lay eggs
to fail or produce nothing
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
lay eyes on
to see someone or something for the first time
lay figures
Wooden figures with free joints, used by artists chiefly for the study of how drapery falls. The word was earlier layman, from Dut. leernan, a contraction of ledenman, i.e. led (now lid), a joint, and man, man. Horace Walpqle uses layman (1762), but lay figure had taken its place by the end of the 18th century.
lay hands on
to get or obtain something, often with difficulty
lay in lavender
to preserve or protect something carefully
lay it on
exaggerate or overstate something
lay it on thick
to exaggerate or overstate something
lay odds
to bet or predict that something will happen
lay of the land
The situation or circumstances
lay off
to stop bothering or criticizing someone
lay on
to apply or add something generously
lay on the line
risk something important
lay one's head
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
lay one's tongue to
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
lay over
to stop or stay somewhere for a short time
lay something at the feet of
blame or credit someone for something
lay store by
to consider something important or valuable
lay the groundwork
Prepare something for future development or action
lay the wood
to hit or beat someone or something forcefully
lay to rest
To resolve or put an end to something
lay vicar
A cathedral officer who sings those portions of the liturgy not reserved for the clergy. Formerly called a clerk vicar.
laystall
A dunghill about London, on which the soil brought from necessary houses is emptied; or, in more technical terms, where the old gold collected at weddings by the Tom t--d man, is stored.
Lazar House
A hpuse for lazars, or poor persons affected with contagious diseases.
lazer
Laser.
lazy
As lazy as Ludman's dog, who leaned against the wall to bark. As lazy as the tinker, who laid down his budget to f--t.
lazy man's load
Lazy people frequently take up more than they can safely carry, to save the trouble of coming a second time.
lazy man's load
One too heavy to be carried; so called because lazy people, to save themselves the trouble of coming a second time, are apt to overload themselves.
lazybones
An instrument like a pair of tongs, for old or very fat people to take any thing from the ground without stooping.
Le Grand Conde
Louis II of Bourbon, Prince de Conde, one of France's greatest military commanders (1621-86). The funeral oration pronounced at his death was Bossuet's finest composition.
lead by the nose
to control or influence someone completely
lead foot
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
lead nowhere
To fail to produce a useful result or outcome
lead on
to encourage or deceive someone into doing something
lead someone to the altar
to persuade or encourage someone to get married
lead someone up the garden path
To deceive or mislead someone
lead the line
to take the first position or lead a group
lead time
The time between initiating a process and its completion
lead to something
cause something to happen
lead up to
To precede or introduce something
lead with one's chin
To take a risk or act boldly, making oneself vulnerable
leading case
A lawsuit that forms a prece- dent in deciding others of a similar kind.
leading lady
The actress or actor who takes the chief role in a play. Leading note (music}. The seventh of the diatonic scale, which leads to the octave, only half a tone higher.
leading light
A prominent and influential person in a field
leading question
A question so worded as to suggest an answer. "Was he not dressed in a black coat?" leads to the answer "Yes." In cross-examining a witness, leading questions are permitted, because the chief object of a cross-examination is to obtain contradictions.
leaf
To go off with the fall of the leaf; to be hanged: criminals in Dublin being turned off from the outside of the prison by the falling of a board, propped up, and moving on a hinge, like the leaf of a table. IRISH TERM.
leaky
Apt to blab; one who cannot keep a secret is said to be leaky.
Leaning Tower
The campanile or bell-tower of the cathedral of Pisa stands apart from the cathedral itself. It is 181 ft. high, 57£ ft. in diameter at trie base, and leans about 14 ft. from the perpendicular. It was begun in 1174 and the sinking commenced during construc- tion. Galileo availed himself of the over- hanging tower to make his experiments in gravitation. At Caerphilly, Glamorganshire, there is a tower which leans lift, in 80.
leap out
To suddenly become noticeable or striking
leap to mind
Come to mind suddenly and spontaneously
leaping over the sword
An ancient ceremonial said to constitute a military marriage. A sword being laid down on the ground, the parties to be married joined hands, when the corporal or serjeant of the company repeated these words:
leaps and bounds
advancing rapidly or making great progress
Learn a language, and you will avoid a war (Arab proverb)
Knowing a language can help prevent conflicts
learn how to do something
Acquire knowledge or skill in a particular activity
learn one's place
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
learn to walk before one can run
Master basic skills before attempting more complex tasks.
learn to walk before you run
Master basic skills before attempting more complex tasks.
learned profession
A profession requiring advanced education and training
learning is the eye of the mind
Knowledge and education help one understand and perceive the world
leary
Flash, knowing, artful, sly.
leary bloke
A clever or artful person.