The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  lie in state → See under IN STATE.

  lie in wait Remain hidden while preparing to attack, as in The opposition was quietly lying in wait for the incumbent to make his first big mistake. This expression originally alluded to physical attacks and is now often used figuratively. [Mid-1400s] Also see LAY FOR.

  lie low Also lay low. Keep oneself or one’s plans hidden; bide one’s time to act. For example, The children lay low, hoping their prank would soon be forgotten, or The senator decided to lay low until his opponent had committed herself to raising taxes. This expression calls up the image of a hunter concealed in the brush, waiting for game. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

  lie through one’s teeth Also, lie in one’s teeth. ­Utter outrageous falsehoods, as in He was lying through his teeth when he said he’d never seen her before; they’ve known each other for years. This expression presumably alludes to a particular facial grimace one assumes when lying. [c. 1300]

  lieu → See under INSTEAD OF.

  lie with Be decided by, dependent on, or up to. For example, The choice of restaurant lies with you. Starting about 1300 this phrase meant “to have sexual intercourse with,” a usage that is now obsolete. [Late 1800s]

  life → In addition to the idioms beginning with LIFE, also see BET ONE’S ASS (LIFE); BIG AS LIFE; BREATHE LIFE INTO; BRING TO LIFE; CHANGE OF LIFE; CHARMED LIFE; COME ALIVE (TO LIFE); DOG’S LIFE; FACTS OF LIFE; FOR DEAR LIFE; FOR THE LIFE OF ONE; GET A LIFE; GOOD LIFE; LATE IN LIFE; LAY DOWN (ONE’S LIFE); LEAD A DOUBLE LIFE; LIGHT OF ONE’S LIFE; MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH; NEW LEASE ON LIFE; NOT ON YOUR LIFE; OF ONE’S LIFE; ONCE IN A LIFETIME; PRIME OF LIFE; RISK LIFE AND LIMB; RUN FOR IT (ONE’S LIFE); STAFF OF LIFE; STORY OF MY LIFE; TAKE SOMEONE’S LIFE; TIME OF ONE’S LIFE; TO SAVE ONE’S LIFE; TO THE LIFE; TRUE TO (LIFE); VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE; WALK OF LIFE; WHILE THERE’S LIFE THERE’S HOPE; YOU BET YOUR ASS (LIFE).

  life and death → See MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

  life in the fast lane → See FAST LANE.

  life is too short Do not waste time on unimportant matters or unworthy emotions, such as anger or anxiety. For example, I could get my revenge by snubbing Tom, but life’s too short, or Don’t spend all day waiting for his call—life is too short. This phrase, possibly echoing the ancient Latin proverb, Ars longa, vita brevis (“Art is long-lasting, life is short”), is often used to dismiss an unimportant or unworthy concern. [Mid-1800s]

  life of Riley Also, life of Reilly. An easy life, as in Peter had enough money to take off the rest of the year and live the life of Riley. This phrase ­originated in a popular song of the 1800s, “Is That Mr. Reilly?” by Pat Rooney, which described what its hero would do if he suddenly came into a fortune.

  life of the party A lively, amusing person who is the center of attention at a social gathering. For example, Eileen was the life of the party, telling one good story after another. [First half of 1800s]

  lift a finger → See NOT LIFT A FINGER.

  lift a hand against → See RAISE A HAND AGAINST.

  lift off Begin flight, as in The spacecraft was due to lift off at ten o’clock. The off in this idiom means “off the ground.” [Late 1800s]

  lift the curtain → See RAISE THE CURTAIN.

  light → In addition to the idioms beginning with LIGHT, also see BRING TO LIGHT; COME TO LIGHT; GO LIGHT ON; GREEN LIGHT; HEAVY (LIGHT) HEART; HIDE ONE’S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL; IN A GOOD (BAD) LIGHT; IN LIGHT OF; IN THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY; LACE (LIGHT) INTO; LEADING LIGHT; MAKE LIGHT OF; MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK; ONCE OVER LIGHTLY; OUT COLD (LIKE A LIGHT); SEE THE LIGHT; SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY; SHED LIGHT ON; SWEETNESS AND LIGHT; TRAVEL LIGHT; TRIP THE LIGHT FANTASTIC.

  light a fire under Also, build a fire under. Urge or goad to action, as in If we don’t light a fire under that committee, they’ll never do any work. This ­hyperbolic colloquialism uses light in the sense of “ignite,” a usage dating from the mid-1100s.

  light as a feather Extremely lightweight. This simile can be used to refer either to physical weight, as in This load is light as a feather, or to texture, as in This cake is light as a feather. [Mid-1500s]

  light at the end of the tunnel The end of a difficult situation or task, the solution to a difficult problem. For example, It’s taken three years to effect this merger, but we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. This metaphoric expression dates from the 1800s, but became widespread only in the mid-1900s.

  light dawned, the Understanding came at last, as in They couldn’t figure out where they went wrong, but then the light dawned—they’d turned right ­instead of left. This expression transfers the beginning of dawn to human perception. [c. 1800]

  lighten up Become or cause to become less serious or gloomy, and more cheerful. For example, Lighten up, Sam—it’ll turn out all right. This slangy expression transfers reducing a physical weight to a change of mood or attitude.

  light heart → See under HEAVY HEART.

  light into → See LACE INTO.

  lightly → See GET OFF (LIGHTLY); ONCE OVER LIGHTLY.

  lightning → In addition to the idiom beginning with LIGHTNING, also see LIKE GREASED LIGHTNING; QUICK AS A WINK (LIGHTNING).

  lightning never strikes twice in the same place The same stroke of luck or misfortune will never recur, as in Go ahead and try your luck investing in options again; lightning never strikes twice. This saying is based on a long-standing myth, which has been proved to be untrue. Nevertheless, it is so well known it is often shortened, as in the example. [Mid-1800s]

  light of one’s life A greatly beloved person, as in After forty years Bill said his wife was still the light of his life. [?]

  light on Also, light upon. Happen upon, come across, discover. For example, John was delighted to light on a new solution to the problem, or We were following the path when suddenly we lit upon a cave. [Second half of 1400s]

  light out Leave hastily, run away, as in Here comes the teacher—let’s light out. This slangy idiom may allude to the nautical sense, that is, to move or lift anything along. [Slang; mid-1800s]

  light up 1. Become or cause to become more animated or cheerful, as in Her laughter lit up the whole room, or His face lit up when he saw her. This expression transfers physical illumination to human moods. Also see LIGHTEN UP. [Mid-1700s] 2. Start smoking a cigar, cigarette, or pipe, as in The minute he got outside the church he lit up. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

  like → In addition to the idioms beginning with LIKE, also see AND THE LIKE; AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE; COME UP (SMELLING LIKE) ROSES; CRAZY LIKE A FOX; DRINK LIKE A FISH; DROP LIKE FLIES; DUTCH UNCLE, TALK TO ONE LIKE A; EAT LIKE A BIRD; FEEL LIKE; (LIKE A) FISH OUT OF WATER; FIT LIKE A GLOVE; GET ALONG (ON LIKE A HOUSE AFIRE); GO OUT (LIKE A LIGHT); GO OVER (LIKE A LEAD BALLOON); GRIN LIKE A CHESHIRE CAT; (DROP LIKE A) HOT POTATO; JUST LIKE THAT; KNOW LIKE A BOOK; LIVE LIKE A KING; LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS; LOOK LIKE DEATH; LOOK LIKE SOMETHING THE CAT DRAGGED IN; LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY; MAKE OUT LIKE A BANDIT; MANNA FROM HEAVEN, LIKE; MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP; NEED LIKE A HOLE IN THE HEAD; NO FOOL LIKE AN OLD FOOL; NOT ANYTHING LIKE; NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT; OUT LIKE A LIGHT; PACKED IN LIKE SARDINES; SLEEP LIKE A LOG; SOMETHING LIKE; SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE; STICK OUT (LIKE A SORE THUMB); SWEAR LIKE A TROOPER; TAKE TO IT (LIKE A DUCK TO WATER); TELL IT LIKE IT IS; TREAT LIKE DIRT; TURN UP LIKE A BAD PENNY; WAIL LIKE A BANSHEE; WATCH LIKE A HAWK; WORK LIKE A BEAVER; WORK LIKE A CHARM.

  like a bat out of hell Moving extremely fast, as in She ran down the street like a bat out of hell. This expression presumably alludes to the rapid darting movement of bats and, Charles Earle Funk theorized, their avoidance of such light as might be cast by the fires of hell. [c. 1900] For a synonym, see LIKE GREASED LIGHTNING.

  like a bump on a log Unmoving, inactive, stupidly silent. For example, Harry just sat there like a bump on a log while everyone else joined in the fun. This simile presumably alludes to the immobility of such a protuberance. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

  like a cat on hot bricks Also, l
ike a cat on a hot tin roof. Restless or skittish, unable to remain still, as in Nervous about the lecture he had to give, David was like a cat on hot bricks. The first expression replaced a still earlier one, like a cat on a hot bake-stone, which appeared in John Ray’s Proverbs (1678). The second was popularized as the title of Tennessee Williams’s play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955).

  like a champ Very well, very successfully, as in He got through that audition like a champ. This expression, in which champ is short for champion, alludes to the winner of a sporting competition. [Slang; c. 1960]

  like a chicken with its head cut off In a frenzied manner, distractedly, crazily. For example, She ran around the station looking for her lost bag like a chicken with its head cut off. This graphic simile alludes to the fact that the body of a chicken whose head has been cut off sometimes totters about crazily before succumbing.

  like a drowned rat Also, wet as a drowned rat. Soaking wet and utterly bedraggled, as in When she came in out of the rain she looked like a drowned rat. This simile appeared in Latin nearly 2,000 years ago, and in English about the year 1500.

  like a fish out of water → See FISH OUT OF WATER.

  like a house afire → See under GET ALONG, def. 1.

  like a lamb to the slaughter Also, as lambs to the slaughter. Innocently and helplessly, without realizing the danger. For example, She agreed to appeal to the board, little knowing she would go like a lamb to the slaughter. This expression appears in several biblical books (Isaiah, Jeremiah), and the simile itself was used by Chaucer.

  like anything Extremely, vigorously, as in She cried like anything when the dog died. This idiom probably substitutes anything for a swear word. [Colloquial; late 1600s]

  like a shot Very rapidly, as in When they asked for volunteers, he raised his hand like a shot. This expression alludes to the rapidity of gunfire. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

  like as not Also, as like as not; as likely as not. In all probability, with an even chance, as in Like as not it’ll rain by afternoon, or Likely as not the governor will run for a second term. In the first two terms, like is short for likely in the sense of “probably,” that is, “It is as likely as it is not likely.” [Late 1800s]

  like as two peas in a pod Very similar, bearing a close resemblance. For example, They’re not even sisters, but they’re like as two peas in a pod. This expression alludes to the seeds contained in a pea pod, which do indeed look very much alike. [Late 1500s]

  like a ton of bricks Very heavily, without subtlety. For example, If he doesn’t like your work, he’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks. This expression, often coupled with COME DOWN ON (def. 1), replaced the earlier thousand of brick or hundred of brick. The allusion in all these is to the considerable weight of such a load. [Early 1900s]

  like clockwork Also, regular as clockwork. With extreme regularity, as in Ruth arrives every Wednesday morning just like clockwork, or You can count on his schedule, which is regular as clockwork, or Their assembly line runs like clockwork. This ­idiom alludes to the mechanical and therefore very regular action of a clock. [Second half of 1600s]

  like crazy Also, like mad; like nobody’s business. With exceeding enthusiasm or speed, without restraint. For example, We shopped like crazy and bought all our furniture in one day, or Once he’s out of the town limits he drives like mad, or The choir sang the Hallelujah Chorus like nobody’s business. The first terms employ crazy and mad in the sense of “lunatic” as a hyperbole for lack of restraint; the third implies that no business could be conducted in such an extraordinary fashion. The first and third date from the 1920s, the second from the mid-1600s.

  like death warmed over → See LOOK LIKE DEATH.

  like father, like son In the same manner from generation to generation, as in Kevin decided to run for mayor—like father, like son. This ancient proverb has been stated in English in slightly varying versions since the 1300s, sometimes ­appearing with a counterpart, like mother, like daughter. Thomas Draxe had it in Bibliotheca (1616): “Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter.” Also see CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK; FOLLOW IN SOMEONE’S FOOTSTEPS.

  like fun Not really, certainly not. For example, She said she’d been skiing for years—like fun she had! or Do I want to eat raw oysters—like fun I do. This expression originated in the early 1800s with a quite different meaning, “energetically” or “vigorously,” a sense now obsolete. Its present sense dates from the 1900s. Also see FOR FUN.

  like gangbusters Energetically, forcefully, loudly. For example, This is a soft passage—the horns shouldn’t come in like gangbusters. This expression alludes to a popular radio series entitled Gangbusters, which featured explosive sound effects, such as gunfire and sirens, at the beginning of each episode. [Slang; late 1930s]

  like greased lightning Also, a blue streak; like the wind; like blazes. Very fast indeed, as in He climbed that ladder like greased lightning, or She kept on talking a blue streak, or The children ran like the wind when they heard there’d be free ice cream. The likening of speed to lightning dates from the 1500s, and grease was added in the early 1800s to further accentuate the idea of haste. The first variant, blue streak, also dates from the early 1800s and alludes to something resembling lightning. The wind in the second variant has been a metaphor for swiftness since ancient Roman times. The blazes in the last variant, first recorded in 1925, alludes to fire or lightning.

  like hell 1. Recklessly, extremely, as in We ran like hell to catch the train. [Mid-1800s] 2. Not at all, on the contrary, as in You think I’ll call her stupid? Like hell I will! or Like hell I can’t say that to Bob. [Late 1800s]

  like hot cakes, go Also, sell like hot cakes. Be a great commercial success, as in I’m sure this new line of coats will go like hot cakes, or She was thrilled that her new book was selling like hot cakes. This term alludes to hot cakes, another name for griddle cakes or pancakes, which are so popular at church sales, food fairs, and similar events that they tend to sell as quickly as they are cooked. [Mid-1800s]

  like it or lump it Also, if you don’t like it you can lump it. Whether or not you want to, as in Like it or lump it, we’re staying home this summer. The origin of lump in this idiom is unclear; one writer believes it to be a euphemism for STUFF IT, a not unreasonable conjecture. [Early 1800s]

  likely as not → See LIKE AS NOT. Also see under ­UNLIKELY.

  like mad → See LIKE CRAZY.

  like nobody’s business → See LIKE CRAZY.

  like nothing on earth → See ON EARTH, def. 2.

  like pigs in clover Extremely contentedly, as in They had a handsome pension and lived like pigs in clover. This expression alludes to pigs being allowed to eat as much clover, a favorite food, as they wish. It appeared in the Boston Gazette of January 7, 1813: “Canadians! then in droves come over, And live henceforth like pigs in clover.” [Early 1800s]

  like pulling teeth Very difficult, especially to extract information from someone. For example, It’s like pulling teeth to get a straight answer from him.

  like rolling off a log → See EASY AS PIE (ROLLING OFF A LOG).

  like shooting fish in a barrel Ridiculously easy, as in Setting up a computer nowadays is like shooting fish in a barrel. This hyperbolic expression alludes to the fact that fish make an easy target inside a barrel (as opposed to swimming freely in the sea). [Early 1900s]

  likes of, the Also, the like of one. An equivalent or very similar person or thing; an equal or match. For example, I’ve never seen the likes of this before, or We’ll never see his like again. This expression ­today is almost always put in a negative context. [Mid-1500s]

  like something the cat dragged in → See LOOK LIKE SOMETHING THE CAT DRAGGED IN.

  like that 1. In that way or manner, having those characteristics, as in I told him not to talk to her like that, or I wish I could, like Dick, tell you what I really think, but I’m not like that. [Late 1800s] 2. See JUST LIKE THAT.

  like to Also, liked to. Come close to, be on the point of. For e
xample, We like to froze to death, or He liked to have never got away. This expression, now considered a colloquialism from the American South, dates from the early 1400s and was used several times by Shakespeare.

  like water off a duck’s back Readily and without apparent effect. For example, The scathing reviews rolled off him like water off a duck’s back. This expression alludes to the fact that duck feathers shed water. [Early 1800s]

  lily → See GILD THE LILY.

  limb → See OUT ON A LIMB; RISK LIFE AND LIMB.

  limbo → See IN LIMBO.

  limit → See GO WHOLE HOG (THE LIMIT); SKY’S THE LIMIT; THE LIMIT.

  line → In addition to the idioms beginning with LINE, also see ALL ALONG THE LINE; ALONG THE LINES OF; BLOW IT (ONE’S LINES); BOTTOM LINE; CHOW DOWN (LINE); DOWN THE LINE; DRAW A LINE BETWEEN; DRAW THE LINE AT; DROP A LINE; END OF THE LINE; FALL IN LINE; FEED SOMEONE A LINE; FIRING LINE; GET A LINE ON; GO ON (LINE); HARD LINE; HOLD THE LINE; HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER; HOT LINE; IN LINE; LAY ON THE LINE; LEAST RESISTANCE, LINE OF; ON LINE; OUT OF LINE; PARTY LINE; READ BETWEEN THE LINES; SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE; SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE; STEP OUT OF LINE; TOE THE LINE.

  linen → WASH ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC.

  line of fire, in the In the path of an attack, as in Whenever Audrey and Jeff quarrel, I take care to get out of the line of fire. This expression, dating from the mid-1800s, originally referred to the path of a bullet or other projectile, a meaning also still current. Also see FIRING LINE.

  line one’s pockets Accept a bribe or other illicit payment, as in The mayor and his cronies found dozens of ways to line their pockets. This expression dates from the mid-1500s, when it was also put as line one’s purse.

  line up 1. Arrange in or form a line, as in Betty lined up the books on the shelf, or The children lined up for lunch. [Late 1800s] 2. Organize, make ready, make the arrangements for, as in They lined up considerable support for the bill, or Nancy was supposed to line up a hall for the concert. [c. 1900]

  lining → See SILVER LINING.

  lion → In addition to the idiom beginning with LION, also see BEARD THE LION; THROW TO THE WOLVES (LIONS).