the cat's pajamas
Excellent or wonderful
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the cat's pyjamas
Something or someone excellent or wonderful
The Catholic Church
The Western Church called itself so when it separated from the
The Cave of the Nativity
The tradition that the rock cave near Constantino's basilica, S. Maria a Praesepio, is the birthplace of the Saviour dates from the time of St. Jerome (d. 420), when Bethlehem had been a wood- covered wilderness since it was devastated by Hadrian three hundred years earlier.
The character was based on Dr
Joseph Bell of the Edinburgh Infirmary, whose methods of deduction suggested a system that Holmes developed into a science; his stooge Watson was a skit on Doyle himself.
The Chequers
(1) in honour of the Stuarts, whose shield was "cheeky," like a Scotch plaid. <2) In commemoration of the licence granted by the Earls of Arundel or Lords Warrenne. (3) An intimation that a room is set apart for merchants and accountants, where they can be private and make up their accounts, or use their "chequers" undisturbed.
the chicken or the egg
A situation where it's unclear which factor is the cause and which is the effect
the chickens come home to roost
Consequences of past actions return to haunt or harm someone.
the child is father to the man
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
The Chinese dragon
In China, a five-clawed dragon is introduced into pictures and embroidered on state dresses as an amulet.
The Christian Cicero
Lucius Coelius Lac- tantius, a Christian father, who died about 330.
The Christian Virgil
Marco Girolamo Vida (d. 1566), an Italian Latin poet, author of Christias in six books (1535), an imitation of the AZneid.
The Church Invisible
Those who are known to God alone as His sons and daughters by adoption and grace. See CHURCH VISIBLE.
The Church Militant
The Church as consisting of the whole body of believers, who are said to be "waging the war of faith" against "the world, the flesh, and the devil.'* It is therefore militant, or in warfare.
The Church Triumphant
Those who are dead and gone to their rest. Having fought the fight and triumphed, they belong to the Church triumphant in heaven.
The Church Visible
All ostensible Chris- tians; all who profess to be Christians; all who have been baptized and admitted into Church
The City College
An old irony. Newgate. The City of Bells. Strasburg. The City of Brotherly Love. A somewhat ironical, but quite etymological, nickname of Philadelphia (Gr. Philadelphia means "broth- erly love").
The City of Destruction
In Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, the world of the uncon- verted.
The City of God
The Church, or whole body of believers; the kingdom of Christ, in contradistinction to the City of Destruction (<7.v.). The phrase is that of St.
The City of Lanterns
A supposititious city in Lucian's Veree Historice, situate somewhere beyond the zodiac. Cp. LANTERN-LAND.
The City of Legions
Caerleon-on-Usk, where King Arthur held his court. The City of Lilies. Florence.
The City of Palaces
Agrippa, in the reign of Augustus, converted Rome from "a city of brick huts to one of marble palaces.
The City of Saints
Montreal, in Canada, is so named because all the streets are named after saints. Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A., also is known as the "City of the Saints," from the Mormons who inhabit it.
The City of St
Michael. Dumfries, of which city St. Michael is the patron saint.
The City of the Seven Hills
Rome, built on seven hills (Urbs septacollis}. The hills are the Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquilme, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal.
The City of the Three Kings
Cologne; the reputed burial-place of the Magi (q.v.).
The City of the Tribes
Galway ; because it was anciently the home of the thirteen "tribes" or chief families, who settled there in 1232 with Richard de Burgh.
the clang of shields
When a chief doomed a man to death, he struck his shield with the
The Coach and Horses
A favourite sign of a posting-house or stage-coach house.
the coast is clear
No danger.
the coast is clear
There is no likelihood of interference. It was originally a smuggling term, implying that no coastguards were about.
the coast is clear. (17th century)
There are no problems or dangers present
the cobbler always wears the worst shoes
A skilled person often neglects their own needs
the cobbler's wife is the worst shod
Those who should be best served are often the worst off
The Cock and Bottle
By some said to be a corruption of the "Cork and Bottle," meaning that wine is sold there in bottles.
The Cockney School
A nickname given by Lockhart (see quotation below) to a group of writers including Leigh Hunt, Hazlitt, Shelley, and Keats. It was a term of opprobrium, on account of the kind of rhymes they used m their verse, which smacked too much of every- day life instead of the classic purity preferred by the critics.
the comeback is greater than the setback
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
The Cornish Wonder
John Opie (1761- 1807), of Cornwall, the painter. It was "Peter Pindar" (John Wolcot) who gave him this name.
The Council of Nice
The first oecumenical council of the Christian Church, held under Constantino the Great in 325 at Nice, or Nicaa, in Bithynia, Asia Minor, to condemn the Arian heresy, to affirm the consubstantiality of the Son of God, and to deal with points of discipline. The seventh oecumenical council was also held at Nice (787).
The Council of Ten
A secret tribunal exercising unlimited powers in the old Venetian republic. Instituted in 1310 with ten members, it was later enlarged to 17, and continued in active existence till the fall of the republic in 1797.
the course of true love never did run smooth
True love often faces difficulties and obstacles
The Court of Peculiars
A branch of the Court of Arches which had jurisdiction over the "peculiars" of the archbishop of Canter- bury. See above.
The Court of St
James's. The British court, to which foreign ambassadors are officially accredited. St. James's Palace, Pall Mall, stands on the site of a 12th-century leper hospital dedicated to St. James the Less. The Palace was a royal residence from 1698 until 1837, and since then has been used for levees and drawing-rooms.
the craft
Minecraft.
The Cross Keys
Common in the mediaeval ages, and in allusion to St. Peter, or one of the bishops whose cognizance it is — probably the lord of the manor or the patron saint of the parish church. The cross keys are emblems of the papacy, St.
The Crown of St
Stephen. The crown of Hungary, this St. Stephen being the first king of Hungary (1000-38). He was a pagan, born at Gran about 969, and was converted to Chris- tianity about 995. During his reign the faith became firmly established in his kingdom. He was canonized by Benedict IX shortly after his death, and is commemorated on September 2nd.
The Crown of Thorns
That with which our Saviour was crowned in mockery (Matt, xxyii, 29); hence sometimes used of a very special affliction with which one is unjustly burdened. t Calvin (Admonitio de Reliquiis) gives a long list of places claiming to possess one or more of the thorns which composed the Saviour's crown. To his list may be added Glastonbury Abbey, where was also the spear of Longius or Longinus.
the crystalline sphere
According to Ptolemy, the ninth orb, identified by some with "the waters which were above the firmament" (Gen. i, 7); it was placed between the "primum mobile " and the firmament or sphere of the fixed stars and was held to have a shivering movement that interfered with the regular motion of the stars.
the cup of vows
In Scandinavia it was anciently customary at feasts to drink from cups of mead, and vow to perform some great deed worthy of the song of a skald. There were four cups: one to Odin, for victory; one to Freyja, for a good year; one to Niord, for peace; and one to Bragi, for celebration of the dead in poetry.
the cupboard is bare
There is no food or money left.
The curse of Cain
One who is always on the move and has no abiding place is said to be "cursed with the curse of Cain.
The curse of Scotland
The nine of dia- monds. It may refer to the arms of Dalrymple, Earl of Stair — viz. or, on a saltire argent, nine lozenges of the first. The earl was justly held in abhorrence for the massacre of Glencoe, and he was also detested in Scotland for his share in bringing about the Union with England in 1707.
the curtain falls
An event or situation comes to an end
the customer is always right
Businesses should prioritize customer satisfaction
the cut of his jib
The contour or expression of his face A sailor's phrase. The cut of a jib or foresail of a ship indicates her character, hence a sailor says of a suspicious vessel, he "does not like the cut of her jib.
the dansant
An afternoon tea party, with dancing. Theagenes and Chariclea (the aj' e nez, char i kle' a). The hero and heroine of an erotic romance in Greek by Heliodorus, Bishop of Trikka (4th century).
The Dark Ages
The earlier centuries of the Middle Ages (<7.v.); so called because of the intellectual darkness thought to be characteristic of the period.
The dark Continent
Africa; concerning which the world was so long "in the dark," and which, also, is the land of dark races.
the darkest hour is just before the dawn
The most difficult moment often precedes a resolution or improvement
the day is short and the work is long. (15th century)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
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