stretch the truth
Exaggerate or distort facts to make something more interesting
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stretcher
A falsehood; one that requires a STRETCH of imagination or comprehension.
stretcher-fencer
One who sells braces.
stretching
Hanging. He'll stretch for it; he will be hanged for it. Also telling a great lie: he stretched stoutly.
stretching match
An execution. Often called a "hanging match."
strides
Trousers.
strike
Twenty shillings. CANT.
strike a blow
Deliver a significant attack or setback
strike a false note
to seem out of place or inconsistent
strike a jigger
To pick a lock, or break open a door.
strike a light
to suddenly understand or realize something
strike and dip
Geological terms describing orientation of a plane
strike it lucky
To suddenly experience good fortune
strike it rich
Become suddenly and unexpectedly wealthy
strike me lucky!
An expression used by the lower orders when making a bargain, derived from the old custom of striking hands together, leaving in that of the seller a LUCK PENNY as an earnest that the bargain is concluded. In Ireland, at cattle markets, &c., a penny, or other small coin, is always given by the buyer to the seller to ratify the bargain.—Hudibras. Anciently this was called a "God’s penny."
strike oil
to suddenly become successful or wealthy
strike one's flag
To surrender or admit defeat
strike someone when they are down
To take advantage of someone when they are vulnerable
strike tallies
to achieve successes
strike the tent
To leave or abandon a place or situation quickly
strike up
start a conversation or friendship
strike when the iron is hot. (14th century)
Take action when the opportunity is best
strike while the iron is hot
Don't miss a good opportunity; seize time by the forelock; make hay while the sun shines.
Strike while the iron is hot. or Make hay while the sun shines
Take advantage of an opportunity while it is available
strills
Cheating lies.—North Country Cant.
string
To hoax, to "get in a line."
string along
to cooperate or go along with something
string attached
Having a condition or restriction
string out
to prolong or extend something unnecessarily
string to one's bow
An additional skill or resource
string up
to deceive or cheat someone
strip me naked
Raw gin.
strip off
remove clothes quickly
stroke
To take a stroke: to take a bout with a woman.
stroke
The captain of a crew, the man who sets the pace, and is generally the leading spirit in the boat. The coxswain usually looks after University men when they are in training, so that they may not fall into excesses, the STROKE having quite enough to do to attend to his own training. Of late years University crews have placed themselves under the guidance and tuition of "coaches," generally ex-University men of great ability and experience.
stroke of business
A clever or skillful act in a business deal
stroke of luck
An unexpected and fortunate event
stroke of work
a task or amount of work
strollers
Itinerants of different kinds. Strolling morts; beggars or pedlars pretending to be widows.
strommel
Straw.—Ancient Cant. Halliwell says that in Norfolk STRUMMEL is a name for hair.
strong
"to come it STRONG." See COME.
strong man
To play the part of the strong man, i.e. to push the cart and horses too; to be whipt at the cart's tail.
strong suit
A person's area of expertise or greatest ability
strum
A perriwig. Rum strum: a fine large wig. (CAMBRIDGE) To do a piece. Foeminam subagitare. CANT.
strung out
Exhausted or disorganized, often due to stress or lack of sleep
strut one's stuff
To show off one's skills or abilities
stub out
to extinguish a cigarette
stub-faced
Pitted with the smallpox: the devil ran over his face with horse stabs (horse nails) in his shoes.
Stubble Geese
The geese turned into the stubble-fields to pick up the corn left after harvest.
stubble it
Hold your tongue. CANT.
stuck
Moneyless. See STICK.
stuck in the mud
Unable to change or make progress due to tradition or inertia
stuck in the Stone Age
Very outdated or old-fashioned
stuck on
Completely infatuated or obsessed with someone or something
stuck up
Haughty or overly proud
stuck up
Said of pretentious people who give themselves airs, nobodies who assume to be somebodies. The allusion is to the peacock, which sticks up its train to add to its "im- portance" and "awe down*' antagonists.
stuck-up
Purse-proud—a form of snobbishness very common in those who have risen in the world, especially among those who have risen rather suddenly. Albert Smith wrote some amusing papers on the Natural History of STUCK-UP People.
stud muffin
An attractive and desirable man
stude
A student.
student union politics
politics within a university or college
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