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The horse was made of oak, the back was a sharp ridge, supported on four tall legs. The victim was seated on the ridge, with a firelock fastened to each foot and kept in this painful position for the term of the sentence.

English Idiom Historical

ikey

A Jew "fence." Corruption of Isaac, a common Hebrew name.

English Slang Historical

Iliad and Odyssey together

Its main story is the war between descendants of Kuru and Pandu, but there are an immense number of episodes.

English Idiom Historical

ill health

Poor physical or mental condition

English Idiom Candidate

imitation is the highest form of flattery

English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.

English Proverb Candidate

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Mimicking someone shows admiration for them

English Proverb Candidate

Immaculate Conception

This dogma, that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin, was first broached by St. Bernard, was stoutly maintained by Duns Scotus and his disciples, but was not declared by the Roman Catholic Church to be an article of faith till 1 854.

English Idiom Historical

imperence

Servant-girl currency for impudence or impertinence. "Now, then, Mr. IMPERENCE, leave off now, do," seems, however, to have faded away with Greenwich, Bartlemy, and kindred fairs.

English Slang Historical

Imperial Conference

The origin of this goes back to Queen Victoria's Jubilee (1887) when the prime ministers of the various dominions were in London and met together to confer. Similar conferences were held in 1897, 1902. 1907, 1911, and since World War I it has met every few years in London or elsewhere.

English Idiom Historical

Imperial Institute

A building erected in S. Kensington to commemorate the jubilee of Queen Victoria (1887) and opened in 1893. The name is also used for the Society which has its headquarters therein, the object of which is to assist in the development of the resources of the British Empire by arranging exhibitions and disseminating information.

English Idiom Historical

Browse all entries 1119

if pigs had wings

If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise. (William Blake)

If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill. (Francis Bacon)

If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain

if the shoe fits

if the shoe fits, wear it

if these walls could talk

If wealth is lost, nothing is lost. If health is lost, something is lost. If character is lost, everything is lost

if wishes were horses, beggars would ride

if you buy cheaply, you pay dearly

if you buy quality, you only cry once

if you can't be good, be careful

if you can't beat them, join them

if you can't live longer, live deeper

if you can't run with the horses, get off the track

if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all

if you give a mouse a cookie, he'll always ask for a glass of milk

if you got it, flaunt it

if you have never seen the bottom of the tree, you cannot know how tall it stands

if you have no enemies it is a sign that fortune has forgotten you

If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas (James Sandford, The Garden of Pleasure)

if you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas

If you must dance with the Devil, you might as well know his favorite song (H. Anthony Ribadeneira)

if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

if you play with fire, you will get burned

if you snooze you lose

If you steal from one author, it is plagiarism; if you steal from many, it is research (Wilson Mizner (1876–1933), American writer and entrepreneur)

if you sup with the devil, use a long spoon

If you think that you know everything, then you're a Jack ass

if you trust before you try, you may repent before you die

if you want a thing done right, do it yourself

if you want a thing done well, do it yourself

if you want a thing well done, do it yourself

if you want enemies excel others, if you want friends let others excel you

if you want to

if you're growing in age, then you're nearing to the graveyard

if you're in a hole, stop digging

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. (Adam, 2010 p. 25)

if you're so smart, why aren't you rich?

if you've got it, flaunt it

ignorance is bliss

igpay

igpay atinlay

II and long after

ikey

Iliad and Odyssey together

ill health

imitation is the highest form of flattery

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Immaculate Conception

imperence

Imperial Conference

Imperial Institute

important for somebody

imposition of hands

impost takers

improve the occasion

impudent stealing

impure