flints
Journeymen taylors, who on a late occasion refused to work for the wages settled by law. Those who submitted, were by the mutineers styled dungs, i.e. dunghills.
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flip
Small beer, brandy, and sugar: this mixture, with the addition of a lemon, was by sailors, formerly called Sir Cloudsly, in memory of Sir Cloudsly Shovel, who used frequently to regale himself with it.
flip
Corruption of FILLIP, a light blow. Also a hot drink. See FLANNEL.
flip one's lid
to become extremely angry or excited
flip one's wig
to become extremely excited or upset
flip shit
to suddenly become very angry or upset
flip the bird
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
flip-flap
A peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers when merry or excited—better described, perhaps, as the "double-shuffle" danced with an air of extreme abandon. Also, a kind of somersault, in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet alternately.
flipper
The hand; "give us your FLIPPER," give me your hand.—Sea. Metaphor taken from the flipper or paddle of a turtle.
float someone's boat
to please or excite someone
floater
A small suet dumpling put into soup.—Whitechapel.
Floating Academy
The hulks (q.v.) ; a convict ship. Flogging a dead horse. See HORSE.
flog
To sell.
flog a dead pony
to continue trying to achieve something that is hopeless
flog the dolphin
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
flog the log
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
flogger
A whip.—Almost obsolete. FLOGGER is still the term applied to a number of strips of cloth attached to a handle, and used in theatrical painting rooms to beat off the dust of the charcoal used in sketching a scene.
flogging cove
The beadle, or whipper, in Bridewell.
flogging cully
A debilitated lecher, commonly an old one.
flogging the dead horse
Trying to revive interest in a subject out of date. Bright said that Earl Russell's Reform Bill (1867) was a "dead horse,'* and every attempt to create any enthusiasm in its favour was like "flogging the dead horse.
flogster
One addicted to flogging. William IV., who was accused of unduly and excessively punishing the sailors whom he commanded when in the navy, was nicknamed in the newspapers "Prince William Henry FLOGSTER."
flood the zone
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
flooey
Drunk.
floor
To knock down.—Pugilistic.
floor it
to accelerate a vehicle to its maximum speed
floor one could eat off
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
floor to ceiling
Completely or totally, from the lowest to the highest point
floored
When a picture is hung on the lowest row at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, it is, in artistic slang, said to be FLOORED, in contradistinction to "skyed," which see.
floorer
A blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down, or bring him to the floor. Often used in reference to sudden and unpleasant news.
flop
To plump; "to go FLOP down," to fall suddenly, with violence and noise.
floppy infant syndrome
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
flora and fauna
Plants and animals, especially in a particular region
Flora's Dial
A fanciful or imaginary dial supposed to be formed by flowers which open or close at stated hours.
Florid Architecture
The later stages of the pointed style in England (about 1480-1537), often called the Tudor, remarkable for its florid character, or profusion of ornament .
flotsam and jetsam
Useless or discarded material
Flotsam and Jetsam
Wreckage found in the sea or on the shore. "Flotsam," goods found floating on the sea; "jetsam," things thrown out of a ship to lighten it. (O,Fr. floter, to float; FT. jeter, to throw out). Cp. LAGAN.
flounder and dab
(two kinds of flat fish), a cab.
flourish
To take a flourish; to enjoy a woman in a hasty manner, to take a flyer. See FLYER.
flow out
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: to come out in a flowing motion.
Flower of Chivalry
A name given to several knights of spotless reputation, e.g.
flower of the flock
The best or most excellent member of a group
Flowers in Christian Traditions
Many plants and flowers, such as the aspen, elder, passion- flower, etc., play their part in Christian tradition.
flowery
Lodging, or house entertainment; "square the omee for the FLOWERY," pay the master for the lodging.—Lingua Franca.
fluff
Railway ticket clerks’ slang for short change given by them. The profits thus accruing are called "fluffings," and the practice is known as "fluffing."
fluff it
A term of disapprobation, implying "take it away, I don’t want it."
fluff out
To plump up
fluffbutt
A furry.
fluke
At billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence, generally what one gets accidentally, as an unexpected advantage, "more by luck than judgment."
flummery
Oatmeal and water boiled to a jelly; also compliments, neither of which are over-nourishing.
flummery
Flattery, gammon, genteel nonsense. In American ships a peculiar kind of light sweet pudding.
flummux
To perplex or hinder.
flummuxed
Done up, sure of a month in quod, or prison. In mendicant freemasonry, the sign chalked by rogues and tramps upon a gate-post or house corner, to express to succeeding vagabonds that it is unsafe for them to call there, is known as ⦿, or FLUMMUXED, which signifies that the only thing they would be likely to get upon applying for relief would be a "month in quod."—See QUOD.
flunk out
Fail to complete a course or academic program
flunkey
A footman or other man-servant.
flunkeyism
Blind worship of rank, birth, or riches, or of all three; toadyism.
flush
The opposite of "hard up," in possession of money, not poverty-stricken.—Shakspeare.
flush in the pocket
Full of money. The cull is flush in the fob. The fellow is full of money.
flush of money
Full of money. Similarly a flush of v^ater means a sudden and full flow of water (Lat. flux-us).
flush out
to force someone or something to come out of hiding
flute
The recorder of a corporation; a recorder was an antient musical instrument.