Lion of God
Ali-Ben-Abou-Thaleb (602-61), the son-in-law of Mohammed, was so called because of his zeal and his great courage. His mother called him at birth Al Haidara, "the Rugged Lion.
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Lion of St
Mark. See above. Lion Sermon, The. Preached annually in St.
lion's den
A place or situation of great danger or hostility
Lion's Head
In fountains the water is often made to issue from the mouth of a Hon.
Lion's Provider
A jackal; a foil to another man's wit, a humble friend who plays into your hand to show you to best advantage. The jackal (<?.v.) feeds on the lion's leavings, and is said to yell to advise the lion that if has roused up his prey, serving the lion in much the same way as a dog serves a sportsman. ... the poor jackals are less foul, As being the brave lion's keen providers, Than human insects catering for spiders.
lion's share
the largest part of something
lion's share
The larger part: all or nearly all. In jEsop's Fables, several beasts joined the lion in a hunt; but, when the spoil was divided, the lion claimed one quarter in right of his prerogative, one for his superior courage, one for his dam and cubs, "and as for the fourth, let who will dispute it with me." Awed by his frown, the other beasts yielded and silently withdrew. Cp. MONTGOMERY.
lion-hunter
One who hunts up, and has a devout veneration for, small celebrities. Mrs. Leo Hunter, in Pickwick, is a splendid specimen of this unpleasant creature.
lionesses
Ladies visiting an Oxford man, especially at "Commemoration," which is the chief time for receiving feminine visitors at the University.
lionize
To make much of any visitor with small or moderate claims to distinction; to conduct a stranger round the principal objects of attraction in a place; to act as cicerone.
lip
Talk, bounce, impudence; "come, none o’ yer LIP!"
lip service
Expressing support or agreement without taking action
liquid courage
Bravery or confidence gained from drinking alcohol
liquid sky
Heroin.
liquor
To liquor one's boots; to drink before a journey: among Roman Catholics, to administer the extreme unction.
liquor
Or LIQUOR UP, to drink drams.—Americanism. In LIQUOR, tipsy, or drunk.
listen to somebody
Pay attention to someone's words or advice
listen up
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Little and Large
A comedic duo with a large and small person
little breeches
A familiar appellation used to a little boy.
Little Britain
The name given in the old romances to Armorica, now Brittany; also called Benwic.
little by little and bit by bit
Gradually and in small amounts
little clergyman
A young chimney-sweeper.
little ease
A small dark cell in Guildhall, London, where disorderly apprentices are confined by the city chamberlain: it is called Little Ease from its being so low that a lad cannot stand upright in it.
little emperor
An overly indulged child
Little Englander
One who would rather see England small, contented, and as self-con- tained as possible than have her the head of a W9rld-wide Empire, the possession of which might be a source of trouble and danger to her; the opposite to an Imperialist. The term was in use at the time of the South African War of 1899-1902.
Little Englanders
An opprobrious name which became popular about the time of the last Boer War for those who upheld the doctrine that the English should concern themselves with England only, and were opposed to any extension of the Empire.
Little Gidding
Nicholas Ferrar set up an English Protestant Nunnery at Little Gidding (Huntingdon) in 1625, at which binding was practised by all the inmates. Many bindings, particularly embroidered ones, are ascribed to them, but without any certainty.
little girl
a young female child
little hand
a helper or assistant
little head
intuitive or instinctive thinking
Little John
A semi-legendary character in the Robin Hood cycle, a big stalwart fellow, first named John Little (or John Nailor), who encountered Robin Hood, and gave him a
little mad
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
little man
The penis.
Little Mary
A euphemism for the stomach; from the play of that name by J. M. Same (1903).
little old
used to convey affection or contempt
little pitcher
a child who is present and listening
little pitchers have big ears
Children often overhear and understand more than adults think.
Little pitchers have big ears. (Strauss 1994, p. 653)
Children often overhear and understand more than adults think
little pitchers have large ears
See PITCHER. Mine ears hast thou bored. Thou hast accepted me as thy bond-slave for life. If a Hebrew servant declined to go free after six years* service, the master was to bore his ear with an awl, in token of his voluntary servi- tude for life (Exod. xxi, 6).
little pitchers have long ears
Little folk or children hear what is said when you little think it. The ear of a pitcher is the handle, made somewhat in the shape of a man's ear.
Little Red Ridinghood
This nursery tale is, with slight alterations, common to Sweden, Germany, and France, It comes to us from the French Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, in Charles Perrault's Conies des Temps, and was probably derived from Italy. The finale, which tells of the arrival of a huntsman who slits open the wolf and restores little Red Ridinghood and her grandmother to life, is a German addition.
little shit
a person, usually a child, who is annoying or disobedient
little snakes-man
A little thief, who is generally passed through a small aperture to open a door and let in the rest of the gang.
little snakesman
A little boy who gets into a house through the sink-hole, and then opens the door for his accomplices: he is so called, from writhing and twisting like a snake, in order to work himself through the narrow passage.
little strokes fell great oaks
Small, repeated efforts can achieve significant results.
little things please little minds
Trivial matters satisfy people with limited interests or intelligence
live a lie
to pretend something untrue about oneself
live and die by
To totally believe in or follow something
live and learn
Gain experience and knowledge from mistakes
live and let live
Respect others' choices and opinions, even if different from yours
live beyond one's means
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
live down
to overcome or recover from shame or embarrassment
live each day as if it were your last and one day you will surely be right
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
live for today, for tomorrow never comes
Enjoy the present moment, don't worry about the future
live in sin
To cohabitate with someone in a romantic relationship without being married
live in the past
Focus on past events or memories rather than the present
live in the shadow of
To be constantly affected or intimidated by something or someone
live it up
Enjoy life to the fullest
live large
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
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