achilles's tutors
First, Phoenix, who taught him the elements; then Chiron the centaur, who taught him the uses and virtues of plants.
Browse all entries 83355
Every expression in the dictionary, A to Z — pick a language, then a letter.
All languages English Tiếng Việt Chinese 中文
Acid Test
The application of acid is a cer- tain test of gold. Hence the phrase is used of a test or trial which will conclusively decide the value, worth, or reliability of anything.
ack emma
See PIP EMMA. Acme (ak'rm) (Gr. a point). The highest pitch of perfection; the term used by old medical writers for the crisis of a disease. They divided the progress of a disease into four periods: the atche, or beginning; the anabasis, or increase; the acme> or term of its utmost violence; and the paracme, or decline.
acknowledge the corn
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
acorn
You will ride a horse foaled by an acorn, i.e. the gallows, called also the Wooden and Three-legged Mare. You will be hanged.--See THREE-LEGGED MARE.
acquired taste
Something that people may not like initially but learn to appreciate over time
acres
A coward. From Bob Acres, in Sheridan’s Rivals.
Act and Opponency
An ~Act," in our University language, consists of a thesis publicly maintained by a candidate for a degree, with the "disputation" thereon. The person "disputing" with the "keeper of the Act" is called the "opponent," and his func- tion is called an "opponency". In some degrees the student is required to keep his Act, and then to be the opponent of another disputant.
act as something
To function or serve as something
act of Congress
Something extremely difficult or unlikely to happen
Act of God
Loss arising from the action of forces uncontrollable by man, such as a hurricane, lightning, etc., is said to be due to an "act of God," and hence has no legal redress. A Devonshire jury once found — "That deceased died by the act of God, brought about by the flooded condition of the river.
act of grace
A pardon; a general pardon granted by Act of Parliament, especially that of 1690, when William III pardoned political offenders; and that of 1784, when the estates forfeited for high treason in connexion with "the *45" were restored.
Act of Man
The sacrificing of cargo, spars, or furnishings, by the master of a vessel for the preservation of his ship. All persons with an interest in the ship and cargo stand a fair share of the loss.
act of parliament
A military term for small beer, five pints of which, by an act of parliament, a landlord was formerly obliged to give to each soldier gratis.
Act of Parliament
This is the official name for a measure which has become the law of the land. The word Bill is applied to a measure on its introduction, and for it to become an Act it has to be read three times in each House of Parliament (during which time it is debated) and receive the royal assent. The Acts of each session are arranged m chapters and officially quoted according to the year of the reign m which they are passed.
act one's age
Behave in a way that is suitable for one's age
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Behave maturely, not immaturely
act out
to perform or express something, especially emotions, in a dramatic way
act the hypocrite
To pretend to have virtues or moral principles one does not actually have
act up
behave badly or mischievously
actaeon
A cuckold.
acteon
A cuckold, from the horns planted on the head of Acteon by Diana.
Actian Games
The games cele- brated at Actium in honour of Apollo. They were reinstituted by Augustus to celebrate his naval victory over Antony, 31 B.C., and were held every five years.
Action Sermon
A sermon (in the Scots Presbyterian Church) preached before the celebration of Communion.
actions speak louder than words
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
active capital
Ready money or property readily convertible into it.
activist judge
A judge who takes an active role in shaping policy or law
activist justice
Justice that is actively pursued or advocated for, often through social or political action.
Acts of St
Thomas is that he was deputed to go as a missionary to India, and, on refusing, Christ appeared and sold him as a slave to an Indian prince who was visiting Jerusalem. He was taken to India, where he baptized the prince and many others, and was finally martyred at Meliapore.
acu tetigisti
See HEM ACU. Ad inquirendum (ad in kwl ren' dum) (Lat.). A judicial writ commanding an inquiry to be made into some complaint.
Adam and Eve
The first man and woman
Adam Bell
See CLYM OF THE CLOUGH. Adam Cupid — i.e. Archer Cupid, probably alluding to Adam Bell. In all the early editions the line in Romeo and Juliet (II, i,.13) : "Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim,'- reads "Young Abraham Cupid," etc. The emendation was suggested by Steevens.
Adam Tiler
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
adam's ale
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
adam's ale
Water; because the first man had nothing else to drink. In Scotland sometimes called Adam's Wine.
adam's apple
The protuberance in the forepart of the throat, the anterior extremity of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx; so called from the superstition that a piece of the forbidden fruit stuck in Adam's throat.
adam's needle
Gen. iii, 7, tells us that Adam and Eve "sewed fig leaves together;" needles were (presumably) not then obtainable, but certain plants furnish needle-like spines, and to some of these the name has been given. The chief is the Yucca, a native of Mexico and Central America.
Adam's Peak
A mountain in Ceylon where, according to Mohammedan legend, Adam bewailed his expulsion from Paradise, standing on one foot for 200 years to expiate his crime; then Gabriel took him to Mount Arafat, where he found Eye.
adam's profession
Gardening or agricul- ture is sometimes so called — for obvious reasons.
add oil
to encourage or support someone
add one's twopenn'orth
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
add to something
Enhance or increase something
add up
to make sense or be logical when considered together
added to the list
A euphuism current among sporting writers implying that a horse has been gelded. As, "Sabinus has been ADDED TO THE LIST." Another form of expression in reference to this matter is that "the knife has been brought into requisition." "ADDED TO THE LIST" is simply a contraction for "added to the list of geldings in training."
added value
Additional benefit or feature that enhances something
addison's disease
A state of anaemia, languor, irritable stomach, etc., associated with disease of the suprarenal glands: so named from Dr. Thos. Addison, of Guy's Hospital (1793-1860), who first described it.
addisonian termination
The name given by Bishop Kurd to the construction which closes a sentence with a preposition, such as — "which the prophet took a distinct view of." Named from Joseph Addison, who frequently employed it.
addition and subtraction
Basic arithmetic operations
addle egg
An egg which has no germ ; also one in which the chick has died. Hence, fig., addle-headed, addle-pate, empty-headed. As an addle-egg produces no living bird so an addle-pate lacks brains.
addle pate
An inconsiderate foolish fellow.
addle plot
A spoil-sport, a mar-all.
addlepate
A foolish fellow, a dullard.
addy
Adderall.
adlay
an eshay
admiral of the narrow seas
One who from drunkenness vomits into the lap of the person sitting opposite to him. SEA PHRASE.
admiral of the red
A person whose very red face evinces a fondness for strong potations.
admiration is the daughter of ignorance
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
Admiration: our polite recognition of another man's resemblance to ourselves. (Ambrose Bierce)
Admiration is insincere praise for someone who resembles us
Adonis River
A stream which flows from Lebanon to the sea near Byblos which runs
adoption by baptism
Being godfather or godmother to a child. The child by baptism is your godchild.
Advertisement
Ad space — ads help keep Idiomer free. Premium will remove them.