malum in se
What is of itself wrong, and would be so even if no law existed against its commission, as lying, murder, theft.
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malum prohibitum
What is wrong merely because it is forbidden, as eating a particular fruit was wrong in Adam and Eve, because they were commanded not to do so.
Malvern Hills
A range of hills or downs extending for some nine miles be- tween Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Worcester Beacon and Hereford Beacon are both nearly 1,400 ft, high; from the former can be seen fifteen counties, the cathedrals of Hereford, Worcester, and Gloucester and five abbeys.
mama's boy
A man who is excessively dependent on his mother
mama's girl
A girl or woman overly dependent on her mother
mameluke
A fool.
man a-hanging
A man in difficulties. See HANGING.
man about town
A sophisticated and socially active man
man among men
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
man and boy
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
man and wife
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
man does not live by bread alone
People need more than just physical necessities to be fulfilled
man down
a person is injured or unable to participate
Man Friday
The young savage found by Robinson Crusoe on a Friday, and kept as his servant and companion on the desert island; hence, a faithful and willing attendant, ready to turn his hand to anything.
man goo
semen
man in the moon
The gentleman who is supposed to find the "pieces" to pay election expenditure and electors’ expenses, so long as the latter vote his way. See ELECTION INQUIRIES.
man in the street
An ordinary person, not an expert
man in the street
The ordinary citizen, the man or woman who, in the aggregate, makes public opinion. According to Charles Greville (1794- 1865) this was originally a racing term — " 'the man in the street,' as we call him at Newmarket." Diary, s.d. March 22nd, 1831.
Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave. (Thomas Browne)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
man milk
semen
Man of Blood and Iron
An epithet be- stowed on Bismarck (1815-98), for many years Chancellor of Prussia and Germany, on account of his war policy and his indomitable will expressed in his first speech after appoint- ment as Minister-General.
man of few words
Someone who speaks little and is concise
man of parts
A person with many talents or skills
man of the people
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
man of the town
A rake, a debauchee.
man of the turf
A horse racer, or jockey.
man of the world
One "knowing" in world- craft; no greenhorn. Charles Macklin brought out a comedy (1704), and Henry Mackenzie a novel (1773) with the title.
man of war
A warship in the navy of a government; though the name is masculine, always spoken of as "she." Formerly the term was used to denote a fighting man ("the Lord is a man of war," Ex. xv, 3).
man on the street
An ordinary person, not an expert
man proposes, heaven disposes
Humans make plans, but fate decides the outcome
man the fort
To stay and defend a place or situation
Man thinks, God laughs
Human plans are often thwarted by fate or a higher power
man trap
A woman's commodity.
man up
to show courage or determination
Man Upstairs
God.
man-handle
To use a person roughly, as to take him prisoner, turn him out of a room, or give him a beating.
man-of-war bird
The frigate-bird. Man proposes, but God disposes. So we read in the Imitatio Christi (Homo propomt, sed Deus disponit, I, xix, 2). Herbert (Jacula Pruaentum) has nearly the same words; as also has Montluc: Vhomme propose et Dieu dis- pose (Comedie de Proverbes, iii, 7).
manage to do something
Succeed in doing something with difficulty or effort
mandozy
A term of endearment among East-end Jews; probably from the valiant fighter named Mendoza.
mandrakes called love-apples
From the old notion that they were aphrodisiacs. Hence Venus is called Mandragoritis, and the Emperor Julian, in his epistles, tells Calixenes that he drank its juice nightly as a love-potion.
maneghi breed
From this thoroughbred stallion came a famous breed of race-horses, including Eclipse (<?.v.) who was Darley Arabian's great-grandson.
manhaul
A meal.
manini
Small.
Manna of St
Nicholas of Bari. The name given to a colourless and tasteless poison, sold by a notorious female poisoner of 16th- century Italy named Tofana, who confessed to having poisoned six hundred persons by its means. Also called Aqua Tofana.
manners maketh man
Good manners and behavior are essential to being a respectable person
manners maketh the man
Good manners and behavior are essential to being a respectable person
mannheim gold
A sort of pinchbeck, made of copper, zinc, and tin, used for cheap jewellery and invented at Mannheim, Ger- many.
manoeuvre the apostles
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
manoeuvring the apostles
Robbing Peter to pay Paul, i.e. borrowing of one man to pay another.
manpouch
scrotum
Mantle of Fidelity
The old ballad "The Boy and the Mantle," in Percy's Reliques, tells how a little boy showed King Arthur a curious mantle, "which would become no wife that was not leal." Queen Guinever tried it, but it changed from green to red, and red to black, and seemed rent into shreds. Sir Kay's lady tned it, but fared no better; others followed, but only Sir Cradock's wife could wear it.
manufacture
Liquors prepared from materials of English growth.
manvaise honte
Bad or silly shame. Bash- fulness, sheepishness.
manx cat
A tailless species of cat found in the Isle of Man.
many a little makes a mickle
Small amounts can add up to make a significant total.
many a little makes a mickle
Little and often fills the purse. See LITTLE. Many men, many minds, i.e. as many opinions as there are persons to give them; an adaptation of Terence's Quot homines tot sententia (Phormio, II, iv, 14).
many a mickle makes a muckle
Small amounts can add up to make a large amount.
many a time and oft
Very often or frequently
many a true word is spoken in jest
Jokes can sometimes reveal hidden truths or insights.
many hands make light work
Dividing tasks among many people makes the work easier