house nigger
a person who is overly subservient to those in power
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
house of cards
A situation that is unstable and likely to collapse
House of Commons
It is an interruption to the order of the day by asking a Minisier some question of importance the subject of which would come under his department. From Lat. interpellare, to interrupt by speaking, literacy, to drive between.
house of God
a church or place of worship
house of ill fame
A place of disreputable or immoral activity
House of Lords
A lavatory: a room used for urination and defecation.
house poor
Spending most of one's income on housing expenses
house to house
Performed at every house, one after another; as, "a house-to-house canvass.
household gods
The Lares and Penates (tf.v.), who presided over the dwellings and domestic concerns of the ancient Romans; hence, in modern use, the valued possessions of home, all those things that go to endear it to one.
Household Troops
Those troops whose special duty it is to attend the sovereign.
household words
No. 183, September 24.
houses
"safe as HOUSES," an expression to satisfy a doubting person; "Oh! it’s as safe as HOUSES," i.e., perfectly safe, apparently in allusion to the paying character of house property as an investment. It is said the phrase originated when the railway bubbles began to burst, and when people began to turn their attention to the more ancient forms of speculation, which though slow were sure.
housewarming
The first friendly gathering in a new or freshly-occupied house.
how are you
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
how came you so
Drunk.
how come
Used to ask for an explanation or reason
how goes it
asks about someone's well-being or situation
how long is a piece of string?
A question has no definitive answer
how so
Used to ask for explanation or clarification
how's the weather
Asking about someone's well-being or current situation
how's tricks
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
howl at the moon
To protest or complain futilely
how’s your poor feet?
An idiotic street cry with no meaning, much in vogue a few years back.
hoxter
An inside pocket.—Old English, OXTER. Probably the low slang word HUXTER, money, is derived from this. OXTER is, among the Irish, an armpit.
Hubba Hubba
An exclamation of enthusiasm of American origin which came into wide prevalence during World War IJ. Like all such expressions its origin is obscure, though it has been ingeniously traced back to an old English expression: "Hubba — a cry given to warn fishermen of the approach of pilchards.
hubble bubble
The Indian pipe termed a hookah is thus designated, from the noise it makes when being smoked.
hubble de shuff
Confusedly. To fire hubble de shuff, to fire quick and irregularly. OLD MILITARY TERM.
hubble-bubble
Confusion. A hubble-bubble fellow; a man of confused ideas, or one thick of speech, whose words sound like water bubbling out of a bottle. Also an instrument used for smoaking through water in the East Indies, called likewise a caloon, and hooker.
hubbub
A noise, riot, or disturbance.
hubs
Husband.
huckle my buff
Beer, egg, and brandy, made hot.
huckleberry above a persimmon
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
huckleberry above one's persimmon
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
hucksters
Itinerant retailers of provisions. He is in hucksters hands; he is in a bad way.
Hue and Cry
The old legal name for the official outcry made when calling for assistance "with horn and with voice,** in the pursuit of a criminal escaping from justice (O.Fr. huer, to shout). Persons failing to respond when the "hue and cry" was raised were liable to penalties; hence, a clamour or outcry, a cry of alarm.
huey
A town or village.—Tramps’ term.
huff
A dodge or trick; "don’t try that HUFF on me," or "that HUFF wont do." Also a term in the game of draughts,—the penalty for failing to take an opponent’s piece when an opportunity occurs.
huff and puff
To threaten or bluster without taking action
hug
To hug brown bess; to carry a firelock, or serve as a private soldier. He hugs it as the Devil hugs a witch: said of one who holds any thing as if he was afraid of losing it.
hugger mugger
By stealth, privately, without making an appearance. They spent their money in a hugger mugger way.
hugger-mugger
Underhand, sneaking. Also, "in a state of HUGGER-MUGGER" means to be muddled.
Hugh of Lincoln
It was said that the Jews in 1255 stole a boy of 8 years old named Hugh, whom they tortured for ten days and then crucified or drowned in a well. Eighteen of the richest Jews of Lincoln were hanged for taking part in this affair, and more would have been put to death had it not been for the intercession of the Franciscans; the boy was buried in state.
hugotontheonbiquiffinarians
A society existing in 1748.
hugs and kisses
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Huli Festival
So that it cannot refer to the uncertainty of the weather, nor yet to a mockery of the trial of our Redeemer, the two most popular explanations. A better solution is this: As March 25th used to be New Year's Day, April 1st was its octave, when its festivities culminated and ended.
hulk
To hang about in hopes of an invitation. See MOOCH.
hulky
Extra-sized.—Shropshire. From this and from hulk we probably get our adjective HULKING, as applied to the great lazy ruffians who infest low neighbourhoods.
Hulsean Lectures
Instituted by the Rev. John Hulse (1708-90), of Cheshire, in 1777. Some four or six sermons on Christian evidences are preached annually at Great St.
hulver-headed
Having a hard impenetrable head; hulver, in the Norfolk dialect, signifying holly, a hard and solid wood.
hum and haw
To hesitate or avoid making a decision
hum cap
Very old and strong beer, called also stingo. See STINGO.
hum drum
A hum drum fellow; a dull tedious narrator, a bore; also a set of gentlemen, who (Bailey says) used to meet near the Charter House, or at the King's Head in St. John's-street, who had more of pleasantry, and less of mystery, than the free masons.
hum durgeon
An imaginary illness. He has got the humdurgeon, the thickest part of his thigh is nearest his a-se; i.e. nothing ails him except low spirits.
hum trum
A musical instrument made of a mopstick, a bladder, and some packthread, thence also called a bladder and string, and hurdy gurdy; it is played on like a violin, which is sometimes ludicrously called a humstrum; sometimes, instead of a bladder, a tin canister is used.
hum-box
A pulpit. This is a very old term.
human being
A person, emphasizing their humanity
Human Race
He was guillotined by Robes- pierre in 1794.
human rights
Fundamental rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to
human touch
Personal and emotional consideration in interactions
Humanity Martin
Richard Martin (1754- 1834) one of the founders of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He secured the passage of several laws making cruelty to certain animals illegal.
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