shandrydan
An old-fashioned or rickety conveyance of the "shay" order.
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shandy-gaff
Ale and gingerbeer. Origin unknown, but use very common.
Shanks 's Mare
To ride Shanks 's mare is to go on foot, the shanks being the legs. A similar phrase is "Going by the marrow-bone stage" or "by Walker's bus.
shanks naggy
To ride shanks naggy: to travel on foot. SCOTCH.
shanks' mare
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
shanks' nag
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
shanks' pony
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
shanks's mare
One's legs or shanks. Money will make the mare to go.
shanks’s mare
"to ride SHANK’S MARE," to go on foot.
shannon
A river in Ireland: persons dipped in that river are perfectly and for ever cured of bashfulness.
shant
A pot or quart; "SHANT of bivvy," a quart of beer.
shanty
A rude, temporary habitation. The word is principally employed to designate the huts inhabited by navigators, when constructing large lines of railway far distant from towns. It is derived from the French CHANTIER, used by the Canadians for a log hut, and has travelled from thence, by way of the United States, to England.
shape for
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
shape up
improve or behave properly
shape up or ship out
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
shapes
To shew one's shapes; to be stript, or made peel, at the whipping-post.
shapes
"to cut up" or "show SHAPES," to exhibit pranks, or flightiness.
share and share alike
To share something equally among people
shark
A sharper: perhaps from his preying upon any one he can lay hold of. Also a custom-house officer, or tide-waiter. Sharks; the first order of pickpockets. BOW-STREET TERM, A.D. 1785.
shark
A sharper, a swindler. Bow Street term in 1785, now in most dictionaries.—Friesic and Danish, SCHURK. See LAND-SHARK.
shark bait
Someone or something vulnerable to exploitation
sharp
Subtle, acute, quick-witted; also a sharper or cheat, in opposition to a flat, dupe, or gull. Sharp's the word and quick's the motion with him; said of any one very attentive to his own interest, and apt to take all advantages. Sharp set; hungry.
sharp
Or SHARPER, a cunning cheat, a rogue,—the opposite of FLAT.
sharp cookie
A clever and resourceful person
sharp elbows
Aggressive or ruthless in competition or business
sharp practice
Underhand or dishonourable dealing; low-down trickery intended to advantage oneself.
sharp tongue
A sharp tongue refers to a person's ability to speak in a witty or sarcastic manner
sharper
A cheat, one that lives by his wits. Sharpers tools; a fool and false dice.
sharp’s-alley blood-worms
Beef sausages and black puddings. Sharp’s Alley was, until City improvements caused it to be destroyed, a noted slaughtering-place near Smithfield.
shatter the ice
to break the tension or awkwardness in a social situation
shave
A false alarm, a hoax, a sell. This term was much in vogue in the Crimea during the Russian campaign,—that is, though much used by the military before then, the term did not, until that period, become known to the general public.
shave down
reduce something, especially a price or amount
shaver
A cunning shaver; a subtle fellow, one who trims close, an acute cheat. A young shaver; a boy. SEA TERM.
shaver
A sharp fellow; there are young and old SHAVERS.—Sea.
shaving
A stabbing.
shavings
The clippings of money.
she house
A house where the wife rules, or, as the term is, wears the breeches.
She Is on her high ropes
In a distant and haughty temper; "high and mighty." The allu- sion is to a rope-dancer, who looks down on the spectators.
She is usually drawn like St
Denis, carrying her head in her hand. Holywell is St. Winifred's Well, celebrated for its "miraculous" virtues.
she napper
A woman thief-catcher; also a bawd or pimp.
She Stoops to Conquer
Goldsmith's comedy (1773) owes its existence to an incident which actually occurred to its author. When he was sixteen years of age a wag residing at Ardagh directed him, when passing through that village, to Squire Fetherstone's house as the village inn. The mistake was not discovered for some time, and then no one enjoyed it more heartily than Oliver himself.
she'll be right
Everything will be okay
she-oak
Beer.
Shear Thursday
Maundy Thursday,, the Thursday of Holy Week; so called, it is said, because in —
sheathe the sword
To stop fighting or arguing
shebeen
An unlicensed place where spirituous liquors are illegally sold. A word almost peculiar to Ireland.
shed a tear
cry a little, often because of sadness
shed blood
to kill or injure someone
shed find
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
shed light upon
To explain or clarify something
sheeny
A Jew. This word is used by both Jew and Gentile at the East-end of London, and is not considered objectionable on either side.
sheep's head
Like a sheep's head, all jaw; saying of a talkative man or woman.
sheep's head
A fool, a simpleton— Gostanzo: What, sirrah, is that all? No entertainment to the gentlewoman? Valeria: Forsooth y'are welcome by my father's leave.
sheepish
Bashful. A sheepish fellow; a bashful or shamefaced fellow. To cast a sheep's eye at any thing; to look wishfully at it.
sheep’s eyes
Loving looks, "to make SHEEP’S EYES at a person," to cast amorous glances towards one on the sly.
sheet iron
hardtack.
sheila
A woman.
shekel
Money.
shelf
On the shelf, i.e. pawned.
shelf
"on the SHELF," not yet disposed of; young ladies are said to be so situated when they cannot meet with husbands. "On the SHELF" also means pawned, or laid by in trust.
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