embarrassment of riches
An overabundance of something, making it difficult to choose
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Ember Days
The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the four Ember Weeks, which were fixed by the Council of Placentia (1095), as those containing the first Sunday in Lent, Whit Sunday, Holy Cross Day (September 14th), and St. Lucia's Day (December 13th). The name is the M.E. ymber, from A.S. ymbren (i.e. ymb, about, ryne, running), a period or revolution.
ember goose
The northern diver or loon; called in Norway imbre, because it appears on the coast about the time of the Ember days in
emblematical poems
Poems consisting of lines of different lengths so that when printed or written the outline of the poem on the page can be made to represent the object of the verse. Thus, George Herbert in the Temple prints a poem on the Altar that is shaped like an altar, and one on Easter Wings like wings.
embrace the penguin
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
emosh
emotional
emotional cripple
Someone severely impaired by emotional problems
empanel and empannel
These similar words have very different meanings. To empanel is to form a list of jurors, or to enrol them; to empannel (a rarely used word, it is true) is to saddle a horse or ass, or more particularly to put the pack-saddle on a beast of burden.
empathy
MDMA.
emperor
Drunk as an emperor, i.e. ten times as drunk as a lord.
Emperor Augustus
Horace, Ovid, Pro- pertius, Tibullus, Virgil, etc., flourished in his reign, from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.
Emperor Henry V of Germany
The title of Domina Anglorum was conferred upon her by the Council of Winchester, April 7th, 1141. (Rymer: Fcedera., i.
Emperor Verus
It was fed on almonds and raisins, covered with royal purple, and stalled in the imperial palace.
emperor's new clothes
A situation where people are afraid to admit the truth about something
empire itself
The term is French in origin, sublime signifying "lofty" or "high and mighty.
Empire State
Hence the name of the tallest skyscraper in the city.
Empire Style
The style of furniture, costume, etc., that came into vogue during the Consulate and Empire of Napoleon, lasting approxi- mately from 1800 until 1820. The Empire style followed on after the pseudo-classical fervour of the Revolution, but was itself largely in- spired by Napoleon's wish to embellish his court with something of the splendour of imperial Rome.
employ a steam engine to crack a nut
Use excessive force or resources to accomplish something simple
empty suit
A person with a title or position but lacking real authority or substance
empty the clip
To use up all of something, especially ammunition or resources.
empty the tank
Use up all one's energy or resources
empty vessels make the greatest sound
Foolish people often talk the most
empty vessels make the most noise
Foolish people often talk the most
empty words
Promises or statements with no intention of being fulfilled
en papillotes
In a state of undress; literally, in curl-papers. Cutlets with fnlls on them are en papillotes.
end in smoke
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
end in something
result or conclude in something
end it or mend it
Said when an impasse or a crisis is reached, when things are unbearable and something simply must be done.
end of
the final part of something
end of the line
the final point or conclusion of something
end of the world
A catastrophic or extremely unfortunate event
end papers
The two leaves front and back of a book, one of which is pasted down on to the inside of the cover and the other is a fly- leaf; they may be coloured or marbled.
end with something
finish or conclude with something
endo
Marijuana.
ends
Money.
enemy
Time, a clock, the ruthless enemy and tell-tale of idleness and of mankind generally; "what says the ENEMY?" i.e., how goes the time?
energizer bunny
Someone or something that keeps going relentlessly
Energy is Eternal Delight. (William Blake)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
Enfans Sans Souci
The mediaeval French Tradesmen's company of actors, as opposed to the Lawyers', the "Basochians" (<?.v.). It was organized in the reign of Charles VIII, for the performance of short comedies, in which public characters and the manners of the day were turned into ridicule; Maitre Pa the/in (see MouxoNs), an immense favourite with the Parisians, was one of their pieces.
engage in something
participate or take part in an activity
engaged in something
involved or participating in an activity
England and Wales
The word comes from the Latin cursor, a runner, and refers to the
England bitter beer
Many localities claim the original Tom Collins; whoever he was or wherever he lived he deserves well of posterity. Tom, Dick, and Harry. A Victorian term for "the man in the street," more particularly persons of no note; persons unworthy notice. "Brown, Jones, and Robinson" are far other men; they are the vulgar rich, who give themselves airs, especially abroad, and look with scorn on all foreign manners and customs which differ from their own.
England's Darling
A name given to Here- ward the Wake (fl. 1070). the patriot who held the Isle of Ely against William the Conqueror. After a blockade of three months, Hereward and some of his followers escaped.
English arms over the Dutch
Dryden wrote a poem with this title, in which he described both these events.
English Bar
They are all m London, and are the Inner Temple, the Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn. Each is governed by a board of benchers. See BAR: BENCHER.
English French
A kind of perversity seems to pervade many of the words which we have borrowed from the French. Thus, our citrate is the Fr. vicaire, and our vicar the Fr. cure.
English King Charles I
By his second wife Philip had a son Philip (1674-1723) known as the Regent Orleans as he acted in that capacity to Louis XV in his minority. His great-grand- son became notorious for his career in the French Revolution when he assumed the name of Philippe Egalite and voted for the death 9f his kinsman Louis XVI. He was guillotined in 1793, at the age of 46.
enjoy the present day, trusting little to what tomorrow may bring
Appreciate the current moment, without relying on future expectations
enough is as good as a feast
Being content with what you have is as satisfying as having everything you want
enough to choke a horse
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
enough to go around
Sufficient for everyone to have some
enough to make a cat laugh
amusing or ridiculous
enough to make a cat speak
Said of some- thing (usually good liquor) that will loosen one's tongue.
enough to make a grown man cry
Extremely frustrating or upsetting
enough to make the angels weep
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
ensign bearer
A drunken man, who looks red in the face, or hoists his colours in his drink.
enter on the boards
to start a career on the stage
entre nous
Between you and me, in confidence. Eolus. See Eon. See JEow. Epact (e'pakt) (Gr. epagein, to intercalate). The excess of the solar over the lunar year, the former consisting of 365 days, and the latter of 354, or eleven days fewer.
Episcopal Signatures
It is the custom of bishops of the Church of England to sign themselves with their Christian name and name of their see. In some of the older dioceses the Latin form is used, sometimes abbreviated * — Cantuar: Canterbury Roffen: Rochester. Winton: Winchester. Sarum: Salisbury. Cicestr: Chichester. Truron: Truro. Exon: Exeter. Ebor- York.