stiff upper lip
To remain calm and composed in difficult situations
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stiff-fencer
A street-seller of writing paper.
still as a stock
stock still
still waters run deep
A quiet person may have hidden depths or strengths
stills
Undertakers’ slang term for STILL-BORN children. The fee paid by nurses and others for their disposal is usually 2s. 6d. A separate coffin is never given; the STILLS are quietly introduced into one containing an adult about to be buried. STILLS are allowed to accumulate at an undertaker’s until they sometimes number as many as a dozen. Some little time back a very bulky coffin was opened, and found to contain a large quantity of small corpses packed carefully round a large corpse.
stilton
"that’s the STILTON," or "it’s not the STILTON," i.e., that is quite the thing, or that is not quite the thing;—affected rendering of "that is not the CHEESE," which see.
stingo
Strong beer, or other liquor.
stingo
Strong liquor.—Yorkshire.
stink
A disagreeable exposure. "To stir up a STINK" is to make a disclosure which is generally unpleasant in its effect.
stink a buzzard off a gut wagon
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
stink a dog off a gut wagon
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
stink a skunk off a gut wagon
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
stink eye
a dirty or disgusted look
stink on ice
To be completely and utterly useless or worthless
stink pretty
Perfume.
stink the joint out
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
stinkhole
A filthy, squalid place.
stinking
Very drunk.
stinko
Drunk
stinkomalee
A name given to the then New London University by Theodore Hook. Probably because some cow-houses and dunghills stood on the original site. Some question about Trincomalee was agitated at the same time. It is still applied by the students of the old Universities, who regard it with disfavour from its admitting all denominations.
stipe
A stipendiary magistrate.—Provincial.
stir
A prison, a lock-up; "in STIR," in gaol. Anglo-Saxon, STYR, correction, punishment.
stir shit
to cause trouble or provoke a reaction
stir someone's blood
Excite or arouse someone's emotions or passions
stir the embers
To revive or rekindle a dying relationship or situation
Stir Up Sunday
The last Sunday in Trinity. So called from the first two words of the collect. "Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy faithful people . . .". It was an old custom to stir the Christmas plum pudding on this day, hence the old schoolboy rhyme beginning, "Stir up, we beseech thee, the pudding in the pot.
stir-up sunday
The Sunday next before Advent, the collect for that day commencing with the words, "Stir up." Schoolboys, growing excited at the prospect of the vacation, irreverently commemorate it by stirring up—pushing and poking each other. "Crib-crust Monday" and "tug-button Tuesday" are distinguished by similar tricks; while on "pay-off Wednesday" they retaliate small grudges in a playful facetious way.
Stirling Castle
Their presence was unsus- pected, and was revealed through the bare- footed scouts treading on thistles and suddenly crying out; the alarm was given, the Scots fell upon the party and defeated them with terrible slaughter.
stirrup cup
A parting cup or glass, drank on horseback by the person taking leave.
stirrup cup
A "parting cup," given, especially m the Highlands, to guests on leaving when their feet are in the stirrups. Cp.
stirrup oil
A beating; a variety of "strap oil" (0.V.).
stitch
A nick name for a taylor: also a term for lying with a woman.
stitch and bitch
Socialize while sewing or doing needlework.
stiver-cramped
Needy, wanting money. A stiver is a Dutch coin, worth somewhat more than a penny sterling.
stoated
Drunk.
stock
A good stock; i.e. of impudence. Stock and block; the whole: he has lost stock and block.
stock
"To STOCK cards" is to arrange cards in a certain manner for cheating purposes.
Stock Exchange itself
Hence also Capel Courtier, a humorous term for a professional stock-dealer. So called from Sir William Capel, Lord Mayor in 1504.
stock in trade
The fixed capital of a business; the goods, tools, and other requisites of a trade or profession.
stock jobbers
Persons who gamble in Exchange Alley, by pretending to buy and sell the public funds, but in reality only betting that they will be at a certain price, at a particular time; possessing neither the stock pretended to be sold, nor money sufficient to make good the payments for which they contract: these gentlemen are known under the different appellations of bulls, bears, and lame ducks.
stock phrase
A common expression used in a particular context
stockdollager
A heavy blow, a "finisher." Italian, STOCCADO, a fencing term. Also (in a general sense), a disastrous event.—Americanism.
Stockwell Ghost
A supposed ghost that created a great sensation in Stockwell, London, in 1772. The author of the strange noises was Anne Robinson, a servant. Cp. COCK LANE.
stodge
To surfeit, gorge, or clog with food. STODGE is in some places bread and milk.
stodger
A bun.
stogie
A cigar.
Stolen fruit is the sweetest. (Strauss, 1994 p. 835)
Something obtained illicitly is more enjoyable
stoll
To understand.—North Country Cant.
stomach
To bear with, to be partial to. Mostly used in a negative character,—as, "I can’t STOMACH that."
stomach worm
The stomach worm gnaws; I am hungry.
stomper
A foot.
stomping ground
a person's favorite or familiar place
stone
Two stone under weight, or wanting; an eunuch. Stone doublet; a prison. Stone dead; dead as a stone.
Stone Age and beyond
They are cunningly made, with a lower layer of straw or reeds, and an upper layer of clay, and are kept filled mostly by mist and dew. The presence of a dew pond is a sure sign that ancient man dwelt in the neighbourhood.
stone cold
completely unfeeling or unemotional
stone dead
completely dead or unresponsive
stone deaf
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
stone jug
A prison.
stone of stumbling
An obstacle, stumbling- block, or an occasion for being hindered. The phrase is from Isa.
Stone soup
Bernard's soup. The story goes that a beggar asked alms at a lordly mansion, but was told by the servants they had nothing to give him. "Sorry for it," said the man, "but will you let me boil a little water to make some soup of this stone?" This was so novel a proceeding, that the curiosity of the servants was aroused, and the man was readily furnished with saucepan, water, and a spoon.
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