skate around
Avoid discussing or dealing with something directly
Browse all entries 6405
All languages English Tiếng Việt
skate on thin ice
To take a risky action or situation that could easily become dangerous
skate one's lane
To focus on one's own activities and not interfere with others
skate over
to discuss or deal with something briefly or superficially
skate rat
A young skateboarder, often in a dedicated or obsessive manner
skedaddle
To go off in a hurry. The American war introduced this new and amusing word. A Northerner who retreated "retired upon his supports," but a Southerner was said to SKEDADDLE. The Times remarked on the word, and Lord Hill wrote to prove that it was excellent Scotch. The Americans only misapply the word, which means, in Dumfries, "to spill"—milkmaids, for example, saying, "You are SKEDADDLING all that milk." The Yankees therefore adopted the term, and altered the application.
skeeto
A mosquito.
skeezy
Despicable, tasteless.
skeggers
Skegness
skeggy
Skegness.
skeleton at the feast
A person or thing that spoils a pleasant occasion
skeleton crew
Minimal staff necessary to maintain basic operations
skeleton in the closet
A secret or hidden problem that could cause embarrassment
skeleton in the cupboard
A secret or scandalous matter hidden from public knowledge
skew
A cup, or beggar's wooden dish.
ski-jump nose
a nose with a very prominent bridge
skid
A sovereign. Fashionable slang. Occasionally SKIV.
Skid Row
A district populated by vicious characters or down-and-outs, i.e. those who have skidded from the path of virtue.
skiddies
Underpants.
skied
Or SKYED, thrown upwards, as "coppers" in tossing.
skilligolee
Prison gruel. Also sailors’ soup of many ingredients. The term is occasionally used in London workhouses.
skilly
Abbreviation of SKILLIGOLEE.
skimmery
St. Mary Hall, Oxford.—University.
skin
In a bad skin; out of temper, in an ill humour. Thin-skinned: touchy, peevish.
skin
A purse. This term is mostly in use among thieves.
skin and blister
A sister.
skin and bones
Extremely thin or emaciated
skin flint
An avaricious man or woman,
skin flute
A penis.
skin in the game
Having a personal stake or investment in something
skin trade
The sex industry or prostitution
skin-the-lamb
A game at cards, a very expressive corruption of the term "lansquenet," also a racing term. When a non-favourite wins a race, bookmakers are said to SKIN THE LAMB, under the supposition that they win all their bets, no person having backed the winner. This has been corrupted into SKINNER.
skinflint
An old and popular simile for a "close-fisted," stingy person. Sternberg, in his Northamptonshire Glossary, says the Eastern languages have the same expression. Abdul-Malek, one of the Ommeyade Khaliphs, noted for his extreme avarice, was surnamed Raschal-Hegiarah, literally, "the SKINNER of a FLINT."
skink
To skink, is to wait on the company, ring the bell, stir the fire, and snuff the candles; the duty of the youngest officer in the military mess. See BOOTS.
skinner
A term among bookmakers. "May we have a SKINNER," i.e., may we SKIN THE LAMB, which see.
skinny Liz
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
skinny Minnie
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
skins
The drums.
skint
Penniless, poor, impecunious, broke.
skip a beat
experience a brief pause in one's heartbeat due to surprise or excitement
skip jacks
Youngsters that ride horses on sale, horse-dealers boys. Also a plaything made for children with the breast bone of a goose.
skip out
to leave a place or situation quickly and secretly
skip rope
to jump over a swinging rope as exercise or play
skipper
A barn. CANT.--Also the captain of a Dutch vessel.
skipper
The master of a vessel. Germ., SCHIFFER, from SCHIFF, a ship; sometimes used as synonymous with "governor."
skipper-birds
Or KEYHOLE-WHISTLERS, persons who sleep in barns or outhouses from necessity or in preference to sleeping in lodging-houses.
skipper-it
To sleep in the open air, or in a rough way.
skirt chaser
A man who constantly pursues women for romantic or sexual relationships
skit
A joke. A satirical hint.
skit
A joke, a squib. Term generally used in reference to any pungent or pointed political allusion.
skittles
A game similar to that of Ten Pins, which, when interdicted by the Government, was altered to Nine Pins, or SKITTLES. The pins are set up in an alley, and thrown (not bowled) at with a round piece of hard wood, shaped like a small flat cheese. The costers used to consider themselves the best players in London, but they have been frequently undeceived. SKITTLES has within the past few years received an awful blow—quite a floorer—from "the powers that be."
skittles party
A fun and lively social gathering
skow-banker
A fellow who loiters about the premises of any one willing to support him, and who objects to the necessity of working for his living; a rogue, a rascal. Common in Melbourne, Australia.
skreet
street.
skrouge
To push or squeeze.—North.
skulker
A soldier who by feigned sickness, or other pretences, evades his duty; a sailor who keeps below in time of danger; in the civil line, one who keeps out of the way, when any work is to be done. To skulk; to hide one's self, to avoid labour or duty.
skull and bones
a symbol of danger or death
skull and crossbones
a symbol indicating poison or danger
skull-thatcher
A straw-bonnet-maker,—sometimes called "a bonnet-BUILDER."
skullie
A skulldog.
Advertisement
Ad space — ads help keep Idiomer free. Premium will remove them.