children are uncertain comforts but certain cares
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
children should be seen and not heard
Children should be quiet and obedient
children under the girdle
Not yet born. He has a large mouth but small girdle. Great expenses but small means.
children’s shoes
(to make), to be made nought of.—See SHOES.
chill
To warm, as beer. This at first seems like reversing the order of things, but it is only a contraction of "take the CHILL off."
chill to the bone
extremely frightened or shocked
chillax
To relax; to be laid back.
chilly climate
An unfriendly or unwelcoming atmosphere
Chiltern Hundreds
There are three, viz. Stoke, Desborough, and Burnham, Bucks. At one time the Chi Items, between Bedford and Hertford, etc.
chimney chops
An abusive appellation for a negro.
chimney-sweep
The aperient mixture commonly called a black draught.
chimneypot hat
The cylindrical black silk hat, usually known as the top-hat or silk hat.
chin
Talk.
chin-chin
A salutation, a compliment.—Anglo-Chinese.
chin-wag
Officious impertinence.
China Pay
A mineral, obtained largely from Cornwall, used in the manufacture of porce- lain, and by papermakers to obtain finish and consistency, also for coating art and chromo papers.
china plate
A mate.
China syndrome
A hypothetical nuclear reactor meltdown scenario
china's final warning
A last and urgent warning before taking action
chinaman on one's back
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Chinese compliment
a compliment that is actually an insult
Chinese Gordon
General Gordon (killed at Khartoum in 1885), who in 1863 was placed in command of the Ever- Victorious Army (#.v.) and in the following year succeeded, after thirty-three engagements, in putting down the Taeping rebellion, which had broken out in 1851. For this service Gordon was rewarded by the Emperor with the yellow jacket and peacock's feather of a mandarin of the first class.
Chinese green
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Chinese overtime
Working long hours without extra pay
Chinese puzzle
A complex problem that is difficult to solve
Chinese Wall
A barrier to communication or interaction
Chinese water torture
A method of torture or persuasion using slow, repetitive actions
ching
Money (from the sound of a cash register ringing up an amount).
chinging
A stabbing.
chink
Or CHINKERS, money.—Ancient. Derivation obvious.
chink in the armor
A weakness or vulnerability in someone's defenses
chink up
to pay or give money
chinker
Money.
chip
To leave.
chip
A child. A chip of the old block; a child who either in person or sentiments resembles its father or mother.
chip away
Gradually reduce or wear something down
chip in
contribute money or help to a common effort
chip of the old block
A child which physically or morally resembles its father. BROTHER CHIP, one of the same trade or profession. Originally brother carpenter, now general.
chip off the old block
A person who closely resembles a parent in behavior or character
chip on one's shoulder
A grudge or grievance held for a long time
chip shot
An easy task or opportunity
chip up
to cheer up or become more optimistic
Chipping Norton
A number of large stones in a circle, which tradition says are men turned to stone. The highest of them is called the King, who "would have been king of England if he could have caught sight of Long Compton," which may be seen a few steps farther on; five other large stones are called the knights, and the rest common soldiers.
chips
Money.
chips
Money; also a nickname for a carpenter.—Sea.
chips and dip
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
chipzilla
Intel.
chirk up
to become or try to become more cheerful
chirp
To give information, to "peach."
Chirping Cup
A merry-making glass or cup of liquor. Wine that maketh glad the heart of man, or makes him sing for joy. A chirping cup is my matin song, And my vesper bell is my bowl; Ding dong!
chirping merry
Exhilarated with liquor. Chirping glass, a cheerful glass, that makes the company chirp like birds in spring.
chisel
To cheat, to take a slice off anything. Hence the old conundrum: "Why is a carpenter like a swindler?—Because he chisels a deal."
chit
Shit.
chit
A letter; corruption of a Hindoo word.—Anglo-Indian.
chitterlings
The shirt frills once fashionable and worn still by ancient beaux; properly the entrails of a pig, to which they are supposed to bear some resemblance. Belgian SCHYTERLINGH.
chitterlins
The bowels. There is a rumpus among my bowels, i.e. I have the colic. The frill of a shirt.
chitty-faced
Baby-faced; said of one who has a childish look.
chiva
heroin
chivalry
Coition. Probably a corruption from the Lingua Franca. Perhaps from CHEVAULCHER.
chive
Or CHIVEY, a shout, a halloo, or cheer; loud tongued. Probably from CHEVY-CHASE, a boy’s game, in which the word CHEVY is bawled aloud. Dickens uses the word CHIVEY in Bleak House rather freely, but there it is from the other phase of CHEVY-CHASE which follows.
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