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Словарь американских идиом 8000 единиц - Letter L.
[labor movement] {n.} Groups which form, strengthen, and increase
membership in labor unions. * /His father was connected with the labor
movement in the 1920's./
[labor of love] {n. phr.} Something done for personal pleasure and
not pay or profit. * /Building the model railroad was a labor of love
for the retired engineer./
[labor the point] See: BELABOR THE POINT.
[labor under] {v. phr.} To be the victim of; suffer from. * /Ken is
obviously laboring under the delusion that Jennifer will marry him out
of love./
[lace into] or [tie into] {v.}, {informal} To attack physically or
with words; begin to hit or criticize. * /The boxer laced into his
opponent./ * /The critics laced into the new movie./ Syn.: LAY INTO,
RIP INTO. Compare: GIVE IT TO.
[ladies' room] {n. phr.} A public toilet and restroom for women. *
/Can you please tell me where the ladies' room is?/
[lady friend] {n.} 1. A woman friend. * /His aunt stays with a lady
friend in Florida during the winter./ 2. A woman who is the lover of a
man. - Used by people trying to appear more polite, but not often used
by careful speakers. * /The lawyer took his lady friend to dinner./
Syn.: GIRLFRIEND.
[lady-killer] {n.}, {informal} 1. Any man who has strong sex appeal
toward women. * /Joe is a regular lady-killer./ 2. A man who
relentlessly pursues amorous conquests, is successful at it, and then
abandons his heartbroken victims. * /The legendary Don Juan of Spain
is the most famous lady-killer of recorded history./ Compare: LADY'S
MAN.
[lady of the house] {n. phr.} Female owner, or wife of the owner,
of the house; the hostess. * /"Dinner is served," the lady of the
house announced to her guests./
[lady's man] {n.} A man or boy who likes to be with women or girls
very much and is popular with them. * /Charlie is quite a lady's man
now./
[lake] See: GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[laid out] {adj.} Arranged. * /Her house is very conveniently laid
out./
[laid up] {adj.} Sick; confined to bed. * /I was laid up for a
couple of weeks with an ear infection./
[lam] See: ON THE LAM.
[lamb] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, IN TWO SHAKES
OF A LAMB'S TAIL.
[lame duck] {n.}, {informal} An elected public official who has
been either defeated in a new election or whose term cannot be
renewed, but who has a short period of time left in office during
which he can still perform certain duties, though with somewhat
diminished powers. * /In the last year of their second terms, American
presidents are lame ducks./
[land] See: FAT OF THE LAND, LAY OF THE LAND also HOW THE LAND
LIES.
[land all over] See: JUMP ON.
[landing ship] {n.} A ship built to land troops and army equipment
on a beach for an invasion. * /The landing ship came near the beach,
doors in the bow opened, and marines ran out./
[land-office business] {n.}, {informal} A great rush of business. *
/It was a hot day, and the drive-ins were doing a land-office business
in ice cream and cold drinks./
[land of nod] {n. phr.} Sleep. * /The little girl went off to the
land of nod./
[land on] See: JUMP ON.
[land on one's feet] also [land on both feet] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To get yourself out of trouble without damage or injury and sometimes
with a gain; be successful no matter what happens. * /No matter what
trouble he gets into, he always seems to land on his feet./ * /Mary
lost her first job because she was always late to work, but she landed
on her feet and soon had a better job./
[landslide] {n.} An overwhelming victory during a political
election. * /Ronald Reagan won the election of 1980 in a landslide./
[lane] See: LOVERS' LANE.
[lap] See: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY, IN THE LAP OF THE GODS.
[lap up] {v.} 1. To eat or drink with the tip of the tongue. * /The
kitten laps up its milk./ 2. {informal} To take in eagerly. * /She
flatters him all the time and he just laps it up./ * /William is
interested in rockets and space, and he laps up all he can read about
them./ Syn.: EAT UP(3).
[lardhead] {n.}, {slang} A stupid or slow-witted person. * /You'll
never convince Donald; he's a lardhead./
[large] See: AT LARGE, BY AND LARGE.
[large as life] See: BIG AS LIFE.
[large-eyed] See: ROUND-EYED.
[large order] {n. phr.} Difficult job; a difficult task to fulfill.
* /It is a large order to educate three children in college at the
same time./ Compare: TALL ORDER.
[lash] See: TONGUE LASHING.
[lash out] {v.} 1. To kick. * /The horse lashed out at the man
behind him./ 2. To try suddenly to hit. * /The woman lashed out at the
crowd with her umbrella./ 3. To attack with words. * /The senator
lashed out at the administration./ * /The school newspaper lashed out
at the unfriendly way some students treated the visiting team./
[last] See: AT LAST, EVERY LAST MAN, EVERY SINGLE or EVERY LAST,
FIRST AND LAST, HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST, HAVE THE LAST LAUGH,
ON ONE'S LAST LEGS, TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE LAST GUN
IS FIRED.
[last but not least] {adv. phr.} In the last place but not the
least important. * /Billy will bring sandwiches, Alice will bring
cake, Susan will bring cookies, John will bring potato chips, and last
but not least, Sally will bring the lemonade./
[last ditch] {n.} The last place that can be defended; the last
resort. * /They will fight reform to the last ditch./
[last-ditch] {adj.} Made or done as a last chance to keep from
losing or tailing. * /He threw away his cigarettes in a last-ditch
effort to stop smoking./ Compare: BACK TO THE WALL.
[last-ditch effort] See: LAST DITCH.
[last lap] {n. phr.} The final stage. * /Although the trip had been
very interesting, we were glad that we were on the last lap of our
tiring journey./ See: LAST LEG.
[last laugh] See: HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.
[last leg] {n. phr.} 1. Final stages of physical weakness before
dying. * /The poor old man was on his last leg in the nursing home./
2. The final stage of a journey. * /The last leg of our
round-the-world trip was Paris to Chicago./ See: LAST LAP.
[last out] {v.} 1. To be enough until the end of. * /There is
enough food in the house to last out the snowstorm./ * /Our candies
won't last out the night./ 2. To continue to the end of; continue to
live after; live or go through. * /The old man is dying; he won't last
out the night./ * /This car will never last out the winter./ Compare:
HOLD OUT.
[last stand] {n. phr.} See: LAST DITCH.
[last straw] or [straw that breaks the camel's back] {n. phr.} A
small trouble which follows other troubles and makes one lose patience
and be unable to bear them. * /Bill had a bad day in school yesterday.
He lost his knife on the way home, then he fell down, and when he
broke a shoe lace, that was the last straw and he began to cry./ *
/Mary didn't like it when the other girls said she was proud and lazy,
but when they said she told fibs it was the straw that broke the
camel's back and she told the teacher./
[last word] {n.} 1. The last remark in an argument. * /I never win
an argument with her. She always has the last word./ 2. The final say
in deciding something. * /The superintendent has the last word in
ordering new desks./ 3. {informal} The most modern thing. * /Mrs.
Green's stove is the last word in stoves./
[latch on] or [hitch onto] {v.}, {informal} 1. To get hold of;
grasp or grab; catch. * /He looked for something to latch onto and
keep from falling./ * /The football player latched onto a pass./ 2.
{slang} To get into your possession. * /The banker latched onto a
thousand shares of stock./ 3. {slang} To understand. * /The teacher
explained the idea of jet engines until the students latched onto it./
Syn.: CATCH ON. 4. {informal} To keep; to hold. * /The poor woman
latched onto the little money she had left./ 5. {slang} To stay with;
not leave. * /Marie and Dick wanted to go to the movies by themselves,
but Mane's little brother latched onto them./
[latch string] {n.} 1. A string that opens an old-fashioned door by
lifting a small bar. * /The early settlers kept the latch string
outside the door when they were working around the house, but at night
they pulled it to the inside./ 2. {informal} A warm welcome; a
friendly greeting. - Used in such phrases as "the latch string is
out." * /Mary has her latch siring out for everyone who comes./ Syn.:
WELCOME MAT(2).
[late] See: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, OF LATE.
[lately] See: JOHNNY-COME-LATELY.
[later] See: SOONER OR LATER.
[later on] {adv.} Later; not now. * /Finish your lessons. Later on,
we may have a surprise./ * /Bill couldn't stand on his head when
school started, but later on he learned how./
[lather] See: IN A LATHER.
[laugh] See: HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST, HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.
[laugh all the way to the bank] {v. phr.} To have made a
substantial amount of money either by lucky investment or by some
fraudulent deal and rejoice over one's gains. * /If you had done what
I suggested, you, too, could be laughing all the way to the bank./
[laughing matter] {n.} A funny happening; a silly situation. -
Usually used with "no". * /John's failing the test is no laughing
matter!/ * /We were amused when our neighbor's cat had five kittens,
but when our own cat had six kittens it was no laughing matter./
[laugh in one's beard] See: LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE.
[laugh in one's sleeve] See: LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE.
[laugh off] {v.} To dismiss with a laugh as not important or not
serious; not take seriously. * /He had a bad fall while ice skating
but he laughed it off./ * /You can't laugh off a ticket for speeding./
Compare: MAKE LIGHT OF.
[laugh one out of] {v. phr.} To cause another to forget his/her
worries and sorrows by joking. * /Jack was worried about getting
airsick, but his son and daughter laughed him out of it./
[laugh one's head off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To laugh very hard; be
unable to stop laughing. * /Paul's stories are so wildly funny that I
laugh my head off whenever he starts telling one of them./
[laugh on the wrong side of one's mouth] or [laugh on the other
side of one's mouth] or [laugh out of the other side of one's mouth]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To be made sorry; to feel annoyance or
disappointment; cry. * /Paul boasted that he was a good skater, but
after he fell, he laughed out of the other side of his mouth./
[laugh up one's sleeve] or [laugh in one's sleeve] or [laugh in
one's beard] To be amused but not show it; hide your laughter. * /He
was laughing up his sleeve when Joe answered the phone because he knew
the call would he a joke./
[launch window] {n.}, {Space English}, {informal} 1. A period of
time when the line-up of planets, Sun, and Moon are such as to make
favorable conditions for a specific space launch. * /The mission was
canceled until the next launch window which will be exactly six weeks
from today./ 2. A favorable time for starting some kind of ambitious
adventure. * /My next launch window for a European trip isn't until
school is over in June./
[laurel] See: LOOK TO ONE'S LAURELS, REST ON ONE'S LAURELS.
[lavender] See: LAY OUT(7).
[law] See: LAY DOWN THE LAW, PARLIAMENTARY LAW, TAKE THE LAW INTO
ONE'S OWN HANDS.
[law-abiding] {adj.} Obeying or following the law. * /Michael had
been a law-abiding citizen all his life./
[lawful age] See: LEGAL AGE.
[law of averages] {n. phr.} The idea that you can't win all the
time or lose all the time. * /The Celtics have won 10 games in a row
but the law of averages will catch up with them soon./
[law unto oneself] {n. phr.}, {literary} A person who does only
what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn't
like it. * /Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law
unto himself./ * /Mr. Brown told Johnny that he must stop trying to be
a law unto himself./ Compare: TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS.
[lay] See: KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.
[lay about one] {v. phr.} To hit out in all directions. - Used with
a reflexive object: "her", "him", or "them". * /The bandits surrounded
the sheriff, but he laid about him so hard, with his gun used as a
club, that they stepped back and let him escape./ * /Mrs. Franklin
didn't kill the mouse, but she laid about her so hard with the broom
that she scared it away./
[lay a finger on] {v. phr.} To touch or bother, even a little. -
Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. * /Don't
you dare lay a finger on the vase!/ * /Suppose Billy fakes his brother
with him; wilt the mean, tough boy down the street dare lay a finger
on him?/ * /If you so much as lay a finger on my boy, I'll call the
police./ Compare: LAY HANDS ON, PUT ONE'S FINGER ON.
[lay an egg] {v. phr.}, {slang} To fail to win the interest or
favor of an audience. * /His joke laid an egg./ * /Sometimes he is a
successful speaker, but sometimes he lays an egg./
[lay aside] {v. phr.} 1. To put off until another time; interrupt
an activity. * /The president laid aside politics to turn to foreign
affairs./ 2. To save. * /They tried to lay aside a little money each
week for their vacation./
[lay at one's door] {v. phr.}, {literary} To blame (something) on a
person. * /The failure of the plan was laid at his door./ Compare: LAY
TO(1).
[lay away] {v.} 1. To save. * /She laid a little of her pay away
each week./ 2. To bury (a person). - Used to avoid the word "bury",
which some people think is unpleasant. * /He was laid away in his
favorite spot on the hill./
[lay-away plan] {n.} A plan for buying something that you can't pay
cash for; a plan in which you pay some money down and pay a little
more when you can, and the store holds the article until you have paid
the full price. * /She could not afford to pay for the coat all at
once, so she used the lay-away plan./
[lay bare] {v. phr.} To expose; reveal; divulge. * /During his
testimony the witness laid bare the whole story of his involvement
with the accused./
[lay by] {v.} To save, especially a little at a time. * /The
students laid a little money by every week till they had enough for a
trip to Florida./ * /The farmer laid by some of his best corn to use
the next year for seed./
[lay down] {v.} 1. To let (something) be taken; give up or
surrender (something). * /The general told the troops to lay down
their arms./ * /He was willing to lay down his life for his country./
Compare: GIVE UP. 2. To ask people to follow; tell someone to obey;
make (a rule or principle). * /The committee laid down rules about the
size of tennis courts./ 3. To declare; say positively; say surely;
state. * /She laid it down as always true that "a fool and his money
are soon parted."/ 4. To store or save for future use, especially in a
cellar. * /They laid down several barrels of cider./
[lay down one's arms] {v. phr.} To cease fighting; surrender. *
/The Civil War ended when the Confederate army finally laid down its
arms./
[lay down one's cards] See: LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE.
[lay down one's life] {v. phr.} To sacrifice one's life for a cause
or person; suffer martyrdom. * /The early Christians often laid down
their lives for their faith./
[lay down the law] {v. phr.} 1. To give strict orders. * /The
teacher lays down the law about homework every afternoon./ 2. To speak
severely or seriously about a wrongdoing; scold. * /The principal
called in the students and laid down the law to them about skipping
classes./ Compare: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.
[lay eyes on] or [set eyes on] {v. phr.} To see. * /She knew he was
different as soon as she laid eyes on him./ * /I didn't know the man;
in fact, I had never set eyes on him./
[lay for] {v.}, {informal} To hide and wait for in order to catch
or attack; to lie in wait for. * /The bandits laid for him along the
road./ * /I knew he had the marks for the exam, so I was laying for
him outside his office./
[lay hands on] {v. phr.} 1. To get hold of; find; catch. * /The
treasure hunters can keep any treasure they can lay hands on./ * /If
the police can lay hands on him, they will put him in jail./ Compare:
LAY ONE'S HAND ON(2). 2. To do violence to; harm; hurt. * /They were
afraid that if they left him alone in his disturbed condition he would
lay hands on himself./
[lay hold of] {v. phr.} 1. To take hold of; grasp; grab. * /He laid
hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore./ 2. To get possession of.
* /He sold every washing machine he could lay hold of./ 3. {Chiefly
British} To understand. * /Some ideas in this science book are hard to
lay hold of./
[lay in] {v.} To store up a supply of; to get and keep for future
use. * /Mrs. Mason heard that the price of sugar might go up, so she
laid in a hundred pounds of it./ * /Before school starts, the
principal will lay in plenty of paper for the students' written work./
Compare: LAY UP.
[lay into] or [light into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To attack
physically; go at vigorously. * /The two fighters laid into each other
as soon as the bell rang./ * /John loves Italian food and he really
laid into the spaghetti./ Syn.: PITCH INTO, SAIL INTO. 2. {slang} To
attack with words. * /The senator laid into the opponents of his
bill./ Syn.: LACE INTO, RIP INTO. Compare: BAWL OUT, TELL OFF.
[lay it on] or [lay it on thick] also [put it on thick] or [spread
it on thick] or [lay it on with a trowel] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
persuade someone by using very much flattery; flatter. * /Bob wanted
to go to the movies. He laid it on thick to his mother./ * /Mary was
caught fibbing. She sure spread it on thick./ Compare: PUT ON(2b).
[lay it on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE(2).
[lay low] {v.} 1. To knock down; to force into a lying position; to
put out of action. * /Many trees were laid low by the storm./ * /Jane
was laid low by the flu./ 2. To kill. * /The hunters laid low seven
pheasants./ 3. See: LIE LOW.
[layoff] {n.} A systematic or periodical dismissal of employees
from a factory or a firm. * /Due to the poor economy, the car
manufacturer announced a major layoff starting next month./
[lay off] {v. phr.} 1. To mark out the boundaries or limits. * /He
laid off a baseball diamond on the vacant lot./ Compare: LAY OUT(5).
2. To put out of work. * /The company lost the contract for making the
shoes and laid off half its workers./ 3. {slang} To stop bothering;
leave alone. - Usually used in the imperative. * /Lay off me, will
you? I have to study for a test./ 4. {slang} To stop using or taking.
* /His doctor told him to lay off cigarettes./
[lay of the land] also [how the land lies] {n. phr.} 1. The natural
features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys. * /The style
of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land./
2. The way something is arranged; the important facts about something;
how things are. * /The banker wanted to check the lay of the land
before buying the stock./ * /Before the new boy will join our club, he
wants to see how the land lies./
[lay on] {v.} 1. To spread on or over a surface; apply. * /He told
us that we should lay on a second coat of paint for better protection
against the weather./ 2. To beat; to strike. * /Little John seized a
staff and began to lay on with great energy./ 3. See: LAY IT ON.
[lay one's cards on the table] or [lay down one's cards] or [put
one's cards on the table] {v. phr.}, {informal} To let someone know
your position and interest openly; deal honestly; act without trickery
or secrets. * /In talking about buying the property, Peterson laid his
cards on the table about his plans for it./ * /Some of the graduates
of the school were unfriendly toward the new superintendent, but he
put his cards on the table and won their support./
[lay oneself open to] {v. phr.} To make oneself vulnerable to;
expose oneself. * /If you don't perform your job properly, you will
lay yourself open to criticism./
[lay oneself out] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make an extra hard
effort; try very hard. * /Larry wanted to win a medal for his school,
so he really laid himself out in the race./
[lay one's finger on] See: PUT ONE'S FINGER ON.
[lay one's hands on] or [get one's hands on] {v. phr.} 1. To seize
in order to punish or treat roughly. * /If I ever lay my hands on that
boy he'll be sorry./ Compare: LAY A FINGER ON. 2. To get possession
of. * /He was unable to lay his hands on a Model T Ford for the school
play./ Compare: LAY HANDS ON(1). 3. or [lay one's hand on] or [put
one's hand on] To find; locate. * /He keeps a file of letters so he
can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it./
[lay on the line] or [put on the line] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To
pay or offer to pay. * /The sponsors had to lay nearly a million
dollars on the line to keep the show on TV./ * /The bank is putting
$5,000 on the line as a reward to anyone who catches the robber./
Compare: PUT UP. 2. To say plainly so that there can be no doubt; tell
truthfully, * /I'm going to lay it on the line for you, Paul. You must
work harder if you want to pass./ 3. To take a chance of losing; risk.
* /The champion is laying his title on the line in the fight tonight./
* /Frank decided to lay his job on the line and tell the boss that he
thought he was wrong./
[lay out] {v. phr.} 1. To prepare (a dead body) for burial. * /The
corpse was laid out by the undertaker./ 2. {slang} To knock down flat;
to hit unconscious. * /A stiff right to the jaw laid the boxer out in
the second round./ 3. To plan. * /Come here, Fred, I have a job laid
out for you./ 4. To mark or show where work is to be done. * /The
foreman laid out the job for the new machinist./ 5. To plan the
building or arrangement of; design. * /The architect laid out the
interior of the building./ * /The early colonists laid out towns in
the wilderness./ Compare: LAY OFF(1). 6. {slang} To spend; pay. * /How
much did you have to lay out for your new car?/ 7. or [lay out in
lavender] {slang} To scold; lecture. * /He was laid out in lavender
for arriving an hour late for the dance./ Compare: JUMP ON, LAY
INTO(2), LET HAVE IT(1c).
[layout] {n.} General situation; arrangement; plan. * /The layout
of their apartment overlooking Lake Michigan was strikingly unusual./
Compare: LAID OUT.
[layover] {n.} A stopover, usually at an airport or in a hotel due
to interrupted air travel. * /There were several layovers at O'Hare
last month due to bad weather./
[lay over] {v.} 1. To put off until later; delay; postpone. * /We
voted to lay the question over to our next meeting for decision./ 2.
To arrive in one place and wait some time before continuing the
journey. * /We had to lay over in St. Louis for two hours waiting for
a plane to Seattle./
[lay rubber] or [lay a patch] {v. phr.}, {slang} To take off in a
car or a motorcycle so fast that the tires (made of rubber) leave a
mark on the pavement. * /Look at those crazy drag racers; they laid
rubber in front of my house./
[lay the blame at one's door] {v. phr.} To say that another person
or group is responsible for one's own failure. * /The angry coach laid
the blame at the door of the players when our college lost the
basketball game./
[lay the fault at one's door] See: LAY THE BLAME AT ONE'S DOOR.
[lay their heads together] See: PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER.
[lay to] {v.} 1. To give the blame or credit to; to name as cause.
* /He was unpopular and when he made money, it was laid to his
dishonesty, but when he lost money, it was laid to his stupidity./
Compare: LAY AT ONE'S DOOR. 2. To hold a ship or boat still against
the wind. * /The pirates decided to lay to that night and go ashore in
the morning./ Compare: LIE TO. 3. To exert oneself; to work hard. *
/He picked up a shovel and laid to with the rest of the gang./
[lay to heart] See: TAKE TO HEART.
[lay to rest] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To put a dead person into a
grave or tomb; bury. * /President Kennedy was laid to rest in
Arlington National Cemetery./ 2. To get rid of; put away permanently;
stop. * /The Scoutmaster's fears that Tom had drowned were laid to
rest when Tom came back and said he had gone for a boat ride./ * /The
rumor that the principal had accepted another job was laid to rest
when he said it wasn't true./
[lay up] {v.} 1. To collect a supply of; save for future, use;
store. * /Bees lay up honey for the winter./ 2. To keep in the house
or in bed because of sickness or injury; disable. * /Jack was laid up
with a twisted knee and couldn't play in the final game./ 3. To take
out of active service; put in a boat dock or a garage. * /Bill had to
lay up his boat when school started./ * /If you lay up a car for the
winter, you should take out the battery./
[lay waste] {v. phr.}, {literary} To cause wide and great damage
to; destroy and leave in ruins; wreck. * /Enemy soldiers laid waste
the land./
[lead] See: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME, BLIND LEADING THE BLIND.
[lead] See: GET THE LEAD OUT OF ONE'S PANTS.
[lead a dog's life] {v. phr.}, {informal} To live a hard life, work
hard, and be treated unkindly. * /A new college student of long ago
led a dog's life./
[lead a merry chase] {v. phr.} To delay or escape capture by
(someone) skillfully; make (a pursuer) work hard. * /The deer led the
hunter a merry chase./ * /Valerie is leading her boyfriend a merry
chase./
[lead by the nose] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have full control of;
make or persuade (someone) to do anything whatever. * /Many people are
easily influenced and a smart politician can lead them by the nose./ *
/Don't let anyone lead you by the nose; use your own judgment and do
the right thing./
[leader] See: MAJORITY LEADER, MINORITY LEADER.
[lead-footed] See: HEAVY-FOOTED.
[leading light] {n. phr.} A prominent person in a community,
company, or group. * /Alan is the leading light of our discussion
group on music./
[lead off] {v.} To begin; start; open. * /Richardson led off the
inning with a double./ * /We always let Henry lead off./ * /Mr. Jones
led off with the jack of diamonds./ * /When the teacher asked if the
film helped them to understand, Phil led off by saying that he learned
a lot from it./
[lead on] {v. phr.} To encourage you to believe something untrue or
mistaken. * /Tom led us on to believe that he was a world traveler,
but we found out that he had never been outside our state./ * /We were
led on to think that Jeanne and Jim were engaged to be married./
[lead one a merry dance] {v. phr.} To cause someone unusual
discomfort or expense; tire someone by causing one to overdo. * /With
her personal extravagances and constant social activities that cost a
fortune, Carol led her husband a merry dance./
[lead the way] {v. phr.} To go before and show how to go somewhere;
guide. * /The boys need someone to lead the way on their hike./ * /The
men hired an Indian to lead the way to the Pueblo ruins./ * /That
school led the way in finding methods to teach reading./
[lead to] {v. phr.} To result in. * /Such a heavy arms race can
only lead to war./
[leaf] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.
[leaf through] {v. phr.} To scan or glance through a book or other
reading matter. * /I only had time to leaf through the program before
the concert started./
[league] See: IN LEAGUE WITH, IVY LEAGUE.
[leaguer] See: TEXAS LEAGUER.
[leak out] {v. phr.} To become known; escape. * /The famous beauty
queen tried to keep her marriage a secret, but news of it soon leaked
out./
[leak to] {v. phr.} To purposely let a secret be known, as if
conveying it in the strictest confidence. * /The movie star's secret
divorce was leaked to the tabloids by her housekeeper./
[lean on] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To pressure (someone) by
blackmailing, threats, physical violence, or the withholding of some
favor in order to make the person comply with a wish or request. * /I
would gladly do what you ask if you only stopped leaning on me so
hard!/
[lean over backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD.
[lean-to] {n.} 1. A shed for tools, such as spades, hoes, etc.,
attached to the wall of a house, * /Joe looked for the garden hose in
the lean-to./ 2. A small cabin in the country. * /They spend their
weekends in their modest lean-to in Wisconsin./
[leap] See: BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.
[leap year] {n.} Every fourth year during which the month of
February contains 29 rather than 28 days. * /During a leap year one
must wait a day longer for one's February pay check./
[learn] See: LIVE AND LEARN.
[learn by heart] See: BY HEART.
[learn by rote] {v. phr.} To blindly memorize what was taught
without thinking about it. * /If you learn a subject by rote, it will
be difficult to say anything original about it./
[learn one's way around] See: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND.
[learn the hard way] See: HARD WAY.
[learn the ropes] See: THE ROPES.
[least] See: AT LEAST, IN THE LEAST, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LINE OF
LEAST RESISTANCE.
[leatherneck] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A member of the United
States Marine Corps. * /I didn't know your son Joe became a
leatherneck./
[leave] See: SHORE LEAVE, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, TAKE LEAVE OF, TAKE
ONE'S LEAVE.
[leave a bad taste in one's mouth] {v. phr.} To feel a bad
impression; make you feel disgusted. * /Seeing a man beat his horse
leaves a bad taste in your mouth./ * /His rudeness to the teacher left
a bad taste in my mouth./
[leave alone] See: LET ALONE.
[leave at the altar] {v. phr.} 1. To decide not to marry someone in
the last minute; jilt. * /Ed left poor Susan at the altar./ 2. To
overlook and skip for promotion; not fulfill deserved expectation. *
/Once again I didn't get my promotion and was left at the altar./
[leave behind] {v. phr.} 1. Abandon. * /Refugees on the run must
sometimes leave old and sick people behind./ 2. To forget; go away
without. * /We had reached our car when we noticed that we had left
our keys behind./
[leave flat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To quit or leave suddenly
without warning when wanted or needed; desert; forsake; abandon. *
/Sam found that being a member of the trail-clearing group was a lot
of hard work, so he left them flat./ * /My car ran out of gas and left
me flat, ten miles from town./ Compare: LEAVE IN THE LURCH, WALK
OUT(2).
[leave hanging] or [leave hanging in the air] {v. phr.} To leave
undecided or unsettled. * /Because the committee could not decide on a
time and place, the matter of the spring dance was left hanging./ *
/Ted's mother didn't know what to do about the broken window, so his
punishment was left hanging in the air until his father came home./
Compare: UP IN THE AIR.
[leave high and dry] See: HIGH AND DRY.
[leave holding the bag] or [leave holding the sack] {v. phr.},
{informal} 1. To cause (someone) not to have something needed; leave
without anything, * /In the rush for seats, Joe was left holding the
bag./ 2. To force (someone) to take the whole responsibility or blame
for something that others should share. * /When the ball hit the
glass, the team scattered and left George holding the bag./ * /After
the party, the other girls on the clean-up committee went away with
their dates, and left Mary holding the bag./
[leave in the lurch] {v. phr.} To desert or leave alone in trouble;
refuse to help or support. * /The town bully caught Eddie, and Tom
left him in the lurch./ * /Bill quit his job, leaving his boss in the
lurch./ Compare: LEAVE FLAT, HIGH AND DRY(2), WALK OUT(2).
[leave it at that] {v. phr.} To avoid further and more acrimonious
disagreement; not argue or discuss any further. * /Our opinion on
health care is obviously different, so let's just leave it at that./
[leave no stone unturned] {v. phr.} To try in every way; miss no
chance; do everything possible. - Usually used in the negative. * /The
police will leave no stone unturned in their search for the bank
robbers./ Compare: ALL OUT, BEND HEAVEN AND EARTH, FINE-TOOTH COMB.
[leave off] {v.} To come or put to an end; stop. * /There is a high
fence where the school yard leaves off and the woods begin./ * /Don
told the boys to leave off teasing his little brother./ * /Marion put
a marker in her book so that she would know where she left off./
Contrast: TAKE UP.
[leave one's mark] {v. phr.} To leave an impression upon; influence
someone. * /Tolstoy never won the Nobel Prize, but he left his mark on
world literature./ See: MAKE ONE'S MARK.
[leave open] {v. phr.} To remain temporarily unsettled; subject to
further discussion. * /Brad said that the question of health insurance
would be left open until some future date./
[leave out] {v. phr.} To skip; omit. * /The printer accidentally
left out two paragraphs from Alan's novel./
[leave out in the cold] See: OUT IN THE COLD.
[leave out of account] {v. phr.} To fail to consider; forget about.
* /The picnic planners left out of account that it might rain./
Contrast: TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
[leave-taking] See: TAKE ONE'S LEAVE.
[leave the matter open] See: LEAVE OPEN.
[leave well enough alone] See: LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.
[leave without a leg to stand on] See: LEG TO STAND ON.
[leave word with] {v. phr.} To leave a message. * /Hank left word
with his secretary where he could be reached by phone while he was
away from his office./
[left] See: OUT IN LEFT FIELD, RIGHT AND LEFT.
[left field] {n.} 1. The part of a baseball out-field to the
batter's left. * /Right-handed batters usually hit to left field./
Compare: CENTER FIELD, RIGHT FIELD. 2. See: OUT IN LEFT FIELD. - [left
fielder] {n.} The player in baseball who plays in left field. * /The
scoreboard in the ball park is on the fence behind the left fielder./
[left-handed] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Using the left hand habitually.
2. Crooked; phoney; homosexual. * /Morris is such a left-handed guy./
3. Clumsy; untoward; awkward. * /Grab that hammer and stop acting so
left-handed./
[left-handed compliment] An ambiguous compliment which is
interpretable as an offense. * /I didn't know you could look so
pretty! Is that a wig you're wearing?/
[left-wing] {adj.} That which is or belongs to a group of people in
politics that favors radical change in the direction of socialism or
communism. * /The left-wing faction called for an immediate strike./
[leg] See: ON ONE'S LAST LEGS, PULL ONE'S LEG, SHAKE A LEG, TAIL
BETWEEN ONE'S LEGS.
[legal age] or [lawful age] The age at which a person is allowed to
do a certain thing or is held responsible for an action. * /In most
states the legal age for voting is 27./ * /He could not get a driver's
license because he was not of lawful age./
[leg man] {n.}, {informal} 1. An errand boy; one who performs
messenger services, or the like. * /Joe hired a leg man for the
office./ 2. {slang}, {semi-vulgar}, {avoidable} A man who is
particularly attracted to good looking female legs and pays less
attention to other parts of the female anatomy. * /Herb is a leg man./
[leg-pulling] See: PULL ONE'S LEG.
[Legree] See: SIMON LEGREE.
[leg to stand on] {n. phr.} A firm foundation of facts; facts to
support your claim. - Usually used in the negative. * /Jerry's
answering speech left his opponent without a leg to stand on./ * /Amos
sued for damages, but did not have a leg to stand on./
[leg work] {n.}, {informal} The physical end of a project, such as
the typing of research reports; the physical investigating of a
criminal affair; the carrying of books to and from libraries; etc. *
/Joe, my research assistant, does a lot of leg work for me./
[leisure] See: AT LEISURE or AT ONE'S LEISURE.
[lend a hand] or [give a hand] also [bear a hand] {v. phr.} To give
help; make yourself useful; help. * /The stage manager asked some of
the boys to lend a hand with the scenery./ * /Dick saw a woman with a
flat tire and offered to give her a hand with it./ Compare: LIFT A
FINGER.
[lend an ear to] See: GIVE AN EAR TO.
[lend color to] See: GIVE COLOR TO.
[lend itself to] {v. phr.} To give a chance for or be useful for;
to be possible or right for. * /Bob was sick and did not go to Jane's
party, but his absence lent itself to misunderstanding./ * /The
teacher's paperweight was a heavy piece of metal which sometimes lent
itself to use as a hammer./ * /This poem lends itself to our program
very well./ Compare: LEND ONESELF TO.
[lend oneself to] {v. phr.} To give help or approval to; encourage;
assist. * /Alice wouldn't lend herself to the plot to hide the
teacher's chalk./
[length] See: AT LENGTH, GO TO ANY LENGTH, KEEP AT A DISTANCE or
KEEP AT ARM'S LENGTH.
[less] See: MORE OR LESS, MUCH LESS.
[lesson] See: TEACH A LESSON.
[less than] {adv.} Not; little. * /We were busy and less than
delighted to have company that day./ * /The boys were less than happy
about having a party./ Contrast: MORE THAN.
[less than no time] {n. phr.}, {informal} Very quickly. * /We can
be ready to go in less than no time./ * /It took Sally less than no
time to get dinner ready./
[let] See: LIVE AND LET LIVE.
[let alone] {conj. phr.} 1. Even less; certainly not. - Used after
a negative clause. * /I can't add two and two, let alone do
fractions./ * /Jim can't drive a car, let alone a truck./ Compare:
MUCH LESS, NOT TO MENTION. 2. [let alone] or [leave alone] {v.} To
stay away from; keep hands off; avoid. * /When Joel gets mad, just let
him alone./ * /Little Patsy was warned to leave the birthday cake
alone./ Compare: LET BE.
[let be] {v.} To pay no attention to; disregard; forget. * /Let her
be; she has a headache./ Compare: LET ALONE.
[let bygones be bygones] {v. phr.} To let the past be forgotten. *
/After a long, angry quarrel the two boys agreed to let bygones be
bygones and made friends again./ * /We should let bygones be bygones
and try to get along with each other./ Syn.: FORGIVE AND FORGET.
Compare: BURY THE HATCHET, LIVE AND LET LIVE.
[letdown] {n.} A disappointment; a heartbreak. * /It was a major
letdown for John when Mary refused to marry him./
[let down] {v. phr.} 1. To allow to descend; lower. * /Harry let
the chain saw down on a rope and then climbed down himself./ 2. To
relax; stop trying so hard; take it easy. * /The horse let down near
the end of the race and lost./ * /The team let down in the fourth
quarter because they were far ahead./ Compare: LET GO. 3. To fail to
do as well as (someone) expected; disappoint. * /The team felt they
had let the coach down./
[let down easy] {v. phr.} To refuse or say no to (someone) in a
pleasant manner; to tell bad news about a refusal or disappointment in
a kindly way. * /The teacher had to tell George that he had failed his
college examinations, but she tried to let him down easy./ * /The boss
tried to let Jim down easy when he had to tell him he was too young
for the job./
[let down one's hair] See: LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN.
[let drop] {v. phr.} 1. To cease to talk about; set aside; forget.
* /This is such an unpleasant subject that I suggest we let it drop
for a few days./ 2. To disclose; hint. * /He unexpectedly let drop
that he was resigning and joining another firm./
[let fall] See: LET DROP.
[let George do it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To expect someone else to
do the work or take the responsibility. * /Many people expect to let
George do it when they are on a committee./ Compare: PASS THE BUCK.
[let go] {v.} 1a. To stop holding something; loosen your hold;
release. * /The boy grabbed Jack's coat and would not let go./ - Often
used with "of". * /When the child let go of her mother's hand, she
fell down./ Compare: GIVE UP(1a), LET LOOSE. 1b. To weaken and break
under pressure. * /The old water pipe suddenly let go and water poured
out of it./ Syn.: GIVE WAY. Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 2. To pay no
attention to; neglect. * /Robert let his teeth go when he was young
and now he has to go to the dentist often./ * /After she was married,
Jane let herself go and was not pretty anymore. / 3. To allow
something to pass; do nothing about. * /When Charles was tardy, the
teacher scolded him and let it go at that./ * /The children teased
Frank, but he smiled and let it go./ Compare: LET OFF(2), LET RIDE. 4.
To discharge from a job; fire. * /Mr. Wilson got into a quarrel with
his boss and was let go./ 5. To make (something) go out quickly;
shoot; fire. * /The soldiers let go a number of shots./ * /Robin Hood
let go an arrow at the deer./ * /Paul was so angry that he let go a
blow at the boy./ * /The truck driver saw the flat tire and let go a
loud curse./ * /The pitcher let go a fast ball and the batter swung
and missed./ Compare: CUT LOOSE, LET OUT. 6. or [let oneself go]
{informal} To be free in one's actions or talk; relax. * /Judge Brown
let go at the reunion of his old class and had a good time./ * /The
cowboys worked hard all week, but on Saturday night they went to town
and let themselves go./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET LOOSE(3), LET OFF
STEAM(2).
[let go hang] See: GO HANG.
[let go of] {v. phr.} To release one's grasp. * /As soon as Sally
let go of the leash, her dog ran away./
[let go of one's mother's apron strings] See: TIED TO ONE'S
MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS.
[let grass grow under one's feet] {v. phr.} To be idle; be lazy;
waste time. - Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative
sentences. * /The new boy joined the football team, made the honor
roll, and found a girlfriend during the first month of school. He
certainly did not let any grass grow under his feet./
[let it all hang out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} Not to
disguise anything; to let the truth be known. * /Sue can't deceive
anyone; she just lets it all hang out./
[let it lay] {v. phr.}, {used imperatively}, {slang} Forget it;
leave it alone; do not be concerned or involved. * /Don't get involved
with Max again - just let it lay./
[let it rip] {v. phr.}, {used imperatively}, {slang} Don't be
concerned; pay no attention to what happens. * /Why get involved?
Forget about it and let it rip./ 2. (Imperatively) Do become involved
and make the most of it; get in there and really try to win. * /Come
on man, give it all you've got and let it rip!/
[let know] {v. phr.} To inform. * /Please let us know the time of
your arrival./
[let loose] {v.} 1a. or [set loose] or [turn loose] To set free;
loosen or give up your hold on. * /The farmer opened the gate and let
the bull loose in the pasture./ * /They turned the balloon loose to
let it rise in the air./ 1b. or [turn loose] To give freedom (to
someone) to do something; to allow (someone) to do what he wants. *
/Mother let Jim loose on the apple pie./ * /The children were turned
loose in the toy store to pick the toys they wanted./ 1c. To stop
holding something; loosen your hold. * /Jim caught Ruth's arm and
would not let loose./ Compare: LET GO, LET OUT. 2a. {informal} To let
or make (something) move fast or hard; release. * /The fielder let
loose a long throw to home plate after catching the ball./ 2b.
{informal} To release something held. * /Those dark clouds are going
to let loose any minute./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET GO. 3. {informal} To
speak or act freely; disregard ordinary limits. * /The teacher told
Jim that some day she was going to let loose and tell him what she
thought of him./ * /Mother let loose on her shopping trip today and
bought things for all of us./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET GO.
[let me see] or [let us see] {informal} 1. Let us find out by
trying or performing an action. * /Let me see if you can jump over the
fence./ 2. Give me time to think or remember. * /I can't come today.
Let me see. How about Friday?/ * /Let's see. Where did I put the key?/
[let off] {v.} 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. * /Willie
accidentally let off his father's shotgun and made a hole in the
wall./ Syn.: GO OFF, LET LOOSE(2). 2. To permit to go or escape;
excuse from a penalty, a duty, or a promise. * /Two boys were caught
smoking in school but the principal let them off with a warning./ *
/Mary's mother said that she would let Mary off from drying the supper
dishes./ * /The factory closed for a month in the summer and let the
workers off./ Compare: LET GO. 3. or {informal} [let off the hook] To
miss a chance to defeat or score against, especially in sports or
games. * /We almost scored a touchdown in the first play against Tech
but we let them off the hook by fumbling the ball./ * /The boxer let
his opponent off the hook many times./
[let off steam] or [blow off steam] {v. phr.} 1. To let or make
steam escape; send out steam. * /The janitor let off some steam
because the pressure was too high./ 2. {informal} To get rid of
physical energy or strong feeling through activity; talk or be very
active physically after forced quiet. * /After the long ride on the
bus, the children let off steam with a race to the lake./ * /When the
rain stopped, the boys let off steam with a ball game./ * /Bill's
mother was very angry when he was late in coming home, and let off
steam by walking around and around./ * /Bill had to take his foreman's
rough criticisms all day and he would blow off steam at home by
scolding the children./ Compare: BLOW ONE'S TOP, LET GO(6).
[let off the hook] See: LET OFF(3).
[let on] {v.}, {informal} 1. To tell or admit what you know. -
Usually used in the negative. * /Frank lost a quarter but he didn't
let on to his mother./ 2. To try to make people believe; pretend. *
/The old man likes to let on that he is rich./
[let one have it] {v. phr.} 1a. {slang} To hit hard. * /He drew
back his fist and let the man have it./ * /Give him a kick in the
pants; let him have it!/ Syn.: GIVE IT TO. 1b. {slang} To use a weapon
on; to shoot or knife. * /The guard pulled his gun and let the robber
have it in the leg./ Compare: OPEN UP. 1c. or [let one have it with
both barrels] {slang} To attack with words; scold; criticize. * /Mary
kept talking in class until the teacher became angry and let her have
it./ Syn.: LIGHT INTO(2). 2. {informal} To tell about it. - Used in
the imperative phrase, "let's have it". * /Now, Mary, let's have it
from the beginning./ * /We will take turns reading; John, let's have
it from page one./
[let one in on] {v. phr.} To reveal a secret to; permit someone to
share in. * /If I let you in on something big we're planning, will you
promise not to mention it to anyone?/
[let oneself go] See: LET GO(6).
[let one's hair down] or [let down one's hair] {v. phr.},
{informal} Act freely and naturally; be informal; relax. * /Kings and
queens can seldom let their hair down./ * /After the dance, the
college girls let their hair down and compared dates./ Compare: LET
GO(6).
[let one's left hand know what one's right hand is doing] {v. phr.}
1. To make a show of your kindness or help to others. - Used in the
negative. * /The Bible tells us not to let the left hand know what the
right hand is doing when we give to the poor./ 2. {informal} To let
everyone taking part in something know what each is doing; encourage
cooperation in working. * /Tom told Fred and Bill to meet him in town,
but he forgot to tell them where. Next time he'll let his left hand
know what his right hand is doing./ - Often used in the negative. *
/Our team lost today because the coach and captain did not let the
left hand know what the right was doing, and the players were all
mixed up./
[let out] {v.} 1a. To allow to go out or escape. * /The guard let
the prisoners out of jail to work in the garden./ * /Mother won't let
us out when it rains./ Compare: LET LOOSE. 1b. {informal} To make (a
sound) come out of the mouth; utter. * /A bee stung Charles. He let
out a yell and ran home./ * /Father told Betty to sit still and not
let out a peep during church./ 2. To allow to be known; tell. * /I'll
never tell you another secret if you let this one out./ Compare: LET
THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 3. To make larger (as clothing) or looser;
allow to slip out (as a rope). * /Mary's mother had to let out her
dress because Mary is growing so tall./ * /Father hooked a big fish on
his line. He had to let the line out so the fish wouldn't break it./
Compare: PIECE OUT. Contrast: TAKE IN. 4. {informal} To allow to move
at higher speed. * /The rider let out his horse to try to beat the
horse ahead of him./ 5. {informal} To free from blame, responsibility,
or duty. - Often used with "of". * /Last time I let you out of it when
you were late. I'll have to punish you this time./ * /Frank has
shoveled the snow from the sidewalk. That lets me out./ Compare: LET
GO, LET OFF. 6, {informal} To discharge from a job; fire. * /The shop
closed down and all the men were let out./ 7. {informal} To dismiss or
be dismissed. * /The coach let us out from practice at 3 o'clock./ *
/I'll meet you after school lets out./
[let pass] {v. phr.} To disregard; overlook. * /Herb may have
overheard what was said about him, but he decided to let it pass./
[let ride] {v. phr.}, {informal} To allow to go on without change;
accept (a situation or action) for the present. * /The committee could
not decide what to do about Bob's idea, so they let the matter ride
for a month or so./ * /The class was rather noisy but the teacher let
it ride because it was near Christmas./ * /Ruth's paper was not very
good, but the teacher let it ride because she knew Ruth had tried./
Compare: LET GO(3), LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.
[let's don't] also [don't let's] {substandard} Let's not; let us
not; I suggest that we don't. * /"'Let's go out and play," said Fred.
"Let's don't until the rain stops," said Mary./ * /Don't let's go now.
Let's go tomorrow instead./
[let's have it] See: LET HAVE IT.
[let sleeping dogs lie] Do not make (someone) angry and cause
trouble or danger; do not make trouble if you do not have to. - A
proverb. * /Don't tell Father that you broke the window. Let sleeping
dogs lie./
[let slip] {v. phr.} To unintentionally reveal. * /Ellen let it
slip that she had been a witness to the accident./
[letter] See: CHAIN LETTER, NIGHT LETTER, TO THE LETTER.
[letter-perfect] {adj. phr.} Memorized perfectly; perfect to the
last letter. * /The actor was letter-perfect in his role./
[let the cat out of the bag] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell about
something that is supposed to be a secret. * /We wanted to surprise
Mary with a birthday gift, but Allen let the cat out of the bag by
asking her what she would like./ - Sometimes used in another form. *
/Well, the cat is out of the bag - everybody knows about their
marriage./ Compare: GIVE AWAY(3), LET OUT(2), SPILL THE BEANS.
[let the chips fall where they may] {v. phr.} To pay no attention
to the displeasure caused others by your actions. * /The senator
decided to vote against the bill and let the chips fall where they
may./ * /The police chief told his men to give tickets to all speeders
and let the chips fall where they may./ Compare: COME WHAT MAY.
[let the grass grow under one's feet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
waste time; be slow or idle. * /Grandpa spends so much time sitting
and thinking that Grandma accuses him of letting the grass grow under
his feet./
[let up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To become less, weaker, or quiet;
become slower or stop. * /It's raining as hard as ever. It's not
letting up at all./ * /It snowed for three days before it let up and
we could go outdoors./ 2. To do less or go slower or stop; relax; stop
working or working hard. * /Grandfather has been working all his life.
When is he going to let up?/ * /Let up for a minute. You can't work
hard all day./ * /Jim ran all the way home without letting up once./
Compare: SLOW DOWN. Contrast: BEAR DOWN. 3. To become easier, kinder,
or less strict. - Usually used with "on". * /Let up on Jane. She is
sick./ Syn.: EASE UP. 4. or [change up] To pitch a ball at less than
full speed in baseball. - Usually used with "on". * /John pitched a
ball that was very fast and the batter missed it. Then he let up on
the next pitch and the batter was badly fooled./
[let well enough alone] or [leave well enough alone] {v. phr.} To
be satisfied with what is good enough; not try to improve something
because often that might cause more trouble. * /John wanted to make
his kite go higher, but his father told him to let well enough alone
because it was too windy./ * /Ed polished up his car until his friends
warned him to leave well enough alone./ * /Ethel made a lot of changes
in her test paper after she finished. She should have let well enough
alone, because she made several new mistakes./ Compare: LET RIDE.
[level] See: ON THE LEVEL.
[level best] {adj. phr.} One's utmost; one's very best. * /Eric
refused to stay in school although his parents did their level best to
make him finish./
[levelheaded] {adj. phr.} Having good common sense; practical;
reasonable. * /What our office needs is a good, level-headed manager./
[level off] or [level out] {v.} 1. To make flat or level. * /The
steamroller leveled out the gravel roadbed and then the concrete was
poured./ 2. To move on an even level. * /The airplane leveled out at
2,000 feet./ * /After going up for six months, the cost of living
leveled off in September./
[level with] {v. phr.} To tell someone the truth; not engage in
lies and subterfuge. * /"You can level with me," his father said. "Did
you break that window?"/
[liberty] See: TAKE LIBERTIES.
[lick and a promise] {n. phr.}, {informal} A careless, hasty job;
an unsatisfactory piece of work. * /You didn't wash your hands. You
just gave them a lick and a promise./ * /The boys didn't cut the grass
properly. All it got was a lick and a promise./
[lickety-split] also [lickety-cut] {adv.}, {informal} At full
speed; with a rush. * /As soon as school was out the boys ran
lickety-split to the swimming pool./
[lick into shape] {v. phr.} To make perfect; drill; train. * /The
sergeant licked the new volunteer army into shape in three months./
[lick one's boots] {v. phr.} To flatter or act like a slave; do
anything to please another. * /She wanted her boyfriend to lick her
boots all the time./ * /A wise king would not want his friends and
officials to lick his boots./
[lick one's chops] {v. phr.}, {informal} To think about something
pleasant; enjoy the thought of something. * /John is licking his chops
about the steak dinner tonight./ * /Tom is licking his chops about the
lifeguard job he will have at the beach next summer./ * /Our team is
licking its chops because we beat the champions last night./ (From the
fact that some animals lick their mouths when they expect to be fed or
when they see food, and after eating.) Compare: LOOK FORWARD TO, MAKE
ONE'S MOUTH WATER.
[lick the --- out of] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF.
[lid] See: FLIP ONE'S LID, THE LID.
[lie] See: GIVE THE LIE TO, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, MAKE ONE'S BED
AND LIE IN IT.
[lie around] {v. phr.} To be unused; inert. * /This old typewriter
has been lying around ever since Grandpa died./
[lie down on the job] {v. phr.}, {informal} To purposely fail to do
your job; neglect a task; loaf. * /Bill isn't trying to learn his
lessons. He is lying down on the job./ * /If you lie down on your job,
you will lose it./
[lief] See: AS SOON also AS LIEF, HAD AS SOON also HAD AS LIEF.
[lie in state] {v. phr.} Of a dead person: To lie in a place of
honor, usually in an open coffin, and be seen by the public before
burial. * /When the president died, thousands of people saw his body
lying in state./
[lie in wait] {v. phr.} To watch from hiding in order to attack or
surprise someone; to ambush. * /The driver of the stage-coach knew
that the thieves were lying in wait somewhere along the road./
[lie low] or {nonstandard} [lay low] {v.}, {informal} 1. To stay
quietly out of sight; try not to attract attention; hide. * /After
holding up the bank, the robbers lay low for a while./ 2. To keep
secret one's thoughts or plans. * /I think he wants to be elected
president, but he is lying low and not saying anything./
[lie through one's teeth] {v. phr.} To lie uninhibitedly and
unashamedly. * /Everyone in the courtroom could sense that the accused
was lying through his teeth./
[lie to] {v.} Of a ship: To stay in one place facing against the
wind; stop. * /Our ship will lie to outside the harbor until
daylight./ Compare: LAY TO(2).
[lieu] See: INSTEAD OF also IN LIEU OF.
[life] See: BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, BIG AS LIFE, CAT HAS NINE
LIVES, CHARMED LIFE, COME ALIVE OT COME TO LIFE, FACTS OF LIFE, FOR
DEAR LIFE, FOR THE LIFE OF ONE, LEAD A DOG'S LIFE, NIGHT LIFE, NOT ON
YOUR LIFE OR ONE'S LIFE, TAKE ONE'S LIFE IN ONE'S HANDS, TIME OF ONE'S
LIFE, YOU BET or YOU BET YOUR LIFE, WALK OF LIFE, WITHIN AN INCH OF
ONE'S LIFE.
[life of Riley] {n. phr.}, {informal} A soft easy life; pleasant or
rich way of living. * /He's living the life of Riley. He doesn't have
to work anymore./ Compare: BED OF ROSES, IN CLOVER, LIVE HIGH OFF THE
HOG.
[life of the party] {n. phr.} A person who makes things enjoyable
or interesting for a group of people. * /Bill is the life of the party
at school. He is always making us laugh./
[lift a finger] or [lift a hand] also [raise a hand] {v. phr.} 1.
To do something; do your share; to help. - Usually used in the
negative. * /We all worked hard except Joe. He wouldn't lift a
finger./ * /The king did not lift a hand when his people were hungry./
Compare: LEND A HAND.
[light] See: BRING TO LIGHT, COME TO LIGHT, DASH LIGHT, HIDE ONE'S
LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL, IN THE LIGHT OF, MAKE LIGHT OF, MANY HANDS MAKE
LIGHT WORK, OUT LIKE A LIGHT, SEE THE LIGHT, TRAVEL LIGHT.
[light-fingered] {adj.} Given to stealing; having a tendency to be
dishonest or a kleptomaniac. * /I always suspected that Freddie might
be lightfingered and my suspicions were confirmed when he was arrested
for shoplifting./
[light housekeeping] {n.}, {slang} An arrangement in which an
unmarried couple live together. * /Are Joe and Sue married? - Oh, no,
- it's just a case of light housekeeping./ See: SHACK UP WITH.
[light into] See: LAY INTO.
[lightly] See: ONCE OVER LIGHTLY at ONCE OVER(2).
[lightning never strikes twice in the same place] The same accident
does not happen twice; the same person does not have the same luck
again. - A proverb. * /Billy won a pony in the contest last year, but
lightning never strikes twice in the same place./
[light on] also [light upon] {v.} To pick out by sight from among
others; see; notice. * /His eyes lighted on the cookies and he
remembered how hungry he was./ * /Her eyes lighted upon the row of
boxes, and she asked what was in them./
[light out] {v.}, {slang} 1. To run as fast as you can. * /The boy
lit out for home with the bully chasing him./ * /On the next pitch the
runner will light out for second./ 2. To go away in a hurry; leave
suddenly. - Often used with "for". * /Jack won't be in town long. He
wants to light out as soon as he has enough money saved./ * /The
robbers lit out for Mexico./ Syn.: BEAT IT, TAKE OFF(1), HEAD FOR THE
HILLS.
[light up] {v.} Suddenly to look pleased and happy. * /Martha's
face lit up when she saw her old friend./ * /Tom will really light up
when he sees his new bike!/
[like] See: EAT LIKE A BIRD, FEEL LIKE, LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE
THE CANARY, NOTHING LIKE, THE LIKES OF or THE LIKE.
[like a bird] See: EAT LIKE A BIRD.
[like a book] See: READ ONE LIKE A BOOK.
[like a fish out of water] See: FISH OUT OF WATER.
[like a glove] See: FIT LIKE A GLOVE.
[like a hole in the head] {adv. phr.} Not at all; scarcely;
grudgingly; in an unwelcome manner. * /Joan needs her mother-in-law to
stay with her for a week like a hole in the head./
[like a horse] See: EAT LIKE A HORSE.
[like a light] See: OUT LIKE A LIGHT.
[like a million] See: FEEL LIKE A MILLION.
[like a million dollars] See: LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.
[like anything] {adv. phr.} To an extreme degree. * /He swore like
anything when he found out that he hadn't been promoted./
[like a steel trap] See: MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP.
[like clockwork] See: GO LIKE CLOCKWORK or GO OFF LIKE CLOCKWORK.
[like crazy] See: LIKE MAD.
[like father, like son] A son is usually like his father in the way
he acts. - A proverb. * /Frank's father has been on the city council;
he is now the mayor, and is running for governor. Frank is on the
student council and is likely to he class president. Like father, like
son./ * /Mr. Jones and Tommy are both quiet and shy. Like father, like
son./ Compare: SPITTING IMAGE, FOLLOW IN ONE'S FOOTSTEPS.
[like hell] {adv.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. With great
vigor. * /As soon as they saw the cops, they ran like hell./ 2.
{interj.} Not so; untrue; indicates the speaker's lack of belief in
what he heard. * /Like hell you're gonna bring me my dough!/
[like it is] See: TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
[like looking for a needle in a haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A
HAYSTACK.
[like mad] or [like crazy] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} With great
enthusiasm and vigor; very fast. * /We had to drive like mad (like
crazy) to get there on time./ See: LIKE HELL(1).
[like two peas in a pod] {adj. phr.} Closely similar; almost
exactly alike. * /The twin sisters Eve and Agnes are like two peas in
a pod./
[like water] {adv. phr.} As something easily poured out or wasted;
freely. - Usually used in the phrase "spend money like water". *
/Sailors on shore leave often spend money like water./ * /During the
World Wars, the United States spent money like water./
[like water off a duck's back] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Without
changing your feelings or opinion; without effect. * /Advice and
correction roll off him like water off a duck's back./ * /Many people
showed him they didn't like what he was doing, but their disapproval
passed off him like water off a duck's back./
[lily] See: GILD THE LILY also PAINT THE LILY.
[limb] See: OUT ON A LIMB.
[line] See: BLOW ONE'S LINES or FLUFF ONE'S LINES, CHOW LINE, DOWN
THE LINE, DRAW A LINE or DRAW THE LINE, DROP A LINE, END OF THE ROAD
or END OF THE LINE, FOUL LINE, GOAL LINE, GOAL LINE STAND, HOLD THE
LINE, HOOK, LINE AND SINKER, IN LINE, IN LINE WITH, INTO LINE, LAY ON
THE LINE or PUT ON THE LINE, ON THE LINE, OUT OF LINE, OUT OF LINE
WITH, READ BETWEEN THE LINES, TOE THE LINE, WALK THE CHALK or WALK THE
CHALK LINE.
[line drive] {n.} A batted baseball that is usually hit hard and
travels in the air not far above the ground. * /The batter hit a line
drive to left field for a single./
[linen] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY
LINEN IN PUBLIC.
[line of fire] {n. phr.} The path that something fired or thrown
takes. * /When the bandit and the police began to shoot, John was
almost in their line of fire./ Compare: CROSS FIRE.
[line of least resistance] or [path of least resistance] {n. phr.}
The easiest way; the way that takes least effort. * /In becoming a
doctor like his father John had really just followed the line of least
resistance./ * /Some parents take the path of least resistance with
their children and let them do as they please./
[line of scrimmage] {n. phr.} An imaginary line on a football field
parallel to the goal lines where each play except the kickoff begins.
* /The play was stopped at the line of scrimmage./
[line one's pockets] also [line one's purse] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To get a lot of money unfairly; get rich by being dishonest. * /The
policeman lined his pockets by taking bribes./ * /The inspector lined
his pockets by permitting contractors to use poor building materials./
Compare: FEATHER ONE'S NEST.
[lineup] {n.} 1. An alignment of objects in a straight line. * /A
lineup of Venus and the moon can be a very beautiful sight in the
night sky./ 2. An arrangement of suspects through a one-way mirror so
that the victim or the witness of a crime can identify the wanted
person. * /She picked out her attacker from a police lineup./
[line up] {v. phr.} 1. To take places in a line or formation; stand
side by side or one behind another; form a line or pattern. * /The
boys lined up and took turns diving off the springboard./ * /The
football team lined up in a "T" formation./ 2. To put in line. * /John
lined up the pool balls./ 3. To adjust correctly. * /The garage man
lined up the car's wheels./ 4a. {informal} To make ready for action;
complete a plan or agreement for; arrange. * /Henry's friends lined up
so many votes for him that he won the election./ * /Roger lined up a
summer job before school was out./ * /The superintendent lined up all
the new teachers he needed before he went on vacation./ 4b. {informal}
To become ready for action; come together in preparation or agreement.
* /The football schedule is lining up well; the coach has arranged all
games except one./ * /Larry wanted to go to the seashore for the
family vacation, but the rest of the family lined up against him./
Compare: GANG UP, SHAPE UP, TAKE SIDES.
[lining] See: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING.
[link] See: MISSING LINK.
[lion's share] {n. phr.} A disproportionate share; the largest
part. * /The manager always gets the lion's share of the company's
profits./
[lip] See: BUTTON ONE'S LIP or ZIP ONE'S LIP, HANG ON THE WORDS OF
or HANG ON THE LIPS OF, KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, SLIP OF THE TONGUE
also SLIP OF THE LIP.
[lip service] {n.} Support shown by words only and not by actions;
a show of loyalty that is not proven in action. - Usually used with
"pay". * /Bv holding elections, communism pays lip service to
democracy, but it offers only one candidate per office./ * /Some
people pay lip service to education, but don't vote taxes for better
schools./
[liquid assets] {n. phr.} Those belongings that can be easily
converted into cash. * /Herb asked for a loan and the bank manager
told him to bring in proof of all his liquid assets./
[liquor up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To drink an excessive amount of
liquor before engaging in some activity as if comparing oneself to a
car that needs to be filled before a journey. * /Joe always liquors up
before he takes Sue for a dance./
[list] See: SUCKER LIST, WAITING LIST.
[listen in] {v.} 1. To listen to a radio broadcast. * /We found
them listening in to the president's speech./ 2. To listen to the talk
of others, often to talk that is not intended for your ears;
eavesdrop. * /When Mary talked to her boyfriend on the telephone, her
little brother listened in./
[listen to reason] {v. phr.} To listen to and think about advice
that you are given. * /Joe was stubborn and would not listen to
reason./ * /It will save you a lot of trouble if you will just listen
to reason./
[litterbug] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who leaves garbage
in a public place, such as a park or beach or a street; one who
litters. * /Don't be a litterbug; keep the city clean!/
[little] See: A LITTLE, A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING,
GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, MAKE
LITTLE OF, NOT A LITTLE, QUITE A LITTLE or QUITE A LITTLE BIT, THINK
LITTLE OF, TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER.
[little does one think] {v. phr.} To not realize; not expect; be
hardly aware of. * /Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the
father of twin daughters./
[little folk] or [little people] See: WEE FOLK.
[little frog in a big pond] or [small frog in a big pond] {n. phr.}
An unimportant person in a large group or organization. * /In a large
company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little
frog in a big pond./ * /When Bill transferred to a larger high school,
he found himself a small frog in a big pond./ Contrast: BIG FROG IN A
SMALL POND.
[little pitchers have big ears] Little children often overhear
things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect
they would notice. - A proverb. * /Be especially careful not to swear
in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears./
[little theater] {n.} A theater, usually with nonprofessional
actors and actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure
and practice than for profit. * /Little theater groups are active in
all parts of the United States./ * /Many famous actors began in little
theaters./
[lit up like a Christmas tree] {adj. phr.}, {informal} To be drunk.
* /On New Year's Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree./ Compare:
THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[live] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW
STONES.
[live and learn] You learn more new things the longer you live; you
learn by experience. - A proverb. * /"Live and learn," said Mother. "I
never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is."/ *
/Janet made her new dress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it
shrank and was too little. Live and learn./
[live and let live] To live in the way you prefer and let others
live as they wish without being bothered by you. * /Father scolds
Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father
because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it's her hair and
his pipe; live and let live./ Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES
BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.
[live down] {v.} To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter)
by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or
forgotten by not repeating it. * /John's business failure hurt him for
a long time, but in the end he lived it down./ * /Frank was rather a
bad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up./ * /Sandra called her
principal the wrong name at the banquet, in front of everyone, and she
thought she would never live it down./
[live from hand to mouth] {v. phr.} To live on little money and
spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future;
have just enough. * /Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family
lived from hand to mouth when he had no job./ * /These Indians live
from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots./
[live high off the hog] or [eat high on the hog] See: EAT (LIVE)
HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.
[live in] or [room in] {v.}, {informal} To live in the school you
attend or the place where you work. * /Jack decided to live in during
his freshman year at college./ * /Many women advertise for mother's
helpers to room in with families and help take care of children./
[live in a fool's paradise] {v. phr.} To deceive oneself; tell
oneself unreal stories. * /His information is based on a lot of
misunderstanding - the poor guy is living in a fool's paradise./
[live in an ivory tower] {v. phr.} To be blind to real life; live
an unrealistically sheltered existence. * /Professor Nebelmacher has
no idea of the cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower./
[live in the fast lane] {v. phr.}, {informal} To live a full and
very active life pursuing wealth and success. * /They have been living
in the fast lane ever since they arrived in New York City./
[live it up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To pursue pleasure; enjoy games
or night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. * /Joe
had had a hard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it
up./ * /The western cowboys usually went to town on Saturdays to live
it up./
[live off someone] {v. phr.} To be supported by someone. *
/Although Eric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to
live off his elderly parents./
[live off the fat of the land] See: FAT OF THE LAND.
[live on borrowed time] {v. phr.} To live or last longer than was
expected. * /Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on
borrowed time./ * /Mr. Brown was living on borrowed time because a
year ago the doctors had told him he would only live six months./
[live out] {v.} 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. * /Smith
lived out the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved to
the South again./ * /After retiring, John and his wife lived out their
lives in Florida./ 2. To last through; endure to the end of. * /We
lived out the winter on short ration./ * /He lived out the earthquake,
but his house was destroyed./
[live out of a suitcase] {v. phr.} To have no permanent residence
or a permanent place to hang one's clothes. * /When Jennifer accepted
her new job, she had no idea that she would have to live out of a
suitcase for six months./
[live up to] {v.} To act according to; come up to; agree with;
follow. * /So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to the
example he saw in Lincoln./ * /Bob was a man who lived up to his
promises./ * /The new house didn't live up to expectations./
[live wire] {n. phr.} 1. An electrically charged wire, usually
uninsulated. * /The electrician was severely burned by the live wire./
2. An alert or energetic person. * /To sell the new merchandise, our
company needs several salespeople who are live wires./
[living daylights] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF, KNOCK THE --- OUT OF.
[living end] {adj.}, {slang} Great; fantastic; the ultimate. *
/That show we saw last night was the living end./
[load] See: GET A LOAD OF.
[loaded for bear] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Ready for action; prepared
and eager. * /Frank liked the new merchandise and as he set out on his
rounds as a salesman, he felt really loaded for bear./ * /The football
team arrived Friday noon, loaded for bear./
[load the bases] or [fill the bases] {v. phr.} To get men on all
three bases in baseball. * /The Mets loaded the bases with two singles
and a base on balls./ * /Don hit a home run with the bases loaded./
[loaf] See: HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE or HALF A LOAF IS
BETTER THAN NO BREAD.
[loan shark] {n. phr.} A money lender who charges excessive
interest. * /Why go to a loan shark when you can borrow from the bank
at the legal rate?/
[local yokel] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon} City
police officer, as opposed to state police or highway patrol. *
/There's a local yokel westbound on the move./
[lock] See: SCALP LOCK.
[lock, stock, and barrel] {n. phr.} Everything; completely. * /The
robbers emptied the whole house - lock, stock, and barrel./ Compare:
HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.
[lock the barn door after the horse is stolen] To be careful or try
to make something safe when it is too late. - A proverb. * /After Mary
failed the examination, she said she would study hard after that. She
wanted to lock the barn door after the horse was stolen./
[lock up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be assured of success. * /How did
your math test go? - I locked it up, I think./
[lodge a complaint] {v. phr.} To make a complaint; complain. * /If
our neighbors don't stop this constant noise, I will have to lodge a
complaint with the management./
[loggerhead] See: AT LOGGERHEADS.
[loin] See: GIRD UP ONE'S LOINS.
[lone wolf] {n.} A man who likes to work or live alone. * /The man
who paints a picture or establishes a business is often a lone wolf;
so is the criminal outlaw./ * /Jones is a good pitcher, but he is a
lone wolf./
[long] See: AT LAST or AT LONG LAST, BEFORE LONG, COME A LONG WAY,
IN THE LONG RUN, NO LONGER, SO LONG, THE LONG AND THE SHORT.
[long and short of it] {n. phr.} The essence; the whole story in a
nutshell. * /The long and short of it is that he is lazy and doesn't
really want to find a job./
[long ball] {n.} A baseball hit far enough to be a home run. * /The
White Sox need a player who can hit the long ball./
[long face] {n.} A sad look; disappointed look. * /He told the
story with a long face./ - Often used in the phrase "pull a long
face". * /Don't pull a long face when I tell you to go to bed./
[longhair(1)] 1. {n.}, {slang} A male hippie. * /Who's that
longhair? - It's Joe./ 2. An intellectual who prefers classical music
to jazz or acid rock. * /Catwallender is a regular longhair; he never
listens to modern jazz./
[longhair(2)] {adj.}, {slang} Pertaining to classical art forms,
primarily in dancing and music. * /Cut out that longhair Mozart
Symphony and put on a decent pop record!/
[long haul] or [long pull] {n.}, {informal} 1. A long distance or
trip. * /It is a long haul to drive across the country./ Contrast
SHORT HAUL. 2. A long length of time during which work continues or
something is done; a long time of trying. * /A boy crippled by polio
may learn to walk again, but it may be a long haul./ - Often used in
the phrase "over the long haul". * /Over the long haul, an expensive
pair of shoes may save you money./ Contrast: SHORT HAUL.
[long pull] See: LONG HAUL.
[long shot] {n.} 1. A bet or other risk taken though not likely to
succeed. * /The horse was a long shot, but it came in and paid well./
* /Jones was a long shot for mayor./ * /The business long shot that
succeeds often pays extremely well./ 2. See: BY A LONG SHOT.
[long-winded] {adj.} Tedious; overlong; given to too much talking.
* /Everyone was bored by the old man's long-winded stories./
[look] See: DIRTY LOOK.
[look after] also [see after] {v.} To watch over; attend to. *
/John's mother told him to look after his younger brother./ * /When he
went to Europe, Mr. Jenkins left his son to see after the business./
Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1). Compare: LOOK OUT(3).
[look a gift horse in the mouth] To complain if a gift is not
perfect. - A proverb. Usually used with a negative. * /John gave Joe a
baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him
not to look a gift horse in the mouth./
[look alive] {v.} Act lively; be quick; wake up and work; be busy;
hurry. - Often used as a command. * /"Look alive there," the boss
called./
[look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth] See: BUTTER
WOULDN'T MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[look as if one has come out of a bandbox] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
look very clean and fresh; look as if you had just had a bath and put
on all-new clothing. * /In spite of the long, hot train ride, Jody
arrived looking as if she had come out of a bandbox./ * /After a day
at the rodeo we were all dusty and tired except for Hope, who looked
as if she'd come out of a bandbox./
[look at] {v.} To have a way of thinking or feeling toward; think
about something in a certain way. * /Is he a hero or a villain? That
depends on how you look at it./ * /Depending on how you looked at it,
the tea party could be called a pleasure or a bore./
[look at the world through rose-colored glasses] or [see with
rose-colored glasses] {v. phr.} To see everything as good and
pleasant; not see anything hard or bad. * /When Jean graduated from
high school, she looked at the world through rose-colored glasses./ *
/If you see everything through rose-colored glasses, you will often be
disappointed./
[look back] {v.} To review the past; think of what has happened. *
/As John looked back, his life seemed good to him./ * /Murphy looked
back on his early struggles as having made him feel especially alive./
* /When Ed applied for a job and asked the school to recommend him,
the principal looked back over his records./
[look bleak] {v.} To indicate misfortune; appear threatening or
ruinous. * /As prices dropped lower and lower, things looked bleak for
Henry's company./ * /Many witnesses gave testimony against Jerry and
his case looked bleak./ * /The future looked bleak when Father got
hurt and could not work./
[look daggers] {v. phr.} To show anger with a look; express hate or
enmity by a look or stare; look fiercely. * /The other driver looked
daggers at Morris for turning in before him./ * /Mary did not dare
talk back to her father, but she looked daggers./
[look down on] also [look down upon] {v.} To think of (a person or
thing) as less good or important; feel that (someone) is not as good
as you are, or that (something) is not worth having or doing; consider
inferior. * /Mary looked down on her classmates because she was better
dressed than they were./ * /Jack looked down on Al for his poor
manners./ * /Miss Tracy likes tennis but she looks down on football as
too rough./
[look down one's nose at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To think of as
worthless; feel scorn for. * /The banker's wife has beautiful china
cups, and she looked down her nose at the plastic cups that Mrs. Brown
used./ * /Harry has never had to work, and he looks down his nose at
people in business./ * /Jerry was the athlete who looked down his nose
at the weak student./
[look for] {v.} 1. To think likely; expect. * /We look for John to
arrive any day now./ * /The frost killed many oranges, and housewives
can look for an increase in their price./ * /Bob wouldn't go for a
ride with the boys because he was looking for a phone call from
Julie./ 2. To try to find; search for; hunt. * /Fred spent all day
looking for a job./ * /Mary and Joe looked for the Smiths at the
play./ 3. To do things that cause (your own trouble); make (trouble)
for yourself; provoke. * /Joe often gets into fights because he is
always looking for trouble./ * /If you say the opposite of everything
that others say, you are looking for a quarrel./
[look for a needle in a haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A HAY STACK.
[look forward to] {v.} 1. To expect. * /At breakfast, John looked
forward to a difficult day./ 2. To expect with hope or pleasure. *
/Frank was looking forward to that evening's date./
[look high and low for] {v. phr.} To look everywhere; search all
over. * /Everyone has been looking high and low for the lost key but
no one could find it./
[look-in] {n.}, {informal} A chance or hope. - Usually used with a
negative. * /It wasn't much of a look-in, but it was the only chance
they let him have./ * /Charlie didn't realize it, but he never had a
look-in with Bonnie./
[look in on] {v.} To go to see; make a short visit with; make a
call on. * /On his way downtown, Jim looked in on his aunt./ * /The
doctor looked in on Mary each day when he went by./
[look in the eye] or [look in the face] {v. phr.} To meet with a
steady look; to face bravely or without shame. * /Mary looked the
gangster in the eye, and he turned away without hurting her./ * /John
had looked death in the face many times./ * /We often believe a person
who looks us in the eye, but it does not prove he is truthful./ * /U
promised Harry to write to him while I was on vacation, and if I don't
do it, I won't be able to look him in the eye./
[look into] {v.} To find out the facts about; examine; study;
inspect. * /The mayor felt he should look into the decrease of income
from parking meters./ * /Mr. Jones said he was looking into the
possibility of buying a house./ Compare: GO INTO(4), SEE ABOUT.
[look like a million dollars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To look well
and prosperous; appear healthy and happy and lucky; look pretty and
attractive. * /John came back from Florida driving a fine new car,
tanned and glowing with health. He looked like a million dollars./ *
/Dressed in the new formal and in a new hairdo, Betty looked like a
million dollars./ Compare: FEEL LIKE A MILLION.
[look like the cat that ate the canary] or [look like the cat that
swallowed the canary] {v. phr.} To seem very self-satisfied; look as
if you had just had a great success. * /Peter bet on the poorest horse
in the race and when it won, he looked like the cat that ate the
canary./ * /When she won the prize, she went home looking like the cat
that swallowed the canary./
[look on] or [look upon] {v.} 1. To regard; consider; think of. *
/The stuff had always been looked on as a worthless factory waste./ *
/Until the day Bob made the touchdown, the other boys had looked upon
him as rather a sissy./ 2. To be an observer; watch without taking
part. * /Fred had never been able to do more than look on at athletic
sports./ * /The children played in the park while their mother looked
on./ Compare: SIT IN.
[look oneself] {v. phr.} To appear self-possessed and well; look or
seem in full possession of your abilities and in good health; to
appear all right or normal. * /Mary had had a long illness, but now
she looked quite herself again./ * /It had been a big night, and Uncle
John had been drinking freely, but he looked entirely himself after a
night's sleep./ - Often used in the negative. * /What's wrong with
Larry? He doesn't look himself./
[lookout] See: ON THE LOOKOUT.
[look out] or [watch out] {v.} 1. To take care; be careful; be on
guard. - Usually used as a command or warning. * /"Look out!" John
called, as the car came toward me./ * /"Look out for the train," the
sign at the railroad crossing warns./ 2. To be alert or watchful; keep
watching. * /A collector of antique cars asked Frank to look out for a
1906 gas head lamp./ Compare: EYE OUT, ON THE WATCH. 3. {informal} To
watch or keep (a person or thing) and do what is needed; provide
protection and care. - Used with "for". * /Lillian looked out for her
sister's children one afternoon a week./ * /Uncle Fred looked out for
his brother's orphan son until the boy was through college./ Compare:
LOOK AFTER.
[look out for] {v. phr.} To watch out for; be on the alert. *
/There were signs along the highway warning drivers to look out for
deer crossing./
[look over] {v.} To look at and try to learn something about; look
at every part or piece of or at every one of; examine; inspect; study.
* /I looked hurriedly over the apples in the basket and took one that
looked good./ * /Mrs. Jones spent the evening looking over the month's
bills and writing checks./ * /When a new boy comes to school, the
others usually look him over rather carefully./ * /We looked over
several kinds of new cars before deciding./ Compare: ONCE-OVER, SIZE
UP.
[look sharp] {v.} To be alert; be very attentive; keep a close
watch. * /It pays to look sharp in traffic./ * /The guide told us to
look sharp because there were rattlesnakes around./
[look small] See: FEEL SMALL.
[look to] {v.} 1. To attend to; get ready for; take care of. *
/Plans had been prepared that looked to every possibility./ * /The
president assigned a man to look to our needs./ 2. To go for help to;
depend on. * /The child looks to his mother to cure his hurts./ 3.
See: SEE TO.
[look to one's laurels] To make sure that your reputation is not
spoiled; protect your good name; keep your record from being beaten by
others. * /Tom won the broad jump, but he had to look to his laurels./
* /Look to your laurels, Joan. Betty says she is going to run against
you for head cheerleader./
[look up] {v.} 1. {informal} To improve in future chances; promise
more success. * /The first year was tough, but business looked up
after that./ 2. To search for; hunt for information about; find. * /It
is a good habit to look up new words in a dictionary./ 3. To seek and
find. * /While he was in Chicago, Henry looked up a friend of college
days./
[look upon] See: LOOK ON(1).
[look up to] {v.} To think of (someone) as a good example to copy;
honor; respect. * /Mr. Smith had taught for many years, and all the
students looked up to him./ * /Young children look up to older ones,
so older children should be good examples./
[loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.
[loose] See: AT LOOSE ENDS, CAST OFF or CAST LOOSE, CUT LOOSE, FAST
AND LOOSE, HAVE A SCREW LOOSE, LET LOOSE or SET LOOSE or TURN LOOSE,
ON THE LOOSE.
[loose ends] {n.} 1. Parts or things that should be finished or put
together. * /Mary's composition had many loose ends./ * /When George
came home after a long trip, he started picking up the loose ends./ 2.
See: AT LOOSE ENDS.
[lord it over] {v. phr.} To act as the superior and master of;
dominate; be bossy over; control. * /John learned early to lord it
over other children./ * /The office manager lorded it over the clerks
and typists./
[Lord knows] See: GOD KNOWS.
[lose] See: HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE.
[lose face] {v.} To be embarrassed or shamed by an error or
failure; lose dignity, influence or reputation; lose self-respect or
the confidence of others. * /Many Japanese soldiers were killed in
World War II because they believed that to give up or retreat would
make them lose face./ * /John's careless work made him lose face with
his employer./ * /The banker lost face when people found out he bet on
horse races./
[lose ground] 1. To go backward; retreat. * /The soldiers began to
lose ground when their leader was killed./ Compare: GIVE GROUND. 2. To
become weaker; get worse; not improve. * /The sick man began to lose
ground when his cough grew worse./ * /When the Democrats are in power,
the Republicans lose ground./ Contrast: GAIN GROUND.
[lose heart] {v. phr.} To feel discouraged because of failure; to
lose hope of success. * /The team had won no games and it lost heart./
Contrast: TAKE HEART.
[lose one's balance] Contrast: KEEP ONE'S BALANCE.
[lose oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To go wrong; miss your way; become
unable to find the right direction. * /Fred lost himself in the
confusion of downtown Boston streets./ 2. To conceal yourself; hide. *
/The pick-pocket lost himself in the crowd and escaped the police./ 3.
To become deeply interested and forget yourself; become absorbed. *
/Sometimes Harry would lose himself in a book for an afternoon at a
time./ Compare: IN A WORLD OF ONE'S OWN.
[lose one's grip] {v. phr.} To fail in control or command; lose
your strength, force, or ability to lead. * /Mr. Jones began to lose
his grip: he no longer wanted the hard jobs, and he left decisions to
others./ * /When a locomotive engineer loses his grip, he is no longer
trusted with express runs./
[lose one's head (over)] {v. phr.} 1. To panic. * /"Let's not lose
our heads," the captain cried. "We have good lifeboats on this
vessel."/ 2. To become deeply infatuated with someone. * /Don't lose
your head over Jane; she is already married./ Contrast: KEEP ONE'S
HEAD.
[lose one's heart] {v. phr.} To fall in love; begin to love. * /She
lost her heart to the soldier with the broad shoulders and the deep
voice./ * /Bill lost his heart to the puppy the first time he saw it./
[lose one's marbles] {v. phr.} To go mad; become crazed. * /Stan
must have lost his marbles; he is hopelessly pursuing a happily
married woman./
[lose one's shirt] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all or most of your
money. * /Uncle Joe spent his life savings to buy a store, but it
failed, and he lost his shirt./ * /Mr. Matthews lost his shirt betting
on the horses./
[lose one's temper] {v. phr.} To lose control over one's anger; to
get angry. * /He lost his temper when he broke the key in the lock./
Compare: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE. Contrast: HOLD ONE'S TEMPER.
[lose one's tongue] {v. phr.}, informal To be so embarrassed or
surprised that you cannot talk. * /The man would always lose his
tongue when he was introduced to new people./ Compare: CAT GET ONE'S
TONGUE.
[lose out] {v.} To fail to win; miss first place in a contest; lose
to a rival. * /John lost out in the rivalry for Mary's hand in
marriage./ * /Fred didn't want to lose out to the other salesman./
Compare: MISS OUT. Contrast: WIN OUT.
[loser] See: FINDERS KEEPERS or FINDERS KEEPERS LOSERS WEEPERS.
[lose sight of] {v. phr.} 1. Not to be able to see any longer. * /I
lost sight of Mary in the crowd./ * /I watched the plane go higher and
higher until I lost sight of it./ Contrast: CATCH SIGHT OF. 2. To
forget; overlook. * /Johnny was so interested in the game he lost
sight of the time./ * /No matter how rich and famous he became, he
never lost sight of the fact that he had been born in the slums./
[lose touch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to keep in contact or
communication. - Usually used with "with". * /After she moved to
another town, she lost touch with her childhood friends./ Compare: OUT
OF TOUCH.
[lose track] {v. phr.} To forget about something; not stay
informed; fail to keep a count or record. * /What's the score now?
I've lost track./ - Usually used with "of". * /Mary lost track of her
friends at camp after summer was over./ * /John lost track of the
money he spent at the circus./ Compare: OUT OF TOUCH. Contrast: KEEP
TRACK.
[loss] See: AT A LOSS, THROW FOR A LOSS.
[lost] See: GET LOST, NO LOVE LOST.
[lost cause] {n. phr.} A movement that has failed and has no chance
to be revived. * /Communism in Eastern Europe has become a lost
cause./
[lost upon] adj. Wasted. * /Tim's generosity is completely lost
upon Sue; he can't expect any gratitude from her./
[lot] See: A LOT, CAST ONE'S LOT WITH, SAND LOT, THINK A GREAT DEAL
OF or THINK A LOT OF, THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH or CAST IN ONE'S LOT
WITH.
[loud] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,
OUT LOUD, THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.
[loud mouth] or [big mouth] {n.}, {slang} A noisy, boastful, or
foolish talker. * /Fritz is a loud mouth who cannot be trusted with
secrets./ * /When he has had a few drinks, Joe will make empty boasts
like any other big mouth./
[loud-mouthed] or [big-mouthed] {adj.}, {slang} Talking noisily,
boastfully, or foolishly. * /Fred was a loud-mouthed fellow, whose
talk no one listened to./ * /If I were you, I would not listen to that
loud-mouthed boy./
[lounge lizard] {n. phr.} A well-dressed male fortune hunter who
sits around in bars and other public places, and attends many social
events to try to pick up wealthy women through smart conversation. *
/Harry has the reputation of being a lounge lizard; he is looking for
a rich wife./
[louse up] {v.}, {slang} To throw into confusion; make a mess of;
spoil; ruin. * /When the man who was considering John's house heard
that the basement was wet, that was enough to louse up the sale./ *
/Fred's failure in business not only lost him his business but loused
him up with his wife./ * /The rain loused up the picnic./ See: MESS
UP(2), FUCK UP.
[love] See: FOR LOVE OR MONEY, IN LOVE, LABOR OF LOVE, MAKE LOVE,
NO LOVE LOST, PUPPY LOVE also CALF LOVE.
[love affair] {n.} A friendship between lovers; a romance or
courtship. * /The love affair of Bob and Jane went on for months./ *
/Harry had many love affairs, but he never married./
[love game] {n.} A game of tennis which is won without the opponent
scoring. * /Britain took a love game on Songster's service./
[love-in] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A festival or occasion to
celebrate life, human sensuality, the beauty of nature, human
sexuality, and universal love; affairs so conceived by some frequently
deteriorate into obscenity and drug using sessions in parody of their
stated purpose. * /The hippies gathered for a big love-in
in the Halght-Ashbury district of San
Francisco./
[lovers' lane] {n.} A hidden road or walk where lovers walk or park
in the evening. * /A parked car in a lonely lovers' lane often is a
chance for holdup men./
[low] See: LAY LOW, LIE LOW.
[lowbrow] {n.} A person of limited culture; a nonintellectual. *
/Some people claim that only lowbrows read the comics./ Contrast: HIGH
BROW.
[lowdown] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The inside facts of a matter;
the total truth. * /Nixon never gave the American people the lowdown
on Watergate./
[lower the boom] {v. phr.}, {informal} To punish strictly; check or
stop fully. * /The mayor lowered the boom on outside jobs for city
firemen./ * /Father lowered the boom on the girls for staying out
after midnight./ Syn.: CRACK DOWN. * /The police lowered the boom on
open gambling./
[low-key] {adj.} Relaxed and easygoing. * /Surprisingly, dinner
with the governor was a low-key affair./
[low season] Contrast: HIGH SEASON.
[luck] See: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK, LUCK OUT, PRESS ONE'S LUCK or PUSH
ONE'S LUCK, IN LUCK, OUT OF LUCK.
[luck out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Suddenly to get lucky
when in fact the odds are against one's succeeding. * /I was sure I
was going to miss the train as I was three minutes late, but I lucked
out, the train was five minutes late./ 2. To be extraordinarily
fortunate. * /Catwallender really lucked out at Las Vegas last month;
he came home with $10,000 in cash./ 3. (By sarcastic opposition) to be
extremely unfortunate; to be killed. * /Those poor marines sure lucked
out in Saigon, didn't they?/
[lucky] See: THANK ONE'S LUCKY STARS.
[lucky star] {n.} A certain star or planet which, by itself or with
others, is seriously or jokingly thought to bring a person good luck
and success in life. * /John was born under a lucky star./ * /Ted was
unhurt in the car accident, for which he thanked his lucky stars./
[lump in one's throat] {n. phr.} A feeling (as of grief or pride)
so strong that you almost sob. * /John's mother had a lump in her
throat at his college graduation./ * /All during her husband's
funeral, Aunt May had a lump in her throat./ * /The bride's mother had
a lump in her throat./
[lump sum] {n.} The complete amount; a total agreed upon and to be
paid at one time. * /The case was settled out of court with the
plaintiff receiving a lump sum of half a million dollars for damages./
[lunar module (L.M.)] or [Lem] {n.}, {Space English} That portion
of the rocket assemblage on a flight to the Moon in which the
astronauts descend to the Moon's surface. * /Building the L.M. was one
of the most expensive parts of the American space program./
[lung] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE'S VOICE or AT THE TOP OP ONE'S LUNGS.
[lurch] See: LEAVE IN THE LURCH.
[lust for] {v. phr.} To physically yearn for; hanker after; want
something very strongly. * /Ed has been lusting after Meg for a very
long time./
[luxury] See: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY.
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