Related Words
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to ape one's betters
To imitate one's superiors. The negroes are good singers; they are an imitative race, and it is not...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to bark one's shins
To knock the skin off the shins by stumbling or striking against something. Mr. Hortshorne calls th...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to cut one's stick
To be off, to leave immediately and go with all speed. A vulgar expression, and often heard. It is a...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to feather one's nest
To collect riches together; alluding to birds which collect feathers, among other materials, for mak...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to find one's self
To provide for one's self. When a laborer engages to provide himself with victuals, he is said to fi...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to fix one's flint
is a phrase taken from backwoods life, and means the same as to settle; to do for; to dish. "Take i...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to raise one's bristles
To excite one's anger. I cane to Congress in 1827, as honestly the friend of Gen. Jackson as any ma...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to run one's face
To make use of one's credit. 'To run one's face for a thing,' is to get it on tick. Any one who can...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to settle one's hash
To properly punish one. We also say, 'to settle his business;' 'to fix his flint.' Brave Prudhoe tr...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to shoot one's grandmother
is a common though vulgar phrase in New England, and means to be mistaken, or to be disappointed; to...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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above one's bend
Out of one's power; beyond reach. A common expression in the Western States. I shall not attempt to...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to be on one's taps
is to be always ready on one's feet, literally on one's shoes; a metaphor borrowed from the shoemake...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to hang up one's fiddle
To desist; to give up. When a man loses his temper and ain't cool, he might as well hang up his fid...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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on one's own hook
A phrase much used in familiar language, denoting on one's own account; as, 'He is doing business on...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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to have one's fat in the fire
is to have one's plans frustrated. A vulgar expression borrowed from the vocabulary of the kitchen. ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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by the skin of one's teeth
When a man has made a narrow escape from any dilemma, it is a common remark to say, that he has save...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.