the plot thickens
A situation becomes more complicated or interesting
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the policy of the big stick
Threats, with some show of warlike attitude to back them up; and the same as "rattling the sword in the scabbard." The phrase was a favourite one with President Theodore Roosevelt.
The Pope's bull
An edict or mandate issued by the Pope, so called from the heavy leaden seal (Lat. build) appended to the document. See GOLDEN BULL.
The Pope's eye
The tender piece of meat (the lymphatic gland) surrounded by fat in the
The Pope's nose
The rump of a fowl, which is also called the parson's nose. The phrase is said to have originated during the years following James II's reign, when anti-Catholic feeling was high.
The Pope's slave
So Cardinal Cajetan (d. 1534) called the Church.
the pot calling the kettle black
To accuse hypocritically, has been used in racist contexts (e.
the pot of hospitality
The pot or cauldron always hanging over the open fire which in Ireland used to be dipped into by anyone who dropped in at meal-times, or required refresh- ment.
the power of the keys
The supreme ecclesi- astical authority claimed by the pope as successor of St. Peter. The phrase is derived from St. Man.
the previous question
The question whether the matter under debate shall be put to the vote or not. In Parliament, and debates generally, when one party wishes that a subject should be shelved it is customary to "move the previous question"; if this is carried the original dis- cussion comes to an end, for it has been de- cided that the matter shall not be put to the vote.
the prick of conscience
Remorse; torment- ing reflection on one's misdeeds. In the 14th century Richard of Hampole wrote a devo- tional treatise with this title.
the pride of the morning
That early mist or shower which promises a fine day. The morn- ing is too proud to come out in her glory all at once — or the proud beauty being thwarted weeps and pouts awhile.
The Prince of Wales
The popular story is that the title arose thus: When Edward I subdued Wales, he promised the Welsh, if they would lay down their arms, that he would give them a native prince who could not speak a word of English. His queen (Eleanor) having given birth to a son in Wales, the new- born child was entitled Edward, Prince of Wales; and ever since then the eldest son of the British sovereign has retained the title.
The Prince of Wales's feathers
The tradition is that the Black Prince, haying slain John of Luxemburg, King of Bohemia, in the Battle of Cressy, assumed his crest and motto. The crest consisted of three ostrich feathers, and the motto was Ich dien (I serve). Much controversy has arisen on the question; the crest, for instance, has been stated to be a rebus of Queen Philippa's hereditary title — viz.
The Printers' Bible
An edition of about 1702 which makes David pathetically com- plain that "printers [princes] have perse- cuted me without a cause " (Ps. cxix, 161).
The Promethean unguent
Made from a herb on which some of the blood of Prometheus had fallen. Medea gave Jason some of it, and thus rendered his body proof against fire and war- like instruments.
The promise of Odin
The most binding of all oaths to a Norseman. In making it the hand was passed through a massive silver ring kept for the purpose; or through a sacrificial stone, like that called the "Circle of Stemus.
The Proof Bible
The revised version of the first impression of Luther's
the proof of the pudding is in the eating
Results are more important than plans or appearances
The Protestant Pope
Clement XIV. He ordered the suppression of the Jesuits (1773) and was one of the most enlightened men who- ever sat in the chair of St. Peter.
The Prussian Quadrilateral
The old for- tresses of Luxemburg, Coblentz, Sarrelouis, and Mayence.
the quality
high social class or prestige
The Queen of Bohemia
In honour of James I's daughter Elizabeth, who married the King of Bohemia.
The Queen of Hearts
Elizabeth (1596-1662), daughter of James I, the unfortunate Queen of Bohemia, so called in the Low Countries from her amiable character and engaging manners, even in her lowest estate.
The Queen of Heaven
The Virgin Mary. In ancient times, among the Phoenicians, Astarte; Greeks, Hera; Romans, Juno; Hecate; the Egyptian Isis, etc.
The Queen of Love
Aphrodite, or Venus. Poor queen of love in thme own law forlorn To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn! Venus and Adonis ; 251.
The Queen's English
See ENGLISH. The Queen's Pipe, A name given in Queen Victoria's reign to a furnace at the Victoria Docks for destroying (by the Inland Revenue authorities) contraband and worthless tobacco, etc.
the queen's keys
An old legal phrase for the crowbars, hammers, etc., used to force an entrance so that a warrant could be executed.
the quick and the dead
The living and the dead
The R months
See under OYSTER. The three .R's. Reading, writing, and arith- metic. The phrase is said to have been origi- nated by Sir William Curtis (d. 1829), who gave this as a toast.
the rabbit died
a pregnancy test is positive
The Rag
The Army and Navy Club. "The rag," of course, is the flag. "By the way, come and dine to-night at the Rag," said the major. — Truth. Queer Story, April 1st, 1886.
The Ram and Teazle
A public-house sign, in compliment to the Clothiers' Company. The ram with the golden fleece is emblematical of wool, and the teazle is used for raising the nap of wool spun and woven into cloth.
The Ram feast
Formerly held on May morn- ing at Holne, Dartmoor, when a ram was run down in the "Ploy Field" and roasted whole, with its skin and fur, close by a granite pillar. At midday a scramble took place for a slice, which was supposed to bring luck to those who got it.
The ram of the Zodiac
This is the famous Chrysomallion, whose golden fleece was stolen by Jason in his Argonautic expedition. It was transposed to the stars, and made the first sign of the Zodiac.
The Red Book of Hergest
A Welsh manu- script of the 14th century, containing the Mabinogion, poems by Taliesin and Llywarch Hen, a history of the world from Adam to 1320, etc. It is now the property of Jesus College, Oxford.
The Red Dragon
The cognizance of Henry VII or the principality of Wales.
The Red Hand of Ulster
See ULSTER. Red-haired persons have for centuries had the reputation of being deceitful and un- reliable— probably owing to the tradition that Judas Iscariot (q.v ) had red hair.
the relish
The sign of the Cheshire cheese.
the rest is history
What happened after that is well-known or easily guessed
the rest is silence
The last words of the dying Hamlet (Hamlet, v, 2).
The rest is silence. (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
the rest of something
the remaining part of something
the rest of the world
All countries and people except one's own
The Rev
Charles Caleb Colton (credited as the author of these freaks) offered £100 to anyone who could explain the matter except on supernatural grounds. No one, however, claimed the reward. Colton died 1832.
The Revised Version
A revision of the Authorized Version commenced under a resolution passed by both Houses of Con- vocation in 1870 by a body of twenty-five English scholars (assisted and advised by an American Committee), the New Testament published in 1881, the complete Bible in 1885, and the Apocrypha in 1895.
the rich get richer and the poor get poorer
Wealth tends to concentrate among those already wealthy
the right to bear arms
The right to use an heraldic device, which can be obtained only by direct grant from the College of Heralds (and the payment of certain fees), or by patrimony, i.e. direct descent from one on whom the grant has been conferred. In either case a small annual licence must be paid if the coat of arms is used in any way, such as on one's carnage, silver, or stationery. A person having such right is said to be armigerous.
The Ring
A phrase used in Australia in the early 19th century to describe a goaprf™ most hard-bitten convicts at the Norfolk Island penitentiary, who exercised an evil in- fluence over their fellows. This use of the word ante-dates by some" 30 years its employment m U.S.A.
The ring of Amasis
A ring with the same story as that of Polycrates. See below.
The ring of Innocent
On May 29th, 1205, Innocent III sent John, King of England, four gold rings set with precious stones, and ex- plained that the rotundity signifies eternity — remember we are passing through time into eternity; the number signifies the four virtues which make up constancy of mind — viz.
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. (William Blake)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions
Good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes
the roaring game
So the Scots call the game of curling. Roast To roast a person is to banter him un- mercifully; also, to give him a dressing-down. Shakespeare, in Hamlet, speaks of roasting "in wrath and fire.
The Roman Empire
The Empire established on the ruins of the Republic by Augustus in 27 B.C., and lasting till A.D. 395, when it was divided into the Western or Latin Empire, and the Eastern or Greek.
The Roman senate
Romulus instituted a senate consisting of a hundred elders, called
the root of the matter
Its true inwardness, its actual base and foundation.
The Rope- walk
Former barristers slang for an Old Bailey practice. Thus, "Gone into the rope-walk" means, he has taken up practice in the Old Bailey.
The Rose
A symbol of England, as the Thistle is of Scotland, and the Shamrock of Ireland.
The Rose and Crown
One of the "loyal" public-house signs. The Rose of the Quarter Sessions. A corrup- tion of La Rose des Quatre Saisons.
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