idiomL.htm
Collected from various sources by U Kyaw Tun (UKT), M.S. (I.P.S.T., U.S.A.), and staff of TIL (Tun Institute of Learning, http://www.tuninst.net ) for staff and students of TIL Computing and Language Center, Yangon, Myanmar. Not for sale.
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Eidiom-txt-indx.htm
• lady-killer • laid back • laid bare • laid off • laid up • lame duck • lamebrain • land on your feet • land up • landlubber • lap of luxury • lap up • lard butt/lard ass [B] • larger than life • lark • last but not least • last call • last-ditch • last hurrah • last legs •
From Magnuson
lady-killer
--
landlubber Internet link
lady-killer
lady-killer -- (See a lady-killer)
From Magnuson
laid back --
relaxed, casual
Lenny's Place is a laid-back kind of restaurant - casual.
From Magnuson
laid bare --
exposed, open for everyone to see
During the trial, details of his personal life were laid bare.
From Magnuson
laid off --
to be told by the manager that your job is canceled
Billy was laid off because there's not enough work at the plant.
From Magnuson
laid up --
sick, injured, not able to work
Kelly was laid up for two weeks with a very bad cold.
From Magnuson
lame duck --
a person who is powerless or ineffectual because he or
she will soon be replaced
We haven't seen a promising negotiation for peace in the Middle East since Bill
Clinton was a lame-duck president.
From Magnuson
lamebrain --
foolish person, slow thinker,
dipstick,
jerk,
dork
Don't wait for his suggestion. He's a lamebrain.
From Magnuson
land on your feet --
be ready to work, be ready for action,
hit the ground running
We're looking for employees who land on their feet after facing a problem or
challenge.
From Magnuson
land up --
come to rest at, stop at,
end up
If you take this boat you'll land up in Norway!
From Magnuson
landlubber --
a person who does not go to sea, a landlocked human, not
salty
You landlubber, Jack! I bet you've never been in a boat!
From Magnuson
lap of luxury
-- last
legs Internet link
lap
of luxury
lap of luxury -- (See the lap of luxury)
From Magnuson
lap up --
welcome, appreciate
She laps up their compliments. She loves their praise.
From Magnuson
lard butt/lard ass [B] --
a person with fat buttocks, a person with a
big
bum
When I was young and chubby, my brother called me lard butt.
From Magnuson
larger than life --
larger or prettier than people we know;
bigger than life
In American movies, everything seems larger than life. Buildings are taller,
women are sexier.
From Magnuson
lark --
(See
it was a lark)
From Magnuson
last but not least --
the last one on the list but not the least
important
Last but not least is Carla, winner of the spelling contest.
From Magnuson
last call --
last chance to buy a drink or come in for supper
Dad stood on the back porch and shouted, "Last call for supper!"
From Magnuson
last-ditch --
last try, desperate attempt,
last resort
In a last-ditch attempt to save the marriage, he bought her a BMW.
From Magnuson
last hurrah --
last big event for an old person
Frank is planning one more TV concert - his last hurrah.
From Magnuson
last legs --
(See
on his last legs)
L03. last me -- laugh yourself silly Internet link last me
last me -- be sufficient, provide enough,
do me for,
tide me over
I have a ton of tooth paste - enough to last me for ten years!
last resort -- last hope for assistance, last chance to succeed
I will call the police only as a last resort - only when I'm desperate.
last straw -- (See the last straw)
last word -- (See the last word)
late bloomer -- a person who is slow to mature or succeed
Kelly is not doing well in math, but she may be a late bloomer.
laugh it off -- laugh about an insult, be
cool when you are cheated
The crowd booed him when he scored, but he just laughed it off.
laugh up your sleeve -- laugh secretly at someone,
behind your back
He tried to please her, unaware she was laughing up her sleeve.
laugh your head off -- laugh loud and long,
crack me up,
hoot
When Jerry tells a joke, I laugh my head off. He is so funny!
laugh yourself sick -- laugh until you ache,
split a gut
When I listen to Mandy's jokes, I laugh myself sick.
laugh yourself silly -- laugh and laugh,
laugh your head off
One girl said something funny, and we laughed ourselves silly.
L04. laughing -- lay it on the line Internet link laughing
laughing -- fortunate, lucky, rich etc.
He has a full scholarship to go to university. He's laughing.
laughing stock -- (See the laughing stock)
laundered money -- stolen money that has been invested or donated
Do Mafia companies donate laundered money to the church?
lay [B] -- have sex with,
get laid [B]
Chuck brags about all the girls he's laid, but I don't believe him.
lay a trip -- suggest guilt or blame or duty
Don't lay a trip on me about low grades. I'm studying hard.
lay down your arms -- stop fighting,
bury the hatchet
It's time to lay down your arms. Stop fighting with your sister.
lay down your life for -- die for, be killed for
Doug was killed in World War II. He laid down his life for Canada.
lay eyes on -- see, look at
She says she's my sister, but I've never laid eyes on her before.
lay it on -- compliment, praise,
a little thick
The salesman is praising the new Camry. He's really laying it on.
lay it on the line -- be truthful,
the straight goods
You can lay it on the line. I want to know if I passed or failed.
L05. lay low -- lay waste Internet link lay low
lay low -- stay out of sight;
out of circulation
The escaped prisoner planned to lay low for a few days.
lay of the land -- (See get the lay of the land)
lay off -- be unable to employ any longer,
let go
NSU laid off 50 employees because there's not enough work.
lay off -- stop doing it, quit it,
cut it out
I think I'll lay off coffee. I'm getting too much caffeine.
lay on -- provide, supply
The chefs lay on lots of food at the banquet. It's a feast!
lay over -- stay overnight while traveling
On the way to Winnipeg, we usually lay over in Regina.
lay rubber -- spin a car's wheels,
drag race
He likes to drive fast. He lays rubber at every intersection.
lay the blame -- blame, say who is
at fault
When he fails a test, his mom lays the blame on the teacher.
lay the lumber -- hit with a hockey stick, slash with a hockey stick
The losing team started to lay the lumber on our best players.
lay waste -- damage, wreck, plunder
The Vikings raided Scotland's coast, laying waste the villages.
L06. lay you -- leak Internet link lay you
lay you -- bet you,
give you odds
I'll lay you ten to one that Marc uses steroids. I'm sure he does.
lazy bones -- lazy person, a person who does not want to work
If you don't want to work, we'll call you lazy bones.
lead a life -- have a style of living, have a way of life
With your career and children, you lead a busy life.
lead foot -- (See heavy foot)
lead pipe cinch -- certain of the result,
a foregone conclusion
The Jets are a lead pipe cinch to win the game. They're better.
lead you down the garden path -- tell you a false story,
give you a line
He said the trip to Paris was free. He led me down the garden path.
lead you on -- promise good things, pretend to be good
I know you love Jo, but she was leading you on. She loves Paul.
leaf out -- grow new leaves,
in leaf
She trimmed the branches before the trees began to leaf out.
leak -- allow people to know, tell the media
Details of the program were leaked to a newspaper.
leak -- (See have a leak)
L07. lean times -- leave well enough alone Internet link lean times
lean times -- times of poverty,
hard times
During lean times they sold eggs for 50¢ a dozen.
learn the lingo -- learn the language, know the idioms
To work in the computer industry you have to learn the lingo.
learn the ropes -- learn the first steps, learn the basics,
know the ropes
He wants to learn the ropes, to learn how to play jazz.
learn your place -- learn to know where and when to speak
When I was young, kids learned their place; they showed respect.
leave me hanging -- leave me wondering what happened
You begin a story, but you don't finish it. You leave me hanging.
leave no stone unturned -- look everywhere,
look high and low
In our search for Mom's wedding ring, we left no stone unturned.
leave out -- not include, discard
Leave out the cracked dishes. We'll throw them away.
leave out in the cold -- not invite, exclude
Kim didn't receive an invitation. She was left out in the cold.
leave the door open -- allow people to reply, invite a response,
feel free to reply
If you offer to provide answers to their questions, you leave the door open for
a reply.
leave well enough alone -- if you do more you could cause more trouble
If I cause a problem, I apologize. Then I leave well enough alone.
L08. leave you holding the bag -- leftovers Internet link leave you holding the bag
leave you holding the bag -- leave you to do the work or finish a
difficult job
He left me holding the bag. I had to finish the work by myself.
leave you in the lurch -- leave you with a problem,
fend for yourself
The bride didn't go to the church. The groom was left in the lurch.
leave yourself open -- not protect yourself, allow people to hurt you
By coming late to work, he left himself open to discipline.
led to believe -- be told, be given information,
lead you down...
"Were you led to believe that the car was in good condition?" "Yes. They said it
was fine."
left holding the bag -- (See leave you holding the bag)
left in the lurch -- (See leave you in the lurch)
left out in the cold -- (See leave out in the cold)
left over -- remainder, what is not used or not eaten
We bought too much ice cream. There are two pails left over.
left, right and center -- in every direction, everywhere
There were soldiers everywhere - left, right and center.
leftovers -- food not eaten at the previous meal
After the Christmas feast they ate leftovers for a few days.
L09. lefty -- let George do it Internet link lefty
lefty -- left-handed person,
southpaw
The ignition switch in most cars is not designed for a lefty.
leg up -- (See a leg up)
leg work -- walking, going to visit customers or voters
The kids delivered the notices - they did the leg work.
lemon -- a car with many problems, a car of low quality,
seconds
When the American companies began to make small cars, there were a lot of lemons
for sale.
lend a hand -- help someone,
give me a hand
Our neighbors lend a hand when we have too much work to do.
lesser lights -- people who are not as talented, not
superstars
We owe our success to the lesser lights on our team - the workers.
lesser of two evils -- both are bad but one is not as bad as the other
Neither person can be trusted. Choose the lesser of two evils.
let a fart [B] -- allow gas to escape, fart,
pass wind
If I let a fart in this tiny room, we won't be able to breathe.
let down -- not do as expected, disappoint someone
Don't let the team down. Please come to the game.
let George do it -- let him or her do the job, wait for someone to do
it
If his attitude is let George do it, he won't succeed in our firm.
L10. let go of -- let one Internet link let go of
let go of -- release, allow to be free,
part with
Please let go of my hand now. I want to leave.
let her rip -- release or start suddenly, go with full power
When you want him to dump the load, just say, "Let 'er rip!"
let it all hang out -- relax, be natural
When we go camping, we let it all hang out. We really relax.
let it be -- leave it alone, do not touch it
When a cat is sick, let it be. Don't pet it or pick it up.
let it go to your head -- become too proud, have a
swelled head
So you won the golf tournament. Don't let it go to your head.
let me have it -- tell me, do not wait to tell me
If you want to criticize my work, go ahead. Let me have it.
let off -- not have to pay or do,
get off
Kyle was involved in the crime, but they let him off.
let off steam -- express concern,
sound off
Hec is letting off steam again. He wants to save the wolves.
let on -- show, say, reveal, let others believe
Don't let on that you know me. Our friendship will be a secret.
let one -- (See let a fart)
L11. let sleeping dogs lie -- let yourself go Internet link let sleeping dogs lie
let sleeping dogs lie -- do not create problems, leave things alone
Don't tell them the price of gas will rise. Let sleeping dogs lie.
let the cat out of the bag -- tell people,
the cat's out of the bag
People know we plan to elope. Who let the cat out of the bag?
let the chips fall where they may -- let it happen naturally, do not
control everything
We've done all we can to win the election. Let the chips fall... .
let the good times roll -- let the party begin, let us enjoy our time
together,
the more the merrier
Uncle Harry welcomed us to the reunion. Then he said, "Let the good times roll!"
let this chance go by -- allow an opportunity to pass,
miss your chance,
seize the opportunity
This letter means that you are accepted for admission to Oxford. Don't let this
chance go by.
let up -- not do it as much,
ease up
If the rain lets up, we'll go to the park.
let you down -- (See let down)
let you have it -- scold you, shout at you, hit you, tell you off (see
tell him off)
If you tease him about his girlfriend, he'll let you have it.
let yourself go -- relax, be natural,
let it all hang out
"Let yourself go," the leader said. "Share what you are feeling."
let yourself go -- not groom yourself, become sloppy
If you let yourself go, your wife may lose interest in you.
L12. letter-perfect -- life is just a bowl of cherries Internet link letter-perfect
letter-perfect -- perfect in every detail, like a machine-printed
alphabet,
picture-perfect
"How did I do on my theory test?" "It was letter-perfect, but can you hear
all of the notes you have written so neatly?"
lettuce -- money,
dough,
moola
A billion dollars is a lot of lettuce! It's more than I need.
level the playing field -- make it equal for everyone,
a level playing field
If we train all employees, we help to level the playing field.
level with you -- be honest with you,
the straight goods
Peter will level with you. He'll tell you what the doctor said.
lick and a promise -- (See a lick and a promise)
lick your wounds -- become healthy again, recover from a defeat
After losing the election, he went home to lick his wounds.
lickety-split -- moving fast,
boot it,
hell bent for election
The train is going lickety-split, at least sixty miles an hour!
lie down on the job -- stop working, refuse to work
Yes, I take long coffee breaks, but I would never lie down on the job
life in the fast lane -- a fast-paced life, living or working in a
large city
We tried life in the fast lane - in Toronto - but Seth didn't like it.
life is just a bowl of cherries -- life is just wonderful, life is
grand
When Anne is happy, she says, "Life is just a bowl of cherries!"
L13. life is not all guns and roses -- light in the loafers Internet link life is not all guns and roses
life is not all guns and roses -- life is not all war and love, life
is not like the movies,
come down to earth
After World War II, some people had to learn that life is not all guns and
roses.
life of Riley -- (See the life of Riley)
life of the party -- (See the life of the party)
life on the edge -- (See live on the edge)
life you lead -- the way you live, lifestyle;
lead a life
The life we lead here is based on respect for human rights.
lifer -- a person who has been sentenced to life in prison
The lifers all sit at the same table in Hampton Penitentiary.
lift a finger -- help someone, do anything to help
Loki is my friend, but he didn't lift a finger when I needed help.
lift my spirits -- cause me to be happy,
give me a lift
Music will lift our spirits. Let's listen to some Mozart.
light at the end of the tunnel -- a sign of progress, feeling hopeful
because you will soon be finished
After four years of study, I could see light at the end of the tunnel. I would
soon graduate.
light in the loafers -- homosexual, gay,
fag
Just because he likes to sew, you think he's light in the loafers.
L14. light up -- like a dirty shirt Internet link light up
light up -- light a cigarette, begin to smoke
As Ken left the school, he lit up. It was okay to smoke outside.
lighten up -- relax, do not be so serious
Lighten up, Charles. Try to see the humor in life.
lighthearted -- humorous, joking
His lighthearted approach to life is popular with students.
lightning fast -- very quick, super fast,
faster than a speeding bullet,
greased lightning
The black mamba is lightning fast - one of the fastest - and is the most deadly
of African snakes.
lights are on but... -- (See the lights are on but nobody's home)
like a bat out of hell -- very fast,
go like stink
When Harriet is late for work, she drives like a bat out of hell.
like a bolt from the blue -- like a sign from heaven, like a flash of
light
Like a bolt from the blue, I got the idea to shave my head.
like a broken record -- repeating the same sound, saying it over and
over again
From morning till night I hear that complaint - like a broken record!
like a chicken on a June bug -- very quickly,
in a flash,
before you can say Jack Robinson
If you leave a chocolate bar on the table, Kathie will be on it - like a chicken
on a June bug!
like a dirty shirt -- always there - like shirts that need to be
washed
If you have a garage sale, Jim will be there like a dirty shirt.
L15. like a hawk -- like it or lump it Internet link like a hawk
like a hawk -- (See watch me like a hawk)
like a mother hawk -- (See watch over like a mother hawk)
like a hot potato -- (See drop him like a hot potato)
like a ton of bricks -- heavily, with much weight and force
When the cable broke, the cargo came down like a ton of bricks.
like crazy/like mad -- a lot, very much,
to beat the band
She laughed like crazy whenever Earl told a joke.
like dog's breath -- not pleasant, not popular
This plan smells like dog's breath. It's a bad plan.
like father, like son -- sons are like their fathers,
a chip off the old block
This is Fred, and this is Fred, Jr. Like father, like son.
like hell [B] -- not likely,
no way,
not
"It's a goal!" said the referee. "Like hell it is!" said the goalie.
like hell [B] -- fast,
go like stink
That dog can run like hell.
like it or lump it -- if we do not like it, that is too bad;
tough bananas
This is the supper Dad cooked for us - like it or lump it.
L16. like nobody's business -- lip Internet link like nobody's business
like nobody's business -- a lot, busily,
like crazy
The squirrel was eating nuts - chewing like nobody's business.
like shit through a goose -- moving easily, smoothly,
easy as pie
"How do you get the bark off the aspen branch to make the whistle?" "After
making the cuts, just tap the bark and the wood will come out like shit through
a goose!"
like the devil -- quickly, too fast to see,
like hell
The disease spread like the devil. Soon his whole leg was swollen.
like the wind -- fast and smooth,
like the devil
You can't catch that deer. It can run like the wind.
lily-livered -- cowardly,
chicken,
wimpy
Bull riding is not a sport for lily-livered folks. It's not for wimps.
line of authority -- people in order of power,
chain of command
The line of authority goes from our manager up to the president.
line up -- form a line of people, form a queue
College students have to line up to buy their text books.
lingo -- (See learn the lingo)
lion's share -- (See the lion's share)
lip -- rudeness,
cheek
No more of your lip, boy. I won't allow you to be rude.
L17. lip off -- live by Internet link lip off
lip off -- talk without respect,
talk back
Did you hear him lip off the police? He called them pigs.
lippy -- rude, impolite,
cheeky,
sassy
If you get lippy with me, I'll give you extra work to do.
lips are sealed -- will not talk about it,
mum's the word
I won't tell anybody you love the coach. My lips are sealed.
liquored up -- drunk, having drunk too much liquor,
sloshed
I wish Pa wouldn't get liquored up when he goes to town.
listen up -- listen carefully,
pay attention
The coach said, "Listen up, guys. This is important."
little bird told me -- (See a little bird told me)
little by little -- a little progress each time you try,
bit by bit
Little by little, we saved our money to buy this house.
little white lie -- (See white lie)
live and let live -- live your life and let others live their lives
Pop's approach to life is simple and fair: live and let live.
live by -- follow, use as a guide
My husband and I live by two principles: honesty and trust.
L18. live it up -- loaded Internet link live it up
live it up -- live wild, go to a lot of parties,
have a fling
When I move to the city, I'm going to live it up - have fun.
live off -- earn enough money to pay expenses
Can we live off the profit from selling your garden flowers?
live off -- earn enough money to pay expenses
Can we live off the profit from selling your garden flowers?
live on -- have to pay rent and buy food etc.
What will we live on if you don't have a job?
live on the edge -- live in danger from drugs or disease or crime
When Bill played in the NHL, he was living on the edge.
live up to -- be as good as people said you would be
Live up to your own standards. Set your own rules.
liven up -- cause more activity or excitement
Let's invite Jerry to our party. He'll liven things up.
liveware -- people who use computers, computer students
Our school has more liveware than computers!
living daylights -- (See the living daylights)
lo and behold -- suddenly, look,
out of the blue,
wonder of wonders
We were standing there when, lo and behold, a fish fell out of the sky and
flopped around on the ground!
loaded -- having many extra devices or accessories
That Buick is loaded, including a sun roof.
L19. loaded -- long and the short of it Internet link loaded
loaded -- drunk, inebriated,
sloshed
After his fifth drink of rum, he was loaded. He was staggering.
loaded -- wealthy, rich,
deep pockets,
moneybags
To own a jet, you would have to be very wealthy - loaded.
loaded to the hilt -- fully loaded, packed to the top
The trailer was loaded to the hilt - full of our belongings.
local yokel -- resident of a town or rural community, local resident
We were lost, so we stopped and asked a local yokel for help.
lock you up -- put you in prison, put you in a mental hospital
If you sell cigarettes to children, the police will lock you up.
lock, stock and barrel -- everything,
kit and caboodle
They took everything in the shed - lock, stock and barrel.
log off -- exit from a mainframe computer system
Before you log off, be sure to save the work you completed.
log on -- enter a mainframe computer system
When you log on, you have to type in your password.
lollygag -- be idle, be listless, waste time (see the opposite:
waste no time)
Hank isn't busy today. He's just lollygagging around the house.
long and the short of it -- (See the long and the short of it)
L20. long arm of the law -- look down on Internet link long arm of the law
long arm of the law -- (See the long arm of the law)
long for -- wish for, want very much
Kelly longs for her home in the mountains. She's homesick.
long gone -- departed earlier, not here now
Albert was long gone by the time the RCMP arrived.
long in the tooth -- old, aged,
over the hill
Jack is a good pitcher, but he's long in the tooth - too old.
long johns -- winter underwear - with long sleeves and legs
If you are going cross-country skiing, put on your long johns.
long time no see -- I have not seen you for a long time
When I got off the bus, Grandpa said, "Long time no see."
loo -- (See the loo)
look after -- care for,
take care of
He really looks after his car. It's in very good condition.
look daggers -- look angry, look with hateful eyes
Ginny looked daggers at me when I kissed her boyfriend.
look down on -- look as if you are better, look superior
Do some Americans look down on people from Canada?
L21. look down your nose at -- look over your shoulder Internet link look down your nose at
look down your nose at -- look at a person as though he is not as good
as you
Just because he's rich he looks down his nose at us.
look high and low -- look everywhere,
leave no stone unturned
We've looked high and low for that watch, but we can't find it.
look into -- investigate, find the facts,
get to the bottom of
The principal will look into the attendance problem and see what is causing it.
look like death warmed over -- appear to be sick, look pale or weak
Mom is not feeling well. She looks like death warmed over.
look like he was dragged through a knothole -- appear to be very
tired,
burn out,
run down
After a divorce and a funeral, Anne looked like she'd been dragged through a
knothole.
look out -- be careful
Look out! That knife is sharp.
look out for -- watch, protect,
look after
Please look out for your sister. She needs your protection.
look out for number one -- help yourself first, get enough for
yourself
You can look out for number one as well as help your friends.
look over -- check, examine, look at
I've looked over the report. It contains the data we need.
look over your shoulder -- look to see who is following you
He's always looking over his shoulder to see who's after him.
L22. look sharp -- loose cannon Internet Link look sharp
look sharp -- look very nice, very well dressed and groomed
She looks very sharp in her new suit -- like a model!
look the other way -- try not to notice,
turn the other way
The officer saw the liquor, but he looked the other way.
look up a dead horse's ass [B] -- do a worthless task, do a pointless
exercise,
pissing into the wind
If they want a tax-free society, they may as well be looking up a dead horse's
ass!
look up to -- admire, idolize
Ian looks up to his brother. He respects James a lot.
look up/look it up -- find it in a book
Please look up the word guru.
looking up -- (See things are looking up)
loonie -- Canadian one-dollar coin
I bought this rose for one loonie!
loony bin -- mental hospital,
nut house
If you ride that giraffe downtown they'll put you in the loony bin.
looped -- drunk,
loaded,
smashed
You were looped last night. You don't remember what happened.
loose cannon -- (See a loose cannon)
L23. loose ends -- lose it Internet Link loose ends
loose ends -- unfinished tasks,
odds and ends
"Finished making the dress?" "Almost - just some loose ends."
loose ends -- (See at loose ends)
loose ends -- (See tie up loose ends)
lord it over -- be the boss of, dominate a person/group
When we were boys, my older brother tried to lord it over me.
lose a family member -- experience the death of a member of the family
Poor Sadie. She lost her mother last year and a brother this year.
lose count -- forget how many you counted,
lose track
There were so many falling stars that I lost count.
lose favor -- lose a person's approval,
in your bad books
If you lose favor with reporters, you may lose the election.
lose ground -- slide back, lose power,
fall behind
Every day we lose ground in the battle to save the environment.
lose him -- get away from him,
ditch him
I can lose him at the mall - among the shops and people.
lose it -- become angry,
lose your cool
When he criticized you, I started to lose it. I almost hit him.
L24. lose it -- lose your head Internet Link lose it
lose it -- lose the ability to think clearly, become forgetful
After 35 years of teaching, he was losing it. He was confused.
lose my train of thought -- forget my order of thoughts or words
Don't interrupt me because I may lose my train of thought.
lose out -- lose a chance, fail to
take advantage of
If I don't apply now, I'll lose out. This is my last chance.
lose patience -- not be patient any longer,
out of patience
Mom is losing patience with us because we don't obey her.
lose sight of -- forget about, not remember the purpose
Let's not lose sight of why we're picking berries - to make pies.
lose time -- waste time,
fall behind
We lost time when the car stalled. We were delayed.
lose track -- forget how many you have,
lose count
He tried to count the number of birds, but he soon lost track.
lose your appetite -- not feel hungry anymore, lose the desire to eat
If a bug crawled out of your apple would you lose your appetite?
lose your cool -- lose control of emotions,
lose your temper
Don't you ever lose your cool? Don't you ever get angry?
lose your head -- lose your ability to think clearly
If you become lost, don't lose your head. Be sensible.
L25. lose your marbles -- lost cause Internet Link lose your marbles
lose your marbles -- lose control of your mind,
lose it
When people grow old, do they lose their marbles?
lose your mind -- lose control of your mind, go
out of your mind
If you continue to use drugs, you'll lose your mind.
lose your shirt -- lose most of the money you invested
He invested in condominiums and nearly lost his shirt.
lose your temper -- become angry,
get mad
When you lose your temper, the children become frightened.
lose your tongue -- be unable to think what to say,
cat got your tongue,
mind goesblank
It's embarrassing to lose your tongue when you're standing in front of an
audience.
lose your touch -- lose some of your skill,
lose it
"I'm losing my touch," he said, looking at his drawing.
losing it -- losing the ability to think or remember, not
sharp
I think I'm losing it. I can't add or multiply without a calculator.
losing streak -- losing game after game, losing a series of games
The Jays are on a losing streak. They've lost four games straight.
loss leader -- a low-priced item to bring customers to a store,
bogof
The loss leader at SuperStore is a package of coffee for 99¢.
lost cause -- (See a lost cause)
L26. Lotus Land -- love them and leave them Internet link Lotus Land
Lotus Land -- British Columbia (west coast of Canada)
They went to Lotus Land for a holiday - to Vancouver.
loud mouth -- one who talks about things he should not
When Bart was a boy, he was a loud mouth. He told our secrets.
lousy -- poor quality, in poor condition,
shabby
Everything works except the lousy printer. It's broken.
love at first sight -- sudden love, love begins when people first meet
When Jessica met Ryan, it was love at first sight.
Love Bug -- Volkswagen Beetle, The Bug
I'd love to go for a ride in your Love Bug.
love conquers all -- love is strong enough to overcome all problems
When the family was reunited, Mom said, "Love conquers all."
love is blind -- people do not see the faults in their lovers
She can't see his bad habits because love is blind.
love is where you find it -- love happens, love is not planned,
it is better to have loved...
My family thinks Peter is too old for me, but I think love is where you find it.
love tap -- (See a love tap)
love them and leave them -- love them but not stay with them
When Claude was touring Europe, he'd love 'em and leave 'em.
L27. lovelies -- luck of the draw Internet Link lovelies
lovelies -- ladies, women, girls,
chicks
When we docked at Rome, we met three lovelies and went dancing.
lovelife -- the romantic part of your life, your intimate life
"How's your lovelife?" "Great! I've met a wonderful lady."
Lovers' Leap -- a cliff where lovers jump into a canyon together
Let's drive up to Lovers' Leap and look at the stars.
low -- sad, depressed, ill,
down
I've been feeling kind of low lately - it's the bad weather.
low-ball him -- offer him a very low price for his car, house etc.
If his price is too high, low-ball him. Offer him a very low price.
low-down -- bad, evil, not nice
Stealing from that old woman was a low-down thing to do!
lowdown -- (See the lowdown)
lowlife -- a person without morals or humanitarian values
What a lowlife! He sold drugs to children.
low on the totem pole -- ordinary worker, not a manager or boss,
gofer,
pecking order
If you want to understand the real problems, talk to the workers - people who
are low on the totem pole.
luck of the draw -- (See the luck of the draw)
L28. luck of the Irish -- lush Internet link luck of the Irish
luck of the Irish -- (See the luck of the Irish)
luck out -- have good luck,
a lucky break
She lucked out at the casino. She won a thousand dollars.
lucky break -- (See a lucky break)
lucky dog -- a lucky person, someone who has just won a prize
When I told Bill I won the car, he said, "You lucky dog!"
lucky streak -- a series of lucky wins,
string of good luck
He lost the bet on the sixth race, and his lucky streak ended.
lump together -- put together, place in the same category
They lumped us all together - young, old, rich, poor.
lush -- alcoholic,
in the tank,
wino
Joni was a lush when she met me. Now she doesn't drink at all.