The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  lion’s share The greater part of; most of something, as in Whenever they won a doubles match, Ethel claimed the lion’s share of the credit, or As usual, Uncle Bob took the lion’s share of the cake. This expression alludes to Aesop’s fable about a lion, who got all of a kill because its fellow hunters, an ass, fox, and wolf, were afraid to claim their share. [Late 1700s]

  lip → In addition to the idioms beginning with LIP, also see BUTTON UP (ONE’S LIP); KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP; LICK ONE’S CHOPS (LIPS); PASS ONE’S LIPS.

  lips are sealed, one’s One will reveal nothing, especially about a secret. For example, You can trust me with the details of the lawsuit—my lips are sealed. [Early 1900s]

  lip service Verbal but insincere expression of agreement or support. It is often put as pay or give lip service, as in They paid lip service to holding an election next year, but they had no intention of doing so. [Mid-1600s]

  list → See BLACK LIST; ENTER THE LISTS; SUCKER LIST.

  listen in 1. Hear or overhear the conversation of others; eavesdrop. It is also put as listen in on, as in She listened in on her parents and learned they were planning a surprise party. [Early 1900s] 2. Tune in and listen to a broadcast, as in Were you listening in the other night when they played Beethoven’s Fifth? [1920s]

  listen to reason Pay heed to sensible advice or argument, as in We can’t let him rush into that job—it’s time he listened to reason. [Mid-1700s]

  little → In addition to the idioms beginning with LITTLE, also see A LITTLE; EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS; IN ONE’S OWN (LITTLE) WORLD; MAKE LITTLE OF; PRECIOUS FEW (LITTLE); THINK LITTLE OF; TO LITTLE PURPOSE; TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

  little bird told me, a A source one cannot or will not identify gave this information, as in How did you learn they were getting a divorce?—Oh, a little bird told me. Versions of this idiom date from ancient times and appear in numerous proverb collections.

  little by little → See BIT BY BIT.

  little frog in a big pond Also, small frog in a large pond. An unimportant or unqualified individual in a large organization or other setting. For example, Coming from a small school, Sandy felt lost at the state university—a little frog in a big pond. This phrase is the counterpart of BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND.

  little knowledge is a dangerous thing, a Also, a little learning is a dangerous thing. Knowing a little about something tempts one to overestimate one’s abilities. For example, I know you’ve assembled furniture, but that doesn’t mean you can build an entire wall system; remember, a little knowledge. This maxim, originally a line from Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism (1709), has been repeated with slight variations ever since. It is still heard, although less frequently, and sometimes shortened, as in the example.

  little pitchers have big ears Young children often overhear something they should not. For example, Don’t use any swear words around Brian—little pitchers have big ears. This metaphoric expression, which likens the curved handle of a pitcher to the human ear, was already in John Heywood’s proverb collection of 1546.

  live → In addition to the idioms beginning with LIVE, also see ALIVE (LIVE) AND KICKING; AS I LIVE AND BREATHE; CLOSE TO HOME (WHERE ONE LIVES); (LIVE FROM) DAY TO DAY; FAT OF THE LAND, LIVE OFF THE; HIGH OFF THE HOG, LIVE; LEARN TO LIVE WITH; PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN’T THROW STONES.

  live and learn Profit from experience, as in I ­ignored the garden book, planted my beans in March, and they all rotted—live and learn. [Second half of 1500s]

  live and let live Show tolerance for those different from yourself. For example, I’m not going to tell my sister what to do—live and let live, I say. [First half of 1600s]

  live by one’s wits Manage by clever expedience rather than hard work or wealth. For example, Alan’s never held a steady job but manages to live by his wits. This expression uses wits in the sense of “keen mental faculties.” [c. 1600]

  live dangerously Take numerous risks, be daring, as in Bill never knows if he’ll have enough money to pay the next month’s rent—he likes to live dangerously. This expression figured in the work of such 19th-century German writers as Nietzsche, who regarded it as an admirable course of action. Today it is often used with mildly humorous effect, as in the example. [c. 1900]

  live down Overcome or reduce the shame of a mistake, misdeed, or the like. It is often put in the negative, as in I’m afraid I’ll never live down that tactless remark I made. [Mid-1800s]

  live for the moment Concentrate on the present, with little or no concern for the future. For example, Instead of putting aside funds for the children’s education, Jane and Jim live for the moment, spending whatever they earn. [Mid-1900s] Also see DAY TO DAY, def. 2; FOR THE MOMENT.

  live from day to day → See DAY TO DAY, def. 2.

  live from hand to mouth → See HAND TO MOUTH.

  live happily ever after Spend the rest of one’s life in happiness, as in In her romantic novels the hero and heroine end up marrying and then live happily ever after. This hyperbolic phrase ends many fairy tales. [Mid-1800s]

  live high off the hog → See HIGH OFF THE HOG.

  live in 1. Reside in one’s place of employment or schooling, as in They wanted a babysitter who could live in, or Joe was planning to live in at the college. This expression is used primarily for domestic servants or students. [Late 1800s] Also see LIVE OUT. 2. live in something. Continue in existence, memory, or some feeling. This sense appears in such phrases as live in the past, meaning “to concentrate on past memories,” or live in hope of, meaning “to continue anticipating that something will happen.” For example, Alice lived in the past; she had no interest in current events, or Jim lived in hope of getting a teaching post. Also see LIVE IN SIN.

  live in each other’s pockets → See IN ONE’S POCKET, def. 2.

  live in sin Cohabit outside marriage, as in Bill and Anne lived in sin for years before they got married. This term, dating from the early 1800s, is mostly used in a jocular fashion today, when customs and views are more liberal in this regard. Also see LIVE TOGETHER.

  live it up Enjoy oneself, often extravagantly. For example, They came into some money and decided to live it up with a trip around the world. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

  live like a king Also, live like a prince. Enjoy a lavish style of living, as in He spared no expense, preferring to live like a king as long as he could, or Since they got their inheritance, the Andersons are living like princes. This expression continues to be used despite the much smaller role royalty plays in the present day. [Mid-1500s]

  live on 1. Be financially supported by, subsist on, as in His pension is too small to live on. [Mid-1600s] 2. Continue to survive, especially unexpectedly, as in They thought the cancer would kill her, but Lucy lived on for another twenty years. 3. Remain in human memory, as in This book will live on long after the author’s death.

  live on borrowed time → See ON BORROWED TIME.

  live on the edge → See ON THE EDGE.

  live out 1. Complete or survive the end of a period of time, as in Grandpa wants to live out his days in a warmer climate. [First half of 1500s] 2. Reside away from one’s place of employment, as in She’s a fine housekeeper, but insists on living out. This expression is used primarily for domestic help. [Mid-1800s] Also see LIVE IN, def. 1. 3. live out of. Lead a lifestyle characterized by a particular item. This phrase appears in such idioms as live out of a suitcase, meaning “to travel so much that one has no time to unpack one’s belongings,” or live out of cans, meaning “to eat only canned food for lack of other foods or time to prepare them.” For example, Traveling for months on end, he got very tired of living out of a suitcase, or We had neither gas nor electricity for a week and had to live out of cans.

  live through Endure, survive. This idiom is used both seriously, as in Those who have lived through a depression never forget what it was like, or hyperbolically, as in That speech was endless—I thought I’d never live through it.

  live together Cohabit, especially when not
married. For example, “I... am only concerned that their living together before the marriage took place should be so generally known” (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813). [c. 1800] Also see LIVE IN SIN.

  live up to 1. Live or act in accordance with; also, measure up to. For example, Children rarely live up to their parents’ ideals, or This new technology has not lived up to our expectations. [Late 1600s] 2. Carry out, fulfill, as in she certainly lived up to her end of the bargain. [First half of 1800s]

  live wire A highly alert or energetic person. For example, Sally’s a real live wire; she brightens up any gathering. This metaphoric term transfers a wire carrying electric current to a lively individual. [c. 1900]

  live with 1. Cohabit with, live as if married to, as in I don’t approve of my daughter living with her boyfriend. [Mid-1700s] Also see LIVE TOGETHER. 2. Put up with, come to terms with, as in I think I can live with this new agreement. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] Also see LEARN TO LIVE WITH. 3. live with oneself. Keep one’s self-respect, as in I don’t know how he can live with himself after violating their trust. [Mid-1900s]

  living daylights → See BEAT THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.

  living end, the The utmost in any situation, something quite extraordinary as in When he threw the stereo out the window—well, that was the living end! or That performance was the living end. [Colloquial; late 1930s]

  living soul A person. For example, Every living soul in this town has a stake in the decision to ban smoking, or The place was empty—not a living soul to be found. [First half of 1600s]

  load → In addition to the idioms beginning with LOAD, also see BRICKS SHY OF A LOAD; CARBO LOAD; GET A LOAD OF; TAKE THE LOAD OFF.

  loaded for bear Fully prepared for action; also, spoiling for a fight. For example, Bill tackled his new sales route loaded for bear, or When Martin was three hours late, his wife was loaded for bear. This term, dating from the mid-1800s, alludes to the heavy charge of powder or lead that hunters use for large animals like a bear.

  loaded question A question heavy with meaning or emotional impact, as in When he inquired after Helen’s ex-husband, that was a loaded question. This term employs loaded in the sense of “charged with hidden implication.” [Mid-1900s]

  load off one’s feet → See TAKE THE LOAD OFF.

  load off one’s mind, a Relief from a mental burden or anxiety, as in Good news about the baby took a load off my mind. This expression uses load in the sense of “a figurative burden.” [Mid-1800s]

  load the dice Rig the odds so there is little chance for another person to win; cheat. For example, There’s no way we can win this contest; they’ve loaded the dice. This expression is also put as the dice are loaded, as in There’s no point in trying; the dice are loaded. This expression alludes to adding weight to one side or another of dice so that they will always come up with certain numbers facing upward. [Late 1800s]

  loaf → See HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE.

  local yokel A native or inhabitant of a particular locale, as in She’s only gone out with local yokels, so she’s not used to more sophisticated men. This disparaging rhyming term was first used by troops stationed away from home. [Slang; mid-1900s]

  lock → In addition to the idioms beginning with LOCK, also see UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

  lock and load Prepare to act. The term was originally a military command to put a firearm’s safety in the “on” position and load the weapon with ammunition. It later was transferred to preparing for any action, as in Are we locked and loaded to take the witness stand? [c. 1940]

  locker → See DAVY JONES’S LOCKER.

  lock horns Become embroiled in conflict, as in At the town meeting Kate and Steve locked horns over increasing the property tax. This expression alludes to how stags and bulls use their horns to fight one another. [First half of 1800s]

  lock in 1. Enclose, surround, as in The ship was completely locked in ice. [c. 1400s] 2. Also, lock into. Fix firmly in position, commit to something. This phrase often occurs as be locked in or into, as in She felt she was locked in a binding agreement, or Many of the stockholders are locked into their ­present positions. [Mid-1900s]

  lock out 1. Keep out, prevent from entering. For example, Karen was so angry at her brother that she locked him out of the house. [Late 1500s] Shakespeare had it in The Comedy of Errors (4:1): “For locking me out of my doors by day.” 2. Withhold work from employees during a labor dispute, as in The company threatened to lock out the strikers ­permanently. [Mid-1800s]

  lock, stock, and barrel The entirety; all of something. For example, Jean moved out of the house, lock, stock, and barrel. This expression alludes to the three elements of a firearm—the lock or firing mechanism, the stock or handle, and the barrel or tube. [Early 1800s]

  lock the barn door after the horse has bolted Also, lock the stable door after the horse is stolen. Take precautions after damage has occurred. For example, After the burglary they installed an alarm system, but it’s locking the barn door, or Deciding to negotiate now after they’ve been fired—that’s a matter of locking the stable door after the horse is stolen. These expressions of action that is useless because it comes too late have long been proverbs in many languages and first appeared in English in the mid-1300s.

  lock up 1. Close a house or place of work, fastening all the doors and windows, as in The attendant locks up at eleven o’clock every night, or Did you remind Abby to lock up? [Late 1500s] 2. Invest in something not easily converted into cash, as in Most of their assets were locked up in real estate. [Late 1600s] 3. lock someone up. Confine or imprison someone, as in The princes were locked up in the Tower of London. [c. 1300]

  log → In addition to the idiom beginning with LOG, also see EASY AS PIE (ROLLING OFF A LOG); LIKE A BUMP ON A LOG; SLEEP LIKE A LOG.

  loggerheads → See AT LOGGERHEADS.

  log in Also, log on. Enter into a computer the information needed to begin a session, as in I logged in at two o’clock, or There’s no record of your logging on today. These expressions refer especially to large systems shared by numerous individuals, who need to enter a username or password before executing a program. The antonyms are log off and log out, meaning “to end a computer session.” All these expressions derive from the use of log in the nautical sense of entering information about a ship in a journal called a log book. [c. 1960]

  loin → See GIRD ONE’S LOINS.

  lone wolf A person who prefers to do without the company or assistance of others. For example, Her nursery school teacher described Beth as a lone wolf, an assessment her parents found astonishing. This expression alludes to the tendency of some species of wolf to hunt alone rather than in packs. [c. 1900]

  long → In addition to the idioms beginning with LONG, also see AS LONG AS; AT (LONG) LAST; BEFORE LONG; COME A LONG WAY; DRAW OUT (LONG-DRAWN-OUT); GO A LONG WAY TOWARD; HAPPY AS THE DAY IS LONG; IN THE LONG RUN; MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT; NOT LONG FOR THIS WORLD; SO LONG. Also see under LONGER.

  long ago A time well before the present, the distant past. For example, I read that book long ago, or The battles of long ago were just as fierce. [Second half of 1300s]

  long and short of it, the The substance or gist of something, as in The first page of this report will give you the long and short of it. This expression, originally stated as the short and long of it, dates from about 1500, the present order being established by the end of the 1600s.

  long arm of the law, the The far-reaching power of the authorities. For example, You’ll never get away with leaving work early; the long arm of the law is bound to catch you. This expression began as Kings have long arms (or hands) and was listed as a proverb in 1539. The current version, now often used lightly, was first recorded in 1908.

  longer → See ANY LONGER; NO LONGER.

  long face A facial expression showing sadness or disappointment, as in Greg’s long face was a clear indication of his feelings. [Late 1700s]

  long haul 1. A considerable distance over which something must trave
l or be carried. For example, It’s a long haul from my house to yours. This usage dates from the late 1800s, as does the antonym, short haul, as in The movers charge just as much for a short haul as for a long one. 2. A considerable length of time, an extended period, as in This investment is one for the long haul. It is often put as over the long haul, as in Over the long haul we needn’t worry about production. [c. 1930] Also see IN THE LONG RUN.

  long in the tooth Getting on in years, old, as in Aunt Aggie’s a little long in the tooth to be helping us move. This expression alludes to a horse’s gums receding with age and making the teeth appear longer. [Mid-1800s]

  long shot, a A remote possibility of success, as in It’s a long shot that Joan will actually finish the marathon, or He may be a good programmer, but he’s a long shot for that job. This expression alludes to the inaccuracy of early firearms, which when shot over a distance rarely hit the target. It is commonly used in horseracing for a bet made at great odds. A related phrase is not by a long shot, meaning “not even remotely,” as in I’ll never make it driving to California in three days, not by a long shot. [Late 1800s]

  long suit One’s strong point or advantage, as in Organizing has never been Nancy’s long suit. This expression alludes to whist, bridge, and other card games in which holding numerous cards in a single suit may convey a strong advantage. [c. 1900]

  long time no see It’s been a long time since we met, as in Hi Bob! Long time no see. This jocular imitation of broken English originated in the pidgin English used in Chinese and Western exchange. [Late 1800s]

  look → In addition to the idioms beginning with LOOK, also see (LOOK ON THE) BRIGHT SIDE; DIRTY LOOK; MAKE SOMEONE LOOK GOOD; TAKE A LOOK AT; THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.

  look after Also, look out for; see after. Take care of, attend to the safety or well-being of, as in Please look after your little brother, or We left Jane to look cut for the children, or Please see after the luggage. The first expression dates from the second half of the 1300s, the second from the mid-1900s, and the third from the early 1700s.