level

level something at someone to aim a remark

at someone; to direct something at some-

one. John leveled a sarcastic comment

at his teacher. The editorial leveled its

remarks at the mayor.

level with someone to be honest with some-

one. (Slang.) Come on, Bill. Level with

me. Did you do it? I’m leveling with you.

I wasn’t even in town. I couldn’t have done

it.

license to do something permission, right, or

justification to do something. You have

no license to behave in that manner!

Who granted you license to enter my house

without knocking?

lick one’s chops to show one’s eagerness to

do something, especially to eat some-

thing. (Refers to the licking of one’s lips

in expectation of eating. Some animals,

but not people, really do lick their chops.)

We could tell from the way the boys were

licking their chops that they really wanted

a turn at riding the motorcycle. Fred

started licking his chops when he smelled

the turkey roasting in the oven.

lick one’s lips to show eagerness or pleasure

about a future event. (Also literal. Infor-

mal. From the habit of people licking

their lips when they are about to enjoy

eating something.) The children licked

their lips at the sight of the cake. The

author’s readers were licking their lips in

anticipation of her new novel. The jour-

nalist was licking his lips when he went off

to interview the disgraced politician.

lick something into shape and whip some-

thing into shape to put something into

good condition. (Informal.) I have to

lick this report into shape this morning.

Let’s all lend a hand and whip this house

into shape. It’s a mess.

lie down on the job and lay down on

the job to do one’s job poorly or not at

all. (Lay is a common error for lie.)

Tom was fired because he was laying down

on the job. You mean he was lying down

on the job, don’t you? Sorry, I was lying

down on the job in English class.

lie fallow 1. [for land] to remain unused.

Each year we let a different section of

our farmland lie fallow. The land that

is lying fallow this year will be cultivated

next year. 2. [for a skill and talent] to re-

main unused and neglected. You should

not let your talent lie fallow. Practice the

piano before you forget how to play it.

His writing had lain fallow for so long that

he could hardly write a proper sentence.

lie in wait for someone or something to wait

quietly in ambush for someone or some-

thing. The lion lay in wait for the zebra.

The robber was lying in wait for a

victim.

lie low and lay low to keep quiet and not

be noticed; to avoid being conspicuous.

(Informal. Lay is a common error for lie.)

I suggest you lie low for a few days.

The robber said that he would lay low for

a short time after the robbery.

lie through one’s teeth to lie boldly. I

knew she was lying through her teeth, but

I didn’t want to say so just then. I’m not

lying through my teeth! I never do!

life is too short life is short and there is no

point in wasting it on things like worry,

hatred, vengeance, etc. I am not going

to spend any more time trying to get even

with Wally. Life’s too short. It’s a waste

of time worrying about money. Life is too

short for that.

the life of the party the type of person

who is lively and helps make a party fun

and exciting. Bill is always the life of the

party. Be sure to invite him. Bob isn’t

exactly the life of the party, but he’s polite.

Life’s been good (to me). I am grateful

that I am doing well in life. I can’t com-

plain. Life’s been good to me. I doing

fine. Life’s been good.

lift a hand (against someone or something)

and raise a hand (against someone or

something) to threaten (to strike) someone

or something. (Often in the negative. The

a hand can be replaced with one’s hand.)

She’s very peaceful. She wouldn’t lift a

hand against a f ly.  That’s right. She

wouldn’t lift a hand. Would you raise

your hand against your own brother?

light as a feather Go to (as) light as a

feather.

light into someone or something Go to lace into

someone or something.

light out (of somewhere) to depart some-

where in haste. (Informal.) It’s time I

lit out of here. I’m late for my next ap-

pointment. Look at that horse go. He

really lit out of the starting gate.

Lightning never strikes twice (in the

same place). It is extremely unlikely that

the same misfortune will occur again in

the same set of circumstances or to the

same people. (Proverb.) Ever since the

fire, Jean has been afraid that her house

will catch fire again, but they say that

lightning never strikes twice. Supposedly

lightning never strikes twice, but the

Smiths’ house has been robbed twice this

year.

like a bat out of hell with great speed and

force. (Use caution with hell.) Did you

see her leave? She left like a bat out of hell.

The car sped down the street like a bat

out of hell.

like a bolt out of the blue suddenly and

without warning. (Refers to a bolt of

lightning coming out of a clear blue sky.

See also out of a clear blue sky.) The

news came to us like a bolt out of the blue.

Like a bolt out of the blue, the boss came

and fired us all.

like a bump on a log unresponsive; im-

mobile. I spoke to him, but he just sat

there like a bump on a log. Don’t stand

there like a bump on a log. Give me a

hand!

like a fish out of water appearing to be

completely out of place; in a very awk-

ward manner. Vincent stood there in his

rented tuxedo, looking like a fish out of

water.   Whenever I am with your

friends, I feel like a fish out of water. What

on earth do you see in them—or me?

At a formal dance, John is like a fish out

of water.

like a house afire Go to like a house on

fire.

(like) an open book like someone or

something that is easy to understand.

(Preceded by be or seem.)  Jane’s an

open book. I always know what she is go-

ing to do next. The committee’s inten-

tions are an open book. They want to save

money.

like a sitting duck and like sitting ducks

unguarded; unsuspecting and unaware.

(The second phrase is the plural form.

See also be a sitting duck.) He was

waiting there like a sitting duck—a perfect

target for a mugger. The soldiers were

standing at the top of the hill like sitting

ducks. It’s a wonder they weren’t all killed.

like a three-ring circus chaotic; exciting

and busy. Our household is like a three-

ring circus on Monday mornings. This

meeting is like a three-ring circus. Quiet

down and listen!

like crazy and like mad furiously; very

much, fast, many, or actively. (Slang.)

People are coming in here like crazy. There

isn’t enough room for them all. We sold

ice cream like crazy. It was a very hot day.

When she stubbed her toe, she started

screaming like mad.

like greased lightning very fast. (Folksy.

Informal. See also (as) quick as greased

lightning.) He left the room like greased

lightning. They f led the burning build-

ing like greased lightning.

like it or lump it either accept it or drop

dead. (Slang and fairly rude.) I don’t

care whether you care for my attitude or

not. You can just like it or lump it. This

is all the food you get. Like it or lump it!

Like it’s such a big deal! It really isn’t all

that important! (Informal. Sarcastic.)

So I dropped the glass. Like it’s such a big

deal. Like it’s such a big deal. Who cares?

like looking for a needle in a haystack

engaged in a hopeless search. Trying to

find a white dog in the snow is like look-

ing for a needle in a haystack. I tried to

find my lost contact lens on the beach, but

it was like looking for a needle in a

haystack.

like mad Go to like crazy.

like nothing on earth 1. very untidy or

very unattractive. (Informal.) Joan ar-

rived at the office looking like nothing on

earth. She had fallen in the mud. Alice

was like nothing on earth in that electric

yellow dress. 2. very unusual; other-

worldly. The new car models look like

nothing on earth this year. This cake is

so good! It’s like nothing on earth!

like one of the family as if someone (or

a pet) were a member of one’s family. (In-

formal.) We treat our dog like one of the

family. We are very happy to have you

stay with us, Bill. I hope you don’t mind

if we treat you like one of the family.

like sitting ducks Go to like a sitting duck.

like to hear oneself talk [for someone] to

enjoy one’s talking more than other peo-

ple enjoy listening to it. I guess I don’t

really have anything to say. I just like to

hear myself talk, I guess. There he goes

again. He just likes to hear himself talk.

like (two) peas in a pod very close or in-

timate. (Compare this with as alike as

(two) peas in a pod.) Yes, they’re close.

Like two peas in a pod. They’re always

together. Like peas in a pod.

like water off a duck’s back easily; with-

out any apparent effect. Insults rolled

off John like water off a duck’s back. The

bullets had no effect on the steel door. They

fell away like water off a duck’s back.

likely as not Go to (as) likely as not.

line one’s own pockets to make money for

oneself in a greedy or dishonest fashion.

(Slang.) When it was discovered that the

sales manager was lining her own pockets

with commissions, she was fired. If you

line your pockets while in public office,

you’ll get in serious trouble.

line someone or something up with something to

position someone or something (or a

group) in reference to other things. (See

also fix someone up (with someone or some-

thing).) Please line the chairs up with the

f loor tiles. T Line up this brick with the

bricks below and at both sides. That’s the

way you lay bricks. T Line up the boys

with the row of trees.

line someone up (for something) to schedule

someone for something; to arrange for

someone to do or be something. I lined

gardeners up for the summer work on the

gardens. T I lined up four of my best

friends to serve as ushers at my wedding.

line someone up with someone Go to fix some-

one up with someone.

the lion’s share (of something) the larger

share of something. The elder boy al-

ways takes the lion’s share of the food.

Jim was supposed to divide the cake in two

equal pieces but he took the lion’s share.

a little bit a small amount; some. Can I

have a little bit of candy? I need a little

bit of time to finish this essay.

little by little slowly, a bit at a time. Lit-

tle by little, he began to understand what

we were talking about. The snail crossed

the stone little by little.

A little (hard) work never hurt anyone.

and A little (hard) work never killed

anyone. One should expect to do hard or

difficult work and not avoid doing it.

(Proverb.) Go help your father with the

yard work. A little hard work never hurt

anyone. Go ahead. Bring me some more

bricks. A little work never killed anyone.

A little (hard) work never killed anyone.

Go to A little (hard) work never hurt

anyone.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Incomplete knowledge can embarrass or

harm someone or something. The doc-

tor said, “Just because you’ve had a course

in first aid, you shouldn’t have treated your

own illness. A little knowledge is a dan-

gerous thing.”  John thought he knew

how to take care of the garden, but he

killed all the f lowers. A little knowledge is

a dangerous thing.

live a dog’s life Go to lead a dog’s life.

live and learn to increase one’s knowledge

by experience. (Also informal and folksy.

Usually said when one is surprised to

learn something.) I didn’t know that

snakes could swim. Well, live and learn!

John didn’t know he should water his

houseplants a little extra in the dry win-

ter months. When they all died, he said,

“Live and learn.”

live and let live not to interfere with other

people’s business or preferences. I don’t

care what they do! Live and let live, I al-

ways say. Your parents are strict. Mine

just live and let live.

live beyond one’s means to spend more

money than one can afford. (Compare

this with live within one’s means.) The

Browns are deeply in debt because they are

living beyond their means. I keep a bud-

get so that I don’t live beyond my means.

live by one’s wits to survive by being clever.

When you’re in the kind of business I’m

in, you have to live by your wits. John

was orphaned at the age of ten and grew

up living by his wits.

live for the moment to live without plan-

ning for the future. John has no health

or life insurance. He lives only for the mo-

ment. When you’re young, you tend to

live for the moment and not plan for your

future security.

live from hand to mouth to live in poor

circumstances. (Informal.) When both

my parents were out of work, we lived from

hand to mouth. We lived from hand to

mouth during the war. Things were very

difficult.

live happily ever after to live in happiness

after a specific event. (Usually found at

the end of fairy tales.) The prince and

the princess lived happily ever after.

They went away from the horrible haunted

castle and lived happily ever after.

live high off the hog and live high on

the hog to live well and eat good food.

(Folksy. Note the variation with pretty.

See also eat high on the hog.) After

they discovered oil on their land, they lived

pretty high on the hog. Looks like we’re

living high off the hog tonight. What’s the

occasion?

live high on the hog Go to live high off the

live in to live at the residence at which one

works. (Said of servants.) In order to

be here early enough to prepare breakfast,

the cook has to live in. Mr. Simpson has

a valet, but he doesn’t live in.

live in an ivory tower to be aloof from the

realities of living. (Live can be replaced

by a number of expressions meaning

“to dwell or spend time,” as in the first

example.) If you didn’t spend so much

time in your ivory tower, you’d know what

people really think! Many professors are

said to live in ivory towers. They don’t

know what the real world is like.

live it up to have an exciting time; to do

what one pleases—regardless of cost—to

please oneself. At the party, John was

really living it up. Come on! Have fun!

Live it up! They spent a week in Mex-

ico living it up and then came home broke.

live off the fat of the land to grow one’s

own food; to live on stored-up resources

or abundant resources. If I had a mil-

lion dollars, I’d invest it and live off the

fat of the land. I’ll be happy to retire

soon and live off the fat of the land.

Many farmers live off the fat of the land.

live on borrowed time to live longer than

circumstances warrant. John has a ter-

minal disease, and he’s living on borrowed

time. This project is living on borrowed

time. It is overdue for completion.

live out of a suitcase to live briefly in a

place, never unpacking one’s luggage.

I hate living out of a suitcase. For my next

vacation, I want to go to just one place and

stay there the whole time. We were liv-

ing out of suitcases in a motel while they

repaired the damage the fire caused to our

house.

live something down to overcome the shame

or embarrassment of something. You’ll

live it down someday. T Max will never be

able to live down what happened at the

party last night.

live through something to endure some-

thing. I thought I’d never be able to live

through the lecture. It was so boring. I

just can’t live through another day like this.

live up to one’s end of the bargain to

carry though on a bargain; to do as was

promised in a bargain. You can’t quit

now. You have to live up to your end of the

bargain. Bob isn’t living up to his end

of the bargain, so I am going to sue him.

live up to something to fulfill expectations;

to satisfy a set of goals. (Often with one’s

reputation, promise, word, standards, etc.)

I hope I can live up to my reputation.

The class lives up to its reputation of be-

ing exciting and interesting. He never

lives up to his promises. She was unable

to live up to her own high standards.

live within one’s means to spend no more

money than one has. (Compare this with

live beyond one’s means.) We have to

struggle to live within our means, but we

manage. John is unable to live within his

means.

loaded for bear 1. angry. (Slang and

folksy.) He left here in a rage. He was

really loaded for bear. When I got home

from work, I was really loaded for bear.

What a horrible day! 2. drunk. (An elab-

oration of loaded, which means “drunk.”

Slang and folksy.) By the end of the

party, Bill was loaded for bear.  The

whole gang drank for an hour until they

were loaded for bear.

lock horns (with someone) to get into an ar-

gument with someone. (Informal.)

Let’s settle this peacefully. I don’t want to

lock horns with the boss. The boss does-

n’t want to lock horns either.

lock something in to make something, such

as a rate of interest, permanent over a pe-

riod of time. (Informal.) We locked in

an 11 percent rate on our mortgage. You

should try to lock in a high percentage rate

on your bonds.

long and (the) short of it the whole story;

all the necessary facts. I was late and I

missed my train, and that’s the long and

short of it. Soon after the big green frog

turned into a handsome prince, Princess

Ellen and her newfound love went to live

happily ever after in a kingdom by the sea,

and that’s the long and the short of it.

Long time no see. I have not seen you for

a long time. (Informal.) Hello, John.

Long time no see. When John and Mary

met on the street, they both said, “Long

time no see.”