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A step the consequences of which cannot be foreseen. Thomas Hobbes is reported to have said on his death-bed, "Now am I about to take my last voyage — a great leap in the dark " Hallam considered this term to apply to the period lasting from A.D. 475 to about the middle of the 12th century; in 1868 Lord Derby applied the words to the Reform Bill.
An obsequious person, who dances attendance on the master and mistress of a house, for which service he has a knife and fork at the dinner table.
A compliment which insinuates a reproach.
A morganatic marriage (#.v.), in which the husband gave his left hand to the bride instead of the right, when saying, "I take thee for my wedded wife.
A person's nature cannot be changed
To give a lick and a promise to a piece of work is to do it in a hasty and superficial way — as a cat might give its dirty face one quick lick of its tongue with a promise of more cleaning later.
False information spreads quickly, while truth takes time to catch up
Because it cannot stand alone. In fact, a lie wants twenty others to support it, and even then is in constant danger of tripping. Cp. LIAR (Liars should have good memories).
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
From Eccles. x, 20; "Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, ... for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
Having some resources, but not enough to be sufficient
Edwardian slang for a girl, especially a lively one of the fluffy variety.
Taking a combination of options or ideas from different sources
Some assistance or support
Limited knowledge can lead to overconfidence and mistakes
a small amount of money
a small additional amount
A small amount can be very effective or have a big impact.
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
A small person is quickly "riled." Grumio makes humorous use of the phrase in The Taming of the Shrew (iv, 1).
something pleasant that makes a difficult situation more acceptable
a large amount of time
At a point far in the past
a significant distance or amount of time
A worthless fellow who lives on the loose. A loose card is a card of no value, and consequently the properest to throw away. — HOYIE: Games, etc.
A man of loose or dissolute habits. Fish as applied to a human being usually carries with it a mildly derogatory implication.
Writing is an all-consuming and potentially destructive passion
a significantly greater amount or degree
A large quantity of something
Many tasks or activities to complete
A stone with a natural hole through it. Cp. LUCK PENNY.
People have control over their actions, but not over their desires or intentions.
An old-fashioned term for a Negro, or, more strictly speaking, one with Negro blood.
One born east of the Med- way. These men went out with green boughs to meet the Conqueror, and obtained in conse- quence a confirmation of their ancient privi- leges from the new king.
An accomplished man ; one who is clever, talented, or of high intellectual ability.
A man without means, with no more substance than a straw doll; also, an imaginary or fictitious person put forward for some reason.
A model man; like one fashioned in wax. Horace speaks of the "waxen arms of Telephus," meaning model arms, or of perfect shape and colour; and the nurse says of Romeo, "Why, he's a man of wax (i, 3), which she explains by saying, "Nay, he's a flower, i* faith a very flower.
Someone who talks a lot but does little is unproductive
One who neglects their health is like a worker neglecting their essential equipment
Someone with nothing to lose has nothing to fear
Marriage can greatly improve or worsen a man's life
One should keep their mistakes or foolish actions private.
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
A method or system for conveying information
a way or method to achieve something
a vehicle or system for traveling
All sound and fury, signifying nothing; like the attempt to dis- charge an old flint-lock gun that ends with a flash in the lock-pan, the gun itself "hanging fire." lilat* One who is not sharp.
One cannot change the past
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
A small failure is just as bad as a large one
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
a short period of time
Aa indefinite long time; never. See NEVER.
Properly the Mass, or lesser funeral solemnities, that in pre-Refor- mation days was said for a deceased person on the day one month from his death. The term often occurs in old wills in connexion with charities to be disbursed on that day.
So George IV called the Scots when, in 1822, he visited their country and was received with great expres- sions of loyalty.
One not born in lawful wedlock. The Romans called the children of concubines naturales, children according to nature, and not according to law.
A new person brings new energy and efficiency
Acquiring a new language brings new opportunities and experiences
The place in which a ship is anchored is called its berth, and the sailors call it a good or bad berth as they think it favourable or otherwise. The space also allotted to a seaman for his ham- mock is called his berth.