a cold day in July
something that is very unlikely to happen
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a cool card
A person who coolly asks for something preposterous or outrageous. "Cool" in this connexion means coolly impudent. Cp. COOLING CARD below.
a cooling card
An obsolete expression for something that cools one's ardour, probably derived from some old game of cards. It is quite common in Elizabethan literature.
a coon's age
Quite a long time; a "month of Sundays" (U.S. slang).
a couple of something
a small, informal number of something
a cross
The Christian's life and conflict; the death of Christ for man's redemption.
a crown
The reward of the perseverance of the saints.
a curtain call
An invitation to an actor to appear before the curtain, and receive the applause of the audience.
a day after the fair
Too late; the fair you came to see is over. Day in, day out. All day long and every day. Every dog has its day. See DOG.
a day or two
a short period of time
a dead dog
Something utterly worthless. A Biblical phrase (see I Sam. xxiv, 14, "After whom is the king of Israel come out? After a dead dog?") Cp. also Is THY SERVANT, etc., below.
a dead hand
It was believed that a candle placed in a dead man's hand gives no light to any but those who use it. See HAND.
a decline in student numbers
a decrease in the number of students
a deluge of words and a drop of sense
Many words with little meaningful content
a diamond of the first water
A specially fine diamond, one of the greatest value for its size. The colour or lustre of a diamond is called its "water.
a dirty dog
One morally filthy; one who talks and acts nastily. In the East the dog is still held in abhorrence, as the scavenger of the streets. "Him that dieth in the city shall the dogs eat" (1 Kings xiv, 1 1).
a diver lining
The prospect of better days, the promise of happier times. The saying, Erery; cloud has a silver lining, is an old one; thus m Milton's Comus, the Lady lost in the wood resolves to hope on, and sees a "sable cloud turn forth its silver lining to the night.
a dog in a doublet
A bold, resolute fellow. In Germany and Flanders the strong dogs employed for hunting the wild boar were dressed in a kind of buff doublet buttoned to their bodies. Rubens and Sneyders have represented several m their pictures. A false friend is called a dog in one"s doublet.
a dog in the manger
A churlish fellow, who will not use what is wanted by another, nor yet let the other have it to use. The allusion is to the well-known fable of a dog that fixed his place in a manger, would not allow an ox to come near the hay and would not eat it himself.
a dog is a man's best friend
A dog is extremely loyal and beneficial to its owner
a dog will not howl if you beat him with a bone
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
a double first
In the first class both of the classical and mathematical final examinations, Oxford; or of the classical and mathematical triposes, Cambridge. Now, a first class in any two final examinations.
a douse in the chops
A heavy blow in the face. My fellow-servant Umphry Klinker bid him be sivil, and he gave the young man a douse in the chops ; but I'fachins, Mr. Klinker wa'n't long in his debt — • with a good oaken sapling he dusted his doublet. — SMOLLETT: Humphrey Clinker, Lett, xxxiv.
a downy cove
A knowing fellow, up to, or, as formerly, down to every dodge.
a dream come true
Something that is very desirable and has finally happened
a drop in the ocean
An infinitesimal quan- tity; something that scarcely counts or matters in comparison with the whole.
a drop of the creature
A little whisky. The Irish call it "a drop of the cratur.
a dropping fire
An irregular fusillade from small-arms, machine guns, etc.
a drowning man will clutch at a straw
A desperate person will try anything to survive
a far cry
A long way; a very considerable distance; used both of space and of time, as, "it is a far cry from David to Disraeli," but they both were Jews, "it's a far cry from Clapham to Kamschatka." Sir Walter Scott several times uses the phrase, "It's a far cry to Lochow (Lochawe)," and he tells us that this was a proverbial expression among the Campbells, meaning that their ancient hereditary dominions lay beyond the reach of an invading enemy.
a far remove
very far away in distance or character
a fat and pursy man
Shakespeare has "pursy insolence," the insolence of Jesunin, "who waxed fat and kicked." In Hamlet we have "the fatness of these pursy times" — i.e. wanton or self-indulgent times.
a feather in one's cap
An achievement to be proud of; something creditable.
a feather in your cap
An honour to you. The allusion is to the very general custom in Asia and among the American Indians of adding a feather to the headgear for every enemy slain. The ancient Lycians, and many others had a similar custom, and it is still usual for the sportsman who kills the first woodcock to pluck out a feather and stick it in his cap.
a few
a small, indefinite number
a few minutes
a short period of time
a few sandwiches short of a picnic
Lacking intelligence.
a few times
On several occasions
a few years
a small, indefinite number of years
a figure of fun
Of droll appearance, whether from untidiness, quaintness, or other peculi- arity. "A pretty figure'* is a rather stronger expression.
a fish out of water
Said of a person who is out of his usual environment and so feels awkward and in the way; also of one who is without his usual occupation and is restless in consequence.
a fool and his money are soon parted
Someone who is foolish with their finances will quickly lose their money
a fool is ever laughing
A foolish person often laughs inappropriately or excessively
A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees. (William Blake)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
a fool's paradise
To be in a fool's paradise is to be in a state of contentment or happiness that rests only on unreal, fanciful foundations.
a fox's sleep
A sleep with one eye. Assumed indifference to what is going on. See above.
a free fight
A fight in which all engage, rules being disregarded.
a free lance
One who acts on his own judg- ment, and not from party motives; a journalist who is not definitely attached to, or on the salaried staff of, any one paper.
a friend at court
Properly, a friend in a court of law who watches the trial and tells the judge if he can discover an error (see AMICUS CURLE). The term is generally applied to a friend who is hi a position to help one by influencing those in power.
a friend cannot be known in prosperity nor an enemy be hidden in adversity
You can't truly know someone's intentions when things are going well
a friend in need is a friend indeed
If a friend helps one when one is in need, that person is a true friend.
a friend is best found in adversity
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
a friend to everyone is a friend to no one
Someone who tries to be friends with everyone may not have any genuine friendships
a gentleman at large
A man of means, who does not have to work for his living, and is free to come and go as he pleases. Formerly the term denoted a gentleman attached to the court but having no special duties.
a gentleman of fortune
A pirate, an adven- turer (a euphemistic phrase).
a given name
In American usage a given name is a first, or Christian name.
a go-between
One who acts as an inter- mediary; one who interposes between two parties.
A golden bit does not make the horse any better. (Strauss, 1998 p. 52)
External show does not improve inner quality
a gone coon
A person in a terrible fix; one on the verge of ruin. The coon being hunted for its fur is a "gone coon" when it is treed and so has no escape from its pursuers.
a good beginning makes a good ending. (14th century)
A successful start leads to a successful outcome