The Green Knight
In the old romance, Valentine and Orson, a Pagan who demanded Fezon in marriage but, overcome by Orson, resigned his claim.
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The Green Man
The late gamekeeper of the lord of the manor turned publican. At one time these servants were dressed in green.
The Gregorian Calendar
A modification of the Julian, introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, and adopted in Great Britain in 1752, This is called "the New Style." See GREGORIAN YEAR.
the grey mare's tail
A cataract that is made by the stream which issues from Lochskene, in Scotland, so called from its appearance.
the half of it
only a part of the whole story or situation
the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world
Mothers have significant influence on their children's development and future
the handbags come out
a fight or argument breaks out, especially among women
The Happy Valley
The home of the Prince of Abyssinia in Johnson's tale of Rasselas (1759). It was a Garden of Peace, completely isolated from the world, and replete with every luxury; but life there was so monotonous that the philosopher Imlac and the Prince Rasse- las were glad to escape.
the hard way
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
The Hare and Hounds
In compliment to the sporting squire or lord of the manor.
the hare and the tortoise
An allusion to the well-known fable of the race between the hare and the tortoise, won by the latter; and the moral, "Slow and steady wins the race.
The He Bible
In the two earliest editions of the Authorized Version (both 1611) in the first (now known as "the He Bible") Ruth in',.
the heart sees farther than the head
Intuition is often more perceptive than rational thinking
the heavenly bodies
The sun, moon, stars, and so on. The seven bodies (of alchemists) . The seven metals supposed to correspond with the seven "planets.
The heel of Achilles
The vulnerable or weak point in a man's character or of a nation. Aching Void, An. That desolation of heart which arises from the recollection of some cherished endearment no longer possessed.
the hell you say
An expression of strong disagreement or surprise
The hero of the Nile
Horatio, Lord Nelson (1758-1805). Nimbus (mm/ bus) (Lat., a cloud). In Chris- tian art a halo of light placed round the head of an eminent personage. There are three forms ; (1) Vesica piscis, or fish form {ep. ICHTHUS), used in representations of Christ and occasion- ally of the Virgin Mary, extending round the whole figure; (2) a circular halo; (3) radiated like a star or sun.
the high seas
The open sea, the "main"; especially that part of the sea beyond "the three-mile limit,'* which forms a free highway to all nations.
The Hill of Scandal
So Milton calls the Mount of Olives, because King Solomon built thereon "an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab . . . and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon" (I Kings id, 1).
The hind of Sertorius
Sertorius was invited by the Lusitanians to defend them against the
The Hole in the Wall
Probably so called because it was approached by a small passage or "hole" between houses standing in front of the tavern.
The Holy See
The Papacy, the papal jurisdiction and court.
the hon
SOCIETY OF NEWMAN'S HOTEL.
The Hoose
A familiar name for Christ Church, Oxford, the London Stock Exchange, and the deliberative bodies in various forms of government:
the horns of a dilemma
See DILEMMA. To come (or be squeezed) out at the little end of the horn. To come off badly in some affair; get the worst of it ; fail conspicuously.
The Horse and Chains
A favourite sign for an inn at the foot of a hill, signifying that a chain-horse is kept.
The Horse and Groom
Where a stallion was kept for stud purposes.
the horse bolted
The horse shot off like a bolt or arrow.
The House of God
Not solely a church, or a temple made with hands, but any place sanctified by God's presence. Thus, Jacob in the wilderness, where he saw the ladder set up leading from earth to heaven, said, "This is none but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven" (Gen. xxviii, 17).
The House of Plantagenet
Henry II and the English kings descended in the direct male line from him, viz.
The Hundred Years War
The long series of wars between France and England, beginning in the reign of Edward ILL, 1337, and ending in that of Henry VI, 1453.
The Hungry Forties
A term appUed to the period prior to the repeal of the Corn Laws by Sir Robert Peel in 1846, when, owing to the high price of food, distress was very common, among the poor.
the husband is always the last to know
A husband is often the last person to find out about his wife's infidelity or marital problems
the ice-blink
The name given by mariners to a luminous appearance of the sky, caused by the reflection of light from ice. lif the sky is dark or brown, the navigator may be sure that there is water; if it is white, rosy, or orange- coloured, he may be certain there is ice. The former is called a "water sky," the latter an "ice sky.
The Idle Bible
An edition of 1809, in which "the idole shepherd" (Zech. xi, 17) is printed " the idle shepherd." In the Revised Version the translation is "the worthless shepherd.
the ignorant always adore what they cannot understand
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
The Immortals
The forty members of the French Academy; also the name given to a body of 10,000 foot-soldiers, which constituted the bodyguard of the ancient Persian kings, and to other highly trained troops.
The Imperial Machiavelli
Tiberius, the Roman emperor (42 B.C. to A.D. 37). His political axiom was: "He who knows not how to dissemble knows not how to reign." It was also the axiom of Louis XI of France.
the important thing
The most significant or crucial aspect of a situation
the incense of sweet spices
Prayer, which nses to heaven as incense.
The innocent seldom find an uncomfortable pillow – William Cowper, English poet (1731–1800)
The innocent have a clear conscience and thus sleep well
The Interim of Augsburg
A Concordat drawn up by Charles V in 1548 to allay the religious turmoil of Germany. It was a pro- visional arrangement, based on the Augsburg Confession, and was to be in force till some definite decision could be pronounced by the General Council to be held at Trent. The Interim of Ratisbon was a similar temporary arrangement, resulting from the Diet of Ratisbon (1541).
The Ireland Forgeries
One of the most famous of literary forgers was William Henry Ireland (1777-1835), the son of a bookseller and amateur antiquarian. When only 17 young Ireland produced a number of seemingly ancient leases and other documents purporting to be in the handwriting of William Shake- speare, among them being a love-letter to Ann Hathaway, enclosing a lock of hair.
The Irish Atticus
George Faulkner (1700- 75), bookseller, publisher, and friend of Swift; so called by Lord Chesterfield when Viceroy of Ireland.
The Iron Cross
A Prussian military decora- tion (an iron Maltese cross, edged with silver). It was instituted by Frederick William III in 1813 during the straggle against Napoleon, and was remodelled by William I in 1870, with three grades, in civil and military divisions. In World War I some 3,000,000 Iron Crosses were awarded; there are no figures for World War II.
The Iron Devil
Said to be a corruption of "Hirondelle" (the swallow).
the iron entered into his soul
When anguish or annoyance is felt most keenly.
The Iron Maiden of Nuremberg
A mediaeval instrument of torture used in Germany for "heretics," traitors, parricides, etc. It was a box big enough to admit a man, with folding- doors, the whole studded with sharp iron spikes. When the doors were closed on him these spikes were forced into the body of the victim, who was left there to die in horrible torture.
the irony of fate
A strange fatality which has brought about something quite the reverse of what might have been expected.
The Island of the Moon
Madagascar is so named by the natives. The limbus of the moon. See above.
The ivory shoulder of Pelops
The distin- guishing or distinctive mark of anyone. The tale is that Demeter ate the shoulder of Pelops when it was served up by Tantalus; when the gods put the body back into the cauldron to restore it to life, this portion was lacking, whereupon Demeter supplied one of ivory.
the jig is up
A scheme or deception has been discovered or exposed
the jig is up
Your trickery is discovered. "Jig" was old slang for a joke or trick.
the joke is on someone
Someone is the victim of a joke or trick
The Jolly Roger
The black flag with skull and cross-bones, the favourite ensign of pirates.
the juice is worth the squeeze
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
The Key of the Mediterranean
The Rock of Gibraltar, which commands the entrance be- tween Europe and Africa. It was taken from the Spaniards by a combined British and Dutch force under Sir George Rooke, July 24th, 1704. Spain attempted to retake the Rock in 1705, 1736, and 1779-83 when it was held throughout the lengthy siege by Lord Heathfield (1717-90). See also MARE NOSTRUM.
The Keystone State
Pennsylvania; so called from its position and importance.
The Kfag of the World
The title (in Hindi Shah Jehan) assumed by Khorrum Shah, third son of Selim Jehan Ghir, and fifth of the Mogul emperors of Delhi (reigned 1628-58).
the king can do no wrong. (17th century)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
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