The Emerald Isle
Ireland. This term was first used by Dr. Drennan (1754-1820), in the poem called Erin. Of course, it refers to the bright-green verdure of the island.
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the end justifies the means
A false doctrine, frequently condemned by various popes, which teaches that evil means may be employed to produce a good effect. The true doctrine is that an act is vitiated by any defect in the act itself; not even the smallest sin may be committed that good may come.
the end of one's rope
Completely out of ideas or resources to deal with a situation
the ends of the earth
The remotest parts of the earth, the regions farthest from civilization.
the enemy of my enemy is my friend
A person's opponent's opponent is a potential ally
The English Atticus
Joseph Addison (1672-1719), so called by Pope (Prologue to Satires), on account of his refined taste and philosophical mind.
The English Ennius
Layamon (fl. c. 1200), who made a late Anglo-Saxon paraphrase of Wace's Roman de Brut, has been so called, but the title is usually given to Chaucer.
The English Hobbema
John Crome (1768- 1821), "Old Crome," of Norwich, whose last words were, "O Hobbema, Hobbema, how I do love thee!
The English Merlin
William Lilly (1602-81), the astrologer, who published two tracts under the name of "Merhnus Anghcus" and was the most famous charlatan of his day.
The Established Church
The State Church, the Church officially recognized and adopted by any country. In England it is Episcopalian (see ANGLICAN CHURCH above), in Scotland Presbyterian, but in Wales, since the dis- establishment of the Church of England in Wales by Act of Parliament in 1920, there is no Established Church.
the eternal fitness of things
The congruity between an action and the agent. Can any man have a higher notion of the rule of right, and the eternal fitness of things? — FIELDING: Tom Jones, Bk. iv, ch. iv.
the eternal tables
In Mohammedan legend, a white pearl extending from east to west, and from heaven to earth, on which God has recorded every event, past, present, and to come.
The Eve of St
Agnes, we are told — how, upon St. Agnes' Eve, Young virgins might have visions of delight, And soft adorings from their loves receive Upon the honey'd middle of the night. If ceremonies due they did aright; As, supperless to bed they must retire.
the exception proves the rule
An unusual case confirms a general principle
the exception which proves the rule
An unusual case confirms a general principle
The eye looks but it is the mind that sees. (Strauss, 1994 p. 1175)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
the eye of the storm
An opening between the storm clouds. Cp. BULL'S EYE. To cast sheep's eyes at one. See SHEEP.
The fair maid of Ireland
Ignis fatuus (#.v.). He had read in former times of a Going Fire, called "Ignis Fatuus." the fire of destiny, by some, "Wall with the Wisp," or "Jack with the Lantern"; and like- wise, by some simple country people, "The Fair Maid of Ireland," which used to lead wandering travellers out of their way. — The Seven Champions of Christendom, i, 7.
the fair sex
Women generally; the phrase was modelled on the French le beau sexe.
The Fall of man
The degeneracy of the human race in consequence of the disobedience of Adam.
the family of love
Certain fanatics in the 16th century, holding tenets not unlike those of the Anabaptists. They were founded by David Jons (or George), a Dutchman (1501- 65), and in England formed a sect of the Puritans in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. They are also known as the "Familists.
the fancy
In early 19th-century sporting parlance a collective name for prize-fighters. The patrons of the Fancy are proud of their champion's condition.
The Farnese Bull
A colossal group attribu- ted to Apollonius and Tauriscus of Tralles, in
The Farnese Hercules
Glykon's copy of the famous statue of Lysippus, the Greek sculptor in the time of Alexander the Great It represents the hero leaning on his club, with one hand on his back, as if he had just got possession of the apple of the Hesperides. It is now at the Museo Nazionale, Naples.
the fat is in the fire
A situation has been made worse or more complicated
the fat is in the fire
Something has been let out inadvertently which will cause a "regular flare up"; it's all over, all's up with it. The allusion is to frying; if the grease is spilt into the fire, the coals smoke and blaze so as to spoil the food.
the fatal necklace
Cadmus received on his wedding-day the present of a necklace, which proved fatal to everyone who possessed it. Some say that Vulcan, and others that Europa, gave it to him. Harmonia's necklace (#.v.) was a similar fatal gift.
The Fatal Vespers
October 26th, 1623. A congregation of some 300 had assembled in a small gallery over the gateway of the French ambassador, in Blackfriars, to hear Father Drury, a Jesuit, preach. The gallery gave way, and Drury with another priest and about 100 of the congregation were killed. This accident was attributed to God's judgment against the Jesuits.
The Father of Medicine
Areteeus of Cap- padocia, who lived at the close of the first and
The Father of Waters
The Mississippi, the chief river of North America. The Missouri is its child. The Irrawaddy is so called also.
The Feast of Fools
A kind of Saturnalia, popular in the Middle Ages. Its chief object was to honour the ass on which Our Lord made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
the feast of lanterns
A popular Chinese festival, celebrated at the first full moon of each year. Tradition says that the daughter of a famous mandarin one evening fell into a lake. The father and his neighbours went with lanterns to look for her, and happily she was rescued. In commemoration thereof a festival was ordained, and it grew in tune to be the celebrated "feast of lanterns.
The Feast of Trumpets
A Jewish festival, held on the first two days of Tisri (about mid Sept. to mid Oct.), the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, at which the blowing of trumpets formed a prominent part of the ritual. See Num. xxix, 1.
the feathers fly
A big argument or fight happens
the female of the species is more deadly than the male
Women are often more dangerous or ruthless than men
The Ferrara Bible
The first Spanish edition of the Old Testament, translated from the Hebrew in 1553 for the use of the Spanish
The Festival of the Popinjay
The first Sunday in May, when a figure of a popinjay, decked with parti-coloured feathers and suspended from a pole, served as a target for shooting practice. He whose ball or arrow brought down the bird by cutting the string by which it was hung, received the proud title of "Captain Popinjay," or "Captain of the Popinjay," for the rest of the day, and was escorted home in triumph.
the field of blood
Aceldama (Acts i, 19), the piece of ground purchased with the blood- money of our Saviour, and set apart for the burial of strangers.
The Fighting Fifth
The 5th Foot, now the "Nor- thumberland Fusiliers." This sobriquet was given to the regiment during the Peninsular War; it was also known as the "Old and Bold Fifth," and "the Duke of Wellington's Body-guard.
The Fighting Prelate
Henry Spencer, Bishop of Norwich, who greatly distinguished himself in the rebellion of Wat Tyler. He met the rebels in the field, with the temporal sword, then absolved them, and sent them to the gibbet.
the fine arts
Those arts which chiefly depend on a delicate or fine imagination, as music, painting, poetry, and sculpture, as opposed to the useful arts, i.e.
the finest
The best or highest quality of something
the finger
a person blamed or accused
The first chapter of fools is to think themselves wise. (Strauss, 1994 p. 879)
Foolish people often believe they are wise
the first movable
See PRIMUM MOBILE. To move the adjournment of the House (i.e. the House of Commons). To bring forward a motion of adjournment, which can only be done in certain special circumstances. This is the only method by which the rules of the House allow a member to bring up, without notice, business which is not on the order paper.
the first step to health is to know that we are sick
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
the first thing
The first item or action in a series
the first thing I did
The initial action taken in a situation
the first time in history
an event that has never happened before
The Five Articles of Perth
Those passed in 1618 by order of James VI, enjoining the attitude of kneeling to receive the elements; the observance of Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and Pentecost; the rite of confirmation, etc. They were ratified August 4th, 1621, called Black Saturday, and condemned in the General Assembly of Glasgow in 1638.
The Five Members
Pym, Hampden, Hasel- rig, Strode, and Holies; the five members of the Long Parliament whom Charles I attempted to arrest in 1642.
The Five Nations
A description applied by Kipling to the British Empire— the Old Country, with Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India.
The Five Towns
Towns in the Potteries in which Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) laid the scene of many of his novels and stories. They are Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke-upon- Trent, Longton.
the five wits
Common sense, imagination, fantasy, estimation, and memory. Common sense is the outcome of the five senses; imagination is the "wit" of the mind; fantasy is imagination united with judgment; estima- tion estimates the absolute, such as time, space, locality, and so on; and memory is the "wit" of recalling past events.
The Five-mile Act
An Act passed in 1665 (repealed in 1689) prohibiting ministers who had refused to subscribe to the Act of Uni- formity from coming within five miles of any corporate town or within that distance of the scene of their old ministry.
the flag of distress
A flag hoisted at the masthead in reverse position to signal that trouble of some sort is on board.
the flag's down
Indicative of distress When the face is pale the "flag is down." Alluding to the ancient custom of taking down the flag of theatres during Lent, when the theatres were closed.
the fly in the ointment
The trifling cause that spoils everything; a biblical phrase.
the fly on the coach-wheel
One who fancies himself of mighty importance, but who is in reality of none at all. The allusion is to ^Esop's fable of a fly sitting on a chariot-wheel and saying, "See what a dust I make!
The Flying Dutchman
See FLYING. Well, I'm a Dutchman! An exclamation of strong incredulity.
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