The Attic Hercules
Theseus, who went about like Hercules, destroying robbers and achieving wondrous exploits.
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The Attic Muse
Xenophon (444-356 B.C.), the historian, a native of Athens; so called because the style of his composition is a model of elegance.
The Authorized Version
This, the version in general use in England, was made by a body of scholars working at the command of King James I (hence sometimes called "King James's Bible") from 1604 to 1611, and was published in 1611. The modern "Authorized Version" is, however, by no means an exact reprint of that authorized by King James; a large number of typographical errors which occurred in the first edition have been cor- rected, the orthography, punctuation, etc.
The Bad Lands
In America, the Mauvaises Terres of the early French settlers west of Missouri; extensive tracts of sterile, alkali hills, rocky, desolate, and almost destitute of vegetation, in South Dakota.
the bad penny always turns up
Alternative form of a bad penny always turns up.
the bad things about something
The unfavorable or negative aspects of something
The Battle above the Clouds
A name given to the battle of Lookout Mountain, part of the Battle of Chattanooga fought during the American War of Secession on November 24th, 1863. The Federals under Grant defeated the Confederates, and part of the fight took place in a heavy mist on the mountains: hence the name.
The Battle of Spurs
A name given to the battles of Guinegate (1513) and Courtrai (1302). The former, between Henry VIII and the Due de Longueville, was so called because the French used their spurs in flight more than their swords in fight; and the battle of Courtrai because the victorious Flemings gathered from the field more than 700 gilt spurs, worn by French nobles slain in the fight.
The Battle of the Books
The Boyle contro- versy (#.v.). That does not suit my book. Does not accord with my arrangements. The reference is to betting-books, in which the bets are formally entered.
The Bear
From the popular sport of bear- baiting.
The Bear Bible
The Spanish Protestant version printed at Basle in 1569; so called because the woodcut device on the title-page is a bear.
The Bell
In allusion to races, a silver bell having been the winner's prize up to the reign of Charles II.
the belly has no ears
A hungry man will not listen to advice or arguments. The Romans had the same proverb, Venter non habet aures; and in French, Venire affame rfa point d'oreilles.
the best art conceals art
True skill appears effortless and natural
the best condiments are authentic flavors
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
The best defence is a good offence. (Strauss, 1994 p. 518)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
the best defense is a good offense
It's better to take action than to react to a problem
The best goods are cheapest in the end. (Kelly, 1859 p, 95)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
the best is cheapest
High-quality items are ultimately more cost-effective
the best place for criticism is in front of your mirror
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
the best thing
Something that is extremely good or beneficial
the best thing to do
the most beneficial or sensible action
the best things in life are free
Valuable experiences and things can be obtained without cost
the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry
Even well-planned actions can go wrong
the best… in the country
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
the big drink
An American expression for any large stretch of water, such as the Atlantic (cp. HERRING-POND) or Lake Superior.
the big gooseberry season
A mid- Victorian phrase applied to the dull time in journalism when Parliament was not sitting, the Law Courts were up, and nobody was in Town, when the old-fashioned editor published accounts of giant gooseberries, sea-serpents, vegetable marrows, sweet peas, just to fill up his paper.
the bigger they are, the harder they fall
The more powerful or prominent someone is, the more severely they will be affected by a failure or downfall.
The Bill will cross the lobbies
Be sent from the House of Commons to the House of Lords.
The bird of Juno
The peacock. Minerva's bird is either the cock or the owl; that of Venus is the dove.
The bird of Washington
The American or bald-headed eagle. The well-known bald-headed eagle, sometimes called the Bird of Washington. — WOOD.
the birds and the bees
Human reproduction and sex
The Bishops' Bible
A version made at the instigation of Archbishop Parker (hence also called "Matthew Parker's Bible"), to which most of the Anglican bishops were contribu- tors. It was a revision of the Great Bible (tf.v.), first appeared in 1568, and by 1602 had reached its eighteenth edition.
The Black Dwarf
A gnome of the most malignant character, once held by the dales- men of the border as the author of all the mischief that befell their flocks and herds. Scott has a novel so called (1816), in which the name is given to Sir Edward Mauley, alias Elshander, the recluse, Cannie Elshie, and the Wise Wight of Mucklestane Moor.
The Black Goats
A public-house sign, High Bridge Lincoln, formerly The Three Goats— i.e. three gowts (gutters or drains), by which the water from the Swan Pool (a large lake that formerly existed to the west of the city) was conducted into the bed of the Witham.
The Bloody Butcher
The Duke of Cumber- land (1721-65), second son of George II. So called from his barbarities in suppressing the rebellion of the Young Pretender.
The Bloody Eleventh
The old llth Foot, "The Devonshire Regiment," was so called from their having been several times nearly annihilated, as at Almanza, Fontenoy, Roucoux, Ostend, and Salamanca (1812), in capturing a French standard.
The Boafs Head
The cognizance of the Gordons, etc. The Bolt~in-Titn. The punning heraldic badge of Prior Bolton, last of the clerical rulers of St. Bartholomew's, previous to the Reformation.
The Boar's Head Tavern
Made immortal by Shakespeare, this used to stand in East- cheap, on the site of the present statue of
The Board of Green Cloth
A Court that used to form part of the English Royal House- hold, and was presided over by the Lord
The Board of Trade
A Government department— officially a Committee of the Privy Council — dealing with commercial and industrial affairs, such as bankruptcy, com- pany matters, railways, weights and measures, harbours, patents, trade and merchandise marks, etc.
The Bonny Cravat
An old public-house sign at Woodchurch, Kent; a corruption of
The Book of Books
The Bible; also called simply "the Book," or "the good Book.
the books of the four kings
A pack of cards. After supper were brought in the books of the four kings. — RABELAIS: Gargantua and Pantagruel, i, 22.
the bottom of the bag
The last expedient, having emptied every other one out of one's bag, a trump card held in reserve,
the boughs that bear most hang lowest
Those who have the most to lose are often the most humble
the bow was prophetic
It belonged at one time to Eurytus of (Echalia.
the box they're going to bury it in
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
the boy is the father of the man
A person's childhood characteristics influence their adult personality
the bread never falls but on its buttered side
Things tend to go worse for those who are already unfortunate
The Breeches Bible
The Genevan Bible (see above) was popularly so called because in it
the breeze-fly
The gad-fly; called from its sting (A.S. briosa; Gothic, bry, a sting).
The British Roscius
Thomas Betterton (1635-1710), of whom Cibber says, "He alone was born to speak what only Shakespeare knew to write." The title was also accorded to Garrick.
the bubble
The party cheated, perhaps from his being like an air bubble, filled with words, which are only wind, instead of real property.
The Bubble Act
An Act of George I, passed in 1719, its object being to punish the promoters of bubble schemes. It was repealed in 1825.
The Bug Bible
Coverdale's Bible (<?.v.), of 1535, is so called because Ps. xci, 5, is trans- lated, "Thou shalt not nede to be afrayed for eny bugges by night." The same reading occurs in Matthew's Bible (q,v.
the burden of proof
The obligation to prove something. The burden of proof is on the party holding the affirmative [because no one can prove a negative, except by reductto ad absurdum].
the burnt child dreads the fire
Once caught, twice shy. "What! wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?
the business end
The end of the tool, etc., with which the work is done.
the button of the cap
The tip-top. Thus, in Hamlet, Guildenstern says: "On fortune's cap we are not the very button" (ii, 2), i.e. the most highly favoured. The button on the cap was a mark of honour.
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