north
Cunning. The inhabitants of Yorkshire and the Northern counties are supposed, like the canny Scots, to get the better of other people in dealing; hence the phrase, "He’s too far NORTH for me," i.e., too cunning for me to deal with.
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North African campaigns
Afterwards served in N.W. Europe. Its divisional sign was a red desert rat on a black ground. The 4th Arm- oured Brigade, also of long standing in the desert, used a black rat on a white ground. The name was given contemptuously by Mussolini but adopted with pride and pleasure.
north allertons
Spurs; that place, like Rippon, being famous for making them.
north and south
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
north country compliment
To give or offer anything that is not wanted by either giver or receiver is to pass a NORTH COUNTRY COMPLIMENT.
north forty
a remote or hard-to-reach area
north of
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
North of England
They were responsible for two risings, in 1715 and 1745, ^the latter marking the virtual end of Jacobitism as a political force. The last male descendant of James II, Henry Cardinal of York, died in 1807; a certain number of sentimental ad- herents to the lost cause are still to be found here and there.
North Pole
For two or three centuries men tried to reach the North Pole, and many were the speculations as to what would be found when they got there. It was not until April 6th, 3909, that the American sailor and explorer Robert Edwin Peary (1856-1920) reached the Pole, by that time known to be the central point of the shallow Arctic basin wherein lies the Arctic Ocean, of which the surface near the Pole is floating and moving ice.
north to south
from the northern part to the southern part of a region
North-west Passage
The name given to an assumed passage to China and the Orient round the north of the American continent. Attempts to find it were made in the 16th and 17th century by such sailors as the Cabots, Frobisher, Gilbert, Davis, Hudson and Baffin. In the 19th century the quest was followed by Ross, Parry, and Sir John Franklin who lost his life and the lives of his crew in the attempt.
Northern Europe
Runes were employed for purposes of secrecy or for divination; and the word is also applied to ancient lore or poetry expressed in runes. Rune is related to A.S. ran, secret.
northern mythology
Egil was a great archer, and in the Saga of Thidnk there is a tale told of him the exact counterpart of the famous story about William Tell and the apple. See TELL.
northumberland
Lord Northumberland's arms; a black eye: so called in the last century.
norway neckcloth
The pillory, usually made of Norway fir.
norwicher
More than one’s share; said of a person who leaves less than half the contents of a tankard for his companion. In what way the term originated, or why Norwich was selected before any other city is not known. Most likely from the slanders which the inhabitants of one town are always inventing about their neighbours.
nose
As plain as the nose on your face; evidently to be seen. He is led by the nose; he is governed. To follow one's nose; to go strait forward. To put one's nose out of joint; to rival one in the favour of any person. To make a bridge of any one's nose; to pass by him in drinking. To nose a stink; to smell it. He cut off his nose to be revenged of his face; said of one who, to be revenged on his neighbour, has materially injured himself.
nose
A thief who turns informer; a paid spy; generally called a policeman’s NOSE; "on the NOSE," on the look-out.
nose about
To search or investigate in a casual or curious way
nose and chin
A winn,—ancient cant for a penny.
nose around
To search or investigate curiously
nose bag
A bag fastened to the horse's head, in which the soldiers of the cavalry put the oats given to their horses: whence the saying, I see the hose bag in his face; i.e. he has been a private man, or rode private.
nose beer
Cocaine.
nose candy
Cocaine.
nose count
a headcount or attendance count
nose in the manger
TO PUT ONE’S, to sit down to eat. To "put on the nose-bag" is to eat hurriedly, or to eat while continuing at work.
nose out of joint
to feel offended or upset, usually because someone is getting attention
nose powder
Cocaine.
nose tax
It is said that in the 9th century the Danes imposed a poll tax in Ireland, and that this was called the "Nose Tax," because those who neglected to pay were punished by having their noses slit.
nose to the grindstone
To work very hard and constantly
nose ’em
Or FOGUS, tobacco. NOSE ’EM is but a contraction of the rhyming slang, which see.
nose-bag
A visitor at a watering-place, or house of refreshment, who carries his own victuals. Term applied by waiters.
nose-ender
A straight blow delivered full on the nasal promontory.
noser
A hard blow, leading to a bloody or contused nose.—Pugilistic.
nosh
Food.
nostrum
A medicine prepared by particular persons only, a quack medicine.
not a chance
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not a hundred mites off
An indirect way of saying in this very neighbourhood, or very spot. The phrase is employed when it would be in- discreet or dangerous to refer more directly to the person or place hinted at.
not a minute too soon
just in time, without a moment to spare
not a pretty sight
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not a red cent
No money at all; "stony- broke." An Americanism; the cent used to be copper, but is now an alloy of copper, tin, and zinc.
not a shirt to one's name
Nothing at all; penniless and propertyless.
Not all those who wander are lost – "All that is gold does not glitter" J.R.R. Tolkien (1954)
Not everyone who is unconventional is without direction or purpose
not any longer
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
not as black as one is painted
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not at all
used to emphasize a negative response
not at home
A familiar locution for "not prepared to receive visitors" — or the one who is applying for admission; it does not neces- sarily mean "away from home.
not be able to hit the broad side of a barn
To be very inaccurate or inept at something
not be caught dead
refuse to do something under any circumstances
not born yesterday
Not to be taken in; worldly wise. Poets are born, not made. One can never be a poet by mere training or education if one has been born without the * 'divine afflatus." A translation of the Latin phrase Poeta nas- citur nonfit, of which an extension is Nascimur poet&fimus orator 'es, we are born poets, we are made orators.
not by a jugful
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not by any means
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not care beans
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not cricket
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not do someone any favors
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not do someone any favours
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
not dry behind the ears
As innocent as a new-born child. When young animals are born, the last place to become dry after birth is the small depression behind each ear.
not enough to hang a dog on
Insufficient evidence to prove something
not even
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
not for donkey's years
Not for a long time. The allusion is to the old tradition that one never sees a dead donkey.