absence makes the heart grow fonder
Time apart strengthens affection
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absent flag
A small blue signal flown by a yacht to indicate that the owner is not aboard,
absobloodylutely
absolutely
absoflippinglutely
absolutely.
absofreakinglutely
Absolutely.
absofuckinglutely
Absolutely.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely (John Dalberg-Acton, 1887)
Complete power leads to total corruption
absolute zero
The temperature at which a theoretically perfect gas, kept at constant volume, would exert no pressure. In practice this is— 273.1° C.
absolutely worthless
It has been suggested that the term originated in the old-time tinker's custom of blocking up the hole in the article he was mending with a pellet of bread, thus making a dam which would prevent the solder from running through. This pellet was, of course, thrown away as useless when the job was finished.
absquatulate
To run away, or abscond; a hybrid American expression, from the Latin ab, and "squat" to settle.
abuse of distress
Taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state
abyssinia claim descent
Candace was the hereditary title of the Queens of Meroe, in
Abyssinian Christians
A branch of the Coptic Church. See COPTS.
AC/DC
Bisexual.
academy figures
Drawings in black and white chalk, on tinted paper, usually about half life-size and from the nude.
access to something
ability to use or get something
accident of birth
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
accident waiting to happen
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
accidental colours
See COLOURS. Accidentals in music are signs indicating sharps, flats, naturals, and double sharps and flats, other than those sharps and flats pre- scribed by the key-signature.
accidents will happen (in the best-regulated families)
Mistakes are inevitable, even with careful planning
accidents will happen in the best families. (19th century)
Mistakes or problems can occur even in well-managed situations
accommodation ladder
A flight of steps hung over the side of a ship at the gangway.
according to Cocker
completely incorrect or inaccurate
According to Grecian fable
Niobe, the daugh- ter of Tantalus and wife of Amphion, King of Thebes, was the mother of twelve children, and taunted Latona because she had only two —
according to Gunter
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
According to Gunter
Carefully and correctly done; with no possibility of mistake; the American counterpart of "according to Cocker" (see COCKER), which is more common in England,
according to his lights
According to his information or knowledge of the matter; or, according to the capacity he has for forming opinions on it.
according to Hoyle
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
account for something
explain or justify something
accounts
To cast up one's accounts; to vomit.
accused of something
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
ace up one's sleeve
A secret advantage or surprise
aceness
Excellence.
Achaean League
The first Achaean League was a religious confederation of the twelve towns of Achsea, lasting from very early times till it was broken up by Alexander the
Achilles and Patroclus
A famously close and intimate male friendship
Achilles and the tortoise
The allusion is to the following paradox proposed by Zeno: In a race Achilles, who can run ten times as fast as a tortoise, gives the latter 100 yards start; but it is impossible for him to overtake the tortoise and win the race; for, while he is running the first hundred yards the tortoise runs ten, while Achilles runs that ten the tortoise is running one, while Achilles is running one the tortoise runs one-tenth of a yard, and so on ad
Achilles of Lombardy
In Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, the brother of Sforza and Pala- medes, brothers in the allied army of Godfrey. Achilles of Lombardy was slain by Corinna.
Achilles of the West
Roland the Paladin; also called "The Christian Theseus.
achilles' heel
See ACHILLES. Heel 448 Helios Down, or out at heels. In a sad plight, in decayed circumstances, like a beggar whose boots are worn out at the heels.
achilles's spear
Shakespeare's lines:— That gold must round engirt these brows of mine
achilles's tutors
First, Phoenix, who taught him the elements; then Chiron the centaur, who taught him the uses and virtues of plants.
Acid Test
The application of acid is a cer- tain test of gold. Hence the phrase is used of a test or trial which will conclusively decide the value, worth, or reliability of anything.
ack emma
See PIP EMMA. Acme (ak'rm) (Gr. a point). The highest pitch of perfection; the term used by old medical writers for the crisis of a disease. They divided the progress of a disease into four periods: the atche, or beginning; the anabasis, or increase; the acme> or term of its utmost violence; and the paracme, or decline.
acknowledge the corn
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
acorn
You will ride a horse foaled by an acorn, i.e. the gallows, called also the Wooden and Three-legged Mare. You will be hanged.--See THREE-LEGGED MARE.
acquired taste
Something that people may not like initially but learn to appreciate over time
acres
A coward. From Bob Acres, in Sheridan’s Rivals.
Act and Opponency
An ~Act," in our University language, consists of a thesis publicly maintained by a candidate for a degree, with the "disputation" thereon. The person "disputing" with the "keeper of the Act" is called the "opponent," and his func- tion is called an "opponency". In some degrees the student is required to keep his Act, and then to be the opponent of another disputant.
act as something
To function or serve as something
act of Congress
Something extremely difficult or unlikely to happen
Act of God
Loss arising from the action of forces uncontrollable by man, such as a hurricane, lightning, etc., is said to be due to an "act of God," and hence has no legal redress. A Devonshire jury once found — "That deceased died by the act of God, brought about by the flooded condition of the river.
act of grace
A pardon; a general pardon granted by Act of Parliament, especially that of 1690, when William III pardoned political offenders; and that of 1784, when the estates forfeited for high treason in connexion with "the *45" were restored.
Act of Man
The sacrificing of cargo, spars, or furnishings, by the master of a vessel for the preservation of his ship. All persons with an interest in the ship and cargo stand a fair share of the loss.
act of parliament
A military term for small beer, five pints of which, by an act of parliament, a landlord was formerly obliged to give to each soldier gratis.
Act of Parliament
This is the official name for a measure which has become the law of the land. The word Bill is applied to a measure on its introduction, and for it to become an Act it has to be read three times in each House of Parliament (during which time it is debated) and receive the royal assent. The Acts of each session are arranged m chapters and officially quoted according to the year of the reign m which they are passed.
act one's age
Behave in a way that is suitable for one's age
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Behave maturely, not immaturely
act out
to perform or express something, especially emotions, in a dramatic way
act the hypocrite
To pretend to have virtues or moral principles one does not actually have
act up
behave badly or mischievously