a book is a friend
A book can be a constant and reliable companion
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Every expression in the dictionary, A to Z — pick a language, then a letter.
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a boon and a bane
Something that is both beneficial and harmful
a brain-storm
A sudden and violent up- heaval in the brain, causing temporary loss of control, or even madness. Nerve-storm is used in much the same way of the nerves.
a brazen bull
An instrument of torture. See PHALARIS. He may bear a bull that hath borne a calf (Erasmus: Proverbs) — "He that accustometh hym-selfe to lytle thynges, by lytle and lytle shal be able to go a waye with greater thynges'* (Ta verner).
a brazen face
A bold, defiant look. See BRAZEN-FACED, and cp. BRASS.
a bridge too far
An objective that is impractical or unrealistic to achieve
a bridled bear
A young nobleman under the control of a travelling tutor. See BEAR- LEADER.
a broken watch is right two times a day
Something that is normally incorrect can still be right occasionally
a buck of the first head
One who in debauchery surpasses the rest of his companions, a blood or choice spirit. There are in London divers lodges or societies of Bucks, formed in imitation of the Free Masons: one was held at the Rose, in Monkwell-street, about the year 1705. The president is styled the Grand Buck. A buck sometimes signifies a cuckold.
a budget of news
A bagful of news, a large stock of news.
A bull ID a china shop
A maladroit hand interfering with a delicate business; one who produces reckless destruction.
a bully is always a coward
Someone who intimidates others is often afraid to stand up for themselves
A call of the House
An imperative sum- mons sent to every Member of Parliament to attend. This is done when the sense of the whole House is required.
a call on shareholders
A demand to pay the balance of money due for shares allotted in a company, or a part thereof.
A call to the Bar
The admission of a law student to the privileges of a barrister. See BAR.
a call to the pastorate
An invitation to a minister by the members of a Presbyterian or Nonconformist church to preside over a certain congregation.
a call-box
A public telephone booth. Call day, or call night. The name given at the Inns of Court to the dates on which students are called to the Bar.
a call-boy
A boy employed in theatres to "call" or summon actors, when it is time for them to make their appearance on the stage.
A Calvary
A representation of the suc- cessive scenes of the Passion of Christ in a series of pictures, etc., in a church. The shrine containing the representations.
A Calvary cross
A Latin cross mounted on three steps (or grises).
a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle
Sharing knowledge or skills doesn't diminish one's own
a cat has nine lives
A cat is more tenacious of life than many animals. It is a careful, sly, and suspicious beast, and — in the wild state — is strong, hardy, and ferocious; also, after a fall, it generally lights upon its feet without injury, the foot and toes being well padded.
a cat may look at a king
Even those of low status have rights
a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
A system is only as strong as its weakest part
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Or, a chain is no stronger than its weakest link
The strength of a system is limited by its most vulnerable part
a chalice
The eucharist. The circle inscribed in an equilateral triangle, or the triangle in a circle. To denote the co- equality and co-eternity of the Trinity.
A cheerful wife is the spice of life. (Strauss, 1998 p. 20)
A happy and cheerful wife brings joy and excitement to life
a chip of the old block
A son «r child of the same stuff as his father. The chip is the same wood as the block. Burke applied the words to William Pitt.
a cigar is just a cigar
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
a circulating library
A library from which the books may be borrowed and taken by readers to their homes.
a civil question deserves a civil answer
A polite question should receive a polite response
a clean tongue
Not abusive, not profane, not foul. Cleanliness is next to godliness.
a clear day
An entire, complete day. "The bonds must be left three clear days for examination," means that they must be left for three days not counting the first or the last.
a clear head
A mind that is capable of understanding things clearly.
a clear statement
A straightforward and intelligible statement.
a clear style
A lucid method of expressing one's thoughts.
a clear voice
A voice of pure intonation, neither husky, mouthy, nor throaty.
a clouded cane
A malacca cane clouded or mottled from age and use. These canes were very fashionable in the first quarter of last century and earlier.
a cock and bull story
A long, rambling, idle, or incredible yarn; a canard. There are various so-called explanations of the origin of the term, but the most likely is that it is connected with the old fables in which cocks, bulls, and other animals discoursed in human language on things m general.
a cock of hay
A small heap of hay thrown up temporarily. (Ger. kocke, a heap of hay; Norw. kok, a heap.
a cockle hat
A pilgrim's hat. So called from the custom of putting cockle-shells upon their hats, to indicate their intention or performance of a pilgrimage.
a cold day in July
something that is very unlikely to happen
a cool card
A person who coolly asks for something preposterous or outrageous. "Cool" in this connexion means coolly impudent. Cp. COOLING CARD below.
a cooling card
An obsolete expression for something that cools one's ardour, probably derived from some old game of cards. It is quite common in Elizabethan literature.
a coon's age
Quite a long time; a "month of Sundays" (U.S. slang).
a couple of something
a small, informal number of something
a cross
The Christian's life and conflict; the death of Christ for man's redemption.
a crown
The reward of the perseverance of the saints.
a curtain call
An invitation to an actor to appear before the curtain, and receive the applause of the audience.
a day after the fair
Too late; the fair you came to see is over. Day in, day out. All day long and every day. Every dog has its day. See DOG.
a day or two
a short period of time
a dead dog
Something utterly worthless. A Biblical phrase (see I Sam. xxiv, 14, "After whom is the king of Israel come out? After a dead dog?") Cp. also Is THY SERVANT, etc., below.
a dead hand
It was believed that a candle placed in a dead man's hand gives no light to any but those who use it. See HAND.
a decline in student numbers
a decrease in the number of students
a deluge of words and a drop of sense
Many words with little meaningful content
a diamond of the first water
A specially fine diamond, one of the greatest value for its size. The colour or lustre of a diamond is called its "water.
a dirty dog
One morally filthy; one who talks and acts nastily. In the East the dog is still held in abhorrence, as the scavenger of the streets. "Him that dieth in the city shall the dogs eat" (1 Kings xiv, 1 1).
a diver lining
The prospect of better days, the promise of happier times. The saying, Erery; cloud has a silver lining, is an old one; thus m Milton's Comus, the Lady lost in the wood resolves to hope on, and sees a "sable cloud turn forth its silver lining to the night.
a dog in a doublet
A bold, resolute fellow. In Germany and Flanders the strong dogs employed for hunting the wild boar were dressed in a kind of buff doublet buttoned to their bodies. Rubens and Sneyders have represented several m their pictures. A false friend is called a dog in one"s doublet.
a dog in the manger
A churlish fellow, who will not use what is wanted by another, nor yet let the other have it to use. The allusion is to the well-known fable of a dog that fixed his place in a manger, would not allow an ox to come near the hay and would not eat it himself.
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