spanish coin
Fair words and compliments.
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spanish descent
The word is also applied to an itinerant minstrel of the Argentine pampas, who goes from village to village with horse and guitar.
spanish fly
The cantharis, a coleopterous insect used in medicine. Cantharides are dried and used externally as a blister and internally as a stimulant to the genito-urinary organs; they were formerly considered to act as an aphrodisiac.
spanish king
It had a spherical crown, arid flaps that could be drawn over the ears, not unlike a Victorian shooting-cap.
spanish moss
A plant of the family Bromehaceae which hangs in long grey festoons from the branches of trees, especially the live oak, in tropical and sub-tropical American forests.
spanish padlock
A kind of girdle contrived by jealous husbands of that nation, to secure the chastity of their wives.
Spanish Succession
Captain Robert Jenkins, skipper of the brig Rebecca was homeward bound from the West Indies when he was attacked by a Spanish guarda costa off Havana on 9th April, 1731.
spanish worm
A nail: so called by carpenters when they meet with one in a board they are sawing.
spanish worm
An old name for a nail concealed in a piece of wood, against which a carpenter jars his saw or chisel.
spank
(WHIP) To run neatly along, beteen a trot and gallop. The tits spanked it to town; the horses went merrily along all the way to town.
spank
A smack, or hard slap.
spank out
To depart.
spank the monkey
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
spanking
Large, fine, or strong; e.g., a SPANKING pace, a SPANKING breeze, a SPANKING fellow.
spanner in the works
Something that causes problems or disrupts plans
spare no effort
To work very hard and use all available resources to achieve something.
spare someone the details
to avoid telling someone about unpleasant or complicated information
spare someone's blushes
Avoid embarrassing someone
spare the rod and spoil the child
Failing to discipline a child can lead to bad behavior
spark
A spruce, trim, or smart fellow. A man that is always thirsty, is said to have a spark in his throat.
spark spread
The difference between the price of electricity and the cost of fuel used to generate it
sparking blows
Blows given by cocks before they close, or, as the term is, mouth it: used figuratively for words previous to a quarrel.
sparks
Diamonds. Term much in use among the lower orders, and generally applied to stones in rings and pins.
sparrow
Mumbling a sparrow; a cruel sport frequently practised at wakes and fairs: for a small premium, a booby having his hands tied behind him, has the wing of a cock sparrow put into his mouth: with this hold, without any other assistance than the motion of his lips, he is to get the sparrow's head into his mouth: on attempting to do it, the bird defends itself surprisingly, frequently pecking the mumbler till his lips are covered with blood, and he is obliged to desist: to prevent the bird from gett
sparrow-mouthed
Wide-mouthed, like the mouth of a sparrow: it is said of such persons, that they do not hold their mouths by lease, but have it from year to year; i.e. from ear to ear. One whose mouth cannot be enlarged without removing their ears, and who when they yawn have their heads half off.
spartan dog
A blood-hound; a blood- thirsty man. O Spartan dog More fell than anguish, hunger or the sea.
Spasmodic School
The. A name applied by Professor Aytoun to certain authors of the 19th century, whose writings were distinguished by forced conceits and unnatural style. The most noted are Bailey (author of Festus}, Gerald Massey, Alexander Smith, and Sydney Dobell.
spatch cock
[Abbreviation of DISPATCH COCK.] A hen just killed from the roost, or yard, and immediately skinned, split, and broiled: an Irish dish upon any sudden occasion.
spawny
lucky
speak
Any thing stolen. He has made a good speak; he has stolen something considerable.
speak as you find
Say what you think is true, without hiding your opinions
speak for
to represent or express opinions for someone or something
speak for oneself
to express one's own thoughts or feelings
speak in circles
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
speak of
To bespeak; show; indicate; foretell; suggest; speak to.
speak of the devil and he appears
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
speak of the devil and he shall appear
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
speak one's mind
Express one's thoughts or opinions honestly and freely
speak out
Express one's opinion or feelings openly
speak softly and carry a big stick
Be gentle but have the power to act strongly if necessary
speak someone's language
Understand and share someone's thoughts or feelings
speak to
address or talk to someone
speak to somebody
talk to someone, often to give or get information
speak up
Express your thoughts or opinions openly
speak with a forked tongue
To speak deceitfully or hypocritically
speaking heads
Fables and romance tell of a good many artificial heads that could speak (cp.
speaking in lutestring
Flash, highly polished oratory. The expression was used more than once by Junius. Shakespeare has "taffeta phrases and silken terms precise.
spear carrier
An actor with a small, unimportant role
special delivery
delivered directly and immediately
special military operation
Euphemism for war or invasion
special needs
Requiring extra support or care due to a disability
Special Pleading
Quibbling; making your own argument good by forcing certain words or phrases from their obvious and ordinary meaning. A pleading in law means a written statement of a cause pro and con, and "special pleaders" are persons who have been called to the bar, but do not speak as advocates. They advise on evidence, draw up affidavits, state the merits and demerits of a cause, and so on.
special relationship
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
special treatment
Preferential or unusual handling
specialty crop
A crop grown for a specific purpose or market
specked whiper
A coloured hankerchief. CANT.
specklebellies
Dissenters. A term used in Worcester and the North, though the etymology seems unknown in either place.
specks
Damaged oranges.—Costermonger’s term.
spectator sport
An activity that is interesting to watch, but not to participate in.
Spectre of the Brocken
An optical illusion, first observed on the Brocken (the highest peak of the Hartz range in Saxony), in which shadows of the spectators, greatly magnified, are projected on the mists about the summit of the mountain opposite. In one of De Quincey's opium-dreams there is a powerful description of the Brocken spectre.
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