it runs in the blood
It is inherited or exists in the family or race. It runs in the blood of our family. — SHERIDAN: The Rivals, iv, 2.
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it smells of the lamp
Said of a literary composition that bears manifest signs of mid- night study ; one that is over-laboured. In Lat. olet lucernam.
it takes a thief to catch a thief
Only someone familiar with dishonest tactics can outsmart a dishonest person.
it takes a whole village to raise a child
A community's collective effort is needed to raise a child
it takes all kinds to make a world
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
it takes all sorts of people to make a world
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
it takes all sorts to make a world
People have different personalities and characteristics
it takes one to know one
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
it takes one's breath away
The news is so astounding it causes one to hold one's breath with surprise.
It takes three generations to make a gentleman. (Robert Peel)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
it takes two to make a quarrel
Both parties are responsible for a dispute or argument
It takes two to tango. (Oshry, 1996 p. 59)
Both parties are responsible for a problem or situation
it was hell broken loose
Said of a state of anarchy or disorder. Why, here you have the awfulest of crimes For nothing! Hell broke loose on a butterfly! A ^ragori born of rose-dew and the moon!
It was this Dr
Fell who in 1667 presented to the University of Oxford a complete type- foundry containing punches and matrices of a large number of founts — Arabic, Synac, Coptic and other learned alphabets, as well as the celebrated "Fell" Roman.
it went with a swing
Said of a ceremony, function, entertainment, etc., that passed off without a hitch and was a great success.
it will be the same a hundred years hence
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
it will come back and haunt you
Past actions will have negative consequences later
it will soon blow over
It will soon be no longer talked about; it will soon come to an end, as a gale or storm blows over or ceases.
it's a cracked pitcher that goes oftenest to the well
Those with most experience or most in need often take the most risks
it's a good horse that never stumbles
Everyone makes mistakes, even the able and competent.
it's a long lane that has no turning
Every difficult situation will eventually improve
it's a regular rush
A barefaced swindle, an exorbitant charge. Said when one is "rushed" into paying a good deal more for something than it is worth.
it's about time
something should have happened earlier
it's all good
Everything is fine or satisfactory
it's all Greek to me
Something is completely unintelligible or incomprehensible
it's all moonshine
Bunkum; nonsense. The light of the moon was formerly held to have very deleterious effects on mental stability. See LUNATIC.
it's all over with him
He's finished, he can't go any farther, he's "shot his bolt." Said also of one who has been given up by the doctors.
it's all plain sailing
It's perfectly straight- forward; there need be no hesitation about the course of action. A nautical phrase which should be written plane, not plain. Plane sail- ing is the art of determining a ship's position on the assumption that the earth is flat and she is sailing, therefore, on a plane, instead of a spherical surface, which is a simple and easy method of computing distances.
it's all serene
All right (Span, sereno, all right — the sentinefs countersign).
it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
Experiencing loss is better than never having the experience at all
it's early days
it's too soon to judge the outcome or success
it's easy to be wise after the event
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
it's everywhere
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
it's five o'clock somewhere
It's time to relax and have a drink
It's Greek to me
Something is completely unintelligible or incomprehensible
it's no laughing matter
It's really serious; it's no subject for merriment.
It's no use crying over spilt milk. (Strauss, 1994 p. 631)
Don't waste time feeling sorry for something that's already happened
it's none of your business
Something is not your concern or responsibility
it's not cricket
It's not done in a fair and sportsmanlike way. Merry as a cricket. See GRIG.
it's not even funny
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
it's not on
Impossible. A phrase from snooker, used when the object ball is obscured.
it's not on to-day
It's not on the menu, it's not available.
it's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
it's safer to commend the dead than the living
It's less risky to praise someone who has passed away than someone who is still alive
it's someone's funeral
Someone else will suffer the consequences
it's the little things
Small actions or details can have a significant impact
it's too much fag
Too much trouble, too much needless exertion.
italian hand
I see his fine Italian hand in this may be said of a picture in which the beholder can discern the work of a particular artist through certain characteristics of his which appear. Or it may be remarked of an intrigue, in which the characteristics of a particular plotter are apparent.
italic version
An early Latin version of the Bible, prepared from the Septuagint. It pre- ceded the Vulgate, or the version by St.
itch the ditch
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
itchy trigger finger
A tendency to act impulsively or aggressively
its cover was black leather
There are two of them preserved in the Public Record Office.
ivan
A Russian.
Ivan the Terrible
Ivan IV of Russia (1530, 1533-84), infamous for his cruelties, but a man of great energy. He first adopted the title of Tsar.
ivories
Teeth. How the swell flashed his ivories; how the gentleman shewed his teeth.
ivories
Teeth; "a box of IVORIES," a set of teeth, the mouth; "wash your IVORIES," i.e., "drink." The word is also used to denote dice.
ivory tickler
A pianist, especially one who plays professionally
ivory tower
A place of intellectual pursuit, isolated from practical realities.
ivory tower
A place of refuge from the world and its strivings and posturings.
ivy bush
Like an owl in an ivy bush; a simile for a meagre or weasel-faced man, with a large wig, or very bushy hair.