Page 255 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

the last person

the lastŁperson the most unlikelyŁprsàn Jane looked very serious, but I knew she
of whomŁone couldŁthink inŁaŁparticular was laughing up her slłeve. I told Sally
situation;Łthe most unlikelyŁprsàn to do that her dress was darlng, but I was laugh-
something.Ł(Also literal.ŁPrecededŁbyŁ be, ing up my slłeve because it was too small.
become, or seem like.) Bob seems likł lauàch forth (on something) Go to set forth
the last peroon for Tom to insult. He’s so (on something); take off (on something).
hot-Łempered. Mary was the last peroon
to ask to chair the młeting—ohe’s so shy. lawŁunto oneself one who makesŁone’sŁown
lawsŁ or rules;Ł one who setsŁ one’sŁ own
last willŁandŁteðtament Go to someone’s
last will and testament. sðandardsŁof behavior.Ł You can’t głt Bill
to follow the rules. He’s a lØw unto himself.
late in life when one is old. She injurłd Jane is a lØw unto herself. She’s totally
her hip running. She’s exercising rather lØte uàwilling to cooperate.
in lfe. Isn’t it sort of lØte in lfe to buy
a house? layŁa fingerŁon someone ortsomething to touch
someone or something, evenŁ slightly.
late in theŁday farŁalongŁinŁaŁpràject or (UsuallyŁinŁthe negative.ŁCompare this
activity; too late inŁaŁproject orŁactivity with put one’s finger on something.) Don’t
forŁaction, decisions,Łetc.,Łto be taken.Ł you dare lØy a finger on my płncil. Go get
It was a bt lØte in the dØy for him to apol- your own! If you lØy a finger on me, I’ll
ogize. It’s lØte in the dØy to try to changł scream.
the plans.
layŁan egg [forŁsomeone]bto give aŁbadŁper-
laughŁallŁtheŁwayŁto theŁbynk to be very formance.Ł(LiteralŁwith birdsŁandŁmosð
happyŁabout moneyŁthat hasŁbeenŁearned reptiles.ŁInfàrmal.) The cast of the plØy
by doing somethingŁ that other people really laid an egg last night. I hope I
might think isŁunfair.Ł He may àot be n don’t lØy an egg when it’s my turn to sing.
the nicest business, but he is dong well and
can laugh all the way to the bank. She layŁdłwn one’ lifeŁ(for someone ortsomething)
makes tons of money doing what no one to sacrifice one’sŁ life forŁ someone or
else will do and laughs all the way to the sàmething. Would you lØy down your
bank. lfe for your country? There aren’t many
things for which I’d lØy down my lfe.
laughŁ outŁ ofŁ theŁ otherŁ sideŁ ofŁ one’
mouth to change sharplyŁfrom happiness layŁdłwn on theŁjob Go to làe down on the
to sadness.Ł Now that you know the job.
truth, you’ll laugh out of the other side of layŁdłwn theŁlaw 1. to state firmly what
your mouth. He was so proud that he the rulesŁare (forŁsomething).Ł Błfore
won the election. He’s laughing out of the the młeting, the boss laid down the lØw.
other side of his mouth since they re- We all knew exactly what to do. The wØy
counted the ballots and found out that he she laid down the lØw means that I’ll re-
lost. młmber her rules. 2. to scold someone for
laughŁ something off to avoid or rject a se- misbehaving.Ł (Infàrmal.) When the
riousŁproblemŁbyŁlaughingŁat it.Ł Tom teacher caught us, he really laid down the
suffered an injury to his lłg, but he laughed lØw. Poor Bob. He really got t when his
it off and kłpt plØying ball. T Mary just mother laid down the lØw.
laughed off her bad experience.
layŁeyes on someone ortsomething Go to set
laugh something outŁ ofŁ court to dismiss eyes on someone or something.
somethingŁasŁridiculous.Ł The commt- layŁ hłldŁ ofŁ someone ort something to grasp
tee laughed the suggestion out of court. someone orŁsomethingŁwith the hands.
Bob’s request for a large salary increase was (Infàrmal.ŁCompare thisŁwith get one’s
laughed out of court.
hands on someone or something; get (a)hold
laughŁupŁ one’ sleeve to laugh secretly; to of someone or something.) Just wait till I
laugh quietlyŁto oneself.Ł(Infàrmal.) lØy hold of Bill! I can’t wait to lØy hold

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