catch sight of
See something or someone briefly
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
catch some rays
to get some sunshine
catch some z's
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch someone napping
To surprise someone who is unprepared or off guard
catch someone's drift
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch someone's eye
attract someone's attention
catch the eye
Attract someone's attention
catch the sun
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch weights
A term in racing, wrestling or boxing, meaning without restrictions as to weight.
catch-penny
Any temporary contrivance to obtain money from the public; penny shows, or cheap exhibitions. Also descriptions of murders which have never taken place.
catch-’em-alive
A humane trap; also a small-tooth comb. A piece of paper smeared with a sweet sticky substance which is spread about where flies most abound, and in this sense not particularly humane. The CATCH-’EM-ALIVE trap for rats and other such animals is humane compared with the gin trap.
catchbet
A bet made for the purpose of entrapping the unwary by means of a paltry subterfuge. See CHERRY COLOUR.
catching harvest
A dangerous time for a robbery, when many persons are on the road, on account of a horse-race, fair, or some other public meeting.
catchy
(similar formation to touchy), inclined to take an undue advantage.
cater cap
A square cap or mortar-board. (Fr. quartier.
cater cousins
Good friends. He and I are not cater cousins, i.e. we are not even cousins in the fourth degree, or four times removed; that is, we have not the least friendly connexion.
caterpillar traction
This is a device for moving a heavy load over soft ground where wheels will sink. Round the wheels passes an endless band of linked plates which so forms a track along which the vehicle pro- gresses. The device is much used for agricul- tural vehicles and for tanks and other military vehicles.
caterwauling
Going out in the night in search of intrigues, like a cat in the gutters.
caterwauling
Applied derisively to inharmonious singing; also love-making, from the noise of cats similarly engaged.
catever
A queer, or singular affair; anything poor, or very bad. From the Lingua Franca, and Italian, CATTIVO, bad. Variously spelled by the lower orders.—See KERTEVER.
catharine-wheel window
A wheel-window, sometimes called a rose-window, with radiating divisions.
cathedral
Old-fashioned. An old cathedral-bedstead, chair, &c.
Catherine Wheel
The inventor of St. Catherine's Wheel, a diabolical machine consisting of four wheels turning different ways, and each wheel armed with saws, knives, and teeth, was killed by his own machine; for when St. Catherine was bound on the wheel, she fell off, and the machine flew to pieces. One of the pieces struck the inventor, and other pieces struck several of the men employed to work it, all of whom were killed. (Meta- phrastes.
Catholic Church
The entire body of Christians considered as a whole, as distin- guished from the Churches and sects into which it has divided. At the Reformation the Western Church was called by the Reformers the Roman Catholic Church, and the Estab- lished Church of England was called the "Protestant Church," or the "Reformed National Church." Many members of the Anglican Church still consider and call themselves Catholics.
Catholic Epistles
Those Epistles in the New Testament not addressed to any particular church or individual; the general epistles, viz. those of James, Peter, and Jude, and the first of John; 2 John is addressed to a "lady," and 3 John to Gaius, and these are usually included.
Catholic Roll
A document which English Roman Catholics were obliged to sign on taking their seats as Member of Parliament. It was abolished, and a single oath prescribed to all members by the 29, 30 Victoria, c. 19 (1866).
cathouse
A brothel.
Catiline's Conspiracy
Lucius Ser- gius Catilina, 64 B.C., conspired with a large number of dissolute young nobles to plunder the Roman treasury, extirpate the senate, and fire the capitol. Cicero, who was consul, got full information of the plot, and delivered his first Oration against Catiline November 8th, 63, whereupon Catiline quitted Rome. Next day Cicero delivered his second Oration, and several of the conspirators were arrested.
Catling Gun
An early form of automatic weapon invented in the U.S.A. in 1867. It had a large number of barrels, the projectiles in which could be discharged in rapid succession. It preceded all types of weapons constructed on the principle of discharging numerous pro- jectiles rapidly through the same barrel, as a machine gun.
Cato Street Conspiracy
A scheme enter- tained by Arthur Thistlewood (1770-1820) and other conspirators to overthrow the Govern- ment by assassinating the Cabinet Ministers (February 1820). So called from Cato Street (now Horace Street), Edgware Road, where their meetings were held.
cats and dogs
It is said to rain cats and dogs when a shower is exceptionally heavy. Probably in ridicule of the remarkable showers which used to find their way into the papers during the "silly season."
CATS below
It is probable that the custom of tormenting cats by the ignorant arose from their supposed connexion with witches.
cattle
Sad cattle: whores or gypsies. Black cattle, bugs. CANT.
cattle
A term of contempt applied to the mob, or to a lot of lazy, helpless servants.
cattle call
An audition where many people are seen briefly
catty
A catapult.
cat’s-meat
A coarse term for the lungs—the "lights" or lungs of animals being usually sold to feed cats.
cat’s-paw
A dupe or tool. From the old story of the monkey who used the cat’s-paw to remove his roast chestnuts from the fire. A sea term, meaning light and occasional breezes occurring in calm weather.
caucus
A private meeting held for the purpose of concerting measures, agreeing upon candidates for office before an election, &c. This is an American term, and a corruption of CAULKER’S MEETING, being derived from an association of the shipping interest at Boston, previous to the War of Independence, who were very active in getting up opposition to England.—See Pickering’s Vocabulary.
caucus race
A chaotic or disorganized competition
Caudine Forks
A narrow pass in the mountains near Capua, now called the
caught short
Lacking something, especially money, when needed
caught up
Completely absorbed or engaged in something
caught with one's pants down
Caught off guard or unprepared
cauliflower
A large white wig, such as is commonly worn by the dignified clergy, and was formerly by physicians. Also the private parts of a woman; the reason for which appellation is given in the following story: A woman, who was giving evidence in a cause wherein it was necessary to express those parts, made use of the term cauliflower; for which the judge on the bench, a peevish old fellow, reproved her, saying she might as well call it artichoke.
caulk
To take a surreptitious nap; sleep generally, from the ordinary meaning of the term; stopping leaks, repairing damages, so as to come out as good as new.—Sea term.
caulker
A dram. The term "caulker" is usually applied to a stiff glass of grog—preferably brandy—finishing the potations of the evening. See WHITEWASH.
causa causata
The cause which owes its existence to the causa causans; the secondary cause.
cause a stir
Create excitement or controversy
cause and effect
A relationship where one event leads to another
caused by something
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
caution
Anything out of the common way. "He’s a CAUTION," is said of an obdurate or argumentative man. The phrase is also used in many ways in reference to places and things.
caution money
A sum deposited before entering college, or an Inn of Court, etc., by way of security for good behaviour.
cautionary tale
A story that warns about the consequences of certain actions
cautions
The four cautions: I. Beware of a woman before.--II. Beware of a horse behind.--III. Beware of a cart side-ways.--IV. Beware of a priest every way.
cavaliers sang political ballads
Pepys (April 23rd, 1660) mentions it under the title of The Blacksmith, by which it was sometimes known.
cavaulting
A vulgar phrase equivalent to "horsing." The Italian CAVALLINO, signifies a rake or debauchee.—Lingua Franca, CAVOLTA. From this comes the Americanism "cavorting," running or riding round in a heedless or purposeless manner.
cave
Or CAVE IN, to submit, shut up.—American. Metaphor taken from the sinking of an abandoned mining shaft.
caveat emptor
Lat., "let the purchaser beware"; i.e. the buyer must keep his eyes open, for the bargain he agrees to is binding.
caviar to the general
Something wasted on someone who doesn't appreciate it
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