pocket veto
When the President of the U.S.A. refuses to ratify a Bill which has passed both Houses, he is said to pocket it.
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podgy
Drunk; dumpy, short, and fat.
Poet Squab
So Rochester called Dryden, who was very corpulent. Squad, Squadron.
poetic justice
That ideal justice which poets exercise in making the good happy, and the bad unsuccessful in their evil schemes.
poetry in motion
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Poets are born, but orators are trained. (Strauss, 1998 p. 331)
Innate talent differs from developed skill
pogi point
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
pogram
A Dissenter, a fanatic, formalist, or humbug. So called from a well-known enthusiast of this name.
point
To stretch a point; to exceed some usual limit, to take a great stride. Breeches were usually tied up with points, a kind of short laces, formerly given away by the churchwardens at Whitsuntide, under the denomination of tags: by taking a great stride these were stretched.
point blank
Directly and straightforwardly, without hesitation or subtlety
point d'appui
A standpoint; a fulcrum; a position from which you can operate; a pre- text to conceal the real intention. Literally the point of support.
point fingers
To blame or accuse someone
point man
A person who leads or represents a group
point of honour
An obligation which is binding because its violation would offend some conscientious scruple or notion of self- respect.
Point of No Return
In an aeroplane flight, that point at which it is fust as safe, or close, to go forward as to turn back.
point of view
A person's perspective or opinion on something
point out
To indicate or bring attention to something
point something out
To draw attention to something
point the finger at
To blame or accuse someone
point up
to emphasize or draw attention to something
poison pen
A person who writes malicious or insulting letters
poison-pen letter
A malicious or defamatory letter
poisoned
Big with child: that wench is poisoned, see how her belly is swelled. Poison-pated: red-haired.
poisoned chalice
Something that appears desirable but is actually harmful or problematic
poke
A blow with the fist: I'll lend you a poke. A poke likewise means a sack: whence, to buy a pig in a poke, i.e. to buy any thing without seeing or properly examining it.
poke
A bag, or sack; "to buy a pig in a POKE," to purchase anything without seeing it. POKE was originally a pocket. Shakspeare says—
poke bonnet
A long, straight, projecting bonnet, commonly worn by women m the •early 19th century, and still worn by Salvation Army lasses and old-fashioned Quaker women. Why it was so called is not clear — probably because it projects or pokes out.
poke holes in
To criticize or find flaws in an idea or argument
poke one's nose into
To interfere or meddle in someone else's business
poke someone's eye out
to annoy or irritate someone extremely
poke the bear
to provoke or annoy someone
poker
A sword. Fore pokers; aces and kings at cards. To burn your poker; to catch the venereal disease.
poker
"By the holy POKER and the tumbling Tom!" an Irish oath.
Poker Face
An expressionless face charac- teristic of the good poker-player who assumes it to conceal from his adversaries any idea of what cards he may be holding.
pokers
Or SILVER POKERS, the Bedels of the Vice-Chancellor, who carry silver maces, and accompany him through the streets. They are also officers of his court.—University.
pokey
Slow.
poky
Jail.
poky
Confined or cramped; "that corner is POKY and narrow." Housewives describe a small uncomfortable room as "a POKY hole." Saxon, POKE, a sack.
pole
He is like a rope-dancer's polo, lead at both ends; a saying of a stupid sluggish fellow.
pole-smoker
A person who performs fellatio.
poles apart
Completely different in opinion or character
police officer
a law enforcement official
police station
A building where police officers work and operate
policeman
A fly—more especially the kind known as "blue bottle." Also, among the dangerous classes, a man who is unworthy of confidence, a sneak or mean fellow.
policy of pin pricks
A policy of petty annoy- ances. The term came into prominence during the strained relations between England and France in 1898, and is an Anghcization of the very much older French phrase, un coup tfepingle.
polish
To polish the king's iron with one's eyebrows; to be in gaol, and look through the iron grated windows. To polish a bone; to eat a meal. Come and polish a bone with me; come and eat a dinner or supper with me.
polish a turd
to try to improve something that is fundamentally bad or useless
Polish Corridor
The territory given to Poland by the Treaty of Versailles to enable her to have access to the Baltic Sea. It followed roughly the line of the Vistula and reached the sea to the west of Danzig (declared a free city) and the port of Gdynia was built by Poland for her commerce. The Corridor cut off East Prussia from the rest of Germany and was one of the causes of irritation which eventually led to World War II.
polish off
to finish or complete something quickly
Polish Off
To finish out of hand. In allusion to articles polished. I'll polish him off in no time.
polish parliament
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
polite fiction
A courteous but untrue statement
politeness costs nothing and gains everything
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
political economy
Science of the production, distribution, and management of wealth, especially as dealing with the principles where- by the revenues and resources of a nation are made the most of.
political liberty
The freedom of a nation from any unjust abridgment of its rights and independence; the right to participate in political elections and civil offices, and to have a voice in the administration of the laws under which one lives.
politically correct
Avoiding language or behavior that may offend certain groups
politics makes strange bedfellows
Unlikely individuals or groups form alliances due to shared interests
poll
The head, jolly nob, napper, or knowledge box; also a wig.
poll
At Cambridge, the "ordinary degree" candidates for the B.A. Examination, who do not aspire to the "Honours" list. From the Greek, οἱ πόλλοι, "the many."
polony
Cockney shortening and vulgar pronunciation of Bologna (sausage). The sausages which are sold under the name of POLONIES have, however, no nearer connexion with Bologna sausages than that of the word’s derivation.
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