mutual admiration society
A group of people who excessively praise each other
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Mutual Friends
Can people have mutual friends? Strictly speaking not; but since Dickens adopted the solecism in the title of his novel, Our Mutual Friend (1864), many people have objected to the correct term, com- mon friends. Mutual implies reciprocity from one to the other (Lat. mutare, to change) ; the friendship between two friends should be mutual, but this mutuality cannot be extended to a third party.
muzzle
To fight or thrash; to throttle or garrotte.
muzzler
A violent blow on the mouth. The milling cove tipped the cull a muzzler; the boxer gave the fellow a blow on the mouth.
muzzler
A blow in the mouth; a dram of spirits.
muzzy
A Muslim.
my arse
an expression of strong disagreement or skepticism
my aunt
AUNT JONES, or MRS. JONES, the closet of decency, or house of office.
my bad
an expression of apology or regret
my better half
A jocose way of saying my wife. As the twain are one, each is half. Horace calls his friend animce dimidium mete (Odes 1, iii, 8).
my cake is dough
All my swans are turned to geese. Occisa est res mea. Mon affaire est manquee; my project has failed.
my cup runs over
My blessings overflow. Here cup signifies portion or blessing.
my dearest foe
As "my dearest friend" is one with whom I am on the greatest terms of friendship, so "my dearest foe" is one with whom I am on the greatest terms of enmity. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven, Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio.
my eye
An expression of skepticism or disbelief
my foot
an expression of strong disbelief or skepticism
my hands are full
I am fully occupied; I have as much work to do as I can manage.
my hour is not yet come
The time for action has not yet arrived ; properly, the hour of my death is not yet fully come. The allusion is to the belief that the hour of one's death is pre- ordained.
My house is my castle. (Edward Coke)
One's home is a place of safety and privacy
my little finger told me that
The same as "A little bird told me that" (see BIRD), meaning, I know it, though you did not expect it. The expression is m Mohere's Malade Imaginaire.
my lord
A nickname given to a hunchback.
My Lord
The correct form to use in address- ing Judges of the Supreme Court (usually slurred to "M'Lud"), also the respectful form of address to bishops, noblemen under the rank of a Duke, Lord Mayors, Lord Provosts, and the Lord Advocate.
my love
Theocritus, i, 37. Itching of the lips of course foretold that they were shortly to kiss or be kissed; of the nose, that strangers were at hand : — We shall ha* gnests to-day ... My nose iteheth so.
My name is Short
I'm in a hurry and cannot wait. Well, but let us hear the wishes (said the old man); my name is short, and I cannot stay much longer.
My old Dutch
Here the word is a contraction of duchess (#.v.), and is nothing to do with Holland or Germany.
my own flesh and blood
My own children, brothers, sisters, or other near kindred. The blood of the Grograms. Taffety gentility; ^ make-believe aristocratic blood. Grogram is a coarse silk taffety stiffened with gum (Fr. gros grain).
my skull's afly
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
my tulip
A term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and animals; "‘Kim up, MY TULIP,’ as the coster said to his donkey when thrashing him with an ash stick."
my uncle
The pawnbroker,—generally used when any person questions the whereabouts of a domestic article. "Oh! only at MY UNCLE’S" is the reply. "Up the spout" has the same meaning. It is worthy of remark that the French call this useful relative "ma tante," my aunt.
My Uncle Toby
Captain Shandy, the uncle of Tristram Shandy in Sterne's novel of that name, He is the embodiment of the wisdom of love, as his brother is that of the love of wisdom.
my way or the highway
Accept my terms or leave
my word
I promise or guarantee
myrmidons
The constable's assistants, watchmen, &c.
Myrmidons of the Law
Bailiffs, sheriffs' officers, and other law servants. Any rough fellow employed to annoy another is the employer's myrmidon.
mystery bag
A sausage.
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