soft touch
Someone easily deceived or manipulated
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soft underbelly
A vulnerable or weak point in something
soft words butter no parsnips
See BUTTER. Soho! (so ho'). An exclamation used by huntsmen, especially in hare-coursing when a hare has been started. It is a very old call, dating from at least the 13th century, and corresponds to the "Tally-ho!" of fox-hunters when the fox breaks cover.
soft-horn
A simpleton; literally a donkey, whose ears, the substitutes of horns, are soft.
soft-sawder
Flattery easily laid on or received. Probably introduced by Sam Slick.
soft-soap
Or soft-sawder, flattery, ironical praise.
soft-tommy
Loaf-bread, in contradistinction to hard biscuit.
softcock
A weakling.
soften someone's cough
to make someone less angry or upset
soften the blow
make unpleasant news less shocking or upsetting
soften the ground
Prepare someone for bad news
soften up
make someone more receptive or less resistant
softly, softly, catchee monkey
Act gently and patiently to achieve a goal
soiled doves
The "Midnight Meeting" term for prostitutes and "gay" ladies generally.
sold
"SOLD again! and got the money," gulled, deceived. Vide SELL.
sold down the river
Deceived or demoted. From the practice of selling slaves in the upper Southern States to the cotton and sugar plantation owners farther South, and so breaking up families and causing distress.
sold up
Or OUT, broken down, bankrupt.
soldier
A red herring. Common term in seaport towns, where exchange is made, a soldier being called by the fishy title.
soldier's battles
Engagements which are more of the nature of hand to hand encounters than regular pitched battles; those that have to be fought by the soldiers themselves, their leaders not haying been able to take up strategical positions. The principal "Soldiers' Battles" of English history are Malplaquet, 1709, and Inkermann, 1854.
soldier's mawnd
A pretended soldier, begging with a counterfeit wound, which he pretends to have received at some famous siege or battle.
soldier's pomatum
A piece of tallow candle.
soldiers of fortune
Men who live by their wits; chevaliers de V Industrie, Referring to those men in mediaeval times who let them- selves for hire into any army.
solo player
A miserable performer on any instrument, who always plays alone, because no one will stay in the room to hear him.
Solomon's Ring
Rabbinical fable has it that Solomon wore a ring with a gem that told him all he desired to know.
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum multiflorum, a plant with drooping white flowers. As the stems decay the root-stalk becomes marked with scars that have some resemblance to seals; this, according to some, accounts for the name; but another explanation offered is that the root has medicinal value in sealing up and closing green wounds.
solution to something
A method or answer to solve a problem
some are more equal than others
Some individuals are given more privilege or consideration than others
some are wise and some are otherwise
Some people are wise, while others are not
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. (Francis Bacon)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
some famous swords
In the days of chivalry a knight's horse and sword were his most treasured and carefully kept possessions, and his sword — equally with his horse — had its
some old
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
some people
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
some pumpkins
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
some pumpkins
Substantial, im- portant; the opposite of "small potatoes." Somerset House occupies the site in the Strand, London, of a princely mansion built by Somerset the Protector, brother of Lady Jane Seymour, and uncle of Edward VI. At the death of Somerset on the scaffold it became, the property of the Crown, and in the reign of James I was called Denmark House in honour of Anne of Denmark, his queen.
someone else
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
someone's cup of tea
something that suits someone's tastes or interests
someone's goose is cooked
Someone's situation is hopeless or their plans are ruined.
someone's heart is in
someone is dedicated or devoted to something
someone's jaw dropped
someone is extremely surprised
somethang
something
something
an unspecified thing or situation
something awful
Something very bad or unpleasant
something else
Something different or additional
something is rotten in the state of Denmark
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
something like
Similar to or resembling something
sometimes a cigar is just a cigar
Something is not necessarily symbolic or meaningful
somewhere along the line
at some unspecified point in a process or situation
somewhere over the rainbow
A mythical place of beauty and happiness
son of a gun
A familiar term for a man. Sometimes applied eulogistically, never contemptuously. Generally said of an artful person, and perhaps, originally, son of a "gun," (or "gonnof"). In the army it is sometimes applied to an artilleryman.
son of Adam
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Son of Ammon
Alexander the Great, who, on his expedition to Egypt, was thus saluted by the priests of the Libyan temple.
Son of God
This is the only reference in the Bible to the Kiss of Homage.
son of the morning
Lucifer or Satan, referencing his fall from heaven
song
He changed his song; he altered his account or evidence. It was bought for an old song, i.e. very cheap. His morning and his evening song do not agree; he tells a different story.
song and dance
an elaborate story or excuse
Song for St
Cecilia's Day. According to the Pythagorean system, the world is a piece of harmony and man the full chord. Cp. MICROCOSM.
sonkey
A clumsy, awkward fellow.
Sons of Belial
Lawless, worthless, rebel- lious people. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial.
sooner or later
at some unspecified time in the future
soonly
Soon.
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