company by-and-by.— Bukyan. 

By-the-bye — this phrase is used to introduce a new subject for which 
the hearers are not prepared. P. 

By-tlie-bye, gentlemen, since I saw you here before, we have had to weep over a 
very melancholy occurrence.— Dick bns. 

Note. — The speaker, before going on to the ordinary bnsinett of the meeting, makes 
a reference to an outside subject, and apologises, as it were, for taking this liberty. 

Bygones. — To let bygones be bygones — to ignore the past. F. 

Can't we let bygones be bygones and start afresh T— W. E. Norrts. 
Moreover, bygones being bygones, he had made an excursion into the "Rockies."— 
Wm. Black. 




Oacoethes [ 49 ] Calf 



CacoSiheS. — Cacoethea 9cribendi—^ diseased love of writing. P. 
Oar friend is alllieted with eaeoetka §erib€ndi (an Itch for wrlti^X 

OesftT. — C(e9ar's uife should be above nutpicion. When Ciesar, whoee 
own reputation was not above reproach, was remonstrated with for 
putting away his wife on a mere suspicion, he replied thitt it did not 
matter for Ciesar, but Co'sar's tci/e sliould be above suspicion in 
matters of morality. P. The phrase is now used in a general way 
to express the need there is that those immediately connected with 
great men should have a flawless reputation. 

"Omar's wife,** you remember the Roman dictator said— " Ovsar*s wife nasi be 
abore sospicion.** Surely, if eren a heathen thought that, we, Charlotte, with all our 
priTileges (the speaker was a bisbopX ought to be very careful on what sort of man 
we bestow liiz.—C9rmkiU Afo^osiiu, 1887. 

Ceteris. — CcderU paribus — other things being equal. P. lAtin. 

A very rich man, from low beginnings, may buy his election in a borough, hot, 
ctrierit parUnu, a man of family will be preferred.— Boowxll. 

Cain. — T/te curse of Cain, Sec Curse. 

Cak6. — you cnnU Jtoth have or Ixrp your cake and eat U — a common 
proverb, signifying the impossibility of reaping the advantages of two 
wholly opposite courses of conduct. A person must choose which 
course ho will follow, and whidi set of advantages he prefers, and be 
prepared to resign any claim to the other set of advantages. P. 

Mr. Iloworth seems to us to be counting— as, indeed, men do often count— on the 
ability both to keep your cake and eat it ; but, as a matter of fact, that always toms 
out to be impracticable. — Sptdaior, J8H7. 

BlaTe-holders in rebellion had alone among mortals the priTflege of harlng their 
cake and eating it— J. R. Lowsll. 

My cake is dough — I am quite disappointed. F. 

Notwitlutanding all these traverses, we are confident here thai the match will take, 
otherwise my cake is dough.— //atrdrs LtiUn, 

To take the cake — to \ie first in a contest ; to secure the first place in a 
competition. An Americanism. 

The Wcalrjranii, however, take the cake, having by far the finest church buildiiig 
in Uie city— a Gothic structure of graceful design.— A>f(<m Commfreial BuUdin, 
Mnp f/;, J8SS. 

Calf. — To eat the calf in the cow^s belly — to be too ready to anticipate; lo 
be over-sanguine of obtaining something. F. 

T ever made shift to avoid anticipations ; I never wouM eat the oalf in the ooWs 
belly.— 8b RioBAnoeoif. 

4 




OaU . [ ^ ] OaVL 

CcUf love— the jnvenile passion of a yonng man. C. 

TwM no flerj-funiMa kind of calf lore on mj part, but a matured and Mnalbla 
admliture of gratitude and linoore affection.— O. A. Sala. 

I thought that it was a childish besotment jou had for the man— a sort of calf love, 
that it would be a real kindness to help you out of.— Riioda. Broughton. 

GalL — To call at a place — to visit it. P. Said both of persons and of 

vessels. 

" I shall hare the honour of calling at the Bedford, sir, if you'll permit me," said 
the major.— DicxsMs. 

To call to account — to censure ; to demand an explanation from. P. 

She can't call Ensign Bloomington to account ; can she, beyf- Maria Edqbworth. 

Called to one's account — removed by death. 

At call. This phrase is used with regard to money which is deposited 
and can be drawn at any time without previous notice given. P. 

To call down — to invoke ; to pray to Heaven for. 

To call for — (o) to need or demand. P. 
I do not think this letter calls for an answer. 

(6) The phrase is used where a visit is paid with a special purpose. 

C. For instance, a parcel is often labelled, **To be left till called 
for." 

To caU forth — to bring out ; to cause to appear ; to elicit. P. 

The article called forth a host of rejoinders. 

She was conscious that few women can be certain of calling forth this admiration. 

— BUANT. 

To caU names — to speak disrespectfully to or of a person. C. 

When he called his mother names because she wouldn't give up the young lady's 
property, and she relenting caused him to relent likewise and fall down on one knee 
and ask bor blessing, how the ladles In the audience sobbed.— Dickens. 

To call on or upon — (a) to invoke the aid of. P. 

What signifies calling every moment upon the devil, and courting his friendship 7— 

OOLDSMITir. 

(6) to pay a visit to. P. 



To call out — to challenge to fight a duel. P. 

My friend, Jack Willes, sent me down a cook from the Mansion House for Uie 
English cookery — the turtle and venison department: I had a chief cook, who callwl 
out the Englishman, by the way.— Thackeray. 

My master was a man very apt to give a short answer himself, and likely to call a 
man out for It afterwards.— Maria Edobwortu. 

To call a person to order — (of the chairman of a meeting) to declare that 
the person has broken the rules of debate, or is behaving in an un- 
seemly manner. P. 

He had lost his temper in the House that evening ; he had been called to order by 
Mr. Speaker.— Wm. Black. 



Oamel [51 ] Oannot 

To call over — to recite a list of names. P. 

We were now prerented from further conversation hj the arrlTal of the Jailer's 
servants, who came to call over the prisoners' names.— Ouldsmitu. 

To call over the coals — to find fault with. F. 

He affronted roe once at the last election by calling a freeholder of mine orer the 
coals.— M ARM Kdobwoiitii. 

7V> call in question — to tlirow doubt upon ; to challenge the truth of. P. 

If the moral qnalitj of his hero could not In safety be called In question (donbtedX 
anj suggestion of weakness in him as a writer was still more unendurable.— Jamis 
Path. 

7V> call up — to revive the memory of ; to bring to remembrance. P. 

OameL — To break Uic cameVs hack — to l)e the last thing which causes a 
catastrophe. P. Tlie proverb runs : " It is the laM straw that breaks 
the camel's back." 

I do not know exactly what it was that BiTer did at last ; It was sometlilng which 
not only broke the camel's back (was sufficient to cause a catastrophe— his dismlsaal), 
but made the cup run over.— Behant. 

" You find poor Jenny full of cares," he says, alluding to his wife. " She had about 
as much as she could manage before, poor girl, but this last feather has almost broken 
the camel's back."— Florbncb Makryat. 

Camp. — To camp out — to live in a tent in the open country. P. 

Oandle. — To hold or sliow a candle to any one — to be in any way compar> 
able with him. C. 

As for otlier fellows— fellows of my own standing— there Isn't one to show a eaadle 
to me.— Brsant. 

" And to think," he went on, without heeding my remark, " that she has spent the 
whole of her life in a country parsonage I So much for rural simplicity. Why, there 
Isn't one of these Belgravian women who could hold a candle to her for ooolness." — 

W. E. NORRIS. 

I say she's the best, the kindest, the gentlest, the sweetest girl In England, and 
that, bankrupt or no, my sisters are not fit to hold candles to her.— Track kr ay. 

In such literature servants could mix wiUi grand ladies, to whom Miss Prior, with 
her crony the governess, could not hold the candle (were quite lnferior)L — Sarah 
Tytlbr. 

To hold Uie camlle — to act as assistant ; to aid and abet C. 
I'll be candle- holder, and look on.— SHAKBsrRARB. 

To burn tlie candle at both emls. See Burn. 

To hold a candle to Uie devil— to diverge from what is strictly right or 
moral ; to do knowingly what is wrong. C. 

Here I have been holding a candle to the devil, to show him the way to mischief.— 
8n»rr. 

liady BaMott's wrist wont around his nock In a momont. "Oh, Charles daar, for 
my lalie hold a little, little candle to the devil."— Rkadb. 

Oannot. — / cannot axcay \ciUi this—\ detest it ; I abominate it. C. 

Couriers and Udles' maids, Imperials and travelling carriages, are an abomlnatloa 
to me ; I cannot away with them.— Hugh bs. 




Oanvaa [ 52 ] Capital 

Oanvas. — To get or receive the canvas. An obsolete phrase signifying 
the saine as the modern to get the sack, 

I loM my honour if the Don receives the canvas.— SiiiiiLKir. 

Cap. — The cap and hells. These were carried by fools in the middle 
ages, as tokens of their office. The ** fools" were licensed jesters. 
(See King Lear.) 

And, look yon, one It bound to speak the truth as far as one knows It, whether one 
mounts a cap and belU or a shovel-hat (is a fool or a bisbopX— Thackeray. 

To cap the globe — to surpass everything. F. 

'* Well," I exclaimed, usinff an expression of the district, " that caps the globe, 
however." — C. Bkontb. 

I/the cap /Us, wear it — if the remark applies to you, consider it well. C. 

The truth is, when a searching sermon is preached, each sinner takes it to himself. 
I am glad Mr. Hawes fitted the cap on.- Rkadb. 

Cap in ftand — in the submissive attitude of one who has a favour to 
ask. C. 

And Tulllver, with his rough tongue filled by a sense of obligation, would make a 
better servant Uian any cliance fellow who was cap in hand for a situation.— Okokui 
Kliot. 

To set one*s cap at — (of a woman) to try to captivate; to try to obtain as 
a husband. P. 

*' You won't like everything 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 you."— Thackeray. 

The girls set their caps at him, but he did not marry.— Reads. 

To cap verses — to compose or recite a verse beginning with the final 
letter of a verse given by the previous speaker. P. A favourite 
pastime. 

They had amused Uiemselves during their dally constitutionals by capping Greek 
and Latin verses.— AfacmtKan's Magaxine, 1886. 

To cap (he climax — to go beyond already large limits; to say or do some- 
thing extraordinary. C. 

Lively George, as his neighbours call him (and very appropriately too, in spite of 
his threescore and ten y^arsX who comes once in a while to do odd jobs about Uie 
garden, is fond of talking in a grandiloquent manner. He speaks of clearing away 
tlie "debray," and of people who haven't much "sentimentology" about them, etc 
But he capped the climax Uie other rooming when he greeted the gentleman of the 
house, who had Just made his appearance on the porch after several days' confine- 
ment to his room by illness, with, *' Ah, sir, good-mornin', dr. Glad to W yon arc 
non compoM mentU once more, sir."— St. Andrewg C'tfism, 18'i8. 

Capital. — To male capital out of anything — to use anything for one's 
own profit. C. 

I suppose Russia was not bound to wait till they were in a position to make capital 
out of her agsin (use her for their own advancement agalnX— M. Arnold. 



Captain [ 53 ] Carpet 

Oaptain. — To come Captain Stiff" over a person— to bo arrogant in l>e- 
haviour towards him. S. 

I shouldn't quito como CapUln SUIT over him, but I should trMi him with a kind 
of air, too, M if— hem I how delightful ~S. Warrsn. 

Caput. — Caput tnortuum — a worthless residue. V. Latin. 

Card.— Oh the mrrfa— probable ; expected to happen ; spoken about, or 
announced. C. 

What if Mr. Slope should become dean of Barchestor? To be sure, there was no 
adequate ground— indeed, no ground at all— for presuming that such a desecration 
could even be contemplated; but neTerthelest it was on the cards (probableX— A. 
Trollopr. 

Of courM the success of the mine Is always on tlie cards.— Mrh. E. Lynn Lintun. 

A yrtai card — a popular or prominent man ; a man much talkeil about 
and admired. F. 

Captain D'OrviUe, the great card of the regiment, came clanking into the porter's 
lodge to got a glass of water for the dame.— G. J. Wuvti*Mklvili.b. 

To fi]}cak by the cant — to be careful witli one's words. C. Probably a 
sea phrase, card here being the mariner's comjiass, which gives tlio 
ship's direction exactly. 

Uow absolute the knave is I We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo 

us. — Sll A K BSrE A R R. 

Kip.— Uow peremptory tlie fellow is I Wo must be careful with our words, lest 
they be used to ruin us. 

S|ieaking only by the card, and of that which I saw with my own eyes, I don't 
tliink that Maum Duckey was any crueller than other slavc-ownen of her class.— 
O. A. 8a LA. 

To throw up one's cants— to cease to struggle ; to despair of success in' 

any enterpruie ; to confess oneself vancpiished. F. 

He perceived at once Uiat his former employer was right, and that it only remained 
for him to throw up his cards.— W. K. NoRRia 

Oare. — Care killed a rat. This proverb refers to the depressing enccts 

of care upon the bo<liIy health ; it even killed a cat, which has ittiie 

lives. See Cat. 

"Come, come,** said Silver, "stop this talk. . ..Care kille<i a cat Fetch ahead for 
tlie doubloons."— U. L. SriVENnoN. 

Carpet.— 0»4 the car;>c/— under discussion. P. On the tapis is an 

equivalent phrase. 

The talk was all of him : of his magnificence, his meanness, his manners, his prin- 
ciples, his daufrhter and her future marriage— already on the car|>ct of discussion 
and surmise.— Mka. R. Lyrn Linton. 

To rome or tte hromjht on the rarpet — to be introiluccd. C. Carpet was 
formerly usc<l for t^iblc-clotli. 

There were few better sprrji (speculations) among us than inns and churches, until 
the railroads came on the carpet (were introduced). — Ha i.inirRT n. 

fie shifted the discourse in his turn and (with a more placid air) contrived to bring 
another subject upon the carpet— O raves. 




Oarriasre [ 54 ] Carry 

A carpet-bagger — a Yankee speculator who, after the great United States 

Civil War, went to the South to make money out of the impoveriahed 

country. C. 

At election Umee he wm the terror of Bepnblican stamp-onton and carpet- 
baggen. —Btodnaood'j Magaxint, 1887. 

A carpet-knight — a gentleman who receives the honour of knighthood 

from his sovereign, not for services on the battle-field, but for services 

at court or as a peaceful citizen. P. 

B7 heaven, I change 
My thought, and hold thy valonr light, 
Ai Uiat of lome vain carpet-knight, 
Who lU deaenred mj courteooi care, 
And whoM best boast is but to wear 
A braid of bis fair lady's hair.— Scon. 

Carriage. — A carriage-and-/our — a carriage drawn by four horses. P. 

" A carriage-and-four, papa ; pray come and look.** 

'* Four horses I ** exclaimod Mrs. Armytage, in the excitement of the moment for* 
getting her own canons of etiquette, and rising from her chair to obtain a bettor view 
of the approaching vehicle.— James Payn. 

Carriage company — people who are wealthy enough to keep private car- 
riages. C. 

There is no phrase more elegant and to my taste tlian that in which people are 
described as "seeing a great deal of carriage company."— Thackicray. 

Garry. — To carry all h^ore one — to bo completely successful or popu- 
Ur. C. 
Adelina Patti carries all before her (is popular with every one) wherever she goes. 

To carry the day — to win a victory ; to prove superior. P. 

When such discussions arise, money generally carries the day— and should do so.— 
A. Trollops. 

To carry anything too far — to exceed the proper bounds in anything. C. 

Of course yon may carry the thing too far, as (in Uie well-known story) when Mr. 
A. was twitted by Mr. B. with having sent a man to sleep In his (Mr. B.'s) church. — 
Camhm Magazine, 1888. 

To carry off— {a) to help to pass ; to aid ; to supplement or supply what 

is lacking. P. 

She was one who required none of the circumstances of studied dreu to carry off 
aught (supply anything deficient) in her own appearance.— A. Trollops. 

(6) to cause the death of. P. 

The change of air carried him off.— Tsmplb. 

To carry it off— to refuse to succumb ; to pretend indifference. C. The 
phrase is used when a person is placed in an awkward or humiliating 
I)osition, and tries to hide his feelings of shame or confusion. 

Frightened too— I could see Uist— but carrying it off, sir, really like Satan.— R. L. 
SravENSiiN. 

He \% here, good sir, waiting your pleasure— here in London— walking the streets 
at noonday, carrying it off Jauntily.— DicKSNa 



Cart [ 6^ ] ^^^^ 

To carry on — (a) to conduct ; to manage. P. 

The internal government of England conld be carried on only bj the advice and 
agency of English miniitert.— Macaulay. 

(6) to behave in a particular fashion, so as to call attention to one^s 

conduct ; to misbehave. F. 

It WM Mn. Emptage; and how she carried on, with tears and congratnlatlons.— 
Bkxant. 

lie is further said to have carried on with Satanic wildness in Limehonse and the 
West India Dock Road of an evening. —Bksant. 

When he's got no money he is tempted to do wicked things, and carries on sham*' 
ful (conducts himself in a shameful mannerX— Brsant. 

To cany oxU — to bring to completion ; to give practical effect to. P. 

To carry out the aims he had in view, he tolerated and made use of persons whose 
characters he despised. — Wtniininxltr Revievy, 1888. ' 

Hero he lived too, in skipiiorliko state, all alone with his nephew Walter, a boy of 
fourteen, who looked quite enough like a midshipman to carry oat the prevailing 
idea — DicKBivs. 

To carry one*8 point — to succeed in one*s aim. P. 

They were bent upon placing their friend Littleton in the Speaker's chair ; and they 
had carried their point triumphantly.— Maoaulay. 

To carry through — to bring to completion. P. 

The whole country is Ailed with such failures— swaggering beginnings that could 
not be carried through.— Tuack bray. 

Carried atoay by one*n feelings— under the guidance of emotion and not 
of reason ; overcome by emotion. P. 
Having an honest and sincere mind, he was not carried away by a popular preja* 

dice. — T f LLOTHQK. 

Cart. — To pnt the cart before the horse — to put the wrong thing first. F. 

To begin physics at this stage Is to put the cart before the horse (begin with a 
subject that should come afterwardsX Study geometry first 

0art6. — Carte blanche — full freedom ; perfect liberty to act in anytlufig 
as one pleases. P. French. 

There is carte hlanehi to the school-house fags to go where they like.— II uo Htm. 

So he sent off Amelia once more in a carriage to her mamma with strict orders and 
earie hlanehe to purchase everything requisite for a lady of Mrs. George Osborne's 
fashion who was going on a foreign tour.— Tiiacrbrav. 

Oast. — To cast about — (o) to devise or plan. C. 

He cast about all that day, and kept his brain working on the Ofoe anxioos snbject 
through all the round of schemes and business that came with it— Dicrsicm. 

(b) to look around one ; to search mentally or actually. P. 

Here he cast about for a comfortable seat— R. L. SrRVBNnoN. 
And now in his banishment he began casting about for similar meant of ingratiat- 
ing himself with the upper ten.— IMiii^«r|^ Retine^ 2887. 

CojU cfefni— dejected ; in low spirits. P. 

For my part I was horribly cast down.- R. L. STRVRNtow. 




Caste [ ^ ] O^^ 

* 
To coat out — to quarrel. F. 

The goddeiiM cMt out (quArroUed) OTor tho poaieMion of the golden apple. 

To coat up — (o) to reproach or upbraid. F. Scotch. 

For what boiwoon yon twa hoi over boon, 
Nanc to tlio other will caat up, 1 woon.— Uuhh. 
Exp. — For no one, I think, will reproach the other for past tranaoctiontf. 

(b) to add arithmetically ; to compute. P. 



William gave him a ilate and a slate-pencil, and taught litm how to mnko figures 
and to cast up lumt.— Maria Kdoswohtu. 

— (c) to turn up ; to appear unexpectedly. P. 



Nor, though laat not least, must we omit to mention the iliU of Bubbleton, who 
have one and all cast up from '* the Spout," as that salubrious town is sometimes 
denominated. — O. J. Wuytk-Mklvillb. 

A coating vote — a vote which decides when the voting is otherwise equal. 
P. Tho chairman of a meeting often exorcises this iK>wcr. 

Oaste. — To lost ccufte — to cease to enjoy the consideration of one's asso- 
ciates ; to be tlirown out of the society of one's equals. C. 

You maj do anything you please without losing caste.— Dickens. 

Castles. — Castles in the air — visionary schemes. P. 

These were but like castles in the air, and in men's fancies vainlj Imagined. — Sib 
W. Ralkqu. 

The two families lived in neighbouring squares in London, and spent several weeks 
of every year together at Thoresly, the Neales' old, rambling manor-house in York- 
shire, about which Elsie had heard and built castles in the air (woven fancies) in her 
childhood.— Anmis IIkary. 

He returned to his lodgings with his head full of castles in the air.— W. E. Norbib. 

Castles in Spain — possessions that have no real existence ; also generally 
of wliat is visionary and unsubstantial. P. From tho French chdtcaux 
en Espatpie. 

Dick is going to Cork to-day to Join his regiment (happy, happy Cork I) ; but he is 
going to write to me, and I am to write to him. Is not this brick and mortar enough 
to build quite a big Siianish castle with T— Ruoda Brououton. 

Casus. — Castis 6e^t— ground of quarrel. P. Latin. 

Cat. — A cat has nine lives — a proverb expressing the prevailing belief 
that it is very difficult to kill a cat. See Cake. 

He struggled hard, and had, as they say, as many lives as a cat— Bumyan. 

To let the cai out of the bag — to disclose a secret. F. 

Letting the cat of selfishness out of the bag of secrecy.— Thackrrat. 

Sunning, to be sure, very nearly let the cat out of tlie bag one afternoon. — W. E. 

NORRIS. 



Oat [ 57 ] Oat 

The ecu %8 out of the bag — tho secret is known ; the mystery is ex- 
plained. F. 

The eat's out of the bag now ; it's no wonder thej don't go ahead, for they know 
nothln'. — Ualiburton. 

iSxp.— The secret Is now discovered ; it is no wonder they do not go ahead, for they 
know nothing. 

I perceived that the cat was ont of the bag.— W. E. Norris. 

A cat-aiid-dotf life — a life of potty quaiTols and bickerings. C. 

Tliey smiled and were gracious, called each other Butterwell and Crosbie, and 
abstained from all cat-and-dog absurdities (absurd petty quarrels).— A. TnoLLors. 
I am sure we (England and Ireland) have lived a cat-and-dog life of it.— S. T. 

COLBRIDOX. 

To rain cats atid dogs — to rain heavily. C. 

" Hnt it'll |)orha|)s rain cats and dogs (it will perhaps rain very heavily) to-morrow, 
as it did yestcrtlay, and you can go," said Godfrey.— Oborcib Eliot. 

To make a cat*H paw of— to use as a mere tooL P. The phrase is taken 
from the fable of the cat and the monkey. The latter wishcil to reach 
some chestnuts that were rotisting on tho fire, and used the paw of his 
friend the cat to get at them. 

She's made a cat's paw of you ; that's plain enough. — Florsnos Marrtat. 

To nee how the catjumj^ — to sec exactly how and why a thing happens. F. 

I see how the cat Jumps (the real state of affairs) : minister knows so many languages 
he hain't (has not) been particular enough to keep 'em (them) in separate parcels.— 
Halidurton. 

To grin like a Cheshire cat — to be always smiling, displaying the goms 
and teeth. F. 

He lay back in his chair, tapped his boot with his cane, and with a grin on his face 
such as a Cheshire cat might wear who feels a mouse well under her claw. — Jamu 
Pavh. 

I made a pun the other day, and palmed it upon Ilolcroft, who grinned like a 
Cheshire cat. (Why do cats grin in Cheshire T Because it was once a county pala- 
tine : the cats cannot help laughing whenever they think of it— though I see no great 
Joke in it >— Lamb. 

To ftjht like Kilkenny cats — to figlit with deadly desperation. C. The 
Kilkenny cats arc said to liave fought until only their tails remained. 

They flght among each other like the famous Kilkenny cats, with the happy result 
that tlie population never outgrows the power of the country to support it— U. R. 
Haooard. 

To shoot the cax — to vomit. S. 

7V> fnrn a cat-in-jHin — to execute a somersault; to veer round Bud- 

dcidy. F. 

When George in pudding-time came o'er. 

And moderate men looked big, sir, 
I turned a cat-in-pan once more. 

And so became a Whig, sir.— T^s Fiear q^Broy. 



Catch [ <^8 ] Cause 

A ctU'0*-niHe-tail8 — an instrument of punishment, so called from the nine 
pieces of leather or cord which compose it. P. 

Oangi irmmping along, with bayonota behind Uieui, and corporaU with canos anil 
cata-o'-nlno-talla to flog them to barracki.— Tuackkray. 

Oatch. — To catch at anything — to try eagerly to seize ; to welcome. P. 
Drowning men will catch at strawi.— W. E. Norru. 

To ccUch it — to be punished ; to sufifer unpleasant consequences ; to be 
treated roughly. F. 

** Ecod, my lady 1 ** said Jonas, looking after her, and biting a piece of straw almost 
to powder; you'll catch it for this, when yon are married.'*— Dioksmb. 
"Poor Sir Bate i catching it again," he says, smiling.— Florkmox Marry at. 

To catch another's eye — to attract his attention. P. The intending 
speaker who first catches the chairman's eye at a meeting receives per- 
mission to speak. 

A florid-faced gentleman, with a nice head of hair, from the south of Ireland, had 
succeeded in catching the Speaker's eye by the time that Mr. Warding had got into 
the gallery.— A. Trollopb. 

^a(e.— The Speaker is the chairman of the House of Commona 

To catch napping — to gain an advantage tlirough the temporary careless- 
' ness of another. C. 

Oldflold looked confused ; but Somerset, full of mother-wit, was not to bo caught 
napping (taken at a disadrantageX— O. Ubadb. 

To ccUch up — (o) to overtake. C. 

On he went, hour after hour, over the great deserted plain ; but he did not succeed 
in catching up the bishop.— H. R. Haqgard. 

It is not that the Mohammedan boy is duller than the Hindu boy ; but he does not 
begin (his studies) so soon, and he has not caught up (overtaken) his rival by the time 
earlier educational honours are distributed.— Calcutta Knffiistimanf 188C. 

(b) to interrupt a speaker with a critical remark ; to disagree with 

one who is speaking. C. 

As for thoughtfulness, and good temper, and singing like a bini, and never being 
cross and catching a person up, or getting into rages, as Melenda did, there was no- 
body in the world like Polly.— Bbbamt. 

To ccUch a crab. See Cbab. 

To catch a Tartar, See Tartar. 

Oause. — Cause ciUbrt—9k famous law case. P. A French phrase. 

We greatly fear matters will remain in their present disgraceful condition, and 
that the Campbell cauae ciUhre will have no result except to vitiate still more the 
already vitiated atmosphere of society.— SjMctator, 1886. 

To make common cause toith — to side with and support. P. 

Thus the most renpectable Protestants, with Elisabeth at their head, were foioed 
to make common cause (associate themselves) with the Papists.— Macaulat. 



Caution [ ^d ] Chapter 

Caation. — A caution — something to be avoided or dreaded. S. 

SotnetimM it doesn't rmin here for elfht months at a stretch, and the dost o^t of 
town is a caution (is draadf ulX 

Gave. — To care in — to succumb ; to give way. S. 

A poppy joins the chase with heart and soul (rtry eagerijX hot cares In (dedsts) at 
about flftj yards.— H. Kimgslcy. 

Caveat. — Caveat emjitor — let the purchaser beware of what he is buying. 
P. Latin. 

Caviare. — Caviare to the general — not pleasing to ordinary people. P. 

Caviare is a substance prized by epicures, and made from the roes of 

sturgeons and other fish caught in the rivers of Russia. 

For the play. I remember, pleased not the million ; 'twas cariare to the fcaeraL— 
SnAKKnrsARie. 

Chaff. — To catch ivith rhajf—io deceive easily. C 

With which chaff onr noble binl was by no means to be caufht— TuACKaaAT. 
Joseph was insensible to oar bribes ; F^^erick the Great was too old a bird to be 
caof ht with thMJK.—Atkenanm^ 1887. 

Chair. — To take the chair — to assume the position of president at a 

meeting. P. 

The committee of the Commons appointed Mr. rym to take the chair (to be presi- 
dent of the meeting).— Clarsn DON. 

Chalk. — By a long chalk , or by long chalks — clearly ; indisputably ; by a 
great intcr\'al. F. 

Here, Polly I Polly I Polly ! take this man down to the kitchen, and teach him 
manners if you can ; he is not fit for my drawing-room, by a long chalk.— Rbadb. 
They whipped and they spurred and they after her pressed. 
But Sir Alured's steed was by long chalks the best.— Bamham. 

Challenge. — To challenge the array — to protest against the whole body 
of jurymen selected. . P. A legal phrase. 

Chancery. — To get iiito chancery — to be completely at the mercy of 

another in a boxing match. When a combatant's head is tucked 

under the arm of his opponent, and receives a succession of blows, the 

poor fellow is said to be in chancery. S. 

The Chicken himself attributed Uiis punishment to his harinf had the misfortone 
to get into chancery early in the proceedings.— DicKana. 

Change. — To ring the chcuujes. See Ring. 

To jmt the change ufton a jierson — to deceive him. C. 

You cannot put the change on me so easy as you think, for I hare lired among the 
quick-stirring spirits of the age too long to swallow chaff for grain. — Scott. 

Chapter.— 7*0 the end of the chaj)ter — to the very end; unintcrrap- 
teilly. P. 

Money does all things ; for it gires and it takes away. It makes honest men and 
knares, foob and plillosophers, and so on, mulati$ mtitandii (the necessary changes 
being allowed for) to the end of the chapter (to the Tery endX— L'KaTma.'voB. 




Oharaoter [ 60 ] Cheese 

The chapter of accidents — chance ; what happens without the possibility 
of being foreseen and prepared for. P. 

Away runa Jack, •lioating and truailng to the chapter of aodtlenta.— IIuaiiicM. 

NaTertbelaaa aha knew that the one neceasary lonon of evil which wialiea to auc- 
oeed ia, Oo on boldly to the end, and trust to the chapter of aocidonti not to bo die- 
covered midway.— Mua. E. Lynn Linton. 

To give chapter and verse for anything — to give exact particulars of its 
source. F. 

To clench the matter by chapter and yerae, I should like to recall what I have laid 
of these theories and principlea in their most perfect and moat important literary 
version.— John Mohlby, in Nineiunth Century, 188S. 

Character. — In character — appropriate ; suitable. P. 
Read it ; ia it not quite in character (appropriate)?— Dibbakli. 

Out of character — unsuitable; inappropriate. P. 

Charge. — To give in charge — to hand over to the police. P. 

The burglar was caught and given in charge (handed over to a policeman). 

Ohftteanx. — Chdteatix en Espagne — something having no real existence. 
P. French. See Castles in Spain. 

Mere chdUaux en Espagne^ the creation of architectural fancy run mud.— Gturdi 
Quarterly RewUw, 1S88. 

Ohaw. — A cfiaw'bacon — a countryman ; a boor. F. 

The general, aeixing the bucket from the astonished chaw-bacon, who stood aghaat 
as if he thought hia master was mad, managed to spill the greater part of the contents 
over his own person and gaitera.— O. J. Wbytb-Mblvxllb. 

Cheap. — To be cheap of anything — to have received no more than one's 
deserts in the way of affronts or punishment. F. 

The thief got ten days' imprisonment, and tlie rogue was cheap of it (deaervod all 
he gotX 

To feel cheap — to be affronted or ashamed. F. 

When I found that I really was not invited, you may be sure I felt cheap (was 
ashamed of my positionX 

Cheek. — Cheek by jowl — in close proximity. F. 

Here they lay, cheek by Jowl with life.— Dick knb. 

Here was a doctor who never had a patient, cheek by Jowl with an attorney who 
never had a client— Tiiackkuay. 

Cheese. — To get the cheese — to receive a check or a disapfjointment. F. 
Tlie phrase is said to have its origin in the history of Beau Brumroel, 
the friend of George IV. Presuming on his acquaintance with the 
Prince Regent, Bnimmel used to take the liberty of arriving late at 
formal dinners, and always expected that the party would await his 
arrival. On one occasion he arrived in this fashion at the Marquis of 
Lansdowne's, but found that the company were already far advanced 



Obef [ 61 ] Chiltern 

with dinner. The host, turning to Bnimmel, asked him if he would 
have some choeao (a late course). The crestfallen look of the Beau it 
said to have given rise to the expression, " Ho got the cheese." 

Tht cheese — what is excellent or first-rate. S. 

Ain*i I the cheese, oh I ain't I the cheese, 
As I walk in the park with m j prettj Louise ^—London Song. 
Exp.— Am I not a fine follow, etc. T 

OheL—Ch^-d'cRuvre — a masterpiece; the best work of tlie kind. P. 

French. 

The dishes were nncorcred. Tliere were vegetables cooked moet delicionslj ; the 
meat was a cfw/'d'aiuvre—ti sort of rich ragout done to a turn, and io fragrant that 
the rtrj odour made the mouth water.— C. RsAnR. 

Cherry. — To mal-e ttvo biles of a cJierry — to divide what is so small as 
scarcely to bo worth dividing. C 

Let us toss up for the seat ; there is no use making two bites of a cherrj (the seat is 
too small to accommodate both comfortablj). 

Ohew. — To chew the rcuj — to be sullen and abusive. S. A phrase com- 
mon in the army. See Notes and Queries, 7th series, v. 460, vi. 38. 
He was chewing the rag at me the whole afternoon. 

7*0 chew the cud — to ruminate on some memory. C. 

I went dinnerless, unless the cud of sour and bitter thoughts which I cliewed might 
|uus for the festire meal that forms the nucleus of day's dearest interests in moet 
|iooplo's lives.— RiioDA llnouniiiMN. 

It is possible she was only ])retcnding to sleep. In order to chew the cud (enjoj the 
memory) of some sweet thought at greater leisure. — Jamu Patm. 

Chicken. — No chicken — not youthful. C. 

But John Nlel was no chicken, nor very likely to fall In love with the first pretty 
face he met.— II. R. IIaooard. 

Count not your chickens tUl they are hatched — be sure that a thing is 
actually in your possess on before you speak of it as yours, or act as if 
it were yours. C 

But aren't we counting our chickens, Tag, before they're hatched T If Titmouse is 
all of a sudden become such a catch, he'll be snapped up In a minute. ~S. WAaaBw. 

Child. — From a cJiild — from infancy. P. 

From a diild (since his infancy) he has been delicate. 

ChiUVs j^ay — something very easy ; work demanding no effort. P. 
It's child's play to find the stuff now.— R, L. STCVBNnoK. 

Chiltern. — To apply for the ChUtem Ifnndretls — to resign a scat in 
Parliament. The hundrc<ts (or districts) of Ro<lcnham, ])cs1x>rough, 
ami Stoke, in Ihickinghamshirc, known as the Chiltern Hundreds, have 
attached to them a stewardship, with the duty of keeping down the 
rftblwi-s who infested the wooils of the Chiltern Hills. This oflice is 
now a merely nominal one, but it is put to a strange use. When a 



Ohime [ 62 ] Ohroniole 

Member of Parliament wiahes to resign his seat — an impossible thing 
by law, unless he can disqualify himself — he applies for this steward- 
ship, an office under the Ci'own, the assumption of which requires re- 
signation of a seat in the House of Commons. This practice dates 
from the year 1750. 

Thit letter was despatched on the 19th of January ; on the 21st he applied for the 
Chiltem Hundreds.— Trkvelyan, in Lt/d of Lord Maeaulay. 

Two dajs before he (Lord Shaftesbury) applied for the Chiltem Hundreds, he re- 
Introduced the Ten Hours Bill Into Parliament— <^r(«r<y Review^ 1887. 

Chime. — To chime in xmth — to harmonize with. C. 

As this chimed in with Mr. Dombe]r*s own hope and belief, it gave that gentleman 
a still higher opinion of Mrs. Pipchin's understanding.— Dies bms. 

Perhaps the severest strain upon Mr. Lincoln was in resisting a tendency of his 
own supporters which chimed in with his own private desires.— J. R. Lowsll. 

Chip. — A chip of the old block — a child possessing the characteristics of 
its father. C. 

" He will prove a chip of the old block (a model of his father), I'll warrant,** he 
added, with a sidelong look at Margaret.— Jambs Payn. 

ChiseL — Full chisel — in haste. American slang. 

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

To chine! — to cheat or defraud. S. 

Why is a carpenter like a swindler T Because he chisels a deal (cheats muchX 
Note. — A pun is here made on the word ddtd and on the word dUal (woodX 

Choke. — To choke off— to get rid of in a summary way. C. 

Indeed, the business of a war-nurse especially is so repulsive that most volunteers 
were choked off at once.— ComfttU Magazine, 1888. 

Chop. — First chop — in the first rank ; first-class. F. 

You must be first chop (in the front rank) in heaven.— Ceorob Eliot. 
He looks like a Urst-chop article.— Haliburton. 

To chop logic — to argue in a pedantic fashion. P. 

A Dum must not presume to use his reason, unless he has studied the categories, 
and can chop logic (argue like a schoolman) by mode and figure.— Smollbtt. 
He was angry at finding himself chopping logic about this young lady.— U. Jambs. 

To chop upon — to meet suddenly. C. 

I know not what my condition would have been if I had diopiKxl uiion (dianood to 
meet) them.— Dbfob. 

To chop yams — to tell stories. S. 

I>escribed as a carpenter, but a poor workman, Clara Martha, and fond of chop- 
ping yams, in which he was equalled by none.— Bkmant. 

Chronicle. — To chronicle small beer — to register or notify insignificant 

events. C. 

She was a wight, if ever such wight were. 

To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.— Shabbspbarb. 



Ohuok [ 63 ] Olean 

All the newi of iport, aisixe, and qix«iier-te«Ions wu detailed bj thia worthy 
chronicler of small beer.— Trackbray. 

Ohnck. — To chuck up — (a) to abandon ; to discontinue ; to surrender. S. 

Ain't yon keeping companj with poor old Mr*. Laninias't daughter T onlen per> 
haps joa mean to chuck the girl up now because jou have been asked for once to 
meet women of rank— Jumtin M'Carthy. 

{b) to give in or surrender. Sometimes corrupted in to jack up, 

S. Probably the word sjxwye is understood. See Sponge. 

At the third round Joe the Nailor chucked up (declared himself beatenX 

Ohuin. — To chum up with — to make friendly advances to. S. 

Kennj tried to chum up (get on friendlj terms) with the new comer, but was 
only partially suooessfuL 

Oircumstance.— Ctrct(ni«^a7i(;M alUr caM9—\i is necessary to modify 
one's conduct by the particular circumstances or conditions of each 
case. P. 

London between August and April is looked upon as a nightmare. But circum- 
stances alter cases ; and I see that it will be the best and most convenient place for 
you.— Mna. HsNav Wuod. 

*' Suppose you had been sentenced to five hundred blows of a stick, sirrah ''—'twas 
thus he put the case to me logically enough—" would you have eipected me to pay 
for thee In carcass, as now I am paying for thee in purse T" 

" Circumstances alter cases,'* interpoees Mr. Hodge in my behalf. " Here is luckily 
DO question of stripes at all."— G. A. Sala. 

Olaret. — One*^ claret Jmj — a slang term for the nose. To tap one's claret 
(jug) = to cause a uian's nose to bleed. 

He told Verdant that his claret had been repeatedly tapped.— Kerdanf Orten, ch. iL 

Clay. — The feet of clay — the baser portion ; the lower and degrading 
part. P. See Dan. ii. 33 : "This imagers head was of fine gold, his 
breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs 
of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay." Chapter xxxii. of James 
Payn's novel The Talkn of the Town is headed '* The Feet of Clay," a 
heading explained by the second sentence : — 

Her Willio had become as dead to her ; all that was loft of him was the shameful 
record tliat Isy on the table before her. 

^ot«.— This means that the man whom she so admired had proved that he poe- 
sessed base qualities, 

CleaiL — To make a clean breast of anything — to make a complete confes- 
sion. C. 

Kor several days he had mailo up his mind (resolved) that when he should be ques- 
tioned npon the subject, he would earn the cre<lU of candour and grace of womanly 
gratitude by making a clean breast of it (confessing everything).- BLACKMoaa. 

To tJiow a clean pair of heeU — to run off. F. 

These maroons were runawsy slaves who had bid a sudden good-bye to bolts and 
shackles, whips and rods, and sliown their tyrants a clean pair of heels.— O. A. Sala. 



Oleax [ 64 ] Cloven 

To clean out — to ruin or render bankrupt ; to take away all available 
money from. F. 

"A hundred and forij poundi ?** repeated Mrs. Carruihert, in a terrified tone. 
" Yet, preciael J that tam ; and I have not a pound In the world to exist on In the 
meantime. I am cleaned out, and that's the fact." — E. Yatk». 

Clear. — To clear out — to go off entirely ; to go away. C. 

But mercj on me I ererybodj is clearing out. I shall let these women get ten 
minutes' start of me.— Florcncb Marryat. 

*' It would he a pitj, sir, If we had to clear out and run,'* said Maurice.— Mrs. E. 
Lynn Lintun. 

Climacteric. — The grand climacteric — the most critical period in a man's 

life (sixty -three years of age). P. Multiples of 7 or 9 were considered 

dangerous years in a man's life, 7, 9, 14, 18, 21, 27, 35, 36, 49, etc. : 

7x9 was therefore eminently bad. Recognized by Hippocrates. 

Our old friend was even now balancing on the brink of an eventful plunge (a pro- 
posal of marriage), which, if not made before " the grand climacteric,** it is genendly 
thought advisable to postpone *im die.— G. J. Wuytk-Mklvillb. 

Close. — To close with — to agree to. P. 

George thought he would close with an ofTor that had been made him, and swap 
(exchange) one hundred and flftj slioep for cows and bullocks. — C. Rbadk. 
This offer was at once closed witli by the delighted rustic— W. K. Noiinia. 

Cloth. — The cloth — clergymen ; the position of a clergyman. P. 

Denying himself this feat as unworthy of his cloth (position as a clergyman), he met 
a drunken seaman, one of the ship's crew from the Spanish Main. — Uawtuornk. 

And for the sake of the poor man himself too, and for his wife, and for his children, 
and for the sake of the cloth.— A. Trollops. 

Clothes. — In long clothes — still a young infant. P. 

Cloud. — To be in tite clouds — to dream of what is impracticable ; to build 
castles in the air. C. 

Since his return from Oxford, Arthur has been in the clouds (Indulged in visionary 
fanciesX 

Under a cloud — in disgrace. P. 

Though Caasar was not, for various reasons, to be pronounced a tyrant, Cicero 
advised that he should be buried privately, as if bis name was under a cloud.— 
Froudb. 

The greatest city of the world exercises a strong power of attraction over all man- 
ner of men under a c\ond.—Nitutunth Century, 2887. 

Every doud fias a silver lining — the darkest prospect has some redeeming 
brightness ; nothing is wholly dark. P. 
'* Oh, even the Lapham cloud has a silver lining,** said Ck>rey.— W. D. Howklls. 

Cloven. — The cloven foot — the mark of an evil or devilish nature. C. 

See Foot. 

Yet although the cloven foot would constantly peep out, and no one could believe 
either in his principles or his morals, in his way the baron was as much in favour 
with the fair sex as tlio honourable and hospitable Lord Skje.— Edinburgh JUvUw, 
July lS8f. 



Clover [ 65 ] Coat 

— ■ -, - . - 

Clover. — To Ui^ or lie in chrtr — to be happily nituatcd ; to be sur- 
rounded with every luxury. C. 

Now he hai got a handle to hU name, and he'll lire In cloTer all hit life.— A. 
Trollopk. 

To fjo front clottr to rye-f/roM — to excliange a good position for a l>ad. 
F. Said of second marriages. 

Coach. — To drire a coach-and-four or a coach-avd-nix tfiromjh— to break 
the provisions of ; to find a safe means of evading. P. 

You alwaji told me that it it caij to drive a ooacli-and-four through wilb and 
tettlemonts and legal things.— H. R. Ha(uiakd. 

You may talk vAgurly atiout driviug a coach-and-tix through a bad young Act 
o( rarliament. — Dickknb. 

A rofirh-nud-Atx—ti coach drawn l)y six horses, such as only very wealthy 
people fonncrly used. 1*. 

'*Thit/' said he, "it a young Udy who wai born to ride in htr coach-and-tix ** 
(enjoy great wealth).— H. Mackknzib. 

Coals. — To call^ hauit or hrintj over tlie coaln — to administer rebuke ; 
to find fault with. F. 

" Fine Ulking I Ane ain, truly, Mlas Patty I Thlt it by way of calling me over th^ 
coalt for liclng idle, I tuppote I " taid Sally.— Maui a Kihikwortii. 

To carry eoa/a to NewcaMU — to take a thing where it is already plenti- 
ful. C. 

** Sure, tir," antwered the barber, " you are too wito a man to carry a broken head 
thither (to the wan), for that would be carrying coalt to Newcattle" (taking a broken 
heail to whore there are plenty broken headt).— Fibloino. 

To heap conU of fire on one'** head — to return benefits where ill-treat- 
ment has been received, and thus to make an enemy ashamed of his 
conduct. P. 

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him 
water to drink : for thou thalt heap coalt of fire upon hit head (make him athamed of 
hit enmity), and the Liord shall reward thee.— Tror. xxv. f /, iff. 

Now their aged facet were covered with thame, and every kind word from their 
matter wat a coal of Are burning on their heada — A. Trolu>pr. 

Coast. — The coaM «> clear — there is no danger of interference. C. 

>Valt till the coatt it clear, then ttrike tent and away.— Rrai>k. 
Tie wat to wait there, without moving hand or foot, until it wat mtltfaetorily aaeer 
talned that the coatt wat clear.— Dicrbks. 

Coat. — To cut otie'K coai according to one'n cloth — to regulate one*s ex 
|)en8cs by one's income. C. 

ITnclo Sutton wat dltiileate<1. " I>ebt it dithonett," mid he. " Wo can all eiit on 
coat according to our cloth ** (limit our expentet to the tixe of our IncometX— Rradb 

To turn oiic'm coal — to change to tlie opposite party. C. 
This it not the flrtt time he hat turned hit coat (changed ddetX 

5 



Oook [ 66 ] Cooker 

To dxut a man*s coat for him — to give him a costigation. F. 

Father Panon's ooat well dusted ; or, thort and pithy animadvenlons on that 
fainouf fanlel of abuio and fabltlott entitled UieetUr** Commonioealth.—Adpertix' 
tfunt quoted by J. Disraeli. 

Oock. — AU cock-a-hoop for anything — very much excited and eager for 
it. F. 

"All cock-a-hoop for it," struck in Cattledon, "as the housemaids are."— Mrs. 
IIbnry Wood. 

Thai cock tocnHJigfU — that expedient will not do. S. 

I tried to see the arms on the carriage, but that oock wouldn't fight (this was of no 
availX— C. KiNOBLKV. 

Tfie Oailic cock — the cock is the national bird of France, as the bull is the 
national animal of England. 

Cock of the walk — chief in a small circle. S. 

Who shall be cock of the walk 1— Heading to <h, xvii. of Trollop^i ** BareheMter 
Towen.'* 

A cock-and-bull story — on absurd tale. P. 

Mrs. Uookham plainly declared that Esther's tale was neither more nor less than a 
trumpery cock-and-bull (worthless and foolish) story.— Blackmobk. 

I did hear some cock-and-bull story the other day about the horses not having run 
away at all. — Rboda Brouohton. 

To live like afiglUing cock — to live in luxury. S. 

A cock is always bold on its own dunghill — every one fights well when sur- 
rounded by friends and admirers. 

To beat cock-fighting — to surpass anything conceivable. S. 

The squire faltered out, *' Well, this beats cock-fighting ** (is something extraor- 
dinaryX — L ytton. 

He can only relieve his feelings by the execntion of an infinity of winks for his 
own benefit, and the frequent repetition of, " Well, this beats cock-fighting { "—0. J. 
Whytk-Mklvillr. 

" I'm blest if you don't beat cock-flghUng," said Cradell, lost in admiration at his 
friend's adroitness. — A. Trollopk. 

To knock into a cock or a cocked hat — to bruise out of shape ; to defeat 
completely. S. 

I never knew a Welsh girl yet who couldn't dance an Englishman into a cocked 
hat (who was not vastly superior to an Englishman in dancing).— Rka dr. 

Hold a meeting in Oanaan City, and promise the British lion that ho shall be 
whipped into a cocked hat unless you get your rights.— Bbsant. 

To cock or turn up one*s toes — to die. S. 

Cocker. — According to Cocker — in accordance with the present system of 
figures. F. Ck>cker*8 Arithmetic, first published in 1677-8, was for 
long the standard work on the subject, and passed through sixty 
editions. 

It's all right, aoconling to Cocker (by establisheil ruloiX 



Oookle [ 07 ] Oomb 

Half hour*, when counted after this faihlon, contain a Tastljr greator number of 
minutes than the thirtj of which thej conalii according to the reckoning of Crocker 
(Cocker TX—W. E. Nokkis. 

Cockle. — To warm the cochlea of one's heart — to givo a ploiuaiit inward 
feeling. F. 

To see yon all so happy and friendly warms the cockles of my heart (fires mt great 
inward satisfaction). 

The sight, after near two months' absence, rejoiced the rnj eocklee of Jtrry'i 
heart.— Graves. 

JIol coclies — a game in wliich one coveni ono*s eycn anil giieiwci who 
strikes him. Probably from the French hauten coqnUles (high shells). 

Cockpit. — The cockjyit of Kurojte — a name applied tr» lielgiuni liccauso of 
the number of great battles tliat have l^een fought on itii sr;il. C. 
Tlie cockpit is an enclosed area where game-cocks flglit, ami in thipt 
of war the room in which wonnds are dresse<l. 

Coin. — To pay a man hack in his oum coin — to serve him at he has served 
you. F. 

If yon leave hfna to be captured, it Is only paying bias l»adi In bis own tMn (UmI' 
fng bim as be treated yo«X 

To coin money — to make money very rapi<lly. F. 



WHh tbc Mw eontraeta be baa seewed, Jobneon Is colabig aoMf (mabbiff 
vcryqwiefclyX 

CoVL— Cold teiihoml — spirits in ooUl water without napkr, F, 

I lavgh at Ibml Faaea, rfr ! not wortb a gfaas «r e«M wMJwMrt^LvTT^yk', 

OollB. — Colin Tantpon — the nickname given to a Hwisa, F« 

Orilar. — AymnMt the rrJfnr—AifBcali ; cnMunnf^ faifgne, C, A phnm 
taken from a horve's iianieaB : when a hftrm gr^^i ophill the <y^W ymtln 
am kis neek^ 
TW Iset snle n^ i» the beftd atf tiw pmm wm a ^^4 dMi i^ilsH Ibn vMm U 



In €eOmr gssp^pyed. F, 

TW wmkmtm y^m w g mkw <4 is a«it bi niilisr <m* etf ew n ^t uji nai C i at 

. — Wkk tk^, €fJomr^ — sairi«r the fia^ ; serrxag^ m a r^^iiliar wAAmf K 






, — 7* h«p« « ^air^* &K#A^ — ^M. sa tti^ierly ^jrwwj Vv jMixy^ ^^m^ 
f 



■^H lit »i i tw [ ^m 1^ « «em ^ trSnc ttt«r ^^Oe* M >fwa»4ft %wi ' 
■ enaia mH «Ba a 'MC if 'am m sua ^njif «!■ jmvy^ j)ta0»\ -~<WMum %tMm. 




Oome [ ^ ] Oome 

To comb a mwfCi head — to give him % thrashing. F. 

Ill carrj yon with mo to mj coantry-boz, and keep jou out of barm'f waj, till I 
And joa a wife who will comb jour head for yon.— Lyttuk. 

Oome. — To come about — to result ; to happen. P. 

How oomei it about (happeni it) that, for about sixty yean, affain have been placed 
in the handi of new men T— Swift. 

To come at — to get ; to obtain. C. 

By the time Abraham returned, we had both agreed that money wa« never so hard 
to be come at at now.— Goldsmith. 

To come by — to obtain. P. 

How came the by that light T—Shaksspbark : Madteth. 

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 dueX— Wm. Black. 

To come doitm — to subscribe ; to give money to an object. C. 

Belcover would be certain to come down handsomely (give a handsome subscriptlonX 
of course.— Afacmt/Ian's Magatine, 1836. 

To my shame I confess it, my only design was to keep the license, and let the 
■quire know that I could prove it upon him whenever I thought proper, and so make 
him come down when I wanted money.— QoLDSMiTn. 

A come-down — a fall ; a lowering of a person^s dignity. C. 

" Now I'm your worship's washerwoman." The dignitary coloured, and said that 
this was rather a come-down.— Rkadb. 

To come in — to prove ; to show itself. C. Used with adjectives like 
handy or serviceable. 

A knowledge of Latin quotations comes in handy sometimes. 

To come off— {a) to happen ; to take place. P. 

A day or two afterwards he informed Allen that the thing he had in his mind was 
really coming off (going to take pUoe).— Buant. 

[b) to end by being ; to close a struggle as. P. 

It is time that fit honour should be paid also to him who shapes his life to a 
certain classic proportion, and comes off conqueror on Uioee inward fields where 
something more than mere talent is demanded for victory.— J. R. Luwbli.. 

To come over — to obtain great influence with ; to fascinate. F. 

Miss Gray has "come over him," as Lamb says, where that vulnerable region Is 
concerned.— Sabau Tytlbr. 

7*0 come over one — to act like to one. C. 

Also his ideas of discipline were of the sternest, and, in short, he came the royal 
naval officer over us (acted towards us as if he were an officer of the royal navy set in 
authority over us) pretty considerably, and paid us out amply for all the chaff we 
were wont to treat him to on land.— H. R. Haooard. 

To come out — (a) (of a young lady) to enter into society. P. 

You have lost your fairy godmother, look I Is it coming out (entrance into society) 
that has done it, or what?— A. Kbaby. 



Ck>me [ 69 ] Oome 

(6) to be discovered ; to become public. P. 

Nobodj can prore iliai I knew the girl to bo an heiresa ; thank goodneie, thai can't 
oome out— Bbsant. 

To come round (a person) — to cajole ; to deceive. C. 

His Mcond wife came ronnd (cajoled) the old man and got him to change hit will 

To come rouml (inhrDm. )— to recover from ah attack of sickness. C. 

She was on her l)ed ; she turned her head and »w blood on the pillow, and turned 
again and saw the face of Nellj. "You're come round at last, are jouT" said the 
woman.— & Barino-Oould. 

To come to oneself— to recover consciousness. P. 

She began to hear the voices and to feci the things that were being done to her 
before she was capable of opening her eyes, or indeed had come to herself (recovered 
oonsciottsnessX— MiiH. Olipiiant. 

To cotne to' — to recover (almost the same as to come to oneself). 1'. 

Then jou, dear papa, would have to put jour daughter on the sofa— for of course 
she would be in a dead faint— remove tJie pillow, and burn feathers under her nose 
till she comes to (recoversX— Jamks Payw. 

7V> come to r/rte/*— to be unsuccessful ; to utterly fail. P. 

The Tanania Canal scheme is likely to oome to grief (prove a failure) owing to want 
of funds. 

It (the inn) has no departed glories to bewail ; for thongh a king, as legend tells, 
did really take his royal rest there nigh a century ago, it was because his carriage 
came to grief (broke down) in that lonely spot, and not from choice, nor was the Inci- 
dent ever made a precedent by future monarchs.— Jamss Payw. 

To come and go upon — to rely upon. C. 

You have an excellent character to come and go ui>on (depend upon in making your 
way in the world). , 

To come to hand — to be received. P. A phrase much usctl in letter- 
writing. 

" Your letter came to hand yesterday morning. Dr. Tempest,** said Mr. Crawley.— 
A. Trollops. 

To come to liyht — to bo disclosed ; to become public. P. Generally usotl 
of some secret. 

The reader need not fear, however ; ho shall not bo troubled with any long account 
of Mr. Fraser's misfortune, for it never caroo to light or obtruded itself upon the 
world.— H. R. Haogard. 

To cotne U]H)n the ftarish — to become a pauiwr. P. 

To come to /jo/mt— to hap))cn. P. 

What Uion hast Sfioken is come to pass (has happened) ; and, behold, tliou seest it 



^Jer. xxrii. 54. 

More unlikely things had come to pan.— DicRRNa 

Thus it came to pass that at an early hour next morning he had found out all that 
he had anticipated hearing, and a little more Into the bargain.— W. E. Norrir 




Ooxnxne [ 70 ] Compare 

To come to the point — tQ speak plainly on the real question, without 
circumlocution. The opposite of heeding ahotU the bush. P. 

After a good manj apologies and ozplanatloM, he caiuo to the i)oInt (stated exactly 
what he had come for), and asked me for the loan of mj horse. 

To come it strong — to exaggerate ; to ask a person to ci*edit sometliing 
Impossible. S. 

What I Uttle Boeton ask that girl to marry him I Well, now, that's comin' of it a 
little too strong.— O. W. Holmrii. 

Oomme. — Comme U faut—oB it should be; pro|)er; well-dressed and 
good-mannered. P. French. 

To have been told that she was not oomm« U fatU is worse evidently a hundred 
times than if she had been told she was a thief.— Afurray'f MagaxiMf 1887. 

Oommission. — To ptU a ship in commission — to send a ship on active 
service. P. 

Oommit. — To commit for contempt — to send a person to prison because 
he is disobedient or disrespectful in a court of justice. P. 

And even over the august person of the Judge himself there hangs the fear of the 
only thing that he cannot oommit for contempt, public opinion.— U. R. Haouari). 

To commit to memory — to learn by heart. P. 

When young, he committed to memory Qcamed by heart) the whole of the Psalms 
and part of Proverbs. 

Common. — In common — held equally with others ; shared indiscrim- 
inately. P. 

Poor people, who have their goods in common, must necessarily become quarrel- 
some.— Maria KdOB WORTH. 

Curates and district visitors are probably very decent sort of people in their way, . 
but it doesn't necessarily follow that you would have anything in common with them. 
—Mumty'i Magaxine^ 1887. 

(hU of the common — unusual; strange. P. 

She was a simple-hearted woman, on whom whatever chanced to her ears out of the 
common (that was unusual) made a great impression.— J am as Payk. 

On short commons — scantily provided with food. C. 

Our men not being yet on short commons, none of 'em had stomach enough to try 
the experiment— G. A. Sala. 

Company.— 7*0 keep company. See Keep. 

Compare. — To compare notes — to exchange opinions or views on a sub- 
ject of interest. P. 

It is the hour between daylight and the dinner-bell, when the men have not yet 
returned from shooting and the women have not retired to dress — the best hour of 
all in a good old-fashioned country-house, when the guests have tired themselves 
with out-door amusements, and are ready to compare notes and exchange confidences 
in the mysterious gloaming.— Plorrvor Marry at. 



Compliment [ "^l ] Oool 

Compliment. — To return the compliment — to say or do something pleas- 
ant in return for a previous favour. P. 

Mr. Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Ilighbnry, and a UtcIj curloaitj to 
see him prevailed; though the compliment was so little returned (ho had so little 
desire to see Highbury) that he had nerer been there in his life.— Miss Aubtbm. 

Con. — Con amove — with good will ; heartily. P. Italian. 

What is distasteful rarelj sticks in the memory. What is done eon amort (will* 
inglj) is twice and trebly blest— Jourital of EdxuMtiony 1886. 

Conceit. — OiU of conceit — dissatisfied. P. 

Uartfleld will only put her out of conceit (make her dissatisfied) with all the other 
places she belongs to.— Qkorgr Eliot. 

Confusion. — Confusion worse co-founded — a still worse state of dis- 
order. P. 

With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout. 
Confusion worse confounded. — Miltom. 
This mishap has at the very outset— in the dealings of theologians with thai start- 
ing-point in our religion, the ex|>orience of Israel as set forth in the Old Testament- 
been the cause, we have seen, of great confusion. Naturally, as we shalf hereafter 
see, the confusion becomes worse confounded.— M. Arnold. 

Conscience. — Conscience-money — money paid anonymously by rate- 
payers who have cheated the revenue at some previous time. P. 

A child still young enough to be passed off as a child in arms by all, nave, perhaps, 
those tender-minded persons who send conscience-money to the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer.— HuQ II Conway. 

In aU conscience — assuredly. C. 

Plain and precise enough it is, in all conscience.— M. Arnold. 

Contact. — To come in contact icith — to meet; to have dealings with. P. 

Now it must be remembered that this was a man who had lived in a city that calls 
itself the metropolis, one who had been a member of tlie State and National Legis- 
latures, who had come in contact with men of letter* and men of business, with poli- 
ticians and members of all the professions, during a long and distinguished public 
career.— O. W. Holmki. 

Cook. — To cook one's goose. See Goose. 

CooL — To cool one's heels— to l>e made to wait while paying a visit to 
some important personage. C. 

We cooled our heels (were kept waiting) during the ordinary and intolerable half- 
hour. -G. A. Bala. 

A cool hundred (or any sum) — the large sum of a hundred pounds (or 
any sum). F. 

Tlio knowing ones were cursedly taken In (very much iloceived) there. I lost a 
cool hundrod (the largo sum of £10U) myself, faitli (I assure youX— Mackrmzis. 

Cool as a cucumber — not agitated ; perfectly cool and composed. C. 

" Never fear, Miss Nugent dear,** said Sir Terence ; " I'm as cool as a cucumber." 
—Madia Rdokwobtii. 



Copy [ 72 ] Oount 

Oopy.-^TV) make copy of—io turn into nuuiusoript for the printer. 

Ho would have mad* copj of hU moUMr's gnvo Quive written an article alx>ut it, 
for wbidi he would be paid). 

Oorn. — To tread on anoiher^a coma — to annoy him where he is most 

easily annoyed. C. 

Henoe the reputation he enjojed of being eomethlng more than blunt-ipoken— of 
beingi in fact» a pretty good specimen of the perfenrid Bootcbman, arrogant, opinion* 
ated, auperciliout, and a trifle too anxioui to tread on people's ooma.— Wm. Blaox. 

Corn-atcUk — a name given to the- children of Australian settlers, specially 
in New South Wales. F. 

Corn in Egypt — a plentiful supply of provisions. A familiar phrase bor- 
rowed from the Bible. F, 

" Uncle's box has arrived," said the minister ; " there is com in Egypt (plenty of 
food) to-day." 

Corner. — To drive iiUo a comer — to embarrass; to place in a position 

where escape is impossible. P. 

" I don't want to act the coiutable,** said the farrier, driven Into a comer (embar- 
rassed) by this merdlesi reasoning, " and there's no man can say it of mo if he'd tell 
the troth."— Qborgb Eliot. 

The ch^f corn€r-9tQne—i\i^ most important support of anything. P. 
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone (principal support).— IPp^kes. it. SO. 

OorpUS. — Corpus vile — the subject of an experiment. P. Latin. 

It is a tedious process for the inquirer, still more so for the corpus viU of the inves- 
tigation (poor fellow who is subjected to these inquiries), whose weak brain soon tires. 

OottOIL — To cottoii to a 2)erson — to fawn upon him; to make advances 

to him. S. 

Lady Mansfleld's maid says there's a grand title or something in tlie family. That's 
why she cottons to (fawns upon) her so, I suppose. 

A cotton lord — a wealthy Manchester manufacturer. C. 

Ooulenr. — Couleur de roM — rose colour ; highly flattering. C. French. 

When we begin to tint our final pages with coiUeur dt ro*e, as in accordance with 
fixed rale we must do, we altogetlier extinguish our own powers of pleasing.— A. 
Trollops. 

OoanseL — To keep oue*8 oum counsel — to preserve a discreet silence. C. 
Old Sedley had Icept his own counsel.— TnACKsaAT. 

Count. — To count upon — to trust to ; to IcMik for with confidence. P. 
" Count upon me," he added, Iritb bewildered fervour.— R. L. Stkvkwbon. 

To count otU — to declare the House of O)mmon8 adjourned because there 

are not forty members present. When the Speaker has his attention 

drawn to this fact, he must count the number present, and finding it 

under forty, must declare the sitting over. P. 

Adelina Patti made her ddltut. May 14, 1861, when Mr. Punch counts out the House 
and adjourns to Mr. Qye's ihetiire.— Fortnightly RevUWt 1887. 



Oountenanoe [ 73 ] Oouraffe 

Gountenance. — To keep one couiUeiuuice or in coutUeiuiHce — to lend 
moral support to. P. 

Flora will bo there to keep you countenance.— R. L. Btrvrnmon. 

He might at well be a West India planter, and we negroei, for anything he knowi 
to the contrary— has no more care nor thought about us than if we were in Jamaica 
or the other world. Shame for him ! But there's too many to keep him in counten- 
ance.— Maria Edorwortii. 



To keep one^H couiUeiuince — to preserve one's gravity ; to refrain from 

lauglmig. P. 

The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance, 
and never to keep his word.— Swirr. 

JIui roiuUevanre /ell — he looke<l disappointed. P. 

'* To-morrow— you said to-morrow, I tliink— we will devote to recitation." 
William Henry's countenance fell (William Henry showed signs of disappoint- 
ment). He had heard Mr. Kcginald Talbot's recitations before.— Jamks PAyw. 

To put out of couutenance. See Put. 

Counter. — A coutUer-jumjyer — a shopkeeper's assist^uit; a retail dealers 

shopman. F. 

" It's a dreadful business of course," he said, " but let us keep it to ourselves. Con- 
found that impudent young counter-jumper (sliopkecper's lad); but I suppose there's 
nothing we can do, uncle? They're married by this time."— L<moman*s Magaxine, 1887. 

Conntry. — To appeal to (he country — to advise the Sovereign to dissolve 

Parliament in order to ascertain by a new election whether a certain 

l>olicy is approve<l by the constituencies. P. 

As soon as the necessary business could be got Uirough, Parliament would be dis- 
solved, and an appeal made to the country (a new election of representatives made). 
— JUHTIN M'Carthy. 

To put oneself on one*H country — to stand one's trial l>efore a jury. P. 

An outlaw who jrinlded himself within the year was entitled to plead not guilty, 
and to put himself on his country (demand a trial by JuryX— Macaulav. 

Coup. — Coup lie thidtre — a dramatic effect. C. French. 

PerhA|i8 he was not sorry to be able to show his clever coadjutor that the was not 
the only person who could achieve a coup dt ihMtrt upon occasion.— W. K. Nurrim. 

Coup iVctat—n, sudden stroke of jmlicy. French. 

Tlio coup d'Hai of 1852 laid the foundation of the second Krench Empire. 

Coup (i^ main — a sudden \x)\d attack, without previous approaches. P. 

French. 

He expected a little more delay and coquetry ; and, though he meant to make his 
approaches very rapidly, it ha<l nut entered his mind to carry the widow's heart by 
a etmp ifc mnin (sudden proposal of marriageX— Jamrm Pavn. 

Coitp (If (jnUf — a finishing stroke. P. French. 

Two others were told off to give me tlie coup de ordcCf in Uie event of my not being 
killed by the firing party.— ^/l the Year Round, 1887. 

Courage. — To have the courage of oue^a opinions — to be fearless in the 
expression of one's beliefs. P. 




Course [• 74 ] Coute 

He (Quincj) lud not raerelj, u the French taj, the courage of hii opinioni.— J. 

R. Low ILL. 

WbatoTor Ttrtoea Mr. Hyndman lacks, he haa at Icaat the courage of his opiuions 
(U at least bold to utter what he thinks).— Spectator, ISHG. 

Course. — 0/ course — (a) connected with ordinary matters ; unimport- 
ant. P. 
After a few words of coone, the/ sallied into the street— Diokbns. 

(b) naturally. P. 

"A fair challenge," cried the marquis Jojously. "And I back the gentleman." 
" Oh, of course " (naturally), said his daughter.— C. Rbadb. 

In course — in regular order. P. 

You will receive the other numbers of the journal in course (when the due time for 
their publication arrires). 

In due course — at the proper time. P. 

When the bojs got promotion, which came in due course (at the proper time), 
Allen began to buy books.— Bkaant. 

Court. — To bring into court — to adduce as an authority. P. 

But in the case of the Ainos, the beards alone were brought into court (brought 
forward as evidence).— B. H. Cuambbrlaih. 

Courtesy. — Courtesy -titles — titles assumed by the family of a noble, and 
granted to them by social custom, but not of any legal value. Thus, 
the eldest son of the Duke of Devonshire is Marquis of Hartington in 
ordinary speech, but merely Spencer Oompton Cavendish, a commoner, 
according to strict law. As a commoner, he sits in the House of 
Commons. The eldest son of a marc|uis is allowed the courtesy-title 
of earl ; the eldest son of an earl, that pf viscount. Younger sons of 
peers are allowed the courtesy-title of lord or honourable, and the 
daughters that of lady or honourable. 

Cousin. — Cousin Betsy — a half-witted person. C. 

I do not think there's a man living— or dead for tliat matter— that can say Foster's 
wronged him of a penny, or gave abort measure to a child or a Cousin Betsy.— Mrs. 
Oabkbll. 

To call cousins — to claim relationship. C. 

My new house is to have nothing Gothic al>out it, nor pretend to call cousins 
with the mansion-house— II. Wali'olb. 

Cousin Michel or Michael — the nickname given to a German, as "John 
Bull " to an Englishman and ** Brother Jonathan " to an American. F. 

These were truly the days for Cousin Michael, corresponding in a measure to the 
" good old colonial times " of New Kngland.— ^^Hon. 

CoAte. — Coiite que coiite — at any cost. P. French. 

Mr. Cliild has fallen into the same mistakes as the proprietress of the N<mvdU 
lievue, though with less evident desire to abuse and vilify coAU que co&te (at all 
hasards).— JVa^onai Revitto. 



Coventry [ 76 ] Creature 

Coventry. — To «eml to Coventry — to exclude from companionship ; to 
have no dealings with. F. Stnt to Co^^entry signifies " in disgrace 
or disfavour with one's associates." Mostly used by schoolboys, who 
inflict the punishment frequent ly on their fellows. See Boycott. 

In fact that solemn asMmblj, a lery of the achool, had been held, at which the 
captain of the school had got up and given ont that any boy, in whatever form, 
who should Uioncoforth a)ii>eAl to a master, without having first gone to some pro- 
positor and laid the case before him, should be thrashed publicly, and sent to Coven- 
try.— UuuHBs. 

Cover. — Covers icere laid for so mtuiy — dinner was prepared for so 
many guests. C. 
Covers wore laid for four.— Tiiackkiiay. 

Crab. — To catch a crab — to be struck with the handle of the oar in 
rowing and to fall backwards. C. This accident occurs if the oar be 
left too long in the water before repeating the stroke. 

I tl) ought you were afraid of catching the wrong one, which would be catching a 
crab, wouldn't itf— Be^akt. 

Crack. — To crax^k a crib — to break into a house with the intention of 
robbing it. S. A burglar's phrase. 

The captain had been their pal (companion), and while they were all three cracking 
a crib, had, with unexampled treachery, betrayed them.— C. Rradk. 
Any roan calls himself a burglar when he's once learned to crack a crib.— Dbsakt. 

To crack a bottle — to drink in a friendly way. F. 
lie was always ready to crack a bottle (drink) with a friend. 

To crack up anythiny — to praise it highly. F. 

Then don't object to my cracking up the old schoolhouse, Rugby.— II uoiibs. . 

A crack hand — one who is expert ; an adept. F. 
Ue is a crack hand (very clever) at entertaining children. 

To crack a mist — to get along fairly well in the world ; to make a small 
but sufficient income. F. 

To crack a tidy crust — to be successful in life ; to make a comfortable 
income. F. 

In a cra/^k — instantaneously. F. 

Poor Jack Tackle's grimy ghost was vanished In a crack (at onceX-^Ls^is- 

Creature. — Creature comforts — what makes the bo<ly comfortable ; good 
foo<l and clothing, and other necessaries and luxuries. C. 

For the first time her own sacrifice of work and time conld do nothing for her 
friend coro|>arc<l with the soft words, the grapes, and the creature comforts so freely 
bestowed by the new-comer. — Bmant. 

An empty glass stood on a table before him, which, with his somnolent condition 
and a very strong smell of brandy and water, forewarned the visitor that Mr. Squeers 
hail been seeking, in creature comforts, a temporary forgelfulneas of his unplacaant 
situation.— Dick kks. 




Oredat [ 76 ] Oropper 

Oredat. — Crtdal Jwiamn — a phrase implying lUsbeliof. C. Latin. 

The quotation ia from Horace — Credal JutUtus Ajtella, '* Apulia ihu 

Jew may believe it I " (but no one olao will). 

Would the/ for a moment dare to hold up to public ridloule *nd contempt the very 
penona to whom they owe admitUuice within the diarmed circle T Credal Judu-tu, 
Such incompftr»ble baseneaa ii simply incredible.— lidittlmrg/i Review^ 1887, 

Oreeps. — To give one the creeps — to cause one to shudder. F. 

They gave me the creepi, the whole lot of them, and that'e a fact—H. R. HAaoAKU. 

OrispilL-''^ tfon or hiiyht of St. Crispin — a shoemaker. C. 

llere the loyal shoemaker sat merrily hammering at his last, regardlcM of the 
gathering shadows on the wall, and of the eerie associations of his little box, 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 after Interdiang- 
ing salutations with him the company proceeded on their way, leaving him still 
singing on his stool.— Scotsman. 

Crocodile. — Crocodile ^ear*— hypocritical tears shed by an unfeeling 
person. P. 

And George did chief mourner. I suppose be blubbered freely ; he always could 
blubber freely when a lad. I remember how he used to take folks in as a lad, and 
then laugh at them; that's why Uiey calletl him *' Crocodile ** at school— II. It. 
Uauoaku. 

He (Lord Lovat) laid all the blame of the Frasers' rising upon his son, saying, wltli 
crocodile tears, that he was not the first who had an undntiful son.— Q. A. Sala. 

Orooked. — A croohul aixjience ~a lucky thing ; a talisman. P. It used 
to be considered lucky for one to carry about a crooked sixpence on 
his person. 

You've got the beauty, and I've got the luck ; so you mutt keep me by you for your 
crooked sixpenoe (to bring you good luck).— Okokub Euot. 

Crop.— ^o croj) out — to appear above the surface. In geology, inclinctl 
strata which appear above the surface are said to crop out. P. 

The prejudice of the editor of the newspaper against America crops out (diq>lays 
Itself) in everything he writes.— ^1090 New% 1887. 

To crop up — (a) to rise in difTurent places unexpectedly. C. 

He did not, he said, want to have mushroom watering-places cropping up under 
his note.— Good Word*, 1887. 

(6) to happen or appear unexpectedly. O. 

So bitter is this feeling that It crops up in ail public meetings.— ^jicctaf or, Mar, 
St, 1888. 
But curious complications were to crop up yet.— Mas. Hknry Wood. 

Cropper. — To come a cropper — to get a fall ; to tumble at fuFl lengtli ; 
to meet with a sudden collapse. F. 

He came a cropper yesterday while out riding. 

When the rejection of the measure had practically decided the fate of the minis- 
try. Punch completed its allegory by another cartoon, in which the horse and Its 
rider lay thrown and prone on the other side of the hedge, with the legend, ** Come 
a cropper."— Justin M'Cartuy. 



Oro88 [ '77 ] Crow 

Cross. — To croM tttcordjt — to have a duel. C. 

CApUln llicliurd would soon liAve croMod iwordi wiili the apark had any Tillanj 
boon afloat. — U. A. Sala. 

7*0 fro*? the luind with sih^r, Foi'tunc tellers, wlio in Englaiul and other 
countries are most frequently of gipsy race, begin their operations by 
liaving their hands crossed with a silver coin. They pretend that this 
is an indisponsable preliminary to divuiation. 

lie went on hU way with the grenadier, a sweep, and a gipey woman, who waa 
importunate that he ihould cross her hand with silver, In order that he might know 
all about the great fortune that he waa to wed.— O. A. Sala. 

The tawny sibyl no sooner appeared, than my girls cnme running to me for a 
ahllllng a-ptece to cross her hand with silver.— GoLDAMtTii. 

Oil the. rroM— unfair ; dishonest. S. Oj^posed to ow the square, 

Orow. — Crow's ftet — th6 wrinkles which ago or trouble causes to fonn 
about the eyes. C. 

Years had told upon George more than tlioy had upon Philip, and, though there 
were no touches of gray in the flaming 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.— H. R. 
Haooard. 

To eat crow — to do what is excessively iniplcasant. S. American. The 
crow has long been the emblem of contention ; as Uudibras says : — 

" If not, resolve before we go 
That you and I must pull a crow." 

The same idea is suggested in Comedy of Errors^ act iii. : — 

" We'll pluck a crow together." 

In common parlance, eating crow, as an expression of humiliation, is 
much the same as eating humble pic, but evidently is more expressive. 
Its origin is too obscure to 1)e definitely reached, but it came into use 
during the late reltellion, and evidently was 1)orn in the camp. Many 
years ago I heard the late O. P. Disosway, who was a confirme<l 
humorist, tell the following story, which ho had received from a 
soldier; and I also heard it from (*aptain l^Uou of the lloth Regi- 
ment: — A private in one of the Pennsylvania regiments got leave to 
go hunting, and unfortunately shot a tame crow belonging to a 
planter, who happened to come up just as the bird was killed. The 
unlucky hunter had rested his musket against a tree, and the planter 
seized it, and ftointing it at the hunter, exclaimed, " You can cat that 
crow, or die." There l»cing no oscapo, tho hunter got thrctugh with 
|Hirtof his dist^xsteful meal, when tho planter, relenting, said, " You've 
done pretty well; here, take your gun and get off right smart." Tho 
soldier, as soon as he got the piece in his liandH, immediately turncil 
the tables by levelling it at the planter, exclaiming, *' Now, you eat 




Ory [ 78 ] Cry 

• 

the rest of that crow, or I'll shoot you on the spot. " Tliero being no 
escape, the thing was done. In a few days the planter hail occasion 
to visit the camp, and as the soldier recognized him, one of the olhcers 
inquired, ** Do you know that man ? " ** Oh, yes," replied the planter ; 
"we dined together lost week." — Neto York CorrtspoiuUul ** Troy 
Times." 

To Juive a crow to pluck tvith any one — to have some fault to find with 
one ; to have a matter requiring explanation. C. 

I k«Te a crow to pluck with (a maitor which I want eipUlned by) the butlor. I 
want to know why ha sent the meaaenger off with an nncivii word yesterday. 

There was not a Prior there — least of all John Prior— who could help feeling 
aitoniehed by the ease and fluency with which Susie ignored the crow to pluck 
between the two houses.— Sarah Tytlbr. 

Ah, Master George, I have a crow to pluck with you.— Flobenck BCarryat. 

As the crow flies — directly; without any deviation from the straight line 
to one's destmation. P. 

He went, ai the crow flies (in a straight line), over the stubble and by the hedge* 
sides, never pausing to draw breath.— Mrs. Ouphakt. 

To crow over — to triumph over ; to be exultant towards. C. 

The colonel, instantly divining the matter, and secretly flattering himself, and 
determining to crow over Polly (prove that ho was more knowing than Polly), said, 
to help him out, " Aha, you rogue, I know ii."—IIarper^i Moifoxitiet 188G. 

Cry. — To cry off— to retreat from a bargain ; to refuse to carry out an 
engagement. C. 

Osborne will cry off now, I suppose, since the family is smashed.— Thackbrat. 
Miss Huntly and Miss Joy having consented to take part in the expedition. Admiral 
and Mrs. Greenwood promptly cried off from it — Oood Words, 1887, 

To cry cupboard — to be hungry. F. 

" Mailam, dinner's \\\)on the table.** 

" Faith I'm glad of it ; my boUy began to cry cupboard."— Swirr. 

To cry quits. See Quits. 

To cry over spilt milk — to spend time in useless regrets. C. 

What's done, Sam, can't be helped ; there is no use In crying over spilt milk (indulg- 
ing in unavailing regrets).— Hali burton. 

To cry up — to praise highly ; to pu IT. C. 

I was prone to take disgust towards a girl so idolised and so cried up (praised), aa 
she always was.— Jan b Auutbn. 

To cry " toolf** — to raise a false alarm. P. A phrase taken from one 
of ilCsop's Fables. 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. The wolf, 
however, did truly come at last. Then the shepherd boy called out 



Cud^rel [ "79 ] Curry 

in earnest for lielp, but no one paid any attention to his cry. They 
liad got accustomed to it, and despised it. He lost nearly all his 
flock. 

Cudgel. — To take up the cudgels on behalf of another — to defend him 

warmly. P. 

On mj showing him the correspondence, Delane iminediaielj took up the cndgeU 
for the widow (espoused the widow's aMM).—Dladcv)ood^a AIngatine, 1886. 

To cudgel one^a braiiiA — to make a painful effort to remember. C. 

Cudgel thj brains no more about it— Siiakkspearb. 

In Tain we cudgel our brains to ask of what faith, what princlplo these monsters 
may be the symbol.— O. J. Wiittk-Mklvillk. 

He did not have to cudgel his brains long, for bj-and-by Miss Huntly said hesi- 
tatingly, " I have heard a rumour that everything has been left to your brother. Is 
it UueT"— W. K. NouiiiN. 

Cue. — To give the cue — to give a hint ; to furnish an opportunity. P. The 

cue, in the parlance of the stage, is the catch -word, from which an 

actor knows where his part comes in. 

This admission gave the cue to Todhnntcr (gave Todhuntcr an opportunity) to take 
up his parable and launch out into one of his effusive laudations of Parr and all his 
mQit\LM.—MacmiUan'i Stagaxine. 

CuL — Cui bono ? — to whom will it do any good ? F. Latin. 

For the last generation or two a feeling of Cui honof had led to the discontinuance 
of the custom.— Thomas Hakdy. 

Oqiil — Cum grano ra/t>— with a grain of salt; making some allowance. 
P. Latin. 
All his statements must be taken cum grano talis (with some reservation). 

Cup. — //w cup ritiM oiYjr — he has more than enough. P. A phrase 

borrowed from the Bible (Ps. xxiii.). 

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

In one^a cvpa — intoxicated. P. 

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

Cupboard. — Cujiboard low — affection springing from an interested 

motive. C. 

A cupboard love is seldom true, 

A love sincere is found in few.— Narks. 

« 
Curled. — Curled darlinga — {)ottcd and pampered young men. P. 

He would show them of what a man in his own right is capable, and he would go 
far }iast the " curled darlings " who owed everything to fortune and nothing to them- 
selves.— Mrs. E. Lynn Linton. 

Curry. — To cumj favour — to use mean arts to obtain patronage. P. 

Many changed their religion to curry favour with (gain In a mean way the patron* 
age oO King James. 




Ourse [ 80 ] Out 

Oorse. — The eurae of Cain, Cain, for the murder of his brotlier Abel, 

waa condemned to be a wanderer and vagabond on the cartli. 

Tliose in the provlnoes, m if with the curae of Cain niion their howls, cauie, one 
by one, to miserable enda— Pboudb. 

The curse of Scotland — a name given to the playing-card called the nine 
of diamonds — the winning card in a gambling game which mined 
many Scottish families. C. 

Onrtain. — Curtain lectures — private admonitions given by a wife to her 

huslMind. C. The phrase, though of earlier origin, is innnortali/cd 

in the celebrated Mrs, Caudle* a Curtain Lectures^ by Douglas Jen-old, 

published in the columns of Punch, 1845. Curtains = bed -curtains, 

the lectures being delivered at night. 

Beside what endless brawls bj wives are bred. 

The curtain lecture makes a mournful bed.— Drydkn. 

The curtain /alls — the performance closes ; the scene comes to an 

end. C. 

Here the oonTersatlon ooghi to have ended ; the curtain ought to fall at this point 
What followed was weak— very weak.— Bbsant. 

Out. — To cut in — to make a remark licforc another speaker has finished ; 

to throw in a remark suddenly. F. 

"Worked in the fields summers, and went to school winters : regulation thing?" 
BarUey cut in. — W. D. IIowkllh. 

To cut one*s lucky or one's stick — to run away ; to go off in a hurry. S. 

Jeremiah grinned, his eyes glittered. " I'm in luck's way," he said ; " and now, 
mother, give me a glass of brandy and water, and 111 cut my lucky."— B. L. 
Farjkon. 

To cut offioith a shilling — to leave a small sum as a legacy. P. 

Spiteful testators used to leave the disinherited one a shilling, Uiat he might not 
be able to say he had been inadvertently omitted, and it was all a mistake.— Cn a hucs 
Rbaiik. 

Because I'm such a good-natured brother, you know I might get you turned out of 
house and home, and cut off with a shilling (disinherited) any day.— Qboros Eliot. 

To cut one short — to interrupt another while speaking. P. 

Tom pulled himself together, and began an explanation ; but the colonel cut him 
short (interrupted hImX— tfarper** Magaxinet J886. 

To cut or to att dead — to refuse to recognize an ac<|uaintance in 

public. P. 

She would cut her dearest friend (pass her dearest friend without recognition) if 
misfortune befell her, or the world turned its back (society frowned) upon her. — 
Thackkrat. 

To cut a JigurCt a dash, or a dido — to make oneself prominent ; to do 

something to attract notice. The last is a slang phrase, the two first 

are conversational. 

It seems my entertainer was all this while only the butler, who, in his master's ab- 
■•nee, had a mind to cut a figure.— OoLDaMirii. 



Out [ 81 ] Out 

With ihii snm they thought, to use their own expression, they were entitled to 
live in u great style and cut as grand a dash as any of the first families in Mon* 
mouthshire.— Maria Edobwoiitii. 

Thus tlie humble artisan and his elephant cut a greater dash than lions and tigers, 
and mountebanks and quacks, and drew more money.— Rbadb. 

To cut up rough — to resent any treatment ; to sliow a disposition to 
quarrel. F. 

He'll cut up so rough, NIckleby, at our talking together without him.— Dicrrnm. 

To be cut n/>— to \)e distressed. C. 

Poor master I he was awfully cut up (sorry) at having to leave you. 

Well then, of course, I was awfully cut up (in great affliction). I was wild.— 

C IlKAIlR. 

7V) ntl one'n eye-teeth — to become knowing ; to learn liow to clieal 
another man. S. 

Them 'ere fellers (those fellows there— Scotsmen) cut their eye-teeth (learned crafty 
way) afore they ever sot foot in this country (America), 1 expect— IIai.iiiurton. 

The cut of oue'HJih — onc*s rig, or personal appearance ; the peculiarities 
of one's dress and walk. S. A sailor's phrase. 

I knew him for a parM>n by the cut of his jib (his appearance). 

CiU ami come again — a hospitable phrase, signifying that there is 
plenty for all guests. C. Jane Carlyle uses tlie expression in one of 
lier letters. 

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

7*0 rut the {ftordtan) knot — to solve a difficulty in a speeily fashion. V. 
Tlicrc was a knot tied by a Phrygian i>casant, alxiut which the report 
spreail that he wlio unloosed it shonhl I>e king of Asia. It was shown 
it} Alexander the Great, who cut it in two witii his sword, saying, 
*' Tis thus we loose our knots." 

Decision by a majority is a mode of cutting a knot (promptly solving a difllculty) 
which cannot l>e untied.— 8ir (t. C. Lbwir. 

7V) nif fh(* ground from niuler our — to leave one in an illogical |)08iiion, 
with no reasonable argument in his favour. 1*. 

I cut the ground from under him (made his position untenableX by |»roving that 
the document on which he relied contained an Important erasure. 

To nit out — to supplant ; to secure another's place or privileges. C. 

In a few weeks some fellow from the West End will come In with a title and • 
rotten rent-roll and cut all u* city men out, as Lonl FItxnifus did last year with 
MIm ( Program, who was actually engaged to Poddor, of Podder and Drown's.— 

TllA( KRItAY. 

To rut one'M throat — to act so as to ruin oneself. C. 

He saw It all now : he had let the old man die after he hnd eiecuted the fresh will 
disinheriting him. lie hsd let him die; he had effectually and beyond redemption 
cut his own throat (rulnetl himself by his own action). — If. R. llAunANP. 

G 




Dab [ 82 ] Damooles 

Cut and thrust — keen ; forcible. P. 

Thai U th« waj of doing badnesi— a cnt-and-thrnst stjle, witlioat any flonrish : 
Scott's style when his blood was up.— PHorBwoa Wilson. 

To cut and run — to go off quickly ; to run off immediately. S. 

Tims spake Bavaria's scholar king, 
Prepared to cat and run : 
" I've lost mj throne, lost everjthing, 
Ol6la, I'm undone." 

Epigram quoted in " Quarterly BevieWf** 1SS7. 
I must cut and run, whatever happens.— O. J. WnrTB-MBLviLLK. 

To draw cutn — to decide a matter by drawing papers of unequal length, 
presented so as to have the same appearance : equivalent to tossing 
up. P. 
They drew cuts who should go out of the room. 



Dab. — A regtdar dab at anything — very skilful in anything. S. 

" I'm a regular dab at figures, you know," said Jeremiah to his mother.— B. L. 
Farjkon. 

Daggers. — To look or apeah daggers — to glare at ; to gaze upon with 
animosity. P. 

There he sits, abaft (behind) the mainmast, looking daggers at us (glaring angrily 
upon us).— O. Rkadb. 
I will speak daggers to her ; but will use none.— Shakbspbarb : Hamlet. 

At daggers draian — bitterly hostile. P. 

Lord Shelbume 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 Oovemment— Trbvbltan. 

Damn. — To damn \cith faint jtraise — to condemn anything by praising 
it very slightly. P. 

Should such a roan, too fond to rule alone, 

Bear, like the Turk, no brotlicr near the throne 

Damn witli fnint praise, assent with civil locr, 
And, without sneering, teach the rest to suoor.— PorB. 
For the first hour all had been compliment, success, and smiles ; presently came 
the buU, and the hesitated objections, and the damning with faint praise.— Maria 

KOOBWORTH. 

Damocles. — The sword of Damocles — a sword suspended by a single 
thread, and ready to descend and kill tlie person sitting below it. P. 
See Sword. 

So they laugh and Iotc, and are to all appearance blissfully content through the 
morning hours, and descend to breakfast (hut for that sword of Damocles susiiondc<l 



Damon [ ^3 ] Darken 

over Uieir headi) u happj In their maiual aflTection u ever were Eve and A(Uun when 
lint preeented to each other.— Plorenck Marhtat. 

Damon. — Damon and PythioA — swoni friends. P. The classical name 
of Pythias is Phintias. He offered to die for liis friend Damon. 

"Such unscloDtiflc balderdash," added the doctor, flushing suddenlj purple 
"would have estranged Damon and PTthias."— R. L. Strvrnhon. 

Dance. — To dance, attendance, on — to pay assiduous court to. P. A 
phrase used in contempt. 

Welcome, my lord ; T dance attendance (wait obsequiously) here. —Siiarrsprarr. 
But he lives in town as a rule when he is not dandng attendance on Lady Swans* 
down.— Florrnor Marrtat. 

To dance^ and pay the piper — to labour to amuse, and have the expense 
of the entertainment 1)C8ides. F. 

I'll either teach in the school once a week, or give you a subscription ; but I am not 
going both to dance and pay the piper (give my services for nothing, and pay other 
performersX 

To dance ujx>n nothing — to get liangcd. S. 

If you do not take care, you will soon dance upon notliing (be executed). 

To lead a jyeraon a dance or a jrretty dance — to cause him unnecessary 
trouble. F. 

You gave mc Uie wrong address, and have led me a pretty dance (caused me much 
needless search). 

Dander. — To get one*/* dander vp~to grow angry ; to lose one's tem- 
per. S. Dander = dandriff, scurf on the head. 

" I don't understand such language," said Alden, for he was fairly riled (irritated) 
and got his dander up (lost his temper).— II alirurton. 

Darby. — Darby and Joan — a happy old couple devoted to each other. 
P. They arc characters in a popular Imllad. 
You may be a Darby, but I'll be no Joan (devoted wife), I promise.— Golimmith. 

Dark. — A dark horse — a comi>etitor about whose chance of winnuig 
the world knows nothing. C. A sporting phrase. 

You see I was dipped pretty deep, and duns after me, and the Derby my only 
chance, so I put the pot on (bctte<t heavily on the favourite horse) ; but a dark horse 
won.— C. Rradr. 

To keep another in the dark— to keep him in ignorance of an event. 
She was now resolved to keep Harriet no longer in the dark (in IgnoranceX 

To keep dark altoiit anything — to preserve secrecy a1)out it. C. 

If yon will (flght mo), 1*11 keep dark about it (never speak about our fight).— 

IlAl.inUKTON. 

Darken.— VV) darken anotficr'n door— to cross tlic threshold of his 

house. (/. 

He In a dishonour ible scoundrel ; and if, after this assurance, yon receive him, I 
shall never darken your door again.— C. Rkade. 




David [ B4 ] Dayliffht 

David.— X)avic{ aiid Jonathan — inseparable friendB. P. A Biblical 
parallel to the classical friendship of Damon and Pythias. 

I WM— ^veiybody knows that— I wm hia confldonUal factotam and liU fftmflUr 
friend, u David wu to Jonathan.— Bb8A.mt. 

Davy. — Davy Jones — a sailor's t«rm for death. S. 

Keep my bonei from Davy Jonei (dt^th).— Popular Song. 

Davy JoneH*H locher — the place where dead men go. A common expres- 
sion with sailors. It is also used for the sea, the common receptacle 
of everything thrown ovcr)>oard. 

I tell thoe, Jack, thou'rt free ; leaitwayt, if wo get to Jamaica without going to 
DavjrJonea'i locker. —O. A. Sala. 

The buccaneer has made hit exit, and lo has liii fierce brother the pirate. That 
dreadful flag hat long been liauled down and stowed away bj Davy Jones In his 
locker.— (7«iifleiiuiH'« Aiagaxitu, 18H7. 

Day.— To have had one*8 day— to be past one*s prime ; to l^e no longer 
*' in the swim ;" to Ixi old-fashioned ; to be discarded for something 
newer. C. 

" Old Joe, sir,** said the major, " was a bit of a favourite In that qaarter once ; but 
Joe has had bis day."— Diokbnh. 

Every doy hem Aw day. See Dog. 

ThiM titty week (or year, or nix monOut) — a week counting from this day; 
the corresponding day of last or next week. P. 

Let us go this day week— to-day is Thursday— that Is, let us go next Thursday. 

Almost on that day year (the corresponding day of Uie last year) it (the House of 
Commons) had been cheering Pitt while he declaimed against the folly of a Hano- 
verian war.— Macau LAY. 

IfU tlayit are numf>eretl—\\e has only a short time to live. P. 

Marocco alone yet bars the way, and Marocco's days are practically nambcrwL— 
Gil ANT Allbn, in 0>HUmiH>rary IkvieWt 1888. 

To carry the day— to l)e victorious ; to win a victory. P. 

It was the cry of " free education " that carried tlie day (won the victory). 

Day of tjrart — a day allowed by the law before money is calletl tn» or 
the law it! put in execution. Three days oftprace are generally allowe<l 
for the payment of a bill beyond the date actually mentioned in the 
paper. Thus a bill in which payment is promised on the 1st Novcni- 
l>er is duly paid on the 4th. 

A day after the fair — too late to see anything. C. 

You have arrived a day after the fair (too late to see what you wished). Yonr 
friends have gone. 

Daylight. — To throw daylight vpon — to reveal ; to display to view. P. 

But for that accident, the mystery and the wrong being played out at Caromera 
farm might never have had daylight thrown upon Ik— Mna. Hknrv Wood. 



Da [ 86 ] DeeA 

De (French). — De haul en has — in a lofty, condescending fashion. C. 
French. 
Rho used to treat kini a little de tiaut en boi.—C. Rkadb. 

De trop — in the way ; not wanted ; superfluous. C. French. 

To tarn a yoang lady oat of her own drawing-room withoat assigning any reason 
for It, except that she is de trop (her presence is not wished for), is a verjr difficult 
oiieratlon.— Jamkh Payn. 

De riijiieur — strictly required. P. French. 

His face was rather soft than stem, charming than grand, pale than flushed ; bis 
noee, if a sketch of his features be de rigueur for a person of his pretensions, was 
artistically beautiful enough to have been worth doing in marble by a sculptor not 
over-busy.— Thomas Hardt. 

De (Latin). — Dejure — legal ; having the sanction of law. P. Latin. 

De facto — real ; having actual possession. P. Latin. 

It was, we believe, Impossible to find, from the Himalayas to Mysore, a single 
Government which was at once a Government de facto and a Government de Jure.— 
Macau LAV. 

De mortnis nil nisi bomim — say only what is good of the deail. P. Latin. 
The proverb of de mortuie is founded on humbug. — A. Trollopb. 

De novo — from a new point ; afresh. Latin. 
Let us clear the stage, and begin de novo (afresh). 

Dead. — Dend dmnh — stupificd with liquor. C. 

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.— 
S. Warrbn. 

The deml-lefter office — the department in the post-ofTice where unclaimed 
letters are kept. P. 

I took it for granted tliat it found its way to the dead-letter office, or was sticking 
up across a pane in tlie poRtmaster's window at Huntingdon for the whole town to 
see, and it a love-letter !— Maria Edobwortii. 

May not these wanderers of whom I speak have been sent into tlie world witliout 
any profier address at all T Where is our dead-letter office for such T— J. R. Lowbll. 

To pull the dead horse — to work for wages already jwid, F. 

Demi OM n hen'ittff or om a doornail — stone dea<l ; without any life. F, 

The herring is a fish which dies immediately after it leaves the water. 

"They caught him at work, and gave him a rap over the head with a spade. The 
more fool he for being caught. Here Is to his memory." 
" UrH I What I is ho— Is hfr-" 

Dead as a herring."— C. IIrahr. 

What ! is the old king dead 7" 

As nail In door."- SiiAKFjiPKAnn: f Henry IV. 

Dcwl Sea fniit—ivwii fair to the eye, hut crumbling to dust when the 

skin is broken. P. See Apple of Soikjm. 

He had come across the fruit of the r>ead Sea. so sweet and delicious to the eye, so 
bitter and nauseous to the taste.— A Tmollopr. 



It 
•i 




Dear [ 86 ] Death 

Dead }uind — the mysterious influence of a dead person whom one lias 
injured. P. An old superstition of this kind still lingei-s. 

Sh« mtut haT« bMn led, he thoaght, to his office hj the dead hand of Torn htmiolf. 
Jamei Kolfe wm not a supertUUoai person, but he had read novels, and he knew 
▼erjr well that dead people do constanUj Tlslt evil-doers with curses and bring trouble 
upon them, especially when they have dealt wickedly with wards. ^Ubsiamt. 

In a dead Jiand — said of land or property held by a corporation (for 
example, the Church) and not by a personality. Latin, in tnanu 
mortuo. 

A dead letter — something no longer in force; a rule never attended 
to. P. 
The rule about ready money was soon a dead letter (soon fell into disuse).— 

TaSVBLYAN. 

A dead-head — a person who obtains entrance into an entertainment 
without paying ; a sponger. C. 

Poor, hopelessly abandoned loafers, wearing plainly the stamp of dead-head on 
their shameless features.— A. C. Orant. 

A dead-heal — a contest where it is impossible to decide who is 
victor. C. 

He was up in a moment ; but he was already overlapped, and although he made up 
the diflTerenoe, it was a dead-heat, and they were in neck-and-neck. — Buant. 

Dead heai, — thoroughly exhausted. C. 

I oonld not move from the spot I was what I believe seldom really hai^^ens 
to any man— dead beat, body and soul. — C Reads. 

Dead fnan*a part — in law, the portion of an intestate person's movables 
beyond the share which goes by right to his wife and children. A 
technical phrase. 

Dead men— empty bottles. F. 

Lord Smart. Oome, John, bring me a fresh bottle. 

ColowL Ay, my lord ; and, pray, let him carry off the dead men, as we say In 
the army (meaning the empty bottlesX — Swirr. 

Dear. — Dear me! oh dear! or simply, dear! — an exclamation of sur- 
prise, commiseration, or wearuiess, according to the tone in which it 
is uttered. C. 

" Did you ever have your likeness taken, Harriet?'* said she. 
" Oh dear I bo— never." (An exclamation of surprise.) 

" Yon haven't got an egg upon yon, Mrs. Bormalack, have yon T Dear me I (how 
surprising I) one in your lap. Actually in a ladjr's lap I **- Bksakt. 

Death.-^T'o do to death—to kill. P. 

This morning a boy of fifteen was done to death by Mr. Hawes.— C. Rbadb. 

Weary to death — excessively fatigued. C. Tliis phrase really contains 
no reference to actual dying. 
The houses themselves were mostly gable-roofed, with latticed windows, which 



Debt [ 87 ] Deus 

served excellently to exdade the light, and which gave a bUnk and lackluitre look 
to the edifices, as though they were weary to death of the view over the way.— W. 
Clark Russell. 

To the cfea/A— faUlly. 

He was wounded to the death (fatally). 

At death*8 door — very near dying; on the point of expiring. P. 

Greaves bad taken her marriage to heart, and had been at death's door (very 
dangerously ill) in London.— C. Rbadr. 

In at the death — present at the final act of any exciting series of events. 
C. The phrase is borrowed from fox-hunting. 

Death on anythimj — having a great inclination for anything ; skilful or 
sure in performance. F. 

He wandered about all day, stepping now and then, as he had promised his mother, 
into the business places to inquire for employment ; but no one wanted an honest 
lad who could read, write, and was " death on Aggers " (clover at counting).— LV< qf 
PnMiiUnt Garfield. 

He tcUl be the death of me — he will cause me to die. F. Generally used 
in a joking way. 

Mrs. Squallop stared at him for a second or two in silence, then, stepping back out 

of the room, suddenly drew to the door, and stood outside, laughing vehemently 

**Mr.— Mr. Titmouse, you'll be the death of me (kill me with laughter), you will— 
you will I" gasped Mrs. Squallop, almost black in the face.— S. Warren. 

Debt.— T'o pay the debt of nature — to die. P. See Pay. 

DeliriQni. — DeliHum tremens — a dreadful disease resulting from hard 
drinking. P. Also known as d.t. and blue devih. 

I am an Englishman, and proud of it, and attached to all the national habits, 
except delirium fremeru.— C. Reads. 

Demand. — In demand — much sought after. P. 
Pet rabbits are greatly in demand (sought after) Just now. 

On demand — when asked for. P. 

He sent me a bill payable on demand (when presented at the proper time). 
Depend. — Dr.j^end vfwn it — you may be certain ; I assure you. C. 

" If so," returned ho, "depend upon it you shall feel the effects of tliis insolence." 

— GoLl>8MITII. 

Deuce. — I^tO'l/ the deuce tcith — disorganize; ruin. S. Deuce was a 
dromon among the Brigantcs, a tribe of the early Britons. 

*' Yonder is the inn," he oxclalme<l, "a handsome house enough, one must allow, 
and standing in quite a little park of its own ; but for all that I have a presenti- 
ment that the cooking will play the deuce with (completely spoil) my digestion, and 
that we shall be poisoned witli bad wine."— James Payn. 

Deus. — Dens ex machind — an unexpected deliverer or helper, who comes 
just at the very time of danger or difliculty. V. Latin. The phrase 
is a clav»ical one, and alludes to the su{)€rnatural deliverance of heroes 




DevU [ 88 ] Devil 

on the Roman stage by tlie descent of a goil, by a mechanical con- 
trivance, who bears them off in safety. 

Wkero, in thi« oaso, were we to look for the deu$ rjc mavJUnd who eliould ftiini Uie 
f«ther*8 vow and lever the dftughter*! diaini by one liApi>7 itrokeT— W. K. Nuiiuim. 

Devil. — V7ie deoWti culiyoccUe — the ^ici-son in an ccclcsiustical umiciiibly 
who liad the ungracious oifice of opposing the canonization of some 
saint. P. The Latin form of the word is advoccUuit diaboli, Tlie 
culvocatus diaholi tried to throw doubt on the sanctity and miraculous 
(Mwers of the proposed saint. In the following extract deviVn ad- 
vocate signifies **onc who tries to prove the existence of unpleasant 
qualities " : — 

Mill wu one of the eternest and most rigid repreaentativea of that northern race 
which, noiwithatanding the very different qualitlei which make it illuitrious, has so 
continued to retain its conventional reputation for harahnen and coldness that we 
are almost forced to believe there must be some truth in the imputation. 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 country- 
men.— Miu. Olipuant. 

Devil take the hindmost — the one who is hist must suffer. C. 

Mr. Eames was very averse to the whole tlieory of competition. The *' devil take 
the hindmost " scheme he called it, and would tlion go on to explain Uiat hiudmost 
candidates were often the best gentlemen, and Uiat, in this way, the devil got the 
hindmost.— A. Taollopk. 

Away we went, "Pug" ahead, "Growler" and "Caylad** scarce twenty yards from 
his brush, and the devil take tlie hindmost. Well, of course wo made sure of catching 
him in about a hundred yards. — C. Bkadk. 

T/ie devil to jtay — a heavy sum to pay back ; very serious consequences. F. 

And now Tom is come back, and there will be tlie devil to pay.— Bbsant. 
" There will be the devil to pay at the hall," said Paston. " You don't pump oat 
a mine for a trifle, and with all that building on hand."— Mas. B. Lynn Linton. 

Devil's luck — great good fortune ; astonishing luck. F. 

Mark my words, Oride : you won't have to pay his annuity very long. You have 
the devil's luck in bargains always.— Diqkbns. 

The ilevil. A phrase used to contradict a bUitcmunt that has just been 
made, or to expi-ess dissent from it. S. 

" I'm Paddy Luck, and it's meself (myself) will sell the baste (beast) for twelve 
IK>onds, and dlvil a ha'penny len " (not one halfpenny under that sum).— C. Bkaok. 
The devil was sick, the devil a monk would be ; 
The devil got well, the devil a monk was he.— OM Ilh\ftM. 
Kxp.—T\\t devil, being sick, resolved to become a monk, but when he recovered 
he was anything but a monk. 

A devil of a temper — a very bad temper. F. 

Mrs. Churchill had no more heart than a stone to people In general, and a devil of 
a temper (very bad temper).— Mmh Austkn. 

JJttiveen the devil and the dtep sta — between two menacing dangers. P. 

Bupert's position was desperate: his friends had forsaken him; he was caught 
between tlie devil and the deep sea.— OcMticutan'* Alauaziut, 18i6. 



Diamond [ 89 ] Dine 



To whip (he dtvU rowid the jtoM — to evade rules or provisions. C. 

It is asserted, indeed, in lome quarters that the dovil might be whipped roand the 
Tientsin Convention (provisions of the Tientsin Convention might be evaded) bjr 
persuading Korea to cede the Nanliow group to Cliina. — Jmjkih Mail^ 18^7. 

DtvU-may-care — reckless; heedless. C. 

I once had the honour of being on intimate terms with a mute, who, in private 
life and off dntjr, was as comical and Jocose a little follow as ever chirfied out a 
devil-may-care (reckless) song.— Dickbn.s. 

Oivt the (levil Aw due — allow even the worst man credit for what he docs 

well. P. 

Arthur Brooke was a straightforward and just young fellow; no respecter of 
Iiersons, and always anxious to give the devil his due.— W. £. Noruin. 

7*0 ItecU the deviVs tattoo — to drum witli the fingers on a window or 
a tabic. 1*. Sec Tattoo. 

Diamond. — A romjh diamond — a person with an iniattractive exterior 
who iM»8sc88C8 good qualitics of mind and heart. C. 

As for Warrington, tliat rough diamond had not had the i>olish of a dancing master, 
and he did not know how to walti.- Tiiaukkbav. 

Diamond cut diamond — a phrase used when one sharp person outwits 
another. P. 

The Irish leaders are extremely clever men, and hitherto English administrators 
Itave only coped with them in a blundering, dull-witted way. Sir Redvers Buller 
gets tlie credit of this diamond cut diamond move.- Sf. Andrewt Ciiixntt 1SS7. 

Notwithstanding their difference of years, our |>air are playing a game very com* 
nion in society, called diamond cut diamond.— O. J. Whytb-Mblvillk. 

Dickens. — What the dickenn — what the devil. S. A strong form of 

ichai. 

I cannot tell what the dickens his name is.— 8iiAKB»rieARR. 
Why the dickens don't those ]>eople go to bed ?— W. K. Noruik. 

Dickey. — Ail dickey with any one— a ho})eless case for any one; no 

chance of saving him. iS. 

Here a monk — 

Sobs out as he points to the corpse on tlie floor, 
'* "Tis all dickey with poor Father Dick— he's no more."— Bauiiam. 

Die. — 7*/rc die if throicn or ca-nt — the decision is made; the decisive 

step is taken. P. 

At all events, what use was there in delaying T The die was thrown, and now or 
ia morrow the issue must be tlie same.— Thackbrat. 

7V> die hy inrhcH—to die slowly ; to waste away slowly but stca*lily. P. 

At the time, a sudden death always seems something strange and horrible, like a 
mnnlor ; nllimuith prol»ahly nioMt of us, if wo could chooao, would ratlior bo killed at 
a blow than die by inches. — W. K NuRiiis. 

Dine. -To dine off—tn make to serve for dinner. 1*. 

Sir Tilt, tliough he dhicd off builo<l mutton, had always three fooUnon to servo it — 

TllAi'KkKAY. 




Dip [ 90 ] Ditch 

A diner-out — a man who generally dines with friends. P. 

To dine with Democrittut — to be cheated out of one's dinner. P. 

To dine lailh Sir Thomas Oresham — to go without a dinner. F. The 
London ]<}xchange was foundod by Sir Thomas (jrcshain, a mcruhuiit 
in Queen Elizabeth's time, who gave his name to ''Grcsham's Law" 
in political economy. The Exchange was a favourite lounging-place 
for penniless men. 

To dine loith Duke Humphrey — to get no dinner at all. C. Some 
gentlemen were visiting the tomb of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, 
and one of the party was by accident shut in the abl)cy. His where- 
abouts 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. 

As for the dukt in the family, I hope it will not be Duke Humphrey, and thai 
Trip will not be invited to dine with him.— & Ba.rino-Gould. 

To dine imth Mohammed — to die. P. 

To dine loith the crosa-leijtjed knujhts — to have no dinner to go to. P. 
A London phrase. 

Dip. — To dip in yall — to make very bitter. P. 

The famous Shakespearian critic Malone was the object of his special aversion, 
which was most cordially reciprocated, and often bad they transfixed one another 
with pens dipped in gall (fall of rancourX— Jambh Payk. 

Dirt. — Dirt cheap — at an excessively low price. F. 

Thirty pounds a week. It's too cheap, Johnson ; it's dirt cheap.— Dick bn>. 

To eat dirt —to submit to insult. C. 

Though they bow before a calf, is it not a golden oneT though they eat dirt, Is it 
not dressed by a French cookT— O. J. Wbytb-Mklvillb. 

DiflCOant. — At a discou^U — (a) not in demand ; not valued highly ; un- 
popular. P. 

Tliere can be no doubt tliat the old-fashioned ideas of Engliali i>ollcy in the East 
are at a discount — Furtniyhtly lUvieWf 1837. 

(6) sold at less than the market value. P. 

Watch-guards and toasting-forks were alike at a discount 

Dispose. — To dispose of— {a) to get rid of ; to free oneself from. P. 

But Wilkes had still to be disposed of.— Perot FrrzosRALD. 

The many things he had liad to think of lately passed before him in the music, not 
as claiming his attention over again, or as likely evermore to occupy it, but as peace- 
fully disposed of and gone.— Dickens. 

(6) to sell. C. 

Madam is ready to dispose of her horse and carriage if a good price is offered. 

Ditch. — To die in the lout ditch — to resist to tlic utmost ; to make a 
dc8|ierate resistance. P. 



Ditto [ 91 ] Do 

Ditto. — To 9ay ditto to — to acquiesce in; to accept the oonclusioiu or 
arrangements of others. C. 

Dr. LaTergne was a convinced Republican ; liis wife's convictions resembled thoeo 
of the wise and onassoming politician who was content to say ditto to Mr. Burke.— 
W. £. NORRIS. 

Divine. — Diinnc ritjht of kitujA — a theory, first explicitly held by James I. 
of Knghvnd, that tlio kiiig is al>ovo the law, ami answerable for his 
actions to no one. P. See Macaulay*s llxntwy of Enylaud, Intro- 
duction. 

May you, my Cam and Isis, preach it long, 
" The right divine of kings to govern wrong.'*— Popk. 
"While preachers who held the divine right of kings made the churches of Paris 
ring with declamations in favour of democracy rather than submit to the heretic dog 

of a B^rnois, Henry bore both parties in hand till he was convinced that only 

one course of action could possibly combine his own interests and those of France.— 

J. R. LOWBLL. 

jyixiB.— Dixies land — a land of plenty and happiness, celebrated in 
negro songs. Dixie was a planter in Manhattan Island, who removed 
his slaves to one of the Southern States, where they had less to eat 
and more to do, and therefore sighed for their old home. 

In Dixie's land I take my stand, 

I'll live and die for Dixie.— Popular Song. 

Do. — To do up— (a) to made tidy. F. 

" But who is to do up your room every day T" asked Violet.— Besaht. 

I could almost fancy it was thirty years liack, and I was a little girl at home, 
looking at Juditli as she sat at her work, after she'd done the house up (set the 
house in order).— Okorub Eliot. 

{h) to ruin ; to make bankrupt. C. 

He observed that there was a pleasure in doing up a debtor which none bat a 
creditor could know.— Maria Eoobwortu. 

(c) to weary. F. 



Tlie widow felt quite done up (fatigued) after her long walk. 

To do atcay xcith — to remove ; to get rid of. P. 

Delightful Mrs. Jordan, whoso voice did away with (banished) tlio caret of the 
whole house before they saw her come in.— Jambs Payn. 

To do for a man — to ruin him. F. 

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

BURTOK. 

Do tell— you astonish me. A familiar American phrase. 

" A droMmakor ! " cried her ladyship. " Do teU (that's strangeX I was in that 
line myself before I married."— Bbmant. 

To fiat't to ilo trith — to be intcrc8tc<l in : to have business with. P. 

We have, however, to do with (our business in with) only one pair who were sit- 
ting together on the banks op|io«ite Trinity.— Bbmant. 



Doctor [ 92 ] Doff 

TV) do (u^) by — to behave (well) towards. C. 

One doM h one ii done bj.— Wm. Black. 

After administering tucli a acolding ai naturally flowed froui her aniioiy to do 
well by (behave well to) her husband's niece — who had no niotlier of her own to 
scold her, poor thing t— she would often confess to her hiuband, when they were safe 
out of bearlDg, that she firmly believed *' the naughtier the little hussy l>ohavod, the 
prettier she looked."— Gkokiis Eliut. 

Well-to-do — in comfortable circumstances. P. 

He's growing up fast now, and I am pretty well-to-do (in fairly good eircnm- 

stances).— IIA.LIBURTOM. 

To do a person brown — to deceive him completely ; to hooilwiiik him. S. 

Not knowing what to do. I thought I'd hasten back to tovn. 

And b^ oar own Lord Mayor to catch the boy who'd " done me brown."— Bardam. 

To do a person in the eye — to cheat him. S. 

The jockey did your friend in the eye over that horse. 
£xji.— The jockey cheated your friend with that horse. 

Doctor. — To put the doctor on a man— io cheat him. F. 

Perhaps ways and means may be found to put the doctor upon the old prig.— Tom 
Brown. 

Doctors* Commons — the Government oihcc in Ixindon whei-e wills arc kept 
and marriages registered. iSo called because the Doctors of Civil Law 
were required to dine together (hold tlieir common meal) four days in 
each term, called ** eating their terms." 1'. 

She had a superstitious kind of notion that she would do better In a future state If 
she had been recognised by the social law in this, and that the power of THNstor's 
Commons extended beyond the office of the registrar-general. — Mrs. E. Lykm 
Linton. 

Doctors differ or disagree — there exists a grave difference of opinion. C 
A phrase in common use, employed somewhat playfully. 

But the doctors differed in their metaphysics (Uiere was a difference of opinion 
regarding the metaphysics of the question).— M. Arnold. 
Who shall decide, when doctors disagree f — Popr. 

Doe,— Doe. See John Dok. 

Dog. — The do4j of Montargis—A dog whose master was slain, and which 
showed wonderful intelligence and ferocity in its behaviour to the 
murderer. Its name was Dragon ; its master's name was Captain 
Aubri de MonUlidicr. 'I'lio murdei'cr's name was lUchaixl Mauiire. 

No doubt Diogenes is there, and no doubt Mr. Toots has reason to observe him ; 
for he comes straightway at Mr. Toots's \eg»t And tumbles over himself in the deepera- 
tion with which he makes at him, like a very dog of Montargis.— Dickens. 

A dog-in-the-mamjer—a, selfish man, who refuses to allow his neighbour 
to enjoy even wliat ho liiinself lias no use for. P. Used as an 
adjective — **a dog-in-tho-niaiiger course of conduct" 

A dog lay in a uiangor, 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 



Dofir [ 93 ] Dofir 

Uiem to his companions. " He cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow 
those to eat who can."— J?«op'« Fable*. 

** I suppose it is wrong and selfish," be said. " I suppose I am a dog in a manger." 
— A. Trollopb. 

To dog-ear a hook — to turn down tlio corners of its pages so that they 
resemble a dog's ears. P. 

They are quite young girls, who blot their books, dog-ear their dictionaries, make 
grimy their grammars, and vio with each other in committing Just as many faults 
as can possibly be made in a given number of words.— Bra ant. 

A tloff-in-a-hlankef — a kind of pudding made of dough and suet, and en- 
closing jam. C. Also called roit/-]H>tf/, 

Wo had roast beef to dinner, followed by an indigestible marmalade dog-in-a* 
blanket (roly-poly flUed with orange jamX 

Jhhj I'hrnp — very cheap. F. A corruption of iio<l-che)>r^ a go<Kl liargain. 

You got the fowls dog chea]) at a dollar forty the dozen (remarkably cheap at 
one dollar forty cents for the dozen). 

DoifH voffe — a drink composed of gin and beer. S. 

The doijM o/ivar — famine, sword, and fire. P. 

And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge. 
With Ate by his side, come hot from hell. 
Shall In these confines, with a monarch's voice. 
Cry, " Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war.— SnAKKMrrARR. 
NoU,—AV6 is the goddess of revenge. To cry " Havoc " signifies *'to order slaugh- 
ter witliout mercy." 

To f/o to the. (leys — to go to ruin. C. 

One candidate chap says, " Fellow-ciUsens, this country is going to thodofi(to 
destruction) hand over hand " (at a rapid rate). 

To I fad the l\fe of a doij or a dog's life — to pass a miserable existence. C. 
I am afraid I led that boy a dog's life (made that boy's existence miserable).— R. L. 

STBVRNtON. 

" He is properly henpeckM " (harshly used by his wife), said he. "He is afraid to 
call his soul his own, and he leads the life of a dog" (his existence Is a wretched 
oneX— Haliburton. 

A'»vry dotf /<(m /im day — the pcrio<l of enjoyment allf)wc<l to any creature 

is a short one. C. 

" Let Hercules himself do wliat ho may, 
The cat will mew, and dog will have his day."- SHAKtarBARR: Hamlei. 
And, Mr. Oreaves, I am sorry for you— you are out of luck— but every dog has bis 
day (the period of success and prosperity granted to each of us soon passes awayX— 
C Rradr. 

Kortuno was over accountoil Inconstant, and each dog has but bis day.— Carlyi.r. 

Do<j Latin- JK dckosed medieval form of I^tin, usc<l by physicians, 
lawyers, and others, to whom the language was only partially fam- 
iliar. 1'. 

It was much as if the secretary to whom was Intrusted the direction of negotia- 
tions with foreign powers had a sufficient smattering of dog Latin to make himself 
understood. — Macau LA Y. 




Doloe [ 0^ ] Double 

Oive a dog tm ill name and hang him — when a person's reputation is bad, 
all his actions, even though well-intentionecl, are viewed with sus- 
picion. It is better to get rid altogether of a man who lias lost his 
good name, existence being thenceforth a burden to him. C. 

Yon mhj mj wlut 7011 like in yonr klndnon and gencrotitj— it it a case of "give a 
dog an 111 name and hang him." The onlj question ii whether 70U are to be con- 
demned with the dog that hat been Justly regarded at a ne'er-do-well till he has been 
branded with an accusation of theft.— Sarah Tvtlkb. 

Dolce. — Dolce far niente — sweet do nothing, or idleness. C. Italian. 

The charmt of the Italian climate, the attractlont of tlio too facile Italian licautioe, 
purpoaely thrown in hit waj, and the tedncUvo dtdce far nienU tort of life Francit 
to readUj fell into, were fatal to hit militarj ardour.— Ladt Jaokhok. 

Don't. — Don't you know ? — a phrase frequently inserted in conversation, 
sometimes apologetically, sometimes to secure the better attention of 
the listener. 

*' Oh, you don't know what Brighton it at this time of year," aaid Mr. Tom. " All 
the resident people like ourtelvet keep open houte, don't you know, and very glad 
to."— Wm. Black. 

Door. — To lay at one's door — to charge one with. P. 

A great many faults may be laid at their door, but they are not fairly to be 
charged with fickleness.— J. R. Lowell. 

I made the best of a bad case, and laid it all at my Udjr*! door (attributed it all to 
my mittressX for I did not like her.— Mabla Edqkwortu. 

Next door to anything — approaching closely to it. P. 

A seditious word leads to a broil, and a riot undiminished is but next door to 
(closely resembles) a tumult.— L'Estranub. 

Dorcas. — A Dorcas society — a woman's association for providing poor 
people with clothing. P. It receives the name from Dorcas, or 
Tabitha, who matle clothes for the poor (Acts ix. 39). 

About a year ago the ladles 6t tlie Dorcas society at our church made up a largo 
quantity of shirts, trousers, and socks.— Max Adslsr. 

Dot. — Dot and carry one — irregularly ; spasmodically. F. 

I was not new to Tiolent death. I have served His Royal Highness the Dnke of 
Cumberland, and got a wound at Fontenoy ; but I know my pulse went dot and carry 
one.— R. L. SravRNtioN. 

Double.— ^o take a douUe-fn-M — to jmss for a degree at Oxford with Uio 
highest honours in two schools or departments. P. 

For instance, though I firmly believe that you could at the present moment take a 
double-first at the university, your knowledge of English literature is almost nti.— H. 
R. Haouard. 

.1 double entendre — a remark covering a concealed meaning, which has 
generally a questionable reference. C French. 

An agreeable old gentleman, who did not believe in anything particular, and had a 
certain proclivity toward dou6{< en(em2rea.— Rhoda Uuououion. 



Down [ ^^ ] Dragon 

The double lines — the name given in Lloyd's publications to the record 

of losses and accidents. C. 

One morning the tubicribora wore reading the "double llnct/* and among the 
loiaee was the total vrreck of ihii identical ship.— OM and New London. 

Double or quits. When two persons have been playing for a stake, the 
loser or the winner may give a second challenge for the same amount. 
'J'ho result of the second venture either leaves the loser twice as badly 
off as before, or makes both parties even. In making this second 
challenge the phrase ** double or quit« " is used. 

Double-dealing — duplicity; trickery. P. 

This young ladj was quite above all double-dealing; the had no mental reeenra- 
tion.— Maria Eduk worth. 

Down. — To Ite down vfwn a person — to reprove or find fault with him. F. 

Poor Buswell ! hii appearance iin't ariitocratlc, I admit, and Mrt. Greenwood waa 
rather down upon me for asking him htrt.—Oood Wordtf 1887. 

Down on their luck — (o) in an evil plight ; very unfortunate. F. 

I wouldn't turn jon away, Alan, if you were down on your luck.— IL L. Stbvbnson. 

(b) in low spirits. F. 

The order for their execution arrived, and they were down upon their luck terribly. 
— C. Kbadr. 

Down in the mouth — dispirited ; sad. F. 

Well, I felt proi>cr (very) sorry for him, for he was a very clover man, and looked 
cut up dreadfully, and amazin' (exceedingly) down in the mouth (melancholy).— 
Haliburton. 

DoWBy. — To do the downy— io lie in bed ; to sleep. S. 

And then, being well up, you see, it was no use doing the downy again, so it was 
Just as well to make one's twilight (toilet) and go to chapeL— Frrdani <7ir«ji, 
ch. vii. 

Dozen. — A baker's dozen — thirteen. Formerly l>aker8 gave an extra 
loaf or bun with every dozen sold to customers. P. Giving a man 
a leaker *s dozen is a slang expression for *' giving him an extra sound 
beating. '* 

Drag. — To drwj in by the head and shoulders— to introduce abruptly and 

without sufTicient cause. C. 

Wc have enough to do to think of ourselves in Uiese days, without dragging In the 
absent by the head and shoulders.— Florrnck Marry at. 

Dragon.— />»a(70»w* f^^fh — things which bring future destruction. P. 

Carlmus, the founder of Tlielies, 8uccee<le<l in killing a re<loubtablc 

dmgon, by Athene's aid, and sowc<l its teeth in the plain. From 

these tcctli spning up armed men, who killed each other, all except 

five, the ancestors of the Thelwins. 

French Clinton plunged headlong Into the abyss, end orders went forth like so 
mnny dragons' teeth sown hy a financial Caiiinuft.— Mrh. R. Lthn Liktom. 




Draw [ 9^ ] 



I>raw. — To draw on — to approach (of time). P. 
And 80 the time of departure drew on rapidlj.— Diokbnm. 

To draw rein — to stop ; to check onc*8 course. P. A plirasc U8C<1 in rid- 
ing and driving. 
Lanfrey drew rein at the door.— Mrs. E. Ltmn Limtok. 

To draw up — to stop ; to come to a halt. P. Almost the some as to 
draw rein. There is the notion of gradual slackening of motion, as 
in a railway train approaching a station. 

The loldier, who conducted the baggage-oart in which tlie waa, drew up to (itopiied 
at) the flnt amongst a row of miserable cabins that were bjr the roadside. 

To draw the line nbmewhere — to refuse to move outside of a certain limit 
of obnduct ; to impose an arbitrary restriction on one's behaviour from 
fear of going too far. C. 

On the principle of "doing at Tnrkej as the TurkcTS do" we should eren have 
ridden donkejs on the sand if I had not put a firm veto on it, sajing, ** We must 
draw the line somewhere.**— rA< Mi$U€to$ Bough, 1883. 

To draw a j^erson out — to lead a person to express his real opinions or 
show his real character. P. 

There are nuny subjects on which I should like to draw him out (Induce him to 
speak his mind freely).— II a li burton. 

Ho recollected that Miss Nugent had told him that this young lady had no common 
character; and neglecting his more at chess, he looked up at Miss Nugent, as much 
as to say, " Draw her out, pray."— Maria Edukworth. 

To draw the loool o\ytr — to hootlwink ; to deceive. C. 

Sir Henry was the fortunate possessor of what Pat was pleased to call " a nasty, 
glittering eye," and over that eye Pat doubted his ability to draw the wool as he 
had done over Celtic orbs.— C. Reads. 

iSz|}.— Pat doubted his ability to deceive Sir Henry as he had deceived his Irish 
friends. 

A drawn game — a game in which neither party wins. P. 

If we make a drawn game of it, every British heart must tremble.— A nPfiiON. 

To draw it mild — (a) to refrain from exaggeration. F. 

But what I mean, 
Fortification— haw I— in Indian ink, 
Tliat sort of thing ; and thougli I draw it mild. 
Yet that— haw I haw t— tliat may bo callotl inj/urU.-- O. J. Taylkv. 

{h) to refrain from excess ; to be moilerate. F. 



I say," interposed John Browdle, nettled by these accumulated attacks on his 
wife, "dra' It mild, dra' it mild."— Diokknh. 



Dree. — To dree one*H weird — to submit to one's fate. Scotch. 

Nevertheless, French must dree his weird as a brave man sliould ; and having 
drawn his lot from the hands of fate, he must obey tlie mandate written on the card. 
—Mrs. E. Lymm Linton. 



[ 97 ] Duck 



Dress. — The drtM circle — that part of a place of entortaiiinient which is 
set apart for the upper classes who come in evening dress. P. 

Drive. — To drive at anything — to speak with a certain end in view. F. 

'* What are yon driving atT" (what is jour intention in speaking at yon do) he 
went on. *' I bIiow you a bit of my hand (a ]mrt of my iclicroe), and you begin tallc- 
ing round and round " (ambiguouRlyX— Braant. 

Drop. — To drop in — to pay an informal visit. C. 

If lie could drop in (visit us in a friendly way) on Sunday week, ho might go homo 
the wiser.— Blackmorr. 

To drop off— (a) to fall asleep. F. 

Every time I dropped oflT (fell asleep) for a moment, a new nolso awoke me. — Maiik 
Twain. 

{h) to leave (in a quiet way) ; to disappear. C. 

The matrons drop|)ed off one by one, with the exception of six or eight particular 
friends, who had determined to stop all night— Dickens. 

A drop in the hvcket — a contribution scarcely worth mentioning. P. 

The lack of good water was severely felt, but this was only a more drop in the 
bucket (very small part) of their misfortunes. 

To take a drop too miirh — to get intoxicated. F. 

lie used often to take a drop too much (be the worse for liquorX 

Drown. — To droim the miller — to mix water and spirits in so unequal 
projiortions as to make the concoction unpalatable (from too much 
water). F. 

Drowning. — Droivninrj men ccUch al ^rairs. When a man is in a des- 
perate situation he seeks to save himself by every possible means, 
even when tliosc which offer are ridiculously inadequate. P. 

Either because drowning men will catch at straws, or because he had really mis- 
placed confldence in my abilities, this assurance seemed to comfort him a great deal. 
— W. E. NoRRia 

DrUfC. — A dnnj in the inarht—M\ unsaleable commo<lity. P. 

Watch-gnanls and toasting-forks were alike at a discount, and sponges were a 
dnig in tlie market (found no one to buy them).— Dickknh. 

Dry. — A Hfirring of the dry honcn — a revival of life where all seems dead. 

P. Biblical. See Ezck. xxxvii. I-IO. 

Every nation, when first itfonli the sllr snd tonch of a now life, will commit follies 
and ezcemes: when that now life Is felt In the botly of literature and art, the follies 
and excesses will be greater—not, of course, of such national greatness, but greater 
comiiarativcly— Uian wlien the dry bones of politics are stlrTe<l.— r«wpl< JJnr, 18S7. 

Duck, — To male durku and tlraheA of a pro]^rty—Ui spend it foolishly. 
C Making ducks and drakes is a game played with a flat piece of 
stone or metal, whicli, wlien flung with its broad surface almost parallel 

7 




DuU [ 98 ] Dutch 

to smooth water, skips np and down like a bird. It would be foolish 

to use coins for such a purpose. 

A fine thing for her, tiut was a poor girl withooi a farthing to her fortune. It's 
well if the doesn't make ducks and drakes of It (foolishlj spend it) somehow.— 
OsoRas EuoT. 

A lame duch — a man who cannot pay his debts on tlie Stock Exchange. F. 

A ducl^s egg — nothing. S. A phrase used at schools and colleges wlien 
a batsman in a cricket-match scores 0. 
He got a duck's egg (no marks) at the last examination. 

DulL — DM as ditch-tPcUer — wholly uninteresting. F. 

What passed through his mind was something like the following: "Heighol O 
Lord I Dull as ditch- water I This is mj only holiday, jet I don't seem to enjoy it**— 
S. Warrkn. 

Dumb. — A dumb dog — a person who remains silent when he ought to 

speak out and protest. P. 

He will he afraid to tell them unpalatable truths. The minister will be a dumb 
dog (silent, when he should reprove them).— Ualibortom. 

The Dumb Ox of Cologne — Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), so called from 
his dreamy and taciturn disposition ; known afterwanls as the *' An- 
gelic Doctor " and the * * Angel of the Schools. " 

Dumps. — In the dumps — sulky ; in a bad temper. F. 

Johnnie is in the dumps (sulky), and won't play with the other boys. 

Durance. — Durance vile — irksome imprisonment. C. A phrase gener- 
ally used playfully. Found in a play of W. Kenrick's (1766). Burke 
uses the form tnle durance in Thoughts on the Present Discontents 
(Bartlett's Familiar Quotations), 

In durance Tile here must I wake and weep. 
And all my frowsy couch in sorrow steep.— Burns. 
If he gave them Into custody with the railway people he could prove nothing. 
They were two to one. They would not hesitate to swear bUck was white, and they 
might easily turn Uie tables upon him, and perhaps succeed In transferring lilm to 
durance vile instead of themselves.— O. J. Wuytk-Mklvillr. 

Dust.— 7*0 throw dust in a man*s eyes— to try to lead him astray. P. 

All of these knew whether Mr. John was Uunching thunderbolts (uttering threats) 
or throwing dust (trying to deceive), and were well aware that he liad quite taken up 
with the latter process in the Deckloy case.— Bijickmouk. 

He cared to say no more; he had thrown quite dust enough Into honest Adam's 
eyes (deceived honest Adam quite enoughX— Okorok Euot. 

To raise a dust — to make a commotion. C. 

There was small reason to raise such a dust (cause such a disturbance) out of a few 
indiscreet words.— Hack bt. 

Dutch. — A Dutcli auction — an auction where goods are started at an ex- 
travagantly high price, and then gradually lowercil in price until Uie 



DutohxncLn [ ^^ ] ^^^ 



people show a willingness to buy tliem. C. A common method of 
business among travelling peddlers. 

They (the poliUcians) are alwayi bidding against each other in the Dutch auction 
bj which we are being brought down surely, though by a protracted process, to the 
abolition of evei7 sort of qualification.— Goldwin Smith, in Contemjtorary Review, 
1887. 

Dutch conmrjc — courage that results from indulgence in strong drink. 

P. Probably the phrase arose from the extensive use of Dutch gin, 

known as Hollands. 

We cannot easily belieTe that refractory patients are plied with spirits to glre them 
Dutch courage and Induce them to undergo operations. — Spectaivr, Decembtr 17, 1887. 
You shall have some fizz to give you Dutch courage.— Bim ant. 

A Dutch concert — a concert or musical gathering at which each {Kirson 
sings his own song, without reference to that of his neighbour. F. 

A DiUrh uncle — a clumsy, uncouth man. 
You look like a Dutch uncle since you shaved. 

As will be seen from the above instances, the word Dutch is used 
somewhat contemptuously to signify what is clumsy, foolish, or ab- 
surd. See Lowell's remarks in his essay On a Certain Condescension 
in Foreigners ('* My Study Windows," Camclot Classics, pp. 57, 58). 

Dutchman. — Then I'm a Dutchman. A phrase used after a supposition 
has been made, in order to show its absurdity. 

"Tom," said the other doggc<lly, "if there is as much gold on the ground of Now 
South Wales as will make me a wedding-ring, I am a Dutchman."— C. Rkadb. 

There's mettle In that lad, and If I can't lick him Into shape, I'm a Dutchman.— CL 
J. Whitr-Milvillb. 



E. — E. anil O. E. — errors and omissions excepted. Often added to an 
account when presented. 

Ear. — To ijivt ear — to listen. P. 

"Mr. Uttcrson, sir, asking to see you," he ciUed ; and even as he did so, once 
more violently signed to tlie lawyer to give car.- K. L. Stevkmsom. 

Altont one*M ear/*— in a confused heap ; in a falling mass of ruin. C. 

You'll have tlicMo universities of yours about your ears soon If you don't consent to 
take a lesson from (Icrniany.— A. Trollops. 

To sei hy the ears — to cause a quarrel. C. 

I little thouglit when I ran in with Miss Derry's good news that It would htve the 
effect of setting us all by the enrs (causing us all to quarrel).- A. Kkary. 




Ease [ 100 ] Eat 

By the edr«— quarrelling. 0. 

Take aoy two men that are bj the eart (qnarrolling): they opinlonato all thej hear 
of each oUier, impnte all sorts of unworthy motivoii, aiul uiUuonttnto every a«t.— 
Haubuktom. 

Little pitchern fiave lomj ears, Soo Pitciikil 

Ease. — At ease in one*8 inn — thoroughly at home and comfortable. P. 
An old-fashioned phrase. 

Shall I not take mine ease In mine Inn ?— Shakigspsark : 1 Henry TV. 

On ordinary occasions he was dinWlont and even awkward in his manners, bnt hvn 
he was "at ease In his inn," and felt called upon to show his manhood and enact the 
experienced traTeller.— Wahiiimgton Irvimo. 

Standing al ease — a military posture, wliicli gives rest to the legs. P. 

So the ladies sat in a circle, and the gentlemen stood at ease, tired out before the 
close of the evening.— //arper** Magazine, March 1888. 

Ill at ease — in an unquiet state ; restless. P. 

But the general Is III at ease ; he cannot get tlutt infernal anonymous letter out of 
his head.— O. J. Whytb-Mklvillk. 

EoM, her — the conmiand given when the engines of a steamer are to lio 
reduced in speed; generally followetl by the order, ** Stop her." P. 

To ease aicay a rope — to slacken it gradually. P. 

Easy. — Ecuty come, easy go — what is gained without difficulty is resigned 
or spent without much thought. C. 

Eat. — To eat one*s loords — to take back what one has said; to retract 
assertions too boldly made. C. 

** I will swear by it (ray sword) that you love me ; and I will make him eat it that 
says I love not yon.'* 

*' Will you not eat your wordT** (repent of what you have said).— Suakvapk ark. 

" That's a first-rate notion, I must say I " excUhned Mr. Hobday. " I'm to begin 
by eaUng my words and marrying my daughter to a man whom I said she shouldn't 
marry."— W. E. Norkis. 

To eat for the bar — to prepare oneself to be a barrister. C. Those 
studying for entrance to the bar are required to be present at a certain 
number of dinners in the Temple or in Gray's Inn. 

If jou bind him with leading-strings at college, he will break loose while eating for 
tlie bar in London.— A. Trollops. 

To eat out one's heart — to suffer intensely from disappointment and 
forced inactivity. C. 

She withdrew, covered with mortification, to hide her head and eat out her heart 
In tlie privacy of hor own uncomfortable home.— (/mf/eman's Magatine^ 1883. 

To eat the air — to Ihj deluded with hopes. P. 

T eat the air (am deluded with false hopes) promise-crammed.— SnARRSPKARR. 



Boho [ 101 ] Bl Dorado 

Echo. — To the echo — vehemently ; enthusiastically. P. 

When our pbiloaophical Liberal friendii saj that by universal toffrage, pablio 
meeting!. Church disestablishment, marrying one's deceased wife's sister, secular 
schools, industrial development, man can very well live ; and tliat if he studies the 

writings, say, of Mr. Herbert Spencer into the bargain, he will be perfect the 

masses, far from checking tliem, are disposed to applaud them to the echa— M. 
Abkold. 

Edge. — To })lay tcUh eilf/c-tools — to sport with whiit is dangerous. P. 
Yon Jest; ill jesting with edge-tools (on dangerous subjects).— Tkhnvson. 

To set Uie teeth on ed^je — to cause unpleasant sensations. P. 

I had ratiicr hear a brazen canstick turned, 

Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree; 

And that would set my teeth nothing on edge. 

Nothing so much as mincing poetry.— SiiAKBsrKARB. 

Eel. — To ffH UJtcd to anythimjt like an eel to skinning, A sarcastic 
phrase, used of any painful experience which is repeated. C. 

It ain't always pleasant to turn out for morning chap«>I, is It, Gig- lamps? But 
it's just like the eeli with their skinning— it goes against Uie grain at first, but you 
soon get used to it.— Verdant Qreen, ch. vii. 

Effect. — In effect — really ; actually. P. 

To say of a celebrated piece that there are faults in it is, in effecl (reallyX to ny 
that the author of it is a man.— A udisun. 

To tnlr, rffert — to oiKjnito ; to act as intended. P. 

The medicine took effect, and the patient fell into a sound sleep. 

Egg. — To egtj on — to urge ; to incite. P. 

Slio would then bo in a better |>osiUon to judge how far It was the girl's own doing, 
and how far she had been egged on to it by otliers.— Afurray's Jla^osine, 18b7, 

As mre as eggs is eggs — certainly ; assuredly. S. Perhaps a corruption 
of " as sure us x is x " — a dictum in logic. 

And the bishop said, "Sure as eggs Is eggs, this here is the bold Turplo.**— 
DicKKwa. 

To have all one^s eggs in one Itasket — to risk all one's goods ui the same 
venture ; to have everything dependent on the security of one par- 
ticular thing or one particular undertaking. C 

I know your happiness depends on her. All your eggs are In that one basket.— 
C. Ubadb. 

A Uul egg — a worthless fellow. S. 

The parson's eldest son is a ImmI egg (worthless fellowX 

£1 Dorado.— i^H Kl Dorwlo—ti golden lan<l ; a country full of gold anil 
gems. 1*. Tlic expression is a SiMvnish one, and is generally nssociatod 
with the discoveries S[>ani8h adventurers made in the fifteenth and 
sixteenth centuries. 
The whole comedy Is a sort of El Dorado of wit.— T. MooJis. 




Elbow [ 102 ] Bn 

ThM9 public rMullngi have proved an El Dorado (a mine of wealth) to the novelist, 
^ and form a new feature in the modern literary life.— C/tamberf*! Cyelopadia qf EngliJi 
LUeratHre. 
" Whjr, the doUan oome in bj bandfola, and tilk't at cheap as calico. ** 
How could woman resist such an El Dorado?— O. J. Wuytk-Mslvillk. 

Elbow. — Elbow-grecue — hard scrubbing ; hard work. F. 

" Not at all, Mrs. Bronghton ; success depends on elbow-grease.'* 
"On what, Conway r" 

" On elbow-gr e a s e hard work, that is ; and I must work hard now if I mean to 
take advantage of to-day's sitting."— A. Trollopx. 

Elbow-rootn — room in which to move easily ; sufficient space. F. 

"You will have elbow-room out here, eh?" said he. "Yon will not crowd your 
neighbours off the pavement.**— Wm. Black. 

Whatever the result of the convulsion whose first shocks were beginning to be felt, 
there would still be enough square miles of earth for elbow-room.— J. R. Luwkll. 

Out at elbowa — shabbily dressed ; wearing ragged clothes. C. 

When a man's getting out at elbows (dress becomes shabby) nobody will believe in 
him.— Gborob Euot. 

Elephant. — To have seen the elephant — to be acquainted with all the 

latest movements ; to be knowing. S. 

He is quite well able to take care of himself; he has seen the elephant (is a cntij 
fellow). 

Elevation. — The elevation of the Hoat — the part of the Mass in which 
the celebrant raises the consecrated wafer above his head to bo adored 
by the people (Roman Catholic Church). 

Eleventh. — At the eleventh hour — just in time and no more. P. See 
tlie parable of the Labourers in tlie Vineyard, Matt. xx. 1. 

Sir, have yon no shame to come here at the eleventh hour among those who have 
borne the heat and burden of the day?- R. Lu Stbvbkson. 

Embarras. — Emharraa de richesse — excess of material ; the perplexity 
which arises from the difficulty of choice among very many things. P. 
French. 

" I wonder if anybody ever had half so much to say before in a letter as I have 
to write to Jack," speculated Miss Gray, leaning forward on her crossed arms, and 
not knowing where to begin from sheer embarras de ricAcsse.- Sarah Tytlbb. 

En. — En rapjxtrt — in sympathetic connection. C. French. 

Your primary object is, by organising your brotherhood and putting it en rapport 
with the leaders of education in tliis country, to secure for it increased respect. — 
Journal of Education, 1888. 

En gar^n — as a bachelor ; in iMichelor's style. C. French. 

George came to dinner— a repast en ^arpcm— with Captain Orawicy.— Toackbrat. 

En maaae — in a body. P. French. 

They Uiorefore turned to the bourgeoisie m maeee (in a body).— ^«(i«mal lUvkw. 



End [ 103 ] Bver 

En route — iii the course of the journey. C. French. 

The DetpdaU, en rtmU from Japan for Auitralia and New Zealand porta, was char- 
tered to load part cargo of coals for Hongkong at 1 dollar 50 cents per ton.— Vapan 
Mail, 1H87. 

Moreover, he had no intention of paying en route (until the dose).— Mks. E. Lymn 
Linton. 

End. — On end — in succession ; without a break. C. 

Teasants who have begun to save constantly continue the waj of living we have 
describetl for years on end.— Spectator, J8S7. 

To make both eudu meet — to make one's incoin^^ cover one's expenditure ; 
to keep out of debt. P. 

Even Mr. Whichelo, the head clerk, whose children were often ailing, and who 
had a good deal of trouble to make both ends meet (keep out of debt with his small 
income) smiled benign uiion Kate.— Mks. OurnANT. 

No end of a fellow — a very fine fellow. S. 

Keats was no end of a fellow (a grand manX— Brmanf. 

Enough. — Enoutjh and enough — more than enough. P. 
The play has wit enough and enough.— Ma dam r D'Ardlay. 

Enouffh is as good as a feast — what is sutBcient serves the purpose as well 
as if there were an excess. C. 

The Koh-i-noor had got enough, which In most cases is more than as good as a 
feast— O. W. Holm EM. 

Entre. — Entre nous — "between ourselves." Used when a confidential 
statement is made. P. French. 

Entre ncui, I protest I like my Lady Blarney vastly ; so very obliging. Uowerer, 
Miss Carolina Wilhelmlna Amelia Skeggs has my warm heart.-^-GoLDeMiTO. 

E^uaL —Equal to the occoMon — not perplexed ; able to act. P. 

The " Raven,** however, is more than equal to the oociMon.— Edinburgh RevUw, 
2887. 

Esprit. — Esprit de corjts — the desire to defend the institution or company 
to which one belongs. P. French. 

But when her attention was arrested, as In the present case, her aprit de eorp$ and 
her frlenilshlp were alike up In arms.— Sarah Tytlkm. 

Et. — Et hoc ifenus om^e— and everything of the sort; and all similar 
beings or things. C. Latin. 

And with these forlorn creatures roust be taken into account other»— older, but in 
tills re«i>oct equally forlorn— the whole race of shop-girls, errand-boys, young naaldens, 
el hoe i/entu otHne.—KiliHburyk iiVrietc, JSS7. 

Event.— ^' all rirM/^— whatever hapi)cnA; in any case. P. 

At all events (in any case), CnnsUncc, you will go on to prove it by your original 
papers when you publish your researches.- Bbhamt. 

Evcr.—A'wcr and anon — frc<iucntly ; from time to time. P. 

Ever and anon a pamphlet issued from Uie |)eu of Durkc.— lisNur Morlsv. 




Bvery [ 104 ] Exception 

Every. — Every &i^— quite ; altogether. C. 
The oop7 if wry bit (quite) m good m the original. 

Every now and then — frequently ; after the lapse of short intervals. C. 
ETwy now and then a coantrjrman would bunt into tears.— Tuackbuat. 

Evidence. — In evidence — actually present ; before the proper authori- 
ties. P. 

He persuaded himself that to get a lucrative appointment from his friends ho 
(Moore) must keep himself in evidence.— ^nq^ctopccdia Britannica, Ninth Edition, 
The sister whose presence slie had relied on was not in evidence.— l»I(idl;ioMNf« 

Evil. — The evil eye — malign mfluence (supposed to exist in the glxuice of 
certain persons). P. 

Evelyn himself Informs us how Sir Stephen contrived to escape the evil eje (bad 
influence) which ordinarily pursues a self-made man. — Trbvbltan. 

Ewe. — A eioe lamb — a single possession very much prized by its pos- 
sessor. See the parable of the £wo Lamb told by Nathan to King 
David (2 Sam. xu. 1-14). 

To be sure, there had t>een black sheep here and there— a Covenanter to shame his 
. royal kinsmen; a ruffian in the dislocated times of the Second James, who had 
flouted the law, defled God and the devil alike, devoured of his flock such ewe lamba 
as pleased his fancy. — Mita. E. Lynk Linton. 

Ex. — Ex pexle Ilerndem — we recognize Hercules from the size of his 
foot ; that is, we judge of the whole by a typical part. P. Latin. 

Ex ptd§ HereuUm may often prove safe enough, but ex verruca TuUiwn (to recog- 
nise Cicero from the wart on his nose) Is liable to mislead a hasty Judge of his feUow- 
men. — O. W. Holmbs. 

Ex officio — by virtue of one's office. P. Latin. 

All over the Continent the ministers of the crown or of the republic sit ex ojflcio 
in either house from the day they are appointed.— 5|KC(ator, 1SS7, 

Ex parte — biassed ; one-sided ; partial. P. Latin. 

Or perhaps I ought to have suppressed the note altogether on the ground that it 
was a mere ex parte statement.— PaorBSHOR Huxlby. 

Ex cathedrd — made with authority ; dogmatic. P. Latin. 

So It has happened, not rarely, that criticism has flagrantly blundered and made 
Itself ridiculous in its ex cathedrd decisions on the merits of poetry and poets.— Ray 
Palm BR. 

Ex post facto — after the deed is done. P. Latin. An ex jh)hI facto 
law is a law mode to punish deeds already committed. 

There were libels, no doubt, and prophecies, and rumours, and suspicions, strange 
grounds for a law inflicting capita! penalties ex post /<uto (of a retrospective natureX 
on a Urge body of men.— If aoaulay. 

Exception. — To take exception — to be offended. P. 

Her manner was so perfectly respectful tliat I could not take eicepUon to (flnd 
fault with) this retort.— Fa rjbon. 



Execution [ 105 ] Bye 



Execution. — To do execution — to be effective; to secure victims; to win 
conquests. C. Generally used of a lady's eyes, which ore supposed to 
capture a man's heart. 

SopbU't featoret were not lo ttriklng at first, bat often did more certain execution. 

— OOLDSNITH. 

She is a stout, stnrdjr girl of two-and-twentj, with a face beaming with good nature 
and marknl dreadfulljr by small-pox, and a pair of black eyes which might have done 
some execution had they been placed In a smootlier face.— T hack bray. 

Exeter. — Exeter JIall— the place in London where religious gatherings 
take place ; the religious community. 

Thither (to Africa) Manchester turns her longing eye, thither the heart of Exeter 
Hall is yearning.— Grant Allbn, In Contemporary RevieWt 1888. 

Exeunt. — Exeunt owi;w.h— all go out (at the end of a scene). P. Latin. 

Expense. — At another's cxjKiise — with a view to depreciate the per- 
son. P. 

These satirical obsenratlons were made simply at Prince Albert's expense (solely 
with the riew of depreciating Prince Albert), and were not Intended to reflect upon 
the Queen or the Royal Ftanilj.— Fortnightly Review, 1887. 

Experimentum. — Experimentum cruets — the critical test. P. Latin. 

" Boiled Just three hours longer than the other," he said ; '* six hours in alL Tliis 
is the exptritnentum crtuH*."—0. W. Holm us. 

Experto. — ExjkHo crede — believe one who has gone through the cx- 
l)cricncc. C. Latin. 

" WeU, if he wags his taU, you know it is all right; but say he puts his taU between 
his legs, wliat will he do if yon pat him ? ** 
" Bite me, experto crede."— C. Rkadb. 

Eye. — To make eyes at — to gaze upon amorously ; to look at in a loving 
way. C. 

On the other hand, he had a word or two of serious warning to say about Miss 
Sparks. "It is all very well," he wrote, "to laugh at the young lady who makes 
eyes at you, but Jokes of that kind sometimes turn out to be no laughing matter.** — 
Good Worde, 1887. 

The eye of the /?a/^ic— Gothland, or Gottland, an island in the Daltic. P. 

The eye of Greece — Atlicns. P. A name applied to it by Milton — 
Paradise Bcfjaiticd, hk. ii\, I. S4O: — 

Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts. 

To haiyf a tjood eye to auythitig — to look well after it ; to bo quick in 
recognizing. C. 

I remember her, however, as a sensible woman, and, having a good ejre to the 
main chance (being careful of money), she had been a capital wife to William.— 
lluuii Conway. 

To see with haJfan eye — to see with great ease. F. 




Paoe [ 106 ] Face 

To cast 8heep*8 eyes cU — to gaze at in a modest and diffident but longing 
way, like a bashful lover. C. 

There came a wealth/ stock-broker who cast sheep's ejes at Helena.— 37te Mi$U«to$ 
Bough, 18S5. 

The knight acknowledged that he had long been casting a sheep's eje at a little 
snug place.— Maria EiMiswoiiTU. 

Up to the eyes — completely ; fully. C. 

A neighbour's estate, mortgaged ap to the eyes, was sold under the hammer (mort- 
gaged to its full value, was sold by auction).— C. Rkadk. 

In the w'uuVa eye — directly op[)08cd 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 tlie very wind's eye (right against the wind).— Hau- 

BURTON. 

My eye ! — an exclamation of astonishment. S. 

Down comes Mr. Yates, and there was the elephant standing across Maiden Lane 
—all traflic interrupted except what could pass under her belly. And such a crowd 
—my eye I— C. Rkadb. 

To see eye to eye — to have the same opinions on any subject. C. A 
phrase mostly used in religious circles. 

Until we can see eye to eye (have the same views) on this question of Church 
government, it is better that wo should worship apart. 



Face. — A long /ace — a sad or mournful countenance. C. 

Everybody was punctual, everybody in their best looks ; not a tear, and hardly a 
long face (melancholy countenance) to be seen. 

To set ont^sface ayaiiist — to oppose with determination. P. 

The old man set his face against (sternly opposed) the marriage from tlie very bO' 
ginning. 

To make faces — to contort the countenance. P, 

One of tlie pupils, a mischievous little fellow, was making faces (oontortiiig hit 
countenance) at the master from a back seat. 

To put a ijoodface — to bear up courageously ; to show no signs of flinch- 
ing. C. 

In a word, Mrs. Bute put a good face against fortune, and kept up appearances in 
the most virtuous manner.— Tiiack a ray. 

Face to fact — in inuncdiutu presence of eiich other. 

&he sent for Ulancho to accuse her face to face (In hur preseuceX— Tbmmyson. 



Facile [ 107 ] Fair 

To /ace a thiwj out — to refuse to retire through alionie or for fear of 

obloquy. P. 

8he thinks with oaths to face the matter out— BiiAKK^rRAnB. 
JExp.— She thinks that she will be able to maintain her Innocence in the matter 
bjr taking grave oatlia. 

To ptU a bold face t(;)ait — to act boldly, as if there was nothing to be 
ashamed of. P. 

Dundas had little, or rather nothing to sajr in defence of his own consistencj ; but 
he put a bold face on the matter, and opposed the motion.— Maoaulat. 

FacilS. — Facile princejw — an easy victor ; admittedly first. P. Latin. 

Tlie special lino tliat Sir W. llarcourt has undertaken is political torgiversation, 
and in that lie is facile jtrincejis, and has loft all comiiotilors behind. — Lord 
SAunnuRY, 18S7. 

Facings. — To jnU one throxujh one's facings — to examine ; to inspect. C. 

The Greek books were again had out, and Grace, not at all unwiUinglj, was put 
through her facings.— A. Thollopb. 

Fag. — The fay end — the closing piece of any work, where the interest 

flags. P. 

The subject (of sympathy shown to convicted criminals) Is full of interest as a 
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. 
—Timet, 1SS7. 

Fair. — Fair fjame — oixsn to attack ; deserving of banter or criticism. C. 

Itounrionno is fair game, but the whole of his statements are not worthlesi.^ 
Siwtatar, Feb. 18, 1888. 

/hir and square — honest ; just. C. 

Ills conduct all through the transaction has been fair and square (honourable). 

To be on the fair tray or fair road to anything — to have every chance of 

attaining anything. C. 

The merchant gained largely over the late demand for silk, and is now on the fair 
way (almost certain) to make a fortune. 

To bid fair — to promise well. P. 

Tlio lad bids fair to rival (gives ])romise of rivalling) his elder brother in 
scholarship. 

Fair 7>/ay— courteous and just treatment of competitors or enemies. P. 

I did that to get clear of the crowd, so that I might have fair play at him (struggle 
with him on equal terms).— Haliburton. 

A wide career of unequalled security, witli emoluments undoubtedly lIlMral for the 
average of goo<l service, and with tlie moral certainty of fair play In promotion, has 
been oiwned up to character and talent throughout the land without distinction of 
class.— W. K. (tijinsTONR. 

/hir and tn/t/i/ ifofn far in a r/ay— courtesy and moderation enable a 
man to eOect a great deal. C. An Irish proverb. 

"Slow and sure," said his friends, "fair and softly gnri far in a day. What be 
has, hull hold fast ; tliat's more than Marvel over did."— Mahia Kiwkwortu. 



Faith [ 108 ] FaU 

Faith. — In good faith — without treachery ; honourably. 

Then was no doabt In anj one's mind that Allen's father had acted In good faith 
(honestly). ~B uiiMT. 

Fall. — To fall away — to degenerate. P. 

The temptations of the lower-fourth soon proved too strong for him, and be rapidlj 
fell away.— HuoHBa. 

To fall aioayfrom — to abandon ; to desert. P. 

'* We shall beat him yet," said Hawes, assuming a firmness he did not feel, lest this 
man should fall away from him, and perhaps bear witness against him.— C. Rbauk. 

TofaUJlaL — to cause no amusement or uiterest. C. 

It (the paper read by Warren Hastings) fell flat, ss the best written defence must 
have fallen flat on an assembly accustomed to the animated and strenuous confUcta 
of Pitt and Fox. — Maoaulay. 

Uer remark fell flat — every one knows the effect of the reproduction of a woni>ont 
Jest— and had a sobering effect upon the little oompany.-^AMBS Path. 

To fall foul of—io collide with ; to dash against ; to unwittingly attack ; 
to quarrel with. P. 

In their sallies their men might fall foul of (attack) each other.— Clarkndok. 
Ue hod not been seated at table five minutes before he Iiod managed to fall foul of 
everybody within roach. — Good ll'viiftf, 1^7. 

'£ofaU %H^(a) to toko one's place in the ranks. P. A military phrase. 
Ere Charlie had finished his ration, dark though it was, the men bad fallen In.— 

Q. J. WUYTK-M KLVILLK. 

(6) to become the property of a person after the laijse of a certain 



time. P. 

And then the Inheritance fell in.— Bbsant. 

At his lordship's death in the Spanish campaign, in the year 1811, his estate fell In 
to the family of the Tiptoffs.— Tuackkray. 

To fail in with — to meet with ; to come across. P. 

"Did you ever fall in wiUi any Yankees?" 
" One or two, dr."— C. Rkadk. 

To fall off— {a) to diniinisli ; to lose ground ; to deteriorate. P. 

One regrets to note that after her engagement to Tom there came a sad falling olT 
in her thirst for knowledge.— Biuant. 
" You have Improved so upon the old days," said the archdeacon. 
" I hope we have not fallen off," said the bishop with a smile.— A. Trollopk. 

(6) to become less attractive ; to be less pretty. C. 

She did not know how much her beauty had grown since Valentine found out and 
provided for her an infallible remedy against the dreadful disease known to girls as 
"falling off."— Besant. 

To fail out — (o) to quarrel. P. 

I did upbraid her and fall out witli her.— Siiakkspsarv. 

She uuderstoo«l tliat lie was a man of rank who had fallen out with his relatives, 
who held no communication with liim ; but how tlie estrangement had taken placa 
she did not understand.— JAMa« Payn. 



Family [ 109 ] Fancy 

[h) to happen. P. 

If all things fall out (happen) right, 
I shall as famous be by this exploit 
As Sc/thian ThomyHs by Cyrns' death.— Shakkhpkark. 
And it fell out with me, as it falls out with so vast a majority of my fellows, that I 
chose the better part.— R. L. SrEvxNsoN. 

To /of I throuijh — to be abandoned (of a scheme). P. 

These arrangements would fall through, and it was easy to know what would 
follow.— Froudk. 

To fall to — to commence with energy (generally Baid of eating). C. 

"Tlie Bells do, father," laughed Meg, as she set the basin and a knife and fork 
before him. "Wellf 
'*8eem to, my pet," said Trotty, falling to with groat vigour.— Dickknm. 

To /of I to the <f round — (a) to fail from lack of support ; to be abandoned 

(of some pro^iosition). P. 

Yon had better let them know that Sir Abraham is of opinion that there is no case 
at any rate against Mr. Harding, and that as the action is worded at present it must 
fall to the ground.— A. Trollops. 

(/>) to liave no practical effect. 

These were your wonls, sir ; they did not fall to the ground.— C Rbadr. 
If we were trying to hold Egypt against France, the whole of these calculations fall 
to the ground —#'or(ni(/At/t/ Review^ JfiS?. 

To fail nhorl — to l>e deficient. P. 

Her place had been supplied by an excellent woman, who had fallen little short of 
(iiosriy equalled) a mother in affection. —J an ic Aurtrn. 

To fall in lo\t with — to become enamoured of. P. 

On our flrst acquaintance I clearly saw that he was not dixposed to pay court to my 
fortune, and I hod also then coolness of Judgment sufflcient to perceive tluit It was 
not probable he should fall in love with my person.— Maria Edobwortii. 

To try a fall — to engage in a wrestling match. P. 

Yon sliall try but one fall (engage only once in a wrestle with each otherX — 

SlIAREMPBARB. 

To fall vfton ont'^ferA — to cscaixs injury ; to Ihj fortunate. C. The meta- 
phor is 1)orrowed from the natural fact that a cat, when thrown from 
a height, alights on its feet, and tims escapes any serious hurt. 
As usual, I observe that you have fallen upon your feet— JkfaciNiZ/an't Magixime^ 

Family. — A jkymh of family — a well -bom person. P. 

And Mr. Irwine's sliiteni, as any person of family 0*dy or gentleman) within ten 
miles of Jtroxon could have tcstiOe<l, were sudi stupid, uninteresting wonen.— 
(2KoRfiK Kliot. 

Fancy. — Fancy free, — with the affections not engaged. P. 

In maiden me<IitaUon, fancy free.— Siiabbkprarb. 

Hail she dared to say so, she might have hinted very protilly thai with him the 
sunshine would return to Norfolk Street ; but she was no longer fancy free (she was 
DOW devoted to a lover).— Jambs Tayn. 




Far [ no ] Fast 

TJie fancy — sporting characters ; prize-fighters ; dog-fanciers. S. 

The patrons of the f ancj (prixe-flghting) are proud of tliolr champion's conditloo. 
— GxouQX Kliot. 

Fax. — Far gone — deeply affecte<l by some strong influence, such as 
disease, drink, or love. C. 

He felt a Toid In his heart that quite startled him. He had no idea he was so far 
gone (in loveX— O. J. Whytx-Mklvillk. 

It was a fortunate circumstance for Miss Fannjr Sqneers that when her worthf 
papa returned home on the night of the small tea-partj, be was what the initiated 
term too far gone (too drunli) to observe the numerotu tokens of extreme vexation 
of spirit which were clearlj visible In her countenance.— Diokkmh. 

A far cry — a long distance. P. A phrase borrowed from the well- 
known saying, *' It is a far cry to Lochawe." 

It is a far crj from Paris to Kairwan.— ^orfniffAtly Review, 1887. 

It is a far crjr from Portugal to Bohemia.— CoKfemjMmiri/ Review, 1887. 

Far and aioay — completely ; beyond comparison. P. 

Public opinion is not altogether wrong in crediting the Jews with an amount of 
wealth larger bjr a good deal than is their due, and, what is perhaps more to the 
point, a proportion of rich families far and awaj bejond anything tliat is found 
among Gentiles. — Spcdator, 1887. 

Far niente — do nothing ; idleness. An Italian phrase. See Dolcb far 

NIKNTK. 
The /ar niente of her Italian life had entered into her very soul.— A. Trollops. 

Far from it — not at all ; by no means. P. 

" Mr. Dickson, you say, is not, strictly speaking, handsome 7** 

*' Handsome i Oh no ; far from it (anything but that)— certainly plain.'*— Jamb 

AUSTXH. 

Farthest. — At farthest; at (he farthest — making the largest possible 
allowance of time. P. 

Parliament will certainly rise the first week in April at farthest (not later than the 
first week in April).— CuxsTXRrixLD. 

Fashion. — After a fashion — to a certain degree ; in a certain nominal 
way (generally said disparagingly). P. 

He knows French after a fashion (has a certain knowledge of French; not a 
tliorough knowledge). 

Fast. — ^V) play fast and loose or at fast and loose — to act in a way in- 
consistent with one's promises or engagements ; to l)ehave with incon- 
stancy ; to show no consideration for. P. 

And shall these hands, so lately purged of blood, 
PUy fast and loose with (disregard) faith?— Shakkspxarx. 
I hoped you had more j)ride than to let him play fast and loose with you in this 
manner— Florxncr Marrvat. 

"It's a shame, by heavens!" said George, "to play at fast and loose with a 
young girl's affections."— TuACKKRAV. 



Fat [ 111 ] Feast 

Fat. — To live on the fat of the laiid — to have every luxury. P. 

It U well known that the familjr of the Slopes never Biarye : thejr alwayt fall on 
their feet like cata ; and let them fall where thej will, they live on the fat of the 
land.— A. Trollopb. 

The fat is in the fire — there is a great splutter and confusion. F. 

ITe'i a credit to 7onr nation, that man. Ife'e actually the first pot>hook on the 
crane ; the whole weight is on him : If it weren't for him the fat would be in the fire 
in no time (tilings would very quickly be in oonfusIonX— Hauburton. 

To kill the fatted caJf—Uy prepare the best foo<1 in the house for an ex- 
pected guest. P. The phrase is used in the parable of the Prodigal 
Son (Luke xv.). 

To be sure, he does not live on husks (penuriously), nor has he yet rotnmed to ask 
for the fatted calf (a warm recoptionX and from all they can hoar he lives in a good 
house.— DmiANT. 

Father. — Tlie Father of Waiers—i\\Q river Nile. P. 

Rasselas was the fourth son of the mighty emperor in whoso dominions the Father 
of Waters begins his course.— Samuel Johnson. 

To father anythimj on a jyerwn — to ascribe its origin to him. P. 

Of the poor pagan poets, It must be confessed 

That time, and transcribing, and critical note, 

Have fatliered much on them whicli thoy never wrote. — nvnoN. 

Fault. — To a fault — even more than is requireil ; to excess. P. 

The golden youth is generous to a fault.— Wm. Black. . 
lie was kind to a fault.— Thomas Hardy. 

At fatUt — puzzled ; in a difficulty how to proceeil. P. Said of a dog 
when it has missed the scent. 

And then the two set about foraging for tea, in which operation tlie master was 
much at fault (puxsled how to proceed).- HuauBs. 

Ih fault — to blame ; erring. P. 

Is Antony or we in fault (to bUme) for this7— Sharbspbarr. 

To find fault irith — to blame ; to bo displcascfl with. P. 

We'd And no fault witli (not blame) the tithe-woman, if I were the ]»arson.— 

RtlAKKMrRARB. 

Faux.— -^1 faux paM—ck false step ; a breach of moral conduct. C. 
French. 

Then it wm he committo<1 %/aux fNU.— C. Rbadb. 

Feast — FeoAt of reason and flow of soul — intellectual intercourse where 
the conversation reaches a high point of excellence. P. 

There St. John (pronounce Si^jun) mingles with my friendly bowl. 

The feast of reason and the flow of soul.— PorB. 
The guest now escaped the iwmp of grand entertainments, was allowed to enjoy 
ease and conversation, and to taste some of that feast of rraiion and that flow of soul 
so often talkefl of and so seldom enjoyed. — Maria Kikibwortil 




Feather [ 112 ] Fiddle 

Feather. — TofteUher <mt*8 nest — to provide for one's own personal com- 
fort and interesta ; to lay by money for oneself. C. 

You baTa forgot thia, hATe 70a, now 70a have feathered jour neti ? (linee jon have 
made a tufflcieni provision for 7onr8elf).^CoNORBVK. 

Mr. Fels])ar, too, eeoma, bjr all aocounta, to have feathered hii own nott, whidi, 
from what I have heard of him from Mrs. Jennynge— he behaved most grasfrfnglj 
about a picture— I am not the least surprised at— Jam its Payn. 

A feather in one*9 cap — an honour. P. 

The 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 Uiing, tlietr 
absolute want of foundation.— Jam ic4 Payn. 

In ftdl feather — in elaborate costume. C. 

Annabella was at the ball in full feather (elaboratelj dressed). 

In high feather — in high spirits ; exultant. C. 

Martin leads the way in high feather ; it is quite a new sensation to him getting 
companions. —HuoB KH. 

7V) i*hoio or fly the white feather — to betray signs of fear; to bo a 
coward. C. 

Mj blood ran a little cold at that, but I finished mj liquor. It was no use fl jing a 
white feather (showing signs of fear); so say I (I said), "Iloro's to Uio Corsair's 
bride."— C. Rbadb. 

Fee, — Fee-faw-fum, Sec Fie-poii-pum. 

This is very good and original. The "boiling" is in the first fee-faw-fum stylo, 
and the old allusion to the *'old champion in the black cap" has the real Ogreaqne 
humour.— Thackkiiav. 

FelL — I>r» Fell — a character mentioned in a verse of Tom Brown's 
(1603-1704), and often referred to in literature. When a person is 
disliked, but no specific reason can be assigned for this dislike, it is 
usual to quote the lines — 

I do not love thee. Dr. Fell, 

The reason why I cannot tell ; 

But this alone I know full well, 

I do not love thee. Dr. Fell. 
Can it be the story of old Dr. Fell (an Instinctive dislike, impossible to explain); or 
is it the mere radiance of a foul soul that thus transpires tlirough and transfigures Ita 
clay continent f—R. L. Stbvknhon. 

Tiddle,— To jtlay flrnt flddle— to take the loml in anythhig. F. 

Tom had no idea of playing first fiddle (taking the lead) in any social orchestra 
(friendly gatheringX— Dickkni*. 

To play second fiddle — to take a subordinate position. F. 

She had inherited from her mother an extreme objection to playing, in any 
orchestra whatsoever, the second fiddle (occupying, under any circunutancea, a 
secondary place).— Jam k^ Payn. 

Scotch fidille— the itxih (so called from the motion of the hand in scratch- 
ing). S. 



Fiddler [ 113 ] Tight 

Fiddle-de-det — an exclamation of impatience and contempt. C. 

I told him I was diicouraged und unhappjr ; bis daughior's heart sooined above my 
roach. 

" Fiddlo-de-dea I " (awaj with such Ulk), said he. "It all comes of this new 
system — courting young ladies before marriage spoils them."— Rsadb. 

Fiddler. — Fiddler's Oreen — a fabled place of liappiiiess and jollity ; the 
Happy Land of sailors. F, 

Says the parson one day as I cursed a Jew : 
" Now, do yon not know that is a sin f 
or you sailors I fear there are but a few 

That St. Peter to heaven would ever let in.** 

Says I, " Mr. Tarson, to tell you my mind, 

Few sailors to knock were ever yet seen ; 
Those who travel by land may sU^or against wind, 

JUit wc shape a course for Fiddler's (Sreen.** 

Song quoted in H. R, Haggard^* *' DotrH.** 

Fiddley^ mips — news that comes very late. F. 

"Have you heard that the Pope U ill?"— "Oh, that's fiddler's neirt ** (known to 
every one). 

Fiddlestick. — Flddltslkk or fiddleslicl's — an exclamation of impatience ; 
nonsense. F. 

"A question of fiddlestick I" (mere nonienseX cried the doctor angrily, walking 
about the room. — Mas. OurnxNT. 

Fie. — Fie-foh-fum — words such as would l)c uttered by a bloodtlilrsty 

monster ; blustering talk. F. 

Fie, fob, and fnm, 
I smell the blood of an Englishman.— Sua KsarBAiiK. 

Field — To he in tliejield — to be a competitor for any prisM). C. 

From the very first, Alitchell perceive<l that there could be little hope for him so 
long as Gilbert Segrave remained in the field (continued to be a competitor).— (iood 
IKoni«, 1887. 

To Irep or hold the field — to maintain one's ground against all oppo- 
nents. P. 

Tliere all day long Sir PoUcas kept the field (prove<l himself victorioiu against aU 
coni|»etltors).— Tbn»Y!*on. 

To tale the field — to commence warlike o|;)eration8. P. 

Napoleon took the field (began the campaign) with 100,000 picked troops. 

Fig. — A. fid for any oiut — an expression of contempt = ** What do I care 

for liini ! " F. 

Let it come, 1' faith, and I'll pledge you all ; and a fig for Peter I— SnARBsrsARB. 
Yet, whoop, Jack t kiss Gillian Uie quicker. 
Till she bloom like the rose, and a fig for the vicar I— Scorr. 

Tlitit.—To fiijht nhy of— in avoid. C. 

If you fight shy of him, miss, you may remember this, that you will fight shy of 
me at the same time.— A. Trollopk. 



FlfiTure [ 114 ] Fire 

To fight for one^a oton hand — to struggle for one's personal interesta. P. 

In oppoflitlon 70a will recover vigour and freedom ; jou will fight for four own 
huid.—Tke MiMtUtoe lUnmh, 1885. 
Each should fight for hi« own hand.— Wm. Black. 

Figure. — ^'o tnnke a figure — to distinguish oneself. P. 

Besides, he would have been greatlj hurt not to be thought well of in the world ; 
he always meant to make a figure (distinguish hImselOi uid be thought worthy of the 
best seats and the best morsels.— Oborqk Eliot. 

To figure, out — to ascertain an amount by careful computation. F. 

I have figured out the ozponsos of the trip, and find It will cost us at least twenty 
pounds. 

To figtire up — to add items into a totaL F. 

To cut a figure — to make a grand appearance. C. 

He ruined his mother that he might cut a figure (appear splendid) at the univer- 

Sity. — TU ACKKRAY. 

Fin. — To tip another your fin — to shake hands with him. S. 
Come, old fellow, tip us your fin (shake hands with meX 

Find. — To find oneself— to provide for oneself; to buy provisions ion 
oneself. F. Said of a servant or ompluyi^. 

Otherwise he "found" himself in childish fashion out of the six or seven weekly 
shillings.— F. MARZIAL8, in Life of DideetiM. 

To find it in one*a heart — to persuade oneself. P. 

I could not find it in my heart (persuade myself) to dismiss the old man, who had 
been about the house so long. 

Fine. — In fine — in conclusion ; to sum up. P. 

In fine, Bob was despatched for a coach, the visitors keeping shop meanwhila— 

DlCKBNS. 

Finger. — To have a finger in the pie — to Ik) mixed up in any aifair. C, 

But then they dearly loved having a finger In the pie iiarochial.— Hugh GomrAV. 

Instead of every man airing his self-consequence, thinking It bliss to talk at ran- 
dom about things, and to put his finger in every pie (Interfere in every affairX you 
should seriously understand that there is a right way of doing things.— H. Arhold. 

To have at one*a fingers* ends — to be able to repeat or use without any 
trouble (generally of something committed to memory). C. 

He was the boy to talk (very clever at talking) to the public: soft sawder— dignified 
reproach— friendly intercourse,— he had iliem all at his fingers' ends.— C. Uxadb. 
He had Greek at his fingers' ends.- A. Trollopb. 

To arriw at one* a fingers* ends — to be reduced to poverty ; to be in great 
straits. C. 

Before he was three months out of his Government post, Brown had.arrlve<l at hia 
fingers* ends (come to great povertyX 

Fire. — To fire up — to become angry ; to show indignation. C. 

Now a high-minded, honest man would have fired up at thia.— B. L. FABJXOir. 



First [ ii:, I Fieh 

First. — FivMt chop — first-rate ; of the highest excellence. F. An Anglo- 
Chinese expression. 
" As for poetry, I bate poetry."—" Pen's it not first chop," says Warrington.— 

TOACKBIIAY. 

Fish. — Neither Jish, flesh, nor good red herring — difficult to classify ; 
having no pronounced character. C A phrase used by Tom Brown 
and Drydon. 
Was he a Tory or a Liberal 7 or was he neither fish, flesh, nor the other thing? 

Neither Jish nor /owl — odd ; difficult to classify. C. 

She would be a betwixt-and-betwcon kind of thing, as the cook said, with her nose 
in tlie i^ir— neither flsli nor (owl— and very likely a spy and a plagae. — Mim. £. Lvitit 

LiNTOK. 

A Jidi oiU of ttxUer. Said of a person who is placed In a position which 
is strange and distasteful to him. F. 
Mr. Dance stood there, as he said, " like a flsh out of water."— R. L. STsrucsoif . 

A loosejtfth — a man of dissipated habits. F. 

Mr. Henry Fielding, a writer of plays and novels then much in Togue, but a sad, 
looee fish.— O. A. Sala. 

A qiieerjish — an eccentric person. F. 

" And what sort of fellow did you find Crawley, Uncle Tom T ** 

" Such a queer flsh— so unlike anybody else in the world I "--A. Trollopb. 

Af^n Jifth ilial comes to his net— ho is not very particular or scrupu- 
lous. C. 
Everything is flsh that comes to Mr. Frey's net.— Spectator, Feb. 15, 1888. 

To m(dx Jish of one and flesh of another — to treat two persons in differ' 
ent fashions ; to show partiality. F. 

I mean to show no favouritism; all the class will receive the same treatment. I 
do not mean to make flsh of one and flesh of another. 

To Jish for cotnj^imenfs — 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. 

" But you did, perhaps," she added innocently, fishing for a compliment.— Tbomab 
Hardt. 

Other flsh to fry — other business to attend to. F. 

*' I never asked you about your spill the other night," says she in her loud voice : 
"1 had other fish to fry."— Kiioda Brouoiiton. 

'* My dear girl," ho said, " I have no wish to tempt your feet from the paths of 
domestic virtue— no wish to hanu you. I have finer flsh to fry."— II. Conwat. 

Oiir. your ownflsh-guts to your own sea-maws— gWo what you have to 
spare to those wlio belong to you, and not to strangers. S. 

The contracts should be given to English companies ; let us keep oar own flsh-gnti 
for our own sea-maws (our good tilings for our own citisens). 




SHt [ 116 ] Flash 

Fit. — To fit in with — to agreo exactly with. P. 

Undor such tampUiions caroloM or iU-edncatotl iH)0|>le, even If tiicjr would not 
inroni clrcumstanooi or datM, arc oxtrouioly apt to twUt tlioni so an to fit In with 
wlut thex liETa undortaken to prove.— S|Mdator, April U, iSdS, 

To he fit — to be in good liealtli. S. 

" How are jou ? **— " Verj fit, thank jou ; never felt bettor." 

Fits. — By fits and starts —spasmodically ; without steady application . P. 
He work! hj fits and ttarta (with interval! of idleneu), and will not apply himeelf . 

Flag. — The fioQ at half-matA, This is a sign of monruing, observed 
especially by vessels in harbour, when any personage dies. P. 

*' I noticed that the flag on the castle was half-mast high." 

" Indeed t" sighed Ella; " then I fear I have some fellow-sufferer ** (some one elee 
has lost a near relative).— Jakiks Payn. 

To hang ont the white flag — to show willingness to come to terms, gener- 
ally in token of surrender. P. 

Bazaine at length resolved to hang out the white flag (intimate to tlie enemy that 
he was willing to surrender). 

To hang otU the red flag— {a) to intimate danger. P. The red flag 

warns of danger. 

White U all right. 

Red is all wrong, 

Green goes gently bowling along. 

Mnemonic Bhyaufor Railway Siipudmen, 

(6) to give signal for battle. P. 

The Cheaapeaki then hung out her red flag (gave tlie signal for flghUngX and was 
answered by a broadside from the Stiannon, 

Flame. — A flame— a, sweetheart. F. 

A few miles off in tlie valley, where she never by any cluuico wont, tlio cxcurBlon 
trains nse«l to vomit forth, at Kaster and in Wliltsun wook, tliruiigs of the lutU 
hands of the period, cads and their flames.- Ouida. 

An old flame — a former sweetheart. C. 

I suppose she was an old flame of the colonel's.- TnACKsaAr. 

Flare. — To flare up — to go into a passion. C. 

At this reference to her husband, she flared up (showed her indlgnatlonX *»<! 
asked the man what he meant. 

Flash. — A flash in the pan — an abortive attempt ; a failure of some am- 
bitious undertaking. P. The phrase is taken from a flint-lock gun 
which, though loaded, fails sometimes to go off when the flint is stmck. 
The rising at Kilrush was a mere flash in the pan (an abortive attemptX 

The flash gentry — thieves; professional rogues. F. 

" Nice boys, both," said their father. " They won't turn up their noses as if th«y 
were gentlemen. A pretty kind of flash gentlemen you are I "— BsaAiiT. 



Flat ( 117 ] FliDR 

To flash Jire — to throw angry or piissionatc gloiiccs ; to make the eyes 
glisten with strong emotion. P. 

The eyes of the Indian monarch flashed fire, and his dark brow grew darker, as 
he replied, ** I will be no man's tributary."— Prbsoott. 

Flat. — TofaUflal — to fail to cause interest or amnsoment. P. 

She had a dry, queer humour, and loved a Joke; but Phil's fell very flat (hit Jokes 
wore Tory far from intorosUnif her) this night.— Diacrmojik. 

A flat — a dull-witted person. S. 

He hasn't got these qualities yet, or ho wouldn't have been such a flat to-night as 
to lot Jack Baggies go in out of his turn.— Hun iiss. 

Flea. — A flfta-hUe — something trifling ; a thing of no importance. F. 

Doubtless to a man of Mr. Alrd's fortune such things are but flea-bltee.— Jambs 
Paym. 

A flta in one's ear — an annoying suggestion ; an unwelcome repulse. »S. 

** I wouldn't do it, if It was ever so t " exclaimed Mrs. Jennynge, who in this ez> 
tremity had utterly discarded her French for the yemacnlar. " You try it yourself, 
and see if he don't put you down pretty quick, or send you flying with a flea la your 
ear" (with a sharp rebukeX — Jambi* Path. 

Flesh. — Flesh'jtotSf or Uie flesh-pots of Etjyjtt — material welfare ; sordid 
considerations. P. The reference is to the conduct of the children of 
Israel in the desert, many of whom grew weary of the plain food. 
See Kx. xvi. 3. 

And ho was grateful to hor father (on account of the dowry) for her, not for him- 
self, with whom the flesh-pots did not count.— Mrs. £. Ltnh Linton. 

I had forgiven her ; I had not felt tliat It was anything but an escape not to have 
married a girl who had it In her to take back her given word and break a fellow's 
heart for mere flesh-pots.— Henry Jambs, jun. 

Fleah and blood — human nature. P. 

Not as I wish to speak disrespectful o' them as have got the power 1* their hands, 
but It's more than flesh and blood (human nature) 'ul bear sometimes. — GaoROB 
Eliot. 

To make the flesh creep — to cause a sensation of dread and horror. P. 

"My dear Mr. AIrd, yon make our flenh creep t" (you horrify us), remonstrated 
Mrs. Wallace ; whereupon he desisted.— Jambs I^atn. 

Fling. — To fling from — to leave hastily in ill temper; to quit in dis* 
gust. C. 
He flung from hor and wont out of the room.— S. Richardson. 

Toflimj over — to desert ; to cease to assist or patronize. C. 

"Of course, the old girl will fling him over," said the physician.— Tiiackbrat. 

To have aflimj at ; to indiUtje in aflimj at — to attack sarcastically. C. 

I even wont so far as to indulge In a fling at (attack sarcastically) the SUts House, 
which, as we all know, U in truth a very Imposing structure.— Holm bs. 



Flint t 118 ] Fly 

To have one* a fling — to indulge in fun or in dissipation. S. 

The time which Tom allowed himMlf away from his charge was from lock!ng-ap 
till supper-time. Dnrinc this hour or hoor-and-half he used to take his fling ^Te 
waj to unrestrained fun).— Hugh k8. 

As for mo, all I look forwanl to is to have mj little fling (indulge in a little diss!* 
patlon), and then to give up the gaietlM of Loudon and take a tjuiot villa and have 
a garden.— Bbsakt. 

Flint. — To fix another*8 flint for him — to punish him. S. 

" That Is worse still," said I, " because fou can't resent it yourself. Leave him to 
me, and I'll fix his flint for him " (castigate him).— Hauburton. 

To hUh afliiU — to bo uxcossivoly moan in onu*s duiiliiigs. F. 

Flipper.—-^ Up of the flijfjfer — a shako of the hand. Sailors' slang. 
I sajr, old fellow, give me a tip of your flipper (shake hands with meX 

Floor. — To tcJx the floor — to rise to address a public meeting. P. 

Mr. Hardcastle then took the floor (rose to speak), and. In a long and able speech, 
advocated the cause of bi-metallism. 

To have the floor — to have the right of addressing a meeting by rising 
before other intending speakers. P. 
The chairman ruled that Judge Ellis had the floor (possessed the right to speakX 

Flotsam. — Flotsam and jetsam— goods lost at sea, and either floating in 

the water or cast on shore. P. 

But even Germans, like Ilerr von Hartmann, who set such store by a thorongfa 
knowledge of modern languages — which means to them French and English in the 
first place— would not be long in perceiving how much they had lost in throwing 
overboard, as so much flotsam and Jetsam, the only intelligent clue to the onder^ 
standing of the long and difRcult words of English and of French and her sister 
tongues of Latin descent.— /<mrnai qf Rd-uoatiou, Fdnnary 18S8. 

Fly. — Flyaway — absurd; fantastic. F. 

It was not easy to put her into a fly-away bonnet now, or to keep the bonnet in Its 
place on tlie back of her poor nodding head when it was got on.— DicKSNa. 

To fly out against or at — to speak in a rash, impulsive manner against. C. 

It 'ud ill become a man in a public office to fly out (speak rashly) again' King 
George.- Okorob Eliot. 

Poor choleric Sir Brian would fly out at his coachman, his butler, or his game- 
keeper ; would use knguage to them which, proceeding from any other master, would 
have brought about a prompt resignation on the part of the aggrieved servant.— 
Good Word$, 1887. 

To fly in the face of— to oppose directly and in a reckless fashion. C. 

Every evening before we left Paris I saw her, and implored her to trust herself to 

me and leave Paris as my wife But, with all this, she was firm, and would not fly 

in her parents' face.— C Rkadb. 

To fly in the face of Promdence — to do a deliberately imprudent thing; 

to court danger or death. C. 

Dr. Cooper had told her that to sleep with the child would be to fly In the face 
of Providence; for if any mischief was really brewing, she would in that case bo 
certain to suffer from it.— Jambs Payn. 



Fold [ 119 ] Pool 

With Jlifing colours — honourably; triumphantly. P. 

Dai for my part I have alwajra thought that their both getting their degree at last 
wiili flying colours (in a dlRtinguiiihect way) after throe weeks of a famous coach 
(private tutor) for fast men, four nights wiUiout going to ImhI, and an incredible con- 
sumption of wet towels, strong cigars, and brandy- and- water, was one of the moet 
astonishing feats of mental gymnastics I over heard of. — M. Arnold. 

The Flj/iuf/ Dutchman — tho namo applied to tho express train running 
from London to Kxotcr on tho broa<l -gauge railway ; so called on 
account of its Sliced. Tho term originally belonged to a phantom ship, 
which was supposed to lly over the waves till tho day of judgment. 

Then he went on to other superstitions, the Flying Dntchmao, etc.— R. H. Daxa, 

JUM. 

To fly offal the handle — to become excited; to act impulsively. F. 

lie was full of crotchets that way, and tho sight of the sea, or eren a mere flower, 
would make him fly right off at the handle.— IIauburton. 

Fold. — To fold one^s hamU — to bo idle ; to do nothing but rest one- 
self. C. 

To no New Yorker, to no American, would that (tlie possession of a fortune) seem 
a reason for folding his iMmlu.— Nineteenth Century^ 1887. 

Follow. — To follow nuit — to behave in the same manner; to do as the 
person before you has done. C. A phrase borrowed from card-playing. 

But when the fortunes of KingsclifT began to rise, the fortunes of the gallant 
admiral followed suit— (7ood Word9, 1887. 

Food. — To become food for finhcn — to be drowned. F. 

But he was dead enough, for all that, being both shot and drowned, and was food 
for fish in the very place where he had designed my slaughter.— R L. Stbvsmsgic. 

" If you'd been of the same kidney as Sawney M'Oillicuddy,** he said, speaking of 
the poor Scotch lad who had died, " I'd have made you food for fishes long ago.**— O. 
A. Sala. 

To he food for worms — to be in one's gi-ave ; to Ikj dead and buried. F. 

Tho certificates are all genuine : Snawley had another son, he hoM been married 
twice, his first wife is dead : none but her ghost could t«ll she didn't write that letter ; 
none but Snawley himself can tell that this is not his son, and that his son is food for 
worms.— DicKRNB. 

Fhodfor ]H)icder — a contemptuous name applied to soldiers. F. 

There go tlie poor conscripts— food for powder (soon to be shot down on the battlt- 
fleldX 

Fool. — To be a fool for one^s pains — to take unnecessary and thankless 

trouble. F. 

If you propose to take him in and board him for that small sum, you will be a fool 
for your |iains (trouble yourself needlessly, and receive no thanksX 

/I /oo/\ /Htrcu/iW— a state of happiness where everything is unreal and 
certain to bo shattered. 

Into a limlK) large and broad, since called 

The Paradise of Fools. — Milton, Paradise Lo$t, bk. HL, I i95. 



Foot [ 120 ] Foot 

I feel a little hnmilUted, CUire ; bat I think I am the better for all these leeeoni. 
See in what a fool'i paradiae (deceptive itate of happinesi) I mod to live.— Bimamt. 

To mahe a fool of—to iloooivo; to iiuiko ritliculoiiH. V, 

It was all very well to have Mr. Slope at her feet, and to show her power hj mak- 
ing an utter fool of a clergyman.— A. Tkollopb. 

To fool atvay — to spend on objects of little value. C. 

Initead of learning your leesons for to-morrow, you have been fooling away (fritter- 
ing) your time with the animals. 

Foot. — To jnit the heid foot foremost ov forward — (a) to walk as rapiilly 
as possible ; to exert oneself to the utmost. C. 

The girl made up her mind to put the best foot foremost (put forth all her powers 
of walking), and run through her terrors at such a pace that none of them could lay 
hold of her.— R. Blackmorb. 



(6) to make the best display possible. C. 

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 lU)ee- 
bery.— 5(. Andrew Citizai, 1886. 

To ptU oiie'sfoot in it — to make an awkward mistake; to say something 
embarrassing. C. 

Women have such confounded queer waya You're sure to put your foot in It it 
you intermeddle.— Wm. Black. 

With one foot in tlie grave — very feeble ; having but a short time to 
live. P. 

It is sometimes the fate of a poet to succeed, only when he has one foot in the 
grave (has but a short time longer to live).— Bksant. 

To put down one* a foot — to refuse to go further ; to be finn in refusing. C. 

I remember when the late Sir George Cornwall Lewis wanted to get some statistics 
about Uie religious denominations, your friend Bottles, who is now a milliouairo aiMl 
a Churcliman, was tlicn a Particular lUptist. " No," says Buttles, *' hero I i»ut 
down my foot (refuse flnnly). No (Jovemment on earUi shall ask me whetlier I am 
a Particular Baptist or a Muggletonian."— M. Arnold. 

At one* 8 feet — submissive; in a suppliant attitude. C. 

It was all very well to have Mr. Slope at her feet, to show her power by making an 
utter fool of a clergyman.— A. Trollops. 

The cloven foot — one of the marks of the devil. To display the cloven 
foot is to betray an evil purpose. C. 

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 dross shoes. So, 
extending his sliapely limb, he asked with an air of triumph, " Do you call that a 
cloven foot?" Wher«ui>on a nieclmnio In the gallery sliuuted out in a gruff voice, 
'* Tak' aff (Uke off) the shoe, sir, and we'll see I "—Ok. Guthrie. 

But they had not long been man and wife ere Tom l>egan to show the cloven foot. — 
O. J. Wuytk-Mklvillk. 



Force [ 121 ] Forelock 

To foot it — to dance. C. 

Of course Ihey found the master's house locked up and all the servants away in the 
dose, about this time no doubt footing it away on the grass. — Huuhbb. 

TopiU one^afoot on another^ a neck — to crush or trample upon him. P. 

She should tramp the roads as a mendicant He would put his foot on her neck.—' 
Hall Cainr. 

TofaU on one^afeet — to meet with unexpected good-luck. C 
I had certainly fallen on my iwi.—TempU Bar, 1888. 

To foot a bill — to pay the expenses incurred. C. 

Ooa, in the cane of final French occupation, might continue its work of propagand- 
ism, but the Church would have to look after the work and foot the bills.— if aryer'^ 
MonUdy, Sepiemhcr 1S87. 

The firat-foot — the person who is tlie first to cross the threshold of a 
house on New- Year's morning. P. 

It matters not upon which side of the Border It may be — and northward the 
feeling citends far beyond tlie 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 81st of December, or who is the first-foot in a house after 
the new year has begun.— Tri{«on's Toief of the Border. 

To pay onc'a footintj — to pay the necessary fees or perquisites on being 
admitted to any club or society. P. 

When ho had paid his footing, the members all wished him good*luck, and drank 
hU healU). 

Force. — To forct a man^a hand — to compel him to act prematurely, or 
to adopt a ]K)Iicy ho dislikes. P. 

The best guarantee against such a course is the repugnance of the German em- 
peror to engage In a new struggle; but if it were determined on by all but himself, 
the cmiieror's hand might be forced (the emperor might be compelled unwillingly 
to declare ^%x).— Spectator ^ 1886. 

To come into force — (of a law or regidation) to begin to bo enforced. P. 

The law making paper money no longer legal tender comes into force (is put in 
actual operation) next July. 

Fore. — To the fore — present; on the scene. C. 

It never did really occur to him that any one would have the wild au<lacity to run 
away with one of his sisters, while he, Mr. Tom Beresford, was to the fore. — Wm. 

JUjiVK. 

Forelock. — To take time or occasion by tJie forelock — to avoid delay ; to 
be on the alert for every available opportunity. C. Time is rcpro< 
sented as an old man with a single lock of hair on tlio forehead, and 
an hour-glass and a scythe in his hands. 

Time flies here witli such a frightful rapidity that I am compelled to seise occasion 
by the forelock.— Tiiackkka v. 




Foreret [ 122 ] Free 

Forget. — To forgtt oneself— to bo giiilty of aii unworthy act or wonl ; 
to lose commoud of 0110*8 tongiio or tcmiior. P. 

Tho little fontlom*n iliockml tlio propriotx of tlio breakfiMt-talile by a loud 
nttennca of three words, of which the two last were " Webetor** Unabridged/' and 
tho flnt wai an emphatic monosyllable (" damn "). " Beg pardon," he added—" for> 
got myself" (I have said hastily what I should not).— Holubs. 

Fork. — To fork out — to hand out money; to take from one's pocket. S. 

I'll fork oat and stump.— Diokbns. 

If I am willing to fork out a snm of money, he may be willing to give up his chanoe 
of Diplow. — Gkobqk Eliot. 

Forlorn. — A forlorn hope — a desperate venture. P. 

He had not merely, aa the French say, the courage of his opinions; but his 
opinions became principles, and gave him that gallantry of fanaticism which made 
him always ready to head a forlorn hope.— J. R. Lowkll, on Jonah Quinejf. 

Form. — Inform — in good condition ; able to do oneself credit. C. 
" Were you in form, Babsf " asked Mrs. Gaysworthy.— Mrs. E. Lynn Linton. 

Forty, — Forty wnks—a. short sleep during the day. F. 

Then came forty winks ; and afterwards he would play whist for high stakes. — 
Saturday Review, 18SS. 

Fours. — To ijo on allfoara — (o) to crawl on tho hands and fuct or on tho 
hands and kuoes. P. 

He looked up and beheld what he judged, by 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 bad checked her progress.— Jambs Payn. 

(6) to be exactly apposite. P. 

No simile can go on all fours.— Macaulay. 

What was it Brabantio said to Othello after the council scene ? *' She has deceived 
her father, and may thee." The quotation isn't quite on all fours, but it's near 
enough.— F. Anstky. 

Fourth. — Tlie fourth estate — the press; newspapers. P. 

All these I have had to pass by, and to confine myself to a broad and general de- 
scription of the origin of those higher representatives of Journalism which we all 
have in our minds when we speak of the activity and power of the fourth estate. — 
CiiARLSa Pkabody, in English Journalism. 

The Fourth ofJuly—i\\Q United States* national holiday. P. 

We may prove that we are this, and that, and the other— our Fourth of July 
orators have proved it time and again— the census has proved it— J. R. Lowbix. 

Free. — A free fight — a fight joined in by a whole crowd; a promiscuous 
combat. C. 

80 many free fights, brave robberies, gallant murders, dauntless kickings. — 

BCSANT. 

To make free — to venture ; to be bold enough. C. 

My landlord made free to send np a Jug of claret without my asking. — 

TllAOKKKAY. 



Freedom [ 123 ] Friend 

Freedom. — Thtfrtedom of a city — immunity from county jurisdiction, 
and the privilege of corporate taxation and self-government held 
under a charter from the crown. The right to share in these pri- 
vileges is conferred, with the parliamentary franchise or right of 
voting, on distinguished persons whom the city desires to honour. P. 

LinliUiffow put her boat foot forward Ust Rainrdaf, when the freedom of that 
ancient and royal city was i>ros<}ntcd to the Kiurl of lloaobery.— 5(. Andrtwt Ciiixen, 

jsan. 

French. — To take French Icam — (a) to go off secretly, without notice or 
warning ; to elope. C. 

Tlie truth is, she had qiiitlGil tlic premises for many hours, and upon that permit- 
Sinn whicli is called French leave among us.— Tiiackkray. 

Hut as I was certain I should not be allowed to leave the enclosure, my only plan 
was to take French leave, and slip out when nobody was watching. — R. L. 
Stkvrnhun. 

You must take French leave and run away from Newly and your charming wife 
for six months.— AU8TKN Pkmbxr. 

{h) to enter without invitation ; to do anything without obtaining 



permission. C. 

The solicitor, taking French leave, led us across the spacious yetUbnla to the 
library, much to the amassment of the servants.— B. L. Farjiok. 



m 



To/riijhtfn the French — to inspire great terror. F. 

The look of you and your armed companions Is enough to frighten the Freacb. 

Friday. — A man Friday— ti constant and submissive attendant. P. 
See Defoe's liobin^on Crusoe. 

lie flung himself dnwn at little Osborne's feet, and loved him. Even before they 
wore acquainteil, he had admired Osborne in socreL Now he was his valet, his dog, 
his man Friday.— Tiiack sua v. 

Friend — A friend ai court — a i:)er8on with influence in a powerful 
quarter. P. 

*' Not In that place, p'ra}>s," returned the grinder, with a wink. *' I shouldn't 
wonder— friends st court, you know— but never yoM mind, mother, Just now ; I'm 
all right, that's all. "-Dick kkr. 

To lie friends icith— to be on good terms with. C. 

" Why were you so gUd to be friends with M. PaulT" asks the reader.— CuRRSR 
Bell. 

To fnal'e friends — to become friendly; to bo reconciled after a quar- 

TV\. V. 

Tills was a stlni^er (sharp retort): and so sudden, his hearers looked rather sheep* 
ish at him. It was the policeman who answered : — 
** If you will come to tlie station, I will undertake to And yon that" 
Patrick assented, and on the way they made friends (became friendlyX— C. Rbapb. 

To be friends— to be on friendly terms. F. 

Look here, Gilbert, I want to be friends with you again —W. E. Noaaia. 




Front [ 124 ] Funk 

Front, — To come to the /roiU — to tak^ a prominent position ; to rise to 
a chief place. P. 

About ihU Uin« Blsnuurck began to come to Uio front (take a prominout ihmUIuu) 
in European poUtici. 

Pry. — Small fry — insignificant people. C 

The coming of Sheridan was quite another matter. Compared with him all other 
manager! were small fry (insigniflcantX— Jambm Payk. 

Out of the fryiiig-pan iiUo thejire — from a bail position into a worse. C. 

If it were not for Claire I would Jump out of this (rjring-pan, which scorches and 
broils -yes, still, after twenty years and more—into the fire which buma— Biuant. 

" I'm out of the frying-pan into the fire *' (in a still worse predicament), site said, 
laughing. ** Instead of one, I have now two to contend with.** 

Full. — Full dress — the dress worn on occasions of ceremony. For men, 
a black suit with swallow-tail coat, and open ve&t, and a white neck- 
tie constitute full dress. Ladies* full dress leaves the shoulders 
bare. 

One round white arm rested on the window-ledge, and her long black hair fell in 
looae masses over the snowy garments which, constituting a lady's d^tabilUt reveal 
her beauties far less liberally tlian the costume she more iuapUy terms " full dress.** 
— G. J. Whytb-Mklvillk. 

To titefall — quite as much, certainly not less. C. 

This place was a prison for debtors as well as criminals, and was to the full as foul 
as the Tophet-pit at Aylesbury yonder.— O. A. Sala. 

In full cry — hurrying fast ; in hot pursuit. P. Cry here means a pack 
of hounds. 

Seven mutineers— Job Anderson, the boatswain, at their head— appeared in full 
cry at the south-weet comer.— K. L. Stkvknhon. 

In full — without diminution, deduction, or abatement. P. 

I have received this day from John Wallace the snni of eight imunds six sliilUngs, 
being iMiyment in full of his obligations to tlie Geographical Sociuly. 

Fulljhj — elegantly; making a great display. S. 

So all of us cabin party went and dressed ourselvee up full fig, and were Intro* 
duced in due form to the young queen.— Ha liburtoh. 

In full swing — at its busiest; busy and thronged. C. 
The street market was in full swing.— Bkmamt. 

Fun. — To make fun of— to ridicule. C. 

'* Is the girl making fun of mof " he thought— Tuackkr ay. 

Funk. — To put in a funk — to frighten ; to cause to tremble. S. 

Matcham said " he'd only been drunk "—that his spirits had sunk 
At the thunder— the storm put him into a funk.— Bakuak. 



Funny [ 125 ] Game 

In a funk — frightened ; put about. S. 

If I were Foxy, I should be in a funk myaclf.— Dfjiamt. 

Funny. — The fmmy hone— W\2X part of the elbow which is exposed to 
nervous shocks. C. 

Tlioy smack and they thwack, 

Till your funny bones crack. 

As if you were stretched on the rack.— Bariiam. 



Gab. — Tlit. gift of the rjnJ} — readiness of speech ; fluency. F. 

I always knew you had tlie gift of the gab (were ready in speech), of course. — 

DlCKKSR. 

Qad. — Upon tJie gad — restless ; always moving hither and thither. F. 

I have no good opinion of Mrs. Charles's nursery-maid. I hear strange stories of 
her : she is always upon the gad.— Miss Auhtkn. 

To ffod ahmU — to spend one's time in frivolous visiting of friends or 
places. C. Usually said of women. 

By tills time our friends had grown rather weary of gadding about.— Huon 

(%>HWAV. 

QafL — To Uow (he gaff on — to inform against. S. 

If I do not induce you and your brother scoundrel to surrender your preieiii 
devices, I will take it ui>on myself to blow tlie galT on the whole rascally three of 
yon.— D. CiinisTiK Murray. 

Gain. — To gain ground — to advance; to make pix)gress. P. 

The Jews are not only extraordinarily powerful and numerous there (in GalidaX 
but are gaining ground day by d^y.— Fortnightly Kevietr>, 1887. 

Gall. — Gail and tvormwood — said of what Lb excessively bitter and dis- 
tasteful, r. 

The talk eddied even to the aristocratic back-waters of Clinton Hall, when It was 
so much gall and wormwood to tlie family.— Mrs. R. Lynn Lintok. 

Gallows. — Gai/owshird — a person who looks like a condenme<l criminal ; 
a person of abandoned api>carance. F. 

" It is ill to chock sleep or sweat in a sick man," said he ; "I know Uiat far, thoafh 
I ne'er mlnce«1 a|)0 nor gallows-bird."— C. Rradr. 

Game. — Game for anything — rcatly to venture upon anything ; full of 
life. F. 

If you don't stop your jaw about him youll have to light me ; and that's s liiile 
more than you're game for, I'm thinking. —U. Kikoslry. 




GanfiT [ 126 ] Gather 

Tlu game ia worth the candle — the results are worth striving for ; one 
will bo repaid for one's trouble. C. 

George can never take what I moan to offer ; if ho should, the Eg7]>Uan will be 
■polled indeed, and tlio game will be worth tlie candlo.— II. II. Uauoabd. 

To die game — to die in a courageous manner. C. 

I say that coachman did not ran away, bat that he died game.— DiCKSirs. 

A game at which two can play — a course of action equally open to an- 
other i)erson. C. 

" I'll havo 70a both licked when I got out, that I will," rejoined the boy, beginning 
to snivel 
*'Two can play at tliat game, mind you,** said Tom.— Huauss. 

To make game of— to ridicule ; to turn into sport. P. 

Now, in the Fleet Prison, where I write this, there is a small man who is always 
Jeering and making game of me.— Thackiray. 

Gang. — To gang a-gley — to go wrong. Scottish dialect. 

The best laid schemee o' mice and men 
Gang aft a-gley.— Burns. 
As many things gang a-gley with us in our plans and desires while alive, it is not 
surprising that matt«rs turn out contrary to our exi)ectations after death.— Jam ih 
Payn. 

Gapes. — The gaiten — a fit of yawning. F. 

Another hour of mndc was to give delight or the gapes, as real or affected taste for 
it prevailed. — Jakb Austbk. 

Gate. — To break gates — to remain outside the college gates after tlie 
hour for closing. An Oxford and Cambridge University phrase. 

If you break gates again, wo shall have you rusticated (temporarily expelledX 

The gate of horn — a mythological tcnn, signifying the gate by wliicli 
true dreams camu forth. P. From thu givlo of ivory dcccplivu 
dreams ])roccedcil. 

Then he (Laud) dreamed that he had turned Papist, of all his dreams the only one, 
wo suspect, which came through the gate of horn (was likely to ivrove trae).— 
Macaulav. 

Q3,tYi,—Teil it not in (7aih—(\o not let your enemies hear of it. C. The 
phrase is used when somctliing sa<l or shiuiieful has occurre<l, wliicli 
miglit bu used as u taunt by one's enomies if they hcanl of it. Tlio 
words were first used in David's song of lamentation over Jonathan, 
slain in battle. 

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon ; lest the daughters of 
the Phllistlnos rejoice, lost the daughters of the unclrcumcised triumph.— f Sam. i. SO, 

Gather. — Qathertd to one\ fathers — deail and buried. P. 

When his glitter is gone, and he is gathered to his fathers, no eye will be dim with 
a tear, no heart will mourn for Its lost friend.— A. Trollops. 




Gaudy [ 127 ] €tet 

Gbkttdy. — A gaudy-day — Ok holiday or festivaL Old-fashioned, bnt 
still in use at some of the universities. 

Just at one time, about 1641, we hear from oar best authority PhiUIpt, of hU 
keeping a gaudy-day.— Mark Patxisom. 

Gauntlet. — To throw down the gauntlet or ghve — to challenge. P. 

The company threw down the gauntlet to (defied) all the maritime powen in the 
world.— Macaulay. 

To take up the gauntlet or glove — to accept a challenge. P. 

To run the gauntlet — to pass through a severe course of treatment in the 
way of criticism or obloquy. P. The phrase used in this figurative 
sense comes from the cuntom of inflicting a punishment bearing this 
name. A prisoner, stripped to his waist, had to run between two 
lines of sohlicrs armed with gloves, and with sticks and other 
weapons, with which they struck him as he passed. 

We went to the Jetty to see tlie 'usband's boat come in, and formed part of the 
long row of spectatora, three deep, who had auembled to watch the unfortunate 
panengers land and run the gauntlet of unicrupulout comment and personal re* 
marks all down the line.— TAe MittUtoe Bou^, 1885. 

Gear. — To throw out of gear — to disturb the working of. P. 

Such delusions hare happened to many of us, and most commonly when the mind 
has been disturbed and thrown out of gear (put out of good working order) by un- 
wonted circumstances.— Jam u Payn. 

Gentle. — Oenth and tnvijile — high-boni and low-born ; noble and peas- 
ant. P. 

So, too, I am afraid it is a true bill that torture was, in the bad old days, in- 
discriminately used towards both gentle and simple in some gloomy underground 
places in this said Tower.— O. A. Sala. 

Every one runs to get a word with them, gentle or simple.— C. Rkadx. 

Get. — Oo along ! or get along ivith you ! — an exclamation of impatience, 
often used in a bantering way. F. 

*'Oo, go, get along with you, do," she said at last, as her eyes caught his.— 
Murray's Magaxine^ IH87. 

'* Oh, got along with you, Mr. Segrare," returned Buswell, much delighted by this 
delicate piece of flattery.— W. E. Norrim, in Good irords, 1887, 

To get along— to faro ; to Iks in a good condition. C. 

" Well, doctor, how has the poor patient been getting along (progressing) lately?** 
"Only fairly; she U still very weak." 

To get at— to obtain ; to find. C. 

When a doctor could bo got at, he said that but for Mrs. Lapham's timely care, 
the lady would hardly hare lired.— W. D. How ells. 

To get on~{a) to 8ucccc<l ; to rise in life. C. 

Throughout the Continent, In England, and In America, the enormous majority of 
the population are striring for succen in their sereral profeeslons and callings; 
erery man. with the doubtful exception of a few Trapplst monks, is trying to gel 
on.— Spectator, 1887. 



Oet [ 128 ] Gtot 

7V) get on — (b) to make progress ; to improve. 

Ha ■oon (oi on to well Uut he diicarded the other (cniichX— Jlftcrray*! Afngmsliic^ 
1887, 

To get on with any one — to find oneself in congenial company. C. 

She oonld not got on with Mr. Ad*ir (Mr. AcUir and ihe wore not oongenUl to 
each otherX— Jambs Paym. 

To get under — to obtain the mastery over ; to suppress. P. 

Towards three o'clock the fire wai fot under, and darknen and silence roc c eeded. 
—Maria Edgbwortii. 

To get up — (a) to prepara with a special practical object in view — as, to 
get up Shakespeare's llamlti for a college examination. C. 

His readers are candidly informed in the preface what books he has coosnlted ; 
and it appears that he has got up the reign of Henry VIII. from Brewer, Hook, 
Canon Dixon, Ranke, Kroude, and Friedmann.— ^(/tnurum, 1887. 

{b) to organize ; to arrange. C. 

A few dajs afterwards a committee, consisting of Lady Mona, " Beauty ** Struts 
and Mrs. Walter Pullen, is assembled in Lady Swansdown's boudoir to dlseuM th* 
best means of getting ap the proposed theatricals.— Florbnck BIarrtat. 

To get oneself up — to appear in a striking or claliorato costume. C. 

Like moet men who are not In tlio Iiabit of "getting themselves up** every day, 
he was always irritable when thus clotho<l in his "best.**— U. J. Wuytk-Mklvilub. 

Oet'Up — style of dress ; fashionable way of dressing. C. 

There is none of the colour and tastiness of get-up which lends such a life to tbo 
present game at Rugby.— II uuh as. 

To get over — to recover from. C. 

She had been out of health for some time. Her mother called it "general debil> 
ity ; " but I firmly believed that it was that love affair with Prank Hayles which she 
Iiad never got over (recovered from).— Th« MutUtoe Bouifh, 1SS5. 

She never thoroughly got over this fall, and it doubtless hastened her end.— & 
Barino-Oould, in The Ocntleman's Magazine^ 1883. 

To get oi^r a person — to ingratiate oneself with him. F. 

How you've managed to got over your mother-in-law is a mystery to me.— DiCKura. 

To get off— to escape. P. 

He will get off. I'm the only witness. A Jury won't believe a black man in 
this country. — H. R 1Ia(ioaud. 

To get one*8 tfocl' up — to be irritated ; to Imj angry. F. 

" Are your" I said, beginning to get my back up.— H. R. Haggard. 

To get by heart — to commit to memory. P. 

" It is a very long play." 

" The longer the better," murmured the antiquary. 

" Rut not when one has to get it by heart " (commit it to memory), observed 
William Henry dryly.— Jamkh Payn. 




GhoBt [ 129 ] Give 

To ijet relifjion — to become pious ; to be religious. A colloquial Amer- 
ican phrase. 

Irene Pascoe once met a knight on a mlasionary pUiform and found he'd got 
religion (he was a ploua man). — BuAirr. 

Ghost. — To give up or yield up the ghoMt — to die. P. 

So, nndomoatli tlie belly of their steodi, 
Tliat stAlno<1 their fetlocks in his smoking blood, 
The noble gonilemnn gave up the ghost (died).— SiiAKmrKAUS. 
About four in the afternoon the mountebank rendered up his ghost. He had 
never been conscious since his seisure.— R. L. STivKiraoN. 

To haiyi not a ghost, of a chance — to have no reasonable prospect. C 

You do not toll mo that Carswcll is applying for the Hebrew chair. Ho has not 
a ghost of a chance (his candidature Is hopelessX 

Qiffc. — Belter iiot look a g\fl-horRe in the month — ilo not examine too 
critically what is given to you as a gift. C. 

The poet gives as well as makes ; the rest of us only receive : we criticise Uics6 
gifts; we venture to look into the mouth of the fairest gift-horse (criticise the finest 
poems that are given us).— Bbsant. 

Gig. — Gig-lamjM — a jocular name for spectacles, or for one who wears 
them. S. A gig is a tall two-wheeled conveyance. 

When Paul's father appeared he was saluted with the irreverent name of " old gig- 
lamps.** 

QilcL — To gild the pill — to make an unpleasant thing appear attract- 
ive. C. 

I Just lay myself out to get to the blind side of them, and I sugar and gild the 
{till 00 as to make it pretty to look at and easy to swallow (lay things In so flattering 
a way that I can coax tliem into doing anytliing).— Haliburton. 

Gills. — Ifosy or red al>out Oie gills — flushed with drink. F. By the 
''gills*' understand the flesh about the jaws. 

White in the gills — showing signs of terror or sickness. F. 

"What's the matter, young 'unr" asked Joe, surprised. "What makee yon so 
white in Uie gills r"—D cm ant. 

Gird. — To gird up tlie loins — to prepare oneself for hard work. P. A 
Biblical expression. 

The house awakes, and shakee itself, girds up the loins for the day's work.— 
RllODA Brougiiton. 

Qive.~To gii^ airai/— to act the part of father to the bride at a mar- 
riage. P. 

Waxy came down to ratify the deeds; Lord Southdown gave away his sister. 
She was marrio*! by a bishop, and not by the Rev. Bartholomew Irons, to the dis- 
appointment of the irregular prelate. — Tiiackkrat. 

To givt oneself away — to make oneself alieurd by a heedless remark ; to 
say unwittingly what damages one's own cause. C. In the following 

9 



Give [ 130 ] Give 

extract the absnrdity lies in the " swell" unwittingly confoasiug that he 

had dealings with a pawnbroker : — 

Swell. I am (oing to resign from my dub. 
Friend. I thought you liked it lo much. 

StoelL Usod to bo all right, but society is getting too mixed. Why, I met my 
pawnbroker there the oUior night.— //arjier** Monthly^ May IHSS. 

To give it to a person — to scold or punish him; to attack liim with angry 

words or with blows. F. 

M'Oregor pitched into him so when he said it— gare it him right and left (re- 
proved him in the severest manner).— Rhoda Brouuuton. 

To giv>e on to or upon — to lead into ; to open upon. P. 

Then we passed on up this till at last we reached the top, where we found a laife 
standing space to which there wore tliree entrances, all of small site. Two of these 
gave on to 0^ into) rather narrow galleries or roadways cut in the face of the 
precipice.— H. R IIauoard. 

We pass into the veranda upon which the talon gives, to use an AngUdxed 
Gallicism.— Rboda Brououton. 

To give oneself out as or for — to proclaim oneself to be. P. 

He gives himself out, sir, for wliat nowadays they call a patriot— a man from East 
Prussia.— R. L. Stkvbnmon. 

Last winter ho called himself Lord Charles Templeton, and took in the whole 
society of Florence. This year, as you aro awaro, ho has selcctod (Cannes as his field 
for oiMratlons, and has given himself out as a cousin of Lord Bellingham's, with 
whom, I need hardly tell you, he is in no way connected.— W. £. Nouma. 

To give up — (a) (transitive) to discontinue the use of; to abandon. P. 

The middle-aged it (the fog) deprived of their gastric powers, so that they have had, 
ever since, to give up all their beer, porter, i)ort and sherry, Burgundy and cham- 
pagne, daret and Rhine wine. — Behamt. 

(h) (intr.) to surrender ; to confess oneself beaten. P. 

Then, tar fear of her place, and because he threatened that my lady shoald give 
her no discharge without the sausages, she gave up (yielded), and from that day for- 
ward always sausages, or bacon, or pig-meat in some shape or other, went up to the 
table.— Marta Kdokwortu. 

A give-and'tdke polin/ — a policy of mutual accommo<lation and for- 
bearance. C. 

Nothing can be more annoying to an ordinary man than to find the wife of his 
bosom, who has Jogged along with him very comfortably in a give-and-take (mutual 
fort>earance) style for many years, suddenly turn round and lecture him upon his 
amiable little weaknesses (faultaX— Huuii Conway. 

To git^ forth or r/ii'C out — to announce or publish. P. 

Soon after it was given forth (announced), and believed by many, that the king 
was dead.— Hatwaru. 

Mrs. Penrose was not at church ; no doubt she had her reasons for staying awaj, 
though 1 heard from Miu Jones that it was given out (published) that it was a bad 
headache that kept her at hotnt.—Chamh€rt't Journal^ Jbtf7. 

She gives it out (states publicly) that you shall marry her.— Suakbmpbars. 

To give out — to come to an end. P. 

But before they had covero«l half a mile poor Mrs. Mordaunt's strength gave oat 
(lt$iLtd).—KHifli*h niuUmted Mafjatine, 18S7. 




Gizzard [ 131 ] Glass 

To give, in — to cease exertions ; to confess oneself vanquished. P. 

They did not yet give in (confost themselves b«aten) : they h^d hitherto gone only 
about the streets ; they would go to places where people meat together.— Bbsakt. 

To (five over — (o) (of a sick person) to cease hoping for his recovery. P. 

Valence told me that he had been given over — thai he could not Uve more than 
six months or so.— Flokkncb Marktat. 

{h) to yield ; to commit P. 

They (the Protestant clergy) might have attained to the influence which it now 
given over entirely to the priest. — Thackkray. 

To give oneself up — (a) to surrender to the police. P. 

News came that the Brighton murderer bad given himself up (surrendered himself 
to the police). 

(6) to lose hope of saving ono*s life. P. 

When I saw that the floods had carried away the bridge, I gave myself up for lost 
(abandoned hopeX 

To give a person up — (a) to despair of seeing him. C. 

It was at that unheard-of hour (11 p.m.) that Miss Huntley, whose experience of 
provincial habits was limited, thought fit to put In an appearance, and her hostess's 
ejaculation of " At last I Why, we gave you up more than an hour ago I ** drew 
forth no apology from her.— (rood Words, 1887. 

{h) to renounce ; to repudiate ; to refuse to acknowle<lge. P. 

He had been living what was a wild, coll^ge life even In these wild days ; and his 
family had almost given him up.— E. Yatkh. 

To give ivay — to yield ; to break down. P. 

I wished I had not given way (yielded) to her in the matter of a private sitting- 
room (which she would not consent to have).— Th« MUtleUx Bough, 1885. 

On one occasion, as she was being brought down from her look-out chamber In a 
new carrying-chair, Itgavewar.- S. Baring-Gould. 

Gizzard. — To freX one*8 gizzard — to bo anxious; to worry oneself. S. 
Gizzard (primarily a fowl's stomach) is used of the temper or dis- 
position. 

He'll fret his gixzard green if he don't soon hear from that maid of his.— Thomaa 
IIasdy. 

Glasgow. — A Glasgow magistrate — a salt herring. F. It is said that 
when George IV. visited Glasgow, some salt herrings 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 gloM too much — he is intoxicated. F. 

Those who lityi in glats housf^ should not throw stones — people who are 

themselves open to criticism ought not to criticise. C. Compare tlie 

opening verses of Matthew vii. 

And there Is an old proverb about the inexpediency of those who live In gl 
houses throwing stones.— Fix>rbmcr Marrtat- 



Glazier [ 132 ] Go 

Glazier. — /« your father a tjlazier? — a vulgar expression, signifying, " Do 
you suppose that I can see tkrongli you ? " It is used when a person 
in front of you obstructs your view. 

Qlottt. — /'* the (jf/om/— sulky. F. 

My mAmnui was in the glout with her poor daughter all the day.— S. Richabdhok. 

Glove. — To throw the ylove or yauutlet to — to challenge ; to show readi- 
ness to fight with. P. 

I will throw mj glove to Deatli iteelf (challenge Death itself to proTe), tliat tiiere's 
no maculation in thy heart— 811 akkhpeabk. 

She was now, at the age of twenty-two, very different from the girl who so hastily 
threw down the glove to her stepmother.— Hugh Conway. 

To take up the glove or (jauntltt — to accept a challenge to fight. P. 

On the other hand, Austria had only to conclude an offensive and defensive alUanee 
with King Milan, and the Csar must take up tlie glove thus, as it were, thrown in his 
way.— Spectator, Dec. if, 1888. 

To be hand and glo\^ with. See Hand. 

To put on or loear gloves — to attack on adversary in a mild or gener* 
ous way. P. 

lie (Macaulay) put on no gloves, took in hand no huttoned foil, when, on wel!« 
chosen occasions, he came down to the House to make a speech.— J. Cottbs 
MoniHON. 

Glut. — To glut the market — to furnish an excess of goods for the market, 
so that a sale cannot bo found for thein. P. 

Two years ago an excessive production of woollen goods had glutted the market 
(furnished too great a supply, so that no sale could be found for them). 

Go. — A go — a curious or embarrassing state of affaii-s. S. 

Well, I am blessed (to be sureX here's a go (the position ia embarrasiinffX— 
C Ukads. 

No go — a failure. Said of what is unworkable or impossible. 

" What's a cavtai!" inquired Sam.—" A legal instrument, which is as much as to 
say it's no go," replied the cobbler.— Dick kns. 

Exp.— A legal instrument, or, in other words, something which does nothing, and 
with which nothing can be done. 

Of course, under the circumstances, no go for (I cannot give you) the Hfteen thou- 
sand.— Truly yours, Arthur.— rA« Mi$tUio4 Ikniuh, 183S. 

Oo along — an exclamation of (feigned) anger or impatience. F. See 
Get ALONG. 

*' May its poppet come in and talk r '*— " Certainly not,** replied madam ; " yoa 
know I never allow you here. C«o along."— Dickkns. 

To go bail for another — to 1>ccome legal security for an accused person's 
appearance at his trial. P. 

The world has not gone bail for us, and our falling short involves not the rain of 
othersL— O. Lbvkr. 




GK> [ 133 ] GK> 

To go hard toith oiie — to prove a troublesome matter to one. V. 

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 (prored a 
leriont matter for) the Latin tutor some time or other.— Holm bs. 

To go hotne to — to appeal directly to. P. 

Mra Wallace spoke very slowly, because It was not an easy matter with her to ex- 
press her ideas, and with a certain gentle earnestness that wont homo (apiiealod 
directly) to tlie young girl's heart, at least as much as the logic of her argument— 
Jamba Paym. 

GO'to-meetiiig air or clothes — such as people have on when they go to 
church ; respectable. F. 

Catch him with bis go-to-meetin' (beet) clothee on a-rubbin' agin (against) their 
nasty, greasy axles, like a tarry nigger.— Ha LiDunroK. 

Tom (was) e(intppe<l In his go-to-meeting roof (respectable hat), as his friend called 
it.— lIuauBs. 

To (JO toith the stream — to do as people around one do. P. 

And then It is so much easier in everything to go with the stream, and to do what 
you are expected to do.— Mrs. Oliphant. 

To (fo xcithotd saying— to be an understood thing ; to be an evident fact, 
or natural conclusion. P. Translated from the French, Ce va sans 
dire. 

Imagine all this, and you will have some Idea of the shackles with which the liter- 
ary class In Japan have shackled their countrymen. It goes without saying (the con- 
clusion Is Inevitable) that, under such circumstances, a lively, natural style is Im- 
possible.— Japan Afat/, 188 7. 

That such accusations were not only utterly false, but were beneath contempt, 
goes without saying (is, of course, understoodX— ^ft Vu Year Round, 1887. 

To go by the hoard— io be lost. C. A nautical phrase, now in 
onlinary use. 

During that long sickness my wardrobe, and Jewellery, and everything went by the 
board (I had to give up my wardrobe, and Jewellery, and everythisgX 
Her rattling shrouds, all sheathed in ice. 
With the masts, went by the board.— Lonofbllow. 

To go otU o/one*s \oay — to trouble oneself; to discompose oneself. C. 

"My dear, I am sorry you did not smell it; but we can't help tliat now," re- 
turned my master without putting himself in a passion ur going out of his way 
(showing signs of discomposureX but Just fair and easy helped himself to another 
glass.— Maria Edobworth. 

To go all lengths — to hesitate at no act. P. 

He is ready to go all lengths (risk everything) in his advocacy of the temperaoee 
queetion. 

To ffo to the IhuI —to l>ccomo a wreck. C. 

Think of my case, Miss Rawdon— linked for life to a woman whom I married to 
give myself a home, because all ties that bound me to domestie life seemed broken 
when 1 lost my darling, and because otherwise I should eventually have gona to the 
bad.— 71^ Mi9tUio€ Bough, 1885. 



Qo [ 134 ] Go 

To go to the loail — to be discomfited ; to have to retire. P. 

ETorybodj matt go to th« wall who cannot serro that Intertti.— North American 
RevUw, m?. 

To yo further and fare worse — to take extra trouble and find oneself in 
a worse position than before. C 

Well, upon mj word, I don't blame you ; yon might have gone farther and Cared 
wone.— H. R. Haooard. 

All the go — popular ; fashionable. S. 

Folks ain't thought notliln' of (are held of no acconntX nnlosi they live at Tree- 
mont ; It's all the go (that place ia very faahionabloX— Ualibu&ton. 

On the go — active ; running about continually ; indulging in liquor. F. 

" Ma'ame Richard was on the go," ai one of them laid when he helped to pick her 
ont of the gutter and carry her dead drunk into the back kitchen, where the and 
others made their filthy lair.— Mati. E. Lymn Linton. 

To go hack on — to be unfaithful to; to fail to keep, especially of 
promises. C. See Back. 

Why, don't you know, boss (master)? They said they'd take me instead of you, 
and they won't go back on their word (break their promiseX — Tennde Bar, 1886. 

To go down — to be accepted ; to be received with favour. C. 

Fletcher, Ben Jonson, and all tlie plays of Shakespeare, are the only things tluit go 

down.— OULUSMITD. 

To go for a man — to attack him S. 

When he began to rail against American institutions, I went for (attacked) him. 

To go in for — to give one's attention to ; to apply oneself to. C. 

Skating was an accomplishment he had never gone in for (attempted to acquireX— 
BlackvowVs MagatirUf 1837. 

To go ii — to be extravagant or headstrong in behaviour. F. 
I heard Blaster George was going it, from the Saunders. — F. Marbtat. 

To go off— to happen ; to take place. P. 

The wedding went off (happened) much as such affairs do.— Mrs. Oaskbli. 

To go out— (a) to be discontinued ; to cease. P. 

I think I must tell you, as shortly as I can, how the noble old game of backsword 
is pUycfl ; for it is sadly gone out of late.- IIuuukh. 

(ft) to go out to service ; to 1>ecome a domestic servant. F. 

" I think you have mistaken my annt," put in that young i>orson *' She would be 
tlio LMt to hinder me or any of us going out, if it were for our good.**- Mrh. J. H. 

Hll}I>LK. 

To give one the go-hy-io neglect him ; to refuse to acknowledge him. F. 

Would you give Joey B. the go-by, ma'am f— Dickbnm. 

But being made an honest woman of, so to speak, Becky would not consort aoj 




God [ 135 ] Gk>od 

longer with these dubions ones, and cut Ladj Crackenbury when the Utter nodded 
to her from her oper»-boz, and gave Mrs. Washington White the go-bf In the ring. 
— Thaokbrat. 

Gk>d. — God's acre — the churchyard. P. 

As her eye roamed from sea to land It fell npon the IliUe ehnreh immediatel/ be- 
neath her, into whose God's acre the footpath descended.— Jambs Patn. 

Golden. — The golden iS'to^— California. P. 

The ffolden rule — " Do unto others as you would have othei*8 do unto 
you." P. 

My dear boy, have yon not learned the golden rule f In all human actions look 
for the basest motiTe, and attribute that (This is said In satire ; the rtal golden 
rule is as above.)— Bkrant. 

Thi golden bowl m broken — a euphemistic expression for death. P. 
Taken from the liook of ICcclcsiastcs (xii. G) : *' Or ever the silver cord 
1)0 I(K)8cd, or the golden l)owl Ims broken, or the pitcher bo broken at 
the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Tlien shall the dust 
return to the earth as it was ; and the spirit shall return unto God 
who gave it. " 

And thus they go on from year to year, until the golden bowl is broken (they dieX 
— H. R. Haooard. 

To wornJiip the golden calf— io lx)W down Ixsfore something unworthy. 
P. The reference is to the action of the children of Israel at Mount 
Sinai. See Exodus xxxii. 

The bourgtoh mind is instantly prostrated before the golden calf of commercial 
prosperity.- Wm. Black. 

Gone. — A gone *coon — one who is lost or ruined. S. *(Doon is short for 
racoon. 

Mr. Winchester did not stop there— he forced a hundred pounds upon George. 
"If you start in any business with an empty pocket, you are a gone 'coon.**— 
C. Rbadr. 

Knowing the colonel's prowess, the old racoon cried out, in the voice of a man. 
" Hallo, there I air you Ck)lon«l Crockett f For if you air, I'll Jlst come down, or I 
know I'm a gone 'coon." 

A gone ca.ne — something hopeless ; a person who in despalrotl of. F. 

When officers are once determined to ride a man down, it is a gone case with him 
(there is no hope for him).— R. II. Dak a. 

Too far gone— in a hopeless or desperate condition. C. 

To use a phrase not often applied to a young lady, she was too far gone (hopelessly 
in love).— Jambs Payn. 

Good.— -^^ gooff fw a ;>/ay— very interesting ; exceedingly amusing. C. 
He swore it was as good as a play to see her in the character of a One dame.— 

TllACKRRAT. 

And I have nn space to tell of the scene at Mrs. Tinkle's, which was ca good as a 

play.— Mrs. H. Wood. 




Gkx>d [ 136 ] Good 

As good (u gold — thoroughly good and trustworthy. C. Gcnonilly UAcd 
of persons. 

Having Mid thii, Grace walked slowl/ out of the room, and nolUier Mra. Dale nor 
Lily attempted to follow her. 
" She's as good as gold," said Lily, when the door was closed.— A. Trolloi'B. 

A good Uiing — a clever saying. C. 

When we saj a good thing, in the course of the night, we are wondrous luck/ and 
pleased Flicflac will trill jou off fifty in ten minutes.— Thackkuav. 

Good lady — wife ; niatlani. 

His good lady, indeed, was the only person present who retained presence of mind 
enough to ohserve tliat if he were iJlowed to lie down on Blr. Squeers's hed for an 
hour or so, and left entirely to himself, he would bo sure to recover again almost as 
quickly as he had been taken ill.— Dick bns. 

Ah good a«~VLrtuaUy ; essentially; in every essential respect. C. 

She said that he was as good as engage^ to a girl out there, and that he had never 
dreamt of her.— W. D. Howbll8. 

For good — altogether ; completely. C. 

" You are going away for good (never to return), Mrs. Fortress T" I said. 
" Yes, sir," she answered, " for gooA"—KH\jUali lUuitniUd Muiftuinc, JSSC 



For good and all — finally ; never to bo rcvei-soil. C. 

When they were made sensible (understood) that Sir Condy was going to leave 
Castle Itackrent for good and all (never to returnX they set up a whillalu (shout) tliat 
could be heard to the farthest end of the street— Maeia Edobwoktii. 

Good for any sum — able or willing to pay the sum. F. 

One day a gentleman and lady came into lunch. A nice, quiet, tidy little lunch 
they had, Just the same as in a good house of their own. By-and-by I bring in the 
bill, and wonder what they are good for (how much money they will give me).— .^« 
Ou Year Round. 

To the gooil —on the profit side. C. 






Well," says I, " are you done up stock and fluke— a total wreck r "—" No," saya 
he; " 1 have two hundred imunds left to the good."— llAMiiiniTdN. 
When I'm dead and gone tlio land will bo to the good, Thady, my lad.— Ma uj a 

ElMiKWUUTlI. 

Good gracious ! — an exclamation of astonishment. F. 

" Twenty years ! Good gracious, papa, I shall bo siz-and- thirty, so frightfully old 
to Ulk about anything I " 

Pai>a looked a little grave. *' Oblige me, my dear, by not saying good graclons ; 
it is very unladylike."— r/ie Argosy, ISSC. 

A good Samaritan. See Samauit.\n. 

Good-morning to anything— fa,rewe\\ to it. F. 

When anything's upon my heart, good-morning to my head ; it's not worth a 
lemon.— Ma HI a Kikikworth. 

ifzp.— The speaker means to say tliat his head or Judgment takes its deiiarturo 
when his heart or feelings are interested. 




Goody [ 137 ] Oooaeberry 

As good OB one's xoord — performing one's promises. P. 

It WM evident to her that Frank Mailer would be m good as hie word.— H. B. 

IlAaOARD. 

Qoody. — Ooody-goody — weivkly virtuous ; good, but feeble. F. 

If I ilnd out the people I am quite clever enough to plaj a goodj-good/ part, if 
that luitf them.— Justin M'Cartht. 

Goose. — Ily* ycese are snxi,tis — he places too high a value on his own 
possessions ; lie overestimates what is his own. C. 

He (Dr. Whatelj) was particularly loyal to his friends, and, to use the common 
phrase, all his geese were swans. — Cardinal Nswman. 
All the Lancastrian geeso are swans. — Uiioda Brououtok. 

The (/ooae thai lays the golden eggs — tlio source of ono*s wealth or most 
cherished possessions. P. 

This afTectionate anxiety was partly duo to a certain apprehension the old gentle- 
man experienced when the goose that laid the golden eggs for him was out of sight. 
—James Payn. 

To kill the goose that laid the golden eggs^to destroy the source of one's 
income or profit. P. A phrase taken from one of ^nojf's Fables. 

If Brian had only known how immensely he had risen in her respect by the not 
very extraordinary display of talent and ability which he had Just made, he would 
doubtless have hastonod to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs by playing 
dauical compositions until ho wearied her.— Good Wordt, 1887. 

To cook a jyerson's goose for him — to cause his death. S. 

" Yon soo," said Tom, " that if you should happen to be wrong, oar gooso la 
cooked without the least doubt."— Dbsant. 

IVs a gone goose with any one. — there is no more hope for him. S. 

Well, ho took the contract for beef with the troops ; snd he fell astern (failed to 
make it profltablo), so I guess it's a gone goose with him.— Mali burton. 

Goosobeny. — To play up old gooseberry tvilh jyeople — to defeat them or 
silence thein sharply. S. 

He began to put on airs, but I soon played up old gooseberry with him (snubbed 

htmX 

8I10 can squander the Income as she pleases, and play old gooseberry up to a 
certain |>olnt.— Minm Dkai>ix>n. 

To jtlay gooHchrny— to act as a tliird pci-son for the sake of propriety ; 
to appear witli two lovers in public. C. 

There was Ilolena out of her chair standing by a gentleman — while I was reduced 
to that position which is vulgarly but expressively known as playing gooseberry.— 71^ 
MiMldoc Bouifh, 1835. 

A gooseltcrry-jnckcT — one who plays goosclHsrry. C. 

Wluit do I care for old TlirosherT I brought Thresher to-day as a gooseberry- 
picker.— S. IUrino Gould. 

Like old gooseberry —vfiih great energy. S. 

Take them by the Ull. . . and Uy on like old gooseberry. -II. KiNosLBr. 



Gordian [ 138 ] Grape 

As green as a gooseberry — very ignorant of life ; raw and unetlu- 
cated. S. 

Hii namo wai Ore«n, and h« was as greon as a goosoborrj.— Caitain Mahryat. 

Qordian. — To ctU the Gordian knot — to solve a difficulty in a bold or 
unusual fashion. P. 

Frank Muller moBi die, and die before the morning light By no other poealbU 
means could the Gordian knot be c.t.— H. R. IIauoard. 

Grace. — To say grace — to ask the Divine blessing before commencing a 
meal. P. 
Mr. Pickwick, having said grace, pauses for an instant and looks round bim. — 

DlCKSNil. 

To get into a person's good graces — to gain his favour or friendship. P. 

Major D'Onrille is rapidly gaining ground In the good graces of all the Newtoo 
Hollows iMtrty.— G. J. Wiiytb-Mklvillb. 

With a gooil grace — gracefully ; graciously. P. 

WUh a bad grace — ungraciously, so as to leave an unpleasant impres- 
sion. P. 

What might have been done with a good grace would at last bo done with a bail 
grace.— Macaulay. 

The throne of grace — a figurative expression, meaning God's scat, 
heaven. P. To come to the throne of grace is to pray. 

The means of grace — opportunities of hearing the gospel. P. A reli- 
gious expression. 

The shop is next door but one to a chapel, too. Oh, how handy for the means of 
grace I— Bkhant. 

Qrain. — Against the grain — unpleasant ; contrary to one's bias or in- 
clination. P. 

I am deficient in tlio auri »ncra> /anu$~iho passion for dying a millionaire thai 
possesses so many excellent people. I had rather have a little, and do what I Uke, 
than acquire a great deal by working against the grain (iloing work which is an- 
pleasaut).— JAMBi Pay.v. 

With a grain of salt — with some reservation. P. Translation of the 
Latin plirase, Cum grano sails. 

They fear lest suspicious men might take the story with a grain of salt — II. R. 
IIaouard. 

Some of the adventures narrated may require to be taken with a grain of salt — 
SjKctaUtr, SepL 5, ISii?. 

Grape. — Sour graj>eM — something whicli is despised l>ecause it is un- 
iittainable. C. Sue Sour. 

"So it h.asgot iUbig wax doll after all, has it?** asks she with a sneer; "cnrly 
wig and long legs, and all I " 

I am roused to retort. I turn and rend her. 

"Sour grapes!" cry I, with red cheeks, and in an elevated key. — RuoDA 
Brouuiitok. 




Grass [ 139 ] Greek 

Qrass. — To id, the grass grow under one^s/eet — to bo iuactivo ; to be idle 
and lazy. C. 

Viola ia not the sort of girl to lei the gran grow nndcr her feet.— Florxhob 
Marry AT. 

CapUin Cuttle held on at a great pace, and allowed no graM to grow under hia 
feet— Dick BN8. 

CroMA widoJv~a lady whose huslmnd is temporarily absent. P. An 
JOostcni term, especially used in India. 

A grass widow flnds herself in need of consolation for the cruel absence of her Uege 
lord.— rAe Mistletoe Bough, J8S5. 

Qray. — The gray of the morning — the dawn. P. See Morning. 

The gray (or grey) mart — a man's wife. C. This term is generally 
used with the implication that the man in the particular case is in- 
ferior to his wife. 

The Tulgar proverb, that the graj mare is the better home, originates, I stuipect, In 
Uie preference generally given to the gray mares of Flanders over the finest coach- 
horses of England.— Macaulay. 

It wsM also quite clear to Uiose who thought about things, and watched this little 
lady, that there may be meaning in certain proverbial expressions touching gray 
mares.— BB-<fAifT. 

Grease. — To grease the jxilm of— to bribe ; to use money for the purpose 
of corrupting. F. 

Grecian. — The Orceian l^rnd — an elegant stoop or curving of the bock* 
bone, much affected by ladies about twenty years ago. C. 

Greek. — The. Greek Ka/endji — a future time which will never arrive. P. 
llie Kalends occurrc<l at the beginning of the month with tlie Latin 
system of reckoning time ; lience the term Ccdendar — a table announc- 
ing wlien the first day of each month felL The Greeks had no 
Kalends. 

The London School Board have since executed a strategical movement to the rear, 
snupending the obnoxious notice for a month, which is the English equivalent for the 
Greek Kalcndt.— Journal of Education, 1887. 

When Greek mcetn Greek, then eomes the tug of war — when one strong 
champion meets another of ef^ual prowess tlie fight is a keen one. C. 
When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war.— Natiianibi. Lbb. 

Grerk to any o;/r— unintelligible to him. C. See Shakespcare*B Julius 
Ctfsar, act i. scene 2. 

CoMiuM. Did ('icoro say anytltingf 

CaKca. Ay, ho s|K)ko Greek. 

Cauins. To what etToct? 

Canrn. Nay, an I tell you that I'll ne'er look you in the face again ; but those that 
understood him smileii at one another and shook their beads; but, for mine own 
{tart, it was Greek to me. 




Green [ 140 ] Grind 

Green. — The, green-eyed mo?i«^cr— jealousy. P. 

Chorry wu greea with Jealousy, but tried to liido it under proteatationt of adinir*- 
iion.—T/u Mistletoe Bvught 1885. 

To see yreen in auother*8 eye — to consider hiin a simple, gullible 

fellow. S. 

" Now, soldier-boy,'* said I, 
** Do you see green in my eye f 
Oh, pray excuse the slang I " — T. Dayidhok. 
" I suppose yon intend to marry Miss M., as I see you are paying her such doroCed 
attenUon." 

"Do you see any green in my oyusf " was tlio very vulgar reply. '* Why, at for 
marrying Miss M., I'd rather be excused. She is too great a flhrt"— 5t. Andrttoe 
Citixen, 1887. 

Tfie toearing of the green. Green is the Irish national colour. To wear 
it shows patriotic or rehel sympathies. 
They are hanging men and women for the wearing of the green. — Popular iSoiiif. 

A green hand — a raw fellow unaccustomed to the work he under- 
takes. F. 

" I thought everybody knew Job Terry," said a green hand who came in the boat 
to me, when I asked him about his captain.— R. 11. Dana. 

The green room — the private cham])cr where actors dress and undress. 
P. This room is a notorious place for gossip. 

There was only one topic on which Sir Henry could converse, and he was uncertain 
how It would be received if ho was to start it— namely, actors' gossip and green-room 
whispers. — B bhant. 

Qrlef. — To come to grief— to be ruined ; to fail completely. P. 

France and Bonaparte, driven by the French fat (foot), as you are driven by the 
British Philistine, — and the French fat has proved a yet more fatal driver than 
yours, being debauched and immoral, as well as ignorant,— came to grief (were 
ruined).— M. Ahnold. 

Qrin. — To grin and bear it — to sufTcr anything painful in a manly way, 
without complaint. F. 

*' You scoundrel," he said between his teeth, *' you have made a fool of me for 
twenty years, and I have been obliged to grin and bear It"— If. R. Hauuaud. 

Qrind. — To grind the /ace o/—to oppress ; to tyrannize over. P. 

The agent was one of your middlemen who grind tlie face of the poor.— Mskia 
Edukwouiii. 

Hard grinder — a hard-working student or ])rofcssional man. S. 

Besides, there is a pension looming ever so far ahead which I must go back and 
grind tor.— Murray's MugaziM, 18S7. 

To grind one*a tetth — to have feelings of disgust, disappointment, or 
rage. C. 

Evorjrthing annoyed and angered me that day I ground my teeth (was intentely 

irritated) at the luncheon-table, which would have feastetl half-a-dosen famllki.— 
The MiMetoe &m(/A, 188S. 




Grips [ 141 ] Ground 

Qrips. — A t (jripn toith — struggling hard against. O. 

Tom WM dally growing in inAnfulneu and though if ulnesi, as erery high-couraged 
and wtll-principled boy must, when he finds himself for tlie first time consciously at 
grips with self and the devlL— Huoiibs. 

Grist. — To hriv/j grifU to the mill — to procure needful supplies ; to be a 
source of profit. C. 

A sly old Pope created twenty new saints to bring grist into the mill of (constitute 
a source of income for) the London clergy.— Bishop IIoiuilry. 

The lawyer may be half-a-dozen things at the same time— a bader, a poUUdan, a 
practical agriculturist, a land-agent, a coroner, a steeple-chase rider, a general Jack- 
pudding. Everything brings grist to his mill, and the more irons he has in the fire 
the Inrgor will l>o the numlior and the more varied the character of his clients.— A. 
JicM8urr, in Nineteenth Centur^t ^^7. 

Grog. — Oro(/-UoHHonn* — the red pimples on a drunkard's nose. F. 
A few grog-blossoms marked the neighbourhood of his nose.— TaoMAa Hardy. 

Ground. — To break fjronud — to commence operations ; to take the first 
step in any undertaking. P. 

7*0 gain or yet ground — to advance ; to make progress. P. 

It was very tiring and slow work, yet I did visibly gain ground. — R. L. 
Stbvsnson. 

At four in the afternoon we sighted a sail under our lee-bow, gave chase, and got 
ground of her apace till night came on. — Q. A. Sala. 

To tonf ground — to retreat ; to give way ; to become less powcrfuL P. 

But, on the whole, I am unable to deny that the state and the nation have lokt 
ground with respect to Uie great business of controlling the publio charge. — aLAX>- 
irroiiK. 

To have the ground cut from under one^s fui — to see what one relies on 
for support suddenly witlidrawn. C. 

His was not a practical mind, and it was sure to take him some time to realist 
what it means to have the ground cut from under your feet. — (7ood irords, ISSJ. 

To hold otie^M {p'ound — to maintain one's authority or influence. P. 

Having shi|«|>cd for an ofllcer when he was not lialf a seaman, he fonn<l little pity 
with the crew, and was not man enough to hold his ground among them.— B. II. 
Dana, jiin. 

To Hfand one*^ ground — to Ixj finn ; to be unyielding. C. 

Marvel, though with much ditflculty, stood his ground, and refuted to tell Clover- 
hill till ho shciuld bo |ierfectly sure that Miss Barton would marry him, and till hit 
relation ihoald arrive in town and give his consent.— Maria BDOBWoiiTif. 

But she made a lapreme effort over herself, and did her best to stand her ground 
— MKt. E. Lynn Linton. 

Jkurn to the ground — completely. S. 

" America is the place," he said to htmtelf. " Rome tea-ootit rity In Booth 
America woulil suit me down to the ground."— Mmn Braddon. 



Grow [ 142 ] Gulf 

Grow. — To grow upon — to obtain great influenco over; to become 
prized. P. 

It was ft fftoe nthor loyftblo thftn beftutlfnl, nihor soniitlvo tiiftn intoUoctiud— a 
face which grew upon yoa ai yoa looked at it, and which was always pleasant to look 
upon.— W. K NoABis. 

Grub. — Grub Street — the name of a low quarter in London inhabited for- 
merly by poor authors. As a noun, Grub Street signifies poor, mean 
authors ; as an adjective, mean, poor, low. P. The street is now 
called Milton Street. 

Johnson cam* among them the solitary si>ecimen of a past ago, the last survivor of 
the genuine race of Qrub Street hacks.— Maoaulay. 

Grub and hub — ^victuals and drink. S. 

GrueL — To give a person his (jniel — to punish a person severely ; to kill 

him. S. 

He refused, and harsh language ensued, 

Which ended at length in a duel, 
When he that was mildest in mootl 

Gave the turbulent rascal his gruel.— Bardam. 

Grundy. — Mrs, Grundy — jealous neighbours ; the scandal -loving por- 
tion of the community. C. The name comes from Morton's novel 
Speed the Plough (1708), where one of the characters, Mrs. Ashfield, 
is always exclaiming, ** What will Mrs. (inmdy say ? " Mrs. Grun<Iy 
was her neighbour. 

These awful rules of propriety, and that dreadful Mrs. Qrundy (the thought of what 
one's neighbours will sayX appear on the scene, and of course spoil everything.— 
BlaAwood's AlagaxiHet 13S7. 

Guard. — To be on one*s guard — to be watchful and prepared for an 
attack. P. 

Their pa and ma being seised 

With a tiresome complaint, which, in soroo soasons, 
People are apt to be seised 

With, who're not on their guard against plum-seasons. 
Their medical man shook his head, 

As he could not get well to the root of it— Bab ham. 

To put a man on his guard — to warn him ; to make him carcfuL P. 

It was in such an outburst of rage that he had assaulted John in tlie inn-yard of 
Wakkerstrom, and tliercby put him on his guard against him.— il. it Haouabi*. 

Off one's guard — heedless ; forgetful ; in a careless state. P. 

Isaac caught both faces off their guard, and read the men as by a llghtniag flash to 
the bottom line of their hearts.— C. Rbai>k. 

Gulf. — A great gulf fixed— ^ complete and permanent cause of separa- 
tion ; a radical difference and divergence. P. Tlie phrase comes 
from the parable of Dives and Lazarus. See Luke xvi. 26. 

Between him and Mr. Carruthers there was a great gulf fixed.— E. Yatbs. 

For forty years and metre 1 lived among savages and studied them and their ways: 




Gun [ 143 ] Hair 

• and now for several jears I have lived here In England, and have in my own stupid 
manner done mj b«it to learn tlie ways of the children of light, and what have I 
found? A great gulf fixed? Ko, onlj a very little one.— II. R. Haooabd. 

QuiL — A great gun — a noted personage. C. 

Time flew on, and the great guns one by one returned— Peel, Graham, Ooulboum, 
Hardlnge, Henries.— Bbaconsfibld. 

To blow great giuu— to bo very stormy ; to blow a hcftvy gale. P. 

At last it blew great guns ; and one night, as the sun wont down crimson in the 
Gulf of Florida, the sea running mQuntains high, I saw Captain Sebor himself was 
fidgety.— C. Rbadb. 

Quts. — To have guts in the brain — to have sense ; to be full of intelli- 
gence. Old-fashioned. 

The follow 's well enough, if he had any guts in his brain.— Swirr. 

Qatter. — OtU of the gutter— o{ low origin. P. 

*' We could never have supposed one of our blood would eommlt the crime of 
marrying a plebeian— and for love I ** 

" Then why do you marry your sons to girls out of the gutter?" Oow>bom girls^ 
was sometimes the rejoinder.— J^afionaf Bnitw, Ui87. 



H 

Hack. — At ha^k (or heck) and manger— profuaeiy ; extravagantly. F. 
Heck, or haclc, is Scotch for a manger. The word is of Scandinavian 
origin. 

The servants at Lochmarlle must be living at haclc and manger.— Miss Fbhbibb. 

Hail. — Ilail'/ellow loell'tnel — familiar ; on tenns of easy inUinacy. C. 
Also used as a noun. 

It was not, I will frankly admit, a very righteous beginning to a young life to be 
hail-fellow well-met with a gang of doer-stealers. — Q. A. 8ala. 
His rAle was that of a liailfellow well-met with everybody.— Sa bar Tvtlbb. 

Hair. — To a hair — to an extreme nicety. P. 

Oh I that's her note to a hair,- that's her eye exactly. — Haubobtoh. 

To Mpfit hairs — to dispute over petty points. P. A hair-splitter is a 
caviller. 
Pray, don't lot us be splitting hairs.— A. Tbollopb. 

lloth of a hair— \)oi\\ alike. F. 

For the iw^Idler and tinker, they are two notable knaves, both of a Iiair, and both 
cotuln-gcnnans to the dovil— Gbrbnb. 

Hair standing on end. This is a sign of terror. P. Sec Stand. 



Half [ 144 ] Hammer 

To tcLke a hair of the dog that hit you. This was at one time supposed to 
be a cure for hydrophobia. The expression is commonly iise<l now 
when a man, after heavy drinking, is advised lo take a little inott) 
brandy or other liquor. 

Deddodly, too, the homcuopatlilc system mast bo foundo<l on groat nAtaiml facte, 
and tliore is philosophy, born of tlie obserTatlon of human nature, in the somewhat 
Tulgar proverb that recommends a hair of the dog that bit you.— H. R. Hauqabd. 

To turn a hair — to show signs of fatigue. C. A phrase taken from 
horsemanship, and properly only applicable to a horse, but now used 
generally. 

Flushington would toil manfully through the most realistic descriptions (in French 
novels) without turning a hair.— F. Anstby. 

Then the fiddlers began — the celebrated Mellstock fiddlers, who, given fre« 
stripping, could play from sunset to dawn without turning a hair.— R. D. Black- 
more, in Murrains Afoycuinc, 1S33. 

Halfl — Ifalf- seas over — in a semi • dninken state ; confused with 

drink. F. 

But Jason put it back as he was going to fill again, saying, '* No, Sir Condy, it 
shan't be said of me 1 got your signature to tliis deed when you were half-seas over." 
—Maria Edobwoktii. 

A had halfpenny — something which is supposed to return to the owner, 
however often he tries to get quit of it. C. 

It was not the first time, nor the second, Uiat I had gone away— as it seemed, per- 
manently—but yet returned, like the bad halfpenny. — N. IIawtuornk. 

Half the hattle — no small part of the difficulty overcome. C. 

To provide the patient with a good bed, fresh air, and suitable warmth is half tlM 
battle (will do as much as all things else for his recovery). 

Better half—tk wife. See Better. 

Halloo. — DonH halloo till yoxCre out oftlu ioood — Ikj careful about show- 
ing premature signs of exultation. C. A favourite saying of the Duke 
of Wellington. 

When Wellington had driven tlie French out of Portugal, the Portuguese issued a 
print of the Duke, bearing the legend underneath—'* Invincible Wellington, from 
grateful Portugal." A friend having sent the Duke a copy of the print, he struck 
out the word " Invincible" with a dash of his i>en, and wrote below, ** Don't halloo 
till you're out of the wood." 

Halting. — The halt imj foot of justice — an expression iMirrowed from 
J^tin literature, signifying the slow but sure punishment wliiuli 
follows wrong-doers. 1*. 

Justice, though with halting foot, had been on his track, and his old crime of 
Egyptian (Uys found him out at last.— rA« Times, 1887. 

Hammer. — To go it hammf^r and tongs — to act violently and recklessly; 
to throw all one's energies into anything. C 

The ancient rules of a fair fight were utterly disregarded ; both parties went at It 
hammer and tongs, and hit one another anywhere with anytliing.— Jambs PaTW. 




Hand [ 146 ] Hand 

To bring to the hammer — to sell by auction. P. 

All Digga's penaUt (household effecU), for the time being, were brought to the 
hammer. —U nail KS. 

To sell Milder the hammer — to sell by auction. P. 

He threatened to foreclose, and sell the house under the hammer.— C. Rbadb. 

Hand. — In hand — (a) under control. P. 

The other was laughed at behind his back, and outwitted by the young man he 
thought he had so well in hand (completely under controU— Jamb Austrn. 

(6) in present possession ; ready for use. P. 

" You are in the fortunate position of having a competence of your own, I con> 
elude.** 

" Well, yes ; that is, I come into it on my majority— something in land and also in 
hand."— I]k!<ant. 

(<•) under discussion. P. 

Mrs. Nickleby glided, by an easy change of Uie conrorsation, occasionally into 
▼Arinns other nnecrlotes, no less remarkable for their strict application to the subject 
in hand.— DicRBNB. 

To keep in hand — to direct or manage. P. 

As keeping in hand the home-farm at Domwell, he had to tell what every field was 
to bear next year.— Jan r Aurtrn. 

To take in hand — to take charge of ; to pay attention to. P. 
I have asked Herr Hoffman to take me in hand.— J>i«ure Hour, J887. 

At hand — near ; close to one. P. Used both of time and of place. 

Mr. Woo<lhoiise was to be talked into an acquiescence of his daughter's going oat 
to dinner on a day now near at lutnd (soon to arriveX— Janb Avstbii. 

To come to hand — to be received. P. 

" Your letter came to hand yesterday morning. Dr. Tempest,*' said Mr. Crawley.— 
A. Trollopr. 

At /irtU-hand — directly; without any intenne<liate process. P. 

Could we not have a school for great men, Just as tiiey used to have a school of 

prophets 7 They would be taught to speak; they would be taught to study man- 

Icind At nrst-hand and not by reports; they would be taught to write, to reason, to 
investigate; al>ove all, they would be taught that remarkable history, the history 
of progress.— Brsant. 

Oh, indeed, I siiould much rather come here at first-hand if yoo will have me.— 
Janr Aumtrn. 

At second-hand — not directly; through an intermediary. P. 

Ho kept up just so much communication with them as to inform them, at second- 
haiMl nr at third-hand, which measures to Imiwde and if poMlblo to defeat — 
Trbvrlyan. • 

Oti/ o//ia«f/— (a) directly; at once. P. 

Gather we our forces out of hand, and set upon our boasting enemy.— So abb* 
nrRAiiR. 

.Sir Terence, in a tone of jocose, whee<1ling expostulation, entreated him to have 
the carriage Qniihed out of hand (forthwith).— Maria Bimibwortk. 

10 



Hand [ 146 ] Hand 

Out of hand — (5) ended ; finished. P. 

W«r« these inward wan once oat of hand (over), 

We would, dear lords, nnto the IIolj Land.— Suakkspbarb. 

Hand over hatid — at a rapid rate. C. 

lie made money hand oTor hand.— IIalibubton. 

Hand over head — leisurely ; easily. P. 

He set his magnificent main-sail and fore-sail and main-jib, and came up with the 
ship hand over head, the moderate breexe giving him an advantage.— C. Rkaub. 

An old hand — an experienced person. P. 

Thomas was too old a hand (pmdent a personage) to make light of anjthing.— 
Black M orb. 
I am an old Parliamentary hand.— W. E. Gladstokb, M.P. 

A great hand at anything — very well skilled in it ; very prone to it. G. 

He is a groat hand at a flam (an inveterate HarX- Haububton. 
Good it a great hand at talking.— H. B. Haggard. 

With a high hand — arrogantly ; imperiously. P. 

We have no time now for such trumpery ; we must carry things now with a much 
higher hand (more imperionslyX— Blackmobb. 

To get or gain the upper fiand — to obtain the mastery. P. 

It seems to me that the old Tory influence has gained the upper hand.— J. Cham- 
bkrlain, M.P. 

From hand to mouth — without making any provision for the morrow ; 

consuming every day what is earned. P. 

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.— Japan ATail, 1886. 

To fight for ont*$ oimi hand — to look after one's own interests. P. 

He had won the respect of his ottidal superiors by showing that, in case of need, 
ho could fight for his own hand (struggle on behalf of his own interests).- Tbbvbltan. 

Hand and glove or hand in glove — on very intimate terms. P. 

And prate and preach about what others prove. 
As if the world and they were hand and glove. — Cowpbr. 
Exp. — On the most familiar terms. 

We thought him just the same man as ever— hand and glove (Intimate) with 
every one.— Mabxa Edubwortii. 
We were hand and glove, the old roan and me.— C. Bbadb. 
If we go hand In glove with oil, tobacco, com, sugar, etc., we must, at least, get 
confounded with these commodities.— H. 0)Nwat. 

To lend a hand — to help. C. 

Here comes a huntsman out of the woods dragging a bear which he has shot, and 
shouting to the neighbours to lend him a hand.— N. Hawtiiornb. 

To hear a hand — to be quick. F. 

" Stop, stop, daddy," saiil a little half-naked imp of a boy, *' stop till I get my 
cock-shy." " Well. Uar a band then," said ho, " or he'll bo off; I won't wait a min- 
ute."- II alibortun 




Hands [ 147 ] Hands 

Hand in hand — (a) with the handa joined; close together; linked in 
friendly fashion. P. 

Now we are ioiterlnff down, John ; 

But hand in hand we'll go, 
And sleep together at the foot, 

John Anderton, mj Jo.— Burks. 

(/>) in conjunction; in unison. P. 

They were unable to eee how parochial affaln could go on unlen they worked 
hand in hand with the curate.— U. Conwat. 

To malt a poor hand at — to make little impression upon ; to make little 

progress with. C. 

Notwithstanding tlio captain's exccsdvo Joviality, he made but a poor hand at the 
smoky tongue.— Dickbnh. 

To viaX-e no hand of— to bo unable to explain. C. 

No, sir, I can make no hand of it ; I can't describe him.— R. L. Srcvsif son. 

To gitJt ont^s hand vpon anything — to pledge one's honour to fulfil a 

promise. P. 

The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde; I give you my hand upon that 
(promise you that solemnly).— R. L. Stbvbnson. 

On hand — in one's possession. P. 

Last year I bellcTe it was something awful ; you could see at the end of the season 
how the mothers were beginning to pull long faces when they thought of haring to 
start off for nfulon-nadou with a whole lot of unsaleable artlelei on hand.— Wm. 
Black. 

Hands. — To Iwld ont^a hands — to do nothing; to refrain from inter- 
fering. P. 

80, with something of an 111 grace, Lord Salisbury bade those of his inclining to 
hold their hands, and the Land Bill of 1881 became law.— Justin M'Ca&tut. 

To lay hands on — to seize ; to lay hold of. P. 
Lay hands on the TiUain.— SnAKKspBAnB. 

To shake hands tnVA— to salute by grasping the hand. P. 

Tlie monarch Is forced to shake hands with the very politicians who hare Just 
brought before the House the abolition of the royal prerogative.— Oui da. 

To have upon one's hands— to be responsible for ; to have charge of. C. 

The son made rarious unsuccessful provisions for himself, and still continued on 
his father's hands.— W. D. IIowri.lh. 
Tatty Imd all Uie hiininess of the honse upon hrr hands.— Maria Kihirwortii. 

To take of one's hanrh— to free from a burden. C. 

No one will Uke Ugly Mug olT my hands, even as a gift— Florbncb Marrtat. 

On all /ia«f/>J— cvcrywlicre. C. 

I believe it's admitted on all hands that ihey (the young meu at Oifocd) know 
wliat's gooil, and don't coddle themselves.— Dicbb:«s. 



Handle [ 148 ] Hanflr 

My hands are full — I am very busy; I have plenty of work to do. C. 

Robinson's handi wore now full : he made bmshei, and every daj pnt some of theni 
to the toft upon the floor and walls of the building.— C Kbauk. 

7*0 change hands — to go Into the possession of another. P. 

And so they haggled on for a little longer, but at tlie end of tlie interview Dandy 
had changed hands, and was permanently engaged as a member of Mr. Punch'a travel- 
ling company.— F. Anstky. 

Handle. — 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.— Ms lmotb. 

As soon as it is known that we have kept the child here so strangely, we give a 
handle to suspicion and scandal.— JIuuu Conway. 

To handle without mittens, or gloves— to treat without any superfluous 
politeness or gentleness ; to attack vigorously. P. 

He declares that it is time for the good and true men to handle the Impostors with- 
out gloves.— .ATort^ American Review, 1887. 

A handle to one*s name — a title. C 

Now he has got a handle to his name, and he'll live in clover all his life.— A. 

TBOLLOI'K. 

Foster went forward Into the forecastle as a common sailor and lost the handle to 
his name (was no more addressed as JIfr. FosterX— It. H. Dana, jun. 

To go ojfthe handle — to die. S. 

My old gentleman means to be mayor, or governor, or president, or something or 
other before he goes off the handle.— O. W. Iloufxa. 

Handsome. — To do the handsome thing by another person — to behave 
liberally towards him. P. 

Sht hoped it would be a match, and that his lordship wouhl do the bandsooM 
thing by his nephew.— Fibldino. 

Handwriting. — The handwriting on the wail — the announcement of 
an approaching catastrophe. P. See the Bible, Daniel v. 5-31. 
At tlie feast of liolshazzar, the king of l^bylon, there " came forth 
fingers of a man's liand, and wrote over against the candlestick 
upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace : and the king saw 

tlie part of the hand that wrote And this is the writing that was 

written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Uj)harsin. This is the interpretation of 
the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and flnishetl 
it. Ttkel ; Thou art weighe<l in the balances, and found wanting. 
Peres ; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persiana. 

In that night was T^lahazzar the king of the CHialdeans slain. 

And Darius the Median took the kingdom." 

Hang. — To hang jire — to delay the accomplishment; to come to no 
decisive result. P. 

The plot, too, which had been supported for four months by the sole evidenoa of 
Oates, began to bang fire.— Gkbbn. 




[ 149 ] Hard 



To hautj out — to lodge ; to live. S. 

I M7, old t>oy, wh«r« do you hang oni?— Diokbns. 

To hang in chains — to suspeud a criiniuars body in an iron frame, as a 
public spectacle. P. 
Tboj hanged him in chaini for a ahow.— Tennyson. 

To ifd the haufj of a thing — to understand the general meaning, drift, or 
principle of anything. F. 

To hang hy a thread — to be in a very precarious position or condition. 1*. 

A sailor knows too w«ll thai his life bangs bj a thread to wish to be often reminded 
of it.— R. U. Dana, jun. 

A hang-doff look — a guilty, depressed appearance. F. 

" Ho, ho I" tittered his friend, " you are so— so rerj funny I** 
" I need be," remarked lUlph dryly, " for this Is ratlier dull and chilling. Look a 
little brisker, man, and not so hang-dog like."— Diokbns. 

Hank. — Hank for hank — on equal terms. C. 

If we become partners, it roust be a hank-for-hank arrangement (an arrangement 
where we shall have equal profits). 

Happy. — Happy-go-lucky — improvident ; heedless. C. 
In tlie happy-go-lucky way of his class.— C. Rsadb. 

The happy deiqxUch — suicide ; a name commonly given to the Japanese 
method. C. 

It was to provide Lord Harry Brentwood with a seat (In Tarllanent) Uial I was 
to commit this act of happy despatch (political suicide).— Af<«U<io< Bought 1885. 

Hard. — Hard cu the nether milUlone — very hard; unfeeling and obdu- 
rate. P. Generally applied to human character. 

We in the wilderness are exposed to temptations which go some way to make us 
silly and soft-hearted. Somehow, few of us are certain to keep oar hearts as hard as 
the nether millstone.— iNTineteenlA Cenlvry, 1887. 

A hard ame — an irreclaimably bad person. C. 

He was a fellow-clerk of mine, and a hard case.— R L. Stbvknson. 

Hard aml/ojU — securely. P. 

" You can't mean Smike?" cried Miss Squeers, dapping her hands. 

"Yes, I can, though," rejoined her father. "I've got him hard and fart.**- 

DlCKBNS. 

To go hard with one. Said where any one fares ill or has bad luck. P. 
It will go hard with poor Antonius.— SnAKBflrBARB. 

It shall go hard hut I will or \f I do not— I shall most surely. P. 

It shall go hard If Camblo go witliout her.— SuARBsrBARS. 
JSxp.— Cambio shall certainly go with her. 

Hard by— in the unniediatc vicinity ; close to. P. 

The news next obtained of the elephant was that he had killed several persons 
hard bj.—CfMmben'M Joumoi, 1S87. 



[ 160 ] Hat 



Hard linea — harsh treatment ; unfortunate conditions. C. 

That WM bard lines for me, after I bad given up everything for tlie lake of getting 
joa an education wMch was to be a fortune to jou.— Gkouuk Kliot. 

Hard up — having little money to pay one's debts ; in monetary diffi- 
culties. C. 

Ererjr man in England who was bard up, or liad a bard-up friend, wrote to him 
for money in loan, with or without security.— Bksant. 

Haxe. — As mad as a March hare— crazy; insane. P. 

" Oh," said the admiral, " then he U mad?" 

" As a March hare, sir. And I'm afraid putting him in irons will make bim worse. 
It is a case for a lunatic asylum."— C. Rkadk. 

The hare* 8 fool — the brush used by ladies for applying rouge. C. 

The heart of poor dear Babe gave a bound which brought a colour into her face 
brighter than tliat which the hare's foot bad loft— Mfui. £. Lynn Linton. 

Hark. — To hark ba^k— to return to a subject which has been dropped; 

to begin again where one has left off. P. 

Had they gone and told Silver, all might have turned out differently ; but they had 
their orders, I suppose, and decided to sit quietly whore they were and baric back 
again to *' LiUiburlero " (commence singing " Lilliburlero" againX— R. L. arKVKNiiON. 

Harness. — To die in harness — to continue at one's occuimtion until one's 

death ; to refuse to retire from active life. C. 

Nevertheless it was his (Lord Shaftesbury's) constant prayer that be might die In 
harness, and his last years were full of unceaidng activity.— LeiMirs Hour, IStt?. 

Harp. — To harp on the same string — to continue speaking on the same 

subject. C. 

His mind, she thought, was certainly wandering, and, as often happens, it oon- 
tinned to Iiarp on the same string.— Jam u Payn. 

Harum. — Harum-scarum — wild; reckless. C. 

They bad a quarrel with Sir Thomas Newcome's own son, a harum-scarum lad, who 
ran away, and then was sent to India.— Tuaokkbay. 

Hash. — To settle a man's hash for him — to overthrow his schemes; to 

ruin him. S. 

At Liverpool she (the elephant) Uid hold of Bernard, and would have settled his 
hash for (killed) him, but Elliot came between them.— C. Rkadk. 

Haste. — The more haste the less speed— exceaaive haste is often the cause 

of delay. C. 

Women are " fickle cattle," I remember— I am sure my dear wife will excuse my 
saying so in her presence— and " most haste ** is often " worst speed " with them.— 
Flohknok Makkyat. 

Hat. — To hang up one*s hat in a house — to make oneself at home ; to 

enter into occupation. F.' Visitors usually carry their hats in their 

hands when making a short visit ; to hang up the hat implies special 

intimacy or a regular invitation. 

*' Eight hundred a year, and as nice a house as any gentleman could wiab to hang 
up bis hat in," said Mr. Gumming.— A. Tuulloi'K. 




Hatches [ 151 ] Have 

To fKMa round thr. hcU — to solicit subscriptions. C. 

A had hcU — a gooil-for-nothiiig fellow. F. 

There wu a fellow In mj Katie's family who waa formerly in the army, and turned 
out a rery bad hat indeed.— Bksakt. 

Hatches. — To be under hatches — to be iu a state of depression or 
iwvorty ; to Iw dciul. C. 

AVoll, he's dead now and under hatchet.— U. L. Stbvknson. 

Hatchet. — To bun/ the hatchet — to ceases fighting; to become friendly. 
C. A phrase borrowed from a Red Indian custom. 

Dr. Andrew Marshall made it up with Ids adrersary, and they Ured un friendly 
terms ever afterwards. Why don't some of our living medici bury the hatchet with 
a like effective ceremony?— J bapfruon. 

To dill *'/' ^^^ fuUchet — to renew hostilities. C. 

7*0 taJx up the hatchet — to make war. C. 

To throw the hcUchei — to tell fabulous stories. F. 

HauL — To haul over the coals. See Coal. 

To haul in with — to sail close to the wind, iu order to approach more 
closely an object. A nautical phrase. 

To fiaiU off— to sail close to the wind, in order to avoid an object. 
A nautical phrase. 

To hatU round— {ot the wind) to shift to any point on the compass. 
A nautical phrase. 

To haul the irind— to turn the head of the ship nearer to that point from 
which the wind blows. A nautical phrase. 

Have. — To haf'e at a jKrwu— to try to strike or hit him. C. A have- 
at-him is a stroke or thrust. 
And tliorefore, Peter, have at thee (I'll hit thee) with a downright blow.— Suakb- 

BI'RAnB. 

Well, come here and 1 11 have at you in the vulgar tongue.— C. Rbaub. 
To AaiYj at a fhintj—io begin it or attempt it. C. 
Have at (I'll begin) it with you.-SiiAKBiirKAKB. 

To ham it out {with a ])€r»on)—{a) to settle a disputed point; to 

challenge another because of some ofifence of which he has been 

guilty. C. 

I marched back to our rooms feeling savagely inclined to have It out with Forbee 
for (demand from Porbee an explanation oO kis selflshnees and laek of considtratkm. 

—MacmiUnn's MngaziiUf 1887. 

(6) to finish it ; to enjoy the rest of it. C. 

During the remainder of the day Mr. Browdie was in a very odd and excitable 
state; bursting occasionally into an explosion of laughter, and then taking up his 
bat and running into the coadiyard to have it out by himself.- Dickbuh. 



Hawk [ 152 ] 



To have a care — to bo cautious. C. 

Hftve a care, Jo« ; tliat girl ii letting her cap at you.— Tu ACiL£iiAy. 

7V> Aave liothingfor it — to have no alternative. P. 
lie had nothing for it but to dieperae hia armj.— Burtok. 

He had like to fiave — he came near having. P. 

Whererer the Oiant came, all fell before him; but the Dwarf had like to have 
been (was nearly) killed more than once.— Goldhmitii. 

Hawk. — To know a hawk from a hernshaw — to bo clover ; to bo wiilo- 
awako. C A hernshaw is a kind of heron. 

When the wind If southerly I know a hawk from a hcmehaw (or handsawX— 
Shakupkarb. 

Hawse. — To come in at the haiose-holes — to enter the navy at the lowest 
grade. F. 

Hay. — To make hay xohile the sun shines — to take every advantage of a 
favourable opportunity. P. 

If Patty had not been wise in her generation— if she had not made her hay whUa 
the lun tlione, and lined her neat while featliers were flying abroad— on the death of 
her matter the would hare come to cruel ends.- MHa. E. Lynn Linton. 

Between hay and tjrass — in an unformed state ; hobble-de-hoy. F. An 
Americanism, said of youtlis between boyhood and manhood. 

To mcUx hay q/*— to throw into confusion ; to disturb. F. 
Oh, father, you are making hay of my thingi.— Maria Eooxwortu. 

Head. — To fiave a head on one*s shoulders — to be possessed of judgment 
and discretion. P. 

To be sure, her father had a head on hia shoulders, and had sent her to school, 
contrary to the custom of the country.— €. Rbadb. 

To eat his head off— {of a horse) to do little or no work ; costing mora in 
food than he \b worth. C. • 

It was my duty to ride, sir, a very considerable distance on a mare who had 
been eating her head off (resting laxily in her atable).— Blaokmork. 

To take it into one's head — to conceive a sudden notion. F. See Takk. 
Francia had taken it into his head to stroll over to Whitestone's that evening. 

To turn one's head — to make vain or unreasonable. C. 

Well, he fairly turned Sail's head ; the more we wanted her to give him np^ the 
more she wouldn't— II auburton. 

To jnU out of one's htad—to forget; to drive away the thought of. C. 

Emma at last, in order to put the Martins out of her head, was obliged to harry 
on the news, which she had meant to give with so much caution.— Janb Austbn. 

Heads or tails? — A cry used in tossing up a British coin. The face 
side and the reverse side of the coin are known res^x^ctively as hoatls, 




Head [ 153 ] 



(with reference to the Queen's bust stampe<l on that side), and as taiU, 
a term which has no particular significance. 

If you come out headg (Mys C.-ipps, addreBaing An old lix pence which he li about 
to toss), Hiile Ethy thall g^o ; if you come out UiU, I fhall Uke it for a sign thai we 
ought to turn tali in (retreat from) ihi« here Job.— Blackjiork. 

To nialr. v^iiher ficad iior tail of anything — to bo unable to understand 
or find meaning in any statement or event. C. 

You did say some queer things, ma'am, and I couldn't make head nor tail of what 
you said.— Mas. Oliphant. 

Oi'cr hetul and cars — completely. C. 

Kit Is over head and oars (in love), and she will be the same with him after tliat 
Ann rescue.— liLACKMoiiR. 
He's over head and ears In debt.— Tdackkbay. 

IJead'Ovcr 'heels — hurriedly ; before one has time to consider the matter. 

C. 

This trust which he had taken on him without thinking about it, head-OTer-heels 
in fact, was the centre and turning-point of his school life.— Huanis. 

To (five the head to a horse — to allow it freedom. C. 
lie gave his able horse the head.— Shakkspxarb. 

To let a man have his head — to allow him freedom. F. A phrase bor- 
rowed from the last, and originally only applicable to a horse. 

Aho let him have his head for a bit, and then, when he'd quite got accustomed to 
Uie best of ovcrylhlng and couldn't live without It, slio turned him Into the slrMt, 
whore there Is no cUrot and no cliampagne.— Dcsamt. 

Jlectd and shotifders — by tlie height of the head and shoulders. C. 
My eon is head and shoulders taller than his mother. 

7*0 conie to a head — to ripen ; to approach completion. P. 

The plot was discovered before it came to a head. 

I fetid and front — the outstanding and important part. P. 

" Your good conversation In Christ"—" As he who called you is holy, be ye holy 
In all your conversation." This is the head and front of the matter with the writer.— 
M. Arnold. 

Ojf one's head — crazy ; excited, and not under the guidance of one's 
reason; delirious. C 

His ill roe companions exchanged a second look of meaning, and one of the men 
whispered to his mate, *' He's clean off his head" (he is no longer saneX—ilU Ms 
Year Round, 1SS7. 

To hny or stU a profterty over oii«'« head — to buy or sell witliout con- 
sulting the occupants. C. 

Now his return to Beaton Brows, his crafty purchaae of Mock Beggar over their 
heails, and his reputed wealtli, bid fair to poison the whole stream of sodal life lor 
them.— Mna. E. Lynn Lihton. 

" What wiU become of Red Windows?" 

" It will be sold over my head."— C^mfrers's Journal, 1888, 



Heap [ 164 ] 



To keep (me*8 head above \oajttr—to avoid baukniptcy. C. 

He \% not, like our friend Sir IIjrAcinth O'Brien, forced to loli tongue and bnins 
and oonsdenoe to Iceep his head above water.— Mauia Kdukwuhth. 

Heap.— iS'inidfe ail of a heap — completely ostoiiiahed. F. 

I Uiouglit he'd fainted too; he wm io struck all of a heap.— Ualibubtov. 

Hear. — To hear tell of— to hear by report; to be informed of. F. 
I never heard tell of a man becoming a dressmaker.— Haubuktom. 

Heart. — To take heart — to become hopeful ; to feel encouraged. P. 

It is difficult for the farmer, particuUrly in some districts of Fife, to take heart 
after the eiperience of the last few dajs with their ceaseless torrents.— 5t. Andrtwa 
Citixen, 1886. 

To take anything to heart — to feel deeply pained about anything. P. 

I would not shame you bj seeming to take them to heart or treat them earnestly 
for an instant— DioiLKN>t. 

To break one*8 heart — to die of disappointment; to be mortally disap- 
pointed ; to cause bitter grief or sorrow to one. 

He (Lord Aberdeen) entered into the Crimean War, and it broke his heart (canseit 
his death from grleO.— M. Aiinold. 

But his friend talked, and told the other ottlcors how Groavoi had boon jilted, and 
was breaking his heart (dying of griefX— C Rkadk. 

In one*H heart of hearts — in the inmost recesses of the heart ; privately ; 
secretly. P. 

In his heart of hearts he feared lest there might be some flaw in the yonog man's 
story.— James Payv. 

To carry or wear one's heart upon one's sleeve — to expose one's inmost 
thoughts to one's neighbours. P. 

In his youth, and in his unreserved intercourse with his sisters, he (Beaconsfleld) 
would have appeared to carry a warm heart upon his sleeve (displayed unretvnrodly 
inner feolin^^s of kindnessX —iildiN6ury/i Uev'uw^ 1860. 

Tis not long after 
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve 
For daws to peck at.— Siiakkhpbakk. 
NoU.—'^j "daws" are meant captious, ill-natured iwople. 

Hnart and soul — enthusiastically. P. 

He went into the scheme heart and soul (with enthusiasmX 

His heart is in the ritjhi j)lace — ho is of a kindly and sympathetic dis- 
position. C. See Right. 

To fiave at heart — to be deeply interested in. P. 

What a touching attachment that is which these poor fellows show to any ona 
who has their cause at heart— even to any one who says he has.— Tuackbray. 

To get or learn by heart — to commit to memory. P. 

She fell to Uughing like one out of Uieir right mind, and made me say the 
of the bog over, for her to get it by heart, a dosen times.— Maria Edobwortu. 




Heaven [ 155 ] 



To liaxye one^s heart in otie^s mouth — to be frightened or startled. C. 

" Old Tliadjr," Mid mj master Just m h« used to do, " how do jou do 7 " 

** Verj well, I thank your honour's honour," said I ; hut I saw he was not well 

pleased, and mj heart was in mj mouth as I walked along with him.— Mabia 

EDaawoRTU. 

JItart whole. — not iu love. C. 

No young woman could reject such an oflTcr wiUiont consideration, If she were 
heart whole.— Flohkmcb Marhyat. 

To take heart of ijract — to feel one's courage revive. C. 

At length Mr. Tumor, taking heart of grace, ventured to douht whetlier the doings 
described would have been tolerated bj any head-master worthy of his high and re- 
sponsible post — W. E. N0RUI8. 

I told him I was come to the Queensferry on business, and, taking heart of grace, 
asked him to direct me to the house of Mr. BankoiUor.— R L. Stsvbmbon. 

y/t/f heart naiik into his hooia — he lost hope or courage ; he became deeply 
disheartened. C. 

Perhaps it was this— perhaps it was the look of the island, with Its gray melan- 
choly woods, and wild stone spires, and Uie surf that we could both see and hear 
foaming and thundering on the steep beach— at least, although the sun shone bright 
and hot, and the shore birds were fishing and crying all around us, and you would 
have thought any one would have been glad to land after being so long at sea, my 
heart sank, as the sAying is, into my boot* ; and from that first look onward, I hated 
the very thought of Treasure Island.— It. L. Stbvknhon. 

AJtcr ofie*s own heaii — just such as one likes; dear to one. P. 

It was, indeed, a reproscutativo gathering after Uie Talberts' own heart— Iluau 
Com WAT. 

Out of heart — heavy; sodden. C. 

The tillage-ground had been so ill managed by his predeceHor that the land was 
what is called quite out of heart— Maria Edobworth. 

HeaveiL — In the seventh heaven — in a state of intense delight or exalta- 
tion. P. 

William Henry, for his part, was in the seventh heaven Those days at Stratford 

were the happiest days of his life.— James Paym. 

Good heavens ! — an exclamation of surprise. C 

Sir Henry Steele broke in loudly, "Good heavens I well, he is an eztraordliiary 
man."— C. Rkadb. 

Heavy. — Heavy in fiand — deficient in verve ; requiring to be ui|(ed on. 
C. A phrase originally useil in driving. 

He was a kln<l, honest fellow, though rather old-fashioned, and Juat a trifle heavy 
in hand.— Jam R!« Pavn. 

Heels.— />««</ by the heels— (a) proetratctl. F. 

When a very active man is suddenly laid by the heels, sad as the dispeniatlon is, 
there are sure to be some who rejoice in it— Blacbmorb. 



■(h) put under arrest F. 



Holier [ 156 ] Helter 

To take to one*H heels — to run off. F. 

Timothy*! Beta's Ben first kicked out vigorously, tlien took to his heels (scamiwred 
awayX and sought refuge behind his father's legs.— Gkobok Euot. 

Down at heels, or otit at heels — having bad or untidy shoes; in poor cir- 
cunistances. C. 

I am almost out at heels (in very low drcnmstancesX— SiiAVssrKARB. 
Sneak into a comer down at heels and out at elbows.— Dar&klx^ 

To cool or kick one^s htels — to be made to wait when calling upon some 
great jMiL-sonago. C. 

We cooled our heels during the ordinary and inevitable half-hour.— O. A. Sala. 
I liave been waiting, kicking my heels since the train came in.— Sabaii Tytlkb. 

To tread upon the heels — to follow closely. P. 

One woe doth tread upon another's heels (follows another closely X—SnAVBSPKAUE. 

Achilles* Ac«/— the only vulnerable part. P. When Tlietis dipped her 
son in the river Styx to make him invulnerable, she held him by the 
heel, and the part covered by her hand was the only part not washed 
by the water. 

Hanover is the Achilles' heel (only assailable point) to invulnerable England.— 
Caklylk. 

To kick up the heels~Ui die. F. 

His heels hell kick up, 
Slain by an onslaught fierce of hlckup.— Robert Brownimu. 

To come or follow u]h>h the heels of— to follow closely; immediately suc- 
ceeding. P. 

Bread, I believe, has always been considered first, but the circus oomes close upon 
its heels.— Canfemporary RevUw^ 1887. 

Exp.— Tht multitude cries first for food, but soon It demands amusements. 

The news of the sudden decease of old Mr. Caresfoot, of the discovery of Fliilip's 
secret marriage and Uio deatli of his wife — and of many otlier things, thai were 
some of them true and some of them false, following as they did upon the heels of 
the groat dinner-party, and the announcement made theroa^ throw the country-sido 
into an indoecribablo ferment— 11. K. Haouard. 

To yet the heels of another — to outstrip him. F. 

O rare Strap, thou hast got the heels of me at last— Smollbtt. 

To show the heels to — to outstrip. P. 

My impatienee has shown its heels to my politeness.— R. L. BrBVBiraoK. 

To show a litjhi pair of heels— to abscond. F. 

The day after the discovery of tho fraud, Stanton thought it prudent to show a llglii 
I>alr of heels. 

Helter. — Helter-skelter — in haste and confusion. C. 

Colley held up a white handkerdiief in his hand, and Breytenback fired, and 
down wont the general all of a hoap, and tlion they all ran holtcrskoltor down the 
1UU.-1I. U. Uauuakd. 




Hen [ 157 ] Hide-and-seek 

Hen. — LU'e a hen on a hot girdie — very restless. F. 

To sell oiWs hens on a rainy day — to sell at a disadvantage, or fool- 
ishly. F. 

" N«Ter mind our son," cried mj wife. " Depend upon it, he knowi what he !■ 
abont. I'll warrant, we'll never m« him lell hla hens of a rainy day. I have Men 
him buy inch bargaina as would amase one." — Qolinimitii. 

Hercnles. — JhrndeH* laltonj'M. Hercules, the mythical strong man of 
Greece, performed twelve labours or tasks, requiring enormous 
strength, for his brother Eurystheus. P. See Auoean. 
That, too, Is on the list of Hercules' labours, Teter mine.— CnARLis Kinoslby. 

Here. — Neither here nor there— ot no importance. C 

" Touching what neighbour Batts has said," he be^an in his usual slow and stead- 
fast voice, " it may be neither here nor there."— Blackmorb. 

I fere and (here — scattcreil about thinly ; occurring at rare uitervals. P. 

I wind about, and in and out. 
With here a blossom sailing, 
And here and there a lusty trout, 

And here and there a grayling.— Tbnntson. 
The Unitarians are, perhaps, the great people for taking what here and there 
on the surface seems to oonfllct moet with common sense, arguing thai It cannot be 
In the Bible, and getting rid of it— M. Arnold. 

Here's to yon — I drink to your good health. C. A somewhat old- 

fashioiHMl phrase, used before drinking a glass of wine or conlial with 

a friend. 

Hero's to budgets, begs, and wallets t 

Here's to all the wandering train I— BuRira. 
JSjT).— The poet calls upon his hearers to All their glasses and drink to the health 
of all Jolly beggars. 

Herod. — To out -Herod Herod — to be more outrageous than the most 
outrageous; to pass all bounds ; to rant. P. Herod was the bluster- 
ing tyrant of the Old English mystery plays. See Shakespeare's 
Hamlet y act iii. sc. 2. 

But I^nl Randolph ouMIerods Herod In the opiMsite direction.— forfnigfcfly Rt- 
rtfir, 1SS7, 

There is nothing like giving a romp cre<lit for a llttlo boldn<«s. To keep up her 
character she will out-Herod Herod.— BRAcosfiriEiJ). 

Hie. — Hie jar ft— two I^atin words, signifying Here lies, which frequently 
licgin the iiincription on a tombstone. P. Inscriptions were formerly 
very conmionly couchoil in I^tin. 

On earh brutal brow was pUinly written the hie jaeH of a soul dead within.— E. 
Bkllamv. 

Hide-and-seek. — To play hide-and^rek frith any one — to seem to elude 
his pursuit. V. Hide -and -acck is a children's game, in which one 
hides and the others try to find him, or rire rers^. 



HifiTh [ 158 ] Hinfires 

Indeed, the tim« pasted to Itghtlj !n this good company that I began to be almoai 
reconciled to mj residence at Sliaws; and nothing bat tlie sight of my nude and his 
ejes playing hide-and-soek wiUi mine revived the force of my distrust.— R. L. 

STSmNSON. 

High. — On high — aloft ; in or to heaven. P. 

The Urk mounts up on high (to heaven).— Shaksspkaiib. 
Thy seat is up on high (aloft).— Shakcspkarb. 

ITifjh jinl'8 — uproarious fun ; great sport. F. 

There he found the eleven at high jinks after sapper, Jack Haggles shouting comie 
songs and performing feats of strengUi.— IIuquks. 

High and dry—owi of the water ; in a dry place ; safe. P. 

Just where the eastern curve begins stands KingsclifT, a cluster of white cottagat, 
fronted by a white beach, whereon some half-dosen of stout flshing-smacks are hauled 
up high and dry.— Oood Words, 1S87. 

High lime — fully time. P. Used where a limit of time has been 
reached, and it is necessary to delay no more. 

It was now high time (very necessary) to retire and take refreshment against the 
fatigues of the following day.— Golxmmitu. 

High ioorda — an angry discussion. P. 

Their talk that day had not been very pleasant ; words, very like hl^ wonis, luul 
passed between them. — Qborob Eliot. 

To be on the high horse or the high rapes; to ride the high horse — to have 
a haughty demeanour; to be overl>caring. F. 

Yes, I went there the night before last, but she was quite on the high ropes about 
something, and was lo grand and mysterious that I couldn't make anything of her. — 

DiCKKNH. 

He's an amusing fellow, and I've no objection to his making one at the Oyster 
Club; but he's a bit too fond of riding the high horse (of being arrogant).— Gkorob 
Eliot. 

Iligh'falntin* — in a pretentious style ; pompons. S. 

Ills enemies have done their beat to enlighten her as to the hollownoss of his 
higli-falutin' professions.- I?i<t)t6ur|^/t Jlevitio, 1S3S. 

With a high hand — imperiously ; arrogantly. P. 

Mr. Tolair would have carried his mission with a very high hand if he hail not 
been disconcerted by the very unexpected demonstrations wltli which it had been 
recei vcd . — D ic K BN 8. 

A high tea—** tea" — the evening meal- with meats and solid foo<l. F. 

MIu Gray need not trouble about dress; she always looked nice. That serge she 
was wearing would do capiully, If she did not grudge It. for sauntering about the 
fleldg and garden, being pulleil about by the children, and charing their dinner and 
high tea.— Saba R Tytlkk. 

Hinges. — Off the hinges — in disorder; in a di8turl>ed state. C. 

At other times thvy are quite otf th^ hinges, yielding thcmaelves up to the way of 
their lusts and pasnionii.— Sii ahi'K. 




Hip [ 159 Hob 

Hip. — ^^P aw<i thigh — in no holf-heartcil way ; showing no mercy. P. 

"ProtesUnUy I mean,** mjs he(th« priestX '*ar« bj th« ears a-drivin* away at 
each other the whole bleiMd time, tooth and nail, hip and thigh, hammer and 

tones."— H AUBURTON. 

To smile hip and thigh — to overthrow with great slaughter. C. 

" We shall smite them hip and thigh ** (defeat them utterly), he eried.— H. OoN way. 

It was tliat serenteen pounds to Qrpbury the baker, for flour, which made the 
butcher so Axedly determined to smite the poor clergyman hip and thigh.— A. 
Trollops. 

To have oh the hip — to gain the advantage over in a struggle. C. A 
wrestling phrase. 

If I can catch him once upon the hip, 

I will food fat the ancient grudge I bear htm.— SnAKsnPKARV. 
How would Crawley look at him— Crawley, who had already once had him on the 
hip?— A. Trollops. 

Hit. — To hit off— to describe in a terse and clever manner. C. 

Goldsmith concocted a series of epigrammatio sketches, under the title of Be- 
taliation, in which the characters of his distinguished intimates were admirably hit 
off with a mixture of generous praise and good-humoured raillery.— W. Irving. 

To hit it offtogfiher — to agree; to suit each other. C. 

You should have seen Kemblo and him together; it was as good as any play. 
They don't hit it off together so well (find each other so congenial) as you and I do. 
—Jambs Payn. 

To hit the vail on thr. heatl — to speak appositely; to tpnch the oxoct 
jioint in question. P. 

We have already had Qnlntllian's witness, how right conduct brings Joy And 

Bishop Wilson, always hitting the right nail on tlie head In matters of this sort, re- 
marks that, " If it were not for the practical ditflculties attending It, virtue would 
hardly be distinguishable from a kind of sensuality."— M. Arnold. 

To hit vpon — to light upon ; to discover. P. 

I can never hit on's (recall exactly his) name. — Siiakimprarb. 
I have hit upon (discovered) such an expedient— Goldhmitr. 

To hit out— to strike with the fists straight from the shoulder ; to box 
in a serious fashion. P. 

Hither. — Hither and Ihilher—m various directions ; to and fro. P. 

H3I.S.— //.^A'Sf.— an abbreviation for Her Majesty's ship, or Her 
Majesty's service. P. 

Hob. -//o/> and nott, or hoitnoJ}. A phrase used of companions drinking 
together in a friendly fashion. F. IIcucc tlie verb to hohnoby or 
to hoh-and-noh. 
"Have another glassT" — " With you, hob-and-nob," returned the sergeant — 

I have seen him and his poor companion hnb-and- nobbing together.— TNACscnAT. 



Hobby [ 160 ] Hold 

Hobby. — To ride a hobby — to follow a favourite pursuit, or introduce a 
favourite subject into conversation with a childish eagerness. P. 

NoT6rtli6le«, tome Udloa haro hobblos wlilcli Uiejr ride with coniider&ble portisi- 
enoe. Mrs. Jennjnge'f hobby wm a sort of hearse-horse, for it consisted in a devo- 
tion to the memory of her late second husband.- -Jam em Tayn. 

To ride a hobby to death — to weary people utterly with one's peculiar 
notions on a subject. P. 

Hobson. — IldbsoiVs choice— no choice at all. C. Said to be dcrivetl 
from the name of a Cambridge livery -stable keeper, who insisted on 
each customer taking the horse that was nearest the door. 

No universltj man woald ride him, eren upon Ilobeon's choice (if he could ffet no 
other to ride).— Blackmork. 

Hocus-pocus. — Hocus-pocus — deception; underhand dealing. F. Said 
to be a play on the words Hoc est corpus^ used in the Mass. 

Our author is playing hocus-pocus (hoodwinking his readers) in the rery simllltade 
he takes from that Juggler.— Bbntlky. 

The hostess was too adroit at that hocus-pocus of the table which often is pnie* 
Used in cheap boarding-houses. No one could conjure a single Joint through a 
greater variety of forms.— Washimutoii Irving. 

Hog. — To go the whole hog — to have everything that can be got; to 
refuse to be satisfied with merely a portion. American slang. 

But since we introduced tlie railroads, if we don't go ahead it's a pity. We nevfr 
fairly knew what going tlie whole hog was till then.— Haltburtom. 

Hoist. — Hoist vnth or by one*8 own jyetard — destroyed by one's own 
machinations, framed for the destniction of others. P. See Shake- 
speare's Hamlety act iii. sc. 4. 

It's too disastrous a victory. I'm hoist by my own petard— caught In my ova 
mouse-trap.- W. I>. Howklls. 

Hoity. — Hoity-toity. An exclamation signifying that the jMsrson ad- 
drc8sc4l has been 8i>caking or acting petulantly and altsunlly. ('. 

" Hoity-toity I" cries Honour; " madam is in her airs, I protest**— Fikldimo. 

Hold. — To hold by— to supi)ort; to approve of. C. 

Even the paterfamilias who did not hold by stage plays made an ezceptl<m In ho«- 
our of the Bard of Avon.— Jam ki Tayn. 

To hold forth — to speak in public, generally in praise of something. P. 

A pretty conjurer, telling fortunes, held forth in the market-place.— LlSimiAiiOB. 
Tlie small boys, who are great speculators on the prowess of their elders, used to 
hold forth to (harangue) one another about Williams's great strength.— Huunaa. 

To hold of— to remain at a distance; to refuse to join in any under- 
taking. P. 
If Tou love me, hold not off.— Siiakkspcark. 




Hole [ 161 ] Hole 

To hold on — to last ; to continue. P. 

Th« trade h«ld on (oonUnued) for manj j^^n after the bishope became Protestant*. 
—Swift. 

To hold oxU — to oflcr resistance ; not to succumb or yield. 

A confamptlve penon maj hold out (not raccnmb to the diaease) for jears.— Ar- 

fiUTHNOT. 

To hold good — to 1x3 valiil ; to bo applicable. P. 

No man w!U be banished, and banUhed to the torrid sone, for nothing. The rule 
hold! good with respect to (Is valid for) the legal profession.— Hacaulay. 

To hold in j)lay — to keep fully occupied with secondary matters while 
the attention is diverted from the main point at issue. P. 

Orouchj was to hold the Prussians in plaj until the emperor had routed Wellington. 

To hold one's own — to contend successfully; to maintain what one is 
stmggling for. P. 

So far as silent maledictions were concerned, no profanity of theirs could hold its 
own against the intensity and deliberation with which he eipressed between his 
teeth his rlews In respect to their eternal interests.— Democracy. 

Moreover, with all her retiring wajs, she was always quite capable of holding her 
own.— Wm. Black. 

To hold tcater — to bear close inspection. C. A phrase generally used 
negatively. 

Tales had gone about respecting her. Nothing very tangible ; and perhaps they 
would not hare hold water.— Mrs. Urnrt Wood. 

7'o hold in check — to restrain ; to control. P. 

We sliould And difficulty in supplying an army of eight thousand men at Kanda 
har, which would be sufficient to hold in check the advance of one hundred thousand 
Russians from the CtkViaann.— Fortnightly RevitWt 1887. 

Neither to hold nor to hind — in a state of ungovernable excitement. C. 

" I tell you in turn," said tlie young man, who was neither to hold nor to bind, 
simply because something had been said about his wife--'* I tell you In turn that I 
mean to contest the neat all the same ; and what is more, by the Lord llarry I mean 
to win it."— Wm. Black. 

Hole. — I/ole-and'Corner—Bccrei; underhand. C. 

But such is Uie wretched trickery of hole-and-corner Buffery.— Dickkmn. 
No one could my that it was a hole-and-corner business, far less that the asaembly 
was pAcketl (fllled with confederates). — Jambh Payn. 

In a hole— in a difficult poRition. F. 

llow lie is going to prove that, I want to know I've got him in a hole, youll see. 
— JuwTiN M'Cartiiy. 

Thrro is little niantruvrlng for position and putting tlie other party In a hole.— 
Tim Naliou, Mnif 1, ISOO. 

In the hole. A phrase used in playing cards to signify that tho player 
Iwis iimdo a minus score. 

11 



Holy [ 162 ] Honour 

Holy. — Holy wcUer — water blessed by the priests of the Roman Catholio 
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 at some of the more 
important services of the Church. 

Home. — At home — familiar; on easy terms. C. 

There wm admiraUon, and more even than admiration, in hit ejea. It waa a beaO' 
tifol expreadon that I cannot define or put into worda. . . .that made me feel at hone 
(friendly) with him at once.— The Argosy, 1886. 

An *' at home" — a reception or entertainment given in the afternoon 

or evening. P. 

Now it ao happened that Mr. Yatea the manager waa going to give an entertain- 
ment he called hia at homea, and thia took bat a amall orcheatra.— C. Rkadx. 

To be " cU home " to people — to be ready to receive visitors. C. 

" Sir Charlea Baaaett I ** trumpeted a aervant at the door, and then waited, pmdentljr, 
to know whether thia joung lady, whom he had caught bluahlng ao red with one 
gentleman, would be at home to another.— C. Reads. 

To bring a thing home to people — to say something which interests 

people, and the meaning of which they fully grasp. P. 

" You're like the wood-pigeon ; it aaya do, do, do all day, and never aeta about anj 
work itaelf." That'a bringing it home to people (a aaying which ronaea the attention 
of people).— Okorob Eliot. 

To come home to a person — to reach one's conscience; to touch one*s 

heart. C. 

I've heard a good deal of the clerka out of place, and now it comea home to me. — 
Bksant. 

To mal:e oneself cU home — to act as if one were in onc*s own house. F. 

" Do nnUe your bonnet-atringa, an<l make youraolf at home, Miaa Nipi)er, pleaao,** 
entreated Jemima.— Dickkns. 

To bring oneself home — to recover what one has previously lost. F.. 

He ia a little out of cash Juat now. . ..However, he haa taken a very good road to 
bring himaelf home again, for we pay him very handsomely.— Madams D'Auhlay. 

One*s long home — the grave. P. 

Whatever yon can aee in cold water to run after it ao, I can't think. If I waa to 
flood myaelf like you, it would aoon float me to my long home (cauae my death). — 

C. RCADB. 

Honour. — Honour hriglU? — do you pledge your word for it? F. A 
phrase used when a man wishes to Ikj perfectly sure that he is not 
going to be deceived. It is also used in affinnntions to mean, " I do 
pledge my word solemnly." 

" I do not mean to marry Mr. Jacorob, if that is what you mean."—" No f Honour 
bright r"—WK. Black. 

" Waa it written in joke, pray T"— " No, that's the best of it," returned the actor; 
" right down earnest honour bright. "— Dickens. 




Hoof [ 1G3 ] Hook 

An affair of honour — a dispute involving a duel. P. 

H« had to leave London owing to a fatal result from an affair of honour in which 
he waa concerned. 

A debt of honour — a debt incurred at play, which cannot bo recovered 
by legal process, and is therefore considered more binding in the 
social code of laws. P. 

He had all along meant to paj hit father's debts of honour ; but the moment the 
law was taken of him, there was an end of honour, to be sure.— Maria Eooxworth. 

A 2yoiiU of honour — a scruple arising from delicacy of feeling. P. 

" I will not," said Lochlel, *' break the ice. That U a point of honour with me."— 
Macaulat. 

Honours of ttxir — the privilege granted to a defeated army to march out 
of a town or a camp witli colours flying. P. 

Tlie same daj, at one p.m., arrived a letter from General Stiels, granting permission 
to the officers to retain their swords, and to the army the honours of war.— JSdinhiiftiA 
lUvietr, 1886. 

The honours rested with him — he was the most successfuL P. 

The honours of the evening would have rested with Ratcliffe, had he not lowered 
himself again to his ordinary levtl.— Edinburgh Review^ 1882, 

To do the honours — to act as host or hostess at an entertainment. C. 
Afterwards Miss Amelia did the honours of the drawing-room.— Thackxr at. 

Hoof. — To \*cat or jkuI the hoof— io walk. F. 

Charles IIaIos expressed his opinion that it was time to pad the hoof.— Dickbhii. 

Hook. — tiy hook or by crook — by some means or other; through some 

device. C. 

" I do not think," he replied coldly, after an unpleasant pause, " that William 
Henry cares much about Shakespeare ; 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.**— Jammi 
Payw. 

Off the hooks — (a) in disorder; flurried. S. 

While Sheridan is off the hooks, 

And friend DeUny at his books.— Swirr. 

(/») dea<l ; no longer in existence. S. 

The attack was so sharp that Matilda, as his reverence ezprtned it, was very 
nearly off the hooks.— Thackeray. 

On one*s oicn hook — independently ; on one's own responsibility. F. 

The Tory eye-glau, which headed Uie cane he carried so jauntily in his hand, was 
out of keeping with their eye-glasses, and looked like snnie gay young lens who had 
refused to bo put into spectacles, and was winking at life on its own hook. — Jambs 
Pavn. 

To hook iV— to nni away. S. 

Kvcry srhool-ltoy knows that the Hon has a claw at the end of his tail with which 
ho laiihos himself Into fury. When the experienced hnnt«r sees him doing that, ho, 
■o to speak, "hooks it."— il. Kikoslbt. 



Hop [ 164 ] Horrors 

Hop.— ^0 hop the Uciif—to die. Soo Kick tiik Bucket. 

Horn. — To draw in oiu*8 horns — to be reticent or timid. C. 

" This U not hU opinion,'* laid the doctor dryly, who having be«n betrayed into 
frankneaf by the other's seeming acqoaintanco with the subject in question, now 
once more seemed inclined to draw in his horns. — Jamwi Payn. 

To show one*H horns — to show signs of a devilish nature. C. ** Honiie** is 
a popular name for the devil, whose characteristics, according to the 
popular conception, are his horns, his tail, and his cloven feet. 

" A fine day, Mr. BurchclL" 

" A very fine day, doctor; though I fancy we sliall have some rain by the shooting 
of my corns" (callosities on the feet). 

"The shooting of your horns?" cried my wife in a loud fit of laughter.— €k>LD- 
BMrrn. 

Exp.—lln. Primrose suggests by her remark that Mr. Burchell had a devilish 
nature. 

To be on or between the horns of a dilemma — to be in a position of extreme 
difficulty, from which tliere seems no way of escape. P. 

" We never cared for the money," said Mrs. Corey. "You know that" 

" No ; and now we can't seem to care for the loos of it. That would be still 
worse. Kither horn of the dilemma gores us."— W. D. Howbllh. 

Mr. Jeaffreson does not see tliat his argument brings liim between the lioms of a 
dilemma.— ^fAcna>ttm, Itth Noveniber 1887. 

The " Tabbies" were on the horns of a dilemma.— Huan Conway. 

The horn of plenty — a horn wreathed and filled to overflowing with 
flowers, com, fruit — the symbol of prosperity and peace. V. Known 
by the Latin name cornucopia. The goildess Ceres is frequently 
pictured with it. 

Nature, very oddly, when the horn of plenty is quite empty, always fills it with 
babies.— Bbh ANT. 

//m horn is exalted — ho is proud and happy. P. A Scriptural phrase. 

As he paced the walks with Amy Shiliibeer, and caused that young person's horn 
to be exalted for hope that his flirting cliafT meant serious business, he heard noth* 
ing to which he could object.— Mns. E. Lymn Linton. 

To totoer one*s horn — to humiliate oneself ; to condescend. P. 

" If we could prevail on him to abandon this insane affair," said my Lady Jane, 
with the sublime self-forgetfulness of pride when it has lowered its horn as it skirted 
by ruin, and now raises it again as it touches success.— Mrs. £. Lynn LiNruit. 

Hornet. — To bring or rainc a hornets* nest altotU one*s ears — to cause a 
host of critics or enemies to rise up against one. C. 

The chief offenders for the time were floggu<l and kept in bounds ; but tlie victori* 
ous party had brought a nice hornet*' nest about their ears.— Hun iikh. 

Horrors. — The horrors- -the symptoms of delirium tremens. C. 

" It's a strange place," said the squatter at length, speaking softly, as though loatli 
to break the curious stillness, "it's enough to give one the horrors."— i4/< tht Year 
Jiouml, 18ff7. 



Hors [ 165 ] Hour 

Hors. — Hors de cofnlxU — rendered useless for fighting; disabled. P. 
A French phrase. 

If the Board schoolmuier wu placed horg de cotnbal by profeMlonal scmpleii and 
profeMlonal fatigue, the lame reMrvation might have applied eqaalljr to Bennet 
Oraj.— Sarah Tytlkr. 

Horse. — A horse-lan/jh — a coarse, unmeaning laugh. P. 

One night, Mr. Yates being funnier than usual, if poatlble, a tingle hone-laugh 
■uddenly exploded among the flddlet.— C. Rbadb. 

^'o floif a dead horse — to agitato for the revival of a creed that is 
extinct. C. 
Arguing against Tom Paine is like flogging a dead horse. 

Horse- jilay — rough amusement. C. 

To be sure it was a boy, not a man, and child's-play is sometimes preferred by the 
theatre-going world even to horse-play.— C. Rbadx. 

To take horse — to journey on horseback. P. 

He took liorse to the Lake of Constance, which is formed by tlie entry of the 
Rhine.— Adduom. 

Oiu-horse — mean ; petty ; in a small way. F. An Americanism. 

The former (steam circus) was literally a one-horse, or rather one-pony concern, 
for a patient little quadruped plodded round in the centre. — Barpn** Maffoxine, 
March 1888. 

Oh, well, Rhode Island if a one-horse state, where everybody pays taxes and goes 
to church.— Wm. Black. 

On 0He*s hiyh horse — puffed -up ; arrogant. F. 

Weil, the colonel does seem to be on his high hone, ma'am.— W. D. Howkllh. 

Host. — To reckon or count. wifhotU one*s host — to calculate without con- 
sidering fully tlie practicability of any plan. P. 

• 

His feelings, in fact, were precisely the same as those on which Mr. llarris had 
counted— without his host (rashly).— Jamm Patic. 

Napoleon had reckoned without his host as regards the position to be assumed by 
the South Oerman nationalities.— /(iuflraUd Lcndcn Ktw$, 18t7, 

Hot.— //o^/oo/— <|uickly. C. 

The stream was deep here, but some fifty yards below was a shallow, for which he 
made off hot-foot.- lluausa. 

In hoi uw/cr— in a state of trouble or worry. C. 

lie was far oftener in disgrace than Richard, and kept roe, I may say. In oontlnual 
hot water, wondering what extraordinary trick he would take it into his head to 
play next.— Amnir Krarv. 

Hour.— -^^ (hr eleventh hour — just in time and no more to obtain an a«l- 
vantage. P. 

At the eleventh hour he Is comiielled to take the last chance applicant— AuotriTVs 
Jssiiorr. 




House [ 166 ] How 

The small hours — the morning hours after midnight. C. 

He WM Jott pUyinr tiut last rubber which poneesei sach elastic attributes, and has 
kept many a better man up to the small hours (out of bed until one or two o'dockX 
who otherwise makes it a principle to be in bed by ten o'clock.— Jam lui Paym. 

To keep yood hours — to return homo at an uurly hour every evening; 
not to be abroad at night. C. 
The landlady said she would have no lodger who did not keep good huurs. 

In an evil hour — under the influence of an unliappy inspiration ; acting 
from an unfortunate impulse ; in an unlucky moment. 1'. 
In an evil hour he consented to give his son a latch-key. 

House. — A house-to-house vuiUation — a series of visits made to neigh- 
bouring houses in regular. succession. P. 

I am struck more and more with the amount of disease and death I see around me 
in all classes, which no sanitary legislation whatsoever could touch, unless you had a 
house-to-house visitation of a Government officer. — C. KiMata.ar. 

To keep house — (a) to maintain a separate establishment. P. 
Hy mother no longer keeps house, but lives with her married daughter. 

{h) to manage domestic aflairs ; to act as housekeeper. P. 

When my dear brother was alive (I kept house for him. Miss Nicklcby), we had to 
supper once a week two or tliree young men. — liicKsim. 

To keep open house — to be hospitable to all 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 county, for the colonel kept open houseX knew Polly. — 
Uarper't Monthly, 1886. 

To cry from the house-tops — to aimounce to the public. P. An Eastern 

phrase. The roofs of tlie liouses in Syria and tlie neighbouring 

countries are flat, and are U8e<l in the evenings as family resorts. 

Gabriel, rousing himself now and again to listen, heard nothing that might not 
have been cried from the house-tops. — D. Curutib Mub&at. 

House of call — a house where workmen of a particular trade meet, and 
where those in neeil of workmen can engage their services. P. 
The inn served as a house of call for fanners returning from Exeter market. 

Like a house on fire — very rapidly and easily ; "swimmingly." F. 

lie has, besides, got his favourite boots on, and feels eciual to almost any social 
emergency, so he it making the agreeable to the heiress with that degree of origin- 
ality so peculiarly his own, and getting on, as ho thinks, like a house on lire.— G. J. 
Wuytb-Mblvillu. 

" Yes," said Jeremiah exultantly ; " I'm getting on like a house on flre."— B. L. 
Farjkon. 

How. — How much? — a satirical expression, implying that the person 
who is addressed has used an absunlly learned phrase. S. 

*' The plant is of the gonus Atclep'tadaoa, tribe StapclUie,'*—** Genus how macht" 




Hub [ 167 ] Hundred 

How is that for high ? — a vulgar phrase used after the telling of some 
wonderful story. S. 

Mr. Beny cuuftllj romarlu, " I've hanged one hundred and thirteen conriota, and 
only attended one inquest, when the conviot'a head was leparated from hit bodj, 
and I had to explain how the unfortunate accident oocnrred.** How is that for hlf h t 
Trulj, it muat be a profitable buslneta that admita of tuch atate and difnitjr in a 
hangman.— 5<. Andrtu)t Ciiiien, 1889. 

Hub.— 5f^A< hid) of tJie nolar system or of the tinitw«e— the central city 
of the world. A name often applied in jest to Boston, Massachu- 
setts. F. 

Botton State- House is the hub of the solar system. You couldn't pry that out of 
a Boston man if you had the tire of all creation straightened out for a crowbar.— O. 

W. HOLMBB. 

Calcutta swaggers as if it were the hub of the universe.— I>aily Nnoit 188$. 

Hue. — Hue and cry — a clamour in pursuit of an offender. P. 

A hue and cry hath followed certain men into this house.— Sbaxbspbarb. 
The Dodger and his accomplished friend, Master Bates, Joined in the boa and cry 
which was raised at Oliver's heels.- Diokbks. 

Huff.— T'o take the huff— to be offended; to be sulky. F. 

Suppose he takes the huff, and goes to some other lawyer.— C RaiLDi. 

Hug. — To hmj the shore — to keep close to the shore. P. 
We were afraid to venture out to sea, and decided to hug the shore. 

To hitg oneself— io chuckle with satisfaction. F. 
He hugged himself at the idea of their discomfiture. 

Hum. — To hum and haw — to hesitate in speaking. C. 

There came a pause, which, after humming and hawing a little, Philip was the first 
to break.— H. K. Uaooa&d. 

Humble. — To eat humble-pie — to apologize abjectly. P. Humble, 
mumble, or umblo pie was made from the umblee or entrails of the 
deer, and fell to the lot of the inferiors at a feast. 

With the greatest alacrity the malcontents in France, the old Coostitutional party, 
take up your parable. " France is eating humble- pie I '* they scream out; "the 
tyrant is making France eat humble-pie I France is humiUaiod I Itanoe ii iaffooat> 
ing I "— M. A&NOLD. 

Hundred.— ^o< a hundred miles off or from, A phrase often used to 
avoid a direct reference to any place. C. The place itself or ita im- 
mediate neighbourhood is always intended. It therefore is equal 
to ** very near "or ** very close to." 

flcene— chemist's shop, not a hnndrsd miles from Dumfriaa Xaler smaU girl with 
a bottle of codliver oil purchased on the prerlous day. SmaU girl : *' If ye plaait, 
sir, will ye Uk* this back ? The man oaana tak' It, for he dae'd last niehi."-^ 
AnHrtwi dtiten^ 1887. 

J(xp.— Small girl : " If you pleMe, sir, will you take this back f The man oanool 
take it, for he died last night** 



Hungry [ 168 ] Idol 

The phrase ia also nsed of events not far distant in time. 

From aU of which wIm reflacUont the reader will gather thai onr friend Arthnr 
waa not a hnndred miles olt an awkward dtoaUon.— II. It. Hauuasu. 

Hungry. — Aa hungry cu a hawk — ^very hungry. C. 

I made a beartjr aapper, for I waa as bnngry as a hawk.— R. L. Stbvkmsom. 

Hunks. — An old hunks — a niggardly, mean fellow. S. 

" Not one word for me in hla will A hanke," replied Ifr. Banker ; " a mlaerif 

httnka."— BnAjrr. 

Husband. — The husbancW hocU. A name given to the Satunlay boat 
from London which brings down to Margate during the summer sea- 
son the fathers whose families are at the sea-coast. C. 

I never shall forget the evening when we went to the jettj to see the 'nsbands' boat 
come In.— The MistUtoe B&uifht 1886. 

Ship'hwtband — a sailor who dislikes to quit his vessel when in port. F. 

He was, as we nae the term at sea, a regular ship-hnshand— that Is to mj, bo 
seldom put his foot on shore. — Captain IfARRVAT. 

Hitsband^s tea — very weak tea. F. 

Hush. — To hush up — to keep concealed ; to suppress. P. 

The matter is hashed up, and the servants are forbid to talk of It.— Popic 
'* Ahp" he said anpleasanilj, " jon're beginning to be asliamod of joaraelf, and 
wish the thiog bashed up."— F. Anmtky. 

Hush-money — a bribe to secure silence regarding some iniquitous trans- 
action. P. 

There was, besides, hush-money for the sub-sheriffs (who had been bribed to keep 
quietX— Maria Eikikwortii. 

There is much more black-mail paid in the world than the world has anjr Idea of ; 
but very little turns out to be wliat it pretends to be, hush-money.— Jamim Paym. 



I 

Ice. — To break the ice — to commence speaking after an embarrassing 
silence ; to begin to speak on a delicate subject. C. 

After he'd a while looked wise, 
At last broke silence and the ioe.— S. Butlkii. 
The ice having been broken in this unexpected manner, she made no furthtr at* 
tempt at reserve.— TiioMAii Hardy. 

IdoL— 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 Francis Bacon. 

Teachers and stndents of theology get a certain look, certain conventional tones of 
voice, a clerical gait, a professional neckcloth, and habits of mind as professional aa 




If [ 16» ] lU 

their exteroali. Thej ar« schoUrlj men, and read Bmod, and koow well enoiif h 
what the idoU of the tribe are.— Holm ss. 

Some of theee (preooncelTed ahadowj notions) are inherent in the human mind, ae, 
tor example, the general prejudice in faronr of ijmmetrj and order.... Snoh pre- 
Jndieee extend to the whole tribe of men, and maj be called the idola of the tribe.— 
Abbott. 

Idols qfthe cave {Idola 9peala)—erron of belief into which people living 
apart from tlie world are apt to fall. P. 

The frifiditiee, leading to nothing, of the old Sinico-Japaneae seholanhip, a 
seholarahip fall of the idols of the cbtc, most give waj to the open-ejred methods of 
the West.— Japan Mail, 1886. 

Again, indiTldoal men, circumscribed within the narrow and dark limits of their 
IndiTiduallijr, as shaped by their oountrj, their age, their own physical and mental 
peculiarities, find themseWes as It were fettered in a caTe....the7 only see the 
shadows of realities : such indiridual misconceptions or idols may be called idols of 
the cave.— Abbott. 

Idols qf the forum or tnarket-place {Idola fori) -errors of belief arising 

from language and social intercourse. P. 

Language Is a third imposture tyrannising over and moulding thoughts. It Is 

the idol of Intercourse, deriving Its influence from all meetings of men, and may 
therefore be called the Idol of the market-place.- Abbott. 

Idols of the theatre — the deceptions that have arisen from the dogmas of 

different schools. P. 

In the place of the unobtrusive worship of the truth, authority substitutes the 
mere fictions and theatrical stage-plays (for they are no better) of the estoUaiious 
phitotophen. It may therefore be called the idol of the theatra.— Abbott. 

UL^lfyoM piease. This phrase has often a peculiar use when inserted 

in a sentence. It calls attention to a statement, of which the opposite 

might have been taken for granted, and may be translated, *\ Pray do 

not suppose the contrary. " 

Rank Is respected, if you please, even at the East End of London ; and perhaps 
more there than in fashionable quarters, because it Is so rare.— BxamT. 

Igll|g.—/^M/a/titM— deceptive light P. Latin. See Will o* the Wnp. 

Austria, who, beguiled by the ignU fatnu% of her great ally, had assisted in dit> 
crediting the Bund and covering It with ridicule, returned to it la her eztrenslty.— 
Quatierly KcvUw^ 1887. 

Ilk.— 0/ that ilk — of the place with the same name ; as, Bethwu qf thai 

ilk = Bethune of Bethune. A Scotch phrase. 

I don't mean Beatrice to marry Mr. Staunton, even if he Is a Staunton of that ilk. 
— W. E. NORRIS. 

nL— /<*« an ill icind that blows nobody good— lew events are misfortimes 
to every one concerned. C. Sickness benefits physicians ; death puts 
money in the pockets of undertakers ; fires are populaf with car- 
penters. 

Tis an 111 wind that blows nobody (any) good : the same wind tlMt took the Jew 
Lady Rackrent over to EngUnd brought over the new heir lo Castle BaekrtBt.- 
Maria Edobwobth. 

Ill blows the wind that profits nobody.— SaAXSiPBARB. 



Imperium [ 170 ] In 

Imporium. — Imperium in imperio — a government within a government. 
P. Latin. 

Improve. — To improve the occeution — to draw moral leeaona from any 
event when it happens. C. 

Holmet, who wm one of th« bMi bojt in th« achool, began to improre the oeoMioa. 
" Now, jon jonnfttert," udd he, u he marched along In the middle of them, " mind 
this— jottYe verj well oat of this ecrape. Don't jon go near Thompeon'a bam again ; 
do 7on hear?"— HuQHBS. 

In. — The ifu and outs of anything — its whole working ; the details of 
anything. G. 

Now 10 many thinga come croee and acroei (happen in an unexpected and eontntj 
fashion) in the countless ins and oats (varied experiences of lifeX that the laws of the 
Crlppses failed sometimes in some Jot or tittle.— Bulckmorb. 

No ; if jou want to know the ins and outs of the Yankees (external and internal 
characteristics of the people of New England)— Fto wintered \hem and summered 
them ; I know all their points, shape, make, and breed.— HALiBoaxoir. 

In for ii — in a critical or dangerous situation. F. 

The Speaker, imagining I was going to rise, called m j name. I was in for il (ooold 
not eecape from the critical positionX put mj hat down, adTanoed to the table^ and 
dashed along.— BsAOOKsriSLD. 

There was indeed a fearful Joy about his playing at being a man of high famUj. 
He was in for it now, and he would not draw back.— J. IfCASTHT. 

In with a peraon— on friendly terms with him. F. 

That's the worst of being in with an audacious chap like that old Nicklabj.— 

DXOKBNS. 

In fiii^t^iM — in the clouds ; not having an actual existence. P. Latin. 
The above scheme Is still, we believe, in nubibui. 

In/or a penny, in for a ^tound, Tliis phrase is used when the same loss 
or danger is incurred whether the previous responsibility has been 
great or smalL C. Compare the saying, " As well be hung for a man 
as for a sheep." 

You never know when he's done with you, and if yonVe in for a penny, yoaVe ia 
for a pound.— DioKBNs. 

If there's anything queer about him when we once get into the work. In for a 
penny, in for a pound (we shall not hesitate to proceed to the most serious measarH 
with himX— D10KBN8. 

lufaffrante dtlicto — in the very act -of guilt. C. Latin. 

Ifr. 8. Routh, while playing haxard in Mr. Ohints's rooms, had been caught to 
JUigranU ddieto, in the act of cheating.— Edmund Yatbh. 

In extremis — at the last gasp ; in a hopeless condition. P. Latin. 



The delimitation of the sphere of influence which had been arranged, of 
meant an agreement in advance, whether Bulgaria or Greece should condnel laior- 
recUons in particular villages whenever Turkey was in csf mnU, and which sbonld 
annex them whenever Turkey was extinct- /oriaif^y RcpUtP, ViSJ, 




Indian [ 171 ] Inter 

Ih loco parttUia — in a parent-s place. P. lAtin. 

Thif stately personage, probably for Miss Burt's sake rather than his own, was 
about to place himself, as respected Miss Josceline, in loco parenfis.— Jambb Path. 

In meditu res — right into the middle of a subject. P. Latin. 

At last I desperately broke the Ice, rushing in nudia* rt» (introducing the subject 
abruptly). ~rA« MxtiUtot Bough, 1885, 

In memoriam — to the memoiy of. P. Latin. Used like Hicjacet {q,v.). 

In aUu — in the actual spot where anything has occurred. P. Latin. 

It is really worth while to get a copy of the memoirs to see how itrange such 
language looks in iitu,— National JUviev, 1888. 

In <o<o— taken completely ; altogether. P. Latin. 

If you become a nuisance, I shall either deny your statements in (oto, or I shall 
take the wind out of your sails by confessing the truth to her on my own account.— 

W. E. NORRIS. 

Indian. — Indian Jilt — a procession in which each person follows after 
the other in a long line. P. 

Well, sir, as the four of us were walking in Indian file, what did tha woman sud> 
denly do but go up to Jeremiah and accost him.— B. L. Fajrjkom. 

Indian mimmer — the finest part of the autumn season in North America, 
a time noted for its beauty and mildness. P. 

In the one case there was Mr. Josceline wooing and winning ; Mrs. Jennynge in an 
Indian summer (delightful state) of rapture ; and Miss Anastasla bcfinning to sua* 
pect what was going on.— Jambs Patn. 

Infra. — Infm dig. — a contraction for if\fra dignitatem (Latin), ** be- 
neath one's dignity. " F. 

Beards continued in farour until the serenteenth century, when the magistracy, 
again opposing the change of fashion as it\fra dig., declined as long and as resolutely 
to part with their beards as their predecessors had done to adopt them.— Lady 
Jacksok. 

I was thinking the other day that in these days of lecturings and readings a great 
deal of money might be made (if it were not if\fTa dig.) by one's haring readings of 
one's own books.— Dickknr. 

Inside.— T'o get the inside track 0/ anything— to understand its workings. 
F. An American phrase. 

Intention.— 7*0 heal by the Jirst intention (of a wound)— to close up with- 
out suppuration ; to come together and grow well without inflamma- 
tion. P. 

lie only itrapiied np my cut, and informed me that it would ipstdily g«l wall by 
the first intention— an odd phrase enough.— O. W. Holmbs. 

Inter.— /»/€^ nos — between ourselves. C. Latin. Used when speak- 
ing confidentially. Ompare the French entrt nous, which 
I don't beliero in Tom's sincerity ; but that Is inUr not. 



I.O.U. [ 172 ] Irony 

I.O.IJ. — LO,U,, *'I owo you." A form of acknowledgment of debt 
common between friends. The amount borrowed and the name of the 
borrower are added to* these letters. 
Bnt pay Y— of course he moat pftj; to Ulk of burning I.O.U.'i wu mere chlld'a 

pUj.— TUAOKBRAY. 

Here he took out of hla desk an I.O.U. for £5, read/ drawn up, dated. -^ 

WARRKlf. 

Ipse. — Ipse dixit. A dogmatic statement mode by a writer without ad- 
ducing reasons. P. 

Yet Sir Qeorge Treveljan eTidently expects that, on the other hand, Nattonaliai 
aasociAtions will be liable to be suppressed on the ip»t dixU of the Lord Lien- 
tenant that they are acting iliegaUj.— Spectator, 1887. 

Ipso. — Ip90 facto — in the fact itself. P. Ltatin. Used where some- 
thing is said to be inherent of necessity in something else. 

Whaterer the captain does is right, ip§o factor and any opposition to it is wrong on 
board ship.— R. II. Dama, jun. 

Irish. — Irish 8tew — a dish made with meat, potatoes, and onions, mixed 
confusedly together. P. 

Mrs. Gmdden remained behind to take some cold Irish stew and a pint of iiorttf 
in the boz-offloe.~DioKBNii. 

Iron. — To ?Mve many irons in the fire — to have many projects carrying 
on at one time. F. Irons are here the bolts used in the laundry to 
heat the box-iron, and renewed from time to time. 

And then he (Lamb) tells what other literary irons are in the fire.— A. Ainobs. 

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.— C. Bbadb. 

In irons — fettere<l. P. 

"Orerboardl" said the captain. '*Well, gentlemen, that aarei the trouble of 
putting him in irons.**— B. L. Stbvbnsoit. 

Ah inch qfcold iron — a stab from a dagger or other weapon. P. 
An inch of cold iron brought this wonderful career to a close. 

Tlie iron Jtad entered into his soxd — his spirit was broken. P. 

True, he wore no fetters, and was treated with a grare and stately consideration ; 
but liis bonds were not tlie less galling, and the iron had not the less entered into his 
souL— O. A. Sala. 

To strike while the iron is hot — to act with energy and promptitude. G. 
"Strike the iron while it's hot. Bob," replied I.— Captain Marryat. 

Irony. — The irony of fate — the curious providence wliich brings about 
the most unlikely events. P. 

By the irony of fate, the Ten Hours Bill was carried in the very session when Lord 
Ashley, baring changed his views on the Com Laws, felt it his duty to resign his seat 
in Parliament.— -L<Mur< Hour, 1887, 




Islands [ 173 ] Jack 

Islands. — Islands of the Blest or Blessed — imaginary islands in the West, 

thought to be the abode of good men after death. P. 

Soon jonr footsteps I sbftll follow 

To the Islands of the Blessed.— Lokqpbllow. 

Issue. — At isstie — (a) iu controversy ; disputed. P. 

This compromise, which was proposed with abundance of tears and sighs, not ex* 
McUy mooting tlio point at Issne, nobodjr took anjr notice of It— Diokbmb. 

{h) at variance ; disagreeing. 

We talked npon the qnestlon of taste, on which we were at Issue.— South ir. 

To join isstie with — to dissent from ; to find fault with ; to oppose. P. 

I mast Join issue with yon on behalf of jour correspondent, who sajrs that cocky Is 
bosh-slang for a small selector.— JUii#(ra<«<l London Nevm, 1887, 

To join issues — to leave a matter to the decision of a law-court. P. 

rUlntiffs joined Issues, and the trial was set down for the next asslMt.— 0. Rbadi. 

Itching.— iin itchvig palm — an avaricious disposition. C. 

Let me tell 70a, Cassins, jou yourself 

Are much condemned to hare an itchiug palm ; 

To sell and mart your offices for gold 

To undesenrers.— Smakbbpbarb. 

Ithuriel. — IthurieVs spear — the weapon of the angel Ithuriel, which 

exposed deceit by the slightest touch. P. 

Him (SaUn) thus intent Ithuriel with his spear 
Touched lightly ; for no falsehood can endure 
Touch of celestial temper, but returns 
Of force to Its own likeness.— IIiltov. 
Miracles, the mainstay of popular religion, are touched by Ithnrlel's spear. They 
are beginning to dissolve.— M. Arkold. 

Ivories. — To show one's ivories — to display one*s teeth. S. 

The negress showed her ivories in a long, rippling laugh.— Maiuitat. 
Jacky came instantly down, showed his ivories, and admitted his friend's existence 
on the word of a dog.— C. Rbadk. 

To \cash one's ivories — to drink. S. 

Izion. — The Ixionic wheel. Ixion, as a punishment for falling in love 
with Juno, was hurled to Tartarus, and tliere bound to a wheel which 
|)orpotually rovolvc<1. In the following extract the prison troad-mill 
is jocularly called the Ixionic wheel. 
Defendant's brothers tread the Ixionic wheel for the same ofTenoiLT-TBAOKBaAT. 



Jack. — A Jack-aJ-a-pinch — a person suddeidy called upon to perfonn 
some duty. F. Often applied to a clergyman without a fixed posi- 
tion, who is fre<(uently summoned to act at a wedding or a funeral 
in the al«cncc of the regular minister. 



Jaok [ 174 ] Jaok 

Jo/ck and JVl — common names at one time among the English peasantry : 
Jack for a man, JUl for a woman. Occurring frequently in rhymes.* 

JftckihaUhaveJiU; 
Nought iball go ill ; 
The nutn tluiU have hii mare again, and all ahall be welL 

SnAXBSPSAax. 
Itftj jean ago and more, there wa« one great East Anglian fair, whither the iq:iilrM 
and parsone for miles around resorted, along with Jack and Jill, and all the rert of 
them.— ^(JUfUBum, 1887. 

A Jack-in-office — a person who presumes on his official position to bo 
pert or rude. C. 
I hate a Jack-in-offlce.— Woloot. 

A Jack Tar — a British seaman. C. 

The pigeon-toed step, and the rollicking motion. 

Bespoke them two genuine sons of the ocean, 

And showed in a moment their real characters, 

(The accent so placed on this word bj our Jack TarsX— Barhax. 

A Jack o/all trades — a mim who devotes himself to many different occu- 
pations. C. 

He should, as I tell him, confine himself entirolj to portrait-painting. As it is, ha 
does landscapes also. " A Jack of all trades," as I ventured to remind him, " is 
master of none."— James Patn. 

A Jack with a lantern or Jack o* lantern — the ignta fatuus which flits 
about bogs, and often leads travellers to destruction. F. 

He was a complete Jack o' lantern— here, and there, and ererTwhere.— Hali- 

BU&TON. 

Jack Sprat — a diminutive boy or man. F. Immortalized in tho 

rhyme : — 

Jack Sprat could eat no fat, 

Uis wife could eat no lean ; 
And so it was, between them both, 

Thejr licked the platter clean. 

Be/ore you could say Jack Jiobinson— in an instant ; immediately. F. 

" Minerva has too bad a character for learning to be a favourite with gentlemen," 
said Lord Clonbrony. 



(( I 



Tut I Don't tell me I Fd get her off (secure a husband for her) before 70a coold 
WSJ Jack Robinson, and thank jou too, If she had £60,000 down (In ready moneyX or 
£1,000 a year in land."— Maui a Kimjkwoutii. 

Found also under the contracted form, " Before you could say J. R.** 

These men are not the warriors of commerce, but its smaller captains, who, watdi- 
Ing the fluctuations of this or that market, can often turn a thousand pounds ert wa 
could say J. R. — C. Rkads. 

A cheap-Ja^k — a travelling vendor of goods. P. 

Cheap-Jacks have their carts beside the pavement— Bbsant. 

Jack*s bean-stalk — a bean-stalk which grew up in one night C. The 




JaU [ 176 ] Jaw 

story of Jack and the Bean-Stalk is an old and very popular nursery- 
tale. Compare Jonah's gourd. 

For the affeoUon of joung Udlet is of m rapid growth at Jack*! bean-italk.— 
Thaokbray. 

Jack Ketch — the hangman. F. 

Jot, who wonld no more liaTe it luppoMd that hit father, Jot 8«dley*i father, of 
the Board of Re?eniie, wat a wine merchant asking for orders, than that he wat 
Jack Ketch, refused the billt with tcom.— -Track brat. 

He will come back without fear, and we wiU naU him with the flftj«poand note 
npon him ; and then— Jack Ketch (he will be hanged).— G. Rbadb. 

Ja^k-in-a-hox — something which disappears and reappears with great 
suddenness. C. 

She wat tomewhat bewildered bjr thit Jack*in-a-boz tort of appcaranee.— Wm. 
Black. 

Some foolt made a mn on the bank, at jon know. I wat oleaaed oni, and bad 
nothing for it bat to pat up the thuttert, when In came thit old tphinz— for all the 
world like a Jack-ln-tiie-boz with the lid open, or a cUnt §» macMiid of the Greek 
ttage.— Mrs. £. Ltkn Linton. 

Jack Homer — the self-indulgent, complacent little boy, who picked out 
plums from the pie. Immortalized in the nursery rhyme : — 

Little Jack Homer tat in a comer, 

Eating a Christmas pie ; 
He put in his thumb, and he pulled out a plum, 
And said, *' What a good boy am 1 1 ** 
We shall not do Mr. Edmund Quincy the wrong of picking out in advanoe all the 

plums in hit volume But here and there it a pattage where we cannot refrain, for 

there It a smack of Jack Homer in all of ut, and a reriewer were nothing without it 

—J. R. LOWBLL. 

Jack Frost — a playful name for frost. C. 

" I hope you don't eipect gratitude." 

" I only expect the blankett to keep out Jack FrotU"— Mua Braddon. 

JaiL— A jail-bird — a hardened criminaL C. 

The Jail-birds who piped this tune were, without a tingle ezeeptlon, the deqierate 
catet of thit moral hospitaL— C. Rbadb. 

James. — Court of St, James or St, Jameses — the English Court P. 

A third described, with gay malevolence, the gorgeout appea r ance of Mrs. Hatt- 
Ingt at St. James's.— Maoaulay. 

Jar. — On the jar— ajar ; partly open. F. 

The door was on the Jar, and, gently opening it, I entered and stood behind hei 
nnpercei ved. — B ROOK R. 
" I toe Mrs. Bardell's street door on the Jar." 
" On Uio what?" exclaimed the little Judge. 
" Tartly oi>en, ray lord," said Sergeant Snubbin.— Dickbrs. 

Jaw. — Stop yoxirjaw — bo quiet S. 

If you don't stop your Jaw about him, youll have to fight me — H. Kivoblbt. 




Jean [ 176 ] Jifl^ 

Jean. — Jtan Orapaud — a nickname for a Frenchman. F. See Johnny 
Crapeau. 

Ai true at the Uit oentanr EnfflUhmaii'i picture of Jean Cnpand.— J. B. Lowbll 

Jeddart. — Jeddart or Jedioood justice — hanging the criminal first, and 
trying him afterwards. P. 

The ease of Lord Bttou waa harder. Tmo Jedwood Joitiee waa dealt ont to hlna. 
Fint came the ezecuilon, then the Inveetlgation, and last of all, or rather not at all, 
the aociuatlon.— MA0AUX.4T. 

Jericho. — To go to Jericho — to go away ; to go into retirement. S. An 
expression used contemptuously. The allusion comes from the Bible : 
"Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their 

beards When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because 

the men were greatly ashamed : and the king said, Tarry at Jericho 
until your beards be grown, and then return " (2 Sam. x. 4, 5). 

Mn. Joneo waa rather croM, she made a little noise ; 
She said she " did not Uke to wait on litUe vnlfar boTS.** 
She with her apron wiped the plates, and as she mbbed the delf. 
Said I might *' go to Jericho, and fetch the beer mjrself." — ^Bakham. 
Seeing her, I wished Job's scruples had been at Jericho.— H. B. Haqoarow 

Jerry. — Jerry-worh — unsubstantial work in building. P. Jt^ry-huUder 
and jerry-built have this significance. 

Two lumps of plaster fall from the roof of the Jerry-built palace; then the cmae 
begins to work.— f*a{< MaU Oaaette, 1881^ 

A jerry or Tom-and-Jerry shop — a public-house where only beer is sold. 
S. So called from its inferiority to a fully-licensed house. 

We turned into a Tom-and-Jeny shop to have some beer, and spin a bit of a jam 
about old times.— O. J. Wurrs-MBLViLLs. 
I 

Jessie. — To give a man Jessie — to thrash him soimdly. S. 

He at length lost patience, and doubling up his sleeTM made for the man. And I 
can tell you he gave him Jessie. 

Jennesse. — Jeunesse dorie — the " gilded youth " of a nation ; its fashion- 
able young men. P. French. 

You could never get together a jeunttu dorie without our asristanee. — R. 
KiMaHLKir. 

Jew. — A Jew*s eye — something very valuable. S. Probably from 
French joaUle. 

It's the nerves, boy, the nerves ; and a drop of the real stuff is wortli a .Taw's eye 
for steadying r man after a night of it, as the saying is.— Hall Cainb. 

Jib. — The cut of one*HJih — one's personal appearance. Sailors* slang. 
She dlaUked what sailors call " the cut of his jib."- Sir W. Scott. 

Jifiy. — In a jiffy — without any delay; forthwith. C. 
In a jiffy I had slipped over the side.— B. L. Stbvsn8on. 




JiDffo [ 177 ] Job 

Jingo. — By jingo — a mild oath having no definite meaning. S. 

One of them, I Uioaghi, eipresaed her Mntitnenta on ihi« QOOMion In n Yerj 
ooane manner, when she obterred that, bj the liTing Jingo, she was all of a nxk^ of 
■weat.— Goldsmith. 

T?ie Jingoes, A war party about the year 1877. 

The refrain of the war-song (then Tery popular) contained the spirit-stirring 
words,— 

" We don't want to flght ; but, by Jingo, if we do. 
We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too.** 
Some one whose poises Uiis Ijrical ontbnrst of national pride ftdled to stir ealled 
the party of the entliosiasts the Jingoes.— Jusni* H'Oartht, 

Job. — A Job's comforttr — one who cornel avowedly to comfort a friend, 
but who really annoys him. P. See the Bible (Book of Job). Job 
had three friends who came to him m his trouble as oomforters, but 
spent their time in reproaching him. 

What a morbid propensity some people have, when vidUng a sick chamber, to 
relate all the melancholy news they can remember, instead of cheering the patient 
with llffht and bright conversation. No better example, we would say, could be 
found than the following :— One of our actors was taken suddenly ill, and was confined 
to his bed for a fortnight When the turn for the better came he roee, and a barber 
was sent for. After some time a quaint little German fussed into Uie room with, 
*'Ah, my friend, you vas ill? Well, dis weather is popping *em off by doaeasl** 
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— whiff— he was 
dead I"— 5e. Andrtwn Citixen^ 1886, 

"I told yon so, I told yon sol** is the croak of a true Job's eomfortcr.— A. 
TROLLone. 

Job*M comfort — consolation which irritates instead of soothing. G. 

Did ever a young fellow go to the dogs, but some old woman of either sex found 
her way to the very ear that ought not to be tormented with Job's comfort, and 
whisper, "Aw, dear I aw, dear I** and " Lawk-a-day I " ami "I'm the last to bring 
bad newses (news), as the saying is ; " and " Och, and It's a pity, and him a fine, brave 
young fellow, too I " and " I wouldn't have told it on no account to anethar living 
soul."— A. Hall Cainb. 

Job's news— news of calamities. C. 

From home there can nothing come but Job's news.— Carltls. 

Join's post— A bringor of bad news. P. 

This Job's post from Dumouries reached the National Convention.— Carltlr. 

The patience of Job— very great patience. C. 

Mr. Pratt has certainly the patience of Job.— Maria KiKiRWORTit. 

Job,— To pay a person by the job— to pay him for each separate portion 
of work done. P. A jobbing carpenter is one who is ready to do 
odd pieces of work when sent for. 

To do the job for a man— to kill him. F. 

That last debauch of his did the Job for him (cau^d his deathX 

12 



Joe [ 178 ] John 

A bad job — said of what is hopeless or impracticable. F. 

Indoad, Ui« fftBerml opinion wm that, flndlnf we had reached the mleeioa etatlon in 
nfetj, thej had, knowing Ite itrength, given np the panult of na at a bad Jok— H. 
R. HAOOAan. 

I will not eaj that he had given the whole thing np as a bad Job, becanee It was the 
law of his life that the thing never should be abandoned as long as hope was poeslble. 
—A. TaoLLOPB. 

Joe. — A Joe MUltr or Joe — a stale jest. F. Joe Miller was a witty 

actor at the beginning of last century. . His jests, with many others 

added, were published in book form in 1737. " I don't see the Joe 

Miller of it" signifies, " I don't see the wit in it." 

Take hackneyed Jokes from Miller, got by rote. 
With Just enough of learning to misquote.— Bvron. 
Not so these officers, however ; thej tell each other the stalest and wiekedest old 
' Joe Millers.— Thack KB AT. 

Jog. — To jog anoiher*a memory or anot?ier*a elboto — to remind another of 
a duty or a promise apparently forgotten. F. 

To jog on — to proceed lazily and heavily. C. 

Thus thej Jog on, still tricking, never thriving.— Drtdbn. 

John. — John 0* Noles cmd John o* i5ify/e«— onlinary jKMisaiita. C. 

John o' Nokee and John o' Stjles were now more considered than I was.— O. A. 
Saul. 

John Company — a familiar name given to the Blast India Company 
(E.LC), which ruled in India until the mutiny of 1857. 

When he had thoroughly learned this lesson he was offered a pcdtion in India, la 
the service of John Company.— Maa £. Lynn Linton. 

John Doe and Richard Roe— Aammy names used m law cases to repre- 
sent the plaintiff and the defendant in an action of ejectment. Tliis 
form of words was abolished in 1852. 

Thus in a ease lately decided before Miller, Doe presented Boe a iubeerlpUoB 
paper.— O. W. Holm as. 

Instead, therefore, of Jones and Smith fighting out the matter In their own propOT 
names, they (the lawyers) set up a couple of puppets (called John Doe and Siehard 
RoeX who fall npon each other in a very quaint fashion, after the manner of Pnnck 
and Judy.— S. Wakrrn. 

John Bull — a representative Englishman. P. Dr. Arbuthnot's HiMory 
of John Bvdl made the expression current. 

" Who U he when he U at home ? " 

" The Englishman's first question about every stranger,** remarked Mrs. Lindsaj, 
laughing. " What a thorough John Bull you are, Arthur I **- AV. E. NoMaia. 

John OrdtHy — the signal to shorten the performance at a show. S. 
The master who remains on the outside platform of the booth, and 
takes in the money, cries to the actors, ''Is John Orderly there?" 
This is a signal for them to cut short the performance. 



Johnny [ 179 ] Jump 

Johnny. — Johnny Crapeau — a familiar term for a Frenchman, especially 
in use among sailors. See Jean. 

Those YeneU went armed, too, m befitted the majeity of the banting under which 
old Dance had glorionslj lidted Johnnj Crapeau.— <7eni<<man'f Magaxintj 1887, 

Join. — To join hands toUh — to take as a partner ; to associate oneself 
with. P. 

" I imoke m7 pipe and think how nnappredatod Keata wai, and flattar mjitlf 
mine li a parallol caae. Then, like Bruce'i uplder, I try again.** 

"And, like him, jou will at last succeed," said EUa confident]/. "When merit 
Joins hands with perseTerance, success is certain.**— Jaxss Path. 

To join the majority — to die. P. A classical phrase. 

General Ward, who commanded the " Disciplined Chinese Field Force,** had Just 
Joined the majority— PoU UaU GautU, 1887. 

Joint. — OtU of joint — in confusion and disorder. P. 

The times are out of Joint. — Shakshpbaiis. 

" Whj, minister," sajs I, " what nnder the sun is the matter with jouT You and 
Captain Jack look as If jou had had the cholera. What makes you so dismal and 
your horm so thin T What's out o' Joint now T "— Haubukton. 

Jolly. — 7^ yo//y i?0f7er— the pirate's flag. F. 

" Mr. Kentish, If that be jour name,** said I, ** are you ashamed of jour own 
colours T** 

" Your ladrshlp refers to the ' Jollj Roger'T** he inquired with perfect graritj. 
and iramedlatelj went into peals of laughter.— R. L. SnvBMSoir. 

Jonah. — Jonah^n gourd — a phrase applied to what grows in a night and 
withers with equal rapidity. P. 

"I expect I belong to the order of Jonah's gourds,** said Campion bitterlj.— F. 
Anbtby. 

Jonathan. — Brother Jonathan — a typical American. C. 

An American Kepublic In stars and stripes was also represented from Yokohama; 
and two brothers Jonathan, one from Toklo, another from Yokohama, supported 
their countrywoman.— 7apan Mail, 1S87, 

Jump. — To jump a claim — to seize upon a mining claim by force, or in 
the absence of one who has a prior claim. 

To gain possession of this old wood and iron, and get a right to the water, Rufe 
proposed, if I had no objections, to Jump the claim.— R. L. SrsTBiraoir. 

To jump at — to accept with eagerness. C. 

To his surprise, Susan did not Jump at this remuneration.— C Rbaob. 

To jump or jump ottr the broomiUick — to marry in an informal way. 8. 

Well, the other gipsy man is no other than Joe Smith, who Jumped the broo m s t i ck 
with the loToly Princess Cinnamlnta.— Blaokmobb. 

A Romish wedding Is surely better than Jumping orer a broomstick, which, unless 
we had adopted the uncouth Moreeque custom, would haye been all the ceremoaj of 
matrimony we could hare had. — O. A. Sala. 



Justice [ 180 ] Keep 

Justioe. — To do 0716 justice — to display one*8 good qualities or good 
looks. P. 

In ona braoelat wm a photognph of dear little Charlie, taken from a picture done 
in oiU, Ycry like, bat not doing him JoeUce (making ^im appear aa pretij aa he 
aeiaa1l7 waa).— 7%< MittUtoe Bough, 1885. 

In jitJUire to — desiring to treat fairly; doing what justice demands 
to. P. 

In Tain poor Ladj Clonbrony followed the dowager about the roomi to correct thla 
miatake, and to repreaent, in Joatioe to Mr. Soho, thongh he had uaed her ao ill, that 
he knew aha waa an Engllahwoman.~MAmiA Kdobwobth. 



K 

Kaow. — To huno-taow — to behave in a submissive manner. F. From 
the Chinese. 
To have to kaow-taow to Arnold too, aa I mnat do of oonrae.—ANON. 

Keen. — Keen of a job — eager for work. S. 

If joa offer to take charge of tboee jonng brata, I moat aay yon are keen of a job. 

Keep. — To keep abreast of— io advance at an equal pace with ; pot to 
fall behind. P. 

lie yet foand abundance of time to keep abreaat of all that waa paaaing in the 
world.— Athetutum, 1887. 

To keep up — to continue alongside of; not to fall behind. P. 



•f 



Pleaae, air, we've been out Big-aide hare and hounda and loat our way. 
Hah I yon couldn't keep up (fell behind), I auppoee."— Huqhm. 



To keep company — to have a sweetheart; to court. F. 

Thia ia Mlaa Kennedy, and I hope— I'm aura— that you two will get to be friendly 
with one another, not to apeak of keeping company (becoming lovera).— Bbhamt. 

To keep an eye to or on — to watch. C. 

Whilat they were eating it, leaylng llouti to keep an eye to them, he went some 
way oir and aat down on a big ant-heap to think.— H. R. Haooard. 

To keep in voith a man — to remain on friendly terms with him. C. 

I alwaya told your father he thought too much of that Wataon ; but I would keep 
in with him if I were you, for they aay he'a coining money. — Tk» Mittlttoe Baufkf 
1885. 

To keep one*s hand in — to employ one's energies ; to continue in 
practice. C. 

You'll find plenty to keep your hand in at Oxford, or wherever rlae you go.— 

ITUOIIKM. 



KeepinfiT [ 181 ] Keepinfir 

To keep body and wul together — to maintain bare existence. P. 

One of the maldB haring fainted three timet the last day of Lent, to keep bodj 
and fool together we put a morsel of roast beef into her mouth. — Mabia Edobwoiitb. 

To keep dark aJboul anything — to preserve secrecy. C. 

If you have tastes for the theatre and things, don't Ulk abottt ihetn. Ktep ihem 
dark.— BcsAMT. 

7*0 keep to oneself— to be retiring in one's habits; of a t*cserved dis- 
position. C. 

We do not see much of our neighbours ; they lire very quietly, Und keep io them- 
selves. 

To keep in view — to have one's aun or attention fixed in a certain direc- 
tion. P. 

He had always kept in view the probability of a dissolution of the firm. 

To keep countenance or in counleiuxnce — to lend moral support to. P. 

Flora will be there to keep you countenance.— R. L. BncvsNSOir. 

He might as well be a West India planter, and we negroes, for anything he knows 
to the contrary— has no more care nor thought about as than if wt were in Jtaiaica 
or the other world. Shame for him I But there's too mahy to keep him la eooa- 
tenance.— Maria Edobwohth. 

To keep one^s countenance — to preserve one's gravity; td retfain frotn 
laughing. P. 

The two maxims of any great man at court are, alwayt to keAp his counii&aooe, 
and never to keep his word.— Swltt. 

7'o keep house. See HousK. « 

To keep pace xoith. See Pace. 

To keep in — (a) to refuse to disclose ; to preserve secret. 0. 

But, please, don't think old Qrixsel mean for keeping In what had taken place ; 
she was only obeying orders.— Mma. Ubmry Wood. 

(h) to detain schoolboys after the regular hours as a pimishment. C 

lie was no more moved than the Roman soldiets, or than the schooliliAiter is 
moved by the sad face of a boy kept In.— Bbsaht. 

To keep up apjwirances — to behave as if everything was right« C* 
Captain Cuttle kept up appearances, neverthelees, tolerably well.— Dick bjis. 

Keeping.— /n keeping — suitable ; liarmonixing. P. 

It was in keeping (harmonised) with the scenery around.— Mna. iL Wood. 

Out of keeping — unsuitable ; inappropriate. P. 

It was an old room on which George Dallas looked— an old room with panelled 
walls, surmounted by a curious carved frieae and stuccoed roof, and hang nmnd 
with family i>ortralts, which gave it a certain grim and stem air, and made the gay 
hothouse plants with which It was lavishly decorated seem out of keeping.— Bdmuvo 
Yatss. 




Kettle [ 182 ] Kick 

Kettle. — A kettle of Juth — a confused state of affairs; a muddle. F. 

" Kettle *' is here for kiddie, a net. 

There, jovl hare done a floe piece of work tnilj there ie a pretty kettle of flah 

made OD't at jonx house.— Fikldimo. 

Key. — The hey qf a position — the point whose possession gives control 
over a position or a district. P. A military phrase. 

To have the hey of the street — to be lockeil out. F. 

"There," lald Lowten, "70a have the ke/ of the ■treet.'*— Dickens. 

Odd hey— the badge of a chamberlain. P. 

Hardly will that gold key protect you from maltreatment— Colbridob. 

Keystone. — The Keystone State — a popular name for Pennsylvania. 
He comes from the Keyitone State. 

Kick. — To hich over the traces — to become violent and insubordinate. 
F. A phrase taken from horse-driving. 

Yoa matt not kick orer the traces, or I sliall be forced to tnppreis yon, Lady 
Anne Yoa are growing a trifle too independent— H. B. Haquaud. 

Who on earth would have thought that a girl like Janette Lisle, brought up in 
that kind of way, and in such a household, would have been so carried away by her 
love as to kick right over tlie traces and ruu olf.— J. M'Cautiiy. 

To hich the beam— to be deficient in weight; to fly into the air. P. 
Said of a scale in a 1>uhincc. 

But iu his present survey of the age as his field, he seems to find that a sadder 
colour has invested all the scene. The evil tias eclipsed tlie good, and the aoale, 
which before rested solidly on the ground, now kicks the beam.— Gladstone. 

The latter (scale) quick flew up, and kicked the beam.— Milton. 

7*0 hich up dust — to carry on a valueless discussion. C. 

Amongst the manuscript riches of the Bodleian, there was a copy of a certain old 
chronicler about whose very name there has been a considerabie amount of learned 
dust kicked up.— De Quincby. 

To hich the buchel— to die. S. 

" The cap'n (captain) will inherit the property after the old bird hops'* (his old aont 
dies). 
" Hops?" repeated Josephine, not understanding him. 
"Ay-kicks." 

" Kicks r I don't undersUnd." 
" Hops the twig— kicks the bucket How dull you are 1"—Chamhcr4*§ Joumalf 1887, 

To hich up the heels— to die. F. 

HU heels he'll kick up. 
Slain by an onslaught fierce of hickup.— Bobbkt Brownino. 

To hich up a row or a shindy — to cause a disturbance ; to be violent in 
behaviour. F. 

Master Mash, who prided himself upon being a young gentleman of great spirit, 
was of opinion that they should kick up a row, and demolish all the scenery.^ 
Thomah Day (San<{fortl and Aferton). 

Hawes shrank with dliguvt from noise In his prison . . . . " Beggars gel no good by 
kicking up a row," argued he.— O. Rbadb. 




Kidney [ 183 ] Kinff 

To get more hicks than halfpence — to receive more abuse than profit; to 
be Ixully or roughly treated. F. 

Let the twMi woman go io make lunahlne and a eof t pillow for the poor deyil 
whose lege are not models, whose efforts are blonden, and who in general gets more 
kicks than halfpence.— OcoRas Eliot. 

To kick cu^ainsi the pricks — to struggle with an overmastering force ; to 
refuse to move in a clearly mappcd-out patlL P. The phrase is used 
hi the Bible (Acts ix. 5). 

Like most such men, who are sent into secloslon for the good of the community, 
Maarice Hervey was able to realise, without such severe treatment as was needed to 
conylnce tlie apostle, that kicking against the pricks is foolishness^— Huun Conway. 

My fattier had quite as little yielding in his dis]iosiUon, and kioked against the 
pricks determinedly.— T. A. Tuullopk. 

Kidney.— 0/ /A/! f*amn kidney — of the same nature. P. 

Fellows of your kidney will never go through more than the skirts of a scrimmagt. 

— HUQURII. 

Kilkenny.— 7*0 /f/A/ like Kilkenny cata — to fight till the combatants are 
all torn to pieces. C. See Cats. 

The tactics of the Kilkenny cats by which the Sultan kept h<dd of the wretched 
island were hideously cruel.— 5|>tfc(a(or, DeetmJber 1887. 

Kill. — 7*0 kill two birdn u*Uh one stone — to cfToct two results with one 
expenditure of trouble ; to gain two objects by one exertion. C. 

We will kill two biniv with one stone — disinter a patient for our leathern gallows, 
and furnish a fresh incident of the Inquisition. — C. Kkadb. 

To kill 0)ie's man — to fight a duel with fatal results to one's opponent. C. 

He was a famous shot, had killed his man before he came of age, and nobody 
scarce dared look at him whilst at Bath.— Maria Edobworth. 

TCinfthin. — On the kinchin lay. See Lay. 

"Kind,— {Tribute) in kind — tribute paid, not in money, but In articles of 
produce. P. 

The Turk, who was a man of strict honour, paid the count by embessUag the 
tribute in kind of the province he goremed.- Dkaoonhtibld. 

King.— A'li/f/V English— i\\e standard English, such as is regarded as 
good by the highest authorities. P. Now known as Queen's English. 

She was the most Ignorant old creature that erer was known, oould neither read 
nor write, and made sad Jumble of the King's Knglish when she spoke.— O. A. Bau^. 

King's efndence — the evidence of one of a liand of criminali who, in 
onlor to obtain a pardon, informs against his follows. P. 

The unhappy man, to save his life, had betrayed his master and tamed King's tvi 
donee. — O. A. Sala. 

A'i«f7 Jxxj—owQ who, having enjoyed a short popularity, is afterwords 
treated with coiT-einpt. P. See jEsop's Fables, "The Frogs asking 



KinfiTdom [ 184 ] 



for a King." To change King Log for King Stork is to change a 
stupid but harmless ruler for an oppressor and tyrant. 

It i« A tingnUr fact that Mr. Emeraon i« the moii tteadilj attractive lectarer in 
America. Into that somewhat cold-wateriah r^on adventurert of the lenaatioaal 
kind come down now and then with a eplash, to become disregarded King Logs befon 
the next session. — J. R. Lowkll. 

To ht ununlling to call the kiiuj one*« cousin — to be in a state of perfect 
satisfaction or ekttion. F. 

He wouldn't condescend to call the king his cousin just at this present time (he is 
BO much elated with his prosperiiyX— Uaubuaton. 

The king of terrors — a name for death. P. From the Bible (Job 

xviiL 14). 

Her rival was face to face with that king of terrors before wliom all earthly love, 
hate, hope, and ambition most fall down and cease from troubling.— U. R. liaaaAKV. 

Kingdom. — Kingdom come — the next world. F. 

If the face of the master is to be taken as a barometer, wo sliall all be in kingdom 
come before long.— Caktain Maury at. 

Kiss. — To hisa hands — to kiss the hand of the sovereign on accepting 
or retinng from high ofiico. P. 

To kiss and he friends — to become reconciled. F. 

" It is not generous of you, Mr. Heigham, to throw my words into my teeth. I 
had forgotten all about them. But I will set your want of feeling against my want 
of gratitude, and we'll kiss and be friends." 

" I can assure you, Mrs. Carr, that there Is nothing I should like better. When 
shall the ceremony come olTt " 

** 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 tliat phrase"— 
and she blushed a little, that is, her cheek took a deeper shade of coral—*' I meant 
that we would not cut each other after lunch."— U. K. Uaouakd. 

7*0 kiss the rod — to submit to punishment meekly and without complaint. 

Kite. — To fiy a kitt — to sustain one's credit by obtaining accommo- 
dation bilk. A colloquial phrase among commercial men. 

Here's bills plenty— long bills and short bills— but even the kites, which I can fly 
as well as any man, won't raise the money for me now.— Mauia EiHiicwuKTii. 

Kith,— Kith and Ztim— relatives, and connections by marriage. C. 

Jason liad none of his relations near him. No wundor he was uu kinder to poor 
Sir Condy than to his own kith or kin.— Maria Eimikwortii. 
It was a sair vex (soro trouble) to a' (all) her kith and kin.— Soott. 

Kittle.—^^^^e cattle to shoe— a difiicult person to manage. F. 

But I am not BO sure that the young lady is to be counted on. She is kittle cattle 
to shoe. — GsoRUB Eliot. 

Knee.— TV) how the hue to Baal— to conform to the prevailing or 
fashionable worship of the day. P. See the Bible : ** Yet I have left 




Knife [ 186 ] 



mo seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to 
Uaal '* (2 Kings xix. 18). 

Whlggism it alwayi the icorn of thorough -going men and rigoroui logidant— i« 
ever tUgnuttiMd m a bending of the knee to BaaL— J. Cottkk Moauom. 

To how the knee before — to submit to. P. 

In tlio course of the year 1850 several of those eminent Frenchmen who refused to 
Ik>w the knoo iMforo the Scoond Kmpiro had frequent and friendly convorsatloni 
with Macaulay on the future of their unhappy country.— O. O. Tabvblyan. 

Knife. — War to the Z'wi/c— deadly strife. P. 

War to the knife now.— C. Ubadk. 

So the strife settled down into a personal affair between Flashman and our young- 
sters : a war to the knife» to be fought out in the little cockpit at the end of the 
bottom passage.— T. IIuohbb. 

Knock. — A hiock-out — an auction where the bidders are in collusion. C. 

There are occasional knock-outs and other malpractices in every saleroom in 
London.— AthetKCumf 1887. 

This was a knock-out transaction. Twelve buyers had agreed not to bid against 
one another in the auction room ; a conspiracy illegal but customary.— C Rkaob. 

7V> knock under — to submit completely. F. 

Our government Is not going to knock under because they liave suffered a few 
reverses.— IL R. liAaoAJiD. 

To knock up— {a) to fatigue. F. 

Tills is my only holiday, yet I don't seem to enjoy it— the fact is, I feel knocked 
up with my week's work.— 8. Wakubn. 

{h) to awake by rapping at the door. P. 

Then I knocked up old Macniven out of bed.— R. L. Stbvbumn. 

(r) to call u|)on ; to visit. F. 



Ue would go home some of these days and knock the old girl upi— 11. KiirasLBY. 

To knock on the head— to frustrate ; to hnsak up ; to destroy. F. 

Mr. Hinckley told us some very interesting facts connected with the original 
survey, and knocked several ignorant delusions on the head.— W. 11. Russbll. 

To knock of— {a) to discontinue. F. 

When the varlct knocked off work for the di^ it was obeorved that ha was pos- 
sessc<l of a strange manner.— Bbsant. 

{h) to cease work. F. 

They gradually get the fidgets. This is a real dUease while it lasta. In the work- 
room it has got to last until the time to knock off.— Bbsajit. 

(r) to prepare ; to get ready. F. 



Rover, too— you might easily get up (the part of) Rover while yon are about it, and 
Cassio and Jeremy Dlddler. You can easily knock them off: one i«rt helpt the 
other so much. Uere they are, cues and all.— Dickbmb. 

To knock ahmU— to wander : to travel without definite aim. F. 

I am no chicken, dear, and 1 have knocked about the world a good deaL— U. R. 
Haooard. 



Know [ 186 ] liOnd 

Know. — To know what one ia about — to be far-sighted and prudent. C. 

Sh« makes the most of him, becaoM the knows what she is aboal and keeps a 
mean.— M. Akmold. 

To know whcU*s what. See What. 

Knuckle. — To ImucUe doton — to acknowledge oneself beaten; to sub- 
mit. F. 

We knuckled down under an ounce of indignation. — Blackmorc 
I had to knuckle down to this man— to own myself beaten but for his help. — Mbh. 
£. Lymn Limtom. 

To knuckle under — to yield ; to behave submiBsively. C. 

The captain soon knuckled under, put up his weapon, and resumed his seat, 
grumbling like a beaten dog.— R. L. Stbvbmiiom. 

To rap a man*6 knucUea — to administer a sharp reproof. C. 

The author has grossly mistranslated a passage in the D^entio pro Popuio 
AnglUano; and if the bisliop were not dead, I would here take the liberty of rapping 
his knuckles.— Db Quimcby. 



Labour. — A labour of love — work undertaken spontaneously, and not 
for jMiy. P. 

Tliat his own thoughts lutd sometimes wandered back to the scenes and friends of 
his youth during this labour of love (the composition of the Daerttd Villafft), wt 
know from his letters. — Black's GoUUmilh. 

Lady. — Lady Bountiful — a charitable matron. P. 

Every one felt that since Mrs. Armytage was playing the part of Lady Bountiful, 
it was better that she should go through with it.— Jambh Payv. 

Laissoz. — Lfaiiuiez-/aire—\ct alone ; allowing things to go as they will; 
absence of interveuti(m or control. P. French. 

Ia<«9ez-/<i ire declines in favour; our legislation grows authoritative.— Cimfaiijpor^ 
ary Review, 1SH7. 

Lamp. — The lamp of Phithus — u ]KX$tical name fur the sun. 

Lance. — A free lanct — one attached to no party ; one who lights for 
his own hand. P. 

That he (Defoe) wrote simply as a free lance, under the Jealous sufferance of tlM 
government of the day.— Minto. 

Land. — To see how the land lies — to see in what state matters are. C. 

Now I see how the land lies, and I'm sorry for it— Maria EooBwoRTn. 
Her hostess clearly perceived how tlie land lay, and was exceedingly indignant at 
the supposed neglect of her favourite.— J ajibb Payk. 




Lapsus [ 187 ] Laugh 

To make the land — to come iu sight of the land as the ship approochoir 
it from the sea. P. 
He made the Und the sixth daj after learing Melbourne. 

The land of the leal — heaven. P. Oiiginally a Scottish phrase. On 

one celebrated occasion Mr. Gladstone used the expression erroneously, 

as applying to Scotland. 

We'll meet and aye be fain Ooving) 

In the land of tlie leaL— Baron Ksn Nairkb. 

Lapsus. — Lapsus lintjuat — a slip of the tongue ; something said by mis- 
take. C. lAtin. 

" I win not answer for anything h« might do or tay. I only know—** 
"What do you know r" 

" More than I choose to say. It was a laptut lingua** (I should not hare said that 
I knew anything).— FL«mRNCB Marryat. 

Laxge. — At larije — (a) free; at liberty. P. 

It was thus that the little party in the prior's hostel conversed together on a foot- 
ing more confidential and familiar than would have been possible had they been at 
large in the world wiUiout^— Jamkh Payn. 

If yon are still at large, it is tiianks to me.— R. L. STRVBNaoN. 

(6) in a wide sense ; generally. P. 



Their (the English people's) interests at large are protectoil by their votes.— W. K. 
Ouiuhtokb. 

A ycn^lrman (U lanje—n person without any serious occupation. C. 

He was now n gentleman at large, living as best ha might, no one but hlmtelf 
knew how. — Miss Braddon. 

Laxk. — To hai'e larks — to indulge in boyish tricks. F. 
What larks we had when we were boys I 

When the sky falls we shall catch larks — an absurd statement, used to 
throw ridicule on any fanciful proposition. C 

The stationary state may turn out after all to be the millennium of economic ex- 
pectation, but for anything we know the sky may fall and we may be catching larks 
before that milienniiun arrives.— Co»if«mporary Rtxiew^ 1886. 

Late. — Late in the day — behind time ; too late. C. Used with refer- 
ence to long periods. 

" I am not going to stand your eternal visits to him." 

" You have stood thom for twenty years. Rather late in the day to object now. 
isn't it?" she remarked coolly.- II. R. IIaqoard. 

Laugh. — To lauijh to scorn— to treat with ridicule. P. 

I«ochicl would undoubtedly have Uughed tlie doctrine of noa-realstanoe to aooni. 
— Macau LAV. 

To laufjh in one's sleeve— to smile inwardly while preserving a serious 

countenance. P. 

His simplicity was very touching ..." How Uiey must have laughed at you U 
(heir sleeves, my poor Willie I ** she answered pityingly.— Jambs Payv. 



Law [ 188 ] 



To laugh off—to dismiss with a laugh. P. 

Oar baronet endoavourad to Uaf b off witb a good grace bU apoetaij from the 
popaUr party.— Maria Edukwoutu. 

To laugh out of the other comer or stele of the tiumth — to be inaile to feel 
vexation ; to have the laugh turned against a jeciing pciiiou. C. 

*' NonsenM I " said Adam. " Let it alone, Ben Cranage. You'U laugb o' th' utber 
tide o' your moutb tben."— Okobok Eliot. 

To laugh on /he wrong side of one* s face — to be hutniliatcd. C 
By-and-by tbou wilt laugb on tbe wrong tide of tliy face.— Carlyul 

Law. — To have or take the law of any one — to prosecute any one in a 
law court. C. 

" Tbere't a backney-coachman downatairt, witb a black eye and a Ued-np bead, 
vowing bell bave tbe law of you.** 

** Wbat do you mean,— Uwt" Sedley faintly asked. 

" For tbrasblng bim last nigbt"— Tii \ckbuav. 

" 8be was as bad as be," said Tinker. " Sbe took tbe law of every one of ber 
tradesmen. "—Thaokbb AY. 

A law of the Medea and the Perttians — an unalterable law. P. 

We looked upon every trumpery little custom and babit wbicb had obtained in 
tbe school as tbougb it bad become a law of tbe Medes and Persians.— T. IIuoubh. 

Law-abiding — obedient to the laws. P. 

Yet the road is not worthy of this reputation. It has of late years become orderiy ; 
its present condition is dull and law-abiding.— Bkhant. 

Lay. — The lay or lie of the land — the general features of a tract of 
country. P. 

Fortunately, they both of them bad a very fair idea of tbe lay of tbe land ; and, in 
addition to this, John possessed a small comi»ass fastened to bis watcb-cbain.— H. 
R. Haquauu. 

To lay about one — to strike on all sides. P. 

He'll lay about bim to-day.— Siiakupkauic. 

He lustily laid about him ; but in conse«iucnce be was brought to tbe ground and 
bis bead cut off.— Bunvan. 

To lay by — to save ; to store away. P. 

He had not yet, it is true, paid off all tbe mortgages, still less bad it been in hb 
power to lay by anytliing out of bis Income.— (/vod ironl«, 7^7. 

To lay down the law — to apeak with authoiity. C. 

Though it was pleasant to lay down the law to a stupid neighbour who bad bo 
notion how to make the best of his farm, it was alao an agreeable variety to learn 
something from a clover fellow like Adam B«de.— (Jkokuk Euot. 

To lay the comer-tUone — to make a regular Ix^ginning. P. 

I verily believe sbe laid tbe corner-stone of all ber future misfortunes at that vtiy 
instant— Maria Edob worth. 




Lay [ 189 ] Lay 

To lay heads together — to consult. C. 

Thon they laid thoir headi together, and whispered their own voraion of the etorx. 
— Bbsaht. 

To lay to heart — to ponder deeply upon. P. 

To do Alice JuiUce, though the llateni to tnch leMoni the does not Uy them to 
heart aa the rnXghi.— Edinburgh Review, 188S, 
Lay it to thy heart.— SiiAKsarRARB. 

To lay low — to bury. P. 

I saw her laid low in her kindred'a yault.— SnAKsnrBARK. 

To lay violent hands on — to murder. P. 

I do beliere that violent handa were laid 

Upon the life of thii thrlc«-famed dnke.— SnAKsnPKAiiK. 

To lay by the heeU—U> render powerless; to confine. F. Originally 
used of imprisonment in the stocks, a punishment inflicted on vagrants 
and others. The ankles were enclosed in a board, the culprit pre- 
serving a sitting posture. See Heels. 

Poor old BenJ J I the rheamatix has mnch to answer for all throngh English ooan- 
try sides, but it never played a scurrier trick than in laying thee by the heels. — 
T. Huoaia. 

To lay oneMlfouifor — to direct ono*s energies towards. P. 

"And now," said Mr. ColUber, "yon will Uke chambers in Pall Mall; you wlO 
Join a club— I can get you into as good a one as yon hare a right to expect; you 
will drire in your cab to the ofllce every day ; you will lay yourself oat for giving 
dinners.**— Behakt. 

To Ite laid np^io l)c unwell; to l)o conflncd in one*s room with sick- 
ness. C. 

He was made so rabid by the gout, with which be happened to be then laid up, 
that he threw a footstool at the dark servant in return for his intelligence.— Dicrbnb. 

To lay in — to store for use on an approaching occasion. P. 

The aboriginal peasantry of the neighbourhood were laying in pikes and knlvaa.— 
Macaulat. 

7*0 lay it on — to exaggerate ; to do anything extravagantly. K. 
Now you are laying it on. Surely he could not get so high a salary. 

A layftjnre — a human model used by an artist. P. 

Meantime you are not to be a lay figure, or a mere negative. — C. Rkad& 

To lay to — (a) to cease from a<lvancing ; to stop. P. See Lie to. 

** Well, gcntlcmon,** salil the capUin, " tlie best tliat I can say is not much. We 
must lay to, if you please, and keep a bright look-out**— R. L. STsrsitaoN. 

(h) to be sure of ; to be certain regarding. F. 

"Ask your pardon, sir, you would be very wrong,** quoth Silver. "You would 
lose your precious life, and you may lay to that**— R L. SravBHsoit. 



Lead [ 190 ] 



To lay anything to one*8 charge — to accuse him of it; to hold him re- 
sponsible for it. P. Biblical. (See Dcut. xxi. 8 ; Rom. viiL 33. ) 

M7 Koundrelly enomlM did not fall to confirm and inagnifj the nimonr, and 
would add thai I was the cause of her insanity; I had driven licr to distraction, I 
had killo<l BuUingdnn, I had ninrdoro<l my own son : I dou't know wliat clso they 
laid to my charye.— Tiiaokkuay. 

To lay out — (a) to sx>end (of money). P. 

Unluckily all our money had been laid out that morning In provisions. —OoLiMinni. 



(6) to invest. P. 



To crown all, Mademoiselle Beatrice is a funded proprietor, and consulteil the 
writer of this biography as to the best metliod of laying out a capital of two hnndred 
francs, which Is the present amount of her fortune.— Thack brat. 

— (c) to prepare a corpse for the coffin. P. 



" What am I to do about laying her out? ** asked Mrs. Evltt of the doctor.— M: 
Braddoii. 

— (d) to be willing to imdcrtake the charge of. 



I have nerer laid myself out for families. Children are so roischleTous. — Mim 
Braddon. 

The kid or hinchin lay — the practice of robbing yonng children — a special 
branch of the London thieves' art. S. 8co the career of Noah Clay- 
pole in Oliver Twist, 

" Yon did weU yesterday, my dear," said Fagin ; " beautiful ! Six shillinn M>d 
ninepence halfpenny on the very first day. The kinchin lay will be a fortune to 
you."— DiCKEwa. 

What in Oliver Tun$t fifty years later is called the kinchin lay, appears here (in 
Captain Grose's dictionary) as the kid lay; the last word meaning profession. — Kino- 
ton Olipiiant, in The New English. 

Lead. — To lead one a pretty dance — to cause one unnecessary trouble. C. 

*' Well, my lord," cried Sir Terence, out of breath, " yon have led me a pretty 
dance all over the town.*'— Maria Ei>aEWuKTii. 

To lead up to — to conduct to gradually and cautiously. P. 

Mr. Fleming does not even accuse the incumbent of insidiously leading up to 
Mariolatry.— .^furrfay Review, 1H87. 

After a little rambling talk the lawyer led up to the subject which so disagreeably 
preoccupied him.- li. L. Stkvknbuiy. 

To lead off— to Ixjgin. P. 

There were, no doubt, many ardent and sincere persons who seemed to tliink ibis 
as simple a thing to do as to lead off a Virginia reel— J. R. Loweix. 

To lead up a hall — said of the moat important couple who open the ball 
by commencing the <lancc. P. 

Mr. Thomhill and my el<leBt daughter led up the ball, to the great delight of the 
spectators.— OoLDHM ith. 

To lead hy the noite. Sec Nose. 




[ 191 ] Leave 



Lea£ — To tdkt a Itaf ovi of another person^s hook — to imitate him in 
certain particulars. C. 

Do 70a know, Armlnltti, I begin to think, and many people in this country begin 
to think, that the time has almost come for taking a leaf out of yoor Prussian book. 
— M. ARifOiJ>. 

To turn over a new haf—to begin a different mode of life. C. 

I suppose he'll tarn over a new leaf, now there's a ladj at the head of the establish- 
ment.— Oborox Eliot. 

Leak. — To leak out — to become gradually known (of something which 
has been kept a secret). P. 

It was plain that the news of his engagement had leaked out throogh one of those 
mysterious channels which no amount of care can ever effectually close in such 
cases.— W. £. Nokris. 

To spring a leak — to let in water, P. 

Whether she sprang a leak, I cannot And, 

Or whether she was overset with wind. 

But down at once with all her crew she went — Dkyskk. 

Leap. — By leaps and hounds — by a series of sudden and rapid ad- 
vances. P. 

The ftgures showing the advance by leaps and bounds of Jewish pauperism year 
after year are no less striking.— 5|xeta(4n', 1887. 

Jjfap year — a year of three hundred and sixty-six days, occurring Avery 
fourtli year. P. Ladies are allowed to propose marriage to gentle- 
men during leap years. 

But I don't remember any one having given me an "engaged ring ** before ; and 
it's not leap year (the year when ladies propose) neither.— J amks Payh. 

Least. — The least said the soonest mended — it is prudent to speak little. 

C. 

The old lady ventured to approach Mr. Benjiunin Allen with a few comforting 
reAecUons, of which the chief were, that after all, perhaps it was well it was no 
worse : the least said the soonest mended.— Dickbmh. 

Leather. — Leather and prunella (or prunello) — what b on the exterior; 
non-essential. P. Prunella is a cloth used by shoemakers in making 
the uppers of boots. 

Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow ; 
The rest is all but leather or prunelio — Pop& 
The quiwUon is, How U the book likely to seUT A U the rest U leather and 
prunella (does not matter).— Jambs Patv. 

Leave. — To leave off— {a) to cease or desist from ; to abandon. P. 
First they left off worshipping the gods of Troy.— Bbsajct. 

(ft) to discontinue wearing. P. 

lie goes in his doublet and hoee, and leaves off his wit— SRAXMrRARS. 




lieek [ 192 ] 



To leave out in the cold — to neglect i to exclude from participation in 
anjTthing. P. 

Hy boy wm to hav* been her heir, but the hmd the dlipoeel of her property, and 
■he hu beqaoetbed it all to Comellia, so my ton it left oat in the cold.— ChaMbcra't 
Journal^ 1888, 

To leave in the lurch. See Luroii. 

Leek. — To tat or sioalloio the leeh—io submit to what is hnniiliating. C. 

One hat heard of eating the leek, but that it nothing in compariton with that 
meal of the Sepojt at Doitjrbad.— Jamm Payn. 

It wat certain that he (Mr. Erin) would have to twallow a very burge leek (under- 
go a Terj painful mortification) flnt.— Jam n Patn. 

Left. — Over, the le/l — understand quite the reverse of what is said. P. 

Each gentleman pointed with hit right thumb over hit left thoulder. Thit aetion, 
imperfectly detcribed by the feeble term " over the left,** when performed by any num- 
ber of ladiet and gentlemen who are accuttomed to act in uniton, hat a rery graceful 
and airy effect; itt ezprettion it one of light and airy tarcatm.— Dickkks. 

A left-handed compliment — a saying which, though apparently meant to 
flatter, really depreciates. An unlucky piece of flattery. P. 

Hit quiet manner loft hit tpeech unpunctoated, and hit flihy eyot, lerel voice, and 
immovable face put no dot to an ambiguout "i," and croetod no "t* In a left* 
handed compliment.— Mna. E. Lrvv Limtom. 

To gel left — to be disappointed. 

Yet ; and there will be the tame Inevitable feature about hit canvat that there wat 
in 1888. He (aeveland) 11 get left— i^ew York IKcdkty TVtimnt. 

On the left hand — in an irregular way. C. 

And then thit girl, thit Yetta, had Clinton blood in her, If on the left hand, and 
tadly mixed.— Mrs. £. Lynn Linton. 

A left-handed oath — an oath which is not binding. C. 

" It mutt be a left-handed oath," he tald, at he obeyed her.— Huan Oonwat. 

Leg. — To give leg-hail — to run off; to escape. F. 

It It l>y no meant improbable that the maraudert, with a good ttart and active 
hortet under them, will have given leg-bail to (eluded) their purroert. — DaUy TeU' 
graph, 1887. 

Even an attorney may give leg-bail to (etcapo from) the power under whldi be Uvea 
— Blackmoeb. 

On one*8 leg» — erect ; about to make a speech. P. 

He (Major Scott) wat alwayt on hit lege; he wat very tedtont; and he had only 
one topic, the meritt and wrongt of Hattingt.— MACAUUiY. 

On its last legs — about to perish ; ready to fall. P. 

I entirely agree with your condemnation of the London coal tax. I read with the 
utroott tatitfaction the denunciation of it by Lord Randolph Churchill. If he hoMt 
to hit potiUon the tax mutt be on itt latt lege— W. E. OLADtroira. 




LefiTion [ 193 ] Let 

WUhotU a leg to stand on — having no support. C. 

And that fool Kimble mts the newipaper't talking about peace. Wh/, the ooontiy 
wouldn't have a leg to stand on (would be ruined).— Osoiuik Eliot. 

They compared notee, and agreed that no iTitem but the separate one had a leg to 
stand on (had any ohanoe of succeeding).— OL Rbadb. 

To give a leg up— to help mto the saddle. C. 

Ilia friend Tim giving him a leg up, ho oanten lober John past the stand.— O. J. 

W UTTB-MSLVILLK. 

To stand on one*s own legs — to be dependent on no one. C. 

Persons of their fortune and qualitj could well have stood upon their own legs.— 

COLLISR. 

To make a leg—Ui bow in the old-fashioned way, drawing one leg back- 
ward. P. 

So in they come ; each makes his leg, 
And flings his head before.— Cowpxb. 
He made his leg and went away.— Swirr. 
Each made a leg in the approved rural fashion.— A. Trollops. 

To put one^s best leg foremost — to walk or run at the top of one's speed ; 
to hurry. C. Sec Foot. 

" Now, you must put your best leg foremost, old lady,** whispered Sowerberry in 
the old woman's ear; " we are rather late."— Dicxaiva. 



Good sea-legs — capacity of standing the motion of a ship at sea without 
sufToring from soa-sicknoss. F. 

It was one of those doubtful days when people who are conscious of not possewing 
good sea-legs, and who yet enjoy a sail in moderate weather, are prone to hesitate.— 
James Patn. 

Legion. — T^tV name is legion — they arc coimtless; their number b 
infinite. C. A phrase taken from the Bible (Mark ▼. 9). 

Lend.— 7*0 lend a hand— to help. C. 

You see the manufacturers. Here they are, with their wives and daughters. They 
all lend a hand, and between them the thing is done.— Bbsant. 

LengtlL — At. length — (a) at lost; after a long time. P. 

And as she watched, gradually her feet and legs grew cold and numb, .till at length 
she could feel nothing below her bosom.— U. It Haooard. 

{h) to the full extent ; omitting nothing. P. 



*' I propose to ro into the subject at length after breakfast,** returned Alexander.— 
R. L. Stbvknao.m. 

At full /<>n{7^ A— stretched out to the full extent. P. 
Here stretch thy body at full length.— Worm worth. 

Let. — To lei off— to excuse ; to set free. P. 

We can't let you off, Lady Mona. It Is imperative that yon should wash your 
face In sight of us all, and dry it toa— Florkhcb Mask vat. 

13 




Letter [ 194 ] lietter 

To let on — to reveal ; to lot people know. F. 

" I TOW," Mid Mr. Slick, " I wish I hadn't let on (aUowed people to know) tluit I 
h«d it at all."— Haububtok. 
*' But you won't let on, Ewan, will jon ?** he laid.— Hall Caink. 

It is also used of dissimulation. 
He leU on that he li wealthj. 

To let fly or let drive — (a) to discharge a missile with force. C. 

I looked up, and there, at I thought, wai the calf. So I ^t mj rifle on and let 
drire, flrtt with one harrel, then with the other.— H. R. Hauoard. 

{h) to aim a blow ; to strike at witli violence. C. 

He let flj with inch itoutnesi at the giant's head and ddet that he made him let 
hit weapon fall out of hit hand.— Bunyan. 

To let out — to disclose; to make known what would otherwise be a 

secret. P. 

Nave let out one daj that he had remonstrated with his daughter in vain.— Mml 
H. Wood. 

To let alone — to leave unmolested ; not to approach. P. 

It reallj was not poor Aleck's fanlt. He is gentle as a lamb when he is let alone. — 
H. £. Haqoabd. 

To let well alone — to refuse to interfere where matters are already satisr 
factory. C. 

Let alone— 9k phrase signifying " much less." F. 

I have not had, this liTelong daj, one drop to cheer mj heart. 

Nor brown (a copper) to buy a bit of bread with— let alone a tart— BABnAM. 

To let one in — to make one responsible without his knowledge. F. 
He was let In for a good hundred pounds bj his son's bankruptcy. 

To let slide— to allow anything to pass unnoticed. S. 

I call this friendly. I asked myself last night, " Will these boys eome to see ma, 
or will they let the rigged Yankee slide?'* And here yon are.— Bbkant and Ricb. 

To let Qo 0/ anything — to relax one's hold of it. C. 

He let go of Bessie in his perplexity and fear.— H. R. Haqoabd. 

Let he! — no matter ! C. 

Leon. I>o not draw the curtain. 

PauL No longer shall yon gaso on't, lest your fancy 

May think anon it moves. 
Lem, Lot bo, lot bo I— Suakkhpsaub. 

To let he — to leave alone. C. 

Would It not be well to let her be, to give him his way and leave her to go hers, la 
peaoe?— H. R. Uaouabd. 

Letter. — The letter of the law — the exact literal interpretation of a law 

or written document. P. 

Fanner Gray had always the preference, and the hatred of Mr. Hopkins knew bo 
bounds— that U, nu bounds but the letter of the law, of which he was ever miadfOl, 
because lawsuAs aro ezpendve.- Mabta Edobwoktu . 




Level [ 195 ] Lie 

To the letter — exactly ; following instructions minutely. P. 

He was overbearing, harsh, exacting, and inilitad on hi« orders being carried ont 
to the letter.— BxsANT. 

Red letter. See Red. 

LeveL — To do one^e level best — to exert oneself to the utmost of one's 
power. F. Jlia Level Beat is the name of a work by a Mr. Hale, 
published in Boston in 1877. 
He did his level best to get me the post. 

To ?iave one^s head level — to be discreet ; to have a well-balanced mind. 
F. American. 

" The Jurj must be mad I " 

" I guess not, Pat They've the reputation of being a level-headed \oi:*—MaemU- 
lan'i Magaxinet 1887, 

To level up — to bring what is lower to an equality with wbat is higher. 
P. First used by Lord Mayo in 1869. 

The older officials with smaller salaries applied to have them levelled up to the 
salaries of the new-comers. 

To level down — to bring what is higher to an equality with things that 
are lower. P. 

The Government, however, did the reverse— they levelled down the salaries. 

Lick. — To lick into shape — to give form or method to a person or thing. 
F. The phrase owes its origin to the fable that the cubs of a bear 
are bom shapeless, and are licked into shape by their mother. 

" But," said the doctor, as he resumed his chair, "tell me, BonnycasUe, how you 
could possibly manage to lick such a cub into shape, when you do not resort to 
flogging 7 "—Captaik Marryat. 

To lick the dtut—io fall in battle. P. 

His enemies shall Uck the dust— P«iim IxxiL 9, 

To lick the spittle of— to crouch before ; to be meanly senrile towards. F. 

His heart too great, though fortune little. 
To lick a rascal statesman's spittle.— Swirr. 

TAe,—As far as in one lies — as far as one is able; to the limit of one*8 

powers. P. 

As far as in me lies, I mean to live up to her standard for the future.— Floebicb 
Marrvat. 

To give the lie to— to contradict flatly. P. 

When another traducer went the length of Including Margaret In the indictment 
by tlie ancrtlon that a female relative of Mr. Erin's performed the more delicate 
work of the autographs, he gave him the lie direct— Jam n Tatii. 

To lie to — to be stopped in her course (of a ship). P. 

We now ran plump into a fog, and lay to (took In the sails and ebecked the speed 
of the vessel).— Lord DurrtRiN. 



Life [ 196 ] Lift 

To lie to ont*9 work — to work vigorously. F. 
Th«7 Uj to th« work and flniihad it bj mld-cUj. 

To lit on hand^to remain unsold. P. 

To lie on one*8 ?uinds — to hong heavily. P. 
Time Uj on her hande daring her sod'i Absence. 

To lie icith any one — to belong to any one ; to be Uie duty of any one. P. 

The charge of loala lies npon them.— Bacon. 

It laj, she said, with Henrj, to make overtures of conciliation. 

Life. — To the /{/e— exactly ; so as to reproduce the original person or 
scene. P. 

Victor Hugo, who delighted In that kind of figure, wonld hare painted him to tha 
life —Spectator, 1887. 

Aa large as life—ol the same size as the living being represented. P. 

He nurched up and down before the street <|oor like a peacock, as large as life and 
twice as natural— Hauburton. 

To hear a charmed l\fe — to escape death in almost a miracnlous 
manner. P. 

Up and down the ladders, npon the roofs of balldlngs, over floors that quaked and 
trembled with his weight, under the lee of falling bricks and stones, in erery part of 
that great fire was he; bat he bore a charmed life, and had neither scratch nor 
braise.— DicKBNs. 

For my lift ; for the Itfe of me — although I should lose my life as a 
penalty. C. A phrase used in strong assertions. 

Nor coold I, for mj life, see how the creation of the world had anything to do with 
the business I was talking of. — Ooldsmith. 

Half an hour ago Walter, for his life, wonld have hardlj called her by Bamei 
But he could do so now when she entreated hlro.— Dickbnh. 

Lucj, for the life of her, could not help fancying there wai something In It— A. 
Trollops. 

Lift. — To lift up the eyts orfau — to look with confidence. A Biblical 
phrase. 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills.- Ptalm cxxi. t. 
Thou Shalt lift up tliy face unto Ood.— Job xxiL t€. 

To lift up the head — to rejoice ; to triumph. Biblical. 

And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me.—pMim 

XlVli. 6m 

To lift up the heel against — to treat violently (and ungratefully). 
Biblical. 

He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.— JoAn xiiL IB, 
Talfourd, in the bitterness of his soul, exclaimed that Literature's own familiar 

friend, In whom she trusted, and who had eaten of her bread, had lifted up bis heel 

against her.— O. O. Trsvslyaw. 




Light [ 197 ] Limb 

To lift up the voice — to cry aloud in joy or in sorrow. BiblicaL 

And Saul liftad up hit Toice, and wept— i Samuel xxiv. 16, 
They thall lift up their voice, they ihiai ling.— /ratoA xxiv. U. 

To lift up the horn — to be arrogant in behaviour. Biblical. See Horn. 

Lift not up your horn on high : ipeak not with % stiff neck (proudly).— PmZw 
Ixxv. 5. 

Light,— ^'o see the light— to be bom; to come into actual existence. P. 

The good brother 1 But for him my poemi would never have Men the light.— 
Bbsant. 

To make light of— to treat as of no importance ; to disregard. P. 

Rut my father made light of all plebeian notions.— C Reads. 
"Don't you be to aggraratlng, old man,** aaid the good-natured George; "and 
yon, Mr. Moadowt, should know liow to make light of an old man's tongue.**— 

C. RXADX. 

To fttand in one*8 own light. See Stand. 

To set light by — to uudcrvaluo ; to despise. P. 
He sets light by his wife's notions. 

To bring to light — to disclose ; to make known. P. 

The duko yot would have dark deeds darkly answered ; he would never bring them 

to ligllt — SlIAKIMI'RAnR. 

To come to light — to become known. P. 

Come, let us go ; those things, come thus to light. 
Smother her spirits up.— SHAKSflrsABB. 

Light 'fingered gentry — pickpockets. 

To light out — to make ofT ; to disappear. S. An Americanism. 

Oi^boygnn Tribune. Oh, yes, the Boo is booming, and the following proves it:— 
Harry Leavitt, manager of the theatre, skipped last week. The Kckert Robinson 
Co. did not take In enough to pay eipenses, and left between two days. Billy Mao- 
Roble drugged and robbed a printer, named Tom Nelson, on Monday night, and lit 
out. Curious how they like to leave a live town.— 5aMfl Sie. Marit Newt, Aug. 1888. 

To light njwn — to find ; to discover by accident. P. 

M. de Bemanl's characters are men and women of genteel society— rascals enougli, 
but living In no state of convulsive crimes; and we follow him in his lively, malldotts 
account of their manners, without risk of lighting upon any such horrors H Balxac 
and Dumas have provide<l for us.— Thackbrat. 

Light o/carriatje — loose in conduct. F. 

She was said to be rather light of carriage.— CArrxiK Marbtat. 

Like. — Jfad like — came near. P. See Havk. 

Limb. — Limb of the law — a member of the legal profession ; a lawyer. F. 

Tlien. when this base-minded limb of the Uw grew to be sole creditor over all, 
he takes him out a custodian on all the denominations and sub-denominations.— 
Mabia Edobwobtii. 



Line [ 198 ] Up 

Line. — Hard lines — harsh treatment ; undeserved misfortune. F. 

Hit wife would bo the best person, only it would be hard linu on her.— A. 
Taollopk. 

The line of beauty — the ideal line formed by a graceful curve of any 
kind. P. 

But yon know what I mean bj the artistic temperament: that way of takiof 

the line of beauty to get at what you wish to do or say.— W. D. Huwklls. 

All along the line — in every jMirticular. P. 

The accuracy of the supposed statements of fact Is contested all alonf the line bj 
persons on the spot.— W. E. Olai)8Tomb. 

To read hettoeen the lines. See Read. 

The lines are fallen to me in pleasant 2>laces — I am fortunate in my 
worldly surroundings (Ps. xvi. 6). ■ 

A lonely wayfarer, happy in the knowledge that his daughter's fate was no longer 
allied with his, tliat whatever evil might befall him, her lines were set in pleasant 
places.— M Ida Bbaddon. 

Linked. — Linked stoeelness long drawn out — something which pleases 

the senses for a considerable time. P. A line of Milton's L'Allegro 

often quoted. 

I4ip me in soft Lydian airs. 

Married to immortal verse ; 

Such as tlie melting soul may pierce, 

In notes with many a winding lx>ut 

Of linked sweetness long drawn out— Milton. 

Lion. — A lion, or a great lion — a very popular person. C. 

We (Bulwer and Disraeli) are great lions here (at BathX as yon may imagine.— 

DiSKASLI. 

The lion*8 sJuire — a disproportionately large share. P. See .4Csop's 

fable of the lion who went out hunting with a wild ass. ** I will take 

the first share," ho said, '* Iwcauso I um king; and the second shore, 
as a partner with you in the chase. " 

Mr. and Mrs. Armytage had their bottle of champagne, of which the latter, it was 
rather ill-naturedly said, got the lion's share.— Jamss Fayxt. 

Lip. — To make a lip^to have a sullen or mocking expression of face. P. 
I will make a lip at the physician.— SnAKUtPSAHK. 

To keep or carry a stiff upjicr lip — to be stubborn or ill-tempered. S. 

It's a proper pity such a clever woman should carry sudi a stiff upper Up (poesesi 
such a bad temper).— Ualibukton. 

To sma^k one^s lips — to express satisfaction. F. 

fthe enjoyed the supremacy of tliese names exceedingly, and, to use a very In- 
appropriate (because common) expression, smacked her ll|>tover iU— Jamks Paym. 




Little [ 199 ] liOfiT 

Little. — The Littlt Go — an examination which candidates for the B. A. de- 
gree at the English universities have to pass early in their course. C. 

Th«D came iho RflniimenUl walks with that tall college man, who was reading 
with the Rev. Mr. Tuck's carate ;— much reading ho did. No wonder he got placked 
in the Little Go.— Mrs. H. Wood. 

Live.— To live doujn — to prove an accusation false by a consistent life. P. 

He was beginning to live down the hostilitj of certain of his neighbour8.—W. E 
Noitnis, in Good IVorcU, 18S7. 

To lit^ up to anything — to prove oneself by one's life worthy of something 
excellent. P. Punch satirizes an icsthotic man and his wife who, 
having obtained a fine piece of old blue china, resolved ** to live up 
to it." . 

And try to believe that, so far as in me lies, I mean to live up to her standard for 
the future.— FLunsNCB Marry at. 

Liver. — White-livered^ lUy-livertd^ pigeon-liveredt milk-livered — cow- 
ardly; meek -tempered. C. The liver was considered formerly to be 
the seat of passion and bravery. 

Curse him, the white-livered Englishman I— II. R. IIaooard. 

C*o, prick tiiy face, and over-red thj fear, 

Tliou lily-livered l>oy. — SiiAKKsrsARR. 
I am pigeon-livered (too mild in disposition), and lack galL— SiiAxurBARB. 

Loaf. — The loavcA and fshen — the actual profits ; the material benefits. 
P. A ))lirnAo taken from tho New Testament. Christ fed a multi- 
tude with some loaves and a few small fishes. Those who followed 
him not for his teaching, but for the mere gratification of their ap- 
petites, were said to dcsii-c the loaves and fishes. 

Thenceforward he was rich and independent, and spared the temptation of play- 
ing the political game with any pressing regard to the loaves and fishes of oflloe. — 
Kdimburgh Review, 1887. 

Lock.— To lock the stahtC'door afitr the steed i$ stolen — to take precau- 
tions too late. P. 

When the sailors gave me my money again, they kept back not only about a third 
of tlie whole sum, but my father's leatlier purse ; to that from that day out (thence- 
forward), 1 carricil my gold loose in a pocket wltli a button. I now saw there must 
be a hole, and clapped my hand to the place in a great hurry. Bni this was to lock 
the stable-door after tlie steed was stolen.— R. L. Stbvkmbon. 

Locum. — Locum tenens — one who holds a situation temporarily ; a sub- 
stitute. P. Latin. 

And behold, he and his parishioners are given over to a Ukmlm Uauiu.—NimitUaUk 
Century, 1887. 

JjOg,—f^^j rolling— laxulatory criticisms in literary reviews bestowed on 
one another by private friends. P. 

There is certainly no eicuse for literary logrolling. It is a detettablo ofTtBca.— 
North American RevieM:, 1887. 



liOfffirerheads [ 200 ] Look 

Loggerheads. — To be at loijgerhecLdn ; to come, fail, or go to loijf/erheadit 
— to quarrel ; to disagree. C. 

A conplo of invollon that took up an mi foil to loggorheadi which ihouki bo hif 
matter. —L'EirrRAM u K. 

Tim TJnkinwater ia out of tho qneitlon ; for Tim, sir, U luch a tromendona fellow 
that he could novor contain hiiuiulf, but wouhl go tu loggurhuadu with tho father 
before he had boon in Uie place live minutes. — DiOKKNa. 

Loins. — To gird up the loins — to brace oneself for vigorous action. P. 

But her father's will was law to her, and she girded up her spiritual loins and pre- 
pared fur the encounter.— Mua. £. Lynn Linton. 

Lombard Street. — Lombard Street to a China orange — something very 
valuable staked against a thing of little value ; very long odds. 0. 
Lombard Street, in London, near the Hank of England, is a centre of 
great banking and mercantile transactions. 

" It is Lombard Street to a China orange," quoth Uncle Jack. 
"Are the odds in fsTour of fame against failure realljr so great T" answered mj 
father.— BULW KB Lytton. 

Long. — At or in the long-run — eventually ; before all is over. P. 

At the long-run these fellows never thrive.— Maria Eixisworth. 

A statesman in the long-run must yield to royal solicitation. --(I. O. Tuivklyav. 

The long and the short of a mailer — a matter viewed briefly in its most 
important aspects ; the iinix>rtant principle, or fact, contained in any 
statement. C. 

But my mother wouldn't part with him if he was a still worse encumbrance. It 
isn't Uiat we don't know the long and short of matters, but it's our prindple.— 
Gkoruk Kliot. 

The long and short of the matter is, that on getting off the lake, after seren bounT 
rowing, I felt as much relieved as if I had been dining for tlie same length of timo 
with Her Majesty the Queen.— Tuackkray. 

To draw or pull the long Itow — to exaggerate. C. 

King of Corpus (who was an incorrigible wag) was on tho point of pulling ioiiM 
dreadful long bow, and |K)intlng out a half-dozen of people in the room as IL and IL 
and L., etc., Uie most celebrat«d wits of tliat day.— Tuackkray. 

By a long chalk — very considerably. F. 

Soon after Bordeaux she had words (quarrelled) with the lions. They, in their In- 
fernal conceit, thought themselves more attractive than DJek. " It is vice verm, ami 
by a long chalk" (very much so), said Djek and Co. — C. Kradk. 

Look. — To look afltr — to attend to ; to pay careful attention to. P. 

Politeness of manner and knowledge of tlie world should prindpally be looked 
after by a tutor.— Lo<;kk. 
I assured you that when Uie trust was paid I would look after her.— Bimant. 

Look yon ! — please observe what I am saying. C. 

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 — 
Justin M'Cartuv. 




Look [ 201 ] Look 

To look alivef or look sharp — to liurry ; to be quick ; to act promptly. F. 

" Tell young gont to look &llve/' saji guard, opening the hind-boot— T. Huoubs. 
Their life, bitter m it was, would be bitterer if they did not loolc sharp and learn a 
good many texts. — G. Rkadb. 

To look sharp after — to watch carefully. P. 

The inomont I become her lole guardian, I had sworn ou my knees she should 
never kill anotlior man : Judge whether I had to look sliarp after her.— C. Rbadb. 

To look blue — to show signs of disgust or disappoiiitnieut. F. 

Squire Brown looks rather blue at having to i>ay two pounds ten shillings for the 
posUng expenses from Oxford. — T. Uuo iibs. 

To look daggers — to gaze u|)on with anger. P. 

There he sits Abaft tlie mainmast, looking daggers at us.— C Rbadr. 

To look up — to improve ; to grow brighter ; to be in demand. C. 

"Things are looking up, Jeremiah,** he said In a tone of exultation. — B. L. 
Farjeon. 
In commercial phrase, coffins were looking up.— Dickbns. 

To look a ])erson up — to visit him. F. 

But Lucy would have me come and look you up ; and I assure you I had rather 
face a battery of my own cannon.— T/ie AtUtUtoe Bought 1885. • 

To look in ujwn — to visit informally. C. 

I had no idea you had a visitor here, Mrs. Jennynge,** he said. 

Yes ; Miss Josceline was so good as to look in upon us."— Jambs Payk. 

To look in fhcjcu-e — to examine boldly ; to refuse to shrink from exam- 
ining. P. 

Air Condy (was) not willing to take his affairs into his own hands, or to look tlieni 
even in tlie face. — Maiiia Kihikwortii. 

It was many a day, however, before slie could look her own misfortune in the face. 
-Jambs Payn. 

To look to — to take care of. P. 

She hat«'d to water her flowers now ; she bade one of her servants look to the 
garden.— €. Keade. 

Thai is your look out— you must provide against that. F. 

If he chooses to vote for the devil, that Is his look out.— O. W. IIolmk<«. 

7*0 look oiU — to guard against dangers ; to take precautions ; to be care- 
ful. F. 

Time sometimes brings Its revenges, and, if It does, yon may look out, Mrs. 
Bellamy.— If. R. IIacioard. 

To look over — (a) to rcotl over. P. 

Moot presently at tlie imltico ; every man look o'er his pari; for, the sliort and tlie 
long Is, our play is preferred.— Siiakbspbabb. 

{h) to overlook ; to allow to pass. P. 

He forgave her, and looked over her conduct— Afurray's Afo^osiiu, 1887. 



14 



Loose [ 202 ] Love 

To look for a needle in a haystack — to search after anything with very 
little chance of finding it V. 

Tlioro ii lltilo use loarclilng for lilm In this crowd ; it is liko looking fur a ucoine 
In A hAysUck. 

To look through coloured gpectacles — to ace things not aa they really are, 
but distorted by one's own prejudices. P. 

People who live mnch bjr themtelvet are apt to look at things through coloured 
spectacles. 

To look forward to — to expect with feelings of pleasure. P. 
The children are all looking forward to your visit 

To look about one — to lie cautious and wary. C. 

John began to think It high time to look about him (take precautions for the 

future).— A RBUIHMOT. 

Loose. — To loose ont*8 jfurse-st rings — to give money towards some good 
object. C. 

Oh the loose — ilissipatcd. F. 

Her husband is, I fear, on the loose Just now. 

A loose fish — a dissipated man. F. 

In sliort, Mr. Miles was a loose flkli. — C. Kbadk. 

Ifanng a tile loose. See Tii.hL 

Lord. — A lord of creation — a man (as distinguished from a woman). C. 
The term is generally used jocularly. 

No, I had rather be a woman, with all her imperfections, than one of thoee lords 
of creation, such as wc generally find them.— G. J. Wuytb-Mklvjllx. 

Lose. — To lose caste — to be no longer welcomed in the houses of re- 
spectable people. P. 

You may break every command in the decalogue with perfect good breeding, nay, 
if you are udroit, without losing caste.— J. II. Low km.. 

To lose heart — to become dispirited. P. 

Deprivo<1 of solid support in the rear, the men In front will probably lose heart, 
and be easily driven away or tkm»ted.—FuTtnii^tly Review, 1887. 

To lose the day — to be defeated. P. 

You will be shot, and your houses will be burnt, and if yon lose the day those who 
escaiK) will be driven out of tlio country.— H. IL Haouaud. 

Loss. — To be at a loss— to be uimble to decide. P. 

Jane herself was quite at a loss ((luite bewildered) to think who could possibly hare 
ordered the piano.— Jane Avhtks. 

Love. — T'Oi'c in a cottage — marriage without a suflicient income to live 
in the fashionable world. P. 

Lady Clonbrony had not, for her own part, the slightest notion how anybody 
out of licdlam could prefer, to a g(K>d house, a decent c«iuipage, and a proper estab- 
lishment, what is called love in a cottage. — Maria Edubwartii. 



Luok [ 203 ] liuroh 

7'here is iio love lost between them — they dislike each other. P. 

There is no great love lost between the English Conservative Cabinet and the Bul- 
garian Government.— Fortnty^dy Review, lbb7. 

To make love to — to woo ; to court. P. 

" And you're making love to her, are 70a T*' said Cute to the young smith. 
*' Yes," returned Richard quickly, for he was nettled by the question ; " and We 
are going to bo married on New Year's day."— Dicksns. 

Luck. — Doicn on one^s luck. See Down. 

Lucky. — To cut or make one's lucky — to run off; to decamp. S. 

lie (Fagin) might have got into trouble if we hadn't made our lucky. — Diokkmb. 

LUCUS. — LucHs a non lucendo. An etymological pun. Lucus, which 
means a dark grove, sccins to bo connected with InceOf to shine, but is 
not. This derivation rests on a principle of contradiction. 

Thus Verdant's score was always on the lueua a rum lucendo principle of deriva* 
tlon, for not even to a quarter of a score did it ever reach.— rcrdani (7rccn. 

Lug. — In lug — pawned. S. 
My fiddle is in lug Just now. 

To lug in — to introduce violently ; to drag in without sufficient 
cause. F. 

It doesn't matter what the subject is, always provided that ho can lug in the 
bloated aristocrat and tlio hated Tory.— Bbsant. 

Lump. — A lump mm — a sum which includes many small items ; a sum 
given at one time to cover several smaller payments. P. 

Tlie amounts asked for sliould be granted in a lump sum to tho Imperial Govern* 
meni.— Daily Tdeffraph, 18S5. 

Having a lump in one's throat — ready to weep. C. 

He grew more grave, and quiet, and slow. The lump in my throat grew larger 
every moment (I felt every moment readier to weepX— .Bdgravia, 288C. 

To lump it — to dislike anything. S. (>enerally used in the phrase, — 

" She won't like that at all," said Musselbow. 
" Tlion she must lump it."— A. TaoLLorx. 

Lurch. — To leave in the lurch — to abandon ; to leave in a helpless con- 
dition. P. 

For myself, I think you are giving him an immense deal of nnneoeaiary trouble, 
and that If ho loft you In the lurch It would serve yon right.— A. TaoLuim. 

" My only eicuse," said he, " is that it never occurred to me io think thai Tracy 
would leave me in the lurch." — Oood WortU, 1887. 

At lurch — hidden or secreted (generally for a bad purpose). F. 
To give a lurch — to tell a lie ; to deceive. S. 



M [ S04 ] Make 



M 

M. — To have an M under the girdle — to have the courtesy to atUlrcas 
people by the title Mr. , Mrs. , or Mudain. C. 

Mad. — Aa mad as a Aa//er— crazy ; dangerously insane. F. 

I know him veiy well. He's a Teiy good fellow, but at mad at a hatter. Ile'i 
called Madman, you know.— T. Huuuss. 

As mad an a March Aar€— dangerously mad ; crack-brained. F. 

" Oh," said the admiral, " then he la mad." 

" At a Alarch hare, ilr. And I'm afraid patting him in Irona will make him worae. 
It U a cate for a lunatic atylum."— C. Rkadk. 

Like mad — in an excited fashion ; hurriedly. F. 

None would hare known the ttald, retpectable Meadowi in thU figure that eama 
flying orer hedge, and ditch, and brook, hit hat dangling and leaping like mad be- 
hind him.— O. RsADK. 

To go or run mad after anything— to conceive a violent passion for 
it C. 
The world it running mad after farce.— Duyden. 

MagnunL — Magnum opun — great work ; masterpiece. P. Latin. 

" I shall never achieve any great work in Ix>ndon," ho told himtelf. " For my 
magnvm opuM I mutt have the tranquillity of wood and moor."— Mu« BRADUusr. 

Mahomet. — Mahomet coming to the mountain — the leas coming to tlio 
greater. P. 

"At the mountain would not come to Mahomet, Mitt Rayne, you tee that 
Mahomet hat come to tlie mountain," the tayt, to hide her annoyance. — Flobkxck 
Makryat. 

Maid. — A maid-o/-ail-tvork — a general servant, who acts as cook, waiter, 
bedroom attendant, etc. P. 

If the bUhop it going to Parit, and wanta an honett mald-of*all-work, he can have 
her, I have no doubt.— Tuaukkuav. 

Maiden. — Maiden speech— ^rst speech. P. 

He (Lord Byron) wat greatly, indeed childithly, elated by the complimenta paid to 
hit maiden speech iu the Houte of Lords.— Macau lay. 

Main. — In the main ; for the main — for the most part. P. 

Thete new notiont concerning coinage have, for the main, been put into writinf 
above twelve montlit.— Lockk. 

The main chance — money ; wealth ; material welfare. C. 

I have alwayt, at you know, been a commonsenie perton, with a proiier aitpra- 
ciatiun of the main chance.— W. £. NoRRiii, in Good irurtit, 18S7. 

Make. — To make at — to run or move towards. P. 

Tom ruthed at Jacob, and began dragging him back by hit tmock, and the muUt 
made at them, tcattering foimt and boyt in his career.— T. IIuuui 



Make [ 205 ] Make 

To make as if— to mako an appearance of ; to feign. P. 

Now, Mr. Foeblomind, when tliey were going out of ilio door, made h If ho in* 
tended to linger.— Bukyak. 

To makt againM — to be unfavourable to. P. 

There wm % keenness about hit eye, and an acntenets of expreaslon, much in 
farour of tlie law; but the dreas and general bearing of the man made against the 

SUpIKMitlon. — IlALinUATOK. 

To maX'c anxiy with — to put out of the way ; to remove. P. 

The gentlemen had somehow made away with their obstmctiTeness.— £raf7>er's 
MagazinBt 18S7. 

*' Ordinary case enough," you'll say with your experience — " ordinary ease enough : 
drunken man decoyed into some water-side den, robbed, and made away with."— K. 
YATsa. 

To makt away with oneself— \^ commit suicide. P. 

The women of Greece were seised with an unaccountable melancholy, which dis- 
posed several of them to make away with themseWes. — Addihoic. 

The idea of making away with himself had flitted through his mind a dosen times. 
—A. TnoLLoriE. 

To make believe — to pretend. C. 

Her Tiew of the case was that his hlghnees's secretary, baring no belief in the 
genuineness of his master's pretensions, found it necessary to make believe very 
much.—jAMEs Payn. 

To make Md—io summon up courage; to venture. P. 

*' I make bold, young woman," ho said as they wont away, " to give you a warning 
about my nephew."— Bbsant. 

To make hoid with — to venture to deal with. P. 

By the time I was twelve years old I had risen into tlio upper school, and could 
make bold with Eutropiua and Gnsar.— Blackmorb. 

To mak'e one*s lyread — to earn a living. C. 

But for you I should be making my bread by this time, or rather attempting to do 
so.— Jamba Patn. 

To make hrirks withoHl sti-aw—to work without having the nocosMiry 
materials supplied. P. A phrase taken from the Bible (Kx. v. 7). 

People do not look pressed, or In a hurry, or task-mastered, or told to make brick« 
without straw.— Bbsant. 

To make ryes at — to flirt or coquet with ; to gaze at amorously. F. 

Many professors, In her long experience, luul come and gone : some of them dis- 
miRsod for kiuing the governesses, and even the maids ; others for making eyes at 
the pretty girls.— Bbnawt. 

To make, aftjure — to distinguish oneself. P. 

He never went the circuit but twice, and then made no figure for want of a fee 
and being unable to speak in public— Mama Edobwobth. 



Make [ 206 ] Make 

To make /or — to rush towards. P. 

On Molof the man, the animal dropped the woman, and made for him ; bnt ha 
escaped into the vilUgo. — C/»a»il»a'<*.< Journal, IftST. 

To make free toith — to use without i>ennis8ion or ceremony. C. 
These are the same who have made free with the greatest names.— Pops. 

To makefrienda — to become reconciled. . P. 

He is a generous fellow, and will soon make friends wltli you again. 

To make good — to make compensation for ; to pay in full. P. 

On looking into his affairs he found enough to All him with dismay— debts, mort- 
gages, mismanaged estates, neglected cottages, the mansion going to ruin, besides 
all his old arrears to be made good (paid upX— <^Mir(«r2y Review, 1887, 

To make head or headicay oQainst — to progress; to strive successfully 
against some obstacle. P. 

Everybody was in terror of his life, and no one was powerful enough to make head 
against (resist) the freebooters.— ^rj/osy, 1887. 

1 think, Mr. Ooslett, thai if she'd only hold her tongue and go to sleep, I miglit 
make headway with thai case in the morning.— Bbsant. 

To make light of— to treat as unimportant. P. 

Up to the present time he had made rather light of the case, and as for danger, ho 
had pooh-poohed it witli good-humoured contempt— C. Rsadb. 

To make much of— to treat with great favour. C. 

As his wife had remarked, he always made much of Gwendolen, and her Importaaee 
had risen of late.— Gkorob Eliot. 

To make of— to give a reason for ; to account for. P. 

I began to feel a pain I knew not what to make of (which I could not satlsfaetorily 
account for) in the same Joint of my other foot — Sib W. Tbmplk. 

To make of— to run away. P. 

Lord Wharton crept out of his saw-pit and made off to his own party.— (7«iiUmas't 
Magasine, 1886. 

The holder of a horse at Tellson's door, who made off with it, was put to death.— 
DiCKBirs. 

To make out — (a) to discover ; to find out exactly ; to understand. P. 

Antiquaries make out the most ancient medals from a letter with great difllcoltj 
to be discerned.— Felton. 

It is not everybody who can make her out (understand her characterX— Ami 
Words, 1837. 

{b) to establish ; to prove. C. 

There is no truth which a man may more evidently make out (prove) to Umielf 
than the existence of a God.— Locks. 
Sometimes it's wliy we haven't made out our case yet. — Bbsant. 

(f) to wmtrive. C. 



What with forel>oding looks and dreary deathbed stories, it was a wonder th« 
child made out to live tbroagh it.--0. W. HoLMBi. 




Malt [ 207 ] Man 

To maX'^t ovtr — to transfer in a legal manner. P. 

Shelley made orer to her a part of hl« income, and aha retained all that the re» 
celved from her own family. — Edinburgh Review^ 18SS. 

To make up for anything — to compensate for it ; to supply a deficiency 
caused by it. P. 

She was very hard at work— no donbt endeavourini^ to make up for her huaband'i 
repeated absences.— Huon CoNWAT. 

To maX'e up a quarrel — to become friendly. P. 

He remembered, In his careless way, that there had been a quarrel, and thai ha 
wanted to make it up, as he had done many a time before. — Good Wordi^ 1887. 

To make U up or make up maUers — to become friendly again ; to be re- 
conciled. C. 

Oh, how she longed to make it up with him.— Thomas IlARDr. 
I'll go straight to the city the instant you leave me, maka np matters with Mrs. 
Nlckleby. and take her away to the theatre.— Dickbks. 

To make up to — to seek the acquaintance of ; to pay court to. P. 

Yonng men of spirit are sadly afraid of being thought to make np to a girl for her 
money.— Justin M'Cartiit. 

Nay, gentlemen. Dr. Goldsmith is in the right. A nobleman ought to have made 
np to such a roan as Goldsmith. — Samubl JouNSOir. 

To make up tcith — to become reconciled to ; to regain the good-will 

of. C. 

Many a rascally captain has made up with his crew, for bard usage, by allowing 
them duff twice a week on the passage homa.- K. II. Dana. 

Malt. — To have the malt above the wheal or meal — to be drunk. F. 

When tlie malt begins to get above the meal (company begins to get drunkX they'll 
begin to speak about government in Kirk and State.- Soon. 

Mammon. — The mammon of unrighteousness — wealthy and worldly 
people. P. A Biblical expression. 

Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousneaa. — Lvk4 xvi. 9. 
So Rebecca, during her stay at Queen's Crawley, made as many friends of the 
mammon of unrighteousness as she could possibly bring under oontroL— TMACKsaAT. 

Man. — Man alive f — an exclamation of astonishment. S. Used where 
one hears or imparts startling information. 

"Haul quick, Ede I" shouted Robinson, "or yon will drown them, man alive "— 
C. Rradb. 

" Yon are wasting my time with your silly prattle,** said Meadows stamly. ** Man 
alive I you never made fifty pounds eaah since you were calved.**— C Rbadb. 

To a man — every one without exception. P. 

Tliey had, to a man, been willing enough to give their verdict for tha oU man's 
execution.- H. R. IIaooard. 

A 7nan of Bfliad — a wicked, depraved person. A Scriptural phrase in 

common use. 

** Susan," replied Isaac, "yon are good and innocent. You eannol fathom the 
hearts of the wicked. This Meadows is a man of Belial. "—GL Rbadi. 



Manner [ 208 ] Many 

A man of his \oord — a tnithfnl or trustworthy poi'son. V, Sec W«mn. 

A man ofMrato — an unreal person ; a product of the imagiiution. I*. 

Thif plotter, thla decolver of the Innocent, on whom you vont jrour inillfnation, li 
ft mere man of itraw. The reality is a very peaceable, inoffeneire character. 

A man of letters — a literary man; an author. V, 

He had mentioned in the last Ave minutes that he was a man of letters.— Jams* 
Payw. 

As a man of letters Lord Byron could not but be Interested In the erent of this 
contest.— Macaulay. 

A man of the world — a man wlio is well acquainted with society anl the 
world at large ; a man whose interests lie in worldly things. P. 

^Vhat Mr. Wordsworth had said like a recluse, Lord Byron said like a man of the 
world. — Macaulay. 

As a man of the world, he was well aware that, when a new arriTal comes under 
discussion in any community, the general tendency is to criticise rather than to 
commend.— James Pavn. 

The man in the moon — an imaginary person who inhabits the moon, and 
is supposed to be ignorant of worldly affairs. 0. 

She don't know where it will take her to, no more than the man in the moon.— 
Haubuuton. 

What to say or how to say It, poor little Blanche, who was totally nnnsc«l to tlib 
sort of thing, and tormented, moreover, with an invincible desire to laugh, knew no 
more tlian the man in the moon.— (i. J. Wiiytk-Mblvillk. 

A man Friday — a faithful and subservient follower. C. See Defoe's 

liobinnon Crusoe, 

Ck>unt von Rechberg, according to Lord Clarendon, was Prince Bismarck's man 
Friday.— i4eAe«urum, 1687. 

Every man-jack— every man, high or low; all without exception. P. 

There happened, too, to be a man-of-war in harbour, every man-jack, or rather, 
every offlcor-jack of which, with the exception of thoee on watch, was there. — II. K. 

IlAOaAIlI). 

You*U he a man before your mother — a jocular expression of enconrage- 
mcnt to a lad. F. Used on an historical occasion by Bums in Mi- 
dressing Sir Walter Scott, then a l)oy. 

You mind your business half as well as I mind mine, and you'll bo a nun before 
your mother yet.— II. Kinomi.ky. 

Mannor. — I^y no manner of means ; not hy any manner of means — qnito 

the contrary; in no way; on no account. C. 

Not that he was, by any manner of means, possessed with the greatness of his Ofwn 
ideas, but that Mrs. Kcnnltagc, from a low velvet chair, looked up at him with sncli 
emphatic inquiry and implicit faitli that he was quite in a difficulty how to speak or 
what to say.— R. D. Blackmokk. 

Many. — Too many or one too many — too powerful or crafty ; more than 

a matcli. F. 

" Ay ! ay I" thought he : " the Irishman is cunning enough. But we shall be too 
many for him."— Maui a Edobwoktu. 




Mare [ 209 ] Mark 

Mare. — To make the mare to go — to make a display of proaperity ; to 
carry out undertakings. F. Generally found in the expression, 
" Money makes the mare to go." 

I'm making the mare to go here in liVhltford— without the monej, too, ■ometimoa. 

— C KlNQSLKY. 

To Jiml a mare^tt natt — to make an absurd discovery; to make a dis- 
covery which turns out to be a hoax. P. 

He retired with a profuilon of bowB and ezeutos, while Bfr. Reginald Talbot fol- 
lowed in lilcnce at his heels like a whipped dog, who, profening to find a hare in her 
form, has only found a mare'a neat.— Jamks Payn. 

Shanl'M^s mare — the legs. F. 

I am riding ahanka's mare (walking) to-daj. 

The tjrni/ mare. — a name given to a woman who is cleverer than her 
huslNUid. C. 

Tliero is no equaliser of aezoa like povertj or miser/, and then it jotj often proTea 
tiiat tlie graj mare la the better horae.— Burrouqus. 

Marines. — Teil thai to the viarinen — an expression implying incredu- 
lity. F. 

Unleaa jou can put your information iogetlier better than that, 70U may tell jour 
atory to Uie marlnea on boani the Peioni*.— II. KiNonLKV. 

Mark. — To male ouc'h mark — to distinguish oneself. P. 

llio atiiiosplioro of aocloty ia aclentlflc and leatlietic, and ita leaders, although 
bound to be moderately well off, have, for the moat part, made their mark by their 
hn\M.— Edinburgh RevietOf 188*. 

{God) UeM the mark! — a superstitious utterance, originally used to avert 
evil. F. After^'ards it came to have very little meaning = *'I beg 
your pardon." 

To be ruled by my conscience, I ahould atay with the Jew my maater, who (God 
blosa the mark I) Is a kind of devil.— SiiAKRnricARK. 
Cryatal Talace— bleaa the mark I— ia faat getting ready.— Macaulat. 

Gofl itair the mark — an invocation to Cio<l for mercy. 

T saw the wound, I saw it wlUi my eyea— God save the mark I— here on hia manly 

breaat — S 1 1 A K B9P K A R R. 

BcMtde the wiarZ— inappropriate ; out of place. P. 

There Is a circle of elect spirits, to whom the whole strain of this paper will, it la 
moat likely, aeem to be bealde the mark.— W. R. Glamtonr. 

To mark thne~{o( soldiers) to raise the feet alternately as if on the 

march. P. 

with the swinging, easy step of those accustomed to long and lollannie marehee, 
the detachment moved rapidly forwanl, now lessening Ita front aa it arrived at aoroe 
narrow deflic, now marking time to allow of iti rear coming up without effort into 
the proper place.— G. J. Wiiyti-Milvills. 

14 



Marriagre [ 210 ] Mast 

Up to the mark — in good condition or form. F. 

Bob, althoofh he had been a rvrj abort time before bratallj knocked npon the 
top of the kitchen fire, was up to the mark, and appeared read/ for action.— II. 

KlMOBLKY. 

Marriage. — Marriatje lines — a marriage certificate. C. 

All she tared from the fire was a box containing her marriage linee and other im- 
portant papers. 

Marrow. — To go down on one*s marrow-hones — to kneel. S. 

lie shall taste it Instead of me, till he goes down on his marrow-bonei to me. — 
a Rbadk. 

Marry. — Marry-come-up — a derisive or sarcastic exclamation, now 
obsolete. 

Upon which Miss Patty replied, with some little asperity, " And was that yoar 
secret f " If she had lived In the Elixabethan era she would hare adjared him with a 
marry-come-up I — Verdant Qreen. 

Mash. — To male ont*8 mash — to gain a devoted aclniirer ; to have some 
one falling in love with yon. S. 

You need not be so particular about your dress. You have made your mash (hare 
already an admirer). 

He feels contempt for you, and when he gets among his kind he boasts of Um 
mash he has made, and calls you a jolly little thing.— S(. Andnun CUixen, 1S37, 

Mashed. — To 1*e manhed ii}>on — to be in love with ; to 1>o a dcvotctl ad- 
mirer of. S. A Manfier is a dandy who dresses so as to '* kill." 

I'm not one bit maalie<l ui>on her, and I don't want her to be mashed upon me; 
and she wouldn't be lu any case; but she Interests me, and she's a dear little 
Vinnle.— Justin M'Cautuy. 

Massacre. — The mansacre of the innocents — the aimounccment by the 
leader of the House of Commons at the end of a session of the 
measures that are abandoned for want of time. P. The historical 
massacre of the innocents took place at Bethlehem, after the birth 
of Christ (Matt. ii.). 

Mast. — To sail or sert^e he/ore the mofU—to Iks a common sailor. F. 
The sailors' quarters, or forecastle, are in the 1k>w of the vessel. 
Richard Henry Dana, jun., has written a well-known iNXik, Two 
Years ln'/ore the Mast — that is, two years as a common sailor. Com- 
pare *' In the ranks," said of a private soldier. See R.\nk. 

There was once an earl who went away and became a sailor before the mast. — 
Bkhant. 

And, indeed, bad as his clothes were, and coarsely as he spoke, he had none of the 
appearance of a man who sailed I>efore tlie mast.— U. L. Stevkkhon. 

Our own Idea Is, that neither birth, nor riches, nor education, nor manner, snfflee 
to constitute a gentleman ; ami that siiccimens are to be found at the plough, the 
loom, and the forge, In the ranks, and before the mast, as well as In the ofHeer^ 
mess-room, the learned professions, and the Upper House Itself.— G. J. WuTTB- 
Mblvillb. 




Matter [ 211 ] Measure 

Matter.—^ matter of course — something which naturally follows; a 
thing which excites no surprise or attention. P. 

Ai for the certificate which Sir Henry Maine awarded us, we took It, I fear, rery 
much as a matter of course.— ^iii«<MniA Century^ J887. 

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.— T. Hoobks. 

Mailer -of 'fad — unimaginative; prosaic. P. 

Extricating her, as he seemed always to do, from hor unpleasant dilemma and her 
mattor-of-faot swain.— O. J. Whytb-Mblvills. 

Mauvaise. — Mauvaise honie — awkwardness ; clumsy shyness. C. 
French. 

He had, he said, been always subject to mauvai$e hontt and an annoying degree of 
baahfulncss, which often unfitted him for any worli of a noTel description.— A. 
TnoLLorB. 

May. — Afay t/iee/tn(7«— religious meetings held yearly in Exeter Hall, 
London. P. 

" Do you Icnow, I haTe never been in London but once, and then to attend the 
May meetings."— D. Curistib Murray. 

Mealy. — Mealy-mouthed — soft-spoken; using mild language; afraid to 
speak out. C. 

She was a fool to be mealy-mouthed where nature speaks so plain.— L'EarRAKaR. 
You're too moaiy- mouthed, Mrs. Bounce, that's where it is.— O. J. Wiiytb-Mbi^ 

VILLB. 

Mean. — To mean iveJl or lindJy hy — to have friendly intentions towards; 

to intend to aid or benefit. P. 

He had meant well by the cause and the public— Macau lay. 

I do not think that your cousin means kindly by you.— II. R. Haooard. 

A mean white — a name used in the Southern States of America and 
elsewhere, as in South Africa, where the white race is in a minority, 
to signify **a white man without landed property." 

Jfy all mrauH — certainly ; assuredly. P. 

Mr. Elton, juit as he ought, entreated for the perroisaion of attending and reading 
to them again. 

" Ily all means. Wo shall be most happy to consider you one of the party.**— 
Jamb Auktbk. 

By no means — certainly not. P. 

The wine on this side of the lake is by no means to good as thai on the other.— 

Addiaon. 

Measure. — To mecmure tncorda with another — to fight witli him, using 
the sword as a weapon. P. 
Ro we measured swords and parted. — SnABBirBARB. 
To measure one's leutjth on the ground — to fall flat. P. 

If yon will measure your lubber's length again (wish to be thrown down flatsgairX 
Urry.— SiiAKEsrr.ARR. 




Meet [ 212 ] Midsuxmner 



To measure strength — to engage in a struggle. P. 

The factions which divided the prince'i camp had an opportnnltx of measuring 
their strength.— Macaui^ay. 

To take (he measure of a maiCs foot — to see what is his character; to 
decide mentally how much a man is fit for or will venture to do. K 

The natives about Moolfonteln had pretty well taken the measure of John's foot 
by this time. His threats were awful, but his performances were not great— H. R. 
IIaqoard. 

This was Farmer Oreenacre's eldest son, who, to tell the truth, had tnm his ear* 
llcst years taken the exact measure of Miss Thome's foot.— A. Thollopk. 

Meet. — To meet another half -tray — to come to tcrma with him on the 
basis of mutual concessions ; to treat an antagonist in a conciliatory 
spirit. P. 

. Margaret was indignant with her cousin that he did not respond to his fatber^s 
kindness with more enthusiasm. "If he had behaved so to me, Willie, I should 
have met him half-way," she afterwards said reprovingly. — Jambs Payn. 

Memento. — A memento mori — something which recalls death. P. 
Strictly speaking, the plirose memento mori means, *' remember to 
die." 

T make as good use of it (thy face) as many a luan doth of a death's heail or • 
nunuuto mori, I never see thy face but I think on hell fire. — SuAKmrKARK. 

Merry. — To make merry — to indulge in laughter and joking; to enjoy 
oneself. P. 

They made merry at the poor farmer's plight. 

The king went to I^tham to make merry with his mother and the earL— Bacx>n. 

A Merry Andrew — a clown ; a mounte1)ank. P. Also used familiarly 
without the article, like Tommy Atkins^ Jack Tar, 

His business is jibes and jests, and this is the first time that I ever saw Heny 
Andrew arrested.— BKACoNnriKLD. 

MeunL — Meum and tuum — my property and thy property. C. 

He reappeared wltli the NouvelU Hdoise, a philosophic history, by I forget whom, 
a disconrio on superstition (vulgarly called religion), by D'Alembert, and one or two 
works tending to remove tlie false distinction civilisation had invented Iwtweea 
ineum and tuum and tlie classes of society.— C. Readk. 

Miching. — Mirhintj mallerho — underhand mischief. A Shakc8i)canan 
phrase {flamlet, act iii. scene 2). Michinfj means hiding or skulking ; 
malerho is Spanish, meaning an evil action. 

}fis very step was thievish— mic^ttiHr ma2/eeAo— and his eyes shot from side to dde^ 
as though be mistruitcd the darkness, as, perhaps, he did.— D. Gbrihtib Mukeat. 

Midsummer. — Midsummer madness — utter lunacy. C. 

He ha4l shown great imprudence in paying attentions to Hester, even in her former 
position, but to renew them under her changed circumstances would be midsumiiMr 
madneu.— Jamu Payn. 



Might [ 213 ] Minoemeat 

Might. — With tnujfU and main — with all one's energy and resonrceB. P. 

with might and main thej chued the murdoroua fox.— Diiydbn. 

Growl h«d been Ustoning at Newuuui'i door wiUi all hla might and main.— 

DlOKKNH. 

The servants tugged with might and main, bnt could not lift this enormous recep- 
tacle, and were flnall/ obliged to drag It across the floor.— NAmAH ml Hawtbobiib. 

Mild. — Draw it mild — do not exaggerate. S. 

Draw It a little milder, Ck>ombe, do. Make it four or fire, and it will be much 
nearer the mark.— Florbnob Marryat. 

Milk. — To cry over spill milk — to indulge in useless regrets. C. 
Bnt it's no use crying over spilt milk.— Blackmorb. 

That accounts /or the milk in the cocoa-ntU — that explains matters. F. 

lie has some land in tlie settlement belonging to him. Tliat accounts for the milk 
in tlie cocoa-nut— that explains his anxletj to have us more out there. 

Milk-and-itxUer — tasteless ; iiaving an insipid character ; feeble. C. 
Abo, as a noun, what is insipid. 

A milk-and-water bourgeois (timid, feeble-minded citixon).— G. Rbadb. 

Hitherto the conversation had had so much of milk-and-water in its composition, 
that Dalrymple found himself able to keep it up and go on with his background at 
the same time.— A Trojulopb. 

The milk of human kindness — natural feelings of pity, syniiNithy, and 

generosity. P. 

I fear thy nature ; 
It is too full of the milk of human kindness 
To catch the nearest way. — SnAREiirr.ARR. 
The younger was fat, fresh, and fair, and seemed to be always running over with 
the milk of human kindness.— A. Trollopr. 
The milk of human kindness was not curdled in her bosom.- A. Trollopb. 

Miller. — To drown the miller — to put too much water in anything. F. 
This punch is not worth drinking— you're drowned the miller. 

"MiUijig,— Milling in (he darkmans— murder at night. S. 

Men were men then, and fought in the open field, and there was na« miUlDg In 
the darkmans (no midnight murderX — Scorr. 

Mince.— 7*0 mince mailers or the maUer—io glofjo over; to represent in 
too favourable a light ; to be mealy -mouthed. P. 

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.— JMiii- 
Imrgh Review^ 1887. 

Indeed, not to mince the matter, six or seren of that sacred band were nullity in 
Iterson— G. Rradr. 

Mincemeat.— 7*0 make miwemeat o/*— to shatter ; to completely destroy ; 
to demolish. F. 

Later ho (Jeffrey) got into hii head the oddest crotchet of all his life, which was 
that a Conservative Government, with a sort of approval of the people generally, 



Mind [ 214 ] Modus 

and atpaeUtllx of the EnglUh peaaantiy, would •ebemo for a coup dCitat, and (hU own 
words again) " maka mincameat of their opponent* in a tingle jear.**— AfaemtMan'tf 
MagaxUu, 1887. 

We should hare made mlnoemeat of them all, and perhaps hanged vp one or two 
of them outside the inn as an extra sign-post.— O. A. Sala. 

Mind. — Mind your eye — be careful. S. 

" Perhaps it max ^ *<>,'* sajs I ; " but mind jonr eye, and take care joo don't 
pnt four foot in it"— IIauburtom. 
We must mind our eye, George. A good manj tents are robbed erery week." 

C. RXADK. 

Mint. — A vmU of money — a large fortune. C. 

She went on as if she had a mint of money at her elbow.— Maria Sdoiworth. 

Misclliefl — To play the mischief with^— to ruin ; to overturn. F. 

Don't 70U know that 70U will play the rery mischief with our vagug nerrest— Wm. 
Black. 

Miss. — A mis8 18 cu good as a mile — a failure is a failure whether 

one comes very nexir succeeding or not. A man will lose the train 

equally by being a minute as by being half-an-hour too late. C. 

Had the tie parted one instant sooner, or had I stood an instant longer on the 
yard, I should inevitably haTO been thrown violently, from the height of ninety or • 
hundred feet, overboard ; or, what is worse, upon the deck. Ilowover, a miss Is as 
good as a mile— a saying which sailors very often have ooeasion to use.— R. H. Dam a. 

To mis8 stays— to fail in attempting to tack. P. Used metaphorically 
of other kinds of failure. 
Ah, Jim, Jim, I reckon Fve missed stays.— R. L. SrcvmaoM. 

Missing. — The missing link — a creature between a man and a monkey, 
the discovery of which is necessary to the evtablishment of the theory 
of the descent of men from monkeys. P. The name is often applied 
to men who resemble monkeys. 
We had a tutor at college who rejoiced in the name of the " missing link.** 

Mistletoe. — Kissing under the muUletoe. It is usual in England and 
other countries at the festive Christmas season to hang up a sprig of 
mistletoe from the ceilmg. When a girl passes under the mistletoe 
she may be kissed. The practice is a source of much merriment. 

Mitten. — To get the mitten — to make an offer of marriage and be re- 
jected.' C. 

There is a young lady I have set my heart on, though whether she is going to givo 
me hers, or give me the mitten, I ain't quite satisfied.— Halisurtom. 

To handle without the gloves or without mittens — to treat unceremoniooaly ; 
to deal roughly with. P. See Hakdlv. 

Modus. — A modus tnt^ndi — a mutual agreement under which people 
can live in harmony. P. I^tin. 
Unofficial conversations take place from time to time, but no nuxiiis rifwcfl has 




Molly [ 216 ] Momlnfir 

been osUbliihod, the home companies wanting ihoie from China to retire to their 
own field ezcluslrelj, which thej decline to Ao.— Japan Mail, 1887. 

Surelj It waa poaelble for them to conitruct a sufficiently pleasant modus vUftndi, 
even if thej held somewhat different views on political matters.— Wm. Black. 

Molly. — A Molly Coddle — a pampered or effeminate person. F. 

" I don't think I should care much about going into the Guards if I were a man." 
"Whjnotf 

"1 don't know; I've seen some of. them, and I think they are rather M0II7 
Coddles."— Afurray's MoQaxine, 1887. 

Monkey. — Monkey's allotcaiice — hard blows instead of food. S. A 
sailors' phrase. 

You fellows worked like bricks, spent monej, and got midshipmen's half-pay 
(nothing a day and find yourself) and monkeys* allowance (more kicks than half* 
penceX— C. Kinqslby. 

To get or have one's monley up — to bo enraged or irritated. S. 
You'll have his monkey up directly.— H. Kinoslby. 

To sttck the monkey — (a) to drink mm out of cocoa-nuts. S. It is a 
common practice for sailors to buy cocoa-nuts, extract the milk, and 
fill them again with rum. 

{b) to suck liquor with a straw from casks. S. 

I didn't peach (become an informer) at Barbadoos when the men sucked the 
monkey.— C A iTAiN Marryat. 

Month. — A month of Sundays — an indefinitely long period. S. 

Ilo could cAnily have rovongctl himself by giving me a kick with his heavy shoes on 
tlio head or tlio loins, tJiat would have spoiled my running for a oionth of Sundays.— 
C Kbadk. 

Moon. — A moonfighl flitting — a secret removal by night of tenants 
who are unable to pay the rent of their house. F. 

They took a moonlight flitting soon after, and were never beard of more in the old 
country. 

Shooting of moons. The same as the above. S. 

1 bought his houses, I let his bouses; I told him who were responsible tenants, 1 
warned him when shooting of moons seemed likely.— Bb^ ant. 

More. — To be no mart — to be dead. P. 

Cassius Is no more.— Sif akkspbaiib. 

You'll have heard that my father i% no more.— Miss Mulock. 

More and more — with a continual increase. P. 

As the blood paseoth through narrower channels, the redness disappears more and 
more. — Arbutii mot. 

Morning. — The gray of the morning — the early morning. P. 

And tlie first gray of morning filled the east, 
And the fog rose out of the Oxus stream.— M. Arwolo. 
But above all things, have good care to exerdse this art before the master strides 
up to his desk, In the gray of the morning.— Blacbmobb. 



Mother [ 216 ] Move 

Mother. — Data your mother know j/ou*re out? — a quizzical exprcsMion 
used to a person who seems too simple and cliildiisli to toko caro of 

himself. S. 

• 

I went and told tho constable mj property to track : 

He aakod me if I dldu't with tliat I might got It back. 

I aniwerod, " To be lure I do I— It's what I'm come about** 

He imiled and laid, " Sir, does your mother know that jou are outl"— Barham. 

Mother-wit — natural sagacity ; good sense. P. 
It is extempore, from mj mother-wit— SuAKsaPBABi. 

Mother'' H apron strimjd — a phrase used to signify ** watchful maternal 
care " of a child too young and thoughtless to take care of itself. C. 

Little Smith, fresh from his mother's apron-strings, la saragelj beaten bj the oock 
of the school, Jones.— H. R. Hauoard. 

Mother Carey*a chickens — a sailor's name for the stormy petreL 

Danny would mock Mother Carey's chicken and catch the doleful ery of the oor- 
morant— Uau. Caimb. 

Mount. — To mount ytiard — to act as sentinel. P. 

Their destination reached, they picnicked as they bad arranged, and then top** 
rated, tho bride and bridegroom strolling off in one direction, Mildred and Arthur 
in another, whilst Miss Terry mounted guard over the pUtes and dishes.— IL R. 
IIaoqard. 

Mountain. — To make a motintain of a mole-hill — to magnify a small 
matter, making it unnecessarily important. P. 

Stuff and nonsense, Segrave 1 you're making mountains out of mole-hills, as yoa 
always do.— (7ood Jr^rdi, 1S87. 

Mountain-dew — Scotcli whisky. F. 

When in the Highlands, ho became too fond of tho mountain-dew. 

Mouth. — Down in (he mouth — disappointed. C. 

But upon bringing the next ashore, it proved to be only one great stone and • 
few little fishes: upon this disappointment they were down in the month. — 

L'ESTKANUB. 

By word of mouth — vcrlially. P. 

Tho message was given by word of mouth ; it was not written. 

To have the mouth water — to have feelings of anticipated enjoyment; to 
look ut with intense longing. P. 

For 'tis said he lives bravely where he is; yea, many of them that are reaolTtd 
never to run his hazards, yet have their mouths water at his gains.— Bunyam. 

Move. — To move htaven and earth — to make every possible effort. C. 

But of course all the Plumstoa<l and Praroley set will move hearen and earth to 
get him out, so that he may not be there to be a disgrace to the diooeee.— A. 

TROLLOf*£. 




Muoh [ 217 ] Mutton 

Much. — -A/^ticA ©/"a mnchnesa — very similar; differing but slightly. C. 

The mlUer'i daughter could not belleTe UiaI high gentry behaTed badl/ to their 
wives, but her mother instructed her. " O child, men's men (men are men); gentle 
or simple (gentry or common people) they're much of a mucliness."— Okorob Euot. 

Mud. — To throw mud at — to abuse ; to speak evil of. C. 

A woman In my position must expect to have more mud thrown at her than a leM 
important person.— Florkncb Marryat. 

Muff. — A m}(/r— on effeminate, timid person. F. 

The other boys called him a muff for refusing to go, but he remained firm. 

Mug. — To mug-up — to prepare for an examination. S. A collego 
phrase. * 

I must go home and mug-up for next Saturday. 

Mull. — To make a mull of it — to bo awkward and unsuccessful. F. 

" I always make a muU of it," he said to himself when the girls went up to get 
their hats.— A. Trollops. 

Mummy. — To beat to a mummy — to thrash soundly ; to give a severe 
drubbing to. C. 

The two highwaymen caught the informer and beat him to a mummy. 

Mump. — Mutnpingday — the 21st of December, a day on which the 
poor were accustomed to go about the country begging. F. To 
mump is to *' In^g " or ** cheat." 

Murder. — MunUr will out — a saying which refers to the great difficulty 
(if keeping a crime secret. C The phrase is now current about secret 
deeds which are not crimes. 

" Oh, thank God I Uie battle's ours ! " replied Mr. Rnnnlngton, with delighted ex- 
citement. " The murder's out (secret is discoveredX I'll pledge my existenoe that 
within six montlis' time we have them all back at Yatton.**— S. Warrkn. 

Murder, the proverb tells ni, will out ; and aiUiongh, of course, we do not know 
how many murders have remained undiscovered, appearances seem to lend support 
to the theory.— W. E. Norris. 

The murder's out — everything is disclosetl. F. 
The murder was out now.— IL Kinuhlbt. 

Mute. — Mule as ajish — wholly silent. C. 

Miss Kiljoy might have screamed ; but, I presume, her shrieks were slopped by the 
tiffht of an enonnouM horsopiiitol which one of her champions produced, who said, 
" No lianii is Intondo*! you, ma'am ; but if you cry out wo must gag you,** on whleh 
alio suddenly bccaiuo as mute as a flali. 

Mutton. — To eat oue'n muUou— to dine. F. 

" Will you eat your mutton with me to-day, Palmer f said Mr. WiUiama al iha 
gale of the Jail.— C. Reauk. 



Naboth [ 218 ] Nap 



N 

Naboth. — Ndboth's vineyard — a neigh1)our'8 possession coveted 1>y a 
rich mail. P. The rofui'ciico is to King Ahab (1 Kings xxi. 1-10), 
wlio coveted the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, and finally ob- 
tained it by foul means. 

He WAS well aware that the little Manor House property had always been a 
Nabotli's vineyard to his father.— C/ood Words, 18S7. 

NalL — 1^0 naU one*H colours to the mcut — to refuse obstinately to sur- 
render. P. 

" There," he said, " I've nailed my colours to the mast. That will show these 
gentry that an Englishman lives here."— II. R. IIauoakd. 

On the nail — (a) immediately ; without delay. F. 

I'll give you twenty pounds down twenty pounds on the nail.— Buant. 

{h) ready money. A plate of copper on which bargains are settled 



in LiveriK>ol Exchange is called " The Nail." 
Remember every share you bring in brings you five per cent, down on the nail.— 

TUACKKRAY. 

To hit the iiail on the head — to say what is exactly applicable to the 
case ; to discover the real remedy for anythuig. C. 

How he hits the nail on the head I What noble common-sense appears in such 

criticism as this \—Mucmillan's Mcmazine, 18S7. 

A nail in one*a coffin — a facetious name for a glass of strong liquor — gin, 
whisky, or brandy. S. 

Name. — To name the day — to fix the day for marriage. C. 
So, soon after, she named Uie day.— C. Rkadb. 

To call a i)€rson names — to speak disrespectfully to a person ; to use nick- 
names to him. P. 

When he called his mother names because she wouldn't give up the young lady's 
property how the ladies in tlie audience sobbed I— Dickkns. 

To take a name in txiin — to use the name thoughtlessly or iiTCverently; 
to swear i)rofanely by the name. P. 

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy Cod in vain.— £jrwfii« jx. 7. 
I always call Chancery " it" I would not talco its name in valu for worlds.— H. 
It Hauuahd. 

Nap. — To (JO nap— to stake all the winnings. S. A phrase taken from 
the game of nap, or na]K>lci>n. 

He heard what they said. "They've squared it; it's a moral. Now's the tiiii«; 
I'm going nap on Morning Liglit" (a racehorse).— li. L. Fakjkon. 




NappinfiT [ 219 ] Neok 

Napping. — To taJx or catch one napping — to find him unprepared; to 
surpriBO liim when off hia guard or asleep. C. 

Thej took him nAppIng In bU bed.— 8. Butlkr. 

No, George, Tom Weasel won't be canght napping twice the lame fear.— C. Rxadb. 

General Boulanger le an active and energeUo minister, and when this war aboat 
which everybody Is talking does break out, he does not mean France to be caught 
napping.— ConUmporary Rtview^ 1887> 

Narrow. — The narrow house or home — the grave. P. 

Sad Images 
Of the stem agony, and shroud, and pall, 
And breathless darkness, and the narrow houw.— Brtant. 
I feel like tliose would-be saints of old who bespoke their coffins years before they 
had occasion for them, and all day long used to contemplate their narrow home.— 
JAMB8 Payn. 

Nature. — In a state of nature. — naked. P. 

The man was found in the cave in a state of nature, and raving mad. 

Naught. — To set at naught — to disregard. P. 

Be you contented 
To have a ton set your decrees at naught— Sbakbspbajix. 

Ne. — Ne plxLS vltra — nothing further ; the extreme limit. P. Latin. 

There stood on the Spanish coast a pillar wlUi the words n< jrfits lUfra inscribed 
upon It. After the discovery of America the ne was taken out. 

Of ail the pleasures of the ezerdse of charity, the very greatest (to tome minds) 
is the satisfaction afforded by tlie fact of the recipient of our bounty having <moo 
occupied a social position equal or superior to our own. Tlili is ths m pint uUra of 
the delights of patronage.— Jambs Path. 

Near. — The near side of a horse— the side on the rider's or the driver's 
left. F. 

To be near — to be stingy or parsimonious. C. 

With all her magnificent conduct as to wasting alcoholic treasure, she was rather 
near.— Con WAV. 

Neat. — Xeat cut a pin — very neat and tidy. F. 

Everything was as neat as a pin in the house.— R. H. Daha. 

Neck.— AVi- and n^ci— keen and close ; close together (of two competi- 
tors in a cont<«t). P. 

If new-comers were to bring in the system of neok-and-neok trading.— Qborob 
Eliot. 
They reach the Ust fence neckandneck, naphasard landing sUghtlj in advance.— 

O. J. WnVTS-MKLVILLK. 

To break the neck of anything— to accomplish the stifTest port of it C. 

The day has been very hot even for the Transvaal, where even in the autumn the 
days still know how to be hot, altliough the neck of the summer li broken (worst 
part of tlio summer is overX— 11. K. IIaooard. 

Itlowlianl was a capital spinner of a yam when he had broksB the neck of bis 
day's work.— Uuuusa. 



Ned [ 220 ] Nem 

On the iieck q/*— immediately after. P, 

IniUntlx on tho neck of thii came newt that Fernando and Iiabella had oonduded 
a peace.— Baoon. 

Neck and crop — completely. F. 

FlnUh him off, neck and crop; he detenret it for iticklng np to a man like yoa. — 
Blaokmorb. 

A stiff neck — obstinacy in sin. A Scriptural phrase. 
Speak not with a stiff neck.— Ptalw Ixxv, 6. 

Neck and heels — in a hasty and sunmiary fashion. 

There it no donht that when the poor fellow tried to get into tho pulpit, they iook 
him and carried him neck and heels out of the church.— A. Tkollopk. 

He riuhed to the scone of unhallowed fesiivltj, Inflicted corporal punishment on 
the *' father of the feast/' and turned his astonL^ed guests neck and heels out of 
doora— W. Irvinq. 

Neck verse — a sentence of Scripture which, when repeated by a criminal, 
saved him from capital punishment. C. See Benefit ov CLERtiY. 

Poor rogue I he was soon afterwards laid bj the heels and swung ; for there is no 
neck Terse In France to sare a gentleman from the gallows.— G. A. Sala. 

Neck or nothing — a braving of all dangers ; tho risking of every- 
thing. F. 

It was neck or nothing with me whether I should go down to the gulf of vtter 
neglect or not.— Tbomas Campbell. 

" If it is neck or notliing on mj side, sir, It must be neck or nothing on TOon 
aUol" 

" Neck or nothing by all means,** said Noel Vanstone.— Wilkib Coluns. 

Ned. — To make one*s ned out of— to make money from. S. Ned ia a 
slang word for a guinea. 

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 kiUock and ofT 
(depart with all tlieir property) as soon as they have made their ned out of the Blue- 
noses. — Haliuurtun. 

Needle. — To yet the needle— to got irritate<l. S. 
Take care lest he get the needle and send you off. 

Needs. — Needs rnunt jchen (lie devil drives — one must submit, however 
ungracefully, to hard necessity. F. 

" What, you are in your tantrums again I " said she. " Come along, sir. Needs 
must when Uie devil drives."— C. Kbauk. 

Nem. — Nem, con. — a contraction for nemine contradicente (I^tin) = 
no one dissenting. C. 

Tliis resolution was agreed to nem. eon. 

The general, too, uuderatoo<l these iletalls thoroughly, and therefore it was dii> 
resi>«<:tful youth voteil nnn. tttn. that Newton-lIoUows was *'a rare shop at feeding* 
time."— G. J. Wuyt£-Mblvu.uc. 




Neptune [ 221 ] Next 

Neptune. — A son of Neptune — a sailor. P. Neptuno was the god of 
the sea in Roman mythology. 

Aft«r once cronlng the line, jou can never be eabjecied to the process, but are 
considered as a son of Neptune.— R. H. Daka. 

Tills son of Neptune, dying suddenly, left all bis little property to a degenerate 
nephew, who hated salt water.— R. Buohanak. 

Nest. — To feather one*8 iiest — to provide for one^s future; to lay-by 
money. C 

It may do him some harm, perhaps, but Dempster roust have feathered his nest 
pretty well (saved a considerable sum of money); he can afford to ioee a little busi- 
ness. — GaoRoR Eliot. 

A mare*H nest. Sec Mark. 

A nest-egu — something laid by as a start or commencement. C. In a 

nest where hens are expected to lay, it is customary to place a real or 

imitation egg to tempt the hens to lay others beside it. This egg is 

called the nesl-egfj. 

Books or money laid for show, 
Like nest-eggs, to make clients lay.— S. Butlrr. 
At present, however, as Margaret reminded her cousin, there was not enough of 

them— though so far as they went tliey had a material value — to become nesi-eggs ; 

they could not be considered as savings or capital to any appreciable extent— Jamrs 

Pavk. 

Never, — Never say </«€— don't despair. S. 

Will yon give him my coinpUmonts, sir— No. S4's complimentt— and tell him I 
bid him never say die?— C. Hradr. 

/ never did — an exclamation of astonishment. F. 

" I never did I ** exclaimed Blisa Sampeon, when her brother had read the brief 
letter aloud. 

Elixa wu always protesting that she never did. Tills somewhat nnmeaning phrase 
was her favourite expression of astonishment.— Mim Braddon. 

Newcastle. — NewcaMle hospitality — roasting a friend to death. F. 

Newgate. — To lye in Newgate — to be a criminal. C Newgate is the 
great prison of Ix)n<lon. 

"No doubt lie ought to be in Newgate," said the other emphatically. — Jam rh 
Payk. 

Next. — Nejct to nothing — almost nothing. C. 

Her table the same way, kept for next to notliing.— MahU EtraRWORTii. 

Next door to — very close to ; almost. C. 

She olHiorvc<1 to that trusty servant that Colonel Arden was next door to a brut*.— 
TiiRoiMinR Hook. 

Next one's heart— very dear to one. P. 

Tliey could talk unreservedly among themselves of the subject that lay next tboir 
hearts.— J am an Payk. 



Nicety [ 222 ] No 

Nicety. — To a ntce^y^xactly; with extreme accuracy. P. 
The room wm all Arranged to a nicetj. 

Nick. — It^ the nick of time — exactly at the right moment. P. 

Thinga are Uking a moet convenient turn, and in the very nick of time.— Janes 
Paym. 

In the nick — at the riglit moment. F. 

He gaTe ui notice in the nick, and I got ready for their rece^on.— Habia 
Edokwuhtu. 

Old Nick— the devil. S. 

And the old man began to etep ont as if he was leading them on their way ■gaiiiat 
old Nick.— Ualiburton. 

Night. — A nitjhi'Cap — a warm drink taken before going to becl. C. 

Nightmare. — The nightmare and her nine-fold — frightful apparitions 
which appear at night. Prpbably nine-fold stands for "nine foals." 
See Shakespeare's King Lear^ act iii. scene 4. 

St. Withold footed thrice the old. 

He met the nightmare and her nine-fold. 
Stan thoot and meteors glare oftener across tlie valley Uian in any other part of 
the country, and tlio nightmare with her whole nine-fold scorns to make It tlio 
favourite scene of hor gambols.- -VVahuinutom Iuvinu. 

Nil. — Nil (uimirari — admiring nothing. I^tin. 

To the last, I believe, his London nil tidmirari mind hardly appreciated the fact 
of its being real cold mow.— 11. Kinuhlby. 

Nine. — A nine dayn loonder — something which causes great excitement 
for a short time and then is heard of no more. P. 

King Ed want You'd think it strange if I should marry her. 

OUmctster. That would be ten days' wonder at the least. 

Clartnee. That's a day longer than a wonder lasts.— Siiakbspkabb. 

To the nines — to perfection ; si)lcndidly. F. 

Praising a man's farm to the nines (as if it were perfection).— HAUBuaTOif. 
This galUnt, good-natured soldier flattered hor to tlie nines.— C. Rkaub. 
Bran-new, polished to the nines.— C. Rkadb. 

Nine (ailom make a man— a i>opular saying in contempt of tailors. F. 
A tailor is often culled the ninth part of a man. 

Nip. — To nip a hung— to steal a purse. S. 

Meanwliilo the cut-purse in the throng 

Hath a fair means to nip a hang.—Pojtu!ar Ballnd, 1710. 

To nip in the bud — to destroy at an early stage, l)cfore any mischief it 
done. I*. 

From the above it is quite dear that the king had ample warning of the rising, and 
possessed the means of nipping it in the hutX— Fortnightly lUciew^ lSb7. 

No. — No go — of no use. S. 

"These 'lection buns are no go," said the young man John.— O. W. HoLMia. 



Nob [ 223 ] NoBe 

No end — a very great sum ; a great deal. F. 

Times are lo hard. Box at the opera no end (costs a great ramX— C Rsadb. 

Nob. — A nob of the Jirst vxUer — a very high-class personage. S. Nob 

is a contraction for nobleman. 

One comfort, folk are beginning to take an interest in us ; I see nobe of th« lint 
water looking with a fatherly eje into our aflralrs.— C Rsadb. 

Noblesse. — Noblesse oblige. This phrase implies that a person in a 
high position is constrainc<l to perform his duties well by a sense of 
his position : high rank has its obligations. P. A French phrase. 

Natorally— noMesM obligf, as Felspar hinted— Ella spoke most of the poems.— 
Jamsh Path. 

That flne-gralned pride of place which is best expressed in those two majestic 
words noblesse oblige.— Mas E. Lynn Linton. 

Nod. — A nod is as good as a mnk lo a blind horse — there is no use 
rejieating a sign to those who cannot or do not choose to see. P. 
Thinks I to myself, a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.— Halibubton. 

The land of nod — sleep. F. 

But oTerjr night I go abroad 

Afar into the land of nod.— U. L. Stkvrnhon. 

Noggin. — To go to noggin-sfatYs — to go to pieces ; to fall into con- 
fusion. F. A noggin is a woo<lcn cup, niailc with staves, like a cask. 
Silence I or my allegory will go to noggln-stavea— Kimoslbt. 

Nom. — Nom dc. giienx — a name assumcil for a time. P. A war-name. 

French. 

Hobart, being then a post-captain ashore with nothing to do, took a prominent 
part, under the nom de guerre of Captain Roberts.— iSpectator, 1887, 

Nom de jtlnme — a fictitious name assumed by an autlior. P. A pen- 
name. French. For example : — 

Nom dt plume. 

Marian Evans George Eliot. 

Miulame Fhulevant Cleorge Sand. 

Charles Dickens Boz (in his earlier writings). 

William Makepeace Tliackeray... Michael Angelo Titmarsh. 

Several of the pieces published In 1801 under the nom tU plume of Thomas Little 
were written before he (Moore) was eighteen.- JSnryelojxrdia Br<toim<ea, 9th ed, 

NODCe. — For the nonc€ — temporary ; not habitual. P. Also used as an 

adverb temporarily. From " then once." 

Vlvlnn wiM lint under tlio nocomlty of iMiyIng any Immnllate eonrteey to his op- 
poRito neighbour, whoM silence, he percelTed, was for the nonce, and consequently 
for him.— Draconsfirld. 

Nose. — With one's nose ai the grindstone — hanl at work. C. Generally 

used of mechanical or uninteresting work. 

The clerks, with their noses at the grindstone, and her father sombre in the dingy 
room, working hard too in his way.— Mrs. Ouphant. 



Nose [ 224 ] Nose 

To snap oii€*8 nose o/T— to speak in a cross tone to any one ; to mldruss a 

person sharply. C. 

" I obMnre th*t Mr. Jolin'i tlilngi have not boon laid ont for liim iiro|)orl/, as 
they ought to have boon," ibe laid luddenly, mapping hia noio olf, aa Jeiria aaid.— 
Miw. Omi'uamt. 

To mtasure noaes — to meet. F. 

Wo measured noses at the cross roads. 

To makt a person's nose siodl — to make him jealous. F. 

To turn up one's nose at — to look with contempt upon. 0. 

lie has the harsh, arrogant, Prussian way of turning up his nose at tilings. — 
M. Arnold. 

To put a man's nose out or out of joint — to supplant him; to mortify 
him. F. This plirasc is also found in tlie form his nose has lout a 
joint. 

No substance has yet superseded gunpowder for artillery purposes— for one reason, 
gunpowder is comparatively so safe ; but, of course, its nose may be put out of Joint 
even by the skilful application of the all-pervading air to the base of a projectiU. — 
Spectator, Oct. /, 18S7. 

He was jealous of her (the elephant)— afraid that she would get as fond of soma 
others as of him, and so another roan might be able to work her, and his own noM 
lose a Joint, as the saying is.— C. Hkadb. 

Perhsiw Maurice may bo able to drive Lanfroy out of the field— put his nose oat of 
Joint, anil marry the girl hirosolf.— Miw. K. Lynn Linton. 

To cut off one's none to spite one's face — to act from anger in such a way 
as to injure oneself. F. 

If yon refuse to go because you are angry with me, you will Just be cutting off 
your nose to spite your face. 

One of its (J^onsy's) commonest and least startling effects is tliat species of moral 
suicide which is best described by tlio vulgar adage of '* cutting off one's nose to spite 
one's face," and which produces tliat most incomprehensible of all vagaries termed 
" marrying out of pique."— (i. J. Wiiytk-Mklviu.k. 

To lead hy the nose — to influence a person so that ho follows yon 
blindly. C. 
Though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is often led by the nose with gold.~ 

SUAKKSPKARC 

What would you think of a cabinet minister being led by the nose— what would 
you Uiink of his resigning the whole of his authority into the hands of Uie per* 
manent secretary under Iiim— simply because tliat secretary undertakes the duty of 
getting the minister's wife, who is not very presentable. Included in Invitations, 
and passed into houses where she would never otherwise bo seen 7— Wn. Hlack. 

He 8howe<l a certain dogged kind of wisdom in refusing to l>e led by tlie nose by 
tlie idle and ignorant chatterboxes against whom he was tlirown in the parlour of the 
public-houie.— II. Kinoslky. 

To take j)epper in the nose — to take offence. F. 

To put or thrust one's none into anothcr'n affairs — to interfere with another 

person's affairs unwarrantably. F. 

I liked the man well enough, and showed it, if he hadn't been a fool and put his 
nose into my business.— C. Ueadk. 




Not [ 226 ] Nunky 

To wi])e a person's nose — to cheat him. S. 

I've wiped the old men'i noses (got a pretty good tam of money out of themX 
Under one's nose — in one's immediate proximity ; close to one. C. 

Poetrj takes roe up so entirely that I scarce see what passes under mj nose.— Popv. 

To pay through the notte — to pay an extravagant price. S. 

T lioiHsd Uicy would never adopt onr democratic patent method of seeming to 
Roltlo one's honest debts, for they would find It paying tlirough the noso in the long 
run.— J. U. LowRLL. 

Honnor than have a fuss, I paid him through the note everything that he claimed. 
—A. Trolloi'b. 

Not. — ^ot a bit of it — not at all ; hi no way. F. 

" Well, for one thing, we ought all to be here."—" Not a bit of it," re8ponde«l 
Dick.— /Modktcoorf's MngaxitUt 18S7. 

Not6. — A note of hand — a promissory note ; a paper containing a 
promise to pay a certain sum of money. P. 

" Why, my dear lad," he cried, " this note of hand of Shakespeare's, prioeleas as 
it is, may be yet outdone by what remains to be discovered."— Jambs Pavn. 

Now. — 2Cow and then — at intervals; occasionally. P. Usc<l both of 
place and time. 

He who resolves to walk by the rule of forbearing all revenge will have opportnni* 
ties every now and then to exercise his forgiving temper.— Attkrburt. 

A mead here, there a heath, and now and then a wood.— Drattoii. 

He (Lonl Dyron) now and then praised Mr. Coleridge, but ungraciously and with* 
out cordiality.- Maoaulav. 

Nowhere. — To be nowhere — to fail to seciire a leading place. C. 

In Action, if we except one or two historical novels, wliich avowedly owe their 
existence to a laudable admiration of Scott, Italy is literally nowhere.— ^(Ii«tt<mm, 

]SS7. 

Null. — iV'ti// and void — of no effect ; useless. P. A legal phrase. 

The document began by stating that the testator's former will was null and void.— 

n. U. HAQOAnD. 

Number. — Nmnlter one — a person's self. C. 

Rome conjurors say number throe Is the magic number, and tome say nomber 
seven. It's noitlior, my friend, neither ; it's number one.— DicKRiia. 

Ihit lot me hoar about yourself, Angvla ; I am tired of No. 1, 1 ean assart you.— 
II. R. IIaooakd. 

Nunky. — Xunly jxiys — the Government pays for everything. S. 
Ntndy here stands for ** Uncle," short for " Uncle Sam." The letters 
U.S., ntaiiipcd on Unitoil States (Jovcrnmcnt projKJrty, wci-o jocularly 
read ** Uncle Sam." ** Uncle Sam " thus came to moan the Govern- 
ment, and gave rise to the phrase to stand Sam^ which see. 

Walk through a manufactory, and you see that the stem alternatives, carefalneaa 
or ruin, dictate the saving of every penny; visit one of the national dockyards, and 
the comments you make on any glaring wastefulness are carelessly met by the slang 
plirase, " Nunky pays."— Herbkrt Spkkckr. 

15 




Nut [ 226 ] Oar 

Nut. — To he nuts to — to please greatly. F. 

Theta were nuU alike (eqaallj agreeable) to the civilian and the planter.— O. O. 
Trkviclyan. 

To edge hia waj along the crowded patha of life, warning all homan qrmpatbj to 
keep ita distance, was what the knowing ones called nnta (exoeoslve pleasure) to 
Scrooge. — Dicksmh. 

To he nuts on anything — to be extremely fond of it. F. 
M/ aunt ia awful nuts on Marcna Anrelioa.— Wm. Black. 

Off one* i nut — crazy ; mad. S. Nut is a slang term for the head. 

He waa getting every da/ more off hia nut, aa the/ put it graoefall/. — J. 
H'Gartbt. 

A hard nut to crack — a difficult problem to solve. C. 

On the contrar/, he unflinching!/ faced a third queation, that, namel/, of the tnM 
wlahea of the teatator, whoae will had been made known aome honra before; and 
reall/ thia waa rather a hard nut to crack.— Oood Word*, 1887, 

NatshelL— ^0 lie in a nutshell — to be capable of easy comprehension or 
solution. P. 

There waa no need to refer to Heimann or any one else. The whole thing la/ la ■ 
nutshell.— Afurray'tf Magaxinet 1887. 

To aaaimilate the vrritten to the spoken atyle— the whole thing liea in that nai> 
ahell (is capable of solution by that methodX 

In a nuishdl — simply and tersely. P. 

That one admiaaion of youra, " he ia almost entirely dependent on hia pen,** states 
the whole caae for me In a nutshell.— Jamb8 Payn. 



Oak. — Sport one*8 oak. See Sport. 

Oax. — To put in one* 8 oar — to interfere officiously in others' affairs; to 
break into a conversation uninvited. F. 

She is not the first hand that has caught a lobster by putting In her oar before bar 
turn, I gueaa.— HALibUKTOif. 
I put my oar In no man's boat.— Tuackkkay. 

To lie or rtst on one*s oars — to cease from hard work ; to take an interval 

of rest. C. 

I had finished my education So I left Paris, and went home to rest on ray 

— C. Kkai>k. 



To ship oars — to place the oars in the rowlocks. A nautical phi 

To toss the oars — to raise the oars vertically, for the purpose of saluting. 
A nautical phrase. 



Oats [ 227 ] Odds 

To ttnahip the oara — to remove the oars from the rowlocks. A nautical 
phrase. 

Oats. — To sow one*8 wild oats — to indulge in youthful dissipation and 
excesses. P. 

Dunsey's tute for iwopping (exchanging) and betting might tarn out to be tome- 
thing more than sowing wild oata.— Oborob Eliot. 

Obs. — Ohs aiid sols — ohjtctiones et soluliones. P. Old-fashioned. These 
objections and proofs were placed in the margin of theological works. 

Bale, Eraemua, etc, explode, m a TMt ocean of o6« and ioU, eohool divinity; a 
labyrinth of Intricate qneitlona— Burton {Anatomif qf Aldandioly). 

Observe. — The observed of all observers — the centre of attraction. P. 
A quotation from Shakespcarc^s Hamlet, act iii. scene 1 : — 

Tlio glan of fashion and the mould of form, 

The oboorved of all obsorvers I 
Wo children admired him: partly for his beantiful face and iilTer hair; partly 
for tlie solemn light In which we beheld him once a week, the observed of all ob- 
servers, In the pulpit.— R. L. Stbvbnbok, in Seribtur'i Magcuifu, 1887. 

Occasion. — On occasion — when necessary ; at certain times. P. 

Then they went on to give him Instructions. lie was to start at once — that very 
week, if poeslblo ; ho was to follow certain lines laid down for his guidance; on ooca- 
Hion ho wan to act for himself.— Dkmant. 

I am glad to II nd you can stand your own trumpeter on occasion, though I wish 
you would change the tune.— Smollbtt. 

7*0 take occasion — to seize an opportunity. P. 

In rummaging over a desk to find a corkscrew, young Ludgate took occasion to 
open and shake a pocket-book, from which fell a shower of bank-notes.— Maria 
Kdoeworth. 

Odds. — At odils — (a) opposed to; diflering from. P. 

Mr. Pilgrim had come mooning out of the house, at odds with all the festivity and 
tired of the crowd.— J. M'Cartbt. 

{b) at a disadvantage. 1*. 

What warrior was there, however famous and skilful, that could flight at odds with 

hlm?--TlIACKKI(AV. 

Odih and ends—tiivtiy articles; casual pieces of information; things 
picked up in ditFerent places. P. 

A few more odds and ends (stray remarks) before the oonduslon of this artlela. — 
S/vr(nfor, 1S80. 

Then Uicre was poor Jacob Dodson. the halfwitted boy, who ambled about ehe«r- 
fully, underUking messages and little helpful odds and ends for every oiia.~T. 

lIUaiJBN. 

y/y lontj othh^hy a great difTercnce ; most decidedly. P. 
He Is by long odds the ablest of the candidates. 

No otldA—iVs of no consequence. F. 

•' I hsvo lost my hat."—" No odda Come without one." 



Odour [ 228 ] Off 

Odour. — In had odour— iW spoken of ; having a bad reputation. P. 

Bf*t Crabtree would not be hindered from wrapping vp the girls and handing them 
to their leata bj the trifling objection thai he was In bad odour with botli of the 
women.— Sarah Tytlsr. 



OdoHr ofaanetity. It was at one time belie vc<l that the eoriwo of a holy 
person emitted a sweet perfume. Tlie expression '* odour of sanctity " 
is now used figuratively : ** He died in the odour of sanctity " = ** He 
died having a saintly reputation. " 

The whitewashed shrine where some holy marabout lies buried in the odonr of 
lanotlty.— Grant Allkk, in Contevnycrarv RevieWt 1S88. 

It was the spring of the year when the examining chaplain gave the venUct which, 
for good or 111, put Dan out of the odour of sanctity.— IIall Cains. 

You are the middle-aged father of grown-up sons and daughters, a magistrate, a 
church member, who keeps regular hours, and calls up his servants to prayers and so 
forth— all that belongs to the essence of respectability and the odonr of sanctity. — 
Sarah Tytlxr. 

OfL — To he off— to refuse to come to an agreement. F. 

At last when his hand was on the door they offered him twelve thousand five hun- 
dred. Ho begged to consider of it. No, they were peremptory. If he was off, they 
were off.— C. Rsadb. 

Well off—\i\ conifortablo circumstances. V, 

He seemed to be very well off as he was. — Mitn AuirrieN. 

Be off wUh you / — go away ! C. A peremptory order. 

" Be off with you I Get away, you minx t** he shouted.- II. R. llano ard. 

Off and on — at intervals; sometimes working, sometimes doing noth- 
ing. C. 

They (Garibaldi and Massinl) off and on fell out like the heroes of some old epic — 
Contemporury RevUwt 188S. 

" Dear me I Now that's very interesting," said Mr. Josceline ; " yon could bava 
got two shillinp a line, if you pleased, for writing a poem that took you how longt* 

" Well, perhaps two months, off and on."— Jambs Payn. 

Ojr^a«^'—(a<lj.) free and easy ; without stiffness. P. 

Having a bluff, off-hand manner, which passeil for heartiness, and considerable 
powers of pleasing when he liked, he went down with the school in general for a 
good fellow enough. —T. HuaHsa. 

(atlv. ) without preparation or calculation ; immecliatcly. P. 

The strong-minded I^dy Southdown quite agreed in both proposals of her loo-ta- 
law, and was for converting Miss Crawley off-hand.— Thackkray. 
He can give you off-hand any information about the capital you may want. 

Offhy heart — committed to memory. P. 

A day or two afterwards, Mr. Quirk, in poring over that page in the fourth volomo 
of IUadcstone'8 Commentaries where are to be found the passages which liave baen 
already quoted (and which both Quirk and Gammon had got off by heartX fancied 
he liad at last hit upon a notable crotchet.— S. Warrsk. 

Offone*s head^razed ; distracted. C. 

The fact was, the excellent old Uuly was rather off her head with excitement — 
James Payn. 



Office [ 229 ] Old 

Off colour — shady; disreputable. F. 

Hii reputation and habits being a trifle off colour, at the phraie U, he had fallen 
back on a number of paraeitlcal personi, who, doubtlen, earned a liberal commliaion 
on the foolish purchases they induced him to make.— Wm. Blaoil 

Office. — To give the office — to forewarn ; to tell beforehand. S. 

Then back after me ; I'll give you Uio office. Ill mark you oui a good claim.— 

C llEADB. 

Oh. — Oh yes — a corniption of oyez (listen), the cry of heralds making a 
proclamation. S. 

Well, then, said the crier, "Oh jes! oh yet I Hit Mi^ett/^-I mean her 
Majesty's — court is now opened."— Ha lxbubtok. 

OIL — To oil oiie*a old toxg — to make the person dnink. North of 
I'^ngland slang. 

To pour oil on troubled tccUera — to pacify matters ; to act as peace- 
maker. P. 

In my telegrams and letters to Tfu Time$ I did all in my power to throw oil on the 
troubled waters, by explaining mutual misunderstandings, and combating the false 
accusations made on both sides.— II. Mackkmsib Waluicb. 

Used of the actual process. 

Not a barrel of water fell u|)on tlie Amo's deck. 1 believe this may with Mtfetj be 
claimed at one of the earliest recorded instances of the practical application of oil 
to tlio troubled wators. —.Srri/mer's Maga£in€^ 1SS7. 

Oil o/jxUm/i — money. S. Sec Palm. 

7*0 HfriLc oil — (a) to come upon a Ixid of petroleum. P. 

1 know it (the oil) was there, because I'd been in Pennsylvania and learned Um 
signs: it was only the question whether I should strike it— BcsAirr and Ricb. . 

(6) to make a valuable discovery of any kind. S. 



Ointment. — A fiy in the ointment — that which spoils the freslmoss or 
excellence of anythuig. C. See Bible (Eccles. x. 1). 

The hnmcly vein nimiing through her own four daughters, of whom not one was 
really pretty, and some were really plain, wot a very bluebottle in my lady's oint- 
ment.— Mas. K. Ltmji Lintok. 

O.K—0. A'.— facetious contraction for ** all correct" = " all right" 

Old. — Old en the hilU — very ancient. C 

My dear child, this Is noUiing new to me— to any one. AVhai yon have sxperi- 
encc<l is as old as the hills.— Florbnob Mabatat. 

A n old maid — an unmarried woman who has passed the usual age for 
marriage, and is likely to die single. P. 

During her papa's life, then, she resigned herself to the maanar of exitianee here 
described, and wat content to be an old maid.— TnACKBBAT. 



Olive [ 230 ] One 

Olive. — To hold out the olive branch — to make overtures of reconcilia- 
tion. P. 

Th« ludden appearance In these oironmstancos of ClianiborUlu with the olive 
branch In hU month add* piquancy to the scene.— TT^c Timef, lUSti. 

An olive-branch — a child. P. See Ps. cxxviii. 3. The Bilde expression 
is olive plant : ** Tliy wife shall bo as a fruitful vine by the sides of 
thy house : thy children like olive plunt-s round thy table." 

This young olive-branch, notorious under the n inic ot Timothy's Bess's Ben, had 
advanced beyond the group of women and children.— O euro a Rliot. 

The lotlgers to whom Growl had made allusion, under the designation of "the 
Kenwigscs," were the wife and olive brandies of one Mr. Keuwigs, a turner in ivory. 

— DiCKKNS. 

On. — On for anything — ready to engage in it. S. 

Are you on for a row on the river? 

Once. — Once and for all — finally ; irrevocably. P. Also once for ail, 

I must tell yon once and for all that you will get nothing by kneeling to me.— If. 
B. 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. 

Once ui>on a Ume— of all the good days in the year, on Christmas eve — old Scrooge 
sat busy in his counting-house.- Divkknm. 

Once in a toay — sometimes ; at long intervals ; on rare occasions. C. 
Also found in the form once and aicay. 

She knew he was of no drunken kind, yet once In a way a man might take too 
much. — Blackmorb. 

'TIS but for once and away.— Maria Eduvwoktii. 

Once and cujain — repeatedly ; often. C. 

I have tuld yon onoo and again tliat you must not sinoko in tliis room. 

One. — One of these days — soon ; shortly. C. 

He repeatedly reasoned and remonstrated with Mr. Titmouse on the Impnqirieiy 
of many parts of his conduct— ^Titmouse generally acknowledging, witli much appear* 
ance of compunction and sincerity, that the earl had too much ground for compblnt, 
and protesting that he meant to cliaugo altogotlior one of those daya— 8. Wahkkv. 

One too many for a jHirson — more powerful or cunning than he. F. 
' 1 ratlier fancy we sliall l)o one too many for hiui.— W. K. Nduiiih. 

At one — agreed ; in harmony ; of the same mind. P. 

We have read treatises by the dosen on style and rhetoric from HUir to Bain, ami 
there is none that we should be inclined ourselves to adopt as a class-book. So far, 
wo are at one with Mr. Morloy.— Joiirnat of Education, 1837. 

Onti-horse — third-rato ; poor ; insignificant. S. 

One of them destroyed Manltoulin, my Island of the blest, with a few eontomptU" 
ous criticisms. It was, he declare<l, a very one-horse sort of pUce. — W. II. 

UUlWKLL. 



O.P. [ 231 ] Orange 

O.P. — O.P. — publishers* contraction for " out of print." Also for " old 
prices," in connection with the O.P. Riot at new Covent Garden 
Theatre in 1809, when the prices were raised. 

Open. — With ojyen arms — gladly ; witli a warm welcome. P. 

They were both received with open anni bj the m«7or and old Dewar. — C Rkadb. 

An o]KH secret — a piece of information not formally declared, yet known 

to every one. P. 

It WM an open secret that almost every one (of Lord Palmerston's ecclesiastical 
appointments) was Tirtoally made by Lord Shaftesbury.— Ld«Mre Hour, 1887. 

OjKH as the day — utterly without deception or hypocrisy. C. 

Open as the day, he made no secret of the fact that he was alone in the world.— 
Jamks Payn. 

Arthur, on the other hand, learned quite everything about her, for her life was 
open as the day.— II. U. IIaqoaro. 

Open sesame — a phrase which causes doors to open. See, in the Arabian 
Nujhts* Entertainments, the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. 
When Ali Baba uttered the words ** Open sesame," the door of the 
robbers' cave opened. 

The French do not believe in love. This is a sweeping statement, it may be said, 
but if not accepted as a fundamental truth, the surest of all open sesames to the 
arcana of French society fails the observer.— /yTafionoi Review, 1987. 

The spell loses its power ; and he who sliould then hope to conjure with it would 
find himself as much mistaken as Cassim in the Arabian tale, when he stood crying, 
** Open wheat,** " Open barley,** to Uie door which obeyed no sound but " Open 
sesame."— Macaula v. 

To open the hall. See Baix. 

An 0])cn question — a fact or doctrine about which different opinions are 

permitted. P. 

Whetlier the army Is sufficiently organised, or snfBcienlly provided, or sufficiently 
well led, may bo an open question.— fpedafor, 1887. 

To open the eyes of a person — to make him aware of the real state of 
afTairs. C. 
Tills last flagrant case of injustice opened the commissioner's eyes. 

Opinion. — To he of opinion — to judge ; to consider. P. 

Mr. Gladstone was of opinion that the tax was inexpedient 

Bf rs. Sedley was of opinion that no power on earth would induce Mr. Sedley to 
consent to tlie match between his daughter and the ton of a man who had eo shame- 
fully, wickedly, and monstrously treated him.— TnAcmsRAT. 

Orange. — Orange hlossoms — brides wear orange bloMoms. C. 

*' How is the amiable and Ulented Mr. Staunton r** inquired this person Joeosely ; 
"anil what has he come to this lovely retreat for? To gather orange btoMomsr** 
(get a bride).- W. E. Nor&ih. 

A sitckcd oraiifje — a man whose powers are exhausted. 8. 
By Uils time Dibdtn was a sucked orange ; his brain was dry. 



Order [ 232 ] Out 

Order. — To take order—to take steps or measures; to make provi- 
sion. P. 

Ii anj rule more pUIn tlum thli, tlui whoever Toluntarllj gives to anoUicr irro- 
■isUble power over human beingi li bound to take order that such ix>wer shall not be 
barbarousl/ abused f— Macau lay. 

To take orders — to 1>ecoine a clergyman. P. 

Though he never could be persuaded to take orders, theology was his favourite 
studj. — Macaulay. 

In orders — belonging to the clerical profession. P. 

'* What I " interrupted 1, " and were 70a indeed married by a priest, and in 
orders 7** (a regular clergyman).— Goldsmith. 

The order of the day — what every one is striving after. C. 

*' Think no more of love, but as much as you please of admiration ; drees yourself 
as fast as you can," said Miss Broadhurst ; " dress, dress is the order of the day." — 
Maria E do k worth. 

Economy in the public service is the order of the 6»,j,—Wutmind€r Rewiew, Dee. 
1887. 

The orders of the day — the list of agenda in a legislative body ; for 
example, the House of Commons. 

Other. — The other day — lately ; some time ago. C. 

Did you see what the brigands did to a fellow they caught in Greece the other day T 
— U. K. llAaaARo. 

Out. — To he out — to be mistaken. F. 

** Oh, there you are out, indeed. Cousin Wright ; she's more of what you call a prade 
than a coquette.*'— Majiia Edocwomtil 

To he out with any one — to have a disagreement with the person. F. 
If you are out with him, then I shall not visit him. 

Out-and-out — thoroughly ; completely. C. 

Now, I'm as proud of tlie house as any one. I believe it's tlie best hwise in the 
school, out-and-out.— II uuu KB. 

To ha\'>e it out with any one — to have an altercation with some one on a 
certain subject. C. 

One day when the two old officers return from their stroll, Mrs. Hunch informs the 
colonel that site has had it out with Elixa.— Tiiackkuay. 

Out of the iwiy^-o<ld ; quaint ; imusual. P. 

Besides, he had always something amusing to say that lessened our toil, and was 
at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that I loved, laughed at, and pitted 
him.— U0LD8MITU. 

Out of sorts — (a) indisposed ; not in gooil bodily condition. C. 

I am out of sorts, however, at present; cannot write. WhyT I cannot tell.— 
Macaulay. 



Outrun [ 233 ] Over 

{b) in bad humour ; ill-pleased. C. 

Wm this the pale, sad soul who had come away from England with us, out of torts 
with the world, and almost aweary of her lifef— Wm. Bulck. 

To out' Herod Herod — to be extravagant in one*8 language ; to storm as 
an actor. P. Herod was a typical tyrant. 

" I fancy," said he, " your praise must be ironical, because in the very two situa* 
Uons yon mention I think I have seen that player out-Herod Uerod, or, in other 
words, exceed all hit extravagance."— Smollktt. 

Out of place — unsuitable ; improper. P. 

All this delicate consideration for the feelings of an Impeounlons young person was 
deplorable and out of place.— James Tatn. 

OtU of pocket — (a) actually paid. C. As in the phrase "out of pocket 
expenses.** 

(6) put to expense. C 

Mephistopheles, eitlier because he was a more philosophic spirit or was not the one 
out of pocket, took the blow more coolly. — C. Rkadb. 
He was both out of pocket and out of spirits by that catastrophe.— TiiACKUiAr. 

OtU ofijritU. See Print. 

Out of collar — without a place. Servants* slang. 
The old butler has been out of collar since last autumn. 

Out at dl>oicn. Sec Kliu)W. 

Out of the qvestion. See QuKSTlON. 

Out of the tcood — escaped from a difficulty or danger. C. 

You are not out of the wood (safe from danger) yet. 

The excess of women over men makes It impossible for all to be married— Mormon* 
Um not being our way out of the wood (of escape from this diAculty). 

An OHl-and-oiUcr — a thorough -gomg fellow; one pre-eminent in any 
capacity. S. 
Master Clive was pronounced an out-and-outer.— TnACKRiiAT. 

Outrun. — To outrun the conntahle — to become bankrupt. C. 

A minute of the financial board, published in the Catubridg* RgporUr, shows that 
the university is in danger of outrunning the constable.— J<mniai ^ Kducaiiomt 1SS7, 

Over. — Over and above — in addition ; besides ; extra. P. 

Well, she didn't think somehow that Zee-Zeet was over and above (esoeaslTety) 

wcUott.— English Illustrated Magaxine, 1886. 

Over and over — frequently ; repeatedly. P. 

She had (heard) though— over and over again. For It was Toby's eoostant tople. — 

DlCKKMS. 

Oi^r the /f/?— understand the contrary of what is said. S. 

Tlie cook will suit you very well— over the left 
A'jcp.— He will not suit you at all. 



Overland [ 234 ] 



Overland. — An overiand farm — a fann without any house upon it. 
Devonahire dialect. 

OwL— ^o take owl^to be offended. S. 

Own. — To oirni up — to coufcss. C 

What do 70a want I should own up aboat a thing for, when I don'i feel wroof.— 
W. D. H0WKLL8. 



P. — To mind one's p*8 and q*8 — to be careful in one's behaviour. C. 

I think that thii world U a very good eort of world, and that a man can get along 
in H very well If he mlndi hii p's and f't.— A. Tbollopv. 
And to have to mind mj p's and 9*1 ii what I don't like.— Florbhcs Marryat. 

Tobep and q — to be of the first quality. F. 

Bring in a qnari of maligo, right true, 

And look, you rogue, that it be p and 9.— Rowlam m (1613X 

Pace. — To try an animoW's pacta ; to put an animal throwjh its paces — 
to find out how it goes. P. A horse walks, ambles, trots, canters, 
gallops — these are its different paces, wliich an intending purchaser 
will examine before he strikes a bargain. 

I had, in the ninal formi, when I came to the -fair, put m/ bone through aU Its 
paces. ^O OLDSMmi . 

To try a man*a paces — to see what are his qualities. F. 

We take him (the preacher) at first on trial, for a Sabbath or two, to trj Us pseea 
— Halibuuton. 

To keep pace toith — to keep alongside of ; to go at the same speed as ; to 
progress equally with. P. 

Agriculture (in the States) has kept pace with manufacturing industry, while it has 
far out8tr1p|)ed commerce. — Edinburgh Review, 188t. 

Old as I am, I feel a pleasure in making any person whom I meet on the way pot 
his horse to the full gullop to keep iiace with my trottor.— II au burton. 

Pack. — To talk jKU'kthread— to use impruixir huiguage skilfully dis- 
guised. S. 

To be packing — to go off ; to leave a place. S. 
Now, be packing ; 1 do not wish to see you again. 

To pack cards — to cheat ; to act unfairly. C. 

She has packed cards with Cesar (entered into a deceitful compact with OsanrX— 
Shakbupkarc 



Pad [ 235 ] Pair 

To send a man packiuy — to dismiss him summarily ; to send him 
off. F. 

Ii none of mj lads so clever u to send this Judge packing f— BIacaulat. 
Pad. — A pad in the straw — something wrong. F. 

To jtad the hoof— to walk. F. 

" What do yon mean 7** asked Lambert, staring in amazement " Yon would not 
have Susie pad the hoof because the bank has failed?" — Sarah Tvtlkr. 
At length Charlej Bates expressed his opinion that it was time to pad Uie hoof.— 

DlCKRNS. 

Paddle. — To jxiddle your own canoe — to miuiage your own affairs with- 
out help. S. 

Jdj wants are small, I care not at all 

If my debts are paid when due ; 
I drive away strife in the ocean of life, 
While 1 |)addle my own canoe.— U. CurroM. 

Paddock.— T'o tnm ])addock to hadilock— to dissipate property. A pro- 
vuicial Norfolk phrase. 

Paddy.— ^ Paddy. See Pat. 

Pagoda. — To shake the pagoda tree — to gain a fortune in an easy way. 
An Anglo-Iiidian phrase. 

When he had tlioroughly learned this lesson he was offered a position in India, in 
tlio service nf .John Com|iany, under wliose flsg, as we know, the pagoda tree was 
worth sliaking (it was easy to amass a Urge fortune). —Mrs. £. Lviiif Limtom. 

Pains. — To he a/ ;xii;t« — to take trouble ; to lie careful. P. 

She delivered it for the behoof of Mr. Chick, who was a stout, bald gentleman, 
with a very large face, and his hands continually in his pockets, and who had a 
tendency in his nature to whistle and hum tunes, which, sensible of the Indeoonim 
of sucli sounds in a house of grief, lie was at some pains to repress at present— 
Dickens. 

Paint.— /'aiji/ red. See Red. 

Pair.— -^ ?>rt»V of stairs— ti flight of stairs ; a staircase. P. 

Indeed, the hostess of that evening has since boon ocouomlsing up two patrol 
stairs at Antwerp.— (2. J. Whytk-Mrlvillb. 

To jHiir or pair off— (a) (of a mcmlxjr of Parliament) to abstain from 
voting, having ina<le an arrangement with a member of the opposite 
side that he shall also alwtain. P. A cxistomary Parliamentary 
pniotice. 

Mr. W. n. llarl»onr has paired with Mr. T. Lynn Ilrtstowo from the 14th for tlif 

remainder of ttio sossion.— r/k« Scotsman. 

{h) to take as a partner. P. 

lie paired off with Miss Se<lley, and Jos sqneesed throagh ih« gat« Into the gsrdaiii 
with Kcbccca on his arm. -Thackrrav. 



Pale [ 236 ] 



Pale. — To leap the pcUe — to get into debt; to spend more than one's 
income. S. 

Palm. — To pcUm off anything — to pass anything under falao pretences; 
to get another to accept ignorontly a faUo article. P. 

Once upon a time a Scotchman made a great Impreidon on the simple nativv 
mind in Natal bj palming off tome thouaands of florina among them at the nominal 
▼alne of half-a-crown.— If. R. Haouahd. 

» 

To hear the palm — to be pre-eminent. P. The leaves of the palm tree 

were used as symbols of victory. A palm leaf or broncli was carried 

before a conqueror. 

It was certain that with Mr. Freeman for editor, the esMntial element of illas- 
trative maps would not be neglected; bat his own, which are admirably selected, 
bear the paXm.—AUufKeum, 1887. 

Of man's miraculous mistakes, this bears the palm.— Younq. 

To give the palm to — to acknowledge as superior. P. 

Having discussed the subject of nationalltj and love, Mr. Finch gives the palm 
without hesitation to American love.— literary World, Avgusi t5, 1887. 

Palm oil — money. P. So called because it *' greases tlie palm." 

The enterprising sight-seer who proceeds on tliis plan, and who understands tba 
virtue of " i>alm oil" and a calm demeanour, is sure to see everything he cares to 
see.— C. DicKBNS, jun., in Dictionary of London. 

Pan. — To pan out — to result; to appear in the conseciuences. S. 
American slang. 

She didn't pan out well— Wm. Black. 
To aawnir of the pan. See Savour. 

PandSra. — Pandora*8 box — a collection of evils. P. In the legend of 
Prometheus, Pandora (the all-gifted goddess) is said to liave btXHight 
from heaven a box containing all human ills, which, the lid having 
been opened, escaped and spread over the world. 

randora's box was opened for him, and all the pains and griefs his imagination bad 
ever figured were abroad.— Moa. K Lynn Linton. 

Pap. — Pap with a Aa/cAe/— kindness done in a very rough way. F. 
lie moans well, but his kindness is pap with a hatchet 

Paper. — A jxiper lord — a lord of justiciary; a judge bearing the title of 
lord. C. A Scottish phrase. 

A pajKT war — a dispute carried on in writing. C. 

Par. — At jKir — neither al>ovo nor below the nominal value. P. 

He (George II.) gave Englishmen no conquests, but be gave them peace and taat 
and freedom, the three per centa nearly at i>ar, and wheat at five and six and 
twentj shillings the quarter.— Tuacksrat. 



Pari [ 237 ] 



Pari. — Pari poMni — simultaneously ; in a like degree. A Latin phrase. 

Again, auntning iliat EnglUh repetition waa taught In tlie lowest forms, and some 
way np the school, should It be carried on pari jnunt with Latin up to the sixth?— 
Journal <{/* EdueatioHf 1887. 

Parish. — To come upon the parish. See Come. 

Parsnip. — Fine coords butter no paranipM — fair promises do not clothe or 

feed the persons to whom they are made. C. 

Who was the blundering Idiot who said that fine words butter no parsnips 7 Half 
the parsnips of society are senred and rendered palatable with no other saoce.— 

TllACKRRAY. 

Part. — Pari and parcel — an essential part; what is inseparably bound 
up with something else. P. 

" Well, Mr. Squocrs,** he said, welcoming Uiat worthy with his accustomed smile, 
of which a slinrp look and a tlioughtful frown were part and parcel, ** how do ycu 

doT"— DiCKKNH. 

Tlio wretched Malone could not do worse, when he hrilicd the sexton of Stratford 
church to lot liim whitewash the painted ofligy of ohl Hhakespeare, which stood 
there, in rude but lively fasiiion depicted to the very colour of tlie cheek, the eye, 
the eyebrow, hair, the very dress be used to wear— the only authentic testimony we 
had, however Imperfect, of these curious parts and parcels of him.— G. Lamb. 

0/jxirfs — able. P. 

The occasion was one whlcli required a man of experience and parts to Iiold the 
otncc— KdiHhur[!h iterirw^ JHSd. 
The original Dingo had never been a dog of parts.— F. Aitnicr. 

Parthian. — A Paiihian shaft— ti last shot; a parting missile. P. 
I'lie Parthians, it is said, were accustomed to shoot while retiring on 
horsclxvck at full speed. 

Aunt Esther was right there, and that Parthian shaft she bad let fly at a ventnr*— 
" I see that it is the poet who is the favourite '—had also food for thought in it.— 
Jamrr Payn. 

Her pupil nished after her, giving upon her own account a Parthian glance of 
wrath and Indignation around Uio circle as she did so.— Afurray's Alagatine^ 1887. 

Ilecky watched her marcliing off, with a smile upon her Up. Site 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.- Tjiackkrat. 

"PBTti, — Parti ;»7'm— prejudice ; fondness for a cause alrcmly espoused. 

P. A Fitinch phrase. 

Rtill. after making allowance for parti pri*^ and for soms lack of extended in- 
quiry, the book is valuable.— ^tA^n/mm, 1887. 

Pass. — To poM by — to overlook; to refrain from punishing; to ex- 
cuse. P. 

It conduces much to our content if we pass by those things which happen to oar 
trouble.— J KRr MY Taylor. 
Oml may ]«ss by tingle sinners in tills world.— TiLi/rmow. 

To poM tnvMffr— to l>car examination; to bo suflTicicntly good not to be 
rejcctcil. C. 
There can be no serious objection to such glove encounters as aiv eoamon at 



[ 238 ] Patoh 



pabllo " astaolU-ai-arms," and even the exhibition given bj J. L. Sullivan, the 
American ciiampiony in the City Hall, Olasgow, on Iklonday evening, in preaence 
of three thousand ipectaton, maj pass muster.— 5f. Aadrcio* Citizen, 1883. 

An intmder in Uie throng, a comparative stranger and a secret spy, might pasa 
muster and escape detection, if not absolutely, at least to a great extent.— Sa hah 
Tytluu 

TopoM off {as) — (a) to secure acknowledgment or recognition (aa). P. 

They iiass themselves off as an old married couple.— James Payn. 
One of these passengers being a child still young enough to be passed off at a child 
in arms.— II. Conway. 



-(6) to cease ; to ho discontinued. P. 



For a few nights there was a sneer or a laugh when he knelt down, but this 
off soon.— T. lIuauEs. 

— (o) to dismiss from notice ; to let pass. P. 



Work-girls are horribly afraid of gentlemen, though they pass it off with cheek 
and chaff.— Uksa NT. 

To pass oi^r — to take no notice of ; to condone. P. 

One could see she was vain, and forgive it— she luid a right to be vain ; that she 
was a coquette, and pass it over— her coquettishnoss gave piquancy to her beauty.— 

8. BaKINU-CiOULD. 

To come to a pretty 2»<ms — to bo in a Ixul state. C. 

Tilings are coming to a pretty pass when you take me to task for not being In 
earnest. 

Passage. — A passtuje of arms — a dispute ; a quarrel real or playful. P. 

As for Mrs. A. and Mrs. B., it seemed as if they were unable to encounter one 
another without a passage of arms.— G'tfud WortU^ 1887. 

Passing. — PoMiuy rich — very wealthy. P. Passing is frequently used 

as an intensive by Shakespeare. 

A man he was to all tlie country dear. 

And passing rich on forty pounds a year.— Ooldsmitil 

A past -master — a thoroughly experienced person ; an **old hand." P. 

If you are ambitious of excelling in that line, you had bolter take a few lessons 
from your friend Monckton, wlio is i>ast-mafttor in the art of humbugging his auilienoea. 
— W. E. NoRHia. 

Pat.— ^ Pat, Paildy, or Paddy Whach—Mi Irishman. F. Abridged 

from Patrick, |)ati-on saint of Ireland. Patrick is very commonly 

usc4l n« a Christian name in Ireland. In tlie United States Mick (a 

contniotion of Michael) is used for Irishnion, and Biddy (from Ihidgct) 

for Irishwomen. 

Here's fun I lot the Tata have it about thoir ears.- T. IIuoukh. 

I'm Paddy Whack, from liallyhack. 
Not long ago turned soldier.-- /'oj^i/ar Soug. 

Patch. — Not to Ite a jKttch on anotJter jyerson—io l>e in no way compar- 
able to him. F. 

lie it not a iiatch on you for looks (much inferior to you in iiersonal apiiearance).— 
C. UlCAbic 



Patrimony [ 239 ] Peace 



To jKitch up a reconcilicUion — to return, but only in appearance, to a 
formerly friendly footing ; to moke a temporary truce. P. 



It 



It WM perturbing, usnredlj, and it might have Mrred, if Linda hadn't written; 
that patched it up,** I lald, laughing.— H. Jambs, jun., in Harper*$ Monthly, 
February 1888. 

TaXrimony.— The fxUrimony of St, Peter— the states of the Church ; 
the laud formerly subject to the Pope. P. 

Patter.— ^o patter flash — to talk thieves' language. S. 

PauL — Pa^d Pry— tin inquisitive person. C. 

He (Boewell) was a slave proud of his senrilitj ; a Paul Pry oooTlneed that his own 
curiositj and garrolitj wore yirtuoa.— Hacaulay. 

Pave. — To pave the way — to make ready ; to prepare the way ; to 
facilitate the introduction of. P. 

Her triumph, though, was sliort-liTed, and but paved the waj to Lord Ljtton*s 
final expedient— WeHmiruter Amew, December 1887. 

Pay. — To ])ay o\U — to have satisfaction or revenge from. F. 

Did you see what the brigands did to a fellow they caught in Greece the other day 
for whom they wanted ransom f First tliey sent his ear to his friends, tlien his nose, 
then his foot, and last of all his head. Well, dear Anne, that is Just bow I am going 
to pay you out.— H. R. Ha<hiard. 

To jHiy court — to show llattcring attentions. P. 

The very circumstance of his having paid no court to her at first operated in his 
favour.— Maria Rimikwortii. 

To pay the debt of nalure — to die. P. 

Coleridge is Just dead, having lived Just long enough to close the eyes of Words- 
worth, who paid the debt of nature but a week or two before. — C. Lamb. 

To pay one's way — to pay one's daily expenses without going into debt; 
to meet one's obligations ; to live free of debt. P. 

But it may be said as a rule, that every Rngllshman in the Duke of Wellington's 
army paid his way.— Tiiackkrat. 

A British merchant will have to sell a great many pounds of sugar and ysrdsof 
calico before he can have eamc<l enough to pay his way.— 5peefa(or, 1887. 

To ]xiy the p\}>cr. Sec Pii'KR. 

The devil to jtay — a sevei-e penalty ; very serious consequences. F. 

" I must go home, else I shall be locked out.** 

" Tliore would be the devil to pay then," says Dick, standing vp too, and stfttchlng 
like a big Nowfoundland.— Riioua Brouoiiton. 

To Jtay throuffh the nose — to pay an absurdly high price. C. 

Although Uint crafty and raimcious slave-dealer would have made him pay through 
tho nose for his treasure, knowing the physician to be a man of great wealth, be 
forbore In very shame from his extortion. — G. A. 8a la. 

Peace. - 7*0 Irep the jteace — a legal phrase, signifying "to refrain from 
causing a diRturbonce." A man who has been guilty of on oflenoe — 



Pearls [ 240 ] 



for instance, a man who haa threatened another with violence — is 
"bound over to keep the. peace" for a certain period under heavy 
penalties. 

Bound over to the peace — obliged to be well-boliavcd ; under severe 
penalties in case of misbehaviour. P. 

Mr. Layard, once a daring and •omowhat reckless opponent of government and 
gOTemmonts, had been bound over to the peace, qnJetlj enmeshed In the dia- 
cipUne of subordinate office.— J. M'Caktuy. 

To hold oiie'a peace — to keep quiet ; to be silent. P. 

She said, and held her peace : .£neas went 
Sad from the cave.— Dry dsn. 

Peace at any price — the name given to a party of politicians in the 
Knglish Parliament who object to war under all conditions. P. 

The well-educated, thoughtful middle-class, who knew how much of worldly 
happiness depends on a regular income, moderate taxation, and a comfortable homo, 
supplied most of the advocates of peace, as it was soomfullj said, at anj price.— J. 
M'Cartuy. 

Peaxls. — To cast pearls he/ore sioine — to give what is precious to those 
who are unable to understand its value. P. A Biblical phrase. 

Through him the captain offered them fifteen dollars a month, and one month's 
pay in advance, but it was like tlirowing pearls before swine.— B. H. Dana. 

Pecker. — One*8 pecl-er — one's nose. S. 

To Jceep up one's pecker — to be cheerful ; to keep in good spirits. S. 
Keep up your pecker, man ; you will be all right to-morrow.— G. Rsadb. 

To put up another's pecker — to irritate or displease him. S. 

He thinks he can do what he likes with me. I am not quite sore of that^ if ho puts 
up my pecker. 

Peep. — Peep of day— the first appearance of day. P. 
He came at peep of day. 

Peepers. — To close one's peepers — to shut one's eyes. S. 

The next question was how long they should wait to let the inmates dote their 
peepers.— C. Ubadk. 

Peg. — A ]>eg—a drink of brandy and water. S. An Eastern phrase. 
The full expression is " a peg in one's cofTin," from the deadly efTocts 
of drink on Europeans in Eastern countries. 

Allow me to mix you a peg; it will enable you to take a more generous rkm of 
the matter. 

To peg away — to persevere. S. 

"Peg away, Bob,*' said Mr. Allen to his companion, encouragingly.— Dick sm. 

To take one down a peg — to lower a person's pretensions ; to hnmiliate 
him. F. 

The brilliant young athlete wanted taking down a peg .— Ltterary WoHd, 1881. 




PeU [ 241 ] Pepper 

To come down a jyeg — to be lowereil or humiliate<l. F. 

Well, he hai oome down a peg or two, Uuii's all, and he don't like it— H. R 
Haggard. 

Pell. — PeUmtU — in confusion; heaped in disorder one upon the 
other. P. 

The great force crumples up like an emptj glove, then turns and gallops pell mell 
for safety to its own lines.— H. R. Hagoakd. 

Penny. — A pretty penny — a large sum ; much money. F. 

The owner had spent what he was wont to term plajfnUj a prettj penny on Us 
books.— G ROUGE Bliot. 

A penny -drea4lf III — the name given to iiowspapei-s devoted to the pub- 
lication of accounts of murders, outrages, and such sensational 
news. F. 

'* You fiend in human form, what is it, I wonder, that has kept me so long from 
destroying you and myself too t Oh, you need not laugh 1 I have the means to do 
it if I clioose. I have had them for twenty years.** 

(ieorgo laughed again hoarsely. *' Quite penny-dreadful, I declare '* (you speak, I 
assure you, in the style of a cheap sensational newspaperX— H. R. Haggard. 

Of all these there is more than an abundant supply always ready. In what may, for 
want of a better title, be called the penny-dreadfuls.— JSdinfritiv^ RtvievOt 1887. 

A penny for your thottghts — a playful remark made to ohe who seems 
• immersed in thought. C. Tlie full expi-ession would be, "111 give 
you a penny if you*ll tell me your thoughts.*' 

.Indy looked a little bit pusslcd at this. " A penny for yonr thooghta, Jndy," 
says my sister.— Maria Edge worth. 

Penny tertV and pound foolish — careful about small profits or savings, 
and foolishly blind to larger and more important gains. F. 

He (the king) engaged her (the elephant) to perform gratis in the Champa Elyt^ 
during the three days' fftf. Fifteen hundred francs for Uils. 

But Ilnguet was penny wise and pound foolish to agree, for it took her gloas olT — 
showed her gratis to half the city. — C. Kbads. 

To turn a penny. See Turn. 

To think ouc'h jienny ttilver — to liave a goo<l opinion of oneself. F. 

Penny cjaffx — cheap places of entertainment. C. 

Penny gaffs have a dosen audiences every night.— CoiUcmporory Rtnitw^ 1887. 

Pepper. — Pepper-and-salt — a term applied to a kind of cloth of mingled 
black and white. C. 

One was a low-spirited gentleman of middle age, of a meagre habit, and a dls- 
connolato face, who kept his hands continually In the pockets of bis scanty ptpper- 
and- salt trouMm.— Dickknn. 

To tale pepper in the, nose — to l)ecome irritated. F. Old-fashioned. 

Ilecanse I entertained this gentleman for my ancient (standard-bearerX bs takes 
pepper in the nose. — Chapman. 

16 



Per [ 242 ] Petticoat 

A pepper-corn rent — an insignificant or nominal rent. 

An admirable plan I bat we will take the houses first at a pepper-corn rent — 

BSAUONSiriBLD. 

Per. — Per annuni — yearly. 

Per saltum — at a bound. P. Latin. 

Thej imagined that with the attainment of her political freedom, Italf ought 
per iaitum to hare regained her place among the nationa —Spedator, January U^ 
1888. 

Per 8e — in itaelf ; apart from other considerations. P. Latin. 
He is always per u the duke.— Hugh Com way. 

PerclL — To tip over the perch — to die. F. 

Either through negligence, or want of ordinary sustenance, thej both tipped orer 
the perch.— Urquhart. 

Person. — In peraon — not through a deputy ; with bodily presence. P. 

It is his highness* pleasure that the queen 
Appear in person here in court.— Shaks8PBARS. 
The curt reply brought the earl in person to Becky's apartment.— Thackbrat. 

Pet. — To take the pet — to be needlessly offended ; to sulk. F. 

Yon got into trouble, and when your father, honest man, was disappointed, you 
took the pet or got afraid, and ran away from punishment.— R. L. STSVXNaoN. 

Petard. — Hoist with one^a own petard. See Hoist. 

Peter. — Robbing Peter to pay Paul, See Rob. 

Peter Funk — an auction where the bidders have a secret understanding. 
See Knock-out. S. ** Peter Funk" is the American term. 

To peter out — to cease to produce ; to fail ; to come to an end by 

degrees. S. 

It is said his PennsyWanla monopoly has petered out, and he is now obliged to get 
his supply from Canada.— 7;^ Nation^ 1890. 

Petticoat. — Petticoat government — the rule of women. F. 

This afforded fresh subject of derision to those who scorned petticoat goremmeni. 
— Maria Edokworth. 

In petticoaia—{a) still a child ; still in the nursery. P. 

An infant freethinker, a baby philosopher, a scholar in iietticoate— a man, 
he grew up, who knew almost everything except himuff (J. 8. Mill). — 
Olipoant. 

(b) of the female sex; in the form of a woman. C. Opposed to 



"in trousers." 

"But she is false, covetous, malicious, cruel, and dishonest** — what a friend la 
petticoats I— A. Trollops. 

He never knew when Jane might not make some extravagant display of the ■to- 
dent or professor in petticoats.— Sarah Tytlkr. 




Petto [ 243 ] Pick 

Petto. — In petto — ill secrecy ; in reserve. P. 

Whatever else thej might hold undeclared in petto.— North. 

Philadelphia. — A Philadelphia laxoyer — the sharpest man living. C. 
" Enough to puzzle a P]iiladelphia lawyer/' is a phrase used with 
reference to some very perplexing matter. 

Philip. — To appeal ft'om Philip dnink to Philip ftober — to ask for a re- 
consideration of any case because the first decision was given without 
due gravity, the arbiter being under some engrossing influence. C. 

If tliej had any fault to And, let them go to her, uhlch waa not even appealing 
from Philip drunk to Philip eobor, but rather from the lionets In the Jangle to the 
lionon in the cave.— Miis. B. Lymn Linton. 

Philosopher. — The philosopher'^ stone. — an imaginary stone, sought 
after by alchemists, wliich had the property of transmuting every- 
thing it touclied into gold. P. 

That itone 
Philosophers in vaiu so long luive sought.— Milton. 
There are a great many places of worship about Whitechapel, and many forms of 
creed, from the Baptist to the man with tlie biretta^ and it would be dIfBcult to 
select one which is more confident tlian anotlier of possessing the real philosopher's 
stone, the thing for which we are always searching, the whole truth.— BnANT. 

Pick. — To pick a quarrel — to search for an occasion to quarrel. P. 

At last Dennis could stand it no longer ; he picked a quarrel with Frits, and they 
had a battle- royal to prove which was master.— M. Arnold. 

To pick holes — to find fault ; to criticise. C. 

" Hang the fellow," murmured Mr. Erin to himself, " he's beginning to pick boles 
alreatly."— Jamwi Payn. 

"That means Uiat you have been trying to pick holes in him, and that you can't,** 
returned Mrs. Lindsay a little defiantly.— W. E. Norrir. 

To pick a houe with one— to find fault with him ; to blame him. C. 

Just look at my nose, and you will soon change your mind. It's broader, and 
flatter, and snnbliier than ever. I consider that I have got a bone to pick with (reason 
to And fault with) Providence about that nose.— II. R. HAnoARO. 

To pick up — (a) to obtain m a chance way. C. 

lie asked his friends about him, where they had picked up such a blockhead. — 
AimiMoN. 

The young man, at least, thought his manner of looking an offence to Miss Miller; 
it conveyed an imputation that she "picked up" acquaintances.— H. Jambs, jvh. 

('') ^ grow stronger ; to recover health. C 

After he had eaten a little and had a swallow or two more of the brandy, h« began 
to pick up viRlbly, mt stralgliter up, spoke louder and elearvr, and lookeil la tvsry 
way another man.- It. L Stxtknbon. 

A pick-me-up — anything taken to restore Uie strength ; a tonic. F. 
I find the syrup you gave me a capital pick-me-up. 



Piokle [ 244 ] Piece 

To pick oj'—io kill separately ; to shoot one by one. P. 

He (tlie war oorrespondont) now mRrchos with tho van, gOM out with the forlorn 
hope, ilts down in tho tltlck of the fight with his note-book, and takes ton men's 
•hare of the bullets. Consequently he sometimes gets picked off.— Bbsamt. 

To pick to pieces — to criticiso harshly ; to find fault with in a jealoiie 
fashion. F. 

The ladies were drinking tea, and picking their neighbours to pieces. 

To pick a holt in a maiCa cocU — to find fault with him ; to find a weak 
place in his character. F. 

It is diUlcult to pick a hole in our minister's ooat ; he performs his duties too faith* 
fuUy. 

The pick of the basket — tho very best of anything. C. 

It cannot be pretended that we have thus far succeeded In obtaining the pick of the 
basket. —Daiiy Telegrajth, 1886. 

Pickle. — To have a roil in pickle for any one — to have a punishment in 
store for any one, F. 

I Itave a rod in pickle for Tom when he returns home. 

Pickwickian. — In a Pickwickian sense — in a merely technical sense, not 
applicable elsewhure. P. A phrase taken from Dickens's Pickwick 
Papers: " He had used the word in its Pickwickian sense." 

Pie. — To (JO to pie — to fall into confusion. P. 

Your military ranked arrangements going all (as tlie tyixtgraphers say of set types 
in a similar case) rapidly to pie.— Carlylb. 

Piece. — To give another a piece ozone's mind— to speak bluntly and un- 
ceremoniously to him ; to tell him unpleasant trutlis. C 

On tlie doorstep of the house where mida lodged, stood her landUdy giving a 
piece of her mind to a butcher-boy, both as regardo4l his master's meat and his per- 
sonal qualities.— H. U. Hauuard. 

0/a piece with — similar to ; like. P. 

Scarcely any other i»art of his life was of a piece with that splendid eommence- 
ment.— Mauaulay. 

To piece out— {a) to increase in length. P. 

Whether the piecing out of an old man's life Is worth the pains, I cannot tell.— Sri 

W. TtCMPLE. 

(h) to arrange from scattered materials; to put together so as to 



form a whole. P. 

IMece out my history in connection with young Walter Cay, and what he has msds 
me feel; and think of me more leniently, James, if you can. — Dickeks. 

Piecework — work done and imid for by each separate article nuule or job 
finished, and not by the day or the hour. P. 

Nothing could be a more noble spectacle than that of myself working at a lathe for 
nothing in the old days : would it be qnite as noble at tlie brewery doing pli 
work ?— Bekant. 



Pl^oe [ 245 ] PiU 

Pi^ce. — Pi^ce dt risisiance — the principal dish at a banquet ; tlie chief 

article. C. French. 

The rough fare of the ship*! crew, of which ilie pitce de risidanee wm the hardest 
of Dutch cheese.— R. Bucuanam. 

Pied. — A pied d terre — a place where one can alight; a convenient 

house of one's own. P. French. 

Mr. Harding, however, did not allow himself to bo talked over into ffivlng up hit 
own and onlj pied d ttrre in the Illgh Street ~A. Trollopr. 

Pig. — A jnij in a jrohe — something bought without inspection; goods 

accepted and paid for blindly. F. 

He would have greatlj preferred to have the precious mannscrlpi, like the others, 
for nothing ; but, after all, what was demanded of him was better than being asked 
to give hard cash for a pig In a poke.— Jamm Payn. 

A pii/a whi»}>tr—{a) a very loud whisper. S. 

(6) a very short space o( time. S. 

To dnvt one^s pigs to market — to snore. F. 

To bring one^s pigs to a pretty market — to sell at a loss ; to manage one's 

aflnirs badly. F. 

" He never could have brought his pigs to a worse market,** observed SawbridgSi. — 
Captain Marrtat. 

To go to pigs and whiMles — to be dissipated ; to go to utter ruin. F. 

" Do jon know wliat has hai)peno<l In your absence t ** 

Lsnibcrt nodded. "That the concern has gone to pigs and whistles,** be said 
deflantljr.— Sarah Tytlrr. 

Pigeon. — Pigeon or pid*jin English — the corrupt language, half Knglish 
nnd half Chinese, used in commercial transactions throughout the far 
ICast. P. 
The grammar of pidgin English Is not English but Chinese.— 8a roB. 

To pluck a pigeon — to cheat a simpleton ; to fleece a greenhorn. P. 
" Here comes a nice pigeon to pluck," said one of the thieves.— C. Rra db. 

Pigfon's milk — an imaginary sidntancc, which simple boys are sent to 
purcliivse on All Fools' Day (April 1). F. 

Pile. — To make a pite — to realize a fortune ; to get wealthy. F. 

On the other hand, if the old man should only go on ftir another year or two he 
would make that little pile, and a very comfortable little pile It would be.— Bbsamt. 

PilL— 7'o gild the piU. See G ild. ' 

To sugar the pill. See Sugar. 

A hiftrr or hard pill to snnllow — a disngrooablo oxporionoo to nndergo ; 
soinctliiiig wounding to the pride. C 

Sir Hamilton could not help recognising the trutli of this observation, but Metier- 
nirh made him swallow another bitter pill Olit«n to another disagreeable trutbji— 
VuUie Opinion, 188n. 



PiUar [ 246 ] Pipe 

Pillar. — From pUiar to j)08t — from one refuge to another ; liither and 

thither. P. 

I'm afraid we §h§X\ bo prottj woU knockod about from pillar to poii during tbo 
next montli.— Flobsncb Makryat. 

Pin. — Pint and netdlejt — the tuigliug sensation in a limh which lius 1)ccn 

benumbe<l. C. 

A man maj tremble, stammer, and show other ilgne of recoTeretl tenilbnitj no 
more in Uie range of hia acquired talenti than pint and needles after numbness. — 
QioRaK Eliot. 

On the pin — watchful. F. 

He was on the pin to see who should be chosen. 

To pin one*8 faith — to fix one's trust. G. 

Thoee who pinned their faith for better or for worse to the pack.— l^t«/<2, 188S. 

Pin money — money granted to a wife for her small personal expenses. 

P. Pins formerly were costly, and formeil a considerable share of such 

expenditure. 

The dajr that Miss lUyno becomes Ladj Coombe I will settle a thousand a jear on 
her for her prlTate use, and so she'll be independent, and hare as much pin monej 
as she'll know how to do with.— Flobkncs Maiiryat. 

PinclL — At or on a pinch — in a difficulty. P. 

They at a ]iinch can brilio a vote— Swirr. 

Instaail of writing, a« on a jiinch he 1otc<1 to write, straight on from hia somewliat 
late and lazy breakfast until the moment of dinner found him hungry and com- 
placent, 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.— Trsvblyan, in L{f« of Macaulay. 

To feel where the shoe pinches. See Shoe. 

Pink. — A pink coat — the dress worn by huntsmen in England. G. 

But he absented himself from home on the occasion of every moot at Ullathorne, 
left the covers to their fate, and could not be persuaded to take his pink coat out of 
the press, or his hunters out of the stable. — A. Trollops. 

He (the actual French dandy) has a wondrous respect for English "gentlemen 
sportsmen ; " he Imitates their clubs sirarts his pink out hunting.— Tuackkrat. 

Pipe. — To pipe one's eye— to weep. S. 

He then began to eye his pipe, 
And then to pipe his eye.— Hood. 

To pnt a person's pij>e out — to discomfit him ; to disappoint his 

plans. 

James Crawley's pipe Is put out.— Toackeray. 

He couldn't think of putting the squire's pipe out after that fashion.— IIali* 

IIUKTON. 

Put that in your pipe ami smolc it — listen to that remark and think over 

it. F. This saying generally accompanies a rebuke. 

" And always put this in your pipe, Nolly," said the Dodger, as the Jew was hoard 
unlocking the door above, "if you don't Uke fugles and tickers."— DiOKBiia. 



Piper [ 247 ] Plaoe 

Piper. — To pay the piper — to defray the coet of an entertainment. F. 



II 



Ay, races and balls, fine clothes and fine eating, them's the ways of the gentle- 
folks, and we pay the piper," growled a humble cynic— Sarah TrruBiu 

Pipers* news — stale news. F. 

Pis. — A pis oiler — a desperate resource ; a last shift. P. French. 

I have no idea of becoming a pU aUer if tills hare-brained peer shoald change 
his mind.— O. J. WnvTK-MELviLLC 

Pitch. — To pilch and pay — to pay ready money. Old-fashioned. 

To pitch a yarn — to tell a wonderful story. S. 

Tlie skipper is in great glee to-niglit ; he pitches his yams with gosto.— Oiomfters's 
Jonrnalt 18S5. 

To pitch in or iuto—Uy attack vigorously. F. Used either of actual 
blows or abusive language. 

Tlmt carious fancy for pitching in at people they only half disapprove, which 
marks a certain kind of English audience— or, indeed, every kind. If tJte pitching is 
only improred into " InTective,** and becomes " an ornament of debate**— is deeply 
gratified by Mr. Labotichere. —Si^tetator, 1887. 

" Bui if he should pitch into you, sir f " 

" Then he will pitch into a man twice as strong as himself **—G. Reads. 

*' Dear Tom, I ain't going to pitch into (scold) you,** said Arthur piteonsly.— 
T. II ua II KM. 

To pitch it Mtrontj—io act or 8|)cak very warmly. F. 

I wonder ho did not orerdo It tlien, he pitched it so strong.— Da t/y Tdtgrapht 

J8SS. 

Pitchers. — Pitchers have ears — there are listeners who may hear. C. 
A proverbial expression. Also, ** Little pitchers have long ears/* — 
young persons are quick of hearing. 

ntchcrs havA ears, and I hare many serTants.- SiiAKCiirKAiis. 

The child might be somehow mistaken, or the old woman might have misread the 
addreM. Dat tliat wm unlikely ; and if it had been so, surely Miss Gray, knowing 
tlut little pitchera have ears, would have corrected Uie mistake. — Sarah TrrLsm. 

Place. — 0\U o/]>lace — unsuitable. P. 

Tlie words were colourless in themselves, but there was a hard, unfriendly, and 
superior tone In them rather out of plaoe in a house where she was a goeei. — 
C Readb. 

Oive jtlace — yield ; retire. P. 

Victorious York did first, with famed snceen, 

To his known valour, make the Dutch give place.- DBTomM. 

The rustic honours of the scythe and sltare 

Civo place to swords and plumes, the pride of war.— Dryobii. 

To (jive jtlace to — to make room for. 

Dr. Swift is turned out of his sUll and deanery-bouse at St Patrick's, to give pbct 
to Father Dominic from Salamanca.— Tuackbea v. 



Placruy [ 248 ] Play 

To take j)lact — (a) to happen. P. 

It Is stupidlx foollih to Tentnre our Mlvatlon apon an oxporliuoiit, which wo hava 
all the rcaaon ImaglnAblo to tlilnk God will not lulTor to tako place.—- ArrKHHUiiy. 

(6) to take precedence. P. 

Ai a British freeholder, I should not scrapie taking place of a French martinis.— 
Addison. 

In place — (a) present. Old-fashioned. 

Then was she fair alone, when none was fair in place.— Edmund SrcMssR. 

(6) suitable ; appropriate. P. 

He did not think the remark In place. 

Plaguy. — A plaguy aitjht — very much ; exceedingly. S. 

The lawyers looked like so manjr minlsten, all dressed in black fowns and white 
bands on, onljr Uiej acted more like plajers than preachers, a plaguy sight (very 
mudi more).— llALiBURTON. 

Plain.— /'/ain 08 a pikeiUaff—yery plain or evident. C. 

" Prane It of a few useless rights and literal interpretations of that sort, and our 
religion is the simplest of all religions, and makes no barrier, but a union, between 
us and tlie rest of the world** 

" PUin as a plkesUfT" (Uiat is very evident), said Pack, with an Ironical laugh.— 
Gboroe Kliot. 

Plain work — sewing that is not ornamental. P. 

They understand thoir needle, broadstitch, and all manner of plain work.— Gold* 

SMITH. 

Site does beefsteaks and plain work.— Toackxray. 
Plank.— ^o toalh the plank. See Walk. 

Platonic. — Platonic love — love with no mixture of sexual passion. P. 

There are not many men who could have observed Mrs. Lecpunt entirely from the 
Platonic point of view.— Wilkie Collins. 

Play. — To itlay the devils deuce, or mischief with — to uijuro ; to hurt 
seriously. P. 

In short, in your own memorable words, to play the very devil with everything 
and everybo<ly. — Dickens. 

The master-gunner and his mates, loading with a rapidity the mixed races could 
not rival, hulled tlie schooner well between wind an<l water, and tlien ftre<l cbaia 
diot at her masts, as urderud, and began to iiluy tlio niinciilef witli her slirouda and 
rigging.— C. Ubade. 

To bring into play — to give an opportunity for the exercise of. P. 

The very Incongruity of tlieir relative relations brought Into play all his genloSb— 

A. AlNUER. 

To jilay one false — to deceive one. P. 

** Now, look you here, Anne," said George In a sort of Iiiss, and standing over her 
in a threatening attitude, *' I have suspected for some time that you were playinf mo 
false in this business, and now I am sure of it."— H. R. Hagoard. 



Play [ 249 ] Play 

To jilay fast and loose. See Fast. 

To play one*8 cards — to carry out a scliome. C. 

We haTe leen how Mrs. Bute, lutving the game in hor hands, had reallj plajed her 
cards too wclL— Tbacxkray. 

To jtlay into a person^s hands — to act for the benefit of another person ; 
to manage matters so that, unknowingly, another person, often an 
enemy, is benefited. P. 

This Is simplj playing into the hands of laxj ne*er-do>we«ls (good-for-noihiogs). 
— Obaerver, 1885. 

To jiiay Irtiant — to stay from school without leave ; to absent oneself 
witliout leave. P. Properly a school plirase ; elsewhere used play- 
fully. 

" What I *' said George, who was, when in an amiable mood, that worst of all cads, 
a jocose cad, "are yon going to plaj truant (go off witliout permiasionX too^ mj 
prettj cousin?"— H. R. Haggard. 

To play one jxtrson offa{fainst another — to use two people for one's own 
purposes ; to malte two people act upon each other, so as to bring 
about a desired result. P. 

On the occasion referred to Uie quick-witted old crone saw her chance In a mo- 
ment, and commenced to plaj off one of her yidtors against the other with ooosum- 
mate skill.— A. JsHitorp. 

To make j^ay — to take the lead ; to load o(T. F. A phrase taken from 
the race-course. 

Gray Tarrot made play with Duke of Richmond and Florlo next— Daily Tdegraph, 
1885. 

Played out — of no further service; exhausted ; bereft of force. P. 

There is a i>opnlar impression amongst the Tulgar of this country and of America, 
that the part of sovereign has been long since played out.— iKeslmiiuler RnitWt 
1887. 

Is our civilisation a failure f 
Or is tlie Caucasian played ontt— Rrrt Hartr. 
From some reason or another examinations were rather played out (rejected as of 
little value). -X>at{y Telegraphy 1885. 

To jtlay the rdlc of— to act the part of; to behave as. P. A theatricxU 
phrase. 

The flro in Uio care was an unusually big one that night, and in a large circle 
round it were gathorod alx>ut thirty- Ave men and two women, Ustane and tlie 
woman to nvotd whom Job had played the r6U of anoUier scriptural oliaraoter.— II. 

U. llAUdARD. 

To jtlay one tricks — to cheat or deceive ; to bo untrustworthy. F. Used 
playfully. 

ilo was now an old man, but active still and talkative. Hit memory played 
him tricks (was untrustworthy).— BiaANT. 



Please [ 250 ] Pluok 

To play a part — ^to \tQ deceitful ; to be double-face<l ; to dissimulate. P. 

" I reftllj am much obliged to jou, mj aant,'* said John, atterlj Mtonlihed to find 
tlutt she iNMSMMd a heart at all, and had been more or less playing a i«rt all the 
evening.— II. R. IIaouard. 

To play up to another — to ocooinmoilatc oneself to another's peculiarities 
so as to gain some ailvantagc. F. 

There it joar playing np toady, who, unconscioiu to its feeder, is always playing 
up to its feeder's weaknesses.— BEACOMsriKLD. 

ChUd*8 play — easy work. P. 

The work of reformation is child's play to that of making yoar friends believe you 
have reformed. — IIuoh Conway. 

Please. — Please the pigii — if all be well. F. 

" Please the pigs,** then said Mr. Avenel to himself, " I shall pop the question.**— 
BuLWBR Lytton. 

" And," he observed to himself, as he watched his friend retreating to his bed- 
room, and took his own candle. " once back to London, I'll speak to the doctor, and, 
))Iease the pigs, yon shall marry Kate before you're sii months older.— JItsllcloe 
Bough, 1836. 

If you pleane. See If. 

PUcuted CM Punch — ^liighly pleased. F. 

Old Staines is as pleased as Punch — W. E. Nouuih. 

You could skip over to Euroiie whenever you wished. Mamma woaM be aa 
pleased as Punch.— U. Okant. 

Plough. — To 7>M/ oue*n hand to the plowjh — to commence serious work; 
to undertake importiuit duties. P. A Biblical phrase. ** And Jesus 
said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and look- 
ing back, is fit for the kingdom of God ** (Luke ix. 02). 

To have been the first publicly to proclaim this principle is no mean boast : aB<1 
now tluit they have put their hand to the plough, the preceptors will certainly not 
look back. —Journal of Edueatioitt 1887. 

To look bark from the plough — to abandon work that has been seriously 
undertaken. P. 

To be ploughed — to fail to pass in an examination. College slang. 
Plucked is also so used. 

I am sure to be ploughed at tlie final examination. 

Pluck. — To pluck vp courage or one's heart or one* 9 spirits — to regain 
confidence ; to throw fear aside. C. 

lie willed them to pluck up their hearts.— Kkollys. 
Pluck up thy spirits.- Siiakiuipkare. 

Carlo sat and whiroi>ered, and then wagged his tail, and plucked up more and mor* 
spirit— C. Rkaub. 

To pluck of —to descend in rank or title; to lower oneself. C. 



Plume [ 251 ] Pocket 

Plume. — To plume oivtsdf upon — to be proud of ; to boast regarding. P. 

The idoA of a man pluming himself on his vlriao. — Daily TeUgraph^ JSS/i. 
Nay, very likely Mrs. Bute Crawley thought her act was quite meritoriouii and 
plumed herself upon her resolute manner of performing it. — THAOXSitAy. 

Borrowed plumes — ornaments which do not belong to the wearer. P. 

" I know some people do not care to appear in borrowed plumei," the elder woman 
went on.— Sarah Tytler. 

Pocket. — To put one^s hand in one*8 pocket — to be choi-itablo ; to give 
money in cliarity. C. 

I daresay Dr. Ooo<l enough, amongst other philanthropists, put hit hand in his 
pocket.— a KOROK Eliot. 

To put one^» pride in one*s pocket — to lay aside one's pride for the time 
being ; to be humble for the moment. C. 

If Miss Blanche should ask you how we are getting on, Rachel, put your pride In 
your pocket, mind that.— G. J. Wbyts-Mbltillr. 

To be in pocket — to be a gainer. F. 

Yet I'm none the better for it in pocket.— Dicksnh. 

To be out ofjwcket — to lose ; to be a loser. F. 

Mephlstophelos, either because he was a more phlloeophic spirit, or was not the one 
out of pocket (who had lost money), took the blow more coolly.— C Rbadk. 

All idea of A pccrAgo was out of the question, the baronet's two seats in Parlia- 
nicnt liring lost. Ho was both out of pocket and out of spirits by that catastrophe.— 

TllACKKUAY. 

A jx>cket Jtoroufjh — a borough where the electors were so few in number 
that a single powerful personage could control elections and send his 
own nominee to Parliament. P. 

In the autumn of 1834 he (Disraeli) is full of his possible return for Wyoombt, 
which was practically a pocket hoxoMgYu— Edinburgh Rtvitw^ 1886, 

To jxx'ket an inxult — to submit to an insult witliout retaliating or show- 
ing displeasure. P. 

The remark was a rude one, but the man choeo to pocket the ininlt. 

Shakespeare uses j^ocket up in this sense, — 
Well, rufllan, I must pocket up these wrongs. 

To jyocket dibn — to receive salary or profits, S. 

" Wimt rWcs a man position," said Tommy, "is to make other beggars do the 
work and lo |)ockct tlie dibs yourself."— Bkjiamt. 
^o(f.— Beggars Is here merely a slang term for "people," "men.* 

A }torkrf- pistol— a jocular name for a flask to carry liquor. F. 

Comini; from Newman Nopgs, and oliscnred still further by the smoke of his 
|w>rkct I'intol (Ills tipsy condition), It became wholly unintelllgibla, and involTcd in 
utter d.irkness.— DicKKNS. 



Point [ 252 ] Polish 

Point. — To make a point of— to be very careful about; to take care not 

to omit. P. 

When his titter went ont to market he made a point of waiting for Sophj*! coming 
down to the drawing-room.— Jam eh Payn. 

To stretch a point — to inuke an exception ; to observe a rule less strictly. 

P. ' 

Oh| I luppote I thall have to stretch a point when I invite people to nij bouao.— 
Jamss Payn. 

Point blank — directly ; plainly ; explicitly. P. 

Praise ovor]rbo«lx, I say to such. Never bo stiuoanilsli, but tpeak ont your cum- 
pllment both jiolnt blank in a man's face and behind his back, when jou know 
there is a reasonable chance of his hearing it again.— Tiiackce ay. 

So she refused jon, Uppjr— refused yon point blank, did she?— Q. J. Wuvtb- 
Mklvills 

To carry one*s point — to obtain an object sought for ; to persuade otliers 
to act as you wish. P. 

Lady Clonbrony was particularly glad that she had carried her point abont this 
party at Lady St. James's.- Maria Edukwoutii. 

To point a moral — to give force to a moral precept ; to add to the moral 

force of a renurk. V. 

lie left the name at which the world grew i»ale, 
To point a moral or adorn a tale.— Joiinhon. 
Here at least was a judgment rea<ly made, to point tlie moral of the pious and 
stlmuUte Uie fears of the \Xm\^.— Edinburgh lUview, ISS?. 

To the point — apposite; applicable. P. 

My siwken answer, like my written answer, was not very much to the point.— 
Belvravia^ 1880, 

To come to jwints — to fight with swords. P. 

They would have come to points immediately.— Smollbtt. 

A COM in ]X)int — a case which illustrates tlie subject under discussion. P. 

He quotes Instances in iwlnt from the history of Rio Grande.— Oim(«iH|N»nirir 
JUvUto, l8Vt. 

Poke. — To poke fun at — to ridicule; to chaff. F. 

One was so pleased with his tutor that he gave mo a iK>t of beer besides my fco. I 
thought he was poking fun at me.— U. Ukauk. 

A piij in a itokt. Sec Vu\. 

Poker.— 0/ii /^oZ:cr— the devil. F. 

As if Old Poker was coming to take them away.— II. Wai.polb. 

Poles. — Under bare poitu— with no sails spread. 1*. 

We were scudding before a heavy gale, under bare i>oles.— Maury at. 

PolislL — To jMah off—Ui finish ; to settle. S. 

Well, sir, I couldn't finish him, but Bob had his coat off at once— he stood up to 
the Banbury man for three minutes, and imlished him off in four rounds easy. ^ 

TlIACXKRAY. 



Pons [ 253 ] Possession 

Pons. — Ponn Aitinortim — the name given to the fifth problem of the 
First Book of £ucli(l. P. See Asses' Bridge. 

00 And bob for triangles, from tlie Pom Asinomm.— TnACKRRAT. 

WhAi wu it UiAt 10 fucinAtod the itodent f Not the Pone Ajinorum.— Thaok- 

CRAY. 

Pooh. — To pooh-pooh — to ridicule ; to treat with contempt. C. 

He seems to pooh-pooh the question, that it wm absolatelj impossible for 
Ilenrj of Navarre to bring peace to the kingdom as long as he adhered to the Church 
of the minority. — AthetKcum^ 18S7, 

Poor. — Poor aft a church ynotise — very poor; having barely enough to 
live upon. P. 

" One of our jroung men is Just married/' Dobbin said, now coming to the point. 
"It was a rerj old attachment, and the joang couple are as poor as church mice.** 

— TlIACKKRAY. 

Pop. — To pop com — to parch or roast maize or Indian com until the 
grains explode with a ** pop." C. An American phrase. 

To jwp tlie qHottion — to make a pro|K>8al of marriage. C. 

1 suppose you poppe<l the question more than once.— Dicrbnh. 

Position. — To be in a jxmtion to — to have the time, opportunities, or 
information requisite for. C. 

The official referred to is in a position to know (has means of knowing).— Dai/y 
TeUgrajth, 1885. 

You will get a good salary ; I am not in a position to say (prevented by clrcum* 
stances from saying) exactly how much. 

Posse. — PoMt comiicUiis — military strength of a country ; available fight- 
ing force. Latin. 

" Only Goths, my donkey-riding friends I " quoth Smid, and at that ominous name 
the whole pos$e oomitatwi tried to look unconcerned.— C. Kimoslsv. 

Possess. — To jx>MCMs oneself of— to obtain ; to secure. P. 

We possessed ourselves of the kingdom of Naples, the duchy of Milan, and the 
avenue of France in Italy.— ADDmoN. 

7o jtoMrM one*8 soul in jxUienct — to refrain from worrying ; to lie 
{Kiticnt. P. 

" Possess yo\^ soul In patience, and in due time you shall see what you shiUl tee,** 
answered Arthur oracularly. — W. E. Norris. 

Possession. — Pouwution M nine-tenthti of the law, or potuieMton is eleven 
jtoinfji in the law, and they say there are 6tt/ ticelre — a dictum used to 
amort the great imi>ortanco which the law attaches, in disputed oases, 
to actual iK>AAC8sion of the <lisputcd property. P. 

Ain't thin my husband's place of abode? Ain't possession nine poinU of tht law? 
-^ .IifHTiN M'Cartiiv. 

To fair j)OMCAHion—io occupy ; to seiKO. P. 

At length, having killed tlie defendant, he aetiuUy took poaesrion.— Ooldsmitr. 



'Possum [ 254 ] Pot 

Tossum. — To act *po88iim or piay 'possum — to dissemble. S. Tlie 
opossum has a liabit, wlien pursued, of rolling itself up and pretending 
to be dead. 
Iff Almoat time for Babe to quit playing 'possum.— Scrflnur't Magazine, 18SC 

Post. — To pout oiuself up in — to obtain full infonnation alx>nt ; to 
leani thoroughly. P. 

Toll me all about it; what books you had to post yourself up in for your examina- 
tions, and how you came out of thorn.— Sarah Tytler. 

Post hoc erffo propter hoc — because one thing follows another, therofoiv 
it is causeil by what precedes. P. T^tin. 
Post hoe trgo propter hoe may not bo always safe logic— J. B. Lowell. 

Post-and-raiU tea — tea having a number of stalks floating in it F. 

The tea is more frequently bad than good. The bad, from the stalks occasionally 
found in the decoction, is popularly knovm as post-and-rails tea. — l/aily TcUgruiih, 

1386. 

Pot. — A pot shot — a shot taken calmly at a sitting object. C. 

This fanatic, luiving observed tlio envoy seated in his tent with a light, and the 
duor of the tent open, futclicd his long gun, siiuattod down at al>out fifty yards, and 
took a pot shot at the '* Nazarene infldol."- Afurruy's Atugazinc, ISST, 

Let not the jx>t call the hettle Hack — do not criticise your neighlNiuiti un- 
less you arc free from blame yourself. *' iSatan reproving sin." i*\ 

You think it's a case of tlie pot calling the kuttle black, perhaiw. I'm blaik 
enuugli, goodness knows I but you youmelf said just now tliat you didn't bvllere I 
bad sunk to her depth of infamy.— W. £. Noukis. 

To keep the pot hoUiiuj—(a) to continue the fun. F. 

" Keep the pot a-biUn', sir 1 " said Sam. (Tlio party were sliding on the Ice.)— 

DlCKBNH. 

(&) to get suflicient funds to maintain one's household in comfort. 



C. The phrase is used contcm})tuou8ly by artists and literary men, 
of work done merely for the sake of the money to be paid for it. 

By these and a score more little potty arts I just keep tlie pot lioiling— C. Kkaiik. 
Sometliing made him unwilling to exhibit himself before her in the degrading 
occupation nf i>ot-boiiiiig (luituting pictures solely for moneyX— Janks Payn. 

To ffo to 2*ot— to Ihj mined or wasted. S. 

All's one, they go to pot— Dkvdkn. 

My farm, stock, and utensilii, these young blood horses, and the brand-new TCHeb 
I was building, are all gune to iK>t. - Haliburtun. 

Pot luck — ordinary fare; the meal which an unexpected guest re- 
ceives. C 

]tut lie never contradicted ^Irs. Kackit, a woman whose pot luck (ordinary fare for 
guests) was always to be rcliod on.— CIkoiuii: Ei.i<jt. 
He should be very welcome to take iwt luck with him. -Oil ay bh. 



Potato [ 266 ] Prick 

Potato. — The. potalo-trap — a slang temi for the mouth. 

On thifl Alfred hAsarded a conjecture. Might it not bare gona down hia throat? 
" Took hit potato-trap for the pantry-door. Ha I ha T— C. Rbadb. 

Pound. — To claim one*8 pound o/Jlesh — to demand payment of debts 
due to one, even where their payment involves much suffering. P. 
Tlie plirase comes from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice^ where 
Shylock the Jew insists upon Antonio giving him a pound of his flesh, 
according to an agreement previously made. 

The Sultan's view of Germany ia that he ought to feek for the help oC Qerman 
ofHcerB and of German financial guides, on the ground that all the other great 
powers want their pound of flesh from Tnrkty.—Forlnightljf Review, 1887. 

To pound away — to work hard. P. 

llowever, Goldsmith pounded away at this newly-found work.— Black. 

Pow. — To hold a pow-ioow — to have a riotous meeting. S. 

Powder. — Not worth powder and shot — not worth the trouble or 
cost. F. 
The place is not worth powder and shot 

Pray. — / prat/t pray, or prithee — an exclamation wliich often accom- 
panies a question. C. 

Dut, pray, in this mechanical formation, when the ferment was expanded to the 
extremities of the arteries, why did it not break through the receptacle ?— Dbhtlby. 

PreniiuxXL — At a premium — much sought after ; increased in value. P. 
Haicido is at a premium here (the men here are fond of oommitting suiddeX— 

C. ilRADB. 

Servants are at a great premium, masters at a disoount, in the colony.— C Rradi. 

Presence. — Presence of mind — power of self-control and intelligent 
action in a crisis. P. 

It is by presence of mind In untried emergencies that the native metal of a man 
is tested.— J. R. Lowrll. 

Iloth men changed colour but retained their presence of mind and their cunning. 
— C. Rkadb. 

Pretty. — A pretty tinu of it — a difficult or unpleasant condition of 
aflairs. Y. 

Mr. Samuel Erin had for the present a pretty time of it He was like a nsaa 
caaglit in a downpour of hailstones, without an umbrella.— Jambs Payn. 

A pretty go — an awkward position ; a critical situation. S. 

Supposing now that some of them were to slip into the boat at night and eot the 
cable, and make off with her. It would be a preUy go, that would.— H. R. Haooaed. 

Prick. — To prirh up the far*— to sliow signs of interest; to appear at- 
tentive. C. 

The fiery coursM', when he hears from far 
The iii>rightly trumpet and the shouts of war, 
l*ricks up his ears.— Drydkn. 



Prixn4 [ 256 ] 

To prick out — to plant for the first time. P. 

To prick up oneself— to make a display ; to show off. F. 

Primft. — Primd facie — at first sight ; apparently. P. Latin. 

At thU flUge, the learned counid hariug already roado liU openinf ipeach, a state- 
ment now would primd facie bo irregular, and the judge aaid so; whereupon Mr. 
Flnlaj turned to hla learned friends, tlie Attorney-General and Sir CSiarlea Russdl, 
and showed them a letter, and con versed with them earnestly and in low tones.— J!»<. 
Andrewi Cttixen, 18S7. 

Primrose. — The primrose path — the pleasant and alluring road which 

leads to destruction. P. 

But, good my brother, 

Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, 

Show me tliat steep and thorny way to heaven ; 

Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine, 

llinuolf the primrose path of dalliance treads, 

And recks not his own redo— SoAKKMPKARV. 
So in those idle days of the Shotover curacy he trod the primrose path of dalliaaee 
with a careless and unguarded heart, and did not waken to a sense of danger until 1m 
found liimself and another precipitated downward into the very gulf cl hell.— Max- 
well Gray. 

Prizes. — To play prizes — to be in earnest. Old-fashioned. 

They did not play prizes, and only pretended to qnarrol.— Stilling rLxrr. 

Pro. — Pro bono publico — for the public welfare ; for the benefit of the 
whole company. P. Latin. 

In some of the bank ofllces it is the custom (to sare so much individual time) for 
one of the clerks— who is the best scholar— to commence upon the rimes or Chromidet 
and recito its entire contents aloud pro b<mo puUieo.— Lamb. 

Pro and con — for and against ; favourable and unfavourable. P. 

Mr. Tupman and Bfr. Snodgrau arrived, most opportunely, in this stage of fh« 
pleadings, and as it was necessary to explain to them all that had occurred, togetliar 
with tho various reasons pro and am, the wholo of the arguments were gone over 
again.— Dick VHM. 

Pros and cons — 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.- /IIus<ra(ed Lonilon Newt, 1S87. 

After a few prot and cone, they bade her observe that her old lover, Ephralia 
Slade, was a rich man, and if she was wise slie would look that way.— C. Kkadk. 

Pro tan/ o — so far; in itself. P. Latin. 

That (right) does tend to attract, or rather to drive, all ambitions or powerful men 
Into the deliberative arena, and that pro tauto is bencflcial.— 6*pccfaior, ISS?. 

Pro temjiore — for a sliort time; not permanent or permanently. P. 
Latin. 

The body was then deposited, pro tempore, in St Anne's Church, Soha— C Rbadk. 

Profonnd—ior form's sake; merely to satisfy rules. P. Latin. 

It was merely a proformd meeting; the real business had already been disenaaed. 



Frocrastean [ 267 ] Pull 

Procrustean. — ProcnmUan bed — an uncomfortAble couch, where violent 

mcnsurcs arc necessary to insure that the person fills it. P. Pro> 

cnistcs was a famous robber who lived near Athens. He compelled 

his prisoners to lie down on a certain couch. If they were too long 

for it, their limbs were chopped off; if too short, they were stretched 

to the required length. 

They hare some pariicnlar Iheory to maintain, and wliaiever do«s not fit their 
Procrustean bed it at onoe condemned. — E. Whipplb. 

Promise. — I jrromise yoii — an expression generally attached to stat'e- 

ments about the future, and signifying "I declare to you,** **You 

may be certain." C. 

" Will not the ladies bo afraid of the lion 7" 
" I fear it, I promise you."— SnAKWirBARie. 

Proof. — To jnit to the proof—to test; to try in practice. P. 

Mj paiHsr gives a timorous writer an opportnnitj of putting his abilltiM to the 
proof.— Addison. 

But he (the British soldier) hates water; drench him tboroofhlj and jou put him 
to the proof.— G. J. Whytb-Mblvillk. 

The proof of the pudding — the tasting of it ; the actual experience of 
anything. C. 

"] mention no names; but it's rattier odd that when I am speakiof of hollow, 
hearted friends you should at once name Mr. Tagrag.** 

" The proof of the pudding— handsome is that handsome does; and I've got £6 of 
hid monny at any rate."— R. WAunBH. 

The iipHliot of all discuMlon on this question is that, to use a vulgar phrase, the 
proof of the pudding will be In the eating.— 5peda<or, StpUmber 17 1 1887. 

Proud. — Proud feAh — inflamed flesh arising in wounds or ulcers. P. 
The sores had generated proud flesh.— Doify TeUgraphf J885. 

Pull. — To jm/l up— to cause to stop; to come to a stop. P. Originally 
used of pulling the reins in driving, and of thus stopping a horse. 

They thanked heaven they bad been pulled up short (suddenly arrested) In an etU 
career. — C. Rkade. 

It is such a relief to be able to say awful without being pulled np (interrupted and 
reproved) by Aunt Chambers.— H. K. IlAonARD. 

The coach pulls up (stops) at a little roadside inn with hnge itables behind.- 
T. HuonBH. 

7V) pull up ataken — to remove one's residence. American slang. 

To pufl through — not to succumb ; to succeed with difficulty. C. 
You pulled through it (the punishmentX and so will be.— C. Rbadb. 

To pttif a ]>ertion through — to extricate him from a difliculty or danger. C. 
His extra speod pulled him through.— Field, 1886, 

To putt the lit rivgn— to set in action secretly; to be the real though 

hidden promoter of anything. C. 

11io men wlio pull the strings are down in the Gape They want to drive ereiy 
Rnglishman out of South Africa.— II. R Haooard. 

17 



Pulse [ 258 ] Purpose 

To jmll together— ^io work harmoniously. C. 

The new director and the profeaion are said not to pall together. 

To pull oneself together — to rally ; to prepare for a frcsli struggle. F. 

The Middlesex men now polled themtelves together.— FicM, ISSfi. 

Joe retired to the har, where he had a glass of brandj neat, and tried to pull him* 
self together, but with small success.— B riant. 

The cool water applied to his head, and the glass of brandj, Tile as it was, that he 
drank, pulled Balfour together.— Wm. Black. 

To piill faces — to make grimaces. C. 

To pull a long face — to look melancholy. C. 

Sarah returning at this moment, shaking her head, and pulling a long face at tlie 
ill-success of her search, devoted herself to administering sal volatile.— Afurruy's 
Afagostite, 1S37. 

Pulse. — To feel ont*M puUe — (a) to discover the beat of the heart by 
pressing au artery. P. 

(6) to sound a person ; to try to discover a person's secret opinions. C. 

So much matter has been ferreted out that this Government wishes to tell its own 
story, and mj pulse was felt (I was sounded in the matter).— South by. 

Purchase. — //i« life is not \oorth a year's purchase — ho is not likely to 
survive more than a year. 

Purgation. — To put one to his purgation — to call upon liim to clear him- 
self from an accusation. V. 

It any man doubt, let him put me to my purgation.— Siiakuprarc 

All right, old fellow; I didn't mean to put you on your purgation.— A. Trollops. 

Purple. — Bom in the purple — bom a prince. P. Purple is tlje imperial 
colour. 

To think of that dear young man (Prince Louis Napoleon), the apple of hli 
mother's eye, born and nurtured in the purple, dying thus, is too fearful, too awful.— 
QuKBN Victoria. 

To many into the purple — to marry a prince or a nobleman. P. 

Now I had not the slightest wish for my dear Helena to marry into the purple. — 
Mistletoe Bouuh, 1SS5. 

Purpose. — On purpose — designedly ; with full intention. P. 

Where men err against this method, it is usually on purpose, and to show their 
learning.— Swirr. 

On purjx>se to — with the intention of (followed by the infinitive). P. 

I do this, on pun>ose to give you a more sensible impression of the imperfection of 
your knowlotlge.— Watts. 
He travelled the world, on purpose to converse with the most learned men. — 

GOLIMMITII. 

With the purpose o/— with the intention of (followed by the jMirticiple 
or gerund). P. 

He left with the puri>oee of following her. 



Purse [ 269 ] Put 

To the purpose — appositely ; pointedly ; seiifiibly ; (also as aii adjective) 
sensible; practical. P. 

He wM wont to ipeak plain and to th* purpose.— Shakkapbarb. 

To small purpose — for very little good ; without much practical bene- 
fit. P. 

To tmall purpose had the council of Jerusalem been assembled, if once their deter- 
mlnatfon being set down, men might afterwards hate defended their former opinions. 
—Hooker. 

Purse. — Purse-proud — arrogant because of wealth; puffed up through 
being wealthy. P. 

What Is so hateful to a poor man as the purse-proud arroganc* of a rich one T— 
Oburver, 
I wish wo had never seen those odious, purse-proud Osbomes.— Tuackkrat. 

To make up ajmrse — to collect subscriptions on behalf of some individual ; 
to get together a sum of money. P. 

Meanwhile a purse, I think of seventy dollars, was made up on board, and when 
thoy were on the point of returning ashore was handed to them —London and China 
Expreu, 1887. 

Some friends who took an Interest in me made up a purse for me, by which I 
was enabled to pay my passage-money In advance.— G. A. Sala. 

Push. — To Itc put to the. push — to lie tested by difficult circumstances. P. 
Once he Is put to the push, his native energy will appear. 

To come to the push— to Iks seriously tcstcil. P. 

Tls common to talk of dying for a friend ; but when It comes to the push (people 
are actually tested) 'tis no more than talk.— L'Ebtranok. 

Put. — PfU aboiU — anxious; annoyed; in a flurry. C. 
Tom was rather put about by this speech.— T. Huobbs. 

To put oncscf/ abmtt — to talco trouble. C. 

Mr. Treverton was a person for whom people must be eipected to put thwn- 
selves about— M»8 Bn addon. 

To put dfwut a ship— to turn it round. P. 

The Stella was put about, and the other broadside given without a return from her 
opponent.— Captain Marryat. 

To put hi/—{a) to thrust aside ; to neglect. P. 
A presence which Is not to be put by.— Wordsworth. 

{h) to save; to lay aside. P. 

Kight thousand servants, fe<l and lialf-dothed at their masters' espense, have pot 
t>y for forty years, and yet not even by aid of lnt«rtsi and compooad lBt«r«st 
have rcacheid Uie Rubicon of four figures (goal of £1,000).— C. Rbadb. 

Jlartl put to (I'O— in great trouble; sore beset C. 

" You are desperate hard put to, woman,** said the Deemstar.— TTali. Cainb, 
For If he, though a man, was so bard put to it, what eanst thoa, being krat a poor 
woman, doT—DUMTAN. 



Put [ 260 ] Put 

Put to it — tested ; tried ; placed in a difficulty. P. 

Well, I WM never so put to it in my life.— Mauia Edobworth. 

But Gingham worked for the whole famllf m a woman will when put to it — G. J. 
Whyte-Mklvillk. 

The imall gentrj were sore put to it to know how to order themeeWee between 
these two opposing forces— respect for virtue in the abstract and their inherited 
allegiance to their local lord.— Mrs. E. Lynn Limton. 

Put on — feigned ; hypocritical. C. 

Sir Charles obeyed this missive, and the ladj received him with a gracioos and 
smiling manner, aJl put on and cat-like.— G. Rbadc. 

Nave made a show of resistance— which was all put on, for he Was aa fond of ahil- 
lings as of pounds— and then gave in.— Mrs. TIknry Wood. 

To put out or put oiU of countenance — to discompose ; to make uncom- 
fortablo ; to confuse ; to disconcert. P. 

She interested him Intonselj, to saj the least of it, and, man-like, he felt eiceed- 
ingij put out (annoyed^ and even sulky, at the idea of her departure.- H. R. 
Haooard. 

** When Golambre has been a season or two more in London, hell not be so eMily 
put out of countenance," said Lady Glonbrony.— Maria EzKiswoRTii. 

To put out — to dislocate. P. 

She put her shoulder out —Field, 1S87, 

To put t\ro and tico together. See Two. 

To put that and that together — to reason ; to draw an inference. F. 
Young as I was, I also could put that and that together.— Caftaiv Marryat. 

To put in a uxfrd — to recommend ; to use one's influence. C. 

Well, sir, if he thinks so well of Mr. Poyser for a tenant, I wish yon would pnt In 
a word for him to allow us some new gates (recommend that he should allow at 
some new gates).— Georob Eliot. 

To put in an appearance — to be present ; to attend a meeting. C. 

Not only did all the lady guests put In an appearance, bnt all the gentlemen.^ 
James Paym. 

Half an hour afterward they sat down as usual to supper. Bessie did not put In 
an appearance till it was a quarter over, and then was very silent through It— H. R. 
Haouahu. 

To put htadi together — to consult; to plot; to arrange a plan. P. 
Those two ladies now put their heads together.— G. Rbadk. 

To put off— {a) to iwstponc. P. 

Let not the work of to-day be put off till to-morrow, for the future is nncertaln.— 

L'EtfTRANOK. 

All parties and entertainments were, of course, to be put off.- Tbackbray. 

{h) to l)aflle ; to get rid of by temporizing. P. 

He put them off with promises. 

Hastings, who wanted money and not excuses, was not to be pnt off by the ordln* 
ary artinces of Eastern negotiation.— Macauijiy. 
Mrs. Wallace was not to bo put off by Jest— Jambb Payn. 



Put [ 261 ] Put 

— (c) to Bet out from the shore. P. 



Three of them put off in a boat to ritit the brig. 

To put down — to suppress ; to quell ; to crush. P. 

He doei me the farour to inquire whether it will be agreaable to me to have WiU 
Fern put down.— Dickbkm. 

To put on — to dress oneself with. P. 

The little onee are taught to be proud of their clothes before they can put them 
on.— Locke. 

To put up a person — (a) to give him accommodation ; to lodge him. P. 
Hit oid college friend Jonet lived there, and offered to put him up for a week. 

(b) to proclaim his marriage banns. P. 

We are to be put up in church next Sundaj, and it takes three Sundays.— CUrTAUf 
Marry AT. 

To put up a horse — to tie it up or put it in a stable. P. The American 
word is hitch — ** he hitched his horse." 

He rode into Newborough, and putting up his horse, strolled about the streets.— 
C. Reads. 

To put up — to stop ; to rest. P. 

I wondered at what house the Bath coach put up.— DiCRSNfi. 

To put up to — to incite ; to instigate ; to teach a dodge or trick. C. 

" Wo will practiso it In the morning, mj boy,** said he, " and I'll put you up to a 
thing or two worth knowing."— Thackeray. 

A put-up affair — a concocted plot; an afiair which is not what it pre- 
tends to bo. F. 

A suspicion of Uie whole affair being what the police call a put>up one, was pess- 
ing through his mind.— Jambs Payn. 

To put up with — to suffer ; to pass over without resentment. P. 

Whatever may be the case witli Hungary, it must be admitted that Austria will 
put up with a good deal from Russia rather than fithi.—FortnigkHy RevUw, 1887. 

To put ujwn— to deceive ; to treat unfairly or deceitfully ; to make one 
do more than a fair share of work. C. 

Take care never to know anything about leather, and yon won't be put upon 
(gulled or bullied).— Bekant. 

You look and Ulk like a Udy bom and bred, and I fear you will bo put upon 
(cheateil). — B K«A NT. 

Tills is followed by a determination on the part of the forewomaa to And fault, 
and by a doterminatlon on the part of Uio work-girls not to be put upon (have too 
much work given them).— Bem ant. 

To put to tfic Uunh—io shame ; to vanquish. P. 

Flattering himself that by this stroke of magnanimity he had put the old quia to 
the blush, he stalked out of the office with the paper In his pocket— Thaokbrat. 

You could be put to the blush In many things by a sohool-girl of fifteea.— H. R. 
Haooard. 



Quality [ 262 ] Queen 

7*0 piU to death — to execute. P. 

TettU put to dMih one of the Roman Mnbauadon.— ARbUTiiNor. 

To put (mU of court — to make onc*a evidence of no value; to dbscjualify 

one from speaking witli authority. P. 

Tlio fact that thoy were believed to t>e opiKMed on principle to all wan put them 
oat of court in public eBtimation, m Mr. Kinglake jnstljr nbeerree, when thef went 
about to argue against tliii particular war.— JustTiN M*Caktuy. 



Q 



Quality. — The quality — the upper class; the gentry. Old-ftishionod, 

and now vulgar. 

Bj degreea the qoalitj gave up going, and the fair, of course, became disrepntable. 
—Athenaum, 1887. 

Quarter. — To give or show quarter — to act with clemency ; to be merci- 
ful ; to l>e lenient. P. 

To the young, if you give any tolerable quarter, you indulge tlioui In tliotr idlonesa 
and ruin thorn. —Colli kk. 

Queen. — Queen*H Entjlinh—ihe standard Englisli. P. The same as 
King's English. See KiN(i. A Pita for the QuteiCa Emjlwh is the 
title of a book by Dcun Alford. 

Qiietn A nue ii dead— that is stale news. C. A phrase used sarcastically. 
The Americans say ** Rats," or '* That's an awful chestnut," when a 
stale story is told. 

Lord Brougham, it appears. Isn't dead, though Queen Anne is.— Barhav. 

** He was my grandfather's man, and served him in the wars of Queen Anne,** 
interposed Mr. Warrington. On which my lady cried petulantly. *'0 Lord, Queen 
Anne's deail, I suppose, and we aren't (are not) going into mourning for her."— 

TlIACEEIlAY. 

Queen of the May — the village girl who was chosen, as the fairest in the 
village or district, to be queen of the revels on the first of May, known 
as May-day. P. 

"I thought that you were the spirit of the place, or,** he addetl gracefnlly, |K)lnt- 
ing to a branch of half-opened hawtliom bloom she held in her hand, " the original 
Queen of the May."— II. K. IUooard. 

To turn Qneen*s evidtnce—io turn informer for the sake of a iNirdon. P. 
See Ki.wii. 
I hate a convict who turns Queen's evidence.— IL Ki.hublkv. 

Queen* a heads — postage stamps. F. 

" I roust buy some stamps : I am run out of Queen's heads." 
" Tliat is precisely what I want money for,"* said Trip testily. " I have neither 
paper nur envelopes nor stamps."— S. Uakinu-Qould. 



Queer [ 263 ] Quod 

. » 

Queer. — To be in Queer Street— to be in unfortunate circumBtances. F. 

No, sir, I make it a rale of mine— the more ii looki like Queer Street, the leae I 
aak.— R. L. Stevknson. 

Question. — In question — referred to ; under discussion. P. 

But at thii moment Hawes came into the cell with the bed in question in hla 
arms.— C. Rradk. 

To coil in question — to express doubts regarding ; to find fault with. P. 

When religion is called in question because of the extravagances of theology being 
I«asicd off as religion, one disengages and helps religion by showing their utter de- 
lusiveness. — M. Arnold. 

Out of the question — impracticable; unworthy of discussion. P. 

Intimacy between Miss Fairfax and me ii out of the question.— Jam* Austkii. 

A buriiinrf question — a subject causing widespread interest; a question 
demanding solution. P. 

The people like to be roused by red-hot, scorching speeches; they want burning 
questions, intolerable grievances.— Bbsant. 

To beg the question. See Beg. 

QuL — On the qui rive — eager; watchful; alert. C. Qui vive is the 
summons addressed by French sentinels to those who approach them. 

Every one was on the qtii vive, as Mrs. Jennynge expreiiod it, to see Um new* 
comers.— Jam Ks Payn. 

Quid. — A qttid pro 9N0— something given in return ; a recompense. P. 
Latin. 

Unfortunately, in this prosaic world, one cannot receive cheques for one thousand 
pounds without. In some shape or form, giving a quid pro quo.—U. R. Haooard. 

Quits. — To be quits icith a jyerson — to have paid another all you owe 
him ; to have a clear account with him. C. Used botli of money 
dealings and of injuries to be revenged. 

M7 spado shall never go into the earth again till I'm quits with him (I have had 
my rcvcngeX— C. Ubadf.. 

To cry quits— to acknowledge that one*s account with another is clear; 

to cease stmggling. C. 

Tint will hft vet hrr to marry him, I wonder. If he does, I shall cry qoils with 
him Indord.— II. R. IlAnoARD. 

Quod. — To put in quod — to imprison. S. 

Do jron roally mean to maintain that a man can't put old DIggt in quod for marlag 
a hare without all this elaborate apparatus of Roman law ?— M. Ajuvold. 



R [ 264 ] 



R 

'Ei,—The three 7?'«— Rea<ling, (w)riting, and (a)rithinetic. C. These 
BubjcoU were formerly consiilcred the nccciuttiry parU of an ordinary 
education. 

Fortunate indeed were the joangtters who for a brief season tasted even of the 
rich delights of the three K's, as an alderman of that epoch (1850) is said to have 
designated the mysteries of reading, writing, and arltlimetic— £iitfibur(fh iZcview, JSS7. 

Rabbit. — RaJbhit-it or od-rabhU-it—& common oxpreasion, liaving little 
meaning. Formerly an oath with the name of God in it. S. 

Back. — Oh the rack — (a) in a state of torture, of jmin, or of botlily or 
mental discomfort. P. 

A cool bebaTlonr sets him on the rack (makes him miserabieX and is interpreted 
as an instance of aversion or Indifference.— Addison. 

{b) in a state of restless activity. P. 

Martin's ingenuity was therefore for ever on the rack to supply himself with a 

light— T. IIUOHBS. 

To go to rtick and ruin — to fall into utter disrepair ; to go to destruc- 
tion. P. 



Mrs. Barry, indeed, though her temper was violent and her ways singular, was aa 
invaluable person to me In my house, which would have gone to rack and ruin long 
iMfore, but for her spirit of order and management, and for her excellent economy 
in the government of my numerous family.— Thaokkr ay. 

80 we must go to rack and ruin, Kate, my dear.— Dick kns. 

To work by rack of tyt—\jQ be guided by the eye alone in working ; to 
work without the assistance of line or rule. F. 

To be or live at ra^k (or heck) and mantjtr — to live extravagantly; to 
spend inonoy heedlessly. C. 

John I^ackland — tearing out the bowels of St. Edmundsbury Convent (its larden, 
namely, and cellars) in the most ruinous way by living at rack and nuinger th«n.» 
Carlvlk. 

Backet. — To be on the, racket — to spend one's time in frolic or dissipa- 
tion. F. 

He had been off on the racket, i>er1uti)s for a week at a time.- />at(y TtlegTOph^ 
18SS, 

To stand the racket — to take the consequences ; to Iks responsible. F. 

He ii as ready as myself to stand the racket of subsequent proceedings— Aii'If 
Telegrafth, Ji8i. 

Bag. — Oentltmen 0/ the. order of the raj/- military ofliccrs. F. llic 
rag rcfoi's to their red uniform. 

It it the opinion which, I believe, most of you young gentlemen of the order of 
the rag deserve.— Fibldinu. 



[ 265 ] Ran 



Bag-tag and bob-tail — tho dregs of the people ; ihoee loungers about a 

city who arc always ready to flock together and make a nioh. C 

Found also in the more correct form, tag-rag wid bob-taii. See Tag. 

Mr. GladBtone, in fact, ia tired of being out In the cold. The pleatnre of leadtnc 
the rag-tag and bob-tail prores bnt so-so, compared with the pleasure of command* 
Ing the House of Commons.— 5i. Andr«w9 CUiun, 18S7. 

Rage. — All the rage — extremely popular. C. 

Uncle Tom, to tlie surprhM of manj that twaddle traditional phrases in rerlewi 
and roagasines about the art of Action, and to the surprise of nb man who knows 
anything about the art of Action, was all the rage.— C. Rbaob. 

None— LTncIc Tom't Cabin, by Mrs. U. Beecher Stowe. 

Kain. — /'- iiever rains hut it poura — a phrase often used when a rapid 
succession of events occurs. It signifles somewhat the same as '* mis- 
fortunes never come singly," but has a wider application by its 
reference to all kinds of events. 

Nercrtholess— for. In spite of the proverb, *' It neref rains but It pours,** good 
fortune seldom befalls us mortals without alloy— there were drops of bitt«niess In 
his full cup.— Jamkh Payn. 

A rainy day — a time of trouble and difliculty. C 

Thou'lt give away all thy earnings, and never be uneasy because thou hast nothing 
against a rainy day.— Gkorob Eliot. 

BIr. Punch, in a cartoon, is represented as advising the British workman to avoid 
the gin-palace, and put by for a rainy day.— i'or(i«i0Mly Revitw, 1887, 

Raise. — To raise one's back — to grow obstinate; to rebel. C 

lie had raised his back more than once against orders emanating from the palace 
in a manner that had made the hairs on the head of the bishop's wife to stand 
almost on end.— A. TROLixirB. 

To raise the wind. See Wind. 

Raison. — Haison d'etre — claim to exist; right to have an existence. P. 

A Frcncli phrase. 

In the conviction that no real amalgamation ooald ever exist between the two will 
bo found the raittm d'itre of the high character with which soaie of the mtn of the 
tiers ^tal were credited. — yafionol RtvUw, 1880. 

Rake.— 7*0 rale vp the Jire—io prepare the fire to last all night, by 

covering it with a largo piece of coal and tlirowing cinders or ooal- 

slock on the top. P. 

MHien she had raked up the Are for the night, she lit a caadle aad sat down for 
half-an-hour to read before retiring to rest. 

Ramp. — On the. ramp — wild ; in a state of excitement. F. See Rajc-tah. 

It ii apritpn* of a rr issue of Measrc Caseell's serial, BrUUh tkUiUs bf ^"^ ^^ 
Sta, that Lord Wolseley goes anew on the nmp.—SeoUUh L9ad€r, Aitgud 5, 1800, 

Rampage. — On the ramjtage — dnmk. S. 

Ran. — On the ran-tan — excited ; roaming about furiously. 8. 

John had been (as he was pleased to call It) visibly *' on th« raa-taa " the night be- 
fore. - K. L. Stbvbksom. 



Rank [ 266 ] Bead 

Kank. — The rank and fit — tlie undiBtinguishcd mass; the private 
soldiers of an army. P. 

Wliile the rank and file of hia parllamenUury oppononta loughi to •lioiit or lancli 
him down, he telle hie elster that lie wae receiving the rooet flattering teetimonica of 
approval from diecriininatlng Judgee. — Edinhuryh Review^ laaG, 

In the ranks — serving as a private soldier. P. 

Specimen* (of gentlemen) are to be foaud at the plough, the loom, and the foige. 
In the rankfl, and before the matt, as well ai in the ofllcera' meat-room, the learned 
profeaalona, and the Upper Uouae itaelf.— O. J. Wuytb-Mblvillk. 

To risefi-om the ranls^io l)o promoted to tlio position of a comniissioucil 
officer after having served as a private sohlier. P. 

Bap. — To rap out — to speak violently ; to utter loudly. C. Generally 
used with the word ** oath " as object. 

He was provoked In the aplrlt of magiatracjr apon dlacovering a judge who rapped 
out a great oath at hia footman. — A ddihom. 

Frank rapped the worda out aliarpljr. Mordle looked the picture of anrpriae. — 
IIuoH Conway. 

To rap oi^r the knucUes — to administer a sharp reproof ; to censure 
sharply. C. 

The author haa groaaljr miatranalated a paaaage in the Deftnsio pro populo AngH- 
caiio; and if the bishop were not dead, I would here take iho libertj of rapping liia 
knuckloa.— Dk Quincky. 

Kara. — Para avis — something seldom seen. P. Latin. Literally, a 
•* rare bird." 

He had brought from India a favourite native aervant, hia khitmutgmr, flapaahad ; 
a man who waa indeed a rara avis among Engliah-apeaking khitmutgara, being very 
intelligent, and only a moderate thief.— Afi«(/efoe Bought 188G. 

Bate. — At any rate— in any case; wliatcver be the circumstances. P. 

If he could once reach the cave he would at anj rate get ahelter and a diy |daee to 
lie on.-- II. R. IIaggakd. 

Eaw.— -^ raiu recrttU—an awkward or simple fellow; one who has not 
yet learned his trade or profession ; one who is ** green." F. 

For example, If Sir Bamet had the good fortune to get hold of a raw recmii, or a 
country gentleman, and eninared him to hit hoapiUble villa, Sir Ramot would aay 
to him on the morning after hia arrival, *' Now, my dear air, la there anybody yoa 
would like to know?"— Dickens. ' /' 

"ReSLCiL—HeachmedoicuM—accondAmnd clothes. S. So called in I-.on- 
don because an intontling purchaser of such clothes asks the shopman 
to ** reach him-down " them in order to try them on. 

Read.— 7*0 recul a UH-ton— to scold or reprimand. C. 

Oh. you can apeak to my Aunt Molioeux and ahe will read yon a fine lenon.— 

C. R£AUB. 




Ready [ 267 ] 



To read beiwten the lines — to see a writer's concealed meaning. P. 

He has not enoagh experience of the way In which men have thought and spoken 
to feel what the Bible writen are abont— to read between the lines, to discern where 
he onght to rest his whole weight, and where he ought to pass ligbtlj.— BfATTUXW 

AlUfOLD. 

Ready. — Ready money — money which can be immediately made use of; 
money in one's hands. P. 

No ready money was required by the new heir.— Maria Edokwortii. 

Rear. — To bring up the rear — to come last. P. 

At half-past ten, Tom Moody, Sir Huddleatone Fuddlestone's huntsman, was seen 
trotting up the avenue, followed by the noble pack of hounds in a compact body— 
the roar being brought up by the two whips clad in stained scarlet.— TuACKsaAY. 

Reckon. — To reckon xcithotU one^s host — to calculate blindly; to enter 
rashly upon any undertaking. P. 

We thought that now our troubles were over and our enemy's beginning; but we 
reckoned without our host (were mistaken).— AfacmiiJaii't ilagaxitUt 2887. 

In coming down so unexpectedly to Prcttywell, Sir Bate had not reckoned entirely 
without ills host.— Florkncb Marry at. 

To reckon on or upon — to expect. P. 

You reckon upon losing (expect to lose) your friends* kindness.— Sir W. Trmplc 

To reckon with — to call to punishment ; to settle accounts with. P. 

His Justice will have anotlier opportunity to meet and reckon with them.— TiL- 

I.<*T>«<»N. 

Antony and Lopldus, too, had to be reckonc<l with.— J. A. Froudb. 

Record. — To hecU^ hreal't or cut the record — to do a distance in less time 
than it lias ever been done before. C. 

The White Star steamer Tculonic made the passage across the Atlantic in 6 days, 
10 hours, 6 minutes— thus breaking the record.— 77t« Seotfmnn^ AvffuH 1890. 

Bpcechly proceeded to cut the throe miles' record nearly by twelve seconds.— 
Jlf/eree, 188G. 

Red. — Red-handed — in the very act of committing a crime. P. No 
doubt referring to stains of blooil. 

" By taking the place of your servant, and so selling you into the power of my 
friend Connt Teritekoff,"— and here he laughed a low, cruel langh,— ** I was euAblcd 
to take these wretches red-handed, and so insure the fate they have so long richly 
deeerved.**— Afurmy's Af oyosinc, 1887. 

Red tape — officialdom ; useless official formalities. P. 

Unlike a minister in Rngland who steps Into an office with the red tape cut and 
dried for him. Lord Wellealey had no one to advise hUm.- A$iaiic QwtrUrljt itstisw, 

1887. 

The Red /iooZ:— -the peerage list. P. 

And let us, my brethren, who have not our names In the Red Book, eonaole oar- 
selves by thinking how miserable onr betters may be, and that Damocles, who sits 
on sAtIn cushions, and is served on gold pUte, has an awful sword hanging over his 
head. — Tuackkra v. 



Beduotio [ 268 ] Removed 

A red-letter day — an auspicious or happy day. P. 

^1 being hoUdaji, I feel m If I had none, m ihej do In heaTen, «h«ra *tli all red- 
letter dajt.— CUARLU LA.MB. 

Painted red — (of a village or town) given over to merrimont and high 
jinks. S. An Anioricun phiuso. 

Singapore has been in trouble. During the greater part of three daTt— S2nd, S8rd, 
and 24th of February— the town was '* painted red ** bj Chinese rowdies, and the air 
was full of bludgeons and buckshot.— Japan Afail, 1887. 

A red cent — used, like "a brass farthing," to signify the least piece of 
money. F. American. 

Now the colonel, in short and sharp sentences, interrupted bj a good deal of 
writhing and hard swearing, said he would not leave a brass farthing— a red cent was 
what he actually mentioned— to any of his relatives who had known him in England. 
— Wm. Black. 

A red rag to a htdl — what especially provokes and irritates. P. 

He (George II.) hated books, and the sight of one in a drawing-room was as a rod 
rag to a bull. ^Temple liar, 1887. 

Reductio. — A rediictio ad ahaurdum — a particular case which proves 
the absurdity of a general statement. P. Latin. 

Certainly that appears to us tlie reductio ad abgurdum of the theory of fortoitoas 
variaUon.— ^jMdoior, Feb. f, 1888. 

Reed. — A broken reed— a. support which will fail you. P. 

Though Mr. Crawley was now but a broken reed, and was beneath his feet, yet 
Mr. Thumble acknowledged to himself that he could not hold his own with this 
broken reed.— A. Trollopk. 

In both eases hare white men found that the negro ally was a broken reed. — 
Nineteenth Century, Nov. 1387. 

ReeL — Off the reel— in. uninterrupted succession. F. 

RefosaL — To have the re/unal of anythintj— to bo allowcil to buy it 
before any one else ; to have the first offer of it. P. 

What was her mortification when the dowager assured her that the identloal Al- 
hambra hangings had not only been shown by Mr. Soho to the I>uchess of Torcaster. 
but Uiat iter grace had had the refusal of them.— Maria Edqk worth. 

Mrs. Flint will never lot Mrs. Steel have the refusal— Halibuhton. 

Reins. — To give the reins— to allow unrestrained freedom; to roloaae 
from conti'ol. P. 

But how could he thus give reins to his temper?— Jambs Payn. 

Removed. — Once or ttaice removed — separated by one or two steps of 
family relationship. P. A person is cousin once removed to the full 
cousin of one of hia parents, or to the child of one of his full cousins. 

The old gentleman of our own time, whose grandslre (once or twice rsmovad) 
gathered the arrows upon Floddon Field. — Jamkh Payn. 

Our cousins, too, even to the fortieth remove, all remembered their afSniljr. — 
GoLDSMmr. 



[ 2G9 ] Ribbon 



Res. — Z*'*?^ amfiiAfo' domi — limited means ; want of sufficient funds for 
household comfort. P. Latin. 

If it hadn't been for the ret angnsUr domi— yon. know what I mean, captain— I 
should have let you get along with your old dug-oni, at the gentleman in the water 
said to Noah.— W. D. Howklls. 

Respects. — To pay one's respects to any one — to make one a polite visit; 
to meet one with courtesy. P. 

Her last pleasing duty, before she left the house, was to pay her respects to them 
as they sat together after dinner.— Jane Austkn. 
Every day Miss Swarti comes you will be here to pay your respects to her. — 

TUACKKAAY. 

Resurrection. — Resurrection pie — a pie composed of the oild bits of 
moat that have been cookc<l already. S. 

Retching. — Retching and reaming — stretching out the arms and gaping, 
as when one is aroused from sleep. F. 

Return. — To return to our muttons — to return to the main subject of 
our narrative. C. The translation of a proverb taken from Uie old 
French farce of Pierre Paielin, 

To return to our muttons— this mode of progre ss ion 

At length upon Spanking BiU made tome impressioB.- Baiimam. 

Rhyme. — Neither rhyme nor rcanon — wanting in sense and every other 
valuable quality. P. Sir Thomas More ailviscd an author, who had 
sent him his manuscript to read, " to put it mto rhyme," which, 
when he had done, Sir Thomas said, " Yes, marry, now it is some- 
what, for now it is rhyme ; 1>efore it was neither rhyme nor reason. " 

Without rhyme or reason — inexplicably; from no cause to be easily 
understood. C. 

When a person on whom one is accustomed to depend for moel of thai eodal In- 
terconrse and thoee pleasant little amenities that members of one sex Talae from 
another, suddenly cute off the supply without any apparent rhyme or reaeon, it ts 
enough to induce a feeling of wonder, not to say of vexaUoD, la the breast— H. R. 

IlAOaARD. 

Ribbon. — A red ribbon or rihcatd — the order of the Bath. P. The 
knights of the Bath wear a crimson ribbon with a medallion bearing 
the motto, Triajuncta in uno (three joined in one). 

He (Hastings) had then looked forward to a coronet, a red riband, a seat at the 
CouncU Board, an office at WhitehalL- Macaulat. 

A Nile ri7>/>o)i— the order of the Garter, the most distingnisliod of iho 
Kiiglinh orders. P. The phrase is used to signify a " disUncUoii of 
the highest kind." 

e 

In 1840 he was elected to a fellowship at Oriel, then the blue ribbon of Um ubI- 
veniij.—AthtrurHm^ 1887. 



Rioh [ 270 ] mffht 

To handle the ribbons — to hold the reins ; to drive. F. 

OiherwiM, I have no doubt, I ihould have been able to take a place In anj hip- 
podrome In the world, and to handle the ribbons (at the high, woU-bom lord used to 
•ay) to perfection.— TuACKKKAv. 

Rich. — liir?i (u a Jew — very rich. V, 

Poverty prevails among the London Jews to a much greater extent than was 
imagined— sufBdent, certainly, to shake considerably popular faith in the trntb of 
the old saying, " Rich as a J 9w."— Spectator, 18S7. 

Richmond. — Another JiU'hmoud in thejield — another nuexpcctctl lulvcr- 
Bary. P. The phrase is taken from Shake8|>earo*8 Jiirhard I J I,, act 
V. , scene 4. At the battle of Bosworth, King Richard replies to his 
attendant Catesby, who urges him to fly, " I think there be six Rich- 
monds in the field. Five have I slain to-day instead of him. '* 

This time it was a rival suitor who made his appearance, and Brian's hot Irish 
temper rose when he saw another Richmond in the field.- Fkrous W. Uumb. 

Rift. — The r\ft in the late — the small defect or breach which will 
gradually spoil the whole. P. 

Some little rift had taken place In the lute of her diplomacy.— Jambs Patn. 
Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all ; 
It U the little rift within the lute. 
That by*and-by will make the music mute. 
And ever widening, slowly silence all. — Tbnnvhon. 

Rig. — To rig the market — to buy shares of a stock in which one is inter- 
ested, in order to force up the price : a common practice. A stock- 
broking phrase. 

So you make your mine by begging— (modem miners never digX — 
And you float a gorgeous company. The shares go spinning up ; 

But you never rig the market. (What an awkward word is rig.) 
And you drain success in bumpers from an overflowing cup.- iHiiuA. 

Right. — To put or set to rights — to arrange ; to rectify ; to set in order ; 
to cure. C 

She put her curls to rights and looked as pleased as fun.— Haliburton. 
When I had put myself somewhat to rights at the hotel, I hired a fly and drova 
to Ilerr Kiicher.— Leisure Hour, 1S87. 
Was it not well, then, tliat he sliould see a letter which put that mystery to rights T 

— R. L. STKVBNaON. 

Old CooiMr has set him to rights (caused him to recover from sickness) by this 
time, you may depend on it.— Jamkh Tayn. 

By rights— liToperly ; according to strict justice. P. 

Had it not been for the pre-occupied and uncomfortable state of his mind, 
Arthur sliould by rights have enjoyed himself very much at Madeira. — II. R. 
IIaooard. 

A right arm — one's stanchcst friend ; the principal supporter of any 
one. P. 

Sir Launcelot, my right arm, the mightiest of my knights.— Trmvysoit. 



Rimmon [271 ] Rinff 

To Mend to the rif/ht-ahovt — to dismiss without ceremony. F. 

The next offer EHm woiild not accept ; it wm from a widower with children, and 
she sent him to the right-abont.— Mnti. H. Wood. 

Had he had the power of doing so, that brilliant yonng gentleman would have 
been sent to the right-about with the shortest possible delay.— JIftcrray's Magatine, 

18S7, 

A Yujht'haml Dian — a very serviceable person ; a friend on whom one 
chiefly depends. P. 

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.— Thackiray. 

Ilis heart is in the right plcLce — he is faithful and true-hearted. C. 

Mj daughters are plain, disinterested girls, but their hearts are in the right place. 

— TllACRKRAY. 

Ritjht cm a trivet — safe and sound ; in a thoroughly satisfactory condi- 
tion. F. 

Don't you hear me tell you that we have found out all about the cheque, and that 
you're as right as a triret?— A. Trollops. 

Rimmon. — To bow domt in the ho^ife of Rimmon — to conform to cere- 
monies of which one disapproves ; to subordinate one's religious convic- 
tions to political or social expe<licncy. Himmon was a Syrian god. 
Noaman, when he became a Jewish proselyte, asked Elisha the pro- 
phet's pardon for continuing to worship with his royal master in the 
temple of Rimmon (2 Kings v. 18). 

Rimmon, whose delightful seat 
Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks 

Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams -Milton, PamdUe lost, i A67. 
Others of the teil-talo letters show us in detail how Defoe acquitted himself of his 
engagements to the GoTemment— bowing, as he said, in the house of Rimmon.— 

MlNTO. 

Ring. — To ring the changes on anything — to make use of an expression in 
a variety of ways ; to repeat something in various different forms. P. 

Some of our English authors of to-day have a trick of ringing the changes on a 
phrase until Uie ear gets rather weary of it. 

Pinging the rlianges — a method of cheating whereby a customer get* 
back his own coin and keeps the change. S. He buys sixpence 
worth uf currants, tenders half-a-crown, and gct« back two shillingi 
as change. Then he says, " Oh, here is a sixpence ; give me back the 
lialf -crown," which the shopkeeper, taken unawares, probably does, 
and tlie cheat makes ofT with two shillings. 

To form a ring — to make a union of nuuiufacturers of a certain article, 
so as to keep up the price. F. 

Kxperienco has shown that the operation of these trusts, or rings, or syndicates. Is 
completely banefuL— r^c Scoisman, 1890. 



Riot [ 272 ] Rook 

Riot. — To run riot — to roam wildly ami without restraint ; to 1>e lawless 
in conduct. P. 

The daj was bright and lovelf , and I found my eyes running riot the same m thef 
had done during mj llrat ride on British toil— Buiirouuiih 

And at lie was whirled along on the London ami North- Woitern, how the yonng 
eoldier'i thought* ran riot in the future.— O. J. WuvTK-Bf klville. 

When we lean back witli folded arms in our comer of the family pew are «• 
thinking of heaven's high King, and our position relatively to himf or is not rather 
our fancy running riot among our pleasant sins f— Khoda. Brouoiitom. 

Rise. — To taht or gtt a rise oiU o/aj)erMn— to amuse oneself by making 

another angry or excited ; to play a trick on another. F. Origin' 

ally, no doubt, taken from angling, where one casts a fly to get a 

fish to "rise." 

On one occasion I took what we used to call a "rise" out of Cklverley.— IVmiile 
Bar, JS87. 

Road. — A roycH road — a road without difficulties. P. 

There Is no royal road to learning ; no short cut to the acquirement of any Talnable 
art— A. Thollops. 

In the road — ^forming an obstruction. C. The same as " In the way." 

Although as strong as a horse, he looked neltlier heavy nor yet adroit, only leggy, 
coltish, and in the road.— U. L. STEVsNaoN. 

Roast. — To cry roa^t meai — to be unable to keep one*8 good fortune to 
oneself ; to proclaim one's goo«l luck. C. 

They may imagine that to trumpet forth the praises of such a person would be cry- 
ing roast meat, and calling in partakers of what they intend to apply solely to ibeir 
own use.— FiKLDiNo. 

The foolish beast not being able to fare well but he must cry roast meat, woulil 
needs proclaim his good fortune to the world below.— C. Lamb. 

To rule the roast or rooat — to bo supreme. See Rulr. 

Rob. — To rob Peter to pay Paul — to take what rightfully belongs to 

one person to pay another. P. The origin of this expression is us 

follows : — In 1540 the ab1>ey church of St. i'eter*s, Westminster, wai 

advanced to the dignity of a cathedral by letters patent; bat ten 

3'ears later it was joined to the diocese of London again, and nwny of 

its estates appropriated to the repairs of St. Paul's Cathedral. 

How was he to pay for it T The horse was not his. To leave it would be to rob 
Peter to i>ay PauL— Let«iir< Uour, WV7. 

Robe. — Gtntletnen of the lontj rolte — judges and barristers. P. 

The genteel world had been thrown into a considerable state of excitement bf two 
events, which, as the papers say, might give employment to the gentlemen of tbs 
long robe. -Thackeray. ^ 

Rock. — Rocks ahead — a phrase signifying that some danger menaces. 

P. The title of one of Mr. Greg's 1>ooks is Ccutvindra, or Hoekt 

.^A«a<i— that is, ** the Prophetess of Evil, or Danger looming near." 

"Take him away again, sir. Don't let him sUy. Rocks ah ad, air I" Mr. Bun- 
ker put up his hands In warning.— Be»a.mt. 



Rod [ 273 ] Rome 

Oh the rocks — hard up ; having no money left. S. 

Rock'ho(toin pricM — the lowest possible price. F. 

The largest stock of United States stamps of anj dealer, at rock-bottom prices. 

Rod. — To jmt or havt a rod in pickle — to have a punishment in 
store. F. 

The honse grows silent ; the guests retnm to their homes, and to the rods their 
expectant wives have got in pickle for them.— Ruoda Brouobton. 

Roger. — The Jolly Roger — the black pirate's flag. P. 

The Hupaniola still lay where she bad anchored ; but, sure enough, there was the 
J0II7 Roger— the black flag of piracj— flying from her peak.— R. L. STKVCNiioit. 

Roi. — Roi faiu^aut — a do-nothing king ; a sovereign only in name. P. 
The later Merovingian kings of France allowed all power to pass into 
the hands of the mayors of the palace, and themselves became roM 
faindantu^ or sluggard kings. 

It was the old story — the young Saltan who leaves everything to lits grand 
visier, and finds himself a roifaii^ani dethroned and Imprisoned.— AfMMoe Bcm^ 

1S87. 

Roland. — To ffii^e a Roland for an Oliver — to give tit for tat ; to re- 
taliate in a forcible manner. P. 

lie withdrew moodily to a bench, comforted, however, not a little by the thought 
that he had given Mrs. Carr a Roland for an Oliver.— II. R. IIaooard. 

He then took a sheet of paper, and said be would soon give her a Roland for an 
Oliver.— C. Reads. 

Rolling. — A rollinp stone tjcUhers no moM — a person who is always 
shifting almut makes no money ; a restless waiulerer remains poor. 
P. A proverb of Thomas Tusser's (1523-1580). Mr. Laurence Oli- 
phant dc8cribe<l his experiences, as a traveller, in a series of articles 
in BlachoooiVs Ma/jazine^ entitled ** Moss from a Rolling Stone." 

He had been a rolling stone, which, if it had gathered no moss, had rolled 00 It 
(made no money, had used plenty of it).— Jambn Pavn. 

Rome. — Romr wan not hmlf. in a day — great results cannot be ob- 
tained in a short |)criod ; jiaticnce is rcquiretl in tlie production of 
anything valuable. P. 

" Yes," said Rlla, amused by this very moderate compliment to her artistic skill ; 
"it is Uie one with the coastguard station on it; but I have not had time to put 



that in yet" 

I sec; Home was not built In a day, was It?"— Jam km TAYif. 



i< 



Whni at Uomr. do nt the Romans do or oa the Poj^ doejt — an ancient 
pi'ovtM'b rcconnncnding pnidence in behaviour. We must a4lapt our* 
selves to the prejudices and customs of others. St. Augustine found 
on arrival at Rome that they faste<l on Saturday ; he complied with 
this cuMtom, though it was strange to him. 

18 



Room [ 274 ] Rot 

Room. — Room and to spare — plenty of accomiiKKlation ; ample room. C. 

To prefer another^ s room to hi« company — to wish another to leave you ; 

to dislike his society. F. 

When one ii not en rapport with one'i friends about anj particnUr sabjoct in 
which for the time thoj arc Intorostcii, It ii l>ottor t4i loavu thuni, f«ir it In corlmin 
thej would rather liave our room tlian our comitaiij.— Jamks Tayn. 

Root. — The root^of all «i'i7— the love of money. P. So called in the 
New Testament (1 Tim. v. 23). 

The root of the mo/^cr— sound religious principle ; deep-seatc«l religions 

faith. P. A plirase much used by the Puritans, and l>orrowed from 

the Old Testament : ** Seeing the root of the matter is found in me" 

(.lob xix. 28). 

Thou dost not beliere but what the Dinenten and the Metliodlsta have t^i tba 
root of the matter as well as the Church folks.— Okuhqk Eliot. 

Rope. — Oi\'^ a rogue rope enowjh and he will hang himtklf—ti ^nckeil 
man is sure to bring about his own destruction. C. 

He is a bad man, and a dangerous man, but let him be. He Is taking plenty of 
rope, and he will hang himself one of tlicse days.— H. R. Haooakd. 

]YUh a rope round out a neck — in imminent danger of a violent death. P. 

This (hanging) was the usuai fate which followed failure in this country (Central 
America); and those who fought in it knew they were doing so with a rope roaml 
their neclcs— which doubtleu improved their flgliting qualities.— fitNcfcwwKrj Mutfa- 
tint, ISSC. 

A ro]>e of Hand — something which has an appearance of strength, but is 
in reality useless. P. 

Where he (Tx>Te) sets his foot, the rocks bloom with flowers, or the garden beeosnet 
a wilderness according to his good-will and pleasure, and at his whisper all otlier 
allegiances melt away like ropes of sand.— H. II. Hauuakd. 

R086. — Under the rose — privately; secretly; in confidence. P. 

The Alsatians and we liave some common enemies, and we have, under the rose, 
some common friends.— StxnT. 

Meadows went to the Dlack Horse, the village public-house, to see wliat farmen 
wanted to borrow a little money, under the rose.— C. Ukahk. 

Jolin, saying nothing, continued to disobey tlic order, under the rote.— IC L. 
Stkvksson. 

A Ittd ofrOfi€8—SL luxurious place ; a very comfortiible situation. P. 

That James Ailsa, sensitive and slirinking, did not repose just tlien upon a bed of 
roses, may be easily undcrstooil.-- Mrh. Henkv Wood. 
Life cuuM not have been a bed of roies for any of them.— Mrs. Hbmrv Wood. 

Rot. — flot or all ro/— humbug; nonsense. S. A favourite schoolboy 
phrase in England. 

By this time Moutl had got the horses up, and asked if ho was to inspan. 

" No : wKit a bit." said John. " Very likely it is all rot" (my fears are unfonndedX 
he added to himself.— 11. R. HA(iOAiii>. 

Let's stick to liini. and no more rot (nonsense), nnd drink his health as the heaA of 
the house.— T. I]uuiik:«. 



Rouge [ 275 ] Round 

Rouge. — Botige el noir—SL well-known garao of cards. French. Liter- 
ally, ** red and black." 

Those who are interected in the mjsteriea of rouge et noir. — BBACoif ansLDw 

Rough. — To rough it — to endure hardships ; to do without comforts or 
luxuries. P. 

Take care of Fannjr, mother ; ilio !• tender, and not used to roufh It like the rwt 
of nt.— .Jank Aurtkn. 

The luxurions style which men who have senred long In the array, and often been 
obliged to rough it, know to well how to enjoy.— G. J. Whytk>Mbltillc. 

Hough OH — hard luies for ; a hardship to ; unfortunate for. C. 

There was a universal feeling, he assured his ward, of sympathy for him. Every- 
body felt that it was rough on such a man as himself to find that he was not of lllns- 
trious descent— Drma NT. 

A rough cufUomer — an unpleasant individual ; one whose manners are 
coarse. F. 

A rough diamoud — a |>ei'8on witli an unattractive exterior, who possesses 
goo<l (jualiticfl of mind and heart. C. 

As for Warrington, that rough diamond had not bad the polish of a dancing-master, 
•nd he did not know how to walu.— TnACKsnAV. 

Thr rough side of the /oiij/ii^— rebuke ; abuse. P. 

.Tohnson, after the manner of critical bears, often licked with the rough side of 
his tongue. 

Round. — A round O— nothing. F. 

Alfred told her the round O, which had yielded to " the duck's Cfg,** and was be- 
coming otMolete, meant the cipher set by the scorer against a player's name who is 
out without making a run (at cricket).— C Hbadi. 

To go the round — to circulate ; to be carried to the difTerent members 
of a society. P. 

In spite of the stories which have lately gone the round of the European preM as 
to Kussian mobilisation on the frontier of Roumania, it is probable that Russia will 
no longer pursue the imlicy of tearing off bits of Turkey.- ForimigkUi/ lUvitw, 18fi7. 

In round )inm/K>rA— mentioning an approximate sum which has no small 
figures or fractions. P. 

The cost, in round numbers, will be £8,200. 

A round roltin — a document, signed by a number of individuals, which 
has tlic names radiating from the centre, so that no name heads the 
list. P. 

Their names were reduce to writing, to be respectfully submitted to Johnson. 
Rut such was the awe entertained of his frown, that every one shrank from putting 
hit name flrst to the instrument; whereupon their names were written about In a 
circle, making what mutinous sailors call " a round robin.**— WASBiitOTOif lavufo. 




Row [ 276 ] ' Ruddook 

To rotmd on a person — to prove unfaithful to hiiu ; to behave treadior- 
ously to him. F. 

" JeremUh, If thai venomoas wntch Phwbe FArebrotber lud nuurriwl foa, voulil 
70a be in <Uiif6r nowf ** 

** No ; ibtro wonld be noiliing to trouble me, if ilie hadn't ronnded 00 me.**— n. L. 
Farjkon. 

Row. — A row of pins — used to signify wliat is of small value or im- 
portance. F. 

" Trae," would be mj mournful reply ; ** but be doesn't amount to a row of piaa* 
(is a very iniignlficant pertonX— Robkbt Grant, quoted in Ediubva^ HtHew, 

1889, 

Row. — A row royal— & grand fight ; a quarrel in which much noiae is 
made. F. This "row" rhymes with **now,** and is probably an 
abridgement of ** rout." 

And the end ii general exaiperaUon, with fines, notices of leave, wamlnga, dieelri* 
ness, retorts, and every element of a row royal.— Bbsant. 

Rub. — To rub down — to groom a horse. P. 

When his fellow-beasts are weary grown, 
He'll play Uie groom, give oats, and mb 'em down.— DnroRK. 
" T could milk a cow and groom a horse with anybody." 

" Ah ! " said Nicholas gravely ; *' I'm afraid they don't keep many aniroala of 
either kind on board ship, Smike ; and even when they have horaee, that they are not 
very particular about rubbing them down."— Dickeks. 

To rub up — to renew ; to refresh ; to brighten. C. 

You will find me not t6 have rubbed up the memory of what tome In tba dtj 
heretofore did.— Swirr 

I shall be glad of the opportunity of rubbing up my classics a bit ; I have baea 
neglecting them lately.— 11. R Haooard. 

There*8 the ru6— that is the point wliich causes mo trouble. P. A qno- 
tation from Shakespeare — Hamlet's solilofjuy. 

" How does your account with him stand 7" 

" My account ! ah, there's the rub."— Edmund Yates. 

Rubicon. — To cross or jmss the Jiuhicon — to take a decisive step ; to 
venture on a great and dangerous undertaking. P. The Rubicon ia 
a small river which separated republican Italy from Cisalpine Gaul. 
Ca»ar, whose military command was limited to the latter province, 
arrived at this river, and after some hesitation cro8se<l it. By doing 
so he broke the law, and l>ccame an invader of his country. 

Compelled to choose between two alternatives, he laid the matter before his wtfa^ 
and awaited the verdict from her lips. It came without hesitation. '* It Is yoor 
duty; the consequences we must leave. Go forward, and to victory." 

The die was thus cast, the Rubicon croesed.— Quarfer/y Review, 1887, 

Ruddock. — Rtd ruddocks — gold coin. S. 



Rule [ 277 ] Run 

Rule. — To rtUe the roont or roaU — to manage ; to govern ; to have the 
chief say in everything. C. Probably the roofU (meaning an assembly 
of fowls) is the original phrase. 

The new-madtt dnke tluii ralet the roaiU— SnAKSspsARK. 
AlmA, slap-dash, is all again. 
In every sinew, nerve, and vein ; 
Runs here and there, like Hamlet's ghoot. 
While everjwhere she rules the roast— Prior. 
Mrs Nash was ruling the roast at Caromers farm, being unquestionably both mis* 
tress and master.— Mrs. Hrnry Wood. 

He was biding his time, and patiently looking forward to the days when he himself 
would sit authoritative at some board, and talk and direct, and rale the roast, while 
lesser stars sat round and obeyed, as he had so well accustomed himself to do. —A. 
Trollope. 

He cruised around in the rivers and inlets and sounds of North Carolina for a 
while, ruling the roost.— /farj^rr's Monthly^ 1887. 

Rum. — A mm Hart — a strange condition of affairs. S. 

" Come," said Silver, struggling with his ashen lips to get the word oat, '* this 
won't do. Stand by to go about This is a ram start"— R. L. Btbvsmiion. 

A mm aistomer — a person difficult to deal with. S. 

If they (the Dutchmen) could only keep their hands out of their breeches pockets, 
they would be rummer customers than they are now.— Captain Marrtat. 

Run. — To run to seed. See Skkd. 

To run riot — to roam wildly. See Riot. 

To be run out of anything — to have no more in stock or in one's poflses- 
sion. F. 

I must buy some stamps; I am run out of Queen's heads.— 8. Baring-Gould. 

To run ihort — to bo insufficient. P. 

However, the house was flnishcd at length and fnralshed— furnished quietly and 
scantily, because the money ran short — Chamben'i Jourtial^ 1887. 

Several days running — several days in succession. C 

Fine ladies would never consent to be asked for three Soodayt rnoning in ths 
parish church.— TnicvRLYAN. 

In the long-run. Sec Long. 

To run amuck or amok — to nish ahead violently ; to go at a headlong 
imcc. V. A Malay phrase. Generally associated with violent and 

angry collisions. 

Kcndjr to nin amuck with Any one who crossed him.— Di^RAiu. 
Ill tlioir Hlarm they were ready to ran amuck of everything. — Jfandbeslfr 
Guardian, ISSO. 

Satire's my weapon, but Vm too discreet 
To ran amiick, and tilt at all I meet— Popr. 
Hut wliat do you mean by being richf Is it to ran amnck and then fail?— 
Brhant 



Run [ 278 ] Rixn 

To run to earth — to secure the capture of ; to hunt down. C. 

It looks extremely ugly, to lay the least of it, tliat all the men who holiietl tu nin 
to earth the Tarioas members of the Kntliven family were ridilf rewarded.— 
Spectator, Jan, 7, 1888. 

The run of one*a teeth — as much as one can cat. F. 

It was an understood thing that he was to have the ran of his teeth at Ilasdharst. 
and that his muse was to supply all other wants.— Miss Buaddon. 

The run of peojtle ; the common run — ordinary folks ; tlic average of 

people. C. 

Perhaps T am scarcely an example of what is popularly called the common run of 
visitors at the '* Ultramarine."— James Payn. 

The ordinary or common run — what is customary or usual. P. 

I saw at once that these repasts are very superior to the common run of entertain 
ments.— TiiAOXXRAY. 
They had pretensions above the ordinary run.- W. Iavimq. 

To be run after — to be popular and admired. C. 

*' She gives herself wonderful airs, it seems," said Baasett, rather bitterly. 

Marsh fired up. " So would any woman that was as beautiful, and as witty, and 
as much run after as she is." — C. Rbadx. 

She had been rather fond of society, and mnch admired and run after before her 
marriage.— T. Huoheii. 

To run doian — (a) (of a vessel or any b^ly in motion) to sink or over- 
turn it l>y collision. P. 

As he trotted on, he would call put to fast postmen ahead of him to get out of tlie 
way, devoutly believing that in the natural course of things he must inevitably over> 
take and run them down.— Dickens. 

(&) to speak against ; to criticise unfavourably. C. 

^'Jlow could you, could you deceive me sot" cried Ella pitifully. *'8appoM I 
hadn't liked the poems?" 

'* Well, then, I should never have told you about them. But didn't you gnets ihm 
truth when Felspar used to run them down, and protest that they were not half good 
enough for the illustrationsf"— James Payn. 



— (f) to discover ; to hunt after and find. F. 

*' Now, look here," said the captain ; " you've run me down ; here I am. Well, 
then, speak up : what is it f "— R. L. Stevenson. 

— [d) to stop through want of wmding (of a watcli). P. 



The mechanism of the miller's life stopped, but tliat of the watch went on, for Joe 
wound it up that same evening, and it had not since been allowed to run down. — Si. 
Bakino-Gould. 

JRun down — in a low state of health. C. 

This evening, especially, he was much run down, and the unexpected cliop broaght 
a sense of physical comfort which he had not known for a great while.— Bbsavt. 

To run in — to lock up. C. 

Fifty inebriates were run in for the night. 



Riin [ 279 ] Rush 

Jiun OH — a phmse useil in printing, to signify that n paragraph is to be 
continued without a break. 

A run upon a bank — a sudden rush of depositors and holders of notes 
anxious to obtain their money. P. 

Jeuop's bank has such a number of small depositors, and Issues so many small 
notes, lie cannot cash above half of them without notice. If there comes a run, bo 
must hare to stop payment this verj day.^Muw Mulock. 

To rtin for it — to make off ; to hurry away. F. Far U does not refer 
to any object, but is a mere extra phrase. 

But just then— crack! crack! crack! — three muskolnhota flashed out of the 
thicket. Merry tumbled head-foremoet Into the excaTatlon; 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— R. L. 8TRVKN80V. 

To ritn up a score — to buy articles on credit. F. 

Run up a score with that Jellico ! No ; she'd not be such an Idloi as that— Mm. 
H. Wood. 

To run on anythiwj — (of the mind) to bo occupied with thoughts of 

it. r. 

In Kngland everybody's hcail runs on dukes.— Jam km Pavn. 

To run a riy ; to run one^a riys — to play a trick ; to be riotous. F. 

AVhilo 1 live you sliall be kept straight and like a lady; and when I'm gone I 
shan't be none (any) the wiser if you go wrong and run your rigs as you have done.-' 
Mrs. K. Lynn Linton. 

To run oixr — (a) to overflow. P. 

He Alls his famished maw, his mouth runs o'er 

With unchewed morsels, while he churns the gore. — Drydkn. 

{h) to rcml or consider in a hasty manner. P. 

If we run over tlie other nations of Europe, we shall only pan through to many 
different scenes of poverty.— Addison. 

To run out — (a) to come to an end. P. 

When a lea.%e luul run out, he sUpulate«l with his tenant to rssigB up twenty acres 
wlUiout lessening his rent— Swirr. 

(//) to digress ; to extend ; to expand. P. 

Nor is it sufficient to run out into beautiful digressions.— Addbon. 

To nui up— {of a building) to erect speedily ; to build in a short 
time. C. 

This whole street was run up in three months' time. 

Rush.— AV icorth a rush— of no value. P. 

John Bull's friendship is not wortli a rush.— ARSt'TUNor. 



Sack [ 280 ] Sail 



Sack. — To get the sack — to 1>e dismisseil from employment. F. A 
phrase common in French, where hoc (sack) means knapsack. It has, 
therefore, reference to the '* marching off" of a soldier. 

I say, I wonder what old Fogg 'ud (would) lay, if he knew it. I ihonld get tlM 
lack, I s'poM (suppoie), eh? — Huuu Conway. 

** And what i« it to him f " retorted Kvans, witli rude triumph ; *' he it no longer 
an officer of this jail ; ho has got tlie sack and orders to quit tlio prison.**- iX Ukauk. 

Sackcloth. — In sacLrloth and cuhea — in grief and repentance. P. This 
is a Scriptural expression, and comes from the habit of Eastern 
nations on occasions of sorrow and remorse. 

A deplorable error and misfortune, for which humanitj should mourn in sackcloth 
and ashes. ~.T. S. Milu 

She felt that she miglit yet recover her lost ground, that she might fet hnri Mr. 
Slope down to the dust from which she had picked him, and force her sinning lord 
to sue for pardon in sackcloth and ashes.— A. Tkollopx. 

Sad. — A sad dotj—& merry fellow ; a gay man ; a man given to jok- 
ing. F. 
I am afraid, ma'am, your son is a sad dog. 

Safe. — Sa/e hindy safe Jind -what is packed up securely will l>c easily 
got again. C. 
Safe binfl, safe find - you know the proverb.— Wilkik CoixiNii. 

Sail. — To nail dost to the wind — to go very near to impropriety or 
danger. C. Said of a ship when nearly running into the wind. 

He had always been so especially hard on a certain kind of young English gentle- 
man, who lias sailed too close to the wind at home, and who comes to the colony to 
be whitewashed.— H. Kinuslky. 

To male saU—{a) to start (of a sailing vessel). P. 

The captain gave orders for unmooring ship, and we made sail, dropping down 
slowly with the wind and tide.— IL II. Dana, jun. 

(6) to start ; to go off. F. 

The signal to make sail for the drawing-room was given, and they all aroae and 
departed. — TiiACKKRAV. 

To strike sail — (a) to lower tlie sails. P. 

{h) to Ihj more humble ; to lessen one's pretensions. P. 

Margaret 
Must strike her sail, and learn awhile to servo 
While kini^ command.-- SiiAKKsi'EAKE. 

»S*aiY of the line — warshii»s. P. 

Before he left Egypt he (Nelson) burnt three of tlie prises. They could not havs 
been fitted for a passage to Gibraltar in less than a month, and that at a great ei- 
l>ensc, antl with the lo»s of the service of at least two sail of the line.— South ky. 



Sake [ 281 ] Salt 

To set sail. See Skt. 

Sake. — Por tiakt^s fiake — for old times ; because of previous ac<iuaintance. 
F. Ktjual to the Scotch *' For auld langsync." 

I've A-been (I have been) long minded to do*t for take's take.— T. Uuoiibs. 
Yet (or old sake's take the Is still, dears. 
The prettiest doll In the world.— C. Kimoslky. 

Salt. — Above the naJt — ui a positiou of Iionour. P. The salt-cellar in 
the dining-hall of former times was placed half-way down the table, 
aud marked the division between the equals of the master in rank and 
his inferiors. 

Below the scUt — in an inferior position. P. 

Ills lordslilp's business, however, Hot dilefljr with thoto, to to tpoak, bolow the 
salt.— G. J. Wiiytk-Mklvillr. 

To eat. a man's salt— to partake of his hospitality ; to be his guest. C. 
This, among the Aralw especially, constituted a sacred bond between 
host and guest. It is considered unseemly for a person to eat a man's 
salt and then to speak ill of him. 

One docs not eat a man's salt, as It were, at these dinners. There is noihlng lacred 
in this kind of London liospitallty.— Tiiackkrat. 

To salt a mine — to sprinkle some precious ore al>out it, so that it may 
appear rich and pro<luctive. C. A common trick. 

If It hadn't been for the Dutchman's story thej would never have known the mine 
was salted at all.— St. Louis Dtmocraly Aiiril ir, 1888. 

To throw salt on the tail — a ludicrous phrase, app]ie<l to the attempted 

capture of something difPicult to catch. Children are told they may 

catcli birds if they succeed in throwing salt upon their tails, as in the 

nuraery rhyme, — 

Simple Sirnon went a hunting 

For to catch a quail ; 
He got a pennyworth of salt 
To throw upon its tall. 
Wis Intelligence is so good, that were you coming near him with soldiers or con* 
stables or the like, I shall answer for It you will never lay salt on his tall.— Scorr. 

Plenty of subjects going about for them that know how to throw talt upon their* 
tails. That's what's wanted. — Dicrkns. 

The MoJt of the earth — tlie wholesome portion of a community ; that por- 
tion of a community which has a good influence upon the rest. P. 
'I'hc expression is taken from Matthew v. 1.1 : *' Ye are the salt of the 
earth." 

Wo require to call up before us the dissenting community of Um period, with Its 
strong underlying sense, not only Uiat It was the talt of the earth, Imi thai Its 
buundcn duty was to prove Itself sa— Mrs. Oliphant. 

linthfr loo nalt — said of an excessive hotel bill or overcharge of any 
kinil. S. 



Sam [ 282 ] Sand 

— - -— — - ~ 

To spill scUt, This is considered unlucky. It is also considered un- 
lucky to help another to suit at table: ** Help to salt, help to 
sorrow. " 

Some of these egga were for brcakfact, and I ate them with a good apiMtlte ; but in 
helping inyeolf to salt I iplllcd it, ou which vhe started up witli a scream.— 
T11ACKERA.Y. 

Worth one*s sail — of value ; serviceable. C. 

Ho loved to earn his money. ' He delighted to believe— Toby was very poor, ami 
couldn't well afford to part with a delight— tliat he was worth his salt.— Dick icnh. 
Every man who is worth his salt has his enemies.- T. Uuoukil 

True to ont^s salt — faithful to one's employer. P. 

Faithful as they were to their salt, they had never so much as dreamed that the 
master whom they had served so loyally could betray them.— J. A. Fuouuk. 

With a grain of salt. See Grain. 

Sam. — To stand Sam— to entertain friends; to pay for refreshments. 
S. Sam is a contraction for '* Uncle Sam," a jocular name for the 
U.S. Government. The phrase, therefore, originally means to ]iay all 
expenses, as the Government does. 

Samaritan. — A good Samaritan — one M'ho 1)chaves in a kind and com- 
passionate manner to thtmo who have no claims U[>on him. 1*. Sco 
the parable of the (UhhX Samaritan (Luke x. 21)). 

I took leave of the good Samaritan, who appointed two of my niggers to see me 
out of the wood.— G. Kkadk. 

It is seldom that debtors or good Samaritans waylay people under gas-lamiM in 
order to force money upon tliem, so far as I have seen or heard.— J. R. J^wkll. 

Same. — All the same — (a) no difference. P. 

*' It must be late in tlie afternoon, then," said the lawyer rather crossly. 
'* All the same to me," acquiesced the Pater.— Miw. II. Wood. 

{b) nevertheless. C. 

He may be a reformed character. All the same, I cannot employ him. 

Sanctum. — Sanctum sanrtornm — a private retreat ; the room in a house 
set apart for one's private use. C. Latin. 

"HI might be aIlowc<l to pro|K>sc," said Lasarns, ** I would suggest your foUow' 
ing uie into my tanetum tanclvrum."—^ Hauino (iovi.D. 

Sand. — The sand has run out — the apiminted tenn has come to an cud. 
P. Stind is here the sand in the hour-glass, by which time M'aa 
formerly measured. 

" Hush, my child -never talk of dying. Plcane Ood, you have many years of Uf« 
before you." 

She shook her golden liead a little nadly. " So, doctor, my sand hat run out ; and 
IHirha|>i It U as well."— H. l:. Haooakd. 

.1 rope of sand. See Korb. 



Sang ^ [ 283 ] Scarlet 

Sang. — Saufj froid — cold blood ; calmness in the presence of excitement 
or of danger. P. French. 

Then Robinion, who had nerer lost hit presence of mind, and had now recorered 
his tangfroidt made all (our captives sit roiuid together on the ground in one little 

lot— C. llEADK. 

Sans. — Satut/a^oH — without observing strict etiquette. P. French. 

" Will you both come and dine with me to-night, aam/afon ; there will be nobod/ 
except Agatha and Mr. Ileigham?" asked Mrs. Carr.— U. R. IIaooajid. 

Satan. — Satan rejjTovitnj sin. This phrase is used when the person who 
finds fault with another is equally guilty of the bad habit. F. 

Satin. — A yard of Miin — a glass of gin. London slang. 

Sauce. — Whaf M ftaure/or the goose is aatice for the gander — like things 
demand like trcivtnicnt. C. 

Now, what's sauce for the goose Is sauce for Uie gander : if jon put a preeiure on 
one class to make it train Itself properly, you must put a pressure on oUien to the 
same end.— M. Arnold. 

Sauve. — Sauve qui jtent. This phrase is used when, in a time of danger, 
every one looks out for his own safety. P. French. 

If Swift had not been committed to the statesmen of the losing side, what a fine 
satirical picture we might have had of that general m«cm qui peut (scramble out of 
danger) amongst the Tory iMrty.— Tiiackkhay. 

Savoir. — Saroir iHrrc — knowledge of polite life. P. French. 

Miss Nugent had always seen him in large companies, where he was admired for 
his savotr virre and entertaining aneodotea— Maria Euok worth. 

Savour. — To savour of the 2>au — to betray its origin. F. 

To savour of the frying-pan — to show signs of heresy. P. 

* 

Bishop Nix of Norwich used to call the persons whom be suspected of heretical 
opinions, " men savouring of the frying-pan.**— South bt. 

Say. — To Hay one*s say — to say all one has to say ; to tell one*8 own 

story ill one's own way. C. 

Indies and gentlemen, the workman has said his say, and I hope the eompany 
have been aiiiiised.- C. Rkauk. 

Scarce. — To male oneself scarce — to retire ; to withdraw ; to go off. F. 

As soon as ever they understood the object of their feared and respected com- 
mandant, a general desire manifested itself to make themaelvee retpectlvely and col- 
lectively scarce.— H. R. IIaooard. 

AVhen a lady tells you decidedly she can't stop to talk to you, and when the ap- 
)i«irs up to her eyes in cleaning house or sometlting of that sort, the next thing to 
do is to make yourself scarce.— Obor(is Euot. 

Scarlet.— 7*^<; Scarlet iromai^— the Cliurch of Rome. P. A term 

lK»rrowcd funn the Bible (Rev. xvii. 4). 

The Utter old laily (Rome) may be the Scarlet Woman, or the beast with tea horas, 
if you will. -J. R. LowKLL. 



Sohoolmaster [ 284 ] Scotch 

opinion I Iff what the believert In the Scarlet Woman call inveterate contnma^; 
they nied to bum people for it— Jamkh Payn. 

Scarlet fever — feminine preference for military men. F. Tlie BritiBh 
military colour is re<l. 

Schoolmaster. — The schoolmaster is abroad — gooil etlncation is spread- 
ing everywhere. P. Often, but wrongly, used in the opposite scuso 
— to imply that the schoolmaster is absent, and is much needed. 

Let Uio soldier be abroad if he will, he can do nothing in tliia age^ There ia an- 
other personage— a personage less imposing In the eyes of some, perhapa Insignlfloant. 
The schoolmaster is abroad, and I trust to him, armed with his primer, againU tlie 
soldier in full military array.— Lord Brougham. 

Scissors. — Scissors and paste — the implements of a newspaper sub-editor, 
who cuts out extracts from other journals for his own. C. 

They saw in the applicant for the editorship merely an inferior, whoee duty had 
probably lain in the scissors and paste department— Bkbakt. 

Score. — To go off at score — (a) to lose control of oneself ; to speak in a 
rambling way. F. 

The conversation soon becoming general, lest Uie black-eyed should go off at soon 
and turn sarcastic, that young laily related to Jemima a summary of everything sha 
knew concerning Mr. Dombey— bis prospects, family, pursuits, and character. — 

DiOKBNS 

lleuben would answer, going off at score in his old way.- H. Kihoslby. 

(6) to proceed witliout any hesitancy or break. C. 

In every year of a boy's school-life he learned to read two or three little books, and 
he usually had these so well by heart that he could go off at score if yon started him 
on any given page.— A^inctoent/^ Century , July 183S. 

Scot. — iS^co^/rw— ^uite uninjured. P. 

1 could not name a single woman of my acquaintance of whom I have not heard 
some story or other. £ven dear, good, old Hester doesn't come off scot frae.— 
Florknck Marryat. 

Scot and lot — payment exacted by the parish. P. 

The right of voting at Westminster was in the householders paying scot and loi.— 
Maoaulay. 

Scotch. — Scotch Jiddle — the itch. S. 

A Scotch inarriafje — nn irregular marriage. P. The Scotch marriage 
law required very fuw formalities. The village of Gretna Green, ou 
the Border, was famous for such marriages. 

A gooti many years ago, wlien I was very young, and a most consummate fo(d, I 
got myself entrapi>ed into a Scotch marriage. Mik:* Bb addon. 

A Scotch mitt — a drizzling rain. C. 

** Drip, drip, drip i " cried CeUa, pettishly ; " one of tliese odious Scotch mista, that 
is as likely to last for a week as for an hour."— M188 Uuaddom. 

Out of all scotch — excessively. F. 



Scotland [ 285 ] Screw 

/ did not scotch my miud—l spoke plainly. F. 

Scotland. — Scotland Yard — the London police headquarters. C. 

He'll bleed yon to your last liipenoe, and, as likely as not, when you're cleaned out 
he'll write to Scotland Yard.— D. Curihtib Murray. 

Who set Scotland Yard on my heels T Who put you up to tlie fact that I am the 
man who called himself Chicot?— Mim Braddon. 

Scrape. — To scrajK acquaint aiict trith (iny one — to insinuate oneself into 
tcrnis of fainilinrity ; to nmko friends in a clianco way. C 

Scratch. — To hrinrf one to the acralch — to cause one to come to a deci- 
sion. C. The scratch is the line in a prize-ring up to which the 
boxers are led. 

I'm the fellow to bring old Bryce up to the scratch.— Grorob Eliot. 

7*0 come to the scra/ch — to declare oneself ; to conic to a decision ; to act 
decisively. C. 

Indeed, had it not been for a little incident about to be detailed, it is doubtful if 
Mr. Bellamy would have ever come to the scratch at alL— H. R. Haooard. 

Finally, to ray i>atron*s great content, I consented to come up to the scratch, and 
Monday night I had the hardihood to present myself in the music-room of the 
Adelphi.— C. Rbadk. 

A scratch nmner — one who, in a handicap race, starts from the line, or 
starting-post, and gets no advantage. 

Old Scratch— the devil. F. 

" 8am,** says she, " what on earth ails you, to make you act so like Old Scratch in 
your sleepf'—IlAMiiHRTOM. 
I'd as soon intrust my affairs to Old Scratch as to him.— Mrs. H. Wood. 

A scratch team or jtack — a number of individuals brought together acci- 
dentally or hastily. P. 

It seoms now to be generally understood that Constantinople itself is not to be de- 
fended by this country, unless Hungarian feeling should make Austria fight, and 
unless a scratch pack of other allies can also be obtained.— forfnH^Mly RttUwt 

18S7. 

Scr6W. — A screw loose — something wrong ; a disturbing clement. C. 

Said when two friends liave a diflcrence, or when something wrong or 

unpleasant happens in one's affairs. 

"Jefferson forgot to insert one little word,'* said 1 ; "he should have said, 'all 
white men.' " 
" Well," said he, " I must admit there Is a screw loose Mnewhere."— Hali- 

BURTON. 

Our Lindlady turne<I pale;— no doubt she thought Uiere was a aerew loots In ny 
Intellect.- -(>. W. Jloi.UKfi. 

An ofd scrcir—n, miserly fellow. F. 

Tills gentleman and the guard knew Sir Pitt very well, and laughed at hin a great 
deal. They both agreed in calling him an old screw, which meaBs a very ellagy, 
avaricious person.— Tiiaokbrat. 



[ 286 ] Sear 



To draw one*a acrtw— to draw one's salary. S. 

He's a reporter on the Newi, and draws a handsome screw.— Bkhant. 

To acrtw one'a coturuje to the tUichiutj-jiiact — to rosolvo to act docUively ; 
to summon up boldness to strike. P. A quotation from Shakespoaro 
(Machetht act i. scene vii. line 00) : ** But screw your courage to Uio 
sticking-place, and well not fail." 

He either did not fear him, or had screwed his coorage to the sUcktng-pUee.— 
Jakes Payn. 

To ptU on the acrtw — to limit one's credit ; to bo less 1>oltl and venture- 
some in business undertakings. C. 

To pitt under the acrtw — to coerce or compel. C. 

To piU the acrtw on — to bring pressure to bear on ; to apply force 
to. C. 

He knew where he could put the screw on George.— Tuackkray. 

Rtfjularly «rrcM>ed— drunk. S. 

Sea. — At sea — in a state of perplexity ; unable to give any explanation 
or solution. P. 

It was disgusting tliat these two young people- for his niece looked as moch at sea 
(perpleicti) as his son— should be so wrapped up in one another and their common* 
place affairs, as to have forgotten " Vortlgem and Rowena" already.— Jambs Payh. 

I could not have been more at sea had I seen a Chinese lady from Pekin.— Uiu. 
H. Wood 

JlcUf secu ortr — the worse for liquor. S. 

To gtt ont^a ata-ltgs on — to 1>o able to walk steadily on shipboanl. F. 

Give him a little time to get the use of his wits in emergencies, and to know the UtUa 
arts that do so much for a patient's comfort— Just as you give a young sailor time to 
get his sea-legs on and teach his stomach to behave itself— and he will do well 
enough.— O. W. Holmks. 

Beyond seem — on the other side of the ocean. P. 

The husband or lover may have been out of the way— beyond seas, perhaps— a 
sailor, very likely.— Mi ms DKAnDOM. 

Sta-horats—i\iQ white breakers on the sea-coast 

Alice's eyes are flzod on the white sea-horses.— Austkn Fkmber. 

The son of a ttfa'CooL'—a contemptuous term in use among seamen. S. 
If he got «ny more cheek from him, or any other post and rail son of a sea-cook.— 

H. KiNOHLKY. 

Sear. — The, sear and ydlow /to/— old age. P. 

My way of life 
Is fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf.— SirAKanraAR*. 
The baby in whose lionour they hail all met is a matron in the sear and yellow 
leaf. -Thomas IIakdy. 



Season [ 287 ] Seek 

Season. — In reason and out of season — at suitable times and at unsuit- 
able times. P. 

He made manj enemies by these tilings, nttered in season and out of season.— 
Aiacmillan's Magaxine, 2887. 

Second. — To come off second best — to be defeated. C. 

The Koh-i-noor, as we named the gentleman with the diamond, left us, howerer, 
ioon after Uiat " little mill," as the yoong fellow John called it, where he came off 
second best.— O. W. Holmks. 

See. — To see double — to be drunk. C. 

To hai^ seen Itetter days — to have been in a higher social position ; to 
have been in a better condition. P. Used both of persons and 
things. 
He's an Englishman, and, I guess, has seen better days.— Hauburton. 

To see to anythinri — to attend to it ; to take care of it. P. 

He's above thinking of farming tools; he sees to the bran-new gig.— Haliburton. 
She (Lady Palmerston) saw to everything.— PiiMic Opinion^ 1886. 

To see off—to accompany to the place of departure ; to witness the de* 
parture of. P. 

Before he cnuld say any more, in came Bessie herstlf, saying that the drirer was 
waiting, and they went out to see her sister off.— U. II. Haugabo. 

To see irr// mid rfoofl—to think fit ; to bo willing ; to consent. C. 

An* if yonr reverence sees well and good, I'll send my boy to tell 'tm •• 00011 •• I 
get home.— <t Bono b Euot. 

To see a jierson at York Jirst — an expression of extreme unwillingness, 
used where one is unwilling to do a service or grant a favour. F. 

H a girl like Miss Jennyngo had done it— tlioagh, as %. matter of fact, she would 
have seen him at York flrst (was most nn willing to do such a thing)— it would have 
been civil, and that's all.— James Path. 

Seed.— 7*0 ritn to seed—{n) to grow rank ; to become weak by excess of 
growth. P. 

I am incline<l to think that there U such a thing as archltector* run to seed.— 
NineUenUt Century, ISSfi. 

There is no use denying the fact that in the popular ImaginaUon the Bysaatine 

Empire appears as a political monstrosity a world. In short, which conslsUd 1b 

civilization mn to seed.— SmffiJifc JUriew, 188S. 

Painters had been in the Bank House, which had been running to seed and ealUag 
in the mont crying manner to bo done np.— Rarah TvTLKn. 

Mr. Monks is aware tliat I am not a young man, my dear, and also that I am a 
little run to seed.— Dick rna. 

« 

(/») to become 8cc<ly, or worn out. 



Seek. — To seek— lacking; deficient. P. 

The Hermans in Creek 
Are sadly to seek— Porsow. 



Sell [ 288 ] Serve 

lie did very well undenUnd thai ibo adhetlon of two such prettj and well-dre«ed 
girls to the cause, which is at present sadly to seek In the matter of yonng ladies, 
would greatly stimulate waverers and bring enthusiasm into the ranks.— Kksakt. 

SelL — To sell another man — to deceive him. S. 

Did I ever tell you how tlie young vagabond sold me last half f— T. IIuunEM. 

To sell a man up — to force him to become a 1>aiiki*upt ; to compel him to 
have liis property brought to auction. P. 

Then he would send in his bills, sue her, sell her up, and drive her out of the place 
stripped to the last farthing.— Bissamt. 

To Hell out — (a) to leave the army. P. This phnisc was U8e<1 when 
commissioua in the army were bought and sold, a system abolislied by 
Mr. Glailstone's government in 18G0. 
It was in this period that he quitted the Guards, and sold out of the army. — 

TUACKKItAY. 

(/>) to get rid of investments ; to take rcatly money in place uf in- 
vestments. P. 

Still a great loss would be incurred by selling out of them at a pcr1o«l of depres- 
sion.— C. ICkadb. 

To sell ojf'— to part with the whole of anything. P. 

George heard of a farmer who was selling off his sheep about fifty mileai olT near 
the coast. C. Rkauk. 

Send. — To send to Coiv.nfry — to exclude fi-om companioiuihip. F. 
'* Sent to Coventry " signiiics in disgrace or disfavour with one's aaso* 
ciates. Most used by schoollK>ys, who inflict the punishment fre- 
quently on their fellows. See ]k»Ycx>TT. 

In fact that solemn assembly, a levy of the school, had been held, at which the 
captain of the school had got up, and given out that any boy, In whatever form, 
who slioulil tliencoforth ap}>oal to a master, without liaving first gone t) some pro- 
posltor and laid the case before him, sliould be thrashed publicly, and sent to 
(Coventry. - -T. IIuuiikh. 

To send one about ont*a htisine/tJt— to dismiss peremptorily. P. 

Ui>on tills I was, naturally, molliflcd, and sent him about his business, hoping to 
have seen the last of him at Highmorc.— C. Ukaue. 

Seniores. — Seniores //riorc^f —cldei*8 first ; let the older ]X!oplc take pre- 
cedence. C. I^tin. 

We say at school, Seniores priores (let favour go by seniority).— C. Reads. 

Sere. — See SK.vit. 

Serve. — To nenr a jyf^^rson out— io retaliate upon him for real or fiuicic«t 
wrongs ; to wreak revenge on liini. C. 

"Little brute," crlitl Hawes viciously; " I'll work him; I'll serve him ooL^-C 
Readk. 



Set [ 289 ] Set 

To serve a man right — to be a right troatment for him ; to punish him 
deservedly. C. 

lie knocked him clean off hii legs on to the deck, where he Uj stunned and bleed* 
ing. " Serve him right," cried Chariie from the batcliwaj.— G. J. Whytb-Mbltillb. 

7*0 serve oiie^s turn — to be useful on occasion ; to assist or prove service- 
able when needed. P. 

IIU connection with the press serres bur turn, Uarry, doem't it?— Edmuhd 
Yatbs. 

To serve one a bad turn — to do him an injury. C. 

You mean well, I liave no doubt; bat jrou never in jour life served me a worse 
turn than when you prevented me from liitting Uiat man.— W. E. Nobrib. 

Set. — A set doicn — a chance ride in a passing vehicle. F. 

Part of the Jonmej I performed on foot ; but wherever I could I got a set down, 
because I was iniiiattent to get near Uie Land's End.— Maria Edobwortii. 

To set abont — to commence ; to make preparations for. P. 

Tho7 gave him hints that he might set about doing something to provide himself 
with a living.— William Black. 

To set one's cap at — (of a woman) to try to captivate ; to try to obtain aa 

a husband. P. 

" You won't like everything 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 you.*'— Thaok beat. 

7V> set one's face aijaitiM — to oppose resolutely. P. 

Nor was it in the least on SBsthetlo grounds that he had set his face against the 
whole scheme.— (7ood IVordtj 1887. 

To set the teeih on edge — to irritate ; to grate upon the feelings. P. 

His nails also were flat and shapeless, and he used to be continually gnawing 
them till he had succeeded in getting them down to the quick, and they were a sight 
to set a Chrhitian's teeth on edge.— S. Warrbn. 

To set one^sface like a flint— io be resolute and determined. P. 

They wore a couple of lionltke men; they had set their faces like a Hint— 

DUNYAN. 

To set ai/ainftt or oif r ogainRt — to place on the opposite side from, so aa 
to counterbalance or make even. P. 

There were cows to be paid for, with the smith and farrier's bill, to be set against 
the rent of the demesne.— Maria Edobworth. 

In fact, one vice is to be set over against another, and thiu somethliif like • 
balance is obtained. — R. II. Dana. 

To Ret on foot — to start ; to 1>cgin. P. 

Ho did not stop to set on foot an inquiry into his train of thought or state of feel- 
ing.— Dickrnh. 

To srf the Thames (or a rii'cr) on /re— to be conspicuously able ; to be a 
man of light and leading. P. 
From nearer home we have tlie well-known eipresslon, *' He will BeT«r iti tka 

19 



Set [ 290 ] Set 

Thunei on flre." It U thai explained. Onr anceston nied a wooden mill, or qneni, 
which lometimei took flre when worked with great rapiditj. This mill wae called 
the thammii; and when in the liandt uf an idle miller, tlie chances of ita bec(Mjilng 
ignited wore conilderably minlmiaed.— illZ tlu Year lUmiul, 1887. 

I hardlj expect him to let the Thames on flre ; but I hope his mother will nerer 
ha?e reason to be asliamod of him.— W. K. Noiium 

These lead lives colourless, so far as the nation's advancement is concerned. Tliejr 
set no stream on fire, and count their dnty to the state satisfied when thej have paid 
their taxes. 

Well set up—vfe\\ built; having a powerful frame. C. 

He was well set up; a big, handsome fellow, with brown lialr straight and sliort, a 
smooth cheek, and a full moustache^— Bbm ant. 

To set of— (a) to start. P. 

He set off for Bedford earlj that morning.— C Ueadk. 

Vivian set off the next day for Sir Badmore Scrope's.— BKACONancLD. 

(&) to embellish ; to show to advantage. P. 

That is a becoming glass, Gwendolen ; or is it the black and gold colour thai seta 
jou off r— Okorqk Eliot. 

Miss Crawlejr had a good taste. She liked natural manners— a little timldit/ onl/ 
set them off.— TnACKKiiAY. 

A 8el-off—w\\B,t counterbalances. P. 

As a little set-off against the pig-master's bills, I make heavy entries against the 
good squire.- Blackmokk. 

Others talked of the shop as infra dig.; the set-off against which was tlie edoeatloa 
and beauty of the bride.— Captain Marryat. 

To set in — to become settle<l in a particular state. P. 

The afternoon set in dull, and toward evening the sea freshened saflldentlj to send 
most of the passengers below. — U. R. Haouard. 

To set nail — to start on a voyage. P. 

Henry had taken the child she brought him in his arms, and set sail in a venei 
bound for Africa.— Mum. Inchbalu. 

My friend the captain never inquired after me, but set sail with as much Indlffer^ 
ence as if I had been on board.— Goldsmith. 

To set up — to restore ; to re-establish. P. 

So he tried everything he could think of to get set up (strong again)L— T. Huanien. 

" It says, by the way, tliat the Duke of Dunderhead is certainly making up to Mrs. 
Thumps, the rich Nightman's widow ; a precious goo<l hit that, isn't It? Yon know 
the duke's as poor as a rat ! " 

" Oh, tlMt's no news. It will quite set him up (restore him to wealtli), and no 
mistake." -S. Warhkn. 

To set up /or — to preteiul to l)e. P. 

Henry White swore he would take rooms at the Tremont House and set np for a 
gentleman.— K. H. Dana, jvs. 

Tlio youth, before setting up for a gentleman, had l>een an attorney's apprentlet. 
— W. Irving. 

To ael store by. See Stoke. 



Settle [ 291 ] Shade 

To set liftU by — to value sliglitly ; to despise. P. 

Ilif prince, the lord of that country, will shortly como Into tliCM ]>arta, and will 
know the reeaon, If they have any, why hU nelghbourt set eo little by him.— . 

DUNVAN. 

A set-to—^ fight. F. 

At a dead net — in a state of stagnation ; at a standstill. P. 

To make a dead set at — to single out as the object of one's attentions. C. 
The old lady made a dead sot at the parson. 

Settle. — To settle a mail's hash — to kill him. S. 

He received some terrible kicks on tlie back and legs. "Give it bim on the 
head I "-" Kick his life out I **-" SetUe hU hash I "-C. Rbads. 
I take no blame for settling his hash.— R. L. Stbvicnkon. 

e 

7V> settle doicn—to adopt a regular mode of life ; to engage in one's life- 
work ; to cease to wander al)0ut. P. 
"Surely," thoa(ht Angela, "he is settling down; he will soon Und work."— 

BniA.NT. 

Seven. — The seven deadly sins — pride, envy, wrath, sloth, covetousness, 

gluttony, and lust. P. 

Sure, it is no sin ; 
Or of the deadly sins it is the least— SiiAKnPEAn*. 
Vulgarity is an eighth deadly sin, added to the list in theae later days.— J. R. 

LOWBLL 

Scven-leaijne Itoots — boots which carrieil their wearer at an extra- 
ordinarily rapid rate. P. An expression borrowed from a well-known 
fairy tale. 

Mr. Carlyle would be much better if he didn't Uke health by the throat (as It 
were), bathing as if he were a little boy in the Serpentine, walking as^ if he had 
seven league boots.— JiiNB Carlylb. 

The seven slefj)ers — seven Cliristian youtlis who flcil from persecution in 
the third century, and fell asleep in a cave, lliey did not awake 
until their discovery more than two hundred years later. The story 
occurs in various forms. 

A roastod ox and a lethargy like tliat of the seven sleepers would icaroe rettora 
you to the use of your rofreehe<l and waking senses.— Scorr. 

A seven days* icoiidfT — something which absorbs public interest for a 
short time and then is forgotten. C. See Nink. 
The seven days' wonder about the boy had almost died away.— HuoH Conway. 

Sewn. — Sewn up — intoxicated. S. 

Ilo took care to tell you that some of the party were pretty eontiderably "itwn 

up" too — TllACKrRAT. 

Shade.— To fall into the shade— to cease to attract attention. P. 

nut, Anally, the original Semite fell more and more into the shade. The Aryan 
came to the front— If. R. IIaooabd. 



Shake [ 292 ] Sheep 

Shake.— TV) shake a leg— {a) to dance. F. 

I eipUln that the stago U readj for thom, if thej like to act; or the eoneert-rooiii, 
if thej will ling; or the dandng-room, should thejr wish to shake a leg.— BttUHT. 

(6) to move about. F. 

He was lo bad that father never let him come Into the honte, where, be Mid. 
honesty alone should shake a leg.— Bkhant 

To sJutlt one*s head— to indicate disapproval, doubt, or dissent P. 

When he read the note from tlie two ladies, he sliook his head, and obeenred that 
an affair of Uils sort demanded tlie utmost circumspection.— GoLDayiTU. 

No greai shakes — of little value or account. S. 

Oatmeal is no great shakes at best It ain't even so good for a horM as real xellow 
Indian corn.— IlAUBtiKTON. 

To shake by the hand or shake hands — to salute by grasping the hand. P. 

But she smiles as she sliakes her bj the hand.— Florsnob Marryat. 

He said, " I wish you to abstain from writing to Sir Charles, and him to visit jod 
only once more before his marriage, Just to shake hands and jiart, with mntaal 
friendship and good wishes."- C. Rbauk. 

To shaXe the elbow — to gamble with dice. 

7'o shake the dust off one's ft'tt — (a) an act showing ono*8 displeasure with 
any place, and a determination never to return thither. P. 

He (Keuat) had been reganlcd by the Austrlans as the author of their mlsfortnnM^ 
and wrote from tliclr capital to a friend in Saxony: "To-morrow I leave Vienna. 
I will shake the dust off my feet I will not return there in a hurry." — QNarlfHy 
Itfview, 1SS7. 

Soon after the interview Just reconled, he left Barchester, shaking the dost off 
his feet as he entered tlie railway-carriage.- A Trollops. 

{b) to cease travelling. C. 

At length tlie pilgrim shook tlie dust off his feet at Heidolborf.— BRAOONsriKLn. 

To shake in one*s shoes— to lie in a state of apprehension or fright C. 

The children's copybooks, etc., were laid out for Inspection, while the enbryo 
scholars manifestly sliook in their shoos before the verdict to bo pronounced on their 
luiltlng i>orformance.— Sarah Tytlvr. 

Sharp. — Sharp ;)rnr^iVc— grasping behaviour ; conduct which is dcfeni- 
ible on legal grounds, but is yet considered ungenerous. P. 
" I call this," said Tommy, In a great rage, ''confounded sharp practice."— BnAMT. 

Sheep. — To cast or make sheep^s eyes — to look at with amorous cyei. C 

The horrid old colonel, with a head as bald as a cannon ball, was making thm^ 
eyes at a half-caste girl there.— Track kray. 

Black sheep — ImuI characters. C. 

" We are as liable to have black sheep here as elsewhere,** tlie archdeacon rtpltod.^ 
A. Trollopk. 



Sheet [ ^3 ] Ship 

Sheet. — Three sheets in the wind — lialf-intoxicatcfl. F. 

CupUtn Cuttle, looking, candle In hand, at Dunsbj inoro attontlTcly, belloTed 
that he was three sheets In the wind, or. In plain words, drunk.— Dick bmi. 

Shelf. — Laid or pnt on the shelf— no longer engaged in active work ; set 
aside to make room for more active workers. P. 

What is a man to do when he's put on the shelf and has no home T— Good Wordt 

1887. 

ShelL — To shell oiU — to pay out money. S. 

We can always make tlie old fillain shell out, as he ought— Mah. £. Lynn 
Linton. 

Shield. — The other side of the shield — the other side of any question. 
P. The story is told of two knights who, meeting at a \KMi from 
which a shield w:is suspended, fell to quarrelling about the material 
of which the shield was composeil. The one held it to bo gold, the 
other silver. From words they civno to blows. After a bitter struggle 
they discovered that Iwth were right, since tlie one side was gold, 
and the otlier side silver. 

Shift.— TV) make shift — to contrive with difficulty. P. 

He had erected a mill In miniature for the dWertion of Edward's Infant grandson, 
and made shift in Its construction to Introduce a pliant bit of wood tliat answered 
with its fairy clack to the murmuring of the rill tiiat turned it.— If. Mackkncib. 

ny my other labours I make sliift to cat and drink and lia?e good clotliea.— Gold- 
nMiTii. 

Shilling. — To take the Queen*s shilling or gel the shilling — to become a 
soldier. P. Soldiers on enlisting received a shilling from the recruit- 
ing sergeant as a sign of tlie bargain having been concluded. 

It was then that, not caring what became of me, I took the Queen's shilling, and 
became a soldier.— D. L. Farjkon. 

" I am ready enough to become a recruit," said Allen. 

" Dut you can't And the man with the ribbons and the shilling (the recruiting* 
sergeant). Patience I The recruiting-sergeant is always about You will get that 
shilling."— Bbsant. 

Shine.— TV) take the shine wU of— to surpass ; to outshine; to outvie. 
F. Also, but less correctly, off of 

You will become a rival potentate to my governor. Y'on will take the shine oat 
of him directly.— 0. Rbaok. 

lie Is the nrtt man of the age: and it's generally allowed our doctor* take the 
shine off of all the world.— II a Li bur ton. 

Ship. — }Vhcn one's ship comes in or homt — when one's fortune is made. F. 

Yestordny afternoon I bronirht my long business to a head: the ship has coma 
home : one more dead lift, and I shall ceaae to fetch and carry for the rrinoMS RaU- 
Oft.— R L. 8TKVRNw>y. 

TIio woaltliy relative, of whom he borrowed for Dooglas's sake, propoaed to rapply 
him witli an income of a hundre<l ponnds |ier annum until ibt major's nast tipaetcd 
ship should come in.— D. CniuariB MuasAV. 



Shoe [ 294 ] Shoe 

Ship-shape — neatly arranged. F. 

The ship of the desert — the camel. P. 

Shoe. — To shoe a goose or a yoiUimj — to engage in a foolitih or fruitl< 
undertaking. F. 

*' The smith ihfti will meddlo with all thingi majr go ihoo the gotlinfi,'* i« an <4d 
proverb.— Mart4 Edobwortu. 

To die in one^s shoes — to die on the scaffold. F. 

And thoro i» Mr. Fiim, and Lieutenant Tregooio, 
And there la Sir Oirnabjr Jonke of the Vluct. 
All come to lee a man die in hie thoce.— Bauham 

To stand in another's shoes— U) occupy the position lield by another. C. 

Don*t think, if 70a value yonr peace of mind, to stand in my shoes when tiiey are 
vacant. — Tii aokbray. 

To tread the shoes straight — to be npright in one's conduct. F. 

To throw an old shoe after one. This is done at weddings to wish good 
luck to the person. An old shoe means '* long life.** 

To shake in one*s shoes — to be in a state of nervous terror. C. 

When Mrs. Prondie began to talk of the souls of the i)eoplo ho always shook In 
his shoes.— A. Tbollopk. 

7V> be in another person^ s shoes — to bo in the same position as an* 
other. C. 

"6h, would I be in Arthur's shoes after fourth lesson?" said the little hojs to 
one another.— T. IIuqiibm. 

To step into another person^s shoes — to take the position previously oc- 
cupied by another. C. 

"That will do, sir," he thundered; "that will do. It is very evident now what 
would hapi>en if yon stopped into my shoes after my death."— <7oocl JKordi, 1887. 

To %oait for another's shoes — to look forward with expectation to hii 
death. C 

The old cock means to crow yet over some that are waiting for his shoes.— Stott. 
Cornelli, tlie eldest, who hail made calculations of his own, and stock to th* 
hearth, waiting for dead men's shoes.— C Ukadk. 

Quite a different pair of shoeR—nn altogether diflfcrcnt case. F. Prob- 
ably a corruption of the French tout autre choiw.^ **aii altogetlicr 
different thing." 

Promise and performance are a very different pair of shoes.— Blackmorc. 

Where the shoe TjiwcAca— where the difficulty or cause of discomfort 
lies. C. 

" Ife discharged me from visiting the premises." 

"That was not very pollle.- 

" And threatened to horsewhip me the next time I came there." 

"Oh, that is where the «hoe pinches" (what irriUtes you).-C. Reads. 



Shoot [ 295 ] Shoulder 

" I do not believe It; and, anyhow, I will not have you flirting with her in my 
prcwnco." 
" Ah, that Is whore the shoe pinches.**— Florbmck MAnnvAT. 

Shoot. — To shoot the pit — to cheat a landlonl by leaving without paying 
the rent. S. Compare ** moonlight flitting" and ''shooting of 
moons," which see. 

Shooting of moons. See Moon. 

Shop.— To talk shop— to speak exclusively of one*8 own business or 
professional affairs. F. 

" When he had a few clergymen round him, how he loved to make them happy I" 
" Never talked shop to them, did he?** said the archdeacon.— A. Trollops. 

Short. — Short comfnons — want of sufficient supplies ; scanty rations. C. 

He deserves to bo soundly rated and kept upon sliort commoni for backing bills. ~ 
Oood Word*, 1SS7. 
In tlie midst of short commons, anxiety, and hard work.— H. Kinohlsy. 

A short ait — a quick path ; a path which saves distance ; a method 
which saves time. P. 

" See yonder, how our young people are enjoying themselves I ** and he pointed with 
his whip to where Ella and Anastada, accompanied by Vernon and Felspar, could 
be seen approaching them by a short cut.— Jamks Path. 

Catechisms of history, manuals of arithmetic, short cuts to a smattering of science^ 
and gaides to universal knowledge.— JTriinfricr^h Review, 1887, 

Short AAr(/?— little time to repent ; but a small interval before tho in- 
fliction of punishment. P. Shrtft was the priest's absolution. 

The neighbours would form a posse in a twinkling, and chase the thief night and 
day till they secured him; and then short shrift for the poor wretch.— Afaaii<i(ai»*« 
Magaxine, 1887, 

The short and the long of it — the whole matter stated briefly ; the sum 
and substance of the matter. P. 
The short and the long of It was, I couldn't tell what to make of her.— Maria 

ElHIK WORTH. 

And the short and the long of the matter was, that while we could get several who 
were willing enough to ride to Dr. LIvescy's, which lay in another direction, not ona 
would help us to defend the inn.— R. L. Stbvkkson. 

Shot. — Shot in the loclxr — funds in hand. F. 

" As long as there's shot In the looker, sfce shall want for nothinf," said the gener- 
ous fellow.— TnACKRRAT. 

Shoulder.— 7*0 turn, show, or git^ the cold shottlder^to treat ooolly t 
to repulse. P. 

Since T dlMcanlc<l him for Nave, he has turned the cold shookler upon ma.— Mrs. 
Uknuy Wood. 

I'm afraid people are rather inclined to show them the ooM thofMM.—Ocod 
n'ordx, lfi87. 

Some time ago you had a friend whose companionship I thought was doing yott no 
good, and I gave him Uie cold slioulder.— Jambs Payh. 



Show [ 296 ] Show 

To have an old head on young ahouLdera — to bo wise beyond oiiu*8 
years. C. 
Yoa appear to hare an old head upon rerj young ahonlden.— Captain Mauuyat. 

To rub shoulders — to come into close contact. C 

Here was a drearj outlook for penone who knew demoeraey, not by rabUng 
ihouldors with it lifelong, but merely from booka— J. B. Lowkll. 

With one's shoulder to the collar — hard at work. C. 

Have I not always had my shoulder to the collar T— A. Tkollopk. 

To put 0)Ui's shoulder to the wheel — to comnicuce working in uaniuit. C 

" Still, you have only to put your shoulder to the wheel,** Insisted the secretary. 
"Time and patience conquer eTotything."— Jamkh Payn. 

It was only because he had never yet put his shoulder to the wheeL— Mna 
Braddon. 

Show. — To show the door — to dismiss without ceremony. P. 

The upshot of the matter for that while was, tliat she showed both of them tha 
door.— R. L. Stbvbnson. 

To show off— to make a vain display ; to display for the purpose of ex- 
citing admiration. P. 

For this year the Wellesbum return match and the Marylebone match art playoil 
at Itngby, to the great dolight of the town and neighbourhood, and the sorrow of 
those aspiring young cricketers who have been reckoning for the last three nioatlia 
on showing off at Lord's ground.— T. Huubbs. 

*'Yon should have seen her dress for court, Emmy,** Osborne cried, laogblng. 
" She came to my sitters to show it off/'— Tuackkray. 

To show in — to conduct into a house. P. 

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 hlnuoir 
peculiarly fortunate in having under his roof the man he most loved on earth. — 

QOLIMMITII. 

To show to a room — to conduct thither. P. 

She was so fatigued with the Journey, she wished to be shown to her room at oiioa. 
— Florencb Makryat. 

To show one's teeth — to display signs of anger. C. 

To show one's hand — to reveal one's plan of action. P. 

Mr. lleyton shows his hand.— Jambm Payn. (Chapter heading.) 
From time to time a man must show his hand, but save for one supreme ezlfcncj 
a woman need never show hen. -W. I). IIowki.i.m. 

To show a fierson «;>— to revu«il to the world a iKjrson's real cliaracter ; 
to diiich)8o a ixirsou'd vilhiny or hy|MK:risy. P. 

" You are a liar. Undo CocUco," was the cool answer. " English with the EngUsh, 
Boer witli Uie Boer. Vuu blow neither hot nor cold. Be careful lest we show you 
up."— II. U. Uauoari>. 



Shrub [ 297 ] Sififht 

A show of hands — a display of right hands in voting. P. A chairman, 
wisliing for tho decision of a question by a meeting, often calls for a 
show of hands. 

Shrub. — To shnib about — to get along tolerably well ; to be in a fairly 
good state. F. 

Shut.— 7*0 shut «;>— to be silent. F. 

"True for yoa, old man,'* said TreTor, irood-nataredlj laugfainf. "Pitch that 
follow Dick over Ui« arm of the chair and mako him shut up."— B(aefcicood*t Maga- 
zine, 1S8G. 

** You ahnt np, Johnny. If I pay Rood oat of mj own pooktt, it'a nothing to 
anybody.**— Bins. H. Wood. 

7*0 shtU a person up — to silence liim. F. 

Though wo agree with Mr. .Skclton In wiahing that we hail alto Malllard'a aoeonnt 
of it, we cannot doubt that tho reformer (to nee the colloquial ezpreesion) shut him 
up. — AtKenctunUt 1887. 

To shut the stable door when the steed is stolen — to take precautions when 
too late. P. 

And 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. — 
MiUUtoe Bovgh, 1887. 

To shut up shop — to close business ; to cease working. F. 

About this time, In the beginning of 1824, the Jamaica Ginger Beer Company shot 
up shop— exploded, as Gus said, with a bang I— Tiiacksaat. 

Sick. — The Sick Man — Turkey. P. A name given contemptuously, in 
view of its expected partition. 

It was with Sir Hamilton Seymour, the English ambasMuior, that the cnr held 
tho famous conversation on the subject of the Sick Man, and the partition of 
Turkey, when Egypt was to have been England's share.— /hiMk Opinion, 1886. 

Side. — To put on side — to be arrogant and assuming in maimer. F. 

You will put on all the side you please— when yon are outside the offloe.— Bbiakt. 

Sight.— Ok/ o/ «iV/A/— incomparably ; beyond comparison. C. 

She WAS walking back through the qnlet streets of the old-fashioned market-town 
to tlie Bank House, with Its peculiar importance and dignity, onl of sight the beat 
house in Newton.— Sakab Tytlbil 

A hill at sight— 2k bill which will be cashed when presented, and not 
after three or six months. P. 

I'll pay yon off thai kits with interest: I'U answer a bUl at algM for It (pay at 
onc«), I will, yon may do|H)nd.— IIai.iburtom. 

To have stored mnml capitAl enough to meet the drafts of death at sight moat be 
an unmatched tonic.— J. R. Lowrlu 

A sitjht of thiu{fs—ii great number of things. F. 

nouffht a sight of furniture— couldn't hardly got some of It opetairt— O. W. 
Holm 



Silent [ 298 ] Simon 

A sight for sort eyes — a pleasant object ; something pleasant to see. F. 

" I hope,** said she, " my lady will come and lee me when my lamb Jt with me ; a 
■Ighi of her would be good for sore ejes."— C. Rkadk. 

Silent. — Silent CM ^Ae tjrave — wholly silent ; saying nothing ; making no 
noise. P. 
" LiTesey," said the squire, " Til be as silent as the grave.**— R. L. SrsTsirsoir. 

Silk. — To make a silk purse otU of a sow*s ear — to make a handsome 
article out of coarse and inferior materials. C. 

He flung the Phdnmnenoloifie to the other end of the room, exclaiming, "That 
smart young fellow is quite right i it is impossible to make a silk pone out of a sow's 
ear.**— M. Arnold. 

" Ay," said the warder, In passing ; " you may lecture the bloke (fellow), bnt yon 
will not make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.*'— C Kkadk. 

The silken tie — the soft and invisible bonds of love and affection. - P. 

True love's the gift which God has given 

To man alone beneath the heaven .... 

It is the secret sympathy, 

Tlio silver link, the silken Ue, 

Wliich heart to heart, and mind to mind, 

In body and in soul can bind.— Scott. 

To take silk — to be made a Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) at the Engludi bar, 
and be entitled to wear a silk robe. 

Weston became a distingulslietl barrister and in duo course took silk. 

Silver. — Et^ery cloud has a silver linimj — there is always some ray of 
hope in the darkest condition of affairs. P. 

" I have a bad headache to^ay,** said Helen, by way of excuse for her tears. '* It 
has been gloomy weather lately." 

" Gloomy within and without," he assented, giving a meaning to her words that 
she had not meant to imply. " But in every cloud, you know, however dark It may 
be, there is a silver lining."— Mrs. H. Wood. 

A silver xcedding — the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of a 

wedding. P. 

The Jubilee of her Majesty will be immediately followed by the year making tha 
heir apparent's silver wedding.— /'oiinf^AUy i2evt€w, 1SS7. 

Born with a silver sjH>on in one*s mouth. See SrooK 

The silver-fork school — a name used by Thackeray for the school of 
novelists who dcscril>c only elegant life and fashionable society. 
Up to the heights of fasliion with the charming enchanters of the silver-fork idiooL 

— TUACKXRAY. 

Simon. — The real Simon Pure — the real person ; not a {icrsonator. P. 
Simon Pure is a character in Mrs. Centlivro's play, A Bold Stroke for 
a Fortune. Ho is ])cr8onated by a Capt^iin Feignwell, who is nearly 
successful in obtaining a wife and a fortune by his dissimulation ; but 
the real Simon Pure, a Pcnnsylvaniun Quaker, turns up in time and 
proves his identity. 



Simples [ 299 ] Sit 

And then Mr. Toogood had only written one ihort fcnip of a letter in trinmph : 
" Crawley U all right, and I think I're got the real Simon Pnre by the heels."— A. 

TnOLLOPB. 

Simples. — Cutting /or (he simples — an operation to be performed for the 
benefit of fools. C. 

In the Lords and Commons (what ertli might be averted) by clearing away bile, 
evacuating ill humours, and occasionally by cutting for the simples.— South by. 

Sine.— iSuM die — without fixing any future date ; indefinitely. P. 
Latin. 

Our old friend was even now balancing on the brink of that eventfol plunge (a 
proposal of marriage), which, if not made before the grand climacteric, it is generally 
thought advisable to postpone $iiu die.—Q. J. Whttb-Mslvillx. 

A ^inc QitA non — nu essential ; what is absolutely requisite. P. Latin. 

" Besides, sir," he added, turning to the warder with an assumed air of deference, 
" I believe it is a iine qud non — I mean it is indispensable— that for some time I must 
rc]K)rt myself to the police once a month." — Uuaii Conway. 

Sinews. — The aiiuws of icar — money; funds. P. 

Widow Mazey had only become reconciled to her abdication, because, as was well 
known, she had remained in possession of the sinews of war— that Is, the actual 
proprietorship of the horse and cart, in addition to her savings.- Sarah Tytlbk. 

Sink. — Leave him to ftiuk or Hwim — do not aid him, but let him fail or 
succeed by his own efforts. P. 

With or without reason. Miss TlunUey is of opinion tliat I defrauded you of your 
rights by taking what my father's will gave me, and that I afterwards turned yon oat 
into the world to sink or swim, as the case may be. — W. K. Noiutii. 

Her husband told her that she must sink or swim with him.— Edmuhd Yatbs. 

Sister. — Sifter Anne — the sister of Bluebeard's wife (in the nursery 

talc). She kept watcli from a tower to see if the expected aid would 

arrive. 

"Bister Anne Is on the watch-tower," said he to Amelia; " but there's nobody 
coming."— Tbackkray. 
He was prosi>ecUng down the road, like another Sister Anne.— Jambs Pavii. 

Sit. — To }^ii dotm with — to have to be contented with; to accept 
something whctlicr we like it or not. P. 

Mr. Simpkins got the ten thousand pound prise In the lottery, and we sat down 
with (had to rest content with) a blank.— OoLoeMrru. 

To sit Ifodlin — to l)e squeezed between two people. C. 

There is barely room between Jos and Miss Sharp, who are on the front seal»^r. 
Osborne sitting bodkin opposite, between Captain Dobbin and Amelia.— Thaok- 
rnAY. 

To Hit lip for any one—Ui await a person's return after the usual bed- 
time. P. 
Her own maid should sit up for her.— Oboimb Rliot. 



Six [ 300 ] Six 

To ail upon a person — to snub him. F. 

He uked, ootdde, with thame, how it wm thai he allowed himself thus to be Ml 
upon and ordered out of the hooie hj a mere girl.— Bimant. 

M7 lad7 felt rebuked, and, aa the afterward! expreeied it, lat upon.— Miu*. & 
Lynn Lintok. 

To ait on Ihoma — to be in a state of discomfort or agony. P. 

He was sitting on thorns, all Uie time, afraid lest she should refer to the fait 
event. 

To ait out anything — to refrain from taking part in it. C. 

Frank danced beautifully, but somehow wo had given up dancing together lately, 
and used to sit out our dances together.— 77i« MUtleloe BtfUifh, 1SS5. 

To ait out — to stay longer in one's seat tlian another can. P. Often 
used in accounts of drinking-parties. 

On coming into the estate he gave the finest entertainment ever was heani of in 
the country ; not a man could stand after supper but Sir Patrick himself, wlio could 
sit out the best man in Ireland.— Maria Eooewokth. 

To ait on the rail or fence — to refuse to support any party ; to rusorve 
one's decision as a voter. C. An American phrase. 

In the American political sUng, he (Henry IV.) was always sitting on tho nil be- 
tween Catholics and lluguonots.— r/i« Tme$. , 

To ait etftja — to remain too long as a guest. F. 

To ait under — to attend the services of. C. 

On a Sunday the household marched away In separate couples or groups to at least 
half-a-dosen of religious edifices, each to sit under his or her favourite ninister.— 

TUAOKBAAY. 

To ait under a clergyman — to attend his church. 

She, after a Ume, sat under him, as the phrase is, regularly thrice a week. — 

TlIACKKllAY. 

Six. — Six o/oT to one, and half-a-dozen of or to the o/Aer— essentially Uie 
same ; differing in nothing. C. 

There's been a good deal uf fun made of rabbinical fables; but, in point of fables, 
my opinion is, that all over the world it's six of one and half-a-dosen of tlie other. — 
Gkubuk Eliut. 

And so it's six to one and half-a-doscn to the otlier.— Q. J. Wuvtk-Mslvillil 

Also in the shorter form — aix and haJfa-dozcn. C. 

" Wliat do thoy say about his chance?" 
"Six and lialf-a-doson, sir."— II. Kinuhlky. 

Six and cightpence — tho usual fee charged by a lawyer for a considtation. 

Always remember, Mr. Robarti, that when yon go into an attorney's oOoe-door 
you will have to pay for it first or last. In here, yon see, tlie dingy old roalingany, 
bare as it is, makes you safe. Or else it's the salt-cellar, which will not allow itself 
to be polluted by six-and-elghtpenny considerations.— A. Trollops. 

£xj>.— Ry " mahogany" is meant the attorney's dlnlng-table. Mr. Robarts WH to 
be looked on as a guest. The salt-cellar is another mark of hos|»itality. As long 
as Mr. Uobarts was in the lawyer's private residence no fee would be changed. 



sixty [ 301 ] 



I have the right gireii me by a gennlno interest In hli affain— the interest of a 
friend rather than a lawyer. You don't luppoae it's for the nke of the six-and-eight- 
pence.— Miss Braddon. 

At sixes aiid sevens — in disorder ; ill-arranged. C. 

All goes to sixes and seTeni— a universal saturnalia seems to be proclaimed in mj 
peaceful and orderly family.— Scott. 

Its vicinity (the presence of soldiers in a town), In our own experience, has invari- 
ably over-roasted our mutton, multiplied our cobwebs, and placed our female estab- 
lishment generally at sixes and sevens.— O. J. WHrTR-MxLTiLLK. 

Sixty,— Like sixty. See Statice. 

Skeleton. — The skeletoti in the house or cupboard — the secret cause of 
grief or shame in a houschoUl. P. 

After that first and last visit, his father's name was never mentioned in Pitt's 
polilo and genteel establishment It was the skeleton in the house, and ali the 
fnmlly walko<l by it in terror and silence.— Tiiackbrat. 

I ilnd that the skeleton in my domestic closet is becoming a pretty big one. — 
DiCKRNM {lAtlm). 

Skin. — To skin a flea for Us hide — to be excessively mean and avari- 
cious. F. 

" Generous I" I exclaimed; " why, he's the meanest little hunks that ever skinned 
a flea for the hide and fat"— O. A. Sala. 

To skin a flint — to Iks excessively grasping. C. Hence the term skin- 
flint for a miser. 

Just as the toper squeeses the empty bottle and the miser skins tlie flint— DnANT. 

7o (scape by the skin of one^s teeth — to escape very narrowly ; to come 
within an ace of falling a victim. P. 

It Is true that ten years before this he had, after an almost heroic resistance, 
yielded to accept ofllce in the Talmerston Ministry, and escaped only by the skin of 
his teeth. —Uiture Hour, 1HS7. 

The pit-brow women, to t)ie number of something like Ave thousand, were last sum- 
mer only saved by the skin of their teeth from having thrir daily bread taken from 
them by a Liberal government— Ccmt^mporary Revitvo^ 1886. 

To ftni^ one^s skin — to get off without bodily hurt. C. 

Wo meet with many of those dangerons civilities, wherein it Is hard for a man to 
save both his skin and his credit— L'Estrancis. 

Skip. — To skip oirr — to pass unnoticed. P. 

A gentleman made it a rule In reading to skip over all sentsnoss where hs spied a 
note of admiration at the end.— Swirr. 

Skirts. — 7V> sit vjwn a man*s sl-it-ts— to meditate revenge against 
him. F. 

Sky.— 7*0 sky a picture — to place it in an exhibition high up on Uic 
w.ill. P. 

Thin flight of Eiutorn imagery was due to his picture havlag been skied In ilis 
ACAdciny.- Jamkm Pavk. 



Slap [ 302 ] Slinff 

To laud or praise to the skies — to be loud in praise of. P. 
Indeed he was Uoded bj suuiy peraoni to the skies.— James Payk. 

Slap. — A slap-hang shop — a low cating-Iiouse. S. A LoikIou term. 

They lived in the same street, walked into town every morning at the same hour, 
dined at the same slap-bang every day.— Dick bnu. 

Slap'Up — very fine ; elegant. S. 

More slap-np still, have the two shields painted on the panels with the ooroiMt 

over.— TUACKSRAY. 

Sleeping. — A aleejyintj patiner — a member of a firm who takes no share 
in its management, but receives part of tlie profits. P. 

In most businesses there are sleeping partners.— Captain Marryat. 

His sole motive in consenting to become, as it were, a sleeping partner in tha 
shameful plot, of which his daughter was the object, was to obtain possession of his 
lost inheritance.— H. R. Hagoard. 

Let sleej)infj (logs lie — do not refer to unpleasant events of the past. C. 

Peter Scott was a Jealous man to begin with, and it was best to let sleeping dofi 
lie.— 51 Andrewt Citiun, tSS7. 

To sleep t<y>ou anything — to defer action until next moniing. C. Cau- 
tious people often prefer to wait at least twelve hours before they 
comm\t themselves to a course of action. 

Still he went in to breakfast with some slight hope that, now Mrs. Glegg had 
"slept upon it," her anger might be subdued enough to give way to her osnall/ 
strong sense of family decorum.— Gborqr Eliot. 

Sleeve. — To laugh in one*a sleeife. See Laugh. 

To carry a thing on one* a sleeve — to reveal it to tlie public gaze. P. See 
Heart and Wkak. 

He (the poet) should talk well, but not witli an obvious striving after epigram ; be 
should be sensitive, but not carry his vanity openly on his sleeve for tlie daws to 
peck at.— Bksant. 

In one*a dcti^e — secretly. C. Mostly used of secret laughter. 

"No, not that woman," said Mr. Harding, enjoying his Joke in his sleeve.— A. 
Trolloi'e. 

Sleight. — Sleight - of- hand — manual dexterity ; clever use of the 
fingers. l\ 

Vivian, you are a Juggler ; and the deceptions of your sleight-of-hand tricks de- 
pend ui>on instantaneous motions.— BKAcoNHriBLD. 

Slide. — To let things slide — to refuse or neglect to interfere ; to leave 
matters to develop themselves. F. 

She was not one of Uiose diplomatists who advocate a masterly inaction, and lei 
things slide. — Jamk8 I'avn. 

Sling. — To sling ont's hook or one^s Daniel— to move on. S. 



Slip [ 3()3 ] SUp 

Slip.— 7^0 slip off the hooks— to die. S. 

rniy to God in heaven, union 70U wish to see me run awaj. And If I do, be illpe 
off the hooks.— Blackmork. 

He was not far from eighty when he slipped off the hooks without an ache or pain. 
—Mrs. £. Ltnit Linton. 

To dip one*8 cable — to die. S. 

He was dreadfully frightened at the profpeei of slipping hie cable In a foreign 
land.— G. A. Bala. 

To slip one's wind — to lose one's breath ; to die. C. 

" You give him tlie right stuff, doctor,** said Hawei Jocosely, *' and ho won't slip 
his wind this time.**— a Rkadb. 

To (live the slip — to escape secretly. F. 

" I wonder the writs haven't followo<1 me down here,** Rawdon continued, stilt 
dcs|K)ndlng. 

" When they do, we'll find means to give them the slip,** said daantle« little 
Becky.— Thack ERA T. 

To slip throvffh one^s futjers — (a) to die unexpectedly and without a 
struggle. P. Said of a sick person. 

(/>) to escape from a person's grasp. C. 

Ho would not lot the thing slip Uirongh his Angers. . . .a debtor never yet escaped 
him, and never ihouUI.— Maria Kimirwoutii. 

When CluUdicotes slipped Uirough tlie duke's fingers and went into tiie hands of 
Dr. Thome, or of Dr. Thome's wife, the duke had been very angry with Mr. Fother- 
gill.— A. Trollopk. 

To slip into a man — to give him a sound beating. S. 

There's many a slip Uiaixt the cup and4he lip — men cannot count on any- 
thing until it is actually in their grasp. P. '* The original," says 
Charles Readc, ''is Greek, and conies down to us with an example. 
To the l)cst of my recollection, the ancient legend runs, that a Greek 
philosopher 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 moke sure of imme<liat« and 
consecutive events. By way of illustration he proceeded to fill a gob- 
let. ' I predict,' said he, sneeringly, ' that after filling tliis goblet, 
the next event will be that I shall drink the wine.' Accordingly he 
fdlcd the goblet. At tliat moment his servant ran in — ' Master ! 
master ! a wild boar is in our vineyard 1 ' The master caught up his 
javelin directly, and ran out to find the boar and kill him. Ho had 
the luok to find tlio IxMir, and attacked him with such spirit tliat Sir 
IkMir kille<l him, and the goblet remained filled. From that incident 
arose in Greece the saying, * PoUa meteum pelei kulihot ktU cheiUoi 
oXra.'" 



SloufiTh [ 304 ] Snail 

Mrt. Quiverful went off to her kitchen and back lettlements with anxious baiUiif 
heart, almost dreading that there might be tome slip between the cup of her hap|»l- 
neai and the lip of her fruition, but jet comforting herself with the reflection that 
after what had taken place any luch slip could liardlj be ix>tsible.— A. TuoLLors. 

Slough. — A sioufjh of (leHjxnid — a stAto of utter despondency. P. Sco 
Bnnyan's PUtjrim^s Prof/rean, ** Tlio Kirat Stage." 

She seemed to be stuck in a slough of despond, and could not move in any diree> 
tlon to get out of it— C. Keadk. 

Slow. — A simo cwuh — a lazy or inactive person. F. 

He's not very quick in temper, or In anything else ; he's wliat we call a slow coach. 
—Captain Marry at. 

Sly. — On the «/y — secretly. C. 



" I thought you were down here about it?** 

" Only on the sly, Mrs. Walker."— A. Trollops. 



He was beginning to doubt this clerk who attended that meeting on the sly.— 
C. Kbadk. 

SmalL — A smcUl-heer chronicle — a record of insignificant domoatie 
events. C. The phrase comes from Sliakespcaro, Othello, act ii., 
scene 1, line 161 : '* To suckle fools and chronicle small-beer." 

Tills small-beor olironlolo Is scarcely JusUAotl by tlio fact tliat many of Agnoi's 
acquaintances and correepondents were i>ersons of distinction —^llicnicuM, 1SH7. 

Small honra — the hours after twelve ; midnight. P. 

Although a fog rolled over the city in the small hours, the early part of the night 
was cloudless.- R. L. Stbvbnson. 

Small talk — conversation a1x)ut unimportant things, like the weather or 
the every-day events of life. P. 

She was absorbed in digesting Rolfe's every word, and fixing his map In her mind, 
and filling in details to his outline ; so small talk stung her.— C. Rbadk. 

His voice was soft and low, and he had a way of placing his while, plomp^ glisten- 
ing hand on the region of his heart as he spoke, tliat gave a sort of dramatic eaniest- 
ness to what would otherwise have been small talk. — Jamim Paym. 

Smell. — To smell a rcU— to detect something wrong. P. 

Of his attachment to the doctrine of the Trinity the Bishop of Exeter may maka 
what protestations he will, Archdeacon Denison will smell a rat in them.— M. 
Arnoli*. 

Smoke. — To end in smohe— to come to no practical result. P. 

To smoU the calumet , or the pipe of peace— Xjo be formally reconciled. 
C. I'lie phrase comes from a Red Indian custom. 

This dinner was essentially a well-dressed pow-wow to witnen the burying of the 
hatchet and the smoking of the calumet.— Mrm. E. Lynn Linton. 

SnalL— ^< a snaiVs tjallop — very slowly. C. 

And if he happened not to feel 
An angry hint from thong or steel. 
He by degrees would seldom fail 
T' adopt the gallop of a snail. - (^mdk. 



Snap [ 305 ] So 

Snap. — To snap one^sjingers at — to defy ; to show one's contempt for. C. 
Yoa live with me, and snap your Angers at Hawes and all hU erew.— €L Rbadb. 

To ftnap a man*8 nose off— to speak sharply to him. C. 

Well, well, you needn't snap a man's nose off I Come, what has the young roan 
been doing?— (7ao(i IFttrdf, 1S87. 

Sneeze. — To sneeze a/ a fhiitff — to despise it; to think little of it. F. 

A bnxom, tall, and comely dame 

Who wished, 'twas said, to change her name, 

And ir I could her tlioughts dirine, 

Would not perhaps have sneesed at mine.— Combb. 

Snuff.— 7\) take it in mi{f— to take ofTence. F. 

You'll mar the light by taking it In snuff; 

Therefore I'll dirkly end my argQment.--8iiAKVirKARK. 

In nnitff or in the ^wje/T— offended. F. 

lie dares not come there for the candle, for, you see, it is already In snuff.— 8b ak» 

RPRAnR. 

And whereas In snuff and distaste you may fling away from such m ii^ecfa, a 
little patience and words may do your business. — A Cap qf Oray Hair$ /or a Oretti 
Head, inss. 

" Hoot, hoot," said Uncle Ebenexer, "dinna [don't] fly up in the snuff at me.**— 
TL L. Stkvknson. 

To snvff jypper — to take offence. F. 

I brotiglit tliom In, l>ecauso here are some of other cities In the room that might 
snuff i>epper else.— Ofi{ Vlay. 

Up to snuff — ciTifty ; knowing. S. 

" Ah, I daresay," rctnmc<l her uncle. " You American ladies are so up to snuff, 
as you say."— W. D. Howkllji. 
A rough and tough, and possibly an up-to-snuff old Tagabond. — Dickbha. 

To snnffont — to die. S. 

So. — On!y so-so — very indifferently ; not welL C. 

" How do yon And yourself, my dear follow?" 
"Only so-so," said Mr. John R|iAnkor.— DicKsim. 
" What chcor, Sol (Jills? " cried tlie captain heartily. 
" But so-so," returned the lnstrument*maker.— Pickbnr. 

A nd MO on — and the like ; and other similar wonls, acts, or events. P. 

He hoard 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 coBTenieBt for 
her purpose; and so on.— Druaht. 

Sonvd-so. A phrase used when exact particulars are refemnl to but not 
mutually given. C. 

It would also hare been considerate, at least, had Mr. Browning given the dates of 
deRpatches referred to by Lord Hawkeebury as No. So-and-so, when answerlBg thwo 
or acknowlediring their receipt— .<»pee(alor, lytctmbtr 17, tftff?. 

But my name is So-and-So is a safe answer, and I gave It— J. R. Lowbu. 

20 



Soap [ 306 ] Sop 

So to speak, (a) An apologetic phrase generally used with statements 
which are not literally true. P. 

SomeUmet the home is visited by the committee, who go round and taste the eonp, 
so to si)eak, confer as to the accounts, and consider the case of those iU-adv^sed 
young people who have requested permission to stay out for an hour later than it 
allowed by the rules.— Bksant. 

(6) if the phrase may be used. P, Attached to statements that 

must not be taken literally. 

If an old man has to go hungry, he grows melancholy, because the sitaation Is 
permanent, so to speak. 

Soap. — Hoio art you off for soap ? A meaningless bantering phrase, at 
one time common in England. S. 

Or put their heads into his shop, and asked how he was oflT for soap.— S. BAmiNO 
Gould. 

Soft. — Soft sawder — flattery. S. 

It is done by a knowledge of soft sawder and human nature. — TTalibukton. 

» _ 

^ofl soap — complimentary speeches. F. A person of insinuating man- 
ners is said to bo soapy. 

QoL—Soi'disatU — self -named ; self-appointed. P. French. 

Charges of seduction trumped up by young women like Annette HanfliouT and 
their soi-ditant patrons must be subjected to a very searehing invesugation.— 
Saiurduy JUvieto, 18if7. 

Some. — Some of these days — soon ; before very long. C. 

Son. — Son of a sea-cook — a term of contempt used by sailors to their 
companions. S. 

Of course, In the use of sea-terms youll not wonder 
If I now and then should fall into some blunder, 
For which Captain Chamier or Mr. T. P. Cooke 
Would call me a lubber and son of a sea-cook.— Barh am. 

Song. — To sell for a song or an old song — to sell very cheap. C. 

O Kit I Kit I the firm ends with me. I roust sell the goodwill for the very worst 
old song, if it once leaks out what a fool you are.— Blackmore. 

A skeleton clock and a couple of bronae figures, picked up in one of the dona of 
Covent Oarden for a song.— Miss Braddon. 

Sop. — To throw a sop to Cerl)erus — to try to pacify a greedy enemy by 
granting him favours. P. Cerl>eru8, in Roman mytliology, was the 
three-headed dog tliat watched Pluto's palace in the infernal regions. 

To Cerberus they give a sop 
His triple barking month to stop.— Swirr. 
For instance, the Transvaal Convention that Mrs. Carr mentioned is an admlimbi* 
example of how such {landering is done. No man of experience can have bellevMl 
tliat such an agreement wonltl be wise, or that it can result in anything bat troable 
and humiliation ; but the trouble and humiliation will not come Just yet, and In the 
meanwhile a sop is thrown to Cerberus.— U. R. IIaooard. 



Sore [ a07 ] Spanish 

Sore. — A sight for sort eyes — a welcome sight. F. 

AVell, the very light of the Yankee girli ts good for sore eyet, the dear Utile 
critten (creatureiX— Hamburton. 

Sorrow. — Sorrmo — a word used in Ireland to give a negative meaning 
to a sentence. F. 

The birds were ilngtng, and I itoppod whistling that they might hear them ; but 
sorrow bit could they hear (they heard nothing) when they got to the park gate, for 
there was such a crowd and such a shout— Maria Edokwortb. 

Sotto. — Sotto voce — in a subdued voice ; in a whisper. 'P. Italian. 

"She's worn out and upeet, poor little thing I" he said sotto voce.— Murray's 
MagaziM, JS87. 

Sour. — Sour grapcM — a tiling dcspiso<l because it is unattainable. P. 

A famished fox once saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trel* 
lised vine. She resorted to all her arts In vain, for she could not reach them. At 
last she turned away, beguiling herself of her disappointment, and saying, "The 
grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought."— >ffsop's Fable*, 

Sow. — To sow wUd oafs — to l)e wild and extravagant when young. P. 

" Upon my honour," exclaimed Sir Brian, " your excuse seems to me to be your 
condemnation. If you were a spendthrift, as young fellows often are, there would 
be a cliance of your sowing your wild oats.— Good IKorets, 1S87, 

To sow the wind and reap the whirlmnd — to behave recklessly and 
wickedly, and sufTcr a dreadful punishment. P. From the Biblo 
(lIoscA viii. 7). In Stevenson *s The Misadventures cf John NichoUon^ 
the heading to chapter i. is, "In which John sows the wind," and to 
chapter ii., " In which John reaps the M'hirlwind." 

Ills portrait of the poor craxy-bralned creature, Lord George Gordon, who sowed 
the wind which the country was to reap in whirlwind. Is excellent. — F. MAnxiAUi, In 
Life of DickenM, " Great Writers" Series. 

Sow. — To hare (he wrong sow by the ear — to have captured the wrong 
individual. Also •' the right sow." F. 

However, thi<i time he'd got the wrong sow by the ear.— T. IToaiiBii. 
"It's all riffht, old fellow," he said, clapping his hand on Crawley's sbonldtr; 
"we've got the right sow by the ear at last."— A. Trollops. 

Spade. — To call a sjxuie a spade — to use plain language ; to be straight- 
forward in the tonus one uses. P. 

Viola, when will yon leave off uting such terrible words T Our poor father always 
said ho never knew such a girl for calling a spade a spade. — Plorbiics Marrtat. 

Mho WON nut an epitome of all the virtues, but a woman of a decided temper, not 
us«4l to mince matters, and calling a spade a spade.— Mrs. OLiPHAirr. 

Spanish.—^ Spanish ra^/<f— something visionary and unreal. P. See 
Chateaux en Kspaonr. 

Nellie lo Strange, with her light heart, her tumbledown Spanish eaatles (dreaoM 
never to bo realised), and her silly little tender Jokes, has tone away.— RnoOA 
Urouuiiton. 



Speak [ 308 ] Spliced 

Speak. — To speak I'olnmes — to furnish ample testimony. P. 

DoM it not, then, tpcak voliimoi aa to what tlio instinctive roTolt of tlio attltn«1o 
la, to find her taking it quito as a matter of conrao that a high-bred, well-bchaveil 
young lady of eighteen ihould be routed to an outbreak like the following l—SiteetO' 
tor, 1S37. 

To npedk q/*— wortli mentioning. P. 

They have no Inititutloni of their own to ipeak of, no pnblio bulldinga of any 
importance.— Bbhant. 

To sptaJc ns-Ufor one — to speak in Iiis favour ; to 1k) to liis ciittlil. P. 

To sj)eah up — to retort ; to address a superior saucily. C. 

TliU la followed by a diipoiitlon on the part of the forewoman to And fault, ami 
by a detorinination on the part of the work-glrU not to be put upon, witli an inten- 
tion of iiiRaking up iliould Die occasion arise.— Bksant. 

Spear. — Achillea* aj^ear. It was said that this spe^ir could both wound 
and cure. P. 

AVhose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear. 

Is able with the change to kill or cure.— Siiakksps ark. 

Spelling. — A sjKllimj Jtee — a gathering where prizes are given to tho 
persons who are I>e8t at spelling. Tliese competitions wore very 
popular in CSreat Kritain a1x)ut the year 187((. 

It was also spelled in a manner disapproved by the great Butter, and dlsallowetl 
by spelling bees.— Rkhant. 

Sphinx. — The Sphinx's riddle. Tlie Sphinx was a she-monster who ia 
said to have proposed a riddle to the Thehans, and to luive mnnlcrcd 
all who failed to guess it. (Edipus was finally successful in gncasing 
it, whereupon she killed herself. P. 

What solution, if any, have you found for the 1alK>ur question T It was tlio 
Sphinx's riddle of the nineteenth century.- K. Bki.lamy. 

Spick. — Spick and Hjtnn — very neat and trim. F. 

A spick and span now gig at tlio door.— IIai.iiiuuton. 

" Because," said Belle—" because, Mr. Ludgate, the furniture of this homo Is as 
old as Methusalem ; and my friend, Mrs. IMinlIco, said yesterday it was a sliamo to 
be seen : and so, to l>e sure, it is, compared with her own, which Is siiick and simui 
new."— Maria Eimiicwoutii. 

Spin. — To spin a yarn — to tell a story. C. A sailor's phrase. 

Blow-hard (as the boys called him) was a dry old flle, with much UndntM and 
humour, and a capital spinner of a yam.— T. Hikiiikm. 

Spirits. — Out of Hpirita — melancholy; gloomy; sad. P. 

He was out of spirits; he had grown very silent; he did not read: it teemed as If 
he had something on his mind.--IL I.^ Stkvknhun. 

Spliced. — To get spliced -to be married. S. A sailor's phrase. 



SpUt [ 309 ] Sponge 

Split. — To split OH a friend — to inform against him ; to reveal a scheme 
in which ho was concerned ; to betray liim. S. 

Robinton lighed. " What ii the matter r " laid hii master, trying to twiit hit head 
round. 

"Nothing: only I am afraid they— they won't split. Fellows of that tort dont 
split on a comrade where they can get no good by It."— C. Rxa.db. 

7'o Npiit wiih—lo quarrel with ; to separate from. F. 

Sjylil «;)— having long legs. S. 

Tiio favourite came from Lincolnshire, a tall, well-split*up fellow 

To sjilit hairs— to indulge in over-refined arguments. P. 
No spllttor of hairs was he.— C. Ukadk. 

Spoil. — To Kjfoil the EgtjptiauH — to get supplies from one's enemies. P. 
A Scriptural phrase (Ex. xii. 36). 

More, he might eren be able to spoil that Egyptian George, giring him less than 
his due.— H. R. Uaouard. 

" It would be a spoiling of the Egyptians perfectly justifiable,** said Maurice.— 
MitH. E. Lynn Linton. 

To 8jx>il/or afght — to he very anxious for a fight. F. 

" You seem to be spoiling for a fight,** remarked BracknelL "I don't know that 
I hare any grievance against you, but 111 try my best to indulge you by discovering 
one."— W. E. Nunnis. 

Spoke.— 7'o put a nf}ol'e in another* h tchecl — to arrest his progress; to 
hinder his schemes. C 

You have put a most formidable spoke In my wheel by preventing tlie extension of 
tlio borouglu— W. E. Nonnis, in Good WonUt ISH?. 

Sponge.— 7^0 sjwnge n])on another — to get money or fooil in a mean 
way ; to take advantage of another's good nature to obtain money 
from him, or a place at his table. P. 

Hie ant lives upon her own honesty ; whereas the fly is an Intruder and a oonmon 
smell- feast, that sponges u\mn other iwople's trenchers.- -L'E«TiuufaB. 

lie could not allow iieoplo to say of him that It was an easy matter to abandon hit 
own income, as ho was able to siwnge on tliat of another iierton. — A. Tbollopk. 

To throw vp the sponge — to confess oneself vanquished ; to yield. F. 
In pugilistic encounters the two principals are accompanied by seconds. 
After each round these seconds wipe the faces of the principals and 
I)rcp»\ro them for the next round. When a princi|ial refuses to enter 
for another round, his second throws up the sponge. 

Had it not been for her, French would have collapsed, and perhapa woold hava 
thrown up the s|»onge.— Mk«». E. Lynn Linton. 

Hrnoko cannot find it in his heart to stop them just yet, so tha round gow on, tba 
BloRger waiting for Tom, and reserving all his strength to hit him oat should be 
come In for the wrestling dodge again ; for ho feels that most be stopped, or his 
sponge will soon go up in tlie air.— T. lIiHiusa. 



Spoon [ 310 ] Spot 

Spoon. — It takes a Imnj spoon to sup xoith him — ho is n devil or an vvil 
spirit. C. The pi-ovcrb runs, '* It takes a long spoon to sup witli 
the devil "— tliat is, the devil is so en^fty that if one furnis u lenguu 
with him, most of the profits are sure to go to him. 

''Bespeak % long ipoon." 
'•Why, Dromio?" 

" Blarry, he miui have a long ipoon that most eat with the deHl."— Shaksspkark. 
He had toIud tartly lupped with the devil, and hU ipoon had been too abort.'- 
Mrs. £. Lymn Liktom. 

Born with a silver spoon in one.*s mouth — bom in wealth and luxury. P. 

" What I the lettlemont I have made U more than enongh— five thonaand poandt 
more than enongh. One can see, young fellow, that you were bom with a silver 
spoon in your mouth."— LoiH/maiu* Magatine, 1886. 

Bom with a .golden spoon in one^s mouth — bom to great splendour ; heir 
to great wualtli. C. 

The result of his training has been to make him thoroughly discontented with hit 
present lot, and disposed to consider himself aggrieved much above the majority 
of his fellow-creatures, because he was not bom with a golden spoon in his month. — 
Florbnck Marryat. 

To make a spoon or spoil a horn — to succeed in an enterprise or fail 
deplorably. F. The plirase is used when an op[)ortunity is fuiiiislie«l 
to an untried but energetic pci-son of showing his skill. Thcitt is 
always the fear of Xivn ruining the materials. 

He may be a good enough sort at cricket or billiards, in a smoking-room or a 
drawing-room, but that's about it. lie will neltlier make a siXMn nor spoil a horn.— 
Sarah Tytlkr. 

He, on the other liand, with fin exceptionally acute and vigorous mind of his own, 
and determined to make a spoon or spoil a horn, had little idea of restricting himaolf 
to the ordinary passive iwrt allotted to the " bookseller.**— Mrs. Olii*uant. 

Spooney. — Spooney on a girl — foolishly fond of her. F. 

"The reason," said she, " why I had never either formed or provoked any attadi- 
ment was because I was always so spooney on %ix\%,"—MiatUtoe hcu\fii^ tSSS. 

George is getting Sfiooney on tliat gltl, or she is getting spooney on him.— Vioii* 
RNCK Marry AT. 

Sport. — To sport one^s oak — to shut one's door to chance visiton. F. 
A college plirase, common at Oxford and CJambridge. 

Rumours of high play at cards, of perpetually sported oak (continual iednskm 
in his ruomX non-attendance at chapel, and frequent shirking of classes, lessened tb* 
esteem in which Routh was held by the authorities.— Kdmund Yatks. 

He remembered tliat he had been concerned in the blocking up of that chapel 
door and in the sticking of a striking caricature on that superciliously sported oak.~ 
Sarab Tytlbr. 

Spot. — On the */x)/— just there; instantly; without change of place. P. 

Though they had caused the death of many men during the last two years, thsf 
•had not yet, as it happened, murdered a single one on the spot.— C Rbadb. 

It was determined ufiou the spot, according as the otatory on either sido pre- 
vailed.— Swirr. 



Spout [ 311 ] Square 

Spout.— C^7> the spout — at the pawnbroker's. S. 

There's thai dreasinf -case cost me two hundred— that U, I owe two for U; and the 
gold tope and bottles most be worth thirty or forty. Please to put that up the spout, 
ma'am, with my pins, and rings, and watch, and chain, and things.— Tiiackraay. 

I haven't a suit of clothes flt to go in, even my (barrister's) wig and gown are up 
the spout together.— D. Curistik Murray. 

Sprat. — To throw a sprat to catch a whcUe — to venture Bomothing small 
in order to obtain a largo return. C. 

" What are you at? Are you mad, Tom ? Why, tliere goes Ave pounds. What a 
sin ! " 

" Did you neror hear of the man that flung away a sprat to oatch a whale?**— 
C. Rbadx. 

Spread. — S^yread-ewjleism — (a) boastful American patriotism. P. Com- 
pare it with English Jingoism and French Chauvinism. 

When we talk of spread-eagleism, we are generally thinking of the United States ; 
but tiie real spread-eagleism is that, not of the American Republic, but of the Bus- 
sian Empire.— for<n^0/i«y i{«ri<no, 18S7. 

lluah, my lord ! You forget tliat yon are a British peer. No spread-eagle for 

you.— B ERA NT. 

{h) any kind of blatant patriotism. P. 

Among educated people his (Viscount Wolseloy's) spread-eagleism may be left to 
work its own ridicule.— 5cot(i«/i LtoAtTt 1890. 

Spring. — To Mpriu(j a mine v]h>h one — to surprise one ; to lay a plot 
and announce suddenly its completion. P. 

" lUit, my dear Samuel, this is so altogether unexpected." 

" So is the discovery of the manuscript,** put in the young fellow with pitiless 
logic. 
" It is like springing a mine on me, my lad."— Jam rs Payn. 

To npriiKj to onc'nfcrt — to rise up suddenly. P. 

He sprang to his feet, and pushed the woman, a buxom party of about thirty, from 
him.— II. B. Hagoard. 

Spur. — On the npnr of the moment — acting under the first impulse, 
without reflection. P. 

The criticism offered on the spur of the moment had bei'n, in reality, adTaaeed by 
way of {irotest against the whole document— Jam bb Payn. 

To mn one'a ^purs — to gain a reputation. P. Originally used of feudal 
warriors who, by doing some deed of valour, won the spurs of knight- 
hoofl. 

The cnconnter in which Charles Townshend won his spurs was only a preliminary 
skirmish. —Trkvrlyan. 

Square.— ^W Mjnare— oil right ; quite satisfactory. F. 

" 8it still ; it will iM all square.'* 

Hilt in his heart he knew that it was not all square, and thai tbey wer« In imml- 
nont danger of death from drowning.— II. B. Uaooard. 



Square [ 312 ] Stab 

On or upon the sqttare — honourable ; fair ; oven ; honourably ; fairly. C 

If 7on thhik it fair 
Amongtt known cheats to play upon the •qoaro, 
Yoall bo undone.— RociiibiTKu. 
Ain't it all on the iqaare? What have you got to lay to thatt— T. HuaiiBii. 
For now I'm upon the square with you (I am treating you openly and falrlyX I 
must be straight as an arrow. — Mauia Edoxwoutii. 

To square — to settle ; to adjust. P. 

Lady Parker will square accounts by sending you a card for a garden party next 
July.— Miss Braddok. 

To square up — to take the attitude of a boxer ; to clench the fists and 
prepare to fight. C. 
The speaker proceeded to square up to George in a most determined way. — H. B. 

IlAUaAKD. 

To square off— the same as square up. C. 

lie felt as a peaceful citisen might feel who had squared off at a stranger for tomo 
sui^posed wrong, and suddenly discovered that he was undertaking to chastise Mr. 
Dick Curtis, the "pet of the Fancy," or Mr. Joshua Hudson, *'thd Jolin BuU 
fighter.-- O. ^V. Holmes. 

To square anything to or with — to make it agree with. P. 

Eye mo, blest Providence, and square my trial 

To my proportioned strength.— Milton. 
Fortune, accident— call it rather providence— has placed you In a certain atatioa, 
and it is At for you to fulfil Uie duties of that station without repining or resUesmass, 
because, forsooth, it does not happen to square exactly with some vague notions of 
your own.— G. J. Wuytk-Mklvillk. 

To breaJ: squares — to depart from an accustomed order. C. 

To break no squares — to give no offence ; to make no difference. C 

A square meal — a full meal wliicli satisfies. F. 

Talleyrand, even at the age of eighty, ate but one square meal a day.— 5uf«rfla|f 
RevUWf ISSS, 

Square-toes — a contemptuous name for a person of strict morals. F. 
Tlie Puritans wore shoes of this shaixi. 

I never shall forget the solemn remonstrances of our old square-toes of a rector al 
Hack ham.— Til ACKKiiAY. 

To call it square— to consider matters settled; to make no further 
claim. V. 

I don't think I ever did Kogcrs any wrong, and I never did tliink so : but if I did 
do it— t/ I did— I'm willing to call it siiuare, if I never seo a cent of money back 
again.— W. I>. Huwkllm. 

Stab. — 0/1 the Wa&— paid regular weekly wages; on the staff of a firm. 
S. 'Stab id here a contraction for ** establishment." 



stable [ 313 ] Stand 

Stable. — To lock or shut the stable-door when the tfteed is stolen — to take 
precautions when too late. P. 

The emperor of Austria, who haa given a great deal of time and patient labour to 
the reorganliation of tlie A nitro- Hungarian army, it, it it understood, pleaaed with 
the recent development of the powers of mobilliaUon of the Austrian cavalry. Bui 
this is rather a case of shutting the stable-door when the steed is stolen. The 
Russians had a very long start, and It is probable they still maintain ii,—Farinightltf 
Review, 1S37. 

Staff. — To have the iKttcr eiid of the staff— to have the superiority. C. 
Miss Byron, I have had the better end of the staff, I believe?— Riohardsok. 

Stage. — A stage whisper — a wliisper that can be heard by many. P. 

Stake. — At stake — in jicril; alx)ut to bo contended for. P. 

He wrote to tell the king tliat the honour of himself and his brother sovereigns, 
whose consciences thoy directed, was at %ia,)M.— National Beview, 1887, 

" Do not speak of him, Johnny.** 

" I must speak of him. A man isn't to hold his tongue when everything be haa 
in the world is at stake.**— A. Trollops. 

StaJix and rice — a wattled fence. Provincial Eaiglish. 

Stale. — To lie in stale — to lie in ambush. Provincial English. 

Stall. — To stall a debt— to refrain from pressing its payment. Pro- 
vincial English. 

Stall your mvfj — be off; go away. S. 

Stand.— V'o stand hy—{n) to 1h3 faithful; to omist in n difficulty. P. 

The man that stands by me in trouble I won't bid him go when the mm ihinei 
again.— C. Rkadk. 

{b) to be ready ; to hold oneself in readiness. A nautical use. 

Standing-by is sailors' English for being ready.— J. IIuldswostil 
*' What did you say, CapUln Cuttle 7" inquired Walter. 
" Stand by 1 " returned the captain thoughtfully.— Dickbns. 

To stand at eajte — to take tlie restful position allowed to soldiers in the 
intervals of drill. P. 
By thoir rattles and slaps they're not standing at case.— Barham. 

To stand on end — to stand erect. P. Generally said of the hair of a 
person who has got a fright. 

When I think of the souU of the people in that poor vilUge, my hair literally 
stands on end. — A. TROLLorie. 
My hair stood on my head like quills.— R. L. Stsvbrson. 

To stand to reason— to be logically certain ; to be an undoubted fact P. 

If you were heir to a dukedom and a thousand pounds a day, do you mean to say 
you would not wish for possession r Pooh I And it stands to tmaon that every 
great man, having eziterienced this feeling towards his father, miisl be Rwar* that 
hii son entertains It towards himself.— Thacr bray. 

It sUnds to reason that I must either be driven along with tbs erovd or slit bs 
loft behind— A. Trollops. 



stand [ 314 ] Stand 

To sland on ceremony — to act with reserve ; to be stiff and ceremoniouB 
in behaviour ; to bo backward. P. 

Mordecai abiolately rofiiiod (this bond), declaring that now ho liad the power ho 

would use it to obtain the utmost iienny of his debt; that a man Ijring on his 

death-bed was no excuse to a creditor ; tliat he was not going to stand on cereuiooj' 
about disturbing a gentlomau in his last moments.— Maui a Euukwoetii. 

To stand in one*s light — to hinder his advancement. P. 

Don't stand in the poor girl's light; for pity's sake, Qeorge, leave as In pesoe. — 
C. Ukauk. 

At seventy, as at twenty-seven, he is found standing in his own light on many 
occasions through nervous totLt.— Leisure Iluur^ liHte. 

To stand in need of— to rccjuire ; to be in want of. P. 

I stood in need of a comfortable dinner.— Goldbmitii. 

She afterwards took htm downstairs and gave him some supper, of which he stood 
In great need.— Jamkm Payn. 

80 I pro|x)sed tliat wo should try to go out and get a bath, of whioh we stood sadly 
In need.— If. IL Hauoard. 

To stand to — (a) to uphold ; to be faithful to. C. 

" My lady, whatever I say youll stand to?" 
" Whatever you say I'll stand to."— C. Rkadb 

(6) to opix>se in a duel ; to bo a match for. C. 

" A regular Turk," answered Fogan ; adding, " I never yet knew the man who 
stood to Captain Qutn."— Tiiackkuay. 

To stand to one*s tjun — to offer resistance ; to defend oneself. C. 

Titmouse, though greatly alarmed, stood to his gun pretty steadily.— S. Wabbkv. 

To stand treat — to |Xky the expenses of any feasting or merriment. C. 

He ordered in a glass of negus from the adjoining public-house, after tome diacos* 
sion, which ended in an agreement that he sliould stand treat that night, and Tit- 
mouse on the ensuing one.— S. Warukm. 

To stand out — to object; to refuse to agree; to separate oneself from 
others. 1*. 

If the ladies will stand out, let tliem remember that the Jury Is not all agreod.— 
Swift. 
He always stands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a baiiaiii. — 

GoLDHMITil. 

Miss Monica Thome stood out, but Mrs. Grantly gave way.— A. Trollopl 

To stand in yood stead — to be useful ; to prove of gooil service. P. 

'* I pique myself on my wisdom there, Artliur, and as an old fellow to whom wis- 
dom has become cheap, I can bciitow it uiK>n you." 
" Thank you. It may stand me in good stead some day." — GcoROB Eliot. 

To stand over — to be delayed ; to \)Q set aside for a time. P. 

He had a habit of giving and lending whenever he was asked, also of buying what- 
ever chanced to take his fancy, and paying for it or letting |>ayment stand over 
according as he happened to have money in his iKKket or not at tlie time.— <7omI 



star [ 315 ]• Btatioe 

To aland njifor — to champiou; to B|)cak in dcfcnco of. P. 

You Aro lUwAys standing up for tho block people, whom tho Boon liato. — II. II. 

llAUdAKD. 

To Maud oiie*8 friend — to prove faithful xuid friendly in a difSculty or a 
crisis. C. 

Mrs. Dolly regularly expected that Ellen should, as she called it, stand lior friend 
in these altercations.— Maui a EuoKWouTn. 

To stand on one^s own botfotn — to be independent. C. Still found in 
its onginal fonn, *' Let every vat (or tub) stand on its own bottom." 

Suppose an Irishman in England were to speak in praise or abuse of the country, 
would one be particularly pleased or annoyed f One would be glad that the man 
liked Ills trip: but as for his good or bad opinion of the country, the country stands 
on iU own bottom, superior to any man or men.— TnACKKRAY. 

But I think it's better to let every tub stand on its own bottom.— II u (in Cohwat. 

A standinrj dish — a dish or article of diet which regularly appears at 
table. C. 

Standintj orders — general rules or instructions constantly in force. 

Star. — Jlis star is in the ascendant — he is lucky ; fortune favours him. P. 

His feelings of resentment became more lively, and not the lets so because the 
expression of them had been stifled, while he had considered the star of Titmouse to 
be in tlie ascendant.— S. Warrkm. 

A man's tjood star — a lucky influence aflccting his life. P. 

"Yes," said Klla patiently; "she was, of course, the Pre"— (her good star just 
saved her from saying the Pretender)—" Prince Charlie in disgaise.** — Jamrs Path. 

The Stars and Strij^^, or the Slar-spanyled Banner — the flag of tho 
United States. P. 

If I were a West Indian, I should feel that under the Stars and Stripes I should be 
safer than I was at present from political experimenting.— J. A. Froudr. 

1 don't want to see my husband walking into his proper place in Westminster with 
Stars and .Stripes flying over his head.- Brsamt. 

Being a sharp fellow, he has acquainted himself thoroughly with the geography 
of tliat country, and the amount of capital requisite to enable a noan to set up for 
himself under Uie Star-spangled Banner.— G. J. Wiiyte-Mslvilli. 

Stare.— 7*0 stare in the face— to be very evident; to tlireaten; to be 

ready to overwhelm. P. 

Is it possible for people witliout scruple to offend against the law, whkh they 
cnrry about them in indelible characters, and that stares them in the fao« whilst 
they are breaking it?— Locrr. 

Statice. — />*^'^ statice or staria or sixty, A phrase used in comparing or 

cfftiiimtiMK things. S. Statico is a plant that grows among rocks by 

tlic sea -shore. 

It iM the most costly government in the world, considering our meana We are 
actuMly ^aton up by it ; it is a mo«t plagny sore, and has sprMUl like statlct till II 
has got its root into the very core.— ILuuibubtom. 



status [ 316 ] Stick 

Status. — The aicUus quo — the position in which afTuira actually are; the 
present situation of affairs. P. Latin. 

It wu hardly too much to auume tliat a littlo further thought, a little moro con- 
dderatloD of future probabilitief, would have led to tlio uiaiuteoance of the atatu» 
q^o.—Good Wordtt 1SS7. 

Stave. — To atave ojf— to prevent; to keep back for a time and with 
difficulty. P. 

I have more influeuce in the land than you know of. Perhaps, even, I could itaT« 
off the war.— H. U. IIauoaru. 

Stays. — In stays, A sea pluiiso, applieil to a vessel which is tacking, 
and whose sails are shivering and have not yet filled in the new 
tack. P. 

"My pretty Patty," laughed her cousin, *'if you knew anjrthing of nautical 
matters, you would see that it was not a cutter yacht, for she lias more than one 
mast : though, certainly, as you saw hor, slie seemed to have but one, fur slio waa 
Just coming about, and was in stays."— KertfuiU Onxn. 

SteaL — To attal a march upon — to gain an advantage over an enemy 
or a competitor without his knowing it; to act before another is 
aware. P. 

I long to see yon happy— long to behold the dioico of inch a heart as yonn. l*niy, 
do not steal a march upon me ; let mo know in time.— Maiiia Eimikwuktu. 

At last, one morning, happening to awake earlier than usual, ho stole a march on 
his nurses, and, taking his stick, walked out and tottered into the JaiL— C. Kkauk. 

Stick. — A stick-iH't he-mud — a slow person who is wholly without tho 
spirit of untcrpriso or adventure. F. 
This nuty-colourcd one is tlmt respectable old stlck-in-Uio-mud, Nicias. — T. 

HUOUBS. 

To stick by— to be faithful to ; not to desert. P. 

He thought what a savage, determined man Osborne was, and how h« stack by Ills 

word.— Til ACKSHAY. 

To stick at — to be scrupulous about. P. 

" I came here to-night to rob your house,** he saiiL '* I have been lying beneath 
your bud for hours, rehearsing as to how it shouhl be done, and resolved, if I met 
any resistance, to do worse than rob, for I am one that sticks at nothing."— Jambs 
Payn. 

Such women as ITestor Beverley, who do not stick at telling a falsehood, will not 
hesitate to listen at a door.— Flokknck Makhvat. 

To stick out— to be stubborn ; to refuse to accede. P. 

He would have clearly liked to stick out; but tliere was something about the lot 
of us that nieaut mischief, and at last he struck.— U. L. Stkvknhon. 

To stick to one^s colours— Uy Ikj faithful to a cause ; to refuse to yield. P. 

Tlie lady had made a great mistake in putting her supremacy to a test so crucial, 
but, having made it, s>ie btuck to hor colours.— J am km Payn. 

To stick up for — to cluimpion ; to 8|)cak in defence of. C. 
I'll stick up for the pretty woman preaching.— Gkouub Eliot. 



stiff [ 317 ] Stock 

A poor stick — a person without character or energy. C. 
He wM a poor stick to nuike a preacher on (oO«— Haliburtok. 

To rut one's stick — to go off. S. 

It waa plaguy lacky for the doctor, I can tell yon, that he cut his stick at h« did, 
and made himself scarce, for Aldon was an ngly customer.— Haliburton. 

To stick in — to persevere. F. 

7^0 stick on — to overcharge; to defraud. F. 

To stick one's spoon in the wall — to die. S. 

Stiff.— 7'o do altit of stiff— U> give money for a bill ; to cash a bill. S. 

1 wIrIi youM do mo a hit of stlfT, and Jnst tell your fatlior if I may overdraw mjr 
account I'll vote with him.— Thacksray. 

A stiff *nn — a coriisc. S. 

Stile.— 7*0 hcJp (a lame lUxj) over a stile — to assist a poor fellow in a 
didiculty. F. 

I can help a lame dog over a stile (which 'was Mark's phrase for doing a generoni 
thingX— C. KiNoeLiY. 

Still. — ^^till icaters mn deep — silent and undemonstrative people have 
generally great powers of thought and action. C. 

" What, kissing her hand, and he a clergyman I " said Mist DunsUblt . ** I did 
not think tliey ever did such things, Mr. Robarts." 
"HtlU watoni run dooiMMt," said Mm. HaroM BmiUi.— A. Tnoi.LoriL 

Stir.— 'SVir-i//) Sundnj/—i\\G Sunday just iKjfore Advent. S. llio Col- 
lect or Ciiurch prayer for this day begins with the words, *' Stir up, 
() Lord, we beseech thee.*' Schoollioys who are looking forward at 
this time to the Christmas vacation irreverently ** stir up " or poke 
each other's sides on this day. 

Stock. —TV) ynake stock of— to draw profit from ; toinako use of for one*t 
own benefit. C. 

They could not have made stock of it, as Susie would have done In the drcuni- 
stances.— Ra HA n Tytlkr, 

A Ktock phrase — an expression in constant use by a person, so that it has 
1)ccomc a mannerism. P. 

And the poor boy seemed to see nnder the humble stock phrafsa In whloh they 
talked of their labours of love, and the future reward of their preMal bumUlatlon, a 
deep and liardly hidden pride.— C. KiNonLST. 

Stork in trade — marketable articles; the gooils which a merchant wishes 
to dinpose of. P. Also usc<l of the accomplishments or possessions 
which a man can turn into money. 

All his Rhnw was on his iMck, as he said. His carriage, with tbs fine fckiiiif, wsi 
a part of his stockintrade.- TnArxKRAr. 

She has ideals, convictions, aspirations— a whole flock In-tnMls of things that a 
good many girls seem to get on very well without— Wm. Blade. 



stolen [ 318 ] Store 

To take, stock of—io observe and estimate ; to vratch minutely. P. 

** You teem to luYe observed him yrnrj cloeclj, oonddering your opportnnltiee.** 
*' I luTe. It b my trade to take itock of mj fellow-crcaturea.**— Jambh Payn. 
Though the eountess is oertainly taking stock of Miss Rayne, when she consider! 

henelf unnoticed, it is with anytliing but a gratlflcd eipression on her oountenanoe. 

— Florbncb Maruyat. 

To take stock in — to value ; to regard with trust or confidence. P. 

Marse Dab himself, however, never appeared to take mnch stock in the genea- 
logical advantages he enjoyed.— fladnooocTs Matjazine, 28S7. 

Btolen.—Stoien fruit — said of something which is very sweet. C. 

It was so sweet to hoar Edward praised by one who did not know as; it was lilw 
stolen fruit— C. Reads. 

Stone. — Stone-throwing — finding fault with one's neighlMurs. P. No 

doubt taken from Christ's saying, *' He that is without blame among 

you, lot him first coat a stone at her " (John viii. 7). 

The stone- throwing spirit, the self-depreciation of the capital, and the occasional 
outbursts of Nihilism, are only the natural results of the autocratic system.— ForC* 
niyhtly Reviete, 1SS7. 

Stone-hiind — completely blind. P. 

He is considered a rich man, and, being stono-blind, ho sent for this girl — 
Cai>tain Maruyat. 

A stone* 8-throw — a short distance ; a hundred yards or more. P. 

Rebecca and her husband were but a few stone's- throws from the lodgings whidi 
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 borroweil from the Greek dramatist Euripides. Polycrates 
asked the Delphic oracle how best to find the treasm*e buried by 
Mardonius, the general of Xerxes, on the field of Platea. The omcle 
replied, *• Turn every stone" {Panta kinesai petron). 

But Mr. Irwine '11 leave no stone unturned with the Judge— you may rely hihmi 
that, Adam. — Qkohuk Kliot. 
*' We shan't leave a »tono unturned on either side,** said Mr. Quirk.— S. Warm 



Stool. — To fall hetireen tiro stools — to adopt two plans of action, and to 
fail; to lose oneself by trusting to two supports instead of boldly 
choosing a single one. P. 

What on earth should she do? Fall to the ground between two stools? No; that 
was a man's trick, and she was a woman, every inch. — C. Readk. 

And they were very merry— so that no one would have thought that Johnny was 
a despondent lover, now bent on throwing the dice for his last stake; or that Lily 
was aware that she was in tlie presence of one lover, and that she was like to faU 
iMtweon two stools (having two lovers, neither of whom could serve her tamX^ 
A. Trollui'k. 

Store.— 7'o set store hy or on— to value : to tliink highly of. P. 

An artlit sketche<l a likeness of the yonng doclainier, on which. In after dayi, 
those who were fondest of him set not a little store.— Gboros Rliot. 




story [ 319 ] Straw 

In stort — ready ; waiting ; soon to ditclose itself. P. 

If he portntjs pcnoM gtntnUy m well u he does pUcei (m I do not doaht) tbtre 
mutt be another treai la itore for oa.— James Patk. 
Little aatidpallaff the checkered Ok io store for him.— W. larivo. 

Story. — fi'eal in Ike upper jtory— crazy ; feeble-minded. F. 

g^ye.— 7*A« Move-pipe Ao/— the tall silk hat. C. 

Abont the only mooilrositj I mw in the British man's dress was the store-pipe 
hat— BuaaocGHa. 

Straight. — A MrtUght tip — private aiul correct in formation. S. 

All he had to do was to fire him the straifht tip, and let hlipi go and boy.— 
Bekawt. 
We got the straight tip ; that's all 70a need know.— Mm BaADDOK. 

Strain. — To Mtrain al a rpiai — to make difficulties abont something ill> 
significant. P. A Scriptural phrase (Matt. xziiL 34). / ' 

Yoa are Just the chap to strain at a gnat, and swallow a cameL— HALiaoaroK. 

Strait. — A Mtraii jarWi or uxuMcoal — an article of dress put on a mad- 
man when he is unruly. P. 

George Gannt is accrediied to a keeper, who has inreated him with the order ct the 
Strait Waistcoat— Track EBAT. 

JSzp.— George Gannt, Instead of going aa a secretary of legation to a fordga 
court, has been Intmsied to a keeper, and Is watched aa a madman. 

Straw. — Afy 'yw </nwr utratrm — I am rcry sleepy. C. 

J^Ajf AftM. I'm rtrj sare 'lis time for all honest folk* to go to bed. 
Ui**, Indeed mj ejes draw straws (I am almost aaleepX -Swirr. 

The InM fdmw — tliat which finally causes a catastrophe; an e^'cnt simple in 
itself, 1>ut a1>lc, in conjunction with other things, to cause a calamity. 
P. Tlic proverb runs : " It is the last straw which breaks the cameVs 
back.'' 



If there are anj real tragedies being acted ont in Oldbnry Jvst now, 70a may de- 
pend npon it tbej are nnnispecied ones, or that all the gnod people are bosy he a pin g 
last straws 00 the fainting camel's back.— A.'civie Kkart. 

Identification wonid mean lorn of credit, the last straw in many casesL— ^jweinlpr, 

Kci to rart a Mfran? or two utratr* — to be perfectly indiflRerenL P. A 
stnw is the s^-mbol of what is worthh 



I don't think she ooold hare cared two straws abo«t the m ommm —Murmft Mi 

time, JSS7. 

A wlroir InH — a worthless bid (at an auction). P. The bidder in such a 
case is unable to pay if the article is knocked down to him. 

A mna r^f fdrmr—^ crcatnrc cvolvccl from the fancy, ami wholly unlike 
tlic real person ; an unreal person ; a dummy. P. 

The man of straw who offers baO Is fnralahed the moaer by those who s Hmsktod 
the oQtrage. — C. Rkads. 
Major, there's a man of straw In that ho«BS.-a J. Wnrrs-XBLTUXB. 



Strephon [ 320 ] Strike 

You bring me a partj that will giv« me enough for those mlUi to clear me of jroo, 
and I'll talk to yon. But don't come you hero witli any man of straw.— W. D. 

IIO WELLS. 

The conduct of the whole dialogue Is masterly. Both Milton and Cowley sustain 
their parts with admirable propriety. It is no sham fight in which one of the Inter- 
locutors is a man of straw, set up only to be knocked down.— J. Ci>tticb Mokuom. 

Strephon. — Strephon and Pht/Uut — a pair of rustic lovers, generally 
taken as typical of a sentimental young inau and his sweetheart. P. 

He brought his lovely wife to a romantic-looking cottage, covered with rosea and 
myrtle, and there their Strephon and Phyllis-like existence had commenced.— 
Flouknck Marryat. 

Strike. — To strike icork — to refuse to work until better terms arc 
promised. P. 

A number of functions, in fact, struck work.— II. Dbummond. 

To strike one^a colours or flag — to surrender. P. 

Anastasle was aware of defeat ; she struck her colours instantly.— R. L. flrxYitiraoK. 

The fluih of yictory, the intoxication of success, had passed over to another ; and 
it was he who had to strike his flag and own himself defeated.— Mna. E. Ltnit 
Linton. 

Strike me lurk or lucki/. An old phrase, used when a bargain was mode, 
and money exchanged in token thereof. 

*' Come, strike me luck with earnest, and draw the writings." 
" Tliero's a Ood's i>cnny for thee."'i-BKAUMoNT amp Flktuiier. 

To strike, a hargain — to conclude a bargain. P. The striking of hands 
was a sign of a bargain being concluded. 

Mr. Miles answered by offering to bet be should make the best servant In tha 
street ; and, strange to say, the bargain was struck, and he did turn out a model 
servant— 0. Kbaub. 

To strike all of a heap — to astonish ; to dumfounder. F. 

I ran to Paley and told him what had befallen upon the h<mse. He was not aimck 
all of a heap, as I thought he would be.— G. Rkadk. 

Strike while the iron in hot— do not miss a favourable opportunity; act 
when the conditions are favourable. P. 

" Let George cut in and win her," was his advice. " Strike while the iron'a hot, 

you know— while shc'a fresh to tlio town."— Thackkray. 

To strike up— to begin ; to set on foot. C. (Generally said of music. 

An introduction took place Itetween the squire and the clergyman's volatile pupil, 
which struck up an immediate alliance of obliger and obliged.— G. J. Wiiytk- 
Mklvillk. 

I fancy it requires more than ordinary spirit now for a good old gentleman, at tha 
head of liis family talilo, to strike up a gooit old faniily song.— TiiAeKRUAV. 

To jttrikc in — to make an abrupt entry into a conversation. P. Seo 
Cut in. 

But at this moment the lieutenant struck in. " Oh, tliat is quite foolish I** he cried. 
— Wm. Black. 



struck [ 321 ] Sul 

To strike one's ttnt — to depart. C. 

TTowever, he had amasied a good deal of money In this gambling hell of his ; and 
BO he was able to persnade a few of his meaner dependants to strike their tents along 
with him, and go out Into the wilderness.— Wm. Black. 

Struck. — Struck upon — attracted by. F. An AmericaniBm. 

" But that young roan had perfect wajs." 

"Seem struck upon Irene?" asked the colonel.— W. D. IIo wills. 

Stuck. — Stuck up — proud ; conceited. F. 

" Thejr didn't seem stack up," urged his wife.— W. D. Ho wells. 

Study. — A brown tttudy — a state of meiital absorption ; a dreamy condi- 
tion of mind. P. 

He'll |)olson his patients some daj when he's in a brown itudj. — FLoasNcm 
Marrvat. 

Stump. — To stump up — to pay out money. S. 

Why don't you ask your old goremor to stump up T— Dickkhs. 

On the stump — lecturing ; on a lecturing tour. F. 

Suaviter. — Suatyiter in mwlo — possessing tAct ; having a pleasant mode 
of dealing. P. Latin. Tlie f ull phrase is Suavittr in modo^ fortiier 
in }T, '* Pleasant in the manner of carrying out an enterprise, firm in 
thu business itself." 

Let Mr. Slope be ttxe/ortiUr in re, he himself would pour In the tuaviUr in mmIo. 
—A. Trollops. 

Sub.—'VM// rosa — in confidence ; secretly. P. The Latin form of ** Under 
the rose." See Rose. 

By-tho-by, I wonder some of you lawyers (tub ro$a, of course) hare not quoted the 
pithy line of Manderille.— 9. T. Oolsridos. 

Such. — Such and such — certain. An adjective phrase, which saves the 
need of using a definite numeral gr other adjective. P. 

She had written to him to say that she would be at her father's on meh and such a 
morning, and he had gone to her there.— A. Trollopb. 

She had always been accustomed to such and such things ; there was no pOisibUily 
of living witiiout them.— Maria Edorworth. 

Sugar. — A sutjar-plum — something very nice. C. 

For this pretty toy Mr. Conway Dalrymple had picked up a flU mfarplum lo the 
tune of six hundred pounds.— A. Trollops. 

SuL— '^xi {7«»en>— peculiar ; belonging to a claas apart; not like anjrthing 
else. P. Latin. 

Not a Clinton, nor yet a Carew, she was mi ptntrls, and supreme.— Maa. E. Lritii 

Linton. 

21 



Summer [ 322 ] 



Summer. — The little summer of St. Luhe—e^ mild spell of weather which 
usually comes about the middle of October. St. Luke's Day, the 18ih 
of October, gives it the name. 

Indian summer. See Indian. 

Sunshine. — To have been in the sunshine — to be drunk. F. 

He WM in tlutt condition which his groom Indicated with poetic amblgiiltjr bj nj- 
log, that *' master had been in the sunshine.'* — Obubob Eliot. 

Sup. — To sup with Pluto — to die. P. Pluto was the Latin god of the 
infernal regions, where the spirits of the dead existed. 

Supper. — To set one his supper — to perform a feat that cannot be imi- 
tated or surpassed. F. 

Sure. — As S7ire as a gun — certainly ; without fail. F. 

" As sure as a gun," said she, *' that must be the knock of the poet**— Macauult. 

To he stire — certainly; no doubt. C. An exclamation having no de- 
cided force or meaning. 

Lord I what a life mine is, to be sure.— S. Warrsn. 

Surprise. — A surprise party — a party of friends wlio apixiar unex- 
pectedly at the house of some one of their acquaintance, bringing food 
with them. This is usually done in the evening. P. An American 
custom. 

Swallow. — One swallow does not male a sttmmer — we must not frame a 
general law from one single phenomenon. P. 

" When the Family Galas were about to be executed unjustly, with the ooment of 
all the lawyers and statesmen in France, one man in the nation saw the •rror, sad 
fought for the innocent, and sared them ; and that one wise mau in a nation ol foob 
was a writer of fiction." 

" One swallow does not make a summer, for all that"— C Rsads. 

Swear. — To stoear by another — to be an imitator or admiring follower ; 
to admire all his actions ; to have full confidence in. C. 

" I suppose I oughtn't to say it before you," obserres Miss Smiles p r ese a tly, " be- 
cause, of course, you swear by everything British."— Florbncic Marrtat. 

Gilbert smiled. " The performance was not quite such a risky one as it looked, I 
think ; but, of course, that is the sort of thing that makes these people swear by 
Monckton."— <7ood IVordt, 1887. 

To stoear in — (of a magistrate) to engage formally the services of men 
for the government. P. 

Governor Lanyon is sending Raaf down with power to swear in special constables, 
and enforce the law at Potchefstrooro.- H. R. Hauuard. 

To swear like a trooper — to use profane language freely. P. 

She was perfectly tipsy, screaming and fighting like a Billingsgate flshwonan, sad 
swearing like a trooper.- Florrnc k Marry at. 



Sweat [ 323 ] Swinff 

To swear off— to rououiice ; to give up. C. Often used intrausitively. 






Will you hATO a drink with ut, Jack T " 

No, mate, I have sworn off " (given up drinking). 



To sicear otU — to renounce ; to give up. Old-fashioned. 
Your grace hath sworn out house-keeping. — Shaksspbarb. 

Sweat. — The sxoecU of out's brow or/af«— hard labour. P. 

".In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground. 
—OenesU Hi. 19. 
'Tis the sweat of our brow, Tummus, none of *em (them) think on (of).— Black* 

MORE. 

In this practice, indeed, he imitated some of the most renowned goniusee of the 
Age, who have laboured in secret with the sweat of their brows for many a repartee.— 
Smollett. 

Sweet. — StDeet on or upon — attached to ; having a fancy for. F. 

" Mark my words, Rawdon," she laid. " You will have Miss Sharp one day for 
your relation." 

"What relation,— my cousin, hey, Mrs. Bute? James tweet on her, hey? ** in- 
quired the waggish officer.— Tbacesray. 

A siceet tooth — a liking for sweetmeats and dainties. P. 

All people with healthy physical appetites have a sweet tooth somewhere in their 
heads.— A/ocmitlan't Magatine^ 1887. 
I know she has a sweet tooth still In her bead.— Maria EDOBwoBTn. 

One^s siceet will — uncontrolled wishes ; the unrestrained desires of one's 
heart. C. A phrase generally used somewlmt sarcastically. 

If only the idealists can have their way, and work out the yearnings of their own 
sweet will, we thall soon be a teetotal, vegetarian, and non-tobaooo-smoklng people. 
—Family Herald (quoted in Edinburgh Reviev, 18H7). 

At any rate, Grace made no attempt to do anything of the kind, but wandered at 
her own sweet will wiUiin the limits of her own parole.— Black morb. 

Swell. — The nwdl nio&— people of ImuI character ; men who prey on the 
vices or follies of others. F. 

The fact was that he luul been one of the swell mob.— Captain Marrtat. 
When he had worn something of the air of a dandy, or, at the worst, of a ioceisi 
ful swellmobsman.— D. CiiRifrriB Murray. 

Swim. — fn the smm — in tlic current of events ; acquainted with all tliat 
is going on. C. 

Swing.— In full sitnng — very busy ; working busily. C. 
The street market was in full swing.— Bbbawt. 

To ffiiH'/uU striiuj to— io indulge freely ; to let loose ; to free from con- 
trol. P. 

But let us return to Nature : do you mean Uiat we are to give full swing Io our In- 
clination, to throw the reins on the neck of our sensetf— M. Arnold. 

To have full swing — to be allowed free and uncontrolled exercise. P. 
Kvcry one has his full swing, or goes to the devil hit owb way.— Haxutt. 



Swoop [ 324 ] T 

Swoop. — At one feU swoop — with one nnlucky blow ; by a single catas- 
trophe. P. 

At one fell iwoop it had cleared the ddeboard of gUases, decanters, lilyer waiten. 
—Wilson. 

Swop. — To swop horses crossing the stream — to make an exchange at a 
critical time when all one's energies should be devoted to the business 
in hand. F. 

Sword. — At swords* points — bitterly hostile. P. 

Thli the captain took in dudgeon, and they were at iwordt* points at oncci— B. H. 
Dana. 

The sword of Damocles. Damocles was a courtier in the palace of 
Dionysius the Elder, ruler of Syracuse. Having extolled the felicity 
of princes, he was answered in the following fashion by his master. 
He was invited to a sumptuous banquet, and, arrayed in royal robes, 
was given the principal seat ; but over his head hung a sword sus. 
pended by a single horse-hair. By this Dionysius meant to intimate 
the precarious nature of the power and felicity of princes. 

When it is said to be the Csar's wish that the aged Emperor of OermaaT's end 
should be peaceful, and tliat it is only because he would not that his last moaieats 
should be disturbed by the clash of arms that he desists from action, it will be aaea 
how thin is the thread by which the sword of Damocles is suspended.— SL Andnws 
CitiMti, 1887. 

To put to the sword— to kill. P. 

At swords drawn — bitterly hostile. P. See Daggek. 

OIoTannl belonged to a family who, from the earliest times, had been at swords 
drawn with the goTemment.— Maaion Crawford. 

Sydney. — Sydney sider — a convict. S. 

There is no euphemism invented yet for the word " conTict," which is avallabU 
among the labouiing class of Australia when a conrict is present Thoee who think 
they know something of them might fancy that *' Old hand,** " Vandemonfaa," or 
even Sydney sider, were not particularly oflTenslve.— H. Kinqklby. 



T. — To a T — exactly. C. Perhaps from a T-square. 

" Well." said I, " there is a pretty show of girls, that's certain : but they wottldnt 
condescend to the like of me. I was thinking there were some of them that wosM 
Just suit you to a T."— IIai.idwrton. 

The fool forgets there is an Act of Parliament, and that we have compiled wfth the 
provisions to a T.— O. Reads. 



Table [ 326 ] Tfeke 

Table. — To turn the tablee — to reverse the poeition of two rival 
parties. P. 

It WM no light act of courage in those dajt, my dear hoju, tot a Ultle fellow to my 
hit prayers publicly, even at Rugby. A few yean later, when Arnold's manly piety 
had begun to leaven the school, the tables turned. Before he died. In the school- 
house at least, and I believe in the other houses, the rule was the other way.— 

T. HUQBBS. 

If Mr. Dillon had said that such an outrage as this was nothing but the taming of 
the tables on the atrocities of the penal code, we should not have blamed hioL— 
Spectator, 1887. 

Table d'hdle — the public dining-table at an hotel. P. A French 
phrase. Literally, the " host's table," from the custom of the land- 
lord presiding at the public dinner. 
I was very fond of dining at tablt (Fhdti anywhere.— 2i^ MittUtot Bough, 2885, 

[/]x>n the table — known to every one ; a matter of public discussion. P. 

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 ths table, 
and I will merely touch upon the main heads of the case.— H. R. Haooajuk 

Tableaux. — TMeattx vivants — ** living pictures;" dumb representa- 
tions, generally of historical scenes, in which the figures are real 
people. French. A favourite amusement in social gatherings. 

On the 20th of January IGOO, having accomplished the flnt half of his task, he 
(Cmsar Borgia) entered Rome as a conqueror, on which occasion a representation was 
given of the triumph of Onaar, with the various episodes of the life of the Roman 
Cnwnr, shown In tablcanx vivaHis, suggested by the painter Mantegna.— BfodhcocNTs 

Magaxine, ISSS. 

TSLg,—Ta4jra{ji and bob-tail—ihe ill-dressed rabble. P. See Rao-tao. 
Ue invited tag-rag and bob-tail to the wedding.— L'EsTRANas. 

TalL— ^o l^'^f'P the tail in the iwi/er— to thrive ; to prosper. F. 

To turn tail — to retreat in an undignifieil way. C. 

" Never thought I should live to turn tail In this way,** growled one soldier to 
another as they passed out— EnglUh lUuMtrated Magaxiiu, 1887, 

Tailor.— jVi'mc tailors mal-e a man. An old saying. See NiNK. 

I believe Pinchin's father to have been a tailor. There is bo harm In the craft, 
honesUy exercised ; but since the world began nine tailon have made a man, and 
you cannot well see a knight of the shean without asking in your own mind 
where he has left hto eight brethren.— O. A. Sala. 

Take.— 7*0 taUe abark—U) bewilder ; to astonish ; to surprise. P. 

" A what?*' asked Hardy rather taken aback.— Dick bnr. 

For to hand in a dead woman might take him aback, as It bad takoi mt.— Mm. 
IIenrt Wood. 

To take back — to recall words that have been spoken ; to retract. C. 



It 



I've disgusted you, I see that; but I didn't mean to. 1—1 take it back 
"Oh, there's nothing to Uke back,** said Corey.— W. D. Howsixa. 



Take X ^^^ ] T^Jce 

To taht home to ontadf—io understand completely. C. 

JmI did not at all take home to henelf the peculiar meaning of lier friend** 
wordi.— A. Trollops. 

To take after — to resemble ; to imitate. P. 

We cannot bnt think that he has taken after a good pattern.— ArrBmsuny. 
Thank God, 70a take after your mother*! family, Arthur.— Okoros Eliot. 

To take the cue — to understand a hint. P. 
The ladies took the cue and retired.— C. Rkadb. 

To tdke to the road — to become a highwayman. P. 

The pewterer was unfortunate in his husinese, and took to the road.— O. A. Sala. 

To take down — (a) to liumiliate ; to lower the pretensions of. C. 

Our reverend's been taken down a bit since that gent at the hall lit hit pipe in 
the church porch.— A. Jkshopp, in Nintttenth CetUwry, 1887, 

"The fact is,** went on the other, "that I thought you wanted taking down a 
peg.-— Good WordB, 1887. 

(6) to take the place of a scholar higher up in the form. A school 

phrase. 

(c) to commit to writing spoken wonls as Uiey are uttered. P. 



lie wrote letters and took down Instructions in shorthand.— Bkbamt. 

To take ftujhi—Ui go off. C. 

My good Matilda, I am sick of this. I have been bored to-night, and what is modi 
worse, I have been snubbed. Suppose we take flight for Cannes T—6food Wcrdst 
1887. 

To take in good part — to hear or receive willingly. P. 

I will Just add one little word, Utterson, that I'm sure you'll take in good part 
This is a private matter, and I beg of you to lot It sleep.— R. L. SnvRmoN. 

To take anything to heart — to bear it seriously ; to be much affected by 
it. P. 

The next day he called at Orassmere, Susan met him all smiles, and was men 
cheerful than usual. The watchful man was delighted. "Come ; she does not take 
It to heart" He did not guess that Susan had cried for hours and hoars over tho 
letter.— a Kkadb. 

To take in hand— to undertake ; to commence working with. P. 

But that acquaintances— mere acquaintances— should have taken It In band to 
give her pecuniary assistance, was a humiliation indeed.— James Pay.^. 

To take hold of— to seize ; to occupy. P. 

But tliere was something in the delicate handwriting and perfume of tho totter 
that took hold of my imagination.- JkfuOetoe lioufjh, 188J, 

To take in — (a) to deceive ; to delude. P. 



*i 



At all events, everyl>o«ly was very hard upon him, Just because they were takaa 
in," argued Margaret "If he had acknowledged what they admired so mndi to 
have been his own, they would have seen nothing In It to admire.**— Jambs Patv. 

Here were two battered London rakes, taking themselves In for a monent, and 
fancying th«y were In love with each other like Phyllis and Corydon.— Tiiacxbkay. 



TaJce [ 327 ] Take 

(6) to escort to a room. P. 

As for Mlu Huntlcf, she rather prided herself upon hor immunitj from "airs," 
and would have been quite content to accept Mr. Buswell's arm, bMl that person 
been requested to talce her in to dinner. — Oood IKords, J887. 

(c) to comprehend ; to absorb mentally. P. 

It is not to be supposed that he toolt in everything at one glance.— Dickbhs. 

To lake off— {a) to mock at ; to make sport of ; to mimic. P. 

Taking off (making fun oO the factory ladies.— IIali burton. 

I know the man I would have: a quick-witted, outspoken, indslve fellow... de- 
lights in taking off big wigs and professional gowns, and in the disembalmlng and 
unbandaging of all literary mummies.— 0. W. Uolmks. 

{b) to murder. Old-fashioned. 

The deep damnation of his taking off.— Shakupbarb. 

7^0 take oneself off'— {a) to go away. C. 

Sincerely thankful was he when the meal came to an end, and when Brian, with a 
murmured excuse, took himself off. — Oood WonU, 1887. 

The stranger suddenly took himself off, and was no more seen by the young lady.— 
A. Trollopb. 

» 

(6) to commit suicide. C. 

" You argue," said Mrs. Wallace, " that In the case of wicked people, the very 
belt thing they can do is to take themselves off, as you call It, since In so doing they 
do the world a service.**— Jam km Tayn. 

To take on — to be affected ; to be overcome by one's feelings. C. 

" Dear heart I dear heart 1 ** cried the squire, who was deeply attached lo his 
sister : " don't take on so, my dear good Joan.**— Blackmorb. 

" It is a pity you take on so. Miss Briggs," the young lady said, with a oool, slightly 
sarcastic air. 

" 5(y dearest friend is so ill, and wo-o-o-on't see me,** gurgled out Briggs In an 
agony of renewed grief.— Thack bray. 

Jn a pretty take on — much afiectcd. F. 

She was in a pretty take on, too, sir, because, as she said— to use her Tery words- 
she was chiselled out of a dance.— 8. Barino-Oould. 

To take it o^U — (a) to take exercise ; to relieve one*8 physical energies. C. 

Ker limbs were elastic, so that she seemed when she walked as If she woald like 
to run, Jump, and dance, which, indeed, she would have greatly preferred, only at 
Newnham they take it out at lawn tennis.— Bbbajit. 

(6) to obtain an equivalent for a loss sustained. C. 

"Can't you keep awake till you have stated your case t ** asked Harry. **Oomt, 
old boy ; you can take It out In slumber afterwards."— Bbkajit. 

To take it otU of a perton — to exhaust his energies. P. 

So thoy tried back slowly and sorrowfully, and found the lane, and went llmplBC 
down it, plANhIng in the cold puddly nita, and beglanlnt lo feel how the nui had 
taken It out of them.— T. HunnBa. 

To take jxiri — to share ; to act along with others. P. 
Take part in rejoicing for the victory over the Turks.— rori. 



Take [ 328 ] Ttaike 

To take place — to happen. P. 

Whether aDythlng of the natare of a family collision bad taken place on the 
oceaaion of her doing to, John Lawrence did not know.— Afurray^x AfogcuiM, 1S87, 

To take stock in. Sec Stock. 

To tale by storm — to secure by one great effort; to overcome by one 
single blow. P. 

In face and manner and tpeech she waa of those sweetljr innocent glria who take 
men's hearts by storm.— Mrm. H. Wood. 

Of course, at my age, I was soon all right again, and going to take the world bj 
storm to-morrow morning.— C. Rcaub. 

To take to — to apply oneself to ; to conceive a liking for. P. 

Miss Betsy won't take to her book.-- Swipt. 

Men of learning who take to business discharge it generally with greater honeety 
than men of the world.— Addison. 
The squire took to her very kindly (was very well pleased with her).— A. Tmollopb. 

To tcJce to one's bed— to be prostrated by illness. P. 

It Is quite true that at times he took to his bed.— Letter quoted in NineUentk 
(kniuryt 1887. 

To take to one*s heeis — to commence running ; to start off at a rapid 
pace. P. 

I gave a view halloa, took to my heels, collared my gentleman, and bfoui^t bin 
back.— R. L. Stkvbmson. 

To tcd-e to task — to reprove ; to lecture ; to find fault with. P. 

" I am only saying what Dr. Cooper has just told mo— that Mr. Josoeline'i life 
roust be counted by hours. There is no hope." 

"Still," urged Mrs. Armytage, irriUted at being taken to task— and, as was 
erident, with the approval of the company— by a lady so inferior to her in tiie ■odal 
scale—" the truth must be told, we are taught, even of the dead."— Jamb Patm. 

To take too much — to get drunk. C. 

She knew he was of no drunken kind, yet once in a way a man might take too 
much. —Black mors. 



7*0 take in toxo — to conduct ; to take charge of. P. Originally a 
phrase. 

Sir Brian stood In the middle of PaU Mall shaking his stick at the oabtaui, 
whose number ho took, aud causing some interruption to the trafUo, until bo waa 
courteously but firmly taken in tow by a policeman, who remarked that the roadway 
was intended for wheeled vehicles and the pavement for foot ]iasBengeri.-~6'0oil 
Wordi, 1887. 

To take, turns— to engage in anything alternately, each one in succession 
being allowed to take part. P. 

I think a good way will be for each of them, even the youngest, to take turns la 
ordering the dinner and seeing it prepared.— Bbhant. 

To take up— {a) to put in jail. P. . 

For many a time, when they take a man up, they spread it about that he's turaod 
informer like the rest— Charmeii Leveb. 




Take [ 329 ] Taking 

— (b) to help ; to aid ; to patronize. P. 

He told hlfl itorj from iho beginning : how he hitd experienced nothing but fallare 
and diuppointment ; how he had been taken up bj the queer old fellow at the chop- 
houae, etc— Bbbamt. 

— (c) to engross ; to comprise. P. 



I prefer in our countrjman the noble poem of PaUmon and Arcite, which la 
perhaps not much inferior to the Illaa, onlj It takea up toven years.— Drvdbk. 

— (d) to reply to ; to interrupt with a criticism. P. 



One of his relations took him up roundly for stooping to much below the dignity 
of his profession.— L'EsTRANOB. 

Meantime a shrewd woman was there listening with all her ears— « woman, too, 
who had vague suspicions about him, and had taken him up rather sharper than 
natural, he thought, when, being off his guard for a moment, he anUcipat«d the 
narrator, and assumed there were two burglars.— C Rbadx. 

Taken vp — wholly occupied ; cngroescil. P. 

Mr. Fraser did not answer him immediately, so taken up was he in noticing the 
wonderful changes a week had wrought In his appearance.- U. B. Haouard. 

To take up arms /or — to defend ; to champion. C. 

Miss Smiles takes up arms at once for Mrs. Bererley.— Fu>itSKOB Marrtat. 

To take upon oneself— to venture (in a moral sense) ; to undertake a 
responsibility. P. 

The Parliament took upon them to call an assembly of dlrlnei to settle some 
Church questions. —South. 

" Well, well, well I ** he murmured. " But it doesn't do to say so, you know, Mr. 
Sccrave. At times, I confess, ho appears to me to take too much upon him."— ^oocl 

IPord*, 1887. 

To take a man at his loord — to believe what he says. P. 

If I should decline all merit, it was too probable the hasty reader might haT« 
taken roe at my word.— Goldmmitil 

" It seems a pity," Harry chimed in, " that so much protesting was in TaiD. 
Perhaps Mr. Messenger took him at his word.**— Besamt. 

To take a telliiKj — to receive oilvice or a rebulce patiently. C. 

To take it into one's head — to conceive a sudden intention ; to resolve 
upon without any ap|Hircnt reason. C. Generally used of a caprici* 

ous wliiiii. 

Mrs. Crumpe took It into her head that she could eat no buttar but of Patty's 
churning.— Maria Edobworth. 

To take vp with— to be friendly with ; to seek the sooiety of ; to keep 
company with. C. 

Do you inppoee that Penelope Iiapham is a girl to take up with a fellow tkat her 
siNtor \n in Ioto with, and that the always Uiought was In love with bar slstar, aad go 
olT and bo happy with him T— W. D. IIuwblls. 

Taking. — In a terrible /oX-iwf/— greatly agitated. C. 

" Zoundi. nUnche I what did you say ?** burst out the general In a ierrlbia taklac, 
as he thought how everything must come out— O. J. WHrTB*MRLTiiJ.R. 



Talk [ 330 | TdJitruxnB 

Talk. — To tcUk a pertton's head off— to be excessively talkative ; to weary 
another with talking. C. 

I onlf hope, Helgham, tliat old Pigoti wou't Ulk your head off ; ah* hu got • 
dreadful tongue.— II. U. Haggard. 

To iaik a person up — to cajole a i)er8on with flattering words ; to per- 
suade a person to do some action. P. 
I Mui for Mr. FUmborough, and thej talked him up aa flnelj aa thej did me. — 

GOLDSIlflTlI. 

To talk over — (a) to pcrsnodc a person by talking ; to in<Uico a iHiraou to 
change his opinion by talking with him. P. 

Miss Kennedy looked embarrassed. She had betrayed herself, she thought. *' I 
know— I know. But he talked me OTer."— Bbsant. 

He talked over Trevittick, who sulkily acquiesced.— H. KiNoaLKT. 

{h) to discuss a subject. P. 



Tandem. — To drive tandem — to drive a coach to which two horses are 
harnessed one in front of the otlier, and not side by side. P. 
He had already given up driving tandem.— itfAnucttm, 18S7. 

Tangent. — Off at a tamjeiU. This phrase is used of quick and raddcii 
movements, where a person breaks away unexpecte<Uy. 0. Kspe- 
cially U8e<l of conversations ; but also, as in the second example, of 
one's thoughts. 

She could scarcely say ten words, except about herself ; so when Baaett queatloaed 
her about Sir Charles and Lady Bassett, she said "Yes," or "No." or "I dont 
know," and was off at a tangent to her own sayings and doinga — C Rsadk. 

John Treverton, smoking his cigar, and letting his thoughts wander away at • 
tangent every now and then.— Mitsi Bhaddon. 

Tansy. — Like a tansy — perfect ; complete. C. Tansy was a drink 
composed of many ingredients, and requiring great care iu its com- 
position. 

Mis*. Look, Lady Answerall. is it not well mended Y 
Lady Ans, Ay, this is something like a tansy.— Swirr. 

Tantalus. — A Tantahm cup— a. cup in which the water vanishes aa 
soon as the thirsty person attempts to druik. P. l^talus waa a 
tyrant who, for his nuuiy crimes, was tortured in the infernal regiona 
l)y having water ever at his liira. As soon as he tried to drink, how- 
ever, the water slowly receiled, and left him more thirsty than ever. 

NoUiing occurred to interfere with the pUn of action decided on by HlhU sad 
Philip: no misadventure came to mock them, dashing the Tantalus cup of ]oj to 
earth before their eyes— if. R. Haggard. 

Tantrums. — /» one*H tantrums— in a l)a(l humour. F. 

When he saw Dobbs Broughton he told that gentleman that Mrs. Van Slevar had 
been in her tantrums.— A. Trui.lupk. 

" What, you are in your tantrums again I " said she.— C Rbadk. 




Tape [ 331 ] Tattoo 

Tape. — Tape, or red tape — official routine ; official delay aiid obstruc- 
tion. P. 

The frost and reserve of office melted like snow in stimroer before the sun of reli- 
gion ftnd humanitf. How unreal and idle appeared now tlie twenty jears gone In 
ta|ie and circumlocution.— C. Rkadk. 

Tapis. — On the tapis — under discussion. P. Tapis is French for 
"carpet." 

Well, aa mj engagement to Lady Catherine ia still on the (opu, it mill be as well 
to assume tliat I did not (give her a chance of marrying me).— jif u«e(oe lUmoK JS85, 

The Schleswig-Holstein question comes on the tapUt and no one seems to know 
much of anytliing about the place geographically.— /ortni^/Uly Review, 1887. 

Tar. — To Jiave a lick o/tfie tar-hnish — to be partly of negro blood. F. 

Tari-intj ami feathering — a punishment inflicted upon an unpopular per- 
son. Joscpli Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was so treated. 
King Richard Cosur de Lion, before sailing for the Holy Land, had a 
law enacted in tlie fleet tliat *' a robber, who shall be convicted of 
theft, shall have his head cropped after the manner of a champion, 
and boiling pitch sliall be poured thereon, and then the feathera of a 
cushion shall be shaken out upon him, so that he may be known, and 
at the first land at which the ships shall touch he shall be set on 
shore. " 

Tarred with the same hnish or stick — possessing the same peculiarities ; 
marked by the siviiic <|uivHtic8. C. 

As a sample of the solf-trained and self-educated amateur, be was, however, tarred 
with the same brush as John Lawrence.— Af nrray*! Magnxine^ 188Ti 
We are all tArred with the same stick, wo women.— C. Rbadb. 

Tartar.— T'o catch a Tartar — to capture what proves to be a trouble- 
some prisoner ; to scizx: hold of what one would afterwards willingly 
let go. P. 

Reckless Reginald soon found he had caught a Tartar in his new roaster.— C Reads. 

She lot him have his head for a bit, and then, when he'd got quite accustomed to 
the best of everything and couldn't live without it, she tnmed him into the street, 
where there is no claret and no cliampagne. So that poor man csnght a Tartar, 
didn't he?— Bmant. 

Task. — To talx to task — to reprove; to find fault with. P. 

Mrs. Baynes took poor madame severely to task for admitting tach a naa to her 
assemblies.— Til AC KKRAV. 

Tattoo. — The deriVs tattoo — beating, usually witli the fingers, on a 
tabic or other flat surface. P. Generally a sign of impatience or 
of ill-humour. 



II 



Ah, what shall I do, Ix>rd Steyne, for I am very, very unhappy T* 
Ixtrd Stejrno made no reply except by beating the devil's tattoo and bitinf bit nalle. 

— TllACKHnAV. 

Tliero lay halfa-dosen ruffians writhing on the ground, and beating the dtvil's 
tattoo with their heels.— a Rbadc 




Tea [ 332 ] Tempers 

Teft. — -A niorm in a tea-cup — a petty sfjiiabble ; a dinturbunce market] 
1)y mucli noise, but of no importance. C. 

For all thai, hia lympathlM had beon •ntlroly wlili lior In tlio rseoni MiqabUo. 
" What a ridiouloua liitla itorm in a tea-cup It was I " lia thought with a Uugh.— 
Murray't Moffcuine, 1887, 

A teaJifj/U — a social gathering where tea is the beverage dnmk. S. 

Teens.— /» one*« teens — between the ages of twelve and twenty. C. 

lie (the great Cond^) was a ripe echohur oven in hii teens, as the IjiUnity of hb 
lettors pT0V9M,—EdiHburyh BevUw, 18S7. 

Teeth. — To ceut or throio anything in 07te*« teeth — to reproach one with 
anything. P. 

Yon've got the girl, and we must keep her; and keep her well too, thai she may 

not be able to throw it in your teeth that she has made such sacrifices for yoa.— 

Blackmubk. 
" She was 111, and she gave you a letter for me. Where is itT" 
" I confess that tlio first pi^ of your information Is true, Mr. Rnthvea, tbongh I 

don't know why an act of benevolence should be thrown in my teeth as If it were a 

crime."— Flobbnce Mabbyat. 

From the teeth onticnrcU— without real significance ; merely on tlio aiir- 
face. C. 

Much of the Tory talk about General Gordon lately was only from the teeth ovt- 
warda— /taiiy Nettu^ 18S0. 

To have cut one* a teeth or eye-teeth — to be crafty. S. 

He and I were bom the same year, but he cut his teeth long befort ma.— 4X 
Rbadb. 

TelL — To tell on or ujwn — to aflect; to influence. P. 

His previous exertions had told on bis constitution.— Quarftfrly Review, 1907. 
" Pull yourself together, liradsbaw," said the lawyer. " This sasiwoso, 1 know, 
is telling upon all of you."— R. L. Btkvbnhom. 

To tell off— to count separately ; to number in order. P. 

But one day after chapel, as the men were being told off to their several tasks, 
Robinson recognised the boy by his figure.— C. Reads. 

To tell tales out of school— to repeat in public wlmt has posscil in the 
company of intinuites ; to reveal private nuittei*s. P. 



" Look here, Duttham," he went on ; '* we want you to go with us and 
body; and to undertake not to tell tales out of schooL"— Mbm. Ubmby Wood. 

Tempers. — Ood temjjers the toi»d to the shorn lamb — God makes miafor- 
tunca bear lightly on the fuelile. P. A French saying, of which 
Sturnu has niadu iihc. 

" You are very kind," said Mrs. Crawley. " We must only bear it with such fortU 
tude as God will give us. We are told that he tempers the wind to the shorn 
lamb."— A. Tbollupb. 




Ten [ 333 ] Thames 

Ten. — Ten to ont — ten chances to one; almost certain; almost cer- 
tainly. C. 

Whenever the reader lighU upon the iiUe which Fox had waded thronfh n 
much to earn, it U ten to one that within the next half-doien linei there will be 
found an alluaion to the gallowe.— Trbvbltan. 

One often thowiand — an exceptionally excellent person. P. 

She did not know that ahe heraelf waa a woinan of ten thouaand. She ipoke 
beliering heraelf to be a common tjrpe of humanit7.->jAMn Path. 

The upper ten or te:n thousand — those moving in the highest London 
society. P. 

Lord Swanidown lias had eome dealings with him in an acrlonltural way, and 
wishing to ahow him clvilitf on hii accesaion to the upper ten, deaired his wife to 
tend him an Invitation for the ihooting season.— Flo rrnc a Marrtat. 

But to tens of Uiousands— including, I'll bo bound, the upper ten— it will be utterly 
unknown.— Jam K8 Patn. 

Tenterhooks. — On tenterhooks — in a state of discomfort or agony. P. 
Tenterhooks are tlie hooks on which a web of cloth is stretched by 
the selvages on a frame. 

I must ulj I should like to have it settled as soon as possible, because it keeps a 
man on tenterhooks, yon know, and feeling like a fooL— Florbkob Marrvat. 

Terms. — On terms — friendly. P. 

He wasn't on terms with Flaahman's set— T. Huanss. 

On good or excellent terms — friendly ; intimate. P. 
I am not on good terms with Sir Charles.— C Rbadb. 

To come to terms — to make a bargain. P. 

yi'Yktn George returned to the fanner, the latter, who had begun to fear tha loaa of 
a customer, came at once to terms with him.— C. Rbadb. 
The Manor House does not belong to me." 

So I understand; but 1 should think you eould eome to terms with your 
brother."— <;ood Words, 1887, 

TeTTSL— Terra Jirma— dry land. P. Latin. 

Another foaming breaker, supplemented by a vigorous shove from their stalwart 
arms, sends Uieir unwieldy craft up high and dry, and the spray-splaahed paaaangtra 
can step out on terra /Irwa.—Scnbner^i Magasine, 1887. 

T^te.—A t^ted't^ie—a confidential conversation. Q. French. 

" You will forgive me, Philip, for interrupting your tiU-A-iH«t but may I aak 
what is the meaning of this?" 
Philip returned no answer.— H. R. If aqoard. 

Tether.— 7*0 the end of one's /f/A«r— as far as one is able to procood. C 

I tell you pUinly I have gone pretty well to the end of my t«Ui«r with yoa.— 

C. Rbadr. 

Thames.— 7*0 set the Thames on /re. See Skt. 



11 
II 



Thanks [ 334 ] Thinffumbob 

Tlianks. — Thankn to this or thai — this is the cause; the result is duo to 
this. P. 

If wo an to b«li«T« th« book, thanlii to tli« Amoriean ■ooUl qritoin, alio hail a 
■oriM of wonderful etcapei from lU-conaidered mhtch^^— Edinburgh Review, JSSt, 

That. — ^t thai, A phrase in common use in America, signifying tliat 
certain conditions are conceded. 

John, looking at him, gnetsad that he could not weigh lev than aeyenteen stona, 
and he wm well within the mark at that (If he allowed him inch a weight).— II. K. 
Haggard. 

There. —A II there. See Aix. 

Thick. — Through thick and thin — through every obstacle ; daunted by 
nothing. P. 

Theie fellowa iHio attacked the inn to-night— bold, deaperate bladei, for lora— and 
the reat who stayed aboard that lugger, and more, I dare aay, not far off, are, ona 
and all, through thick and thin, bound that thej^l get that money.— R. L. 
Stbvvnson. 

The first dawn of comfort came to him In swearing to himself that ha would stand 
by that lx>7 through thick and thin, and cheer him and help him and bear hb bar* 
dens.— T. Hughks. 

Thick-aktnned — not sensitive ; not easily rebuke<l. P. 

" Ah ! fon wouldn't be if you saw Annerley Hall,** returns the baronet, too thiek- 
skinned to recognise a robuff.— Florkncb Mauuyat. 

There was something In liis companion's astounding thickness of skin that tickled 
his humour. — Jam Bit Payn. 

Thin. — To run thin — to seek release from a bad bargain. F. 

The thin end or edge of the icedye. See Wedok. 

Thing. — The thing — exactly right; just what ought to be. F. 

" You are not at all the thing (by any means as well as yon ought to boX mj 
darling boy," said Mrs. Sharp to Cliristopher.— Blackmous. 

Although they all knew Uie songs by heart, it was the thing (eonsldered right and 
necessary) to hare an old manuscript book descended from some departed hero, in 
which they were all carefully written out— T. Hugujes. 

Where energy was the thing, he was energetic enough.— i4U ihe Year Round, 1887. 

To know a thing or tiro — to Iks wise or cunning. F. 

" Mr. I^Ti," said he, " I see you know a thing or two ; will you be so good as to 
answer me a question 7"— C. Rkadk. 

Thingumbob. — Thingumltoh, thingumebohf thingummy, or thingamy — a 
word used to replace a name tliat is forgotten. F. " What d'ye coll 
him?" is sometimes used in thiaway. 

" Make your mind easy," replied Mr. Miles calmly; "he won't escape; wa shall 
liare him before ilie day is out" 

" Will you, sir? that is rlghi-but how?" 

" The honourable Thingumbob, Tom Yates's friend, put us up to If— C Reads. 

"My gracious, Mildred," suddenly eidaimed Agatha, "do you see who that li 
there leaning orer the bulwarks ? Oh, he's gone ; but so sure as I am a lit Ing 




Think [ 335 ] Thread 

woman, It wm Lord Minster and Ladj Florenoe Thingnmebob, bia tister, joa know, 
the prettj one."— H. R. Haogard. 

The merchant who discharged his clerk last week becaase he never oould remember 
the word mncilage, and persisted in saying thlngummj, has got another who la 
unsound on the word chronometer, and calls it a watch-jroa-call-lt.— 5i. Andrtwt 
CUUen, 1837. 

There was Mr. So-and-So and Mrs. Thingamy.— Wilson. 

Think. — To think belter of U — to change one's mind ; to abandon a 

resolve. P. 

Yon will think better of your determination.- Dickxms. 
" I said plainly that I wiU not marry him." 

"I know you did, my dear; but Mrs. Gamier and I fancied you might have 
thought better of it."— Florkncb Marrtat. 

To think no end of a person — to have a very high opinion of his char- 
acter. F. 

Thirty. — Thirty -nitie Articles — the statement of the doctrines of the 

Cliurch of England which every clergyman must sign. P. Theodore 

Hook, when asked if he was ready to sign the Thirty -nine Articles, 

replied flippantly, ** Yes; and forty if you wish." 

Mr. Punehf like Theodore Hook, bad not any great rererenoe for the Thirty-nine 
ArUclet.— Fortnightly RevUto, 1887. 

Thomas. — A very l^homas — an unbelieving, incredulous person. P. 

The disciple of our Lord who bore that name refused for a time to 

believe in Christ's resurrection. See John xx. 24, 25. 

Moreover, when he sees the lock of hair and the love-letter— and perhaps there 
may be other discoveries by the time he retamt— he most be a very Thomas not to 
believe such proof.— James Vayv. 

Thorn. — To sit onthoms — to be in a position of excessive discomfort; 

to be trouble<l in mind. P. 

81ie did not say anything at tlie breakfast- table, though Anna aat upon thoma leat 
she should; Helen was so apt to speak upon impulse.— Mrm. Hrnrt Wood. 

A thorn in the side or the flesh — a perpetual source of annoyance. P. 

There was given to me a thorn In the flesh.— ff Coriidhiani zii. 7. 

Sir Charles demurred. " Oh, I don't want to quarrel with the fellow; but he la a 
regular tliorn in my side, with his little trumpery estate, all in broken patches. Hs 
shoots my pheasants in the unfairest way."— C. Rsads. 

Thousand.—^ thonJWLnd and one — a very large number; an innumer- 
able collection. P. 

The servant girl entered, bringing a slip of paper upon a salver, the name, no 
doubt, of one of those thousand and one pereona who were now always coming to 
ask permlMlon to see the manuscripts— Jamrs Paviv. 

Thread.— T'o take up the thread {/—-to commence again where a stop- 
page lias taken place ; to resume the treatment or discussion of. P. 

Harry poeseese<l a ready sympathy ; be fell easily and at once Into the direction 
suggest4^d by another's worda Thus, when Angela talked about the palace, he also 
took up the thread of invention, and made believe with her aa if It were a thing poe- 
sible— a tiling of brick and mortar.— Dbm a ht 



Through [ 336 ] Throw 

To hang by a ihrtad — to be in imminent danger ; to be ready to loll. P. 

A fate which hM alreadj orertaken on« liring, and hanga )>7 a thraad OTtr othan* 
— SiMCtafor, 1887, 

Through. — Through hands — finished ; executed. C. 

" And now," eonttnued the batler, addrening the knlfeboy, " roach ma a candle, 
and we'll get thia through handa at once."— R. L. Stbvbnson. 

Throw. — To throw the great cast — to venture everything; to take a 
step of vital importance. P. 
In a word, George had thrown the great east— Tuacksray. 

To throw dtutt in the eyes of— to confuse ; to mislead. P. 

It li not an honoarablo occupation to throw diut In the eyea of the EngUih reader. 
—Contemporary Review, 1887. 

To throw the handlxrchief— to propose marriage ; to choose a wife. C. 
The Sultan is said to select women for his harem in this fashion. 

Preuntlf he looked up, probably for the return of Darey, and perceired her wav- 
ing her handkerchief toward him— a dgnal which the female oracle of the '* Ultra- 
marine " would have reprobated exceedingly ; to her It would aeem only one atep ibort 
of throwing the handkerchief.— J am km Payn. 

Uer highly-flattered mother falU itraightway in love with him, and he might have 
been encouraged to throw the handkerchief at once, luul the frlvoloua Alice been 
equally Impressionable.— J?diMburi;fc Review, 1889. 

To throw the handle after the Hade — to lose even tlie little wliicli remains 
to one. C. 

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 with Russia 
for what she has done T Alas I my dear friend, this would be throwing the handle 
after Uie blade with a vengeance.— M. Arnold. 

To thrmo dirt or mud at — to abuse ; to speak evil of. C. 

Then throw dirt at the plaintiff. Ho is malicious, and can be proved to have for- 
sworn himself in Bassett v. Bassett.— C Rsadb. 

A woman In my position must eipect to have more mud thrown at her than a Ices 
important person.— Flokbncb Marryat. 

To throw oneaelf cU or at the head of— {of a woman) to show a man that 
she is eager to receive a proposal of marriage. C. 

As for the girls, Claire, they Just throw themselves at a man.— Bbsant. 
They say that unlets a girl fairly throws herself at the young men's heads she Isn't 
noticed.— W. D. Howklls. 

To throw over — to a1>andon ; to cease to aid or acknowledge. P. 

" Look here, Musselboro ; if you're going to throw me over. Just tell me so, and 
let us begin fair." 

" I'm not going to throw you over ; I've always been on the square with you."— A. 
Trolloi>e. 

Do you suppose Captain Mitchell can help being so comically miserable, or that 
Kitty (Jreenwood can help being made ridiculously happy, by the attentions of a 
man who, in the nature of things, will end by throwing her over?— (7ood IFomcis, 1897. 

They say that he is engaged to a girl in England, and has thrown her over for the 

widow. --If. R. IfAUdARU. 



(I 
it 



Thumb [ 337 ] Tick 

To th-oto stones— to find fault with other people. P. 

Thore li an old proverb abont the inexpediency of thoee who lire in glaa bontet 
ill rowing itonee, which I alwaji think that we (who are in eociety) would do well not 

to forget— Fu>RBKOB BfXKRTAT. 

7V) throio up— to reject; to cast off. P. 

What do yon mean, Lady Bellamy, when yon talk about my duty?** 
I mean the plain duty that liea before you of marrying your Couiin Oeotfe, and 
of throwing up this young Ileigham.**— II. li. IlAoaARD. 

To throw up the sponge. See Sponge. 

To throw off— (of hounds) to start in pursuit of game. P. 

Some of the carriages turned out of Uie flold to follow slowly along the road, In 
hopes of seeing the hounds throw off.— Marioh Crawford. 

To throw upon otie's hands — to give one tlie responsibility of. P. 

In spite of his warning Uie mother had been left behind, and he was in the nn- 
cnTiable position of having a child Uirown upon his han<ls until the next stoppage.— 

IfUOU CONWAT. 

Thumb. — liule-of-thumb — measurement or calculation without the aid of 
precise instruments ; rough and ready calculation. P. 

We never learnt anything in the navy when I was a youngsteff except a little rule- 
of- thumb mathematics.— T. HuonKs. 

The real truth is, Winterbomo, that medical practice in placet like this Is a very 
ruleof-thumb matter.— Tuom An Hardy. 

Under the thufnb q/*— completely suliscrviont to ; quite under the control 
and direction of. C. 

Your Cousin George Is very fond of a pretty woman, and, to be plain, what I want 
yon to do is to make use of your advantages to get him under your thumb and pw- 
snado him into celling the property.— H. K. Haooakd. 

From Uie death of Louis XI. female influence was constantly on the increase, and 
we may designate the century from 1483 to 1580— with the exception of Louis the 
Twelfth's reign— as the era of the ascendency of women and favooritea. The kings 
were either nobodies, or were under the thuml> of their wives or mi str essea. —NjUjohoI 
Rrvieuy, 1HS7. 

" If you think I'm going to be afraid of Mother Van, you're mistaken. Let eome 
what may, I'm not going to live under her thumb." So he lighted his cigar.— A. 

TllOLLOI'B. 

To turn the thnmht up— to decide against. P. A classical plirase. The 

Romans in the ampliitheatre turned their thumbs up when a com« 

batant was not to lie spare<l. 

They had unanlmnuily turned their thumbs up. " Sartor," the publisher ae- 
quainted him, " excites universal disapprobation."— R. Oarrbtt. 

7*o bite one*M thumb at — to nliow contempt for. F. 

Tick.— 0» tick— on credit; not paid for. F. Abbreviated from "On 

ticket," on crc<lit. 

" Won't yon be tempted now?** he added to Susan Potter. 

She laughed. " Not with these things. I should never hear the last of It if 
rott«r found out I went on tick for finery.**— Mrm. H. Wooik 
There are few, I guess, who go upon tick as much as we do.— nALiBURTOV. 

22 



Ticket [ 338 ] "nme 

To tick off— to mark separately after examination. P. 

H« would drop niddenly upon hia coadn Josephni, and obaenrtt bim fftlthfully 
•ntering names, ticking off and comparing. Just at he had done for fortj jean, itlU 
a Junior clerk.— Bbsant. 

Ticket. — To go any ticket — to vote for any cause. F. An Americau 
political phrase. 

Yes ; I love the Quakers. I hope thejll go the Webster ticket— Hauburtox. 

Ticktt-of'leave — a warrant given to convicts who are allowed their 
liberty on condition of good behaviour. P. 

I suppose he's out now on a ticket-oMeaTe.— IIuoh Conwat. 
They found themselves outlaws, tlcket-oMeave men, or what you will tn thai 
line; In short, dangerous parties.— T. Huohks. 

]Vhat's the ticket f— what is to be done ? S. 

" Well," said Bob Cross. " what's the ticket, youngster? are jou to go aboard with 
me T"— Captain Marry at. 

That's the ticket — you have done the right thing ; that's well done. S. 
From the winning ticket in a lottery. 

Tickle. — To tickle to death — to amuse exceedingly. F. 

Tide. — To tide over — to overcome a difficulty temporarily. P. 

Such questions as these are sometimes very anxious ones In a remote eonntiy vil- 
lage, where every pound spent among the inhabitants serves to build up that maigla 
outside the ordinary income of the wage-earners which helps the small oocupanta 
to tide over nuny a temporary embarrassment when money Is wcMxcit.—Nifutt>emik 
Century, 1887. 

Tile. — A tile or a daie loose — something wrong with the brain ; a dit- 
ordere<l brain. S. 

Do you think I am as mad as ho is? Attack a man who has Just breakfastod with 
me, merely because he has a tile loose I— C Rkadk. 

Time. — At times — occasionally. P. 

She knew that at times she must be missed.— Miss Aubtbn. 

In no time — very quickly; with great speed. F. 

They listened a moment ; tliere was no fresh sound. Then Brutus slipped down 
the front stairs in no time; he found the front door not bolted.— C. Bkadb. 

/^•om time to time — at intervals. P. 

She lived with them entirely, only visiting her grandmother from time to time.— 
Miss AU8TKK. 

fn time — (a) after a season ; when some years Iiave passed. P. 

Kmma was now in a humour to resolve that they should both come in time. — Mns 
Austen. 

(6) punctual or punctually ; not beliindliand. P. 

Imp«7 posted back to Calcutta, to be In time for the opening of term.— Macaulat. 



Timeo [ 339 ] Tin 

To have a good time or a real good lime — to enjoy oneself. C. An 
American phrase. 

It WM alio lATgelf du« to the vigiUnt poUtenen of young MaTtring, who Memed 
bent on making her bare a good time.— W. D. Howklls. 

An American, when be haa spent a plaaiant day, will tell you that he haa had a 
good time.— A. Trollopk 

How yon will enjoy it I I giieai you'll bare a real good time, aa oar coudna iay.-< 
Floiibkcb Marryat. 

For the time fietuf/— temporarily ; for tlie particular season or occasion 
only. P. 

It it the leading boya for the time being who give the tone to all the reat, and 
make the school either a noble institution for the training of C!hristian Englishmen, 
or a place where a young boy will get more evil than if ho were tamed out to make 
his way in London streeta, or anything between these two extremes. —T. HuaBJca. 

7'ime out of mind — from a remote date ; longer than any one can re- 
member. P. 

HaTing, out of friendship for the family, upon whoae estate, praised be Hearen I I 
and mine have lived rent free, time out of mind, voluntarily andertaken to publish 
the memoirs of the Rack-rent Family, I think it my duty to say a few words, in the 
first place, concerning myself.— Maria Edobworth. 

To take time hy the forelock — to act promptly ; to make no unnecessary 
delay. P. 

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 b, and come to blows some fine day wbsn they 
least expect it— R. L. Stkvenihin. 

At this time of day— o.t so late a date ; in our present stage of civiliza- 
tion. F. The phrase refers to a period, not to a day of twenty-four 

hours. 

But although there wan no evil and little real srlflsliness In Mrs. Nickleby's heart, 
she had a weak head and a vain one ; and there was sometlitng so flattering in being 
sought (and sought in vain) in marriage at this time of day (so late in lifeX that she 
could not dUmiss the passion of the unknown gentleman quite so summarily or 
lightly as NlchoUs api^eared to deem becoming.— Dickkmii. 

More than anything else, at this time of day (now that she was an elderly womaaX 
1 was sorry for her.— Henry Jamch, jvh. 

Time and ofjain — very frequently. C. 

Time and again I've had my doubts wbetlier he cared for Irene any.— W. D. 

HoWKLUS. 

Timeo. — Viwifo Daimos et dona ferevteA—l fear the Greeks even when 
tlicy bring gifts. A lino from the Latin poet Virgil, signifying that 
un cneiiiy is to bo fcarcil even when he profcssos friendship. 

" Como in here, there's a goo«l fellow, I want to speak to yoo.** 
"Why In ho so iMfernally gonial f** reflected Philip. " Tiwm DanoM d damn 
/rrrntes.'*— II. U. IlAnoAUD. 

Tin. -VV;i- -money. S. 

" Monstrous nice girl, 'pon my honour, tlinugh, Osborne," be was good enoogh to 
ad<1. " Lots of tin, I suppose, eh?"— Tiiacksray. 



Tip [ 340 ] Toe 

Tip. — To tip the mnk — to give the signal. S. 

For wlthoat patting on hit flglitlng face, h« calmlj repltod that ho had setn Mr. 
Metaphor tip the wink, and whisper to one of hU confederates, and thence jmltfcd 
that there was something mfsterlons on the carpet— Smollbtt. 

On the tip of one*ii tongnt — ready to Im) utterc<l ; on the point of utter* 
ance. C. 

It had been on the tip of mj tongne to say where I had Jnst seen Jelllco, and the 
tr;u!e he was doing.— Mkh. IIknby Wood. 
Mary Wells ran In, with an angry expression on the Up of her tongue.— C. Rrads. 

The atraifjht tip — early and accurate information. S. See Stiliicut. 

To tip up— io pay money ; to open one's purse. S. 

"I shoold have liked to make her a little present," Osborne said to his friend in 
confidence, " only I am quite out of cash until my father tips np.'*— Tiiackvray. 

To tip one* A Jin — to liold out ono*8 hand to shake. S. 

Tiptoe. — On tiptoe — in eager expectation ; in a state of excited sna- 
pense. C. 

Religion stands on tiptoe in our land, 
Ready to pan to tlie American strand.— Hrbbkrt. 
The news that Smlke had been caught and brought back in triumiA ran like wild- 
fire through the hungry community, and expectation was on tiptoe all Uie uiominff. 

— DfCKBNJ*. 

Tip-top.— 7'i/)-ro/>— first-class. F. 

One of those tip- top firms In the city would have gone straight off to take coansel*a 
opinion.— MiSH Baaui>on. 

Tit. — Tit for tat — something given in return; just retaliation. C\ 

" Tit for tat I tit for tat ! " they cried; " Squire, yon began it, and ynii liara your 
due."— Dlackmorr. 

To, — To and fro — liackwards and forwards. V. 

Speckled spiders, indolent and fat with long security, swing idly to and fro fn the 
vibration of the bells.- -Dickknm. 

A tO'do—a commotion; a noise and confusion. P. 

Ills mother, inside the vehicle, with her maid and her furs, her wra]»pert, ami her 
scent-bottles, made such a to-do that you would have thought slio never hail been in 
a stage-coach before.— Thackeray. 

Toe. — The Hfjht fantcnUir toe. A phrase used with reference to 

dancing. F. 

Come, and trip it as you go 

On Uie light fantastic toe.— Mir.roN. 
Mr. KL Leger evidently prided himself, as Mr. Fltxloora observed, on hU light 
fantAstiu toe.— Dkaconnkirld. 

To toe. the 7nark — to he careful in one's conduct. F. 

Now you know what I am I I'll make you toe the mark, every soul of yon, or 1*11 
flog you all, fore and aft. from tlio boy up.~R. II. Dana. jitn. 



Token [ 341 ] Tongue 

Token. — By the same token — moreover ; likewise ; nay more. C. 

Why, I caoght two of their inflammatory treatises in this rery house. Bj the 
same token, I sent them to the executioner at Marseiliet, with a requeet that he 
would burn them publicly.— C. Reads. 

For we have that memorandum in writing with a pencil, given under his own 
hand, on the back of the lease, to me, by the same token when my good lord had his 
foot on the stop of the coach, going away.— Maria Eduiwobtii. 

More by token — moreover ; iii truth. C. 

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 l^ token the 
place where it ran down is the easiest way up the hillside.— T. Uvoan. 

Tom. — Tom, Dick, and Harry — ordinary, insignificant people; Uie 
nuiltitiule. C. 






But all are not preacliers and captains in the Salvation Army t" 

No ; tliere Is my cousin Dick. We are, very properly, Tom, Dick, and Harry." 

— Bmakt. 
If that girl isn't in love with you, she is something very like it A girl does not 

pop over like that for Dick, Tom, or Harry.— U. R. Haouard. 

Toin-and-Jerry shop. See Jkrry. 

Tom Tiddler*8 fjrotind — said to be a contraction for Tom the idUr'a 
tjroutul. F. All imaginary garden of ease and wealth, where children 
pick up gold aud silver. 

I'm here, my soul's delight, upon Tom Tiddler's ground, picking up the demniUon 
gold and silver.— Dickens. 

Now the spacious drawing-room, with the company seated round the glittering 
table, busy with their glittering spoons and knives, and forks and plates, might have 
been taken for a grown-up expoeition of Tom Tiddler's ground, where children pick 
lip gold and silver.— DioKcita. 

Tommy. — Tommy AtLHtts — the typical British private soldier. F. 

The commanding officer at Woolwich garrieon has istued an order forlilddlng 
BolcUcrs to be seen carrying children in the street. In the privacy of Ms hooae 
Tommy Atkins may still, I suppoee, hold hie baby in hia arms, but beyond the 
domestic circle he must sink the parent in the soldier.— 5t Andrtwt CUUen, t887. 

To-morrow.— 7'o-morroio come never — a future date that will never 
arrive. F. 

Sally. You married to my sister I ^Vben will that be T 
Marc Very soon, my dear. To-day or to-morrow perhaps. 
Salty. To-morrow come never, I believe. — Colman. 

Tongue. — irt/A the tongue in the cheek — mockingly ; insincerely. C 

And if sutesmen, either with their tongue in their cheek or with a line Impnlaive* 
iicM, toll (>eople that their natural taste for the bathos ia a raliah for the tnbUme, 
there is more need to tell them the contrary.— Mattubw AmnoLDw 

To hold the tongne— to he silent P. 

Tis seidom seen that senators so young 

Know when to speak and when to bold their tongne.--DaTDSii. 



Tooth [ 342 ] Top 

TV) give tongue — to speak out. C. 

Only when Mary fired a broadiido Into her character, calling her a bold, bad, 
braxen-facod tint, only then did Mn. Richard give tongue on hor belialf.— Bliu. £. 

Lnf N LiMTOH. 

Tooth. — Tooth and nail — with great energy; violently; fiercely. P. 
As if attacking botli with tlio teeth and with the nails. 

She would then Ignore the rerbtage, as that Intellectual oddity, the public iing«r, 
calli it, and fall tooth and nail upon the muiical compodtion, correcting it a iltU* 
pceviihly.— C. Rvaob. 

Lady Barbara PoUington had fallen upon the brewer, tooth and nail, and wai 
proving conclusively to him that in anything but a corrupt and rotten atate of 
society he would at that mopaent be working off a well-dcaerred senienoe of Im- 
prisonment with hard labour.— (7oo<i Wurdt, 13S7. 

There are men that roll through life, like a fire-new red ball going acroM Mr. 
Lord's cricket-ground on a sunshiny day ; there Is another sort that hare to rough 
it in general, and, above all, to fight tooth and nail for the quartern loaf, and not 
always win the battle.- C. Rvadk. 

A aweel tooth — a liking for sweet things. C. See Sweet. 

In the teeth of—ia) in direct opposition to; in spite of. P. 

But when we fly antagonistically In the teeth of circumstanees, bent on foUowing 
our own resolute path, we take ourselves out of Qod's hands^ and moit reap tho 
consequences —Mrh. Hbnry Wood. 

Grace Crawley's fortune was made in the teeth, as it were, of the prevailing lll> 
fortune of the family.- -A. Tiioli^i>k. 

Notwithstanding his brave threats made behind Angela's back, about foidng her 
to marry him in the teeth of any opposition that she could offer, George readied 
home tliat night very much disheartened about the whole busineH.— II. R. IIaqoamd. 



(b) in presence of ; with something right before one. P. 

The carrier scarcely knew what to do in the teeth of so urgent a mesugt.— Black- 

MORK. 

He was not, In most people's opinion, a very estimable man, but ha had tha talent 
—by no means a despicable one— of maintaining his iwrsonal dignity In tha taath of 
the most adverse circumstances.— Afurray's Afai/azine, 13S7. 

Top. — The top of the morning to you ! — a morning salutation. C. Now 
old-fashioned. 

" You, doctor? Top of the morning to you, sir I** cried Silver, broad awake and 
beaming witli good nature in a moment— R. L. Stevknhon. 

To the top o/one*8 lent — fully; wholly; to the farthest limit. C. 

lliey fool me to Uie top of my bent— Shakkupe Ana, Hamlet, act liL, scene 2. 

Accordingly Goldsmith was fooled to the top of hb bent— W. laviMo. 

" If his master were a mere dreamer, in fact> which is not the case, yon would say 
that he encouraged him in his hallucinations." 

*' I see ; he humours him, like the prince in the play, to the top of his bent**— 
Jam IS Payn. 

To top one's lHX>m— to hurry off. F. A sea phrase. 

" Ah, well !" he sighed; " I suppose that I had better top my boom again?** 

"Do what?" 

"I mean I had better leave Matleira.'*— H. R. Haooard. 



Torch [ 343 ] Touch 

A lop'Hawytr — a first-rate fellow. S. Of the two men who work a 
frame-saw in a saw-pit, the one wlio stands a1>ove is called the top- 
sawyer. 
Well, he may be • top-sawyer, but I doh'i like him.— C Rkadb. 

At the top of the tree — iii the foremost place ; at the head of one's pro- 
fession. C. 

" Indeed, Mrs. AnnfUge, we have all tot oar biarU upon beinff on the rery top 
of the hilL" 

" I don't know as to that,** was the grim replj, " bat I know who has set her heart 
npon being at the top of the tree."— Jambs Payn. 

He's had wit enough to get to the top of the tree, and to keep himMlf there.— A. 
TaoLU>PK. 

TJie top notch — the highest point. F. 

It is two weeks since they (the locusts) first appeared in that county, and the 
effect of their blighting touch has not yet reached the top notch.— ilTew York Herald, 
1888. 

To top up unth — to finish with. S. 

What'll you drink, Mr. Oargery, at my expense, to top up with?— Dicksms. 

Torch. — To hand on tfie torch — to continue the work of enlightenment. 
P. A classical phrase. 

Tliough Italy now (tn the sixteenth century) ceases to be the guiding light of En- 
rope, her work has been done among the nations, and In their turn France, England, 
and Germany hand on the torch, and the warmth and radianoe aurtire still, and are 
reflected in the Italy of our own days.— Quorferfy Rtvitw^ 2887. 

Toss. — To toss up — to decide in a chance way, as by throwing up a 

coin. C. 

It is a queer picture— that of the old prince dying in his little wood-built capital, 
and his seren sons tossing up who should inherit and transmit the crown of Brent- 
ford (petty crown).— Thack BRA T. 

Touch. — Touch and go — said of a critical situation, where a very small 

influence will turn the scale. C. 

"It was touch and go (my escape was a narrow oneX doctor, was It?** inquired 
the other wiUi a seriousnees as strangely foreign to the phrase as the phrase itself 
was to the speaker's usual manner of expressing himself.— Jambs Payk. 

In touch fmVA— having a delicate appreciation and intimate knowledge 
of ; in sympathy witli. P. 

It would be impossible to discorer a more Ideally perfect amhssnilor than Is 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 smbassies, la toaeh with SBsart 
society." for(ni(r^/iy RevUte, 1887. 

Certainly this is inherent in the office and function of ths eounlry parson, that he 
is not quite in touch with any one in his parish if he be a really eameal and eoa* 
scientious parson.— A^fncfeenlA Cenlvry, 1887. 

To touch person A off— to be too clever for them ; to be mora than a match 
for them. F. 
" Well done, my good boy,** returned she ; " I knew you would Umeh then off.**— 

(jOLDSMITU. 



Tour [ 344 ] Tread 

To touch U off to the ninen — to act with great cleverness ; to do anything 
perfectly. S. 

If I didn't touch it off to the nines, it'e a pity. " I never heard jon i>ro«di lo 
well," nyi one, ** lince jon were located here."— Haliburton. 

Tour. — A tour deforce — a feat of strength or of skill. P. French. 

" That ia not worthy of a mathematician/' said Mr. Fraser with aome irritation ; 
" it is nothing bat a trick, a tour d§/arce.*'—U. R. Uaqqard. 

Tout. — The tout ensemble — the whole taken together. P. French. 

" What a lovely woman this is," said Mrs. Bellamy, with enthusiasm to Miss Lm, 
BO soon as Thllip was out of ear-shot. '* llor tout eMembU positivuly kills one.**— II. 
B. Hauuakd. 

Tow. — To take in tow — to take charge of. F. 

Doctor Blimber accompanied them ; and Paul had the honour of being taken In 
tow by the doctor himself— a distinguished state of things, In which he looked mj 
little and feeble.— Diokbnh. 

Town. — A man about toxcn — a fashionable gentleman; a nion who 
spends his life in city clubs and in pleasure. P. 

" Why sliould I give her pure heart to a man about town f " 

" Because you will break it else," said Miss Somerset.— C. Ukauk. 

Tracks. — To make tracks — to go off; to depart quickly. S. 

I'd have made him make tracks, I guess, as quick as a dog does a hog from a 

potato-field.- H ALI DU HTON. 

** I am glad that tlie uld gentleman has made tracks," said John.— H. U. IIaouard. 

Trade. — Ttoo of a tratU — two people in the same business or profes- 
sion. C. 
It is proverbial that two of a trade seldom agree.— £clin6tirv/t Review, 1886, 

Trail. — To trail off— to move heavily; to lose impetus. C. Tlie ex- 
ample given refers to a novel that had been begun with some spirit. 
How was it that, after this, A Heart (/ Gold began to trail off ?— B. L. Faojbuk. 

Trap. — To understand trap-^to be knowing or wide-awake. F. 
My good lady understood trap as well as any woman in the Mearns.— Scirrr. 

Traveller. — To tip the traveller — to deceive ; to fill with futsc informa- 
tion. S. 

Aha I dost thou tip me tlio traveller, my boy f— Smollett. 

Tread. — To tread the boards— to ]>o on actor ; to follow Uie stage as a 
profession. P. 

The theatres occn|iiu<l a much higher position in society. KemUe and his 
majestic sister, Mm. Sidilons, troii the boards.— Jam kh Payn. 

To tread on a nmn*8 corns — to annoy or hurt him. C. 

"Only," he added, " I'm glad I trod on Master Pow'r corns," for by thU Umo lia 
had heanl my story.— R. L. Sthvenmon. 



Treasure [ 345 ] Trojan 

To tread oil another^a toes — to annoy or exasperate him. P. 

TliQ oM Wmi IndUn familiea are very proud and lensitivo, bat there is not mnch 
possibility of their having their toes trodden upon in anything lilce the way that 
made Mr. Fronde's last lx>ok the subject of such an outcry by some of our antipodean 
friends and relations.— Spectator, 1887, 

To tread on etjya — to walk with the utmost care ; to be very circum- 

8|)CCt. C. 

" It's real moan of him, isn't it?** says Miss Smiles. " Why, it might oome to her 
husband's ears any day, and poor Emily will feel as if she was treading on eggs all 
her life."— Florbnob Marry at. 

Treasure. — Trea^irt-trove — treasure hid away and accidentally dis- 
covered. P. 

And so Farmer Caresfoot became the lawful owner of Cratham Abbey with its two 
advowsons, its royal franchises of treasure-trove and deodand, and more than a thoa- 
sand acres of the best land in Marlshire.— U. R. IlAaoARD. 

Treat. — To stand treat — to entertain at a public place ; to pay the holi- 
day expenses of a party. C. 

They went out to Versailles with their famiUes ; loyally stood trMt to Uie ladles at 
the restaurateurs.- Thackbrat. 

Tree. — Up a tree — in a fix ; cornered ; unable to do anything. S. 
I'm completely up a tree this time.— Uajliburton. 

At the top of the tree. See Top. 

Trice. — In a trice — without delay ; very quickly. C. 

If she gives him proi^er encouragement, he'll pay the money In a trloe.— Maria 
Kikjrwortii. 

Trick. — To trick ont—io decorate; to dress brilliantly. P. 

It finds itself tricked out in gay garments, and it has money pot in its pocket, and 
it is bidden to dance and be merry.— Wm. Black. 

Trip. — To trip vp — to cause to fall. P. 
Paddy was tripped up.— BBAOoNsriRLD. 

To catch a man tripping — to discover a man making some error or com- 
mitting some offence. P. 

Though the police know him, and would give their eyes to oatch him tripping, h« 
never tumbles into their trap.— Miss Bradi>oh. 

Triton.— i4 Triton of the viinnows^h man who appears big becaoM his 
companions are so small. P. Triton was a sea-god, the trumpeter of 
Neptune. 
Hear you Uiis Triton of the minnows f— SnAUtsriARB. 

Trojan. — l^ike a Trojan — gallantly ; bravely. C. 

He ha<l lain like a Trojan behind his mattress in the gallery; h« bad foUowsd 
every order silently, doggedly, and well— R L. flTRVsitsoif. 



Trot [ 346 ] Trumpeter 

Trot. — To trot out — to show for inspection ; to exhibit to a com- 
pany. F. 

*' Come, come,** said James, putting hit hand to hti note and winking at hia eooela 
with a pair of Tinooi ejrei , " no Jokes, old hoj ; no trying it on me. Yon want to 
trot me out, but it's no ga"— Tuaokkray. 

Truant. — To piay trtiant — to be absent without leave. P. 



" Hell be back on the 16th,'' said the knight, ** unless he means to plaj troaBL"— 
A. Trollofb. 

True. — True blue — thoroughly faithful and trustworthy ; stanch. P. 

Squire Brown, be it nfd, was a true blue Tory to the backbone.— ^T. Huansa. 
He had, I suspect, been watching his master, like a true blue British cor.— H. 

KlMOBLBY. 

True €U s^eeZ-^faithful ; steadfast ; wholly to be trusted. P. 

Thank Farmer Meadows, for he 'twas that sent Tom to the prison, where be was 
converted, and became as honest a fellow as any In the world, and a friend to yoor 
George, as true as steel.— C. Rkadk. 

Trump. — To hold trumps — to Iks lucky; to be sure of victory. F. 
Trumps are the winning cards at whist. The word is a foim of 
"triumph." 
You never hold tmmpf, you know : I always do.— Qjbobok Kliot. 

To play 07u*a trump card — to use one*s best chance of success. C. 

He was a man with power in reserre; he had still his trump card to pUy.— 
Bksamt. 

To turn up trumps — (a) to prove successful ; to be fortunate. F. 

There are plenty of instances, in the experience of erery one, of short courtsh^ 
and speedy marriages which have turned up trumps— I beg your pardon— which hav* 
turned out well after alL— Wilkib CoLUMa 

(6) to prove of signal service ; to prove very useful. F. 

When he turned up trumps I let things be.— H. Kinoblby. 

To trump up — to fabricate ; to make up with an evil motive. P. 

" The girl has gone mad." 

" Ooo4l heavens I you don't say so I ** 

"Yes, I do, though ; and 111 tell you wliat it is, Bellamy, tliey say that yon and 
your wife went to Matlcira and trumi>cd up a story about her lover's death in order 
to take the girl in."— 11. IL llAOdAiiD. 

Trumpet. — To How one*s oxmi trumpet — to speak boastfully. C. 

After such a victory our old friend the arclideacon would have blown hia own 
trumpet loudly among his friends.— A. Trolloi'b. 

Trumpeter. — To l»e owf*« own trumpeter— to sound one's own praises ; 
to speak favourably of one's own performances. C. 

He hoped I was a goo<l boy, which, being compelled to be my own tranpeter, I 
▼ery modestly declaro<l I was.— Caitain Markyat. 



Try [ 347 ] Turk 

Try. — To try it on — to see how far ono may venturo with impunity ; to 
test one's power. C. 

In Boveral other rooms the poor little fellows tried it on.~T. IIugiibii. 
WoU, then, he is trjing it on with Misa RAjne. There Is no doubt of that. I 
watched them through the (abfeau.— Florbmcb Makrtat. 

T'o try on — to see if clothes fit. P. 

In tlie conduct of tlie show-room and the trylng-on room she hu all her own way. 
— Besant. 

To try one'a hand at— to venture upon for the first time ; to make a be- 
ginning with. C. 
He had on several occasions been induced to try his hand at iearU.—S, WAUisir. 

7*0 try conclusions — to have a decisive struggle. P. A Shakespearian 
phrase. 

After that he would Iiave to try conclusions with bis own people.— Mrs. B. Ltmm 
Linton. 

Tuck. — To tuck into — to eat heartily of. S. 

" I won't myself/' returned Squeers ; " but if you'll Just let little Wackford tuck 
into something fat. 111 be obliged to you.**— Dickkks. 

To tuck up — to draw tiglit round one ; to roll up so as not to drag or 
hang. F. 

" Why," said Lord Jocelyn, with a shudder, " you will rise at sii ; you will go out 
in working-clothes, carrying your tools, and with your apron tied round and tucked 

up."— UlWANT. 

A ttwk-oul — a feast; an eating of dainties. S. A "tuck-shop" is a 
confectioner's. 

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 leliooL— 

TUACKRRAY. 

Tug. — The tug of uxir — the hardest part of any undertaking ; the real 
struggle. P. The name is also given to a favourite athletic pastime, 
where two sides pull at the opposite ends of a ro[H5. 

When (Ircckt Jolnc<l Wrecks then was the tug of war. — N. Lkr. 
It was when Uie hulles were alone tliat Becky knew the tug of war would come.— 
Thackeray. 

Tone.— 7*0 the tune of— to the amount of. F. A surprisingly large sum 
of money is generally mentioned after the phrase. 

Then Mr. Titmouse ventured to apply to Mr. O'Oibbet, that featlemaa bdag Mr. 
Titmouse's debtor to the tone of some five hundred poonda.— & Warabv. 

Turf.— Ou (he turf— cnffigod in horse-racing. P. 

" My dear Plgby. yon talk like a radngman," said Mrs. Brabaaon. " Yoa shookl 
remember Uiat we are not all of us on the turf."— Jam is Tatii. 

Turk.— 7*0 turn turk—io grow ill-tempered and arrogant F. 
Emma's having turned tnrk, startled my father.— H. Kinoslbt. 



Turn [ 348 ] Turn 

Turn. — To turn in — to retire for the night. F. 

" Well, I'll turn in ; I'm pretty tired," said Larrjr, riling and Uylng lib luintl uii Uio 
old man's •hoolder.— ^IM Uu Ytar Ruund, 1S87. 

7*0 turn off— to dismiss. P. 

" Then why don't you turn her off?" 

" >Vho'd take inch a uaelets old hag if I tamed her offf **— C. Rbadk. 

To turn out — (a) to prove in the sequel ; to result. P. 

£37,000 waa private capital rank in the land without any iiroepoct of aeeiiiff the 
capital again, and, aa tilings have turned out, without oven getting the interettb— 
Spectator, 1887. 

The tidings turned out to be correct —Diokbns. 

(b) to eject ; to evict. P. 



To turn out in the cold — to repulse ; to reject ; to remove from a pi 
situation. C. 

It was a warm evening, as his father had observed ; but in one tenae he had beca 
turned out in the <»ld, and he felt it bitterly.— Jam xs Path. 

To turn up — to show oneself ; to appear ; to happen unexpectoclly. C. 

" Perhaps my sister will turn up.** 

" Uow can she, if the roads are impassable ? "—H/adbwoocfs Magaxint, 1836, 
He had come over to England to be an aiioUiecary, or anything cite that might 
turn up.— DioKBNH. 
He's turned up, by Jove, a trump (nice fellow) all of a sudden.— & Wabrbn. 
And nobody ever turned up that was able, in any way, to understand her.— Black- 

MOBB. 

But something might turn up ; and it was devoutly to be hoped that Dr Tempert 
would take a long time over the inquiry.— A. Tbollofb. 

To turn up one*8 noite at — to show contempt for. C. 

When first Chaldicotas, a very old country-soat, had by the chances of war fallMi 
into tlioir hands, and been newly furnished, and newly decorated, and nowljr 
gardened, and newly green-housed, and hotwatered by them, many of the eoantj 
people had turned up their noses at them. — A. Tbollofb. 

To take turns. See Take. 

By turns — alternately ; one after another. P. 

They feel by turns the bitter change 

Of fierce extremes ; extremes by change more fierce.— Hiltom. 

7V> turn one*8 coat — to l>e a renegade ; to join tlie party one has opposed. C 

I never turned my coat, as some fine gentlemen who have never been to Gonataiiti- 
nople have done. I never changed my principles.— O. A. Sal a. 

The celebrated Sir John Urie, a soldier of fortune like Dalgetty, who bad already 
changed sides twice already during the Civil War, and was destined to tarn Ids eottt 
a third time before it was ended.— Scott. 

To turn one's ba^k on — to refuse to acknowledge ; to repulse. C. 
He could not consent to turn his back upon helpless travellera.— W. iBTma. 



Turn [ 349 ] Turn 

To turn a deaf ear — to refuse to listen. P. 

The Russian government, in the Ust few years, made repeated appllcationi to the 
governments of France and England for protection against Nihilist conspirators who 
made Paris or London their residence ; bnt the English goTemment has tamed a 
deaf oar to the requests made for legislation.— /'or(n<9^</y RevieWt 1887. 

To turn one's hand to — to be ready to work at. C. 
T can turn my hand to anything.— W. Iuvino, 

To tnrn the head of— to intoxicate ; to destroy the moral balance of. P. 

The youth's head is turned with reading romances.— Scott. 

Tie was but a stripling of sixteen, and being tlins suddenly mounted on hnrMeback, 
with money in his pocket, it is no wonder tliat his head was turned.— W. Irving. 
If you only know how much we — I mean I— made last week." 
riease do not tell me that. You might turn my head"— BnAMT. 






To film in ont'n grave. A phrase used with reference to dead people, 
when sonictliing happens which would have annoyed them exceedingly 
when alive. P. 

() William Slngg, you must have turned in yonr grave.- Iluan Conwat. 

7'o turn the corner — to pass a critical point ; to change for tlie 
better. C. 

For the present thh young man (althoiu^h he certainly had turned the comer) lay 
still in a very precarious state.- Dlackmork. 

To turn over — to transfer. P. 

Tis well Uie debt no payment docs demand, 
Yuu turn me over to another hand.— Drtdkk. 

To turn on one's heel —to go off with a gesture of contempt. P. 

A very dry recognition on Min Anna Maria's part replied to the eflToK I mada to 
salute hor, and, as she turned on her heel, she said to her brother, " Jtreakfast's 
ready," and left tlie room.— C. Lkvbr. 

To turn over a neir leaf— to coimnence a new course of life ; to im- 
prove in concluct. P. 

Then, In a private postscript, he condescended to tell us that all wonld be spewllly 
KotUod to his latiifAcUon, and we should turn over a new leaf.— Maria Rpor* 

won r II. 

To turn one round one's little /n/fer— to manage with ease. C. 

" Hut he turns you and me round his little Anger, old boy— there's no mistake 
about that" And East nodded at Tom sagadously.— T. IIuobm. 

7'o turn n jienny — to cam money. C. 

I attend salcn, and never loee a chance of taming a penny.— C Rbadb. 

To turn the tahle^. See Tablr. 

To turn tail — to go off; to turn liack. F. 

That night two supers turned tail. An actress also, whose name I have forgotten, 
refuted to go on witli her— C. Rradk. 



Turned [ 350 ] Twenty 

To turn to account — to make good use of; to profit from. P. 

It If ponlble that he would torn them to good aoconnt.— Toackuuy. 
The Amerioani are a time and monejr saying people, bat have nut jet, aa a nation, 
learned that mniic maj be tamed to account— R. H. Dana, jum. 

To do a good tum^r-to bo of service. P. 

Indeed, I tried, at Angela's suggestion, to do jou a good turn with PhOlp Cares- 
foot.— H. R. Haogari). 

To do a bad or an ill turn — to injure. P. 

Qo to Crawlej. Use 017 name. lie won't refuse mj friend, for I eoold do him 
an ill turn if I chose.— €. Rkadk. 

He is a wicked fellow, Bessie, and a dangerous fellow ; but he has more brains and 
more power about him than anj man in the Transraal, and you will have to be eai»> 
ful, or he will do us all a bad turn.— H. K. Haooabd. 

To turn the stomach — to cause sickness or loathing. P. 
The stomach turns against them.— IIazlitt. 

To turn upon — to prove unfaithful to ; to desert. P. 

But he (George IV.) turned upon twenty friends. lie was fond and familiar with 
them one day, and he passed them on the next without recognition.— Tuackbkay. 

Tamed. — Turned mit o/— etlucated at C. 

Indeed, he knew that the arguments of those who hold the doctrine of predestlBa- 
tion, and its correlative reprobation, are logically unanswerable by the best theo- 
logian ever turned out of Oxford.— Hugh Conway. 

Turtle. — To turn the turtle — to capsize. S. 

Yes, Mr. Keene ; but turning the turtle is not making a quick pisssge eicepi to 
the other world.— Captain Marryat. 

Tweedle. — Twetdltdum and tweedledee — two things which differ very 
slightly, and are very insignificant at best. C. 

Some say, compared to Bononcini, 

That Mynheer Handel's hut a ninny; 

Others aver that he to Handel 

Is scarcely fit to hold a candle. 

Strange all this difference should be 

'Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee.— JoBV Btbom. 
Although Swift could not see the difference between tweedledee and tweedto- 
dum, posterity has not shared the dean's contempt for Handel ; the world has dis- 
covered A difference between tweedledee and tweetile<lum, and given a hearty 
applause and admiration to Hogarth, too, but not exactly as a painter of 8erl|itaral 
subjects, or as a rival of Correggio.— Tiiackkuay. 

I'm afraid there won't be time to instruct my ignorance of tlie difference betWMli 
tweedledum and twectlledce before the end of November.- W. £. NoRKia, in Good 
Words, 1687. 

Twenty. — Twenty and tioeuli/ — many; innumerable. C. Twenty and 
twenty times = once an<l again. 

I have hinted it to you twenty and twenty tiroes by word of mouth — S. Ricbabd- 

BON. 



Twifif [ 351 ] Twopenny 

Twig. — To tmg a person — to comprehend him ; to uudcrstand his mean- 
ing ; to know what his intention is. S. 

" 8U7/' cried he; " if he is an old hand he will twig the officer."— C. Rbaob. 
I twig 7on now, my boj, Sam Slick, the clockmaker.— Haliburton. 

Two. — In ttoo tioos — immediately ; without any delay. F. 

" Do thej, indeed r** sajra I; "send them to me, then, and 111 fit the handle on 
to Uiem In two twoa."— Haliburton. 

To ptU or lay ttoo and two together — to reason logically : to draw a logical 
conclusion. C. 

The joung fellowi in Dublin, too, bj Uylng two and two together, began to per- 
ceive that there waa a certain dragon in watch for the wealihj helreat.— Thackkray. 

With one thing and another now I am ao knocked about that I cannot pat two 
and two together.— Blackmorr. 

(iwcndolcn wai a woman who could put two and two together.— Oborur Eliot. 

To hare ttoo strimfM to one's how — to have two things to rely upon ; to 
have a second lesource to fall back upon. C. 

Now I must go and write a line or two for the public, and then inspect the asylum 
with Suabj. Before post-time I will write a letter to a friend of mine who is a Com- 
misaioner of Lunacy, one of those strong-minded ones. We may as well have two 
strings to our bow.— C. Readr. 

You have now, as you see, what it Is always well to have— two strings to yonr bow. 
—Jam KM Payn. 

Tho American heiress i« both powerful and wealthy, and Hester Beverley knows well 
tlie advantage in this world of having two strings to your bow.— Florbmur Marrtat. 

To make tiro hifes of a cherry — to divide something so small as not to 
Ik5 worth a division. P. 
If 1 was in your place, I wouldn't make two bites of a cherry.— C. Rradb. 

Tiro ran play al thai (janie — another person can retaliate in the same 
way. C. 

" Woman, what do you mean T* cries the visitor, rising to her feet. 

" Now, don't you call me any names, or you will find that two can play at that 
game."— Florencr Marryat. 

Mr. lUmott had invoked brute force in the shape of Burdock. "Well, sir,** said 
lie, " it soems they have shown you two can play at that game.**- C Rradr. 

Tim vfK>n ten — two eyes on ten fingers — that is, " keep a watch on his 
movcntcnta or lie may steal." S. Tliis watchword is often passed 
round a sliop when a suspicious character has entered it. 

Twopence. — To iraut fipopence in the shilling — to \ye weak in tlie brain; 
to be crazy. F. The head is called sarcastically a man*s " two- 
penny ;" as in tlie game of leap-frog, where the boy stooping down is 
toM to " tuck in his twopenny." 

Twopenny. — 'ArY);>rw»»y-Aa//)>r»ny— of small value ; insignificant. F. 

The next day we took a prise called the Qttlden 5«in, belonging to a ereek on the 
iniin, a twopennyhairt>enny little thing, thirty- five tons.— G. A. Saul 

Thone twopenny- half iienny lights which make so good an effeei In the garden.— 
MitM. K, Lynn Li.vton. 



Ugly [ 362 ] Up 



u 

Ugly. — A H utjly dncUiiif/ — soinothing which is dc8pi8C<1 for iU wuiit of 
Ix^aiity, Imt whiuli nftcrw^^nls wins admiration. C In the fahlu from 
which the phrase is taken the ugly duckling prove<l to be a swan. 

" Well," laid Campion, " 70a toe I waa one of tlie duckllnga myself.** 

" Oil, ah, so jou were," said Rabcoclc, perfectly nnaLashotl, "bni well hope yonll 

tnm out more in the ugly duckling line."— F. Akhtky. 
Anil tlion we all gut into our carriages, witli the *'ngly duckling,** transfonneil 

within tlie last quarter of an hour into a swan, leading the way.— Khoda Bntiu<iiiTON. 

A n ugly customer — an unpleasant individual to deal with ; a person to 
be afraid of. F. 

Some of these gootl-looking young gentlemen are ugly customers enough when 
their blood is up, and Cousin Cliarlie, like the rest, had quite as mudi *' devil " In 
his comirasiUon as was good for him.— O. J. Wiiytb-Mklvillk. 

Ab ugly as ain — repulsive in appearance. F. 

Why, she is as ugly as sin I Though she is my friend, I must acknowlcilgo that— 

MaUIA KiKlKWOllTll. 

Uncle. — My uncle* s — the pawnbroker's. S. 

" If you won't lend me, I must starve." 

" Co to my uncle's," Titmouse groaned aloud.— S. Wahrkn. 

§ 

Uncle Sam — the people or government of tlio United States. F. 

"We call,"nid the clockmaker, "the American public Uncle Sam, as yon call 
the British John Bull."— Halt burton. 

She was called tlie Cataliiuif and, like the vessels in that trade, except the Agtuueko, 
her papers and colours were from Uncle Sam.— It H. Dana, jvs. 

Unction. — To lay a JUUtering unction to the ttoul — to soothe oneself 
with a pleasant fancy. P. A Shakespearian phrase {Ilamitt, act iii., 
scene 4). 

And he had answered her, that she sent him straight to the devil ; titat when ahn 
heard In after times that vaurlen, George Kuthven, had shot himself, or gone to 
the dogii, she might Uy the flattering unction to her soul that $fte had tent btm 
there.- -Fi.oRKNCK Mauryat. 

Union. — The Union Jack — the Hag of the United Kingdom of (treat 
liritain and Ireland. P. 

The weighted con>se, wrapped round with a Union Jack, was borne along by t1i« 
sailors to the stern of tlie iihlii.— Wm. Black. 

Up. — All up — cort:iin destruction; a hopeless condition of affairs. C. 

John realised that it was nil up, and that to stop in the cart would only menu 
certain death.— II. Jl. IIacuakii. 
Pippin was as white as death, and I thought it was all up myself.— C. Rbadb. 
'Tis all up with the villains.- S. Warrk.s. 



Upper [ 353 ] IJpsldeB 

Up and ahout — no longer in bed ; dressed and nio\Hng about. C. 

It wM then a little after five, and there waa alreadj a itlr, an occasional footfall 
along the principal itreeta. Bj the time he got to the Whitediapel Road there were 
a good many up and about.— B as ant. 

Up in anns — enraged ; ready to quarrel. C. 

The sqnire would have been np in arms, no doubt, if he had known it.— Mbs. 
HxNRY Wood. 

Up a tree — in a dilemma ; thoroughly perplexed. S. 

" Worse than that,'* replied Jacques, loolclng very grave ; " Vm In a regular fli— 
up a tree, by Jove,"— O. J. Wuttb-Mklvillb. 

UjM and downs — prosperity and adversity ; successive rises and falls. F. 

The ups and downs of the rival parties furnished subjects for two excellent car* 
ioont.—Fortniifhay nevkw^ JSS7, 

Up to a (hint/ or ftno — knowing ; skilful F. 

As King Solomon nys,— and that man was up to a thing or two, you may depend, 
though our professor did ny he wasn't so knowing as Uncle 8am,— it's all vanity and 
vexation of spirit— Haliburton. 

Up to Mmething — al)out to carry out a scheme. C. 

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.— Mra. IIbmry Woon. 

Up to (he ryes — completely; to its full extent C. 
Splatchett's farm is mortgaged up to the eyes.— C. Rbadr. 

Up (o (he marl:— in excellent condition or hcaltli; not below the aver- 
ago. C. Generally used negatively. 

" Ck)mo, nalfour," said Mr. BoliUio brightly. " have a glass of sherry and a elgar. 
You don't look quite up to the mark this morning.'*— Wm. Black. 

Upper. — The vpper hand — the control ; power of governing. P. 

Finally, the reports were tliat the governess liad come round everybody, wroU Rlr 
Pitt'i letters, did his business, managed his aooounta— had the upper hand of tha 
whole house.— Thack brat. 

The vpjier (en or vpjter (en (honsand — the highest circle of society. P. 

Next comes "The History of a Crime" (jmim, Victor HugoX of the high-falutln* 
order, intended, we suppose, to give one a glimpee of the Iniqulttet of the upper ten. 
—Edinburgh Retfiew, 18S7. 

The. vpper story — the hea<l or brain. F. 

Yon see, the point we should gain would be this,— If we tried to get him through 
as being a little touched in the upper story,- whatever we eould do for him, we 
could do against his own will.— A. Trollopb. 

Upset. — An vfutet price — the price at which an article at an auction is 
started by the auctioneer. V. 
The upset price was one pound an acre, payable at oaeeL— H. Kiwoslky. 

VpBideB.— Upsitles iri(h {a jttrson) ^on an equal footing with* F. 
i am upsides with my neighbour now, slnoe my new trap has arrivtd. 

23 



Vade [ 354 ] Verbum 



VadS. — A iHide mecum — a nsoful lKx>k of rofercnco that can be corricct 
about ; a coustaut companion. C. Latin : "Go with mo." 

The fact it, I can't nj I'm rened in the Khool 
So ablj condacted bj Marrjat and Poole ; 
(See the laat-meotloned gentleman'a *' Adminl'a Danghteri" 
The grand vade nueum for all who to aea come).— Babbam. 
All these things will be specified in time, 
With strict regard to AristoUe's rules, 
The vade tnccum of the tme snblime, 

Which makes so manj poets and some fools.— Bybow. 

VflB. — Va victis /^woe to tlie vanquished ! P. Latin. 

Va vietit being of old the only regret expressed towards those against whom the 
fortune of war had turned.— Cumbers*! Journal, 1887, 

Valet. — Vaiet de chamhrt — bedroom servant; personal attendant P. 
French. 

We are not the historic Muse, but her ladjrship'i attendant, tale-bearer— sold dtf 
(hainbr€^toT whom no man is a liero.— Tiiaukbuay. 

VeiL — To tahe the veil — to become a nun. P. 

He had, as he said, taken orders as a nun takes the veil, to get rid of the wicked 
world.— tt. Oarnktt, in Hft of CarlyU. 

Beyond the veil — in the other world ; in the regions of the dea4l. P. 



The tale was finished in London on the Srd of November 1844, and earlj in De- 
cember read bj him from the proofs ready for publication at Former's rooms to a 
little party of friends, including llaclise and Stanfield, Dyce, Laman Blandiard, 
Douglas Jerrold, and Thomas Carlyle. Reader and hearers are beyond the veil; 
there is not one left to us now.— Hsmbt Morlby. 

To draw a veil over — to conceal. P. 

There may be whole pages, dose- written and full of stirring matter, wfaid) I have 
chosen to conceal ; there may be occurrences which it is beet, at this tine, to d aw 
a Teil over. — O. A. Sala. 

Vengeance. — With a vem/eance — extremely ; forcibly ; unmistakably. C. 

He could be logical with a Tengeance— so logical as to cause Infinite titmblo to his 
wife, who, with all her good sense, was not logical.— A. Tbollopk. 

The Ilisiianiola 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.— K. L. SrsviCNSON. 

Ventre. — Ventre d terre—tit the greatest speed. C. French. Liter- 
ally, " with the belly on the earth." 

We ride at speed, wo drive at speed are married, divorced, robbed, mined, and 

enriched, all ventre A terre.'—Q. J. Wiiytk-Mklvillb. 

Verbnm. — Verimm sap. — a word is enough. A contraction of the Latin 
phrase verbum sat napitnti, *' a word is enough for a wise man." C. 
I ny no more. Kerimm sap.— Wilkib Collins. 




via [ 365 ] Volte 

Via. — Via media — a middle path; a course between two opposite ex- 
tremes.' P. Latin. 

It must b« uncondiUonal turrender, or the Uat attempt at conciliation. There 
wu no via tiudio.— Mrs. £. Lynn Linton. 

Vial. — To poiir otU the mals ofone*s icrath — to give vent to one's anger; 
to express one's indignation. P. 

She pours out the vials of her mental wrath on the head of Mra. West for encooraf • 
ing Staunton to come to Norman House.— Florkncb Marrvat. 

VicS. — Vice verad — making an intercliange of positions ; placing two 
things eacli in the place of the other. P. Latin. Literally, " the 
terms being exchanged.'* 

They never laugh when thejr onght to weep, or vie* vend (weep when they ouffht 
to laugh).— Jam Ks Patn. 

Victory. — A Cadmean victory — a victory in which the victors suffer as 
much as their enemies. P. 

Vin. — Vin ordinaire — ordinary red wine, such as is supplietl free of 
charge at meals in a French hotel. P. French. 

I suppose thoee toadies of his have supplied him with a vin ordinaire at a hundred 
and twentj shillings a dosen.— Wm. Black. 

Virgin. — Virt/in MoU — what is fresh and unused. P. 

I am convinced that comic opera, or rather operatic wmedy, has an immense 
future before it in this country. One may almost call it virgin toil.— <7ood Wordi, 

1887. 

Virtue. — To mak-e a virtue of necessity — to do willingly wliat cannot 
be avoidc<l ; to submit with a good grace to what is inevitable. P. 

Making a virtue of necessity, there are many In England who begin no looffer to 
regard Constantinople as a British interest of Uie flrst magnitade.— /^orfai^Mfy Re- 

view, 1887. 

Viva. — Vint tx>c«~using the voice and not tlie |Msn as tlic medium of 
cominunication. P. Latin. The literal signification is '* with Uie 

living voice." 

Dr. Johnson seenui to have been really more powerful in dleeovitinc vivd voce In 
conversation than with his pen in his hand.— fl. T. Colsridob. 
The sole examination is rivd voce and public, but, I was atoored, of not Um leaei 

ImiwrtAnce.— Journal <\f Kduenlion^ ]S87. 

"Voice,— At the top of one's twc— loudly ; in a higli voice. P. 

Volte.— Voite face—tk complete change of position ; a reversal of con- 
duct or policy. P. French. 

Nothing in the last two years had happened to Jostify the eoafertaoe in fieevUng 
a voUtfact.—Jimrnal ^f IMticaN<m, 1JBS7, 



Volumes [ 356 ] ' Walk 

Volumes. — To apeak voiumes — to be important testimony ; to be very 
Bignificant. P. 

Bella, jon know It U the same woman. You recogniied her in a moment. Thai 
speaks ▼olumes.— C Rrai>r. 

The epithet so often heard, and In such kindly tones, of "Poor aoldsmitb,** 
speaks volumes. — W. Iuvinu 



W 

Wait. — To ^rait upon — (a) to pay a formal visit to. P. 

The countess liad actuallj come to wait upon Mrs. Crawley on tlie failure of bar 
second enToy.— Thaokekay. 

{h) to attend to tlie wants of a person. P. 

She had been so long used to be humoured and waited upon, by relations and aer- 
▼ants, that she wnsidered herself a sort of golden Idol.— Maaia Edokwortii. 

To wait for another* a Hhoen. See SiiOK. 

Walk. — To vKUk the plank — a punishment fre(]uenUy imposed by 
pirates on their captives. V. Tlio unfortunate victims were miulo to 
walk along a plank iKirtly overlianging the water. After a few steps 
the phink tilted, and they were shot into the sea. 

It Is aUt) to be deplored that pirates sliould he able to exact ransom by threatm- 
Ing to make their captives walk the plank.— Macaui.ay. 
I had to take It, or walk the plank.— C Readb. 

To xcalk one's chalks — to go oft S. 

The prisoner has cut his stick, and walked his chalks, and Is off to Loatlon.— C. 
K1NU8LEY. 

A tcalk oi*rr the course ^ or a iralk over — an easy victory ; a victory gained 
without any real conifKitition. C. 

To icalk the chalk line — to be particular m one's conduct. S. 
Make him walk the chalk Une. 

To tealk the hospital— to prosecute medical studies with the view of be- 
coming a physician. C. Before medical colleges were introduced 
into England, students attached themselves to one or other of the 
London hospitals. 

Lor*, no ; It's quite a stranger ; a young man that's Just been walking the 'orvpitol; 
but tliey say he's very clever.— Mikh Uradik)^. 

To \ralk itito a person — to scold him ; to rate him soundly. S. 
To walk into food — to eat heartily of it. S. 



WaU [ 367 ] Wash 

WalL — To go to the wall — to fail ; to bo utiBuccoMful. P. 

Qnacki prosper at often m they go to the wall— Thack bray. 
He grows rich m the village grows poor ; and so the Moslem goes to Um vaU.— 
St. Jamts's Gaxetie, 1887. 
Charles's hopes had to go to the walL— Mas. Hbmbv Wood. 

The Jfiiger or handioriiing oil the ioaU — the annouucement of a coming 
disaster. P. See Handwriting. 

This inexplicable incident, this reversal of my previous experience, seemed, like 
the Dabjlonian finger on the wall, to be spelling out the letters of my Jodgment— 

II. L. StB VINSON. 

Wall - flower. — A wail -flower — a lacly who at a dance finds uo 
partners. C. 

" I never dance.** 

" What I are yon never tired playing the wall-flowerf Do not German waltias In- 
spire you r "—Miss Braddon. 

Wallaby.— ^o go on the Wallaby track — to go up country in search of 
work. S. An Australian term. 

War. — War to the knife — a bitter and deadly struggle. P. 

Which war old Lady Lofton, good and pious and charitable as she was, considered 
that she was bound to keep up, even to the knife, till Dr. Proiidie and all his satsl- 
litos should liave been banished into outer darkness.— A. Trollopk. 

To put on thr fcar-jxiint — to dress oneself up in a conspicuous fashion ; 
to wear one's finest clothes. F. 






Have yon seen the hero of the evening?** 

Who? Do you mean the Portuguese governor in his warpaint?**— II. IL 

liAUOARD. 

Warming. — A warming-jtan — a person who holds a post until a minor 
is rca<ly to occupy it. P. 

Wo used to call him in my parliamentary days W. P. Adams, in oonssqaenet of 
his being warming-pan for a young follow who was In his minority.— DiCKBRa 

Warrant.— -<4 vxirmnt officer — a petty officer in the navy, as dls- 
tiuguishcil from a ** commissioned officer." P. 

What is surprising is to find myself a warrant oAoer.— CArrAiN Marrtai; 

Wash.— T'o wash one's hands of—i/o refuse to have anythuig mor« to do 
with. P. 

To look at me. you would hardly think " Poor Thady " was the father of Atiorney 
Quirk. He is a high gentleman, and never minds what poor Thady says, aad having 
X^Xicx than fifteen hundred a year, Unded eetata, looks down upon honesl Thady; 
but 1 wash my hands of hU doings, and as I have lived so will I dle^ tr«s aad loyal 
to this family.— Maria Eikikwortii. 

"And I think he said it was a cruel business nay, Vm wan bs did ; and that, as 
for him, he washed his hands on't" (of itX Mr Aubrey sasaad ooafovBdad.— 8. 
Warrkn. 



Wasp [ 358 ] Water 

To loaah one*8 dirty linen in puUic — to speak in public of unplcaBont 
private affairs ; to discuss unpleasant private matters before strangers. 
P. 

" I have been so presteil since n>7 marrlsge,** he said, " that it has been iinpoasiblo 
for me to keep things straight." 

"But Ladj Alexandriua— " 

" Yea, of course, I know. I do not like to tronblo 70a with my affairs— there Is 
notlilng, I tliiuk, so bad as washing one's dlrtj linen In public ; but the trutli is, 
tliat I am only now free from the rapacitj of the De Ck>urc7S." — A. T&OLLfOrK. 

Wanhed out — pale and bUxxlloss in api)uarance. C. 

She noticed that tlie young man who nt beside hliu lookud rather iiale and waslied 

out— IIUUU Ck>NWAY. 

Wasp. — A ivanps* ntat — a place where there are plenty of enemies ; a 

place wlicrc one is unwelcome. P. 

It was into a wasps' nest that the imprudent Louise thrust herself.— /22iu(raf«il 
lAindon Ntwi, 18S7, 

Watch. — Watch and iratch — taking alternate watches. G. 

We will fight the schooner watch and watch till daylight.— Caitaim Marbyat. 

Water. — To throw cold water on an enterprise — to discourage itn pro- 
motion ; to speak slightingly of it. P. 

It was to be hoped Mr. Godfrey would not go to Tarlcy and throw cold water on 
what Mr. Soell said there.— Okoiuiic Eliot. 
Colman threw cold water on the undertaking from the very beginning.— W. Black. 
Among tliera was Anrella Tucker, tlie scoffer and thrower of cold water.— Bkuamt. 

In deep water — in difficulties ; ])uzzlcd how to act. C. 

Once he had been very nearly in deep water because Mrs. Proudie had taken it in 
dudgeon that a certain young rector, who had been left a widower, had a very pretty 
governess for his children.— A. Trollops 

Of the Jirat irater — of the highest typo ; v^ery excellent. C. A term 

originally applied to precious stones. 

One comfort, folk are beginning to take an Interest In us. I see nobs of the first 
water looking with a fatherly eye into oiur affairs.— O. Kbadk. 

To hold loader — to be tenable ; to l)e supported by facts. P. 

That won't hold water. It does not commend itself to reason.— K. L. Sntrmsoii. 

Tales Iiad gone about respecting her. Nothing very tangible, and perhaps thej 
would not have held water.— Miu*. IIknry Wood. 

He was secretly wnscious that the theory of the evei|^een tree would not hold 
water.— Jam u Payn. 

To viake the mouth water — to be excessively alluring ; to cause desire 
and longing. P. 

I could tell you things that would make your mouth water about the profits that 
are earned in the musical brancli of our own trade. --(7oo<i irvni«, JSS7. 

To l*e in hot icater — to be in trouble or diHiiHiltied ; to have |ieople angry 

with one. ('. 

Tom was In everlastini; hot wutur us ilie most incorrigible scai>egrace for ten miles 
roun<l --T lU'uucs. 



Wax [ 369 ] Way 

To water stock — to give away a proportion of the shares in a company 
at a large discount or gratis. C. 

Bui there's no uae crying over spilt milk, or watered stock either. 

To back water — to reverse the forward motion of a boat in rowing ; 
to row backwards. P. 

Tlio captain gave orders to back water, and none too soon, for we Just aroidod a 
collision.— B. U. Dana. 

The ioater-ioorks or the \oater-pump9 — the shedding of tears. F. 

"Oh, Miss B , I never thought to have seen this day;** and the watar^worki 

began to plaj.— Thackeray. 

" Thank f ou, Dobbin," he said, rubbing his ejes with his knuckles, *' I was Just- 
just telling her I would. And, O sir, she's so kind to me.** The water-pumps were 
at work again (hs sgi^in commenced to shed tears).— Tbackbrat. 

Wax. — To irax fat and kick — to become unruly and hard to manage 
through too great prosperity. P. A Biblical phrase (Deut. xxxii»15). 

During the prosperous period when our revenue was advancing bj leape and 
bounds, it is to be apprehended that waiters as well as sailors waxed fat and kicked. 
—liUukwoaePi MagoMine, 1886, 

III a wax — angry. S. 

When she's in a wax there's nowhere a finer stringer of big ones QiesX— Bbbakt. 
" You needn't got into a wax over it, old chap," said my father.— II. Kimcmlkt. 

Way.— /»i rt '"rty — (a) somewhat ; in a certain sense. C. 

TIio people of the boarding-house continued to amuse him, partlf becsBSa thfjr 
wore in a way afraid of him.— Brbamt. 

('') ftgitatc<l ; much concerned. F. 

The poor father is in a way about his son's misbehaviour. 

Once in a way — rarely ; occasionally. C. 

Once in a way a man might take too much.— Blackmoas. 

Jn a fair icay q/*— likely to ; with every likelihood of. C. 

Kothsay had come back to England In a fair way, for the first time in his lift, of 
mulling money.— WiLKiB Collinb. 

In a fjood xcay — prosperous ; prosperously. C. 

He quitted the militia and engaged in trade, having brothsn already ertab llshad 
in a good way in London.— Maria Bdobwortv. 

To make onc*M tray — to Ik) prosperous ; to rise. 1*. 

IIo (Disraeli) U determined to make his w%j.— Edinburgh Rnitw, 1888. 

To inakr u^y -to atcp (ifli<lo so as to leave a passage ; to give place. P. 

Make way there for the princess.— SnAKRarsARS. 

y.vcrj one shiftinK, and shuflling, and staring, and asslstlsf Is that enriotii sad 
confuting cerrmnny called making way.— BiAoojtariBLD. 



Way [ 360 ] Way 

To go the way ofallfttah — to die. P. 

Hia former retainer, Phil Judd, had gone the way of all flesh.— Afiirray'* Magf^ 
dnc, 18S7. 

Thef nodded to each other by waj of breaking the ice of unacqualntance, and tfaa 
flnt stranger handed his neighbour the family mug— a huge vessel of brown war% 
having its upper edge worn away like a tlireshuld by the rut of whole generatiuna ol 
Uilrsty lips tliat had gone the way of all flesh.— Thomas Hakdt. 

In the way — ^proving an obstacle ; causing an obstruction ; not wanted ; 
not welcome. P. Compare " in the road." 

You may be (yoa are) a charming person, but just now you are a little la the way. 
They resent your presence.— Jam as Payn. 

It may seem strange that I felt in the way in their company.— if i«({<(oe Dvugh, 
1835. 

Out of the ipay — strange ; eccentric. P. 

Jn her drama, which was so effective on the stage, DJek did nothing cat of the 
way.— C Kkadk. 

UntUr uHiy — in motion. P. 

Arthur was perfectly charmed with everything he saw, and so was Agatha Terry, 
until they got under way, wlien she discovered that a mail steamer was a Joke 
compared with the yaclit in the matter of motion.— II. R. IIacioabu. 

To he hy way of hciny — to bo ablo to 1>u classed us ; to conic into llio 
category of. C. 
Phipps was by way of being something of a musician.— Oood Words, 1887. 

By the way. A phrase used with remarks made incidentally, and not 
belonging to the main subject. * P. 

With tills, and showing the tricks of that dog, whom I st(de from the setfeani off a 
marching regiment (and, by the way, he can steal too upon occasionX I make sblfl to 
pick up a livelihood.— II. Mackknzib. 

To (jive loay — (a) to yield ; to submit. P. 

I have never seen the bridegroom's male friends give way to tears.— Tuackkeay. 

[h) to break down ; to lose control of oneself. C. 

" I see how it is," said poor Noggs, drawing from his pocket what seemed to bo an 
old duster and wiping Kate's eyes with it as gently as if she were an infant; "yoa*r« 
giving way now."— Dktkknh. 

To go a very little way with — to have small influence upon. C. 

Her woU-meant apology for her father went, indce<l, but a very little way with her 
companion.— Jam lu Paym. 

IVays and meajis — necessary funds and the manner of procuring 
them. P. 

This passionless character is illustrated by Ix)wis's position in the GaUnet as 
Chancellor of the Exchequer during the height of the Crimean War and to lU close, 
and he was therefore responsible for finding tlie ways and means for carrying it osi. — 
We*tmiHittr Rtvitw, lSii7. 

When money has to be raised, tlie House of Commons resolves itself Into Oooi- 
mittee of Ways and Means. 



Weak [ 361 ] Weepioff 

Weak. — Weak cu a ceU — very feeble. F. Always of physical weak- 
ness. 

John looked round, and for the first time a tenM of hope began to creep into hia 
heart. Perhape thej would surrive after aU. 

" Let's fo up and see. It is no good stopping here ; we most get food somewhere. 
I feci as weak as a cat."— II. R. HxaaAJU). 

Ai* weak OH water — very feeble. P. Used boUi of moral and of phy- 

aicnl weakness. 

Sir, I am only Just getting well of a fever, and I am as weak as water.— C Rkadb. 
Away from you I am weak as water, excepting where she is concerned.— FLoasMCB 

BfARRYAT. 

Wear. — Wear and tear — damage, resulting from constant use and from 
occasional accidents. P. 

The Increasing wear and tear of life, reducing leisure and making brevity in letter- 
writing a primary consideration, supplies a third reason.- ifocmittoa'f MagoMimg, 
1887. 

The castle walls have stood the wear and tear of centuries.— AiinfricrgA EtHtw, 
1887. 

To wear on — to pass slowly (of time). P. 

After the Bellamys* departure, the time wore on at Madeira without bringing 
about any appreciable change in the situation.— H. R. Haooakd. 

To trcar oiujV ?uiart upon oii€*« sleeve far dawn to peck at — to expose one's 
private feelings to unfeeling criticism. P. A Shakespearian phrase. 
Sec Hkaut and Slf.rvk. 

She in, in fact, a fair specimen of an English maiden— upright, fearlees, and whole- 
some-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.— FLoasifon 
Marry AT. 

Weather. — The \oeoUher eye — the eye of a keen observer. F. A sea 
phrase. 

Job relumed in a great state of nervousnees, and kept his weather eye fixed upon 
every woman who came near him.— H. R. Haooarix 
But you keep your weather eye open, Jim.— R. L. BTBvsNaoii. 

Wedge. — The thin end or edijt of the wedge — the first small beginning, 
which may lead to what is serious and important. P. 

How or when he (Thackeray) made his very first attempt in London, I have not 
learned ; but he had not probably spent his money without forming ** pcMe" acquaint- 
ancM, and had thus formed an aperture for the tliin end of the wedge.— A. Tooixopb. 

it was the thin edge of the wedge, in good truth, and the driving home bad to 
come.- Mrs. K Lvkn Linton. 

In this way the thin e<lge of the wedge has been Inserted for French InfluMioe at 
tlie back of Marocco.— Orant Allrn, in Conttrnporarj/ Hewiew, 1888, 

Weeping.— To relum by Weepimj Cross — to regret deeply some under- 
taking ; to 1)0 ill a state of lamentation. F. 

The lawyers' harveet-term is o'er, 

Which to thair purses brought good store ; 

Rut many clients, to their loee. 

Do return home by Weeping Croes— i^oer JSeMa, 1766, 



Weigh [ 362 ] What 

Weigh. — Under loeiyh — in motion. P. 
We were soon under weigh again.— C. Lbvbr. 

Well. — Well, I newr I — an exclamation of surprise. F. 

This alrooet caused Jemima to faint with terror. "Well, I nertr!** said she. 
" What an audacious — " Emotion prevented her from completing either sentence. — 

TUACKKRAY. 

** Well, I nerer 1 " said the old man. " My staj-at-home Jess wanting to go awaj, 
and without Bessie, too I What Is the matter with 70U 7 "— H. R. Haugard. 

Well'tO'do — in comfortable circumstauces. P. 

Moroovor, she IukI a distillery of rum and arrack in Kingston itself, and ovuiyliOfl/ 
agreed that she must be very well-to-do in tlio world.— O. A. Sala. 

Well ami good. A common consequent in a conditional aentonco, 
signifying that the result is satisfactory. C. 

If it come up a prise, well and good ; and if it come up a Uank, why, well and 
good too.— Maria Eimjkworth. 

Truth lies cU the bottom of a icell, A saying which refers to the diiiicalty 
of finding out the truth. C. 

In his simple opinion the depth of the well, at the bottom of which truth Is hid» 
was nothing to the unfathomablenen of his designs. — J. Maclarrn Oorran. 

Wet. — To \oet one*H whMe — to take a drink of liquor. P. 

"Muisolboro, roach roe down the decanter and some glasses, rerliaps Mr. 
Crosblo will wot hit whUtlo." 
" Ho don't want any wine— nor you either," said Musselboro.— A. Trollops. 
But if you'll believe me, sir, they don't so much as wet their whistles.— A. Trollopb. 

Whack. — To take one*s whack — to drink liquor. S. 

Dinner parties, where the guests drank grossly, and even the school-boy took his 
whack, like licorice-water.- R. L. Stbybnhon. 

What. — / tell you what. Tliis phrase calls the attention of the listener 
to scmie important statement. C. 

I know something about that place (the House of ComroonsX I think; and I idl 
you what besides, that if there had not been this interruption, Mr. Dinmell mig hk 
have made a failure. --Bubil. 

What not — various things diiiicult to mention severally. C. 

In tlicse rooms in Wine Office Court, and at the suggstUon or entreaty of New- 
bery. Goldsmith produced a good deal of miscellaneous writing— pamphlets, tracla, 
compilations, and what not, of a more or less marketable kind.- Wm. Black. 

To know what*s ichal— to Ixj intelligent and well-informed. C 

If, perhaps, such men as Louis Philippe and Monsieur A. Thiers, minister and 
deputy, and Monsieur Francois Guisot, deputy and excellency, had, from interest or 
conviclinii, opinions (it all differing from tlie majority, why, they knew what was 
what, and kept tlieir opinions to themselves.— TiiAtrKKUAY. 

What-do-ifou-call-\'in. A phnuiu ut«ed like Thintjamyt because one forgets 
the cxiu't name, or d(>cs not wish to utter it. R 

" I nilglit foel it was a yrcat blow," suid Mixs ttnevrliicci, ** to break up old 



Wheel [ 363 ] . White 

tioni and wliAtdo-jou-caU-'emi of Uiai kind, but I would fubmii, my dear, I would 
indeed. " — Dickkna. 

" Well," I Mid, " three guineas, which I shall have over, will buj me a pair of 
whai-d'je-call-'ems."— TnACKKRAY. 

]yhcU*8-hui-name. Used liko tlie previous phrase. F. 

My dearest E<1ith, there is sucli an obvious destiny in it, that really one might al- 
most be induced to cross one's arms upon one's frock and say, like Uiose wicked 
Turks, tliere Is no Whnt's-lils-name but Thingummy, and What-you*may-call-itis his 
prophet.— Dickens. 

Wheel. — To (JO on wheels — to advance smoothly and rapidly ; to make 
rapid progress. C. 

The thing went on wheels. Richard Bassott was engaged to Jane Wright almost 
before ho was aware.— C Rkadb. 

To put a Hitole in a man'n wheel — to interrupt his career of success ; to 
cmltarross liim. C. 

You Imve put a most formidable spoke in my wheel by prcTenilnf the extension 
of the borough.— (7ood IVorda, 1887. 

While. — To while away — to pass in amusement ; to spend for purposes 
of amusement. P. 

And so he went on riding with her, and copying music and verses in her album, 
and playing chess with her very submlsslTely ; for it Is with these simple arouseroenis 
that some officers in India are accustomed to while away Uieir leisure moments.— 

TllAOKKRAY. 

Whip. — The whip hand— iho contnd ; the power of ruling. C. 

Why, Anne, do be reasonable. If I gave you those letters, I should never be able 
to sleep in {leace. For the sake of my own safety, I dare not abandon the whip-hand 
1 have of you.— H. R. II ago a rd. 

The secret of all success Is to know how to deny yourself. If you once learn to 
get the whip-hand of yourself, that is the best educator. Prove to me that yon can 
control yourself, and I'll say you're an educated man ; and without this all other 
education is good for next to nothin|.— Mrs. OLirnANT. 

Whistle. — To pay dear for oue*s whistle — to jwy too much for some 
coveted possession or pleasure. 1*. 

Wo went off In very great state, but still having to pay with needless heaviness for 
our whistle.— O. A. Sala. 

7o wet one' a whistle. See Wet. 

To whijttie/or anything. Tliis phrase is used when there aeems to be 
no rcosouablo chance of obtaining the tiling desired. C. 

If wo only got what we deaerve<l— Heaven save ns !— many of us mi^t whistle for 

A flinnor {go dinnorlcmt).— Tuackrkav. 

White.— Af a while heal— in on intense ]iassion; very angry or ex- 
cited. V. 

1'licy lot tlirir thinking bo done for thrui, in all critical moments, by rarisian joor- 
nitlhU at a uliito heat.--t'uM(ciNjH>rary iitrvinr, 1SS7. 



Whole [ 364 ] 'WidB 

A white lie or Jib — a statement which is verbally tnie, but really and 
essentially false. P. 

BotwoMi tbem boUi, Helen w«i In a corner. 8ho might bavo boon ca|Ml>lo of tolling 
a white fib and Mjlng the had not the letter, rather Uian lei her father mo It.— Miuk 
Hbmry Wood. 

White as a sheet — intensely pale. P. 

Next leoond a terrible crash resounded from the other end of the room. Qcorfo 
tamed white as a sheet, and sank into a chair.— H. R. IIaooahd. 

When thef took liim out of the black hole after six hours' oonflnemoni, ho was 
observed to bo white as a sheet and to tremble violently all over.— C. Rkaujc. 

White soup — the substance which is obtained by putting silver plate, 
etc. , into the melting-pot. S. A term used by London thieves. 

Gold watches, silks and sliawls and trinkets, yards of brocade, ells of laco, and 
last, not least, a caldron always on the boil for the manufacture of thai all-aboorblnc 
fluid wliich is called ** white soup,** and is sold by the ounce, surroundod tbo oooe 
virtuous Oingham in her respectable home.— G. J. Wiiytk-Mklvillk. 

White caps — waves having their tops white through the wind breaking 
them into foam. C. Also known as * * wliite horses. " 

It was no gale, but only a fair wind ; the water foame<1 along tho ship's sides, and 
as her bows descended, shot forward in hissing Jets of spray; away on ovory side 
flocked the white caps.— W. D. Howcllb. 

A whittd sepulchre — something outwardly fair but inwardly corrupt. P. 
A Scriptural phrase (Matt, xxiii. 27). 

So that (bad as I may be. Lady Swansdown) I consider myself a belter wobmb 
than you (and such as you) are. Oh, yes I I know you don't stand alone. I know 
there are plenty like you in the best society— whited sepulchres, fair without, and 
rottonneu and dead men's bones within.— Flobknc a Marhyat. 

The white feojther. See Feathkr. 

Whole. — Upon the tt'Ao/e— taking everything into consideration. 1*. 
Upon tho whole, Emma left her with softened and charitable foellnga— Jamii 

AUHTK.N. 

Wide.— T^Aere is a wide guif fxed— there is a great and permanent 
cauHC of separation. P. Tho phrase is taken from tho New Tuita- 
ment. See the piirablo of Dives and Lazarus (Luke xvi.). 

Lady " Pat,** as site is called by her familiar friends, would seem to bo a flttor 
companion, both in station and age, for Lady Swansdown than II rs. Bevorlcy; bat 
between thecounteu and Lady Pat there is a great gulf fixed.— Floaknuie AIahhyat. 

Wide auxike — smart ; clever. C. 

Sir lUte Coombe likes to bo admired, even by an old maid ; but he Is too wido 
awake to let her see it.— Florknck Markyat. 

To gii'e a wide berth — to avoid. C. 

Always give the redcoats a wide bertli, my dear— G. A. Sala. 



WifiTfirinfir [ 366 ] Wind 

Wigging. — To get a wit/ging — to be scolded. F. 

However, it did not Uke him long to pardon John Monckton, while, m for the 
tremendous wigging which he would doubtleai receive from his father, he had no 
difficulty at all about pardoning that in advance.— ^ood Words, 1887, 

Wild. — A laild-goose chase — a foolish and fruitless searcli. P. 

"Wouldn't to-morrow do for thU wild-goose chase T** inquired Wheeler.— C. 
Rradr. 

WilL — Will he, nill he — whether he wishes or not. C. 

An imprudent marriage is a difTcrent thing, for then the consequences are ineri* 
table when once Uie step has been taken, and have to be borne, will he, nill he. — 
Miu4. Oi.iriiANT. 

WUl-o* 'IhC'ioiup — the ignw/cUuuSf or phosphorescent light which hovers 
over marshes ; anything which deludes or deceives. C. 

" I am very, very miserable ; give me hope, the light of hope.** 
" It would be a will- of- the- wisp, WilUo.**— Jamrs Payn. 

Willow. — To wear the willow — (a) to occupy the lowest place or 
seat. C. 

{h) to be in mourning ; to l)e in grief. C. 

Tills went on until the summer of the fear 1067, when her father genUjr put 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 parte in that pari of the 
country.- (J. A. Hat.a. 

Hut M high an estimate of Haxlitt is quite compatible with tlie strongest political 
dissent from his opinions, and with a total freedom from the charge of wearing the 
willow for (deploring the death oO painting.— Mocmifkin's Magagine, 1887. 

(r) to Ikj forsaken. C. 

"You have heard the news (of Miss Orantley's approaching marriageX LodorioT'* 
she a«ked. 

" Oh, yei ; it's at all the clubs. I have been overwhelmed with presente of willow 
branches."— A. TnoLLure. 

Win. - To v'in the day — to l>o successful. P. 

Yet if. on the one side, there stood cold science, and on the other a rafferlng firi, 
it is ridiculous to acknowledge that the girl always won the day.— Bbsant. 

To win at a canter — to gain an easy victory. C. 

Petty flnory without, a pinched and stinted stomach within; a case of Back eersus 
Delly (as the lawyers would say), the plaintiff winning in a canier.— 8. WARitBji. 

Wind. — In the wind — a)>out to happen ; talked of as probable. C. 

AH of A sudden the coadi stoppe<1. " Hallo,** said my ancle, " wbat*s in the wind 

now?"— DiCKKNM. 

Ho never has a kind word to say of me even when we're alone; I believe there's 
some one else in the wind.— FuiRENm Marrtat. 

"Such things never happen to such a poor devil as me," exclaimed Hockaback 
wiUi a sigh. 

" What is in tlie wind, T wonder?** muttered Titmonee.— 8. Wakiudi. 




Wind [ 366 ] "Wind 

To get loind — to be talked about ; to circulate as news. P. 

Hit retarii lud got wind, and ereiy farmer under flftj had reaolrcd to ride with 
him into nantercombo.— €. Kicadk. 

** And now, since we are to go/' laid Lady Clonbronf , " pray let na go Immedi- 
ately, before the thing geta wind, elie I ehall have Mrs. Darevlllo, and I^ily Lang* 
dale, and Lady St. Jamea, and all tlie world coming to condole witli ino, Jnal to 
latiafy their own curiosity."— Maria Kdokwobtu. 

To get icind of— to obtiiin news reganling ; to learn about. C. 

I could get wind of the amount given, now, if I wanted.— Jlfocmif/ait't BlagaziMe^ 
1837. 
Luclcily Mr. Hodge ipeedily got wind of our misfortune.— G. A. Sala. 

To go to the wincU — to 1>e dissipated ; to bo utterly lost. P. 

Few men can bear to see a sweet and pretty woman in tears, and this little Incident 
was too much for John, whose canUon and donbts all went to the winds together, 
and have not since been hoard of.— 11. R. IlAauAKD. 

At this all young Fiuldlng's self-restraint went to the winds.— Q Rkadb. 

In the irind'8 eye — right iii the face of the wind ; pointing directly to 
the quarter from which the wind comes. P. 

At last, however, she fell right into tiie wind's eye, was taken dead aback, and 
stoo«l there awliilo liolpless, with lier sails sliivoring.- U. L. Ijtkvkniiun. 

To raise the ^oiiid — to obtain necessary funds. F. 
To raise the wind some lawyer tries.— J. and II. SiirrH. 

Betwixt wind and iixUer, Tlie part of a ship l>etwixt wind and water is 
tliat iN)rtion whicli is below the water-line, except when the ship hccia 
over under the pressure of the wind. There is of course great danger 
when a shot strikes here. The phrase is used figuratively. 

That shot was a settler ; it struck poor Sail right atwizt wind and water (In th« 
most susceptible placeX^HALibURTuN. 

To take the wind otU of another's nails — to anticipate another ; to gain a 
clever a<l vantage over a competitor. C. 

Kz-nailie Ijavcrock announced the important fact that one gentleman had offered 
him two-thirds of the i:i2,500 loan at 3^ \wt cent., and another gkntleman had 
offered him £500 at the same rate. This quite took the wind out of the sails of 
the party in power. Tiiey looked agliast at each other, and it was evident from 
thoir countenances that t)ie ex-baille's statement had a terribly dei»reasinf effect on 
the majority.— S(. Amlrewi Citizen, ISSfi. , 

By the way, I flatter myself tliat I have ratlier taken the wind out of Mr. Boa- 
well's sails.— Oood Wordu, IftS?. ^ 

TCs an ill wind that ///o?rs noltody good — few calamities are harmful to 
all concerned. C". s? 

But it is an ill wind that blows nobody goo<l. This storm raised Oeorge FieldlBg'a 
better i>art of man.- C. Ukauk. 

This very sensible view of the matter reassured Brian, who thought to lilmadf, 
"It's an ill wind that blows nobody goiMl; iicrlm]ts when she is Mrs. IlubUn alio 
won't want to sing in the choir any mon,"—Uood Worth, 1S37, 



Wind [ 367 ] Wlnkingr 

To take wind — to become known. P. 

I could easily have brought her ladyihlp to her tenies, howerer; but my ■cheme 
had taken wind, and it was now in vain to attempt it.— Thaokkkay. 

To the four winds (of heaven) — completely irrecoverable. P. 

*' Heaven knows," answered John, carelessly ; " glyen to Tom, Dick, and Harry^ 
scattered to the four winds. I have not kept one of them.**— Mm Braddon. 

Wind. — To wind up — to settle; to bring to a conclusion. P. Generally 
used of the formal settlement of the aflairs of a business firm that is 
broken up. 

H you like to retire and leave me to wind up the concern, a cheque for £10,000 is 
at your utrrice.— Mistletoe Bought 1885. 
With this beautiful metaphor I sliall wind up (bring my remarks io a doseX 

Wing. — To clip another's wings — to hamper his movements; to lessen 
his power of action. C. 

To take under one's wing — to protect ; to patronize. C. 

We heard you were under Lady Patrick's wing, and felt that you were safe.— 
Florknce Bf arryat. 

At for you, Miss Ella, with your papa*s permission, I shall henceforth take you 
uuder my wing.— Jamks Payn. 

To lend wings to — to uicrcnse the speed of ; to hasten. P. 

I could hear hails coming and going between the old buccaneer and his comradee, 
and this sound of danger lent me wings.— B. L. Stsvbiison. 

The wings of Azrael. See Azrakl. 

7V) take icing— to fly off suddenly ; to depart without warning. C. 

So Beauchamp took wing; and whether Lady Bracknell was annoyed or relieved 
by hit flight I cannot venture to say.— W. £. Norris. 

Wink. — To innk af—(a) to signal to with the eye in token of a mutual 
understanding. P. 

" But now your mother's not by, you know,** said Mrs. Dolly, winking at the land- 
la<iy ; " now your mother's not by—" 
'* Yos ; nobo<!y will tell of you," added the landlaily.— Maria SDOBwoRrn. 

(h) to pretend not to see ; to take no notice of. P. 

lAter on the emperors were fain to wink at what they would not sancUoo and 
could not extirpate.— f&finiyAf/y Review^ 1887. 

To wink on — the same as to witd: at (a). P. 

" Very well, sir." cried the squire, who immediately smoked him (quisaed hlmX 
and winked on the rest of tlie company to prepare us for the sport; "if you are for 
a cool argument upon the subject, I am ready to accept the chaUeaf*.**— OoLiwMim. 

'Winking,— Like urinking — quickly; eagerly. S. 
Nod away at him, if you please, like winking.— Dick Rita. 



"Wish [ 368 ] "Wolf 

Wish. — To wish to goodnfM — to be very desirous. P. 

" And to be lying all the time horribly dck in jonr berth, and wiahing to foodnete 
you were beck again in the achoclroom learning about the feudal qntcm,'* Ladj 
Mordaunt loggeeted.— Afurray'« MaguTAntt 1887. 

To winli out joy of anythimj. A phrase generally usctl sarcastically to 
intimate that the person who has the object will find it a troublesome 
possession. C. 

The apothecaTy*! apprentice wiahed Mn. Ck>mey Joy of her Job, and took himielf 
off on tiptoe.— Dickens. 

Wit. — At one*8 wU*s end— in a state of utter perplexity ; wholly puzzled 
how to act. P. 
Mr. Felspar was almost at his wit's end how to act— Jamcs Path. 

To have one*8 wits ahoxU oiit — to be observant ; to be quick at seeing and 
acting. C. 

Cripps, if his wits had been about him, must have yielded space and bowed.— 
Blackmorb. 

Whatever might be urge<l about William Henry, it could not be said that bo had 
not his wits about him.— J amis Payn. 

Witch. — To he no witch — to l)e qiiite sharp. C. 
The editor is dearly no witch at a riddle.— Garlylk. 

The xoitch is in it — there is some mysterious, supernatural influence at 

work. F. 

She had never heard of the fate that was once supposed to appoint the euifu w i ol 
men irrespective of their blamelessness or blame, before the time when it came to be 
believed that sorrows were penalties; but in her simple way she recognised sometUag 
like that mythic power when she rose from her struggle with the problem, and said 
aloud to herself, " Well, the witch U in it."— W. D. Howblu. 

Withers. — Our withers are unwruny — we are not hurt or irritated. P. 
The metaphor is Uiken from a galled horse, the withers being tlie 
ridge between tlic shouldcr-l)ones. 

Let the galled Jade wince ; our withers are unwrung.— Shakcspbarb. 
" I know you are," said Robarts, who knew the man well, and cared nothing for 
his friend's peculiarities when he felt his own witiiers were unwrung.— A. Trol* 

LOPB. 

Wolf.— TV) cry " vH>l/"—io call out for help when none is needetl, until 
one's friends get disgusted, and do not come at a real crisis. P. 

O DeavU i " exclaimed Uie duke ; '* thU is BeavU's cry of wolf. Is itT" 
Papa," said Lady (irace, in urgent tones, " when the wolf did come the erj «u 
disregarded."— S. Barino-Goiili». 

To keep the ^polf from the door — to obtain sufficient to sustain life ; to 
avoid dying of hunger. C. 

Giving the people that employment to which they had always been aoenstowad, 
and without which tliey would, In many cases, have found no little dUBcolty !■ 
keeping the wolf from their humble doors.— Afnrrai/'s Magaxine, 1887, 



u 



Wonder [ 369 ] "Wool 

A xcolf in aheep^s clothing — a dangerous person who pretends to be quite 
liarmless. P. 

" There are three thotuand men in the Britiih armj," annoanoed the old ttouw 
oracularly, and catting a aevere glance at the wolf In sheep's dothing , the man of 
blood who pretended to farm.— U. R. Haooahd. 

Wonder. — For a toonder — strangely enough; contrary to expeota- 
tion. P. 

For a wonder he was not sea-sick.— C Rbadc 

Wood. — Out of the wood — free from danger ; escaped from a diffi- 
culty. C. 

Mr. Joaceline had merelj obeenred indlfTerentlf , " I Uilnk we maj be qnite oom- 
forUblo as to onr yonng friend's getting ont of the wood ** (rooorering from his danger 
ons illnoffi).— Jamiw Payn. 

Not being a man of invention, he could not see his way ont of tha wood at all — 
C. Rbadb. 

Wooden. — The irooden Kpoon — the prize supposed to be conferred on 
tlie lowest graduate in a college list. F. 

Here Is something about a wooden spoon that he says he quite expected to have 
won for a prise, but the examiners have gone and given it to Mr. Richard Lntbridge 
instead.— Anmik Kkart. 

]Voo(Un nvtmegs — citizens of Connecticut State in America. F. The 
naiiio arose from a swindling transaction successfully carrie<l out by a 
merchant of Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. The people of this 
state are noted for their sharpness in commercial transactions. 

He called me a Yankee peddler, a cheating vagabond, a wooden nutmeg.— Hali- 

nURTON. ' 

Wool. — To draw or jnill the toool ovtr one'» eye* — to cheat or hoodwink 

him. F. 

>. 

" Ahab," said 1, " I have but a few minutee to stay with you, and if you think to 
draw the wool over my eyes, it might perhaps take a longer time than you are think- 
ing on, or than I can spare."— II a li burton. 

I dnn't propose ho shall pull the wool over my eyes, or anybody else.— W. D 

IIOWRLLH. 

To fjo a-trool -gathering — to go astray ; to be bewildered. C. 

" What misconception ?** asked the Pater, whose wits, oaot gone a-wool-gatliti^ 
Ing, rarely came back in a hurry.— Mrr. HBicRr Wood. 

The unhappy liUle man, whose head was never of tha stroogeit, aad his wits al- 
ways going a-wool-gathering, went stark, staring mad.— O. A. Saul 

7*0 'x* iroot-gathering—io Ims in an absent-minded state. C. 

Mr. RobarU had come round to the generally aooepted Idea that Mr. Oawley had 
obUined possession of the cheque illegally, acquitting his friend la bis own mind of 
theft, simply by supposing that he was wool-gathering whan tha ehaqna oaoM la hli 

way.— A. TROLLorR. 

24 



Word [ 370 ] "Worm 

Word. — To Juive words or a word — to have an angry diacuBsion; to 
quarreL C. 

He It a poor, meftking creature, and my brother George he caught Crawley MlllDf 
up some poor fellow or other, and they had worda.— C Rradb. 

" We were a Tery happy little company, Johnson," said poor Crammlea. " Yoa and 
I nerer had a word."— Dickbns. 

A man of his word — a man to be depended on ; a trustworthy man. P. 
Am for himself, Mr. Osborne, he was a man of his word. — Thaokbeat. 

To taix the. word—Ui commence speaking. P. A French phrase. 

The colonel, left alone with his wife for the first time since he had come to town, 
made haste to take the word.— W. D. IIowklu. 

Upon my utotcI— certainly ; surely ; I assure you. C. 

Upon my word, you answer as discreetly as she could do herself.— Janb Austsk. 

By word of mouth — orally ; with the tongue. P. 

That noble instrument (the organ) was saying to her something which the playw 
did not venture to say by word of mouth. — Oood Worda^ 1887, 
The chance of entrapping Magdalen by word of mouth.— Wilkib Ooluns. 

Work. — To work the ropes — to control ; to manage a scheme without 
being observed. C. 

How our mutual friend worked the ropes is more tiian I can tell you.— II. R. 
Uaogabd. 

To work up — to investigate thoroughly and with a special purpoMu P. 

Having some private means of his own, he had gone out to India for tha puipoae 
of working up certain still obscure problems*- Afurray'f Maffazintt 1887. 

To make short work of— to finish quickly ; to gain an easy victory 
over. S. 
We all thought he would make short work of the soldier-ofllcer.- O. A. Sala. 

World — All the world and his wife — every one without exception. C. 

Miu. Pray, madam, who were the company? 

Lady S. Why, there was all the world and his wife.— Swirr. 

A man of the world — a man well acquainted with public and social 
life. P. 

" I am not at all a man of the world," he said ; " and of the law I know nothing." 
— Blackmorb. 

The world, thefUsh, and the devil — love of pleasure, sensual indulgcnco, 
and vicious propensities. P. 

^e renounces the world, the flesh, and the devil, preaches and prays day and 
night— Haliburton. 

Worm. — To \oonn out information — to obtain information by subtle 
devices. P. 

By the aid of liquor he wormed out their story.— C Rkadb. 
By these means be wormed out of Mr. O. the whole story of his adventnrt.~-0. P. 
E. Jambs. 



Worse [ 371 ] "Wronff 

Worse. — The worst JuUf'—Vk playful name for a huaband. F. *• Better 

half '* is a common name for a wife. 

It woald be a nice arousemeni for tome of ihaM long eveningip and the prepara- 
tion! would serve to occupj oar time, whilst our worse halves are out shootinf .— 
Florbmcc Marryat. 

Worst. — If the toorst comes to the worst — in the event of things taming 
out very badly. C. 
"If the worst comes to the worst,** Becky thought, " mj retreat is Meore.**— 

TlIACKKRAT. 

Worth. — Worth one*s while — advantageous ; profitable. P. 

Upon the face of the thing, it looks as if it might be worth your whil«.~(7oo<i 
Words, 1887. 

Worth one*s salt — cfiicicnt ; a good workman. P. 

It was plain from every line of his body that our new hand was worth his lalt— R. 
L. Stkvxnson. 

Would. — Would-be — in intention; anxious to be considered this or 

tliat. P. 

The would-be wsgs among the boys racked their brains to find the means of tor- 
menting her through her name. — 8. Barino-Oould. 

Wrapped. — Wrapped up in — wholly devoted to. C. 

Lork, Mrs. Richards, no; her pa's a deal too wrapped up in somebody tlsa.— 
DicKBicn. 

Wreck.— Wrerk ami i-uin — complete ruin. P. See Rack and Runr. 

The whole estate is going to wreck and ruin beeanae my uncle won't have tha rabblta 
killed down.— Wm. Blaok. 

Wrinkle. — A torinlde on one*s horn — a valuable hint. S. 

" Now," says the major, " I'll give yon. Slick, a new wrinkle on your horn.**— 
Ha LI burton. 

Write. — To icriie anything up — to praise in a systematic manner 

through the press. C. 

" Pray, Mr. Grey, is it true that all the houses in RumcU Square are tenaBtleM!" 
" Quite true. A perfect shame, is it not? Let us write it up.^—BsAcoittnBLik 

Wrong. — The wrong side of sixty or seren/y— more than sixty or seventy 

ycai*8 of age. F. 

The old woman answered, " That though her master was a deal on the wrong tide 
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 s|ieaking to her."— Maria Koobworth. 

To hare got up on t/te tprong side of the bed — to have got out of bed the 

wrong way. F. This is said of a person who is in a cross hurooar 

during the day. 

There is a pleasing nursery fiction thai aeeoonts for ssany dJiitre sable thlafs Ij 
a theory on the right and the wrong way of getting ooi of bed. ValeaUna reeMsi- 
)>«red this, and felt quite certain that Sam, Melenda, and Llssia had all threa gol 
out of bed the wrong way that morning. There was going to be a row, aad oaa of 
uncertain dlmensiona.— BsaANT. 



[ 372 ] Torkabire 



X. — Double X — a superior quality of boor. C. 

And I Mid, " A pint of double X, and pleaia to draw It mild I **— Babii am. 



Yarn. — To spin a yam. See Spin. 

Year. — Ytara of discretion — an age when one is able to judge between 
what is riglit and what is wrong. P. 

A mere bojr ; a my lad. Not come to yean of diacretlon ft ; and nerer wQl, if 
he ffoei on raflng in thii manner.— O. A. Bala. 

I'm afraid the oat got out of the bag when Mrs. Pasmer came to the yean of dla- 
oretion.— W. D. IIowslls. 

Year of\jra/ct — year dating from the birtli of Jesus Christ. P. K(|ui- 
valent to Anno Dotnini, or year of our Lord. 
My story beglna In the year of grace tcTenteen hundred and tlxty-four. 

Yellow. — Yellow J<uk— the yeWdw fever. F. 

I have been in placet hot at pitch, and matea dropping rmud with Yellow Ja^ — 
IBL L. Stsvbnbon. 

Yeoman. — Yeomcui*H duty or service — excellent work. P. 

The thattering of the false image had done him yeoman's senrloe.— A. Trollops. 

In the gratitude of his heart, George would willingly liave giren a thousand pooikla 
towards the erection of a statue to Hilda Caresfoot, whose outraged pride and 
womanly Jealousy had done him sucli yeoman serrlce.— H. R. IIaooard. 

Indeed, It Is quite certain that he (Benvenuto Cellini) performed more than yeo- 
man's duty as a gunner all tlirough the period of the sack of Rome.— J. A. 
Stmonim. 

Yorkshire. — To come Yorlshire over a man — to cheat or swindle him. 
F. Yorksliire jockeys wore known for their tricky dealings in tho 
sale of horses. See Macaulay's Warren Hastings: "And tho criino 
for which Nuncomar was about to die was regarded by them in much 
the same light in which the selling of an unsound horse for a sound 
price is regarded by a Yorkshire jockey." 

" Surely," said John. " what I say I sUck by." 

" And that's a fine thing to do, and manly, too,** said Nicholas, " tbougli lt*S not 
exactly what we understand by coming Yorkshire over us In London.**— DiCKi 



APPENDIX. 



-»♦- 



OLD SAYINGS. 

As poor ^ u A church-mouse, as thin as a As round as An Apple, M blAck ** as your 



rail, 

At fat as a porpoise, as rough as a gale. 
As brave as a Hon, as spry as a cat, 
As briglit' as a sixpence, as weAk'** as a rat. 
As proud ^ as a peacock, as sly as a fox. 
As mad'*' as a Mardi hAre, as strong* as 

An ox. 
An fair as a lily, as empty as Air, 
A* rich AS a Cnusus, as cross ^ as a bear. 
As pure" as An angel, as neat as a pin, 
As sniAft AS A stecl-trAp, as ugly as sin. 
As doAd AS A door-nAil. as white as a sheet. 
As flat AS A pancAke, as red^ as a beet 



hAt, 

As brown as a berry, as blind *^ as a bat. 
As mean as a miser, as full as a Uck. 
As plump AS A partridge, as sluurp^' as a 

sUck. 
As cleAU AS A penny, as dArk as a daII, 
As hArd I' AS A millstone, as bitter '^ as gall. 
As fine AS a flddle, as cleAr ^* as a bell, 
As dry AS A herring, as deep as a well. 
As light AS A feAther, as firm as a rock, 
As stiff AS A poker, as calm as a dock. 
As green '* as a gosling, as brisk m a bee, — 
And now let me stop, lest you weary d me. 



From Alobn'm FavouriU Genu 0/ Song and Po9ir^. 
EQUIVALENT EXPRESSIONS. 



^ As poor as Job. 
^ As iiHght as a button. 
■'As weak ns a cat; also (of moral 
weakness) as weak as water 

* As proud AS Lucifer. 
'^ As mAd as a hatter. 

* As strong as Hercules. 
^ As cross AS two sticks. 

" As pure as the driven snow. 



'As red as a SAUmAndcr. 

'* As blAck AS A erow. 

'* As blind AS a mole. 

'^ As shArp AS A needle. 

1' As hArd AS nAlls. 

1« As bitter as Aloes. 

''As clear as crystal (of trana- 

parencyX 
'* As green as grASH 



SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS. 



ncautiful AS the day. 
Hold OS brass. 
Cohl as charity. 
(>)ol as A cucumber. 
Cruel as the grave. 
Drunk as a lord. 
Dull as ditchwater. 
(iravo as a Judge. 
(?roe<ly as a pig. 
Happy as a king. 
Heavy as lead. 
Hungry as a hawk. 
Merry as a cricket. 

/ the hills. 

\ MethusclAh. 
rieAsed as Punch. 



Old 



Quiet as pasty. 

Rick as a dog. 

Sober as a Judgt. 

Soft as soap. 

o J .- i • church. 
Sound AAJ^^ 

Sour as rlnegar. 
Straight AS an arrow. 
Rure AS a gun. 
Sweet AS A peach. 
Swift AS an eafltb 
True AS steel. 
Vain AS A seboolgtrt 
|a serpent. 
Wise AS < Solomon. 

b 




AUTHORS, ANONYMOUS WORKS, 
AND JOURNALS QUOTED. 



An oiUrUk wign\fies that the work U/rtguitMy quoUd, 



Addlfon, Joiepta (1072-1719), euayiii and po«t ; one of the greatett litarux niunai of 
the Queen Anne period. ''Whoever wUhet to attain an EngUih atjle, familiar 
but not coarse, and elegant but not oetentatioue, muit give hie daya and nights to 
the study of Addleon."— Johnson. 

Adolor, Max, American humourist His real name is Charles Heber Clark. 

Aingor, Alfred, essayist and critic 

All tho Tear Round, a periodical, started by Dickons in 1850, and still flourishing. 

Allen, Oharles Orant, scientiflc and popular writer and novelist ; bom at Kingston, 
Canada, in 184& Autlior of For MaimUt Sake, Philittiat Babylon, etc.; also of 
Phytioloiiical jEsthetict, The Colour SenH, T%e EvolutioniU ai Large, Vignettu/rom 
Nature. 

Anitey, F., norelist Author of Vice Vertd,* Tin OianVe Robe,* A Falkn Idoi,* The 
Black PoodU and (Hher Talee.* " F. Anstey " is a nom de ptunw. 

Arbnthnot, John, HD. (1675-1785), one of the prominent writers of the Qneen Anne 
period. Author of Law ie a BotUmUu Pit; or, The Hietory of John BuU (1718). 

Argosy, The, a monthly magazine, edited by Mrs. Ileniy Wood until her death in 1887. 

Arnold, Matthew, D.O.L. Oxon., LL.D. Edln. (1822-1888), widely known as a poet, 
essayist, and critic. " His essays ought to live longer than most of their Ume.**— 
SwzNBURNC. Author of Literature and Dogma,* Fi'iendthip*e Oarland,* Cultwre 
and Anarchy,* St Paul and Protutantism, Eeeaye in Oritieiem,* etc. 

Asiatic Quarterly Review, a standard publication, principally treating of India and 
Indian matters. 

Athenoum, The, a weekly review of literature and art, holding a unique {dace as a 
critical authority. London : started 1829. 

Atterbury, Rev. Franois, D.D., Bishop of Rochester (1662-17S2), an able and proUfto 
writer of the Queen Anne period. " In his writings we see language in its strictest 
purity and beauty."— Doddridgc. 

Auflten, Jane (177&-1817X one of the most delightful of English novelists. Author of 
Senee and Semibility,* Pride and Pr^udice,* Northanger Abbey, Bmma,* Mansfield 
Park, Pereuasion,* Miss Austen's works were much admired by Sir Walter Scott, 
and are still widely read. 

Baoon, Francis, Viscount St Albans (1561-1020). Author of The Adnaneement qf 
Learning, Enaye, etc 

" The world to Bacon does not only owe 
Its present knowledge, but its future too."— Drtdkn. 
It is incorrect to call him Lord Baoon ; his titles were Lord Verulam and Lord SL 
Albans. 



Barham [ 376 ] Butler 

Barham, Richard Harrli (178S-1845X noTelist, Tenifler, and miac«llaneoiu writer. 

Best known for his amusing Ingoldsby Leffendi.* 
Barlng-Oould, Sabine, essayist and novelist. Author of The Pathqf the Just (1884); 

Irelarul: Its Settle* and Saga* (18G1); In Exitu Itratl: A Novel (1870); Yorkihire 

OdditU*im4)', Little Tu'painy;* Court Royal,* etc. 
Bayly, Thomai Haynei (1707-1830), best known as a songwriter. Author of leU qf 

Beauty ; Oh no, im never mention her, etc. 
Beaoonifield, Earl of. See Disrakli. 
Beaumont and Fletcher, dramatists who wrote in conjunction. They rank high 

among Klisabethan authors. 
Bode, Cttthbert, novt de plume of tlio author of Verdant Green* (q.v.). 
Beecher, Henry Ward (1812-1887), the greatest of American pulpit oratora. Author 

of various theological and popular works— L</< Thought*, LifeqfJeiu* tht Chrid, 

Sermon*,* etc 
Belgravla, a widely-read London Journal, edited by Miss Braddon. 
Bellamy, E., American writer. Author of Looking Backward.* 
Bentham, Jeremy (1748-1832), political writer. Author of A FragmtrU on Government, 

Tlie Princijtle* of Moral* and LegiilatUm, Th* Liberty of the Freu, The Book oS 

Fallacie*. 
Bentley, Richard, D.D. (1602-1742), eminent scholar and oontrovenialist. Wrote A 

J)ii.%ertatinn on the EpistU* of I'halari*, etc. 
Berkeley, George, D.D. (1G84-1753), philosopher. Wrote The PrineipU* of flymn,% 

Knowledge, The PrineipU and Cauee qf Motion, etc. An eicellent writer of 

English prose. 
Besant, Walter, M.A, nnvelist Wrote his earlier works in conjunction with Jamei 

Rice— Ready- Money Mortiboy, The Golfen Butterfly,* They Were MarrieA. Author 

besides of All Sort* and Condition* qf Men,* All in a Garden Fair,* Dorothy For$ttr 

The World Went Very Well Tlien, Children qfOibeon,* Kntherine Regina.* 
Black, William, novelist Author of A PHnee** qf ITtule, The Beautiful Wretdi,* A 

Dnxnihter qf Ueth, Macleod of Dare, Life of Gold*mith,* Green Paetureeand PieeO' 

dilltf,* Mndrnp VioUt, 77t€ Strange Adventure* qfa Pha^rton, etc. 
Blackmore, Robert, novelist Author of Loma Doone,* Cripp* the Carrigr,* Mary 

Atierley, Alice lA}rraine, Cradock Nowell, The Waiting Supper,* Newhaven, etc 
Blackwood's Magaiine, familiarly known as " Maga," a monthly periodical, started In 

1817 in Edinburgh. 
Blair, Robert (lGOO-1740), author of The Grave. 
Bronttf, Charlotte (1816-18&f>), author of Jane Eyre, VilUtU, Shirley, The Prqfestor, 

etc. Wrote under the nam de ]*lume of Currer Bell. 
Brougham and Vaux, Lord, Henry Brougham (1770-1868X a voluminons writer on 

various topics. 
Broughton, Rhoda, novelist Author cf Cometh up a* a Flower;* Not Wi*ely, hut Too 

Well, etc 
Brown, Tom (die«l 1704), |>o€t 
Bryant.WilUam Cnllen (1704-1878), American poet 
Bunyan, John (1628 1688), author of The Pilgrim** Prvgre**,* The Holy War, anil 

other religious works. 
Burke, Edmund (1730-1707), author of A Philomyphical Inquiry into the Origin qf our 

Ideas cfthe Sublime and Beautiful, Thought* on the Pretent Dioeontent*, and many 

other works, mostly )x>Utical. " In amplitude of comprehension and rldineei of 

inrngination su|>erior to every orator, ancient or modem.** — Macaulat. 
Barns, Robert (17&0-1700), tlio great lyric poet of Scotland. Author of Tarn o' Skantert 

etc. 
Burroughs, John, New England writer. Author of Bird* and Poet$, Loeuit* and Wild 

Jloncft, Winter Sunthine,* etc 
Burton. John HIU, LL.D. (1800-1881), historian. Author of A History of Seeiland, The 

Scot Abroad, The Reign of Queen Anne. 
Burton, Robert (1576-1630), wrote the Anatnmy <^ MelanOudy. 
Butler, Samuel (1000-1680), author of lludibra*, a mock-heroic poem. 



Byrom. [ 376 ] Diokens 

Byrom, John (1601-1768), poet and esiajriat 

Byron, George Gordon Noel, Lord (1788-1824X poet and dramatist. Author of Hours </ 
Idleness, (^iUU Harold, Manfrtd, Don JtMn, Eniflish Bards and Scvtdi Reviewers. 

Oalne, Hall, contemporary noveliit Aathor of The Shadow of a Crime, A Sen ^f Huffar, 

The Deanster,* 
Oaloutta Englishman, The, an Indian newspaper of higli standing. 
OalTorley, Oharlea Stuart, lately dead, best known for his parodies. 
Oarlyle, Thomaa (1795-1881), historian and essayist. Author of History t^f Frederic the 

Oreat, 2Vm French Revulution, Sartor Resartus, Heroes and Hero-WorahijK 
Oarlyle, Jane Welsh, wife of Thomas Carlyle (died 1866X Wrote a volume of Letters, 

published after her death, which are considered models of style. 
Oentllvre, Susannah (1667-1723), dramatist. Author of The Perjured HuAand, A 

Bold Stroke/or a Wife, etc. 
Ohamberlaln, Joieph, statesman. 
Ohamberi'i Journal, a weekly miscellany which has appeared since 1832. PabUshctl 

by W. and B. Cliambers, Edinburgh. 
Ohapman, George (1557-1034). poet and dramatist. 
Ohesterfleld, Earl of, Philip Dormer SUnhope (169I-1773X well known for his Letters 

to his Son, Philip Slanhojie. 
Clarendon, Earl ot, Edward Hyde (1608-1674), historian. 
Oolerldge, Samuel Taylor (1772-1834), poet and essayist. Autlior of Chrisiabel, T^Ue 

Talk, Aids to Unction, The Ancient Mariner. 
Oolller, Jeremy (1650-1742), theologian and pamphleteer. 

OolUns, WUUam Wilkie (1824-1800X novelUt. Wrote The IVomaH in IVhite, Arma- 
dale, The Moonstone, The Dead Secret, Percy and ttie PritphU,* The Oiri at the Gate,' 

No Nanu,* etc. 
Oolman, George, sen. (1733-1704), well-known dramatist. Author of The Jealous U'{fe, 

The Clandestine Marriage, etc. 
Oombe or Ooombe, William (1741-1823X humourist Wrote the well-known TSoar ^ 

Dr. Syntax in Search of ttu Picturesque (1812). 
Oongrere, William (1070-1720), poet and dramatist. Wrote The Old Bachelitr, The 

Way of the World. " His style is InimiUble, nay, perfect"— llAZLrrr. 
Contemporary BMWiew, The, a monthly periodical of general literature, started 

in 1880. 
Conway, Hugh (died lS<i&), author of Called Back, Dark Days, A Family Affair * The 

Story of a Sculptor. 8ee Fakuou, F. J. 
Comhlll Magazine, The, a popular monthly, started in 1860 under the editorship of 

WillUm Makepeace Thackeray. 
Cowper, William (1731-1800), poet and letter-writer. Ills letters are ooaslderod 

models of English stylo. Wrote the iioems Table Talk, The Task, etc. 
Cralk, Mrs. Hoe Mulock, Dinah. 
Crawford, F. Marlon, novelint ; son of Crawfonl, the American sculptor. Aathor of 

Saraccncoca,* Sant' Ilario, Doctor Claudius, A lloman Singer, Marxio's Cmeifix, etc. 

Daily News, The, Liberal newi)>ai)er, started in 1816. 

Dally Telegraph, The, Conservative (Liberal until 1876) newspaper, started in 1855. 

Dana, Richard Henry, novelist ; son of an author of the same name, bom iu America 

in 1815. Author of Ttcv Years IWfore the Mast,* ete. 
D'Arblay, Francesca (Fanny) Bumey, Madame (1752-1840), novelist. Author of Km- 

Una ; or, A Young Lady's Entrance into the World. Married to General d*Arblay, 

a French refugee, in 17U3. Other works, Cainille, The Wawlerer. 
Defoe, Daniel (1603-1731), author of Itulnnson Crusoe, Juumal of the Plague, etc 
Democracy, a novel publi«hvd anonymously in 1882, and reUting to political life In 

Washington, U.S. A. 
De Quincey. .See Quincey. 
Dlokeni, Charlefl'(1812-lb70). novelist. Author of Sketdies by Box,* The Pickwick Papers,* 

Oliver Twist,* Nicholas Nickleby,* The Old Curiosity Shop, Samaby Budge, Amer- 



Disraeli [ 377 ] Qleiff 

ican Notett Martin CkwxUwit, A Chri$tma$ Carol,* TKt Chiwu$,* Dambqf and 

Son^* David CopperJUld, A TaU qf Two CUitM,* etc. 
Diira«ll, Bai^amln (I8O&-I88IX Earl of Beaoontfleld, lUtomum and noTellit Antbor 

of Vivian Grey^* The Young DuJbe, Lothair, tto. 
DUraeU, Iiaao (1766-1848), father of the above. Aaihor of Tht Curiotitia qfLiUra- 

tun,* and other work*. 
Drayton, Michael (1663-1631), poet. Author of PolyolMon, Tfu Baromt Wan, Tkt 

Shqphtrd*% Oarland, eio. 
Dmmmond, Profonor Henry. Author of Naiwral Lava in Hu Spiritual World,* 
Dryden, John (1031-1701X poet and dramatist. Author of A\>$aUnn and AckiiapKd, 

The Hind and the Panther, etc ; translator of Virgil into English verse. 
DufTerln, Earl of, Frederick Temple BUckwood. Author of Leiten from High Lati- 

ttuUt, etc 

Bdgeworth. Blarta (1767-1840), novelist Author of Castle Rackrtnl,* Popular 2'alct,* 

The Dun, etc. 
Edinburgh Review, The, a famous quarterly, started in 1802. 
Eliot, George (1820-1880), novelist. Her real name was Marian Evans; afterwards she 

became Mrs. Lewes, and later Mrs. Cross. Author of Seenee qf CleHcoi Life,* Adam 

Bcde* The Mill on the FU>$$,* SiUu Mamer,* Romola, Felix HoU, MiddUmarch, 

Daniel Ikronda,* 
Emenon, Ralph Waldo (1803-1880), American essayist and poet Author of JCtsayv, 

The Conduct of Life, Parnaaeut, Selected Poewe, etc. 
Encyclopaedia Britannica, the most esteemed work of the kind. The ninth edition, 

e<lited by Professor T. S. Bayncs, who died in 1887, and Professor Robertson 

Smith, was completed in 1880. 

Fargui, F. J. Sco Conway, Ilunn, which was his nom de plume. 

Farjeon, B. L., novelist. Author of At the Sign qf the Silver Flagon, JeitU Trim, 

Mixtr Far^trother,* A Secret Inheritanu, London' § Heart. 
Farrar, The Yen. Froderio WlUlam, Archdeacon of Westminster; voluminous writer 

on language and theology. Author of the school stories, Erie, Julian Home, St, 

Winifrtdt, or the World of School, Also of Chapter$ on Language, Qreek SfnUut, 

The Life of Chriit, The Life and Works qf St, Paul, The Karlg Day qf CkriM- 

nnify. 
Fenn, O. ManTllle, novelist Author of Pretty Polly, Black Blood,* Thereby Hangs a 

Talc, Clerk qf Portwick, Book qf Fair Women. 
Ferrier, Suian Edmonston (1782-1864), novelist Wrote Marriage, The Inhsritemee, 

Destiny, or the Chi^fn Daughter. 
Fielding. Henry (1707-1754X novelist Author of Tom Jones,* Amelia, etc. 
Fitzgerald, Percy. Author of Life and Tiwus qf Otorge IV., Ths Real Lord Byron, 

The Life and Times of John Wilket, M.P. 
Fraser*! Magazine, a periodical esUblished in 1830. 
Freeman, Edward Augustui, D.O.L.. historian. Autlior of Ths History of ths Nor- 

man Conquest, Growth of ihs Englith ConstUution, etc 
Frottde, James Anthony, LL.P., historian and eesayltt Author of 7^ Uislory 

of Eymland from tJis FaU qf Wolsey to tht Death qf Elisabstk, Short Studist on 

Great Subjects, Oceana,* Casar : a SkOOi.* 

I 

Gaskell, Mn. (1811-1866X novelist Author of Mary BaHon, Ths Mooriamd Cottage, 

Wires and Daughtert,* North and South.* 
Qentlemen'i Magazine, The, a well-known periodical, started In 17SI, and stUl 

l>nl)lish(Kl. 
Gladstone, WlUlam Ewart, lUtesman, orator, and eesayist Antbor of J utm Us m 

Mundi, On " Ecce Homo,** Gleaninge qf Past Ysan, etc 
Oleig, Goorge Robert (17g6-1888X miaoellaneons writer. Antltor of The Subaltern, The 

Life of Lnrd aive. The Life qf Warren Hastings, Ths Life ^ ths Duke ^ We^kng- 

ton. The MUitary History qf Great Britain. 



G-oldsmith [ 378 ] Huffhes 

Goldnnlth, OllTwr (1728-1774), noTellat^ poet^ and mltcelUnconi writer. Autlior of The 

Viair of Wak^d,^ Tfu Citizen of the World, etc. 
Oood Wordi, a monthly magailno, ttarUHl, with Dr. Nonuoii Macleod u editor, in 

18G0. 
Grant, Anne, poeten and miscellaneoui writer. Wrote Memoin qfan American Ladif. 
Grant, A. 0. Author or lh§eription of the Red Sinder, Qreen, Vlff, etc, Luat liuiulrcd 

Yeart qfEnglieh Literature 
Grant, B., American novelist. 
Graves, Richard (1715-18aiX mlscellaneona writer. Beit known for his Spiritwl 

Quixote. 
Green, John Richard (1837-1883), hUtorian. Anther of A History qf the EngiUh 

PeopUt The Making of England. 
Greg, William Rathbone (1809-1881), miscellaneous writer. Author of The Creed of 

Christendom; The Oreat Duel: ite Meaning and Jteeulte; Caeeandra, or Jtocfcs 

Ahead. 
Guardian, The, a periodical publieation, edited by Richard Steel in 1713. Also the 

name of a Church paper in England. 
Guthrie, Dr. Thomai (1803-1873), religious and miscellaneous writer. First editor of 

The Sunday Magazine. 

Haoket, John (1592-1670), Bishop of Lichfield and Ck>ventr7. Wrote Ckridlan CVa- 

eoiaiion^ A Life qf Archbieliop Williame, and Sermons, 
Haggard, H. Rider, novelist. Author of She,* Sohmon*s Mine*, Jese,* Dawn,^ Alan 

Quatermain,* etc. 
Hakewlll, George (1570-1049), theologian. 
Halibarton, Thomai Ohandler (179a-1805X Antlior of Sam SUtk the ClueLmaker,* a 

satire on Nova Scotian ways and things. 
Hallam. Henry (1777-1859), historian. Author of View qf the StaU of Europe in the 

Middle Agee, Conttitutional History of England from the Aeeeeeion qf Henry VII. 

to the Ikath ofOeorge II. 
Hardy, Thomai, novelist Author of The Woodlandert,* Far from the Madding Orovd, 

Tioo on a Tower, Tlie Mayor qf Casterbriilge.* 
Harper*! Monthly, a New York monthly periodical. 
Harte, Francla Bret, American poet and humourist. Author of 7%e Luck qf iSoaring 

Camp, Song$ without Senee, etc 
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, American novelist (1804-1804). Author of The Scarlet Letter,* 

Uie House of the Seven Oablee, GrantHfathef'e Chair,* Moeeeefrom an Old Mante. 
Hayward, Sir John (died 15:!7), historian. Author of Uvet of Three Norman King* </ 

Enghitid, The Complctt History of Edward IV., etc 
Hailitt, WlUiam, essayUt and critic (md-1830X 
Herbert, George, poet ami theological writer (1593-1633X Wrote The Temple, The 

Country Panon, etc. 
Holmes, Oliver WendelL Author of numerous prose and poetical works— Tike Autoerat 

of the lireai^fast TaMe,* The Professor at the Breal^ast Table,* The Poet ed the 

Breakfast Tuble^* etc 
Hood, Thomai (1709-ltil5), poet and humourist. Author of The Dream tf Eugene 

Aram, The Song of the fihirt, etc. 
Hook, Theodore Edward (17S8-1841), novelist, humourist, and miscellaneous writer. 
Hooker, Richard (1553-1(X)0), theologian. Author of The Laws of Ecclesiastiad Polity. 
Honley, Samuel (1733-180d), Uikhop of St. David's, Rochester, and St. Asaph, theo- 

Itigian. 
-Howell, Jamei (1594-16G5), miscellaneous writer. Wrote Poems on Divers Emergeni 

Oroiiiufis, Instructionefor Foreign Trawl, etc. 
Howells, W. D., American novelist. Autlior of A Modem Instance, A IVoman'e 

Reason, April Hojks, The Lady of the Arooduok,* The Rise qf SiUu Lapham,* The 

Ministry$ Charge.* A frciiueiit contributor to Harjter'M Monthly. 
Haghei, Thomai, a county court Judge. Author of Tom Brown's Schooltlaffs,* Tbm 

Brewii at Ojford, Life of Bishop Fraser,* etc 



Hume [ 379 ] Lowell 

Hume, Fergus W., norelht Author of Iht Myttery qfa Haiuom Cab,* 

niuatrated London Newi, The, a London weekly peper, well known for the excellence 

of its illuttretions. 
Inchbald, EUsabeth (1783-1821), noveUai and dramatist. Author of A Simple Story, 

Nature and Art^* etc 
Irrlng, Washington (1783-1850X American author. Wrote The SkeUh-Bcok, TaU$ ^ 

a Trateller, Jlte Conipuat qfOmnada, Tlie lA/e qf Oliver Goldemiih,* etc. 

Jookson, Oathorlno Oharlotte, Lady, author of The Court qf the TuiUriee, Th» 

Co%trt qf France in the Sixteenth Century.* 
James, O. P. R. (1801-1800), voluminous author. Best known for his noTels— iltdUUsv, 

77m False Heir, Arabella Stuart, Rose SAlbrtt, Arrah Neil, Agincourt, The 

Smuggler, T^e Stepmother, Beauehamp, Heidelberg, Ths Gipey, The CaM* qf 

Ehrenst^in, Damley, Russell, The Convict 
James, Henry, Jun., American noTeliit. Author of The Amerieane, The Europeane, 

Daiau Miller, Roderirk Hudson, Hie Madonna qf the Future, Eugene Pideering, 

Confidence, Jyashington Square, The Portrait of a Lady, Foreign Parts, French 

Potts and NovelisU, The Siege qf London, Portraits qf Places, A Little Tour in 

France. 
Jessopp, Augustus, D.D., enayist and revitwer in 77m Nineteenth Century. 
Johnson, Samuel, LL.D. (1700-1784), lexicographer, noTelist, poet, and essayist Wrote 

tendon, A Visit to the Hebrides, Rasselas, The Lives qfthe Poets, etc. 
Jonson, Ben (1574-1037), dramatist. Author of Every Man in His Humour, The Al' 

clirmist, etc. 
Journal of Education, The, a London monthly magasine, deroted to educational 

topics. 

Keary, Annie, noTollst. Author of JaneVs Home, Oldbury,* etc. 

Klngsloy, Charles (1819-187r>X Tolumlnons writer. Author of Alton Lodce, The Water 

JUhif*, Tlir Hermits, llyitatia,* etc 
Klngsley, Henry (183O-1870X novelist Author of Qeqffrey Hamlyn, Ravend^oe, ete. 

Lamb, Charles (1774-1834), poet and essayist Author of Essays qf Elia,* Tales from 

Shnkrxpcnre, etc. " Lamb's style nmt pure and clear.**— If azliit. 
Lecky, William Edward Hartpole, historian. Author of The History qf Rationalism 

in Enrirpe, The History iff European Morals, England in the Kif^teenth Century, 
Lee, Nathaniel (1656-1002), dramaUxt Wrote Nero, The Rival Queens, ete. 
Leisure Hour, The, a monthly magasine of general reading. 
L'Estrange, Sir Roger (1000-1704X voluminous writer. Author of A Brief History </ 

thf Timfs, etc. 
Lever, Charles James (1800-1872\ Irish novelist Author of The Adventures qf Harry 

horrrqun', Ttnn Iturke of Ours,* Bttrrington, etc 
Lewis. Sir Ooorge Come wall (180(1-1803), political and miscelUneous writer. Author 

of An Estay on the Jt\/tuenre of Authority in Matters qf Opinion, etc 
Lewis, Matthew Gregory (1775-1818X novelist, poet, and dramatist Known as 

" Monk" Lewis, from his first novel The Monk. 
Literary World, The, a weekly review of current literature. 
Locke, John (1032-1704X philosopher. Author of An Essay Concerning Human Under' 

ttnuding, ThmighVi Concmiing Education, etc. 
Lockhart, John Olbson (17(M-l&^4X novelist, biographer, and critic Best known as 

the author of ttie Life qf Sir Walter ScotL For some time editor of The Quarterly 

lirrinr. 
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1807-1884X poet and proee writer. Author of Evange- 

linf, Hiawatha, etc 
Longman's Magaxine, a popular monthly Journal, started in 1883. 
Lowell. James Russell, American poet and essayist Author of 7!^ Bigiow Papers, 

My iftudy Windows,* Poems, etc 



liynn [ 380 ] Nineteenth 

I^ynn Linton, Mn. E., novelist and oMAjUt. For long on the itaff of Tk€ Satunlait 
Review, Author of The Rebel of the Family,* Patton Carew* Under which. Lord f * 
lone, Patrieia KeinMe, etc 

Lytton, Lord, Edward George Earle Lytton Balwer-LjttOD (180&-187S), novelist and 
poet. Author of The Cnxtont, My Novel, The Last of the Barom, ete. 

Maoanlay, Lord, Thomas Bablngton (1800-1860X historian, essayist, and poet Author 

of Hietory if Jingland ; Euays, from " The Edinburgh Rerlew;** Lay$ e/ AneieHt 

Rome, etc. 
M'Oarthy, Joitin, novelist and Journalist Author of A History qf Our Own Timet,* 

My Enemjfe Daughter, Camiola,* etc. 
Maokanzla, Henry (1746-1631), novelUt and UUirateur, Best known ai author of The 

Man ofFeding.* Editor of an l£dluburgh periodical. The Lounger. 
ICaomlllan'i Magailne, a London monthly periodical, first edited by David Uanna. 
Marryat, Captain (1792-184S). novelist. Wrote principally sea-stories. Author of 

Peter Simple, Jacob Faitt^ful, Mr. Midshipman Easy,* The Little Savage,* Percivul 

Keene.* "An admirable writer, who would have stood in the first class of 
* scribes had he written nothing but Peter Simple."— PuorswiOR Wium>m. 
ICarryat, Florenoo^ novelist, daughter of Uie above. Her married name is Mrs. Uc 

Church. Author of Open Sesame.'* A Little Stepson, Under the Lilies and 

Roses,* etc. 
Maniali, F., author of a book on C%arUs Dickens. 
liaiilngdr, PhiUp (IKM-IMO), English dramatisL 
Maxwell Oray, tlie nam de plume of the lady who wrote The Silenee qf Dean Mail 

land.* 
Malmoth, WilllJtm (1710-1709), translator of Cicero's and of Pd'ny's LiUers. 
Mill, John Stuart (1800-1873), philosopher and iralitlcal writer. AuUior of A System 

qf Logic, Essay on Liberty, An Examination of Sir William Ilamiiton's Phito- 

sophy, etc. 
Milton, John (ie08-1674), poet and prose writer. Author of Qanus, Lyeidas, Paradim 

Lost, Paradiu Regained. 
Miitlotoo Bough, Tho, a Christmas publication, issued by the proprietor* of Beiffravieu 
Moan, Thomai (1770-1852), Irish lyric i>oet ; biographer of Lord Byron. 
Morlion, J. Cotter (died 1838), historian and essayist. One of the founders of The 

Fortnightly Review. Wrote biographies of Ulbbon and Macaulay for the BnyliJi 

Men of Letters Series. His masteri>icce is The Life and Times qfSi. Bernard, 
Morloy, Henry, Professor of Engllsli Literature in University College, London. Author 

of Sunrise in Italy, and other Poems (1848). How to Mtike Home Unhealthy (IHfiOX 

A Dtfenee qf Ignorance (1851) ; the Lives of Palissy the Potter (18b2X Jerome Canlan 

(1854), Cornelius Agrippa (185eX and aemcnt Marot (1870); Memoirs of Barlhoio- 

meto Fair (1857), Fairy Tales (1850 00), English Writers (1864-07X Journal qfa Lo»- 

doH Playgoer iiaOQ), Tables of English Literature (IWO), A First Sketch qf BngliJk 

Literature* (1873). Editor of King and Commons (1808X The ^^eetator (1888)^ 

CassclVs Library of English Literntur*.* 
Morrli, Charles (1740-183*2X author of 2'he Cvntrast, The Topei's Apology, and other 

well-known lyrics. 
Mulook, Dinah Maria, became Mrs. Craik ; died In 1887. Author of John Halifiix, 

Oentleman,* A NMe Life, The lAiurel Bush, A Woman^s Advice to Women, A Li/e 

fur a Life, Sermons Out of Church, and Poems. 
Murray, D. Christie, novelist. Author of Jonph's Coat, A L\fe*s Atonewsent, Vai 

Strange, The Wenla r Vessel, etc. 

Naime, Baroneia, Caroline Oliphant (1760-1845), poetess. Authorof The Land of the LeaU 
Marei, Edward (1702-1847), miscellaneous writer. Author of Sermons on the Evideweee 

of Christianitii, Remarks on the Unitarian Version of the New Testament, and b 

novel Thinks J to Myse{f(lSU). 
National Review, The, a Conservative monUily magaslne, started in 1880. 
Nineteenth Century, The, a montlily literary review, started in 1877. 



Norris [ 381 ] Reade 

Norrli, W. B.» novelist AnUiorof MadtmoitdUde Menae, Matrimony,* No New J%img* 

Major and Minor/ My Friend Jim,* Chris,* etc 
North, Roger (ie50-l78SX misoellAneona writer. Aathor of Lives qf ike Norih Family, 

A Di»eour$$ on the Study of Laws, and Memoirs <n» Music 
North American Review, The, an American monthly magasino. 

Ohterrer, The, a weekly London newspaper. 

Ollphant, Mn. Margaret, novelist, historian, and essayist Aathor of the novels ifrs. 
Margaret MaUland (1840X Merldand (I86IX Adam Oraeme ^ Mossffray (1862X 
Harry Muir(l8SS\ Moifdalen Hepburn (18MX LiUialit/ (iSftSX Zaidee (1860X The 
Quiet HeaH (IBM), ChroniHes 0/ CarlinQford, Agnes (18WX The Broumlowe (1808X 
The Minister's Wife (1809X John* (1870X Three Brothers (1871X A Son qf the SoU 
(1870X Squirt Arden (1871X Ombra (187tX At His OatesiXgIt), InnooKfsi (ISraX May, 
A Rose in June (1874X For Love and Life {1914), VaJUntine and His Brothers (1876X 
Tfir. Curate in Charge (1870X Carita (1877X Mrs. Arthur (18T7X Young Mus^rave 
(1877X The Primrose Path (1878X Hester,* Within the PreeineUiim); also Memoirs 
of Kd\r>ard Irving (1862X Frands tFAssiH (1870X and MontalembeH (187iX iiTis- 
torieal Skeifhes qf the Reign qf George II. (1879X The Makers qf Ftorenee iltR9\ 
Dante (ISHX Dress (1878X The Literary History of England in IKs VinAeenik Cen- 
tury^ (18S2X A LiUU PilgHm (1888X The Land qf Darkness (1887X A fnqnent 
contribator to Maemillan's Magasine, 

Ouida, notn de plume of Miss Looite de la Ram^ novelist Author ot Wander, Under 
Ttro Flagt, Prinens Napraxine, A Rainy June, Moths, Othmar, A House Party, 
Stralhmore, Friendship, In Maremna, Signa, Paaearel, Ariadne, Chandos, A fre- 
quent contributor to Tlie Korth American Review, 

Pall Mall Oaxette, The, a daily Ix>ndon evening paper. 

Palmer, Ray, mlicollaneoua writer. 

Payn, Jamei, novelist Aathor of Lofi Sir Massingberd, Fallen Fortunes, ffkai Hs 

Cott Her, By Proxy, Less Blaek than We're Paifded, Thidcer than Wtder, The 

Canon's Ward,* The Talk qf the Town,* A Orape from a Thorn,* The Lade of tks 

Darrelle. 
Peter Pindar, the nom de plume ot John Wolcot (1788-1819X Mtlrlst Wrote The 

Apple Dumplings and a King, Peeps at St. Jameses, ete. 
Pope, Alexander (1088-1744X poet Wrote Pastorals, An Essay on Criiieism, The Rape 

of the Lode, The Messiah, Windsor Fared, Translaiions of the Iliad and Odyseey, 

The Dunciad, Essay on Man, Imitations qf Horaes. 
Preecott, William HiokUng (17(«-1850X American historian. WroU The History qf 

the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the CalKolie, IKs History qf the Conquest ^ 

Mfxieo, The History qfths Conqued qf Peru, The Hidoryqfthe Reign qf Philip II. 

ilfSpnin, 
Prior, Matthew (l(164-172lX poet WroU The City and Country Mouse, Carmen Oteift- 

lare, and Porm*. 
Public Opinion, a weekly London Journal, containing extracts from other papers. 

Quarterly Review, The, a Tory Journal, started in London in 1800 as an oppottwit of 
The Edinburgh Review. GilTord and Gibson Lockhart, Scott's son-la-law, were Its 

first editors. 

Raleigh, Sir Walter (inr.9-101RX voyager and historian. Wrote The Diseovery qf the 
Ixiry^, Beautiful, and Ridi Empire qf Ouiana, A History qf the World, Adwtes ia 
My Son. 

Randolph. Thomaa (100&-1034X poet and dramatist Wrote Aridippm ; or, 1%$ Jeetol 
lA>tm, Ttie Jealous Lovers, Hey for Honedy. 

Reade, Charlei (1814-1883X novelist Author of Peg Woginqton, (VOMs Je k n d e m , 
It is Never too Late to Mend,* The Courss qf True Lots ntoer 4ms run Aneelh, 
Jack of AU Trades:* Love Me Little, Love Me Long; The Ooieier emd the Bemrih, 
Very Hard Cadi,* OrifUh Oaunt, A Terrible TmpUtHan,* J SitnfUlan, The 



Beferee [ 382 ] Smollett 



Wandering Heir, A Hero and a Martyr^ A IKoaum Hater, A PeriUms Seerd,* 
Good Stories of Men and othn" AnhnaUJ* 

Bttfaree, The, a weekly London paper, devoted to iportlnff new* and loclal gonlii. 

Bloe^ JamoB (died in 1884), wrote, In conjunction with Walter Desant, Readff Moneg 
Mortiboy, The Golden BuUerflu,* They were Atarried. 

Richardson, Samuel (1680-1701), novelist. Wrote Pamela, Clarieaa Harlowe, Sir 
Chariee Orandieon, 

Roberdon, Dr. WiUiain (1721-1703X hietorlan ; Principal of Edinburgh Univenltf'. 
Author of T%e History qf Scotland during the Iteign qf Queen Mary and of King 
Jamee VI. till hi$ Atxeaion to the Croum of England; The Hieiory of fh* Rtign ef 
ihe Emperor Chariee V., with a View of the Progreee cf Society in Europe, from tkM 
Subversion of (A« Roman Empire to the Siztunth Century ; 7%e Hieiory ofAmeriea. 

Bo6heatar, Earl ot (1017-1680), John Wilmot Wrote a tragedy called VaXentiHiant 
and Poeme. 

ROM, Alexander (1008-17&1X ichoolmaster and poet Author of Hdenore ; or, Tke 
Fortunate Sh^therd, a Paetorul Tale in the Scottieh Dialect, to which are added a 
few Songi by the Author. 

RuMell, Dr. William Howard, Jonmaliat ; distinguished as " Special Correepondent'* 
of The Timee newspaper during the Crimean War. Author of Lettenfrvm the 
Crimea (1855-56), Diary in India (1860), Diary North and South (1863X Diary in 
the East (1869), Diary in the Last Croat War (1873X Toar qf the Prince of IKalee 
in India (1877). Founder of The Army and Navy Gazette in 1858. Wrote alao 
The Adoenturee of Dr. Brady, and Heeperothen,* Notes from the West 

Ruiioll, W. Olark, writer of sea-stories-^ofcn Holdtworth, Chitf Mate,* Wreck qf Iks 
" Grosvenor,*' Sailor^s Sweetheart. 

St. Andrew! CHtiian, The, a weekly newspaper published in the university town of 8L 
Andrews. 

SL James's Gazette, The, a London evening joumaL 

Sala, Oeorgd Augustus, Journalist and essayist; long on the staff of The Daily TtU- 
grajth. The founder and first editor of Temple Bar, a monthly magaslne. Aotbor 
of The Seven Sons cf Mammon, Captain Dangerous,* Quite Alone, The Two Prima 
Donnas, America in the Midst qf the War, Two Kinge and a Kaiser, A Journey Due 
North, Dutch Pictures, From Waterloo to the Peninsula, Borne and Venice, Wiiliam 
Hogarth, Paris Heru{f Again. 

Saturday Rovlaw, The, a London weekly journal of literature and politics. 

Sayoe, Professor A. U., of Oxford. Author of several works on philology. 

Scotsman, The, the leading daily paper in Edinburgh. 

Soott, Sir Walter (1771-1832X poet and noveUst. Author of The Lay of the Laal 
Minstrel, Marmion, 77t« Lady of the Lake, Hokeby, and The Waveriey Novels.* 

Soottish Review, The, a quarterly Journal, sUrtcd in 1882. 

Soribner's Magaslne, an American monUily magaslne. 

Shaketpeare, William (1504-1016), dramatist. Wrote Love's iMboui's Lost, The 
Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer -Niffht's Dream, Two Gentlemen qf Verona^ 
Romeo and Juliet, Venus and Adonis, TAe Bape qf Luerece, Richard II., Rickard 
III., King John, The Merchant qf Vaiice, The Taming qf the Shrew, Henry IV,^ 
The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry V., Much Ado Ahout Nothing, As You Like 
It, TtKl/lh Night, Airs Well that Ends Well, (Hhello, Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, 
Troilus and Creuiila, Antony and Cleopatra, Cortolanus, Timon of Athens, Perides, 
The Temttest, Cymbcline, A Winter^e Tale, and Sonnets. 

Sharpe, Oharles Klrkpatrlck (1780-1851), author of trends and other Poeme, The 
Lijfe of Lady Margard CuHuinyhawe, The Genealogy qfthe House of Seton. 

Shell, Richard Lalor (1793-1851), Irish orator. 

Shirley, James (1504-lGOO), dramatist. Wrote Tlie Brothers (1052), and numerous 
other playa 

Smith, James and Horaoe, published in 1812 the R^eetetl Addresses, a series of parodloa 
on conlem))orary authors. 

Smollett, Tobias George (1721-1771X novelist and iK>ot. Author of The Tears of CaU- 



South [ 383 ] Tyndall 

€U>nia, Th4 Advia: a Saiirt, Ttu AdvttUwei qfPertgritu PitkU, Tht Expedition ^ 

Jlumphrty Clinker, etc. 
South, Robert, D.D. (16S3-171G), famous preacher and theologian. Wrote The Laity 

Instructed, Sermoiu,* etc 
Southey, Robert, LL.D. (1774-1843X poet-laureate, euayitt, and historian. Wrote Wat 

Tyler, Joan of Arc, Thalaba the Destroyer, Madoe, The Cnree qf Kekama, A ViHon 

of Judgment, Poems. Also in proie, Li/e of Nelson,* History qf the Penineular 

War, Essays Moral and Political, The Book qf the Church, The Doctor.* 
Spectator, The, a London weekly review. 
Spenoer, Herbert, philosophical writer. Has written The Proper Sphere of Oetoem' 

rtuni, SociaX SUUics, Principles of PsydMlogy; Essays: Scient^c^ Politieal, 

and Speculative; Classifteation tf (A« Sdenets, Prineij^ qf Biology, Spontaneoue 

Generation, Raxnt Dieeussions in Scienee, Philosophy and MoreUt, The Study qf 

Sociology, Descriptite Sociology, Sine qf Trade and Commerce, Ceremonial Inetitu- 

tions. Data of Ethics, etc. 
Spenser, Edmund (1652-1509X poet Author of 7^ Shepherd^t Calendar, The Fairle 

Qiieene, Prothalamion. 
Sterne, Laurenoe (1718-1 7G8), noTelist. Autlior of 7^ Life and Opinions qf Tristram 

Shandy, GenL ; A Sentimental Journey T1irou(fii France and Italy, The History qf 

a Warm Wat^^coat. 
Steyenion, Robert Louii, norelist and essayist Ilaa written The Strange Ceue qf Dr, 

Jfkyll and Mr. Hytie,* Treasure Idand,* The Merry Men,* Kidnapped,* Prince 

Otto,* The DynamiUr,* New Arabian NighU 
Stlllingfieet, Edward (1035-1000), Bishop of Worcester, theoloffian. Best known for 

his Sermons. 
Swift. Jonathan (1007-1745), Dean of St I*atrick's, Dublin, satirist Wrote The BatOe 

of the Books, Tale qfa TiA, Travels of I^mutl OuUiver, Polite Conversation.* 
Symonds, J. A., historian and essayist Author of 7^ Benaiesance in Italy, SkeUhee 

in Italy, etc 

Taylor, Jeremy (1G13-1007X Dishop of Down and Connor and of Dromore, theoloftaa 
and roligious writer. Autlior of Holy Living and Dying, The Oreat Eisemplar, 
Scriiions. 

Temple, Sir William (1G28-1008X statesman and miscellaneous writer. Author of 
Misedlanea, Letters, etc. 

Temple Bar, a lx)ndon monthly Journal, started by O. A. Bala. 

Thackeray, William Makepeace (1811-1803), noTelist and essayist Wrote Vanity 
Fair,* The Hittory of Pendennis, Esmond, The Newromes, The Virginians, A 
Shabhy Genteel Story,* Philip, Catherine,* Denis Duval,* The Four Georges,* Bound- 
about Papers,* The Irish Sketch Book,* The Parish Sketch Book.* 

Tillotson, John (103O-10O4X Archbishop of Oanterbnry ; published The Bule qf Faith, 
and Sfvmons. 

Time, a Ix)ndon monthly journal. 

Times, The, the greatest of the London daily ncwapaiwrt. 

Trerelyan, Sir Ooorge Otto, statesman and author. Wrote Letters qf a QnnpetUUm 
Wallah, Cawnpore, TIte Uulies in Parliament, Life of Lord Maea^Uay,* Early Ufe 
and Times of Charl^j James Fox.* Sir O. O. Trerelyan is a nephew of Mae* 
auUy. 

Trollope, Anthony (1810-1883), noTellst and miscellaneous writer. Author of The 
Wanirn,* linrchesUr Ttncers,* lUtetor Thome, Orley Farm, The Last Chronicle qf 
Baraet,' Phineas Finn,* The Vicar of BuUhampUm,* Australia and New Zealand, 
South Africa,* Framley Parsonage.* 

Twain, Mark, the nom d^ plnme of Samuel Langhome Clemens, American humourist 
Author of 77i/ Innocents Abroad, The Innocents at Home, The New PUgrim's Pf- 
grem, Tom Sawyer, HurklAerry Finn. 

TyndalU John, F.R.S., D.O.L., scientifle luTestlgator and writer. Author of Th» 
GUiciers of the Alps, Heat as a Mode qf Motion, Lectures en Light, Lssoont in Ekt- 
tricUy, etc 



Tytler [384 ] Yotmir 

Tytler, Sarah, ih« nam de plvmt of MIm Keddie, novelist. Author of Doyt qf Yort^ 
Th4 JHanumd Ro»$, Buried Diatnondi,* Nobleut Oblige, A Garden iff JVofmen, BelL 

Urqiihart, Sir Thomai (lOl^loeiX author of The Jewd, LogopandedeltiinL 

Vwdant Oreen, bj Bav. £dw»rd Brmdlej (1887-1880X whoM ncm de plume wm " Cnthbcrt 
Bade.** Alw author of Olenertgganf The Curate qf Craneton, MtUtine and MiuiUm**, 
eto. 

Wallace, Donald Mackonzio, Joumaliit and miicellaneoua writer. Author of Bu»$ia, 
and other work*. 

Walpole, Hoxmoe (1717-1707X a voluminoui writer. Beit known for hii novel The 
Ca^le qf Otranio, and for hit Letten. 

Warren, Samuel, D.O.L. (1807-1877), novellit and mieeellaneoui writer. Author of 
Paeaagtifrom the Diary of a Late Fhygieian, Ten Thouaand a Year,* tie. 

Watti, Iiaao, DJ>. (1074-1748X devotional writer and religioua poet. Wrote IlymnM, 
PhUoMophieal Eeeaye, Evangelical Dieeoureee. 

Wellington, Duke of (170&-1852X the conqueror of Napoleon Buonapartei Known in 
literature for his DeepaUhee. 

Whipple, Edwin Peroy, Amerleen eesayist and critic. Has published The QtniuM 
and Writinge qf MaeauXay, Eseayt and Jievieioe, Men qfMark,* etc 

Whyte-MelvUle^ O. J. (1821-1878), a voluminous writer of novels, treating mostlj of 
sporting and country-bouse society— Di^by Orand, General Bounce,* Holmhy Hou»e^ 
Market Hartorough, etc. Also of historical novels— Ths OladiatorM, a Roman 
story, Sardiedon, The Queen'e Mariee, 

WilaoB, Jbhn (1785-18M), wrote under the nom de pluuu "diristopher North;" Pro- 
fessor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. A large contributor 
to Bladiwood^e Magazine, Author of several poems, and ot Lights and Shadow qf 
ScoUith lAJt, The Trials qf Margaret LindsaVt Essays Critical and Iwutginatite, 
Rurtations ef Christopher North. 

Windham, William (176O-1810X sUtesman and orator. 

Woloot, John, M.D. See Pbtkr Pindab. . 

Wood, Mn. HeniyCdied 1887), wrote under the nom de plume ot "Johnny Ladlow." 
Author of East Lynne, The Channings, Mrs. Halihurion's TroubUs, Oswald, Ann§ 
Her^ord, Roland York, Told in the TwUight;* BeUn Whitne^s Wedding, and 
other Tales ; • The Unholy Wish.* Editor of the Argosy. 

Wordiworth, William (1770-18&0), poet Author of 77i« Excursion, Yarrow JUvisUed, 
and other Poems ; The Bonieren ; Sonnets, 

Tatei, Edmund Hodgeon, novelist and Journalist Established The WoHd nwgaiine In 

1874. Author of BUiA Sheep,* Broken to Hameu, Running the Qaunilet, Kistiug 

the Rod. Wredeetl in PoH. 
Tonga, Charlotte Mary, writer of stories for girls. Author of Hu Heir of Redeiig^, 

Heartsease, The Daisy Chain, The Chaplet of Pearls, Canu»s qf Engliah History, ate. 
Toung, Edward (1684-1 76&X poet, dramatist, and prose writer. Best known for hit 

Night Thoughts. 



TUB END. 



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