ret
An abbreviation of the word REITERATION, used to denote the forme which, in a printing-office, backs or perfects paper already printed on one side.
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retardical
Stupid.
retardo
retard
retrace one's steps
To go back over something to find a mistake or understand what happened
return the favor
to repay or reward someone for their help or kindness
return to form
To regain one's usual level of performance or quality
return to one's muttons
to return to a previous subject or activity
Returned Letter Office
See BLIND DEPART- MENT. Reveille (re vaT i) (Fr. reveiller, to awake). The signal by bugle or beat of drum, notifying soldiers that it is time to rise, and informing the sentries that they may forbear from chal- lenging.
returns to scale
Becomes proportional or normal again
rev up
to increase energy or excitement
revenge is a dish best served cold
It's more satisfying to take revenge after a long time has passed
revenge is sweet
Getting revenge can be very satisfying
reverence
An ancient custom, which obliges any person easing himself near the highway or foot-path, on the word REVERENCE being given him by a passenger, to take off his hat with his teeth, and without moving from his station to throw it over his head, by which it frequently falls into the excrement; this was considered as a punishment for the breach of delicacy, A person refusing to obey this law, might be pushed backwards. Hence, perhaps, the term, SIR-REVERENCE.
reverse course
To change or abandon a decision or direction
reverse Midas touch
Ability to make things worse or lose value
reversed
A man set by bullies on his head, that his money may fall out of his breeches, which they afterwards by accident pick up. See HOISTING.
review of the black cuirassiers
A visitation of the clergy. See CROW FAIR.
Revised Version
Baca trees were either mul- berry trees or balsams.
Revolution: in politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. (Ambrose Bierce)
A drastic change in government or system
revolve around
To focus or center on something
revolving door syndrome
Frequent entry and exit of people in a position or organization
revved up
Energized.
Reynard the Fox
A mediaeval beast-epic, satirizing contemporary life and events, in which all the characters are animals. Such anthropomorphic epics were common in mediaeval France.
reynard's globe of glass
Reynard, in Rey- nard the Fox (see above), said he had sent this invaluable treasure to her majesty the queen as a present; but it never came to hand, inasmuch as it had no existence except in the imagination of the fox. It was supposed to reveal what was being done — no matter how far off — and also to afford information on any subject that the person consulting it wished to know. Your gift was like the globe of glass of Master Reynard.
reynard's wonderful mirror
This mirror existed only in the brain of Master Fox; he told the queen lion that whoever looked in it could see what was done a mile off. The wood of the frame was not subject to decay, being made of the same block as King Crampart's magic horse. (Reynard the Fox, ch. xii.
Rhetorical Question
The term in Logic for a question to which no considered answer is ex- pected or desired, the question having been asked to produce effect only. An example is the once-popular "Are we downhearted?" only asked to elicit the answer "No.
rhino
Money.
rhinoceral
Rich, wealthy, abounding in RHINO. At first sound it would seem as though it meant a man abounding in rhinoceroses.
Rhopalic Verse
Verse consisting of lines in which each successive word has more syllables than the one preceding it (Gr. rhopalon, a club, which is much thicker at one end than at the other).
rhyme off
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
rhyme or reason
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
Rhyming Slang
A kind of slang in which the word intended was replaced by one that rhymed with it, as "Charley Fresco tt" for waistcoat, "plates of meat" foTfeet. When the rhyme is a compound word the rhyming part is almost invariably dropped, leaving one who does not know somewhat in the dark. Thus Chivy (Chevy) Chase rhymes with "face," by dropping "chase" chivy remains, and becomes the accepted slang word.
rhyming to death
The Irish at one time believed that their children and cattle could be "eyebitten," that is, bewitched by an evil eye, and that the "eyebitter," or witch, could "rime" them to death. See RATS.
rhythm and blues
Shoes.
rib
A wife: an allusion to our common mother Eve, made out of Adam's rib. A crooked rib: a cross-grained wife.
rib
A wife. Derivation, of course, Biblical.
ribaldry
Vulgar abusive language, such as was spoken by ribalds. Ribalds were originally mercenary soldiers who travelled about, serving any master far pay, but afterwards degenerated into a mere banditti.
ribbin
Money. The ribbin runs thick; i.e. there is plenty of money. CANT. Blue ribbin. Gin. The cull lushes the blue ribbin; the silly fellow drinks common gin.
ribbon
Gin, or other spirits. Modification of white satin.
Ribbon Development
Urban extension in the form of a single depth of houses along roads radiating from the town. This extravagant and impractical method of development was made illegal under the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947.
ribbons
The reins. "To handle the RIBBONS," to drive.
ribroast
To beat till the ribs are sore.—Old; but still in use:—
Ribston Pippin
So called from Ribston, in Yorkshire, where the first pippins, introduced from Normandy about 1707, were planted. It is said that Sir Henry Goodriche planted three pips; two died, and from the third came all the Ribston apple-trees in England.
rice car
rice burner
rice chaser
a person who dates or marries someone for financial gain
Rice Christians
Converts to Christianity for worldly benefits, such as a supply of rice to
rich
Spicy; also used in the sense of "too much of a good thing;" "a RICH idea," one too absurd or unreasonable to be adopted.
rich and famous
Having wealth and public recognition
Rich as a Jew
This expression arose in the Middle Ages, when Jews were almost the only money-lenders, and were certainly the most wealthy of the people.
rich bitch
A wealthy and arrogant woman
rich men seem happy, great and wise, all which the good man only is
Wealth can give a false impression of happiness, greatness, and wisdom
richard
A turd.
richard
A dictionary. See DICK.
Richard III
He took Edward V into his custody on the death of Edward IV (1483), and was named Protector of the Kingdom.
Richard Roe
a fictitious or anonymous person
richaud snary
A dictionary. A country lad, having been reproved for calling persons by their christian names, being sent by his master to borrow a dictionary, thought to shew his breeding by asking for a Richard Snary.
Riches are for spending. (Francis Bacon)
Wealth should be used and enjoyed, not just saved.
Rick and Morty
a popular animated sci-fi series
Rick Mould
Fetching the rick mould is^a "flat- catching" trick played during the hay-harvest. The greenhorn is sent to borrow a rick-mould, with strict injunction not to drop it. Something very heavy is put in a sack and hoisted on his back; when he has carried it carefully in the hot sun to the hayfield he gets well laughed at for his pains.
rickle o' banes
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.