An Iliad of woes
A number of evils falling one after another; there is scarce a calamity in the whole catalogue of human ills that finds not mention in the Iliad.
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an infant in a cradle
A shepherd playing a flute. An old man meditating on two skulls. According to Lucretius also there are three ages, distinguished by the materials employed in implements (v. 1282), viz.: The age of stone, when celts or implements of stone were employed. The age of bronze, when imple- ments were made of copper or brass. The age of iron, when implements were made of iron, as at present.
an itching palm
A hand ready to receive bribes. The old superstition is that if your palrn itches you are going to receive money. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm. Julius Ccesar, iv. 3.
an old screw
A miser who has amassed wealth by "putting on the screw" (see below), and who keeps his money tight, doling it out only in screws.
an open question
A statement, proposal, doctrine, or supposed fact, respecting which private opinion is allowed. In the House of Commons every member may vote as he likes, regardless of party politics, on an open ques- tion.
An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit. (Mieder 2006, p. 906)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Preventing problems is better than fixing them later
an serene
In Cuba the word was used as a countersign by sentinels, and is about equivalent to our "All right," or "All's well." In the late 19th century it was a colloquial catch-word.
anabaptist
A pickpocket caught in the fact, and punished with the discipline of the pump or horse-pond.
anaconda mortgage
A mortgage with initially low payments that increase sharply later.
Anacreon Moore
Thomas Moore (1779- 1852), who not only translated Anacreon into English, but also wrote original poems in the same style.
Anacreon of the Guillotine
Bertrand Barere de Vieuzac (1755-1841), president of the National Convention; so called from the flowery language and convivial jests used by him towards his miserable victims.
Anacreon of the Temple
Guillaume Am- frye (1639-1720), abbe" de Chaulieu; French man of letters and man of the world ; called by Voltaire (whom he encouraged) " the greatest of neglected poets.
anchor
Bring your a-se to an anchor, i.e. sit down. To let go an anchor to the windward of the law; to keep within the letter of the law. SEA WIT.
anchor light
A white light shown from the forward part of an anchored vessel and visible all round the horizon.
anchor watch
A watch of one or two men, while the vessel rides at anchor, in port. See BOWER ANCHOR: SHEET ANCHOR.
Ancien Regime
The old order of things ; a phrase used during the French Revolution for the old Bourbon monarchy, or the system of government, with all its evils, which existed prior to that great change.
ancient history
completely forgotten or no longer relevant
ancient lights
A sign put up on a building to show the owner thereof has a right to the light coming from adjacent property, and consequently, no building may be erected there without his consent, if it would interfere with his light. By the Prescription Act of 1832 a light is ancient if it has been uninterrupted for a period of twenty years.
Ancient Mariner
The story in Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner (first published in the Lyrical Ballads, 1798) is founded partly on a dream told by the author's friend, Cruickshank, and partly on passages in various books that he had read. Wordsworth told him the story of the privateer George Shel- vocke who, while rounding Cape Horn in the Speedwell, in 1720, shot a black albatross.
Ancient of Days
A scriptural name given to God (Dan. vii, 9).
and all
including everything related or implied
and all this
and everything associated with it
and change
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
and counting
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
and crap
nonsense or worthless things
and die in music
Othello, v, 2. In. the Merchant of Venice, (iii, 2) Portia says — He makes a swan-like end, Fading in music.
and finally
Used to introduce a last point or conclusion
and his mother
used to emphasize the extent of something
and how
used to ask for more information
and I don't mean maybe
certainly or definitely
and make a vassal of him
Tempest, i, 2. The cult of Setebos was first known in Europe through Magellan's voyage round the world, 1519-21.
and shit
used to emphasize a list or add more items
and so forth
Used to indicate more items in a list without naming them
and so on
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
and such
and other similar things
and the like
Similar things or people
and then some
More than what is expected or required
And thou unfit for any place but hell. (William Shakespeare)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
and whatnot
and other similar things
and yet partake no venom
Winter's Tale, ii, 1. and in the examination into the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, one of the witnesses deposed "that the countess wished him to get the strongest poison that he could . . ." Accordingly he brought seven great spiders.
Andrea Dona
Inscribed on the base of his statue by his countrymen of Genoa.
andrew's cross
Quite common in ancient sculpture. The Latin cross or crux immissa. This symbol is found on coins, monuments, and medals long before the Christian era.
andrews’
(George) Dictionary of the Slang and Cant Languages, Ancient and Modern, 12mo. London, 1809.
andy
android
Andy McNab
A taxi.
Angel of the Schools
St. Thomas Aquinas. See ANGELIC DOCTOR. On the side of the angels. See SIDE.
angel visits
Delightful intercourse of short duration and rare occurrence.
angel's advocate
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Angelic Brothers
A sect of Dutch Pietists founded in the 16th century by George Gichtel. Their views on marriage were similar to those held by the Abehtes and Adamites (qq.v.).
Angelic Doctor
Thomas Aquinas was so called, because of the purity and excellence ol his teaching. His exposition of the most recondite problems of theology and philosophy was iudged to be the fruit of almost more than human intelligence and within the present century a Pope has laid it down that from bt. Thomas and his Summa Theologica all teaching must derive.
Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor. (Francis Bacon)
Anger inspires clever remarks, but leads to financial trouble.
angle for farthings
To fish for compliments or try to get something for little effort
angle iron
a metal bracket used for supporting or joining
angle with a silver hook
To buy fish at market; said of an angler who, having been unsuccessful, purchases fish that will enable him to conceal his failure.
anglers
Pilferers, or petty thieves, who, with a stick having a hook at the end, steal goods out of shop-windows, grates, &c.; also those who draw in or entice unwary persons to prick at the belt, or such like devices.
angling for farthings
Begging out of a prison window with a cap, or box, let down at the end of a long string.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
This relates the history of England from the birth of Christ to 1154. It is written in Anglo-Saxon, isp in prose, and was probably begun in the time of Alfred the Great. It is valuable for the information it gives regarding the 8th and 9th centuries.
Anglo-Saxons the gold-finger
This finger between the long and little finger was used by the Romans as a ring-finger, from the belief that a nerve ran through it to the heart. Hence the Greeks and Romans used to call it the medical finger, and used it for stirring mixtures, under the nption that nothing noxi- ous could touch it without its giving instant warning to the heart.
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