man up
to show courage or determination
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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
many hands make light work
An old pro- verb (given in Ray's Collection, 1742) en- shrining the wisdom of a fair division of labour. The Romans had a similar saying, Multorum manibus magnum levatur onus, by the hands of many a great work is lightened.
Many hands make light work. (Speak, 2009)
Divided tasks become easier with multiple helpers
many happy returns
Wishing someone happiness on their birthday and in the coming year
many moons from now
a long time in the future
many things are lost for want of asking
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
many words will not fill a bushel
Many words do not necessarily convey much meaning or substance.
maori proverbs
Traditional sayings from the Maori culture
Mar's Year
The year 1715, noted for the Jacobite rebellion of the Earl of Mar on behalf of the Old Pretender.
maraca
Breasts.
marble orchard
A cemetery.
marbles
Furniture, movables; "money and MARBLES," cash and personal effects.
March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb
March weather starts fiercely and ends mildly
March table
British military term denoting a direction setting out the order in which the elements of a convoy should proceed, the exact minute at which each should pass a given starting point, and the average speed at which each should proceed.
march to the beat of a different drum
To act or think independently
Marching Watch
The guard of civilians enrolled in London during the Middle Ages to keep order in the streets on the Vigils of St.
marchioness
A little, dirty, old-fashioned maid-of-all-work; a title now in regular use, but derived from the remarkable character in the Old Curiosity Shop.
Marcley Hill
Legend states that this hill in Herefordshire, on February 7th, 1571, at six o'clock in the evening, "roused itself with a roar, and by seven next morning had moved 40 paces." It kept on the move for three days, carrying all with it; it overthrew Kinnaston chapel, and diverted two high roads at least 200 yards from their former route. Twenty- six acres of land are said to have been moved 400 yards. (Speed : Herefordshire.
mare's fart
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
mare's nest
He has found a mare's nest, and is laughing at the eggs; said of one who laughs without any apparent cause.
Mariage de Figaro
The air, however (the same as our "We won't go home till morning"), is of far older date, was well known in Egypt and the East, and is said to have been sung by the Crusaders. According to a tradition recorded by Chateaubriand, the air came from the Arabs, and the tale is a legend of Mambron, a crusader.
marihoochie
Marijuana.
marine
Or MARINE RECRUIT, an empty bottle. This expression having once been used in the presence of an officer of marines, he was at first inclined to take it as an insult, until some one adroitly appeased his wrath by remarking that no offence could be meant, as all that it could possibly imply was, "one who had done his duty, and was ready to do it again."
marine officer
An empty bottle: marine officers being held useless by the seamen. SEA WIT.
mariner's compass
Traditionally claimed by the Chinese to have been in use as early as 2364 B.C., but first recorded as being used for sea travel by a Chinese writer of about A.D. 800. It was introduced to Europe by Marco Polo, but it is probable that it was known — as the result of independent discovery — in the 12th century. See FLEUR-DE-LIS.
Marines by British sailors
The wit lies in the awkward way that marines handle the ship's ropes.
Mario and Luigi
two closely associated people
mark
To make one’s MARK is to achieve a success literary, artistic, or otherwise. Men of eminence are said to leave their MARKS on the earth’s surface. An American poet has described this ambitious, albeit somewhat rare, proceeding as leaving "footprints on the sands of time."
Mark Banco
The mark of fixed value employed as an invariable standard in the old Bank at Hamburg, and used by the Hanseatic
mark my words
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
mark one's own homework
To assess or evaluate one's own work
mark someone's card
to warn or inform someone of a potential problem
Mark Twain
The pseudonym of the American novelist and humorist, Samuel L. Clemens (1835-1910) who adopted it from the Mississippi river pilots' cry, Mark twain!" when taking soundings.
Marked with a B
In the Middle Ages, and as late as the 17th century (especially in America), this letter was branded on the fore- head of convicted blasphemers. In France Stre matque an "6" means to be either one- eyed, hump-backed, or lame (borgne, bossu, boiteux); hence, a poor, miserable sort of creature.
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