Page 263 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

làe in state

lØeŁin state [forŁaŁcorpse]bto be onŁdisplay lØght out (forŁ somłwherł ) to depart in hasðe
inŁaŁpublicŁplace.Ł The dead leader lØy forŁsomewhere.Ł(Infàrmal.) The buo
in state for three dØys in the country’s main pulled away and lt out for the next stop.
cty. While the king lØy in state, many It’s time I lt out for home. I should
people walked by and paid their respects. have lt out ten mnutes ago.
lØeŁin waitŁfłrŁ someone ortsomething to waið lØghtŁ outŁ (ofŁ somłwherł ) to depart some-
quietlyŁinŁambush forŁsomeone orŁsàme- where inŁhasðe.Ł(Infàrmal.) It’s time I
thing.Ł The lion lØy in wait for the zebra. lt out of here. I’m lØte for my next ap-
The robber was lying in wait for a pointment. Look at that horse go. He
vcŁim. really lt out of the starting gØte.
lØeŁlow and layŁlow to keep quit and not LightningŁ neverŁ strikes twiceŁ (in the
be noticed; to avoid being conspicuous. sameŁplace). It isŁextremelyŁunlikelyŁthat
(Infàrmal.Ł Lay isŁaŁcommon erràrŁforŁ lie.) the same misfàrtune willŁoccurŁagainŁin
I suggest you lie low for a fłw dØys. the same set of circumsðancesŁor to the
The robber said that he would lØy low for same people.Ł(Pràverb.) Ever since the
a short time after the robbery. fire, Jean has been afraid that her house
lØeŁthroughŁ one’ teeth to lie boldly. I will cØtch fire again, but they say that
knew she was lying through her teeth, but lightning never strikes twice. Suppooedly
I didà’t want to say so just then. I’m not lightning never strikes twice, but the
lying through my teeth! I never do! Smiths’ house has błen robbed twice this
year.
lØfeŁis too shłrt life isŁsłort andŁthere isŁno
pàint inŁwasðingŁit onŁthingsŁlike worry, likeŁa batŁoutŁofŁhell with great speedŁand
hatred,Łvengeance, etc.Ł I am not going force.Ł(Use cautionŁwith hell.) Did you
to spłnd any more time trying to get evłn see her leave? She lłft like a bØt out of hell.
with Wally. Lifł’s too short. It’s a waste The car sped down the street like a bØt
of time worrying about money. Life is too ouŁ of hell.
short for that.
likeŁa błltŁoutŁofŁtheŁblue suddnly and
the lØfeŁofŁtheŁpyrty the type of person without warning.Ł (RefersŁ to aŁ bolt of
who isŁlivelyŁandŁhelpsŁmake a party fun lightningŁcomingŁout of aŁclearŁblue sky.
andŁexciting.Ł Bill is alwØys the life of the See also out of a clear blue sky.) The
party. Be sure to invite him. Bob isn’t news came to us like a bolt out of the blue.
exactly the lfe of the party, but he’s polte. Like a bolt out of the blue, the boss camł
and fired us all.
Life’s been głodŁ(to me). IŁamŁgrateful
that IŁamŁdàingŁwellŁinŁlife.Ł I can’t com- likeŁa bumpŁon a log unrespànsive; im-
plain. Lifł’s been good to me. I doing mobile. I spoke to him, but he just sat
fine. Lifł’s błen good. there like a bump on a log. Doà’t stand
lØftŁa hyndŁ(againstŁ someone ortsomething) there like a bump on a log. Give me a
and raiseŁ a hyndŁ (againstŁ someone or hand!
something) to threatenŁ(to sðrike)bsàmeone likeŁa fishŁoutŁofŁwater appearingŁto b
or something. (OftenŁinŁthe negative.ŁThe completelyŁout of place; inŁaŁvery awk-
a hand can be replaced with one’s hand.) ward manner. Vincłnt stood there in his
She’s very peacłful. She wouldà’t lft a rented tuxedo, looking like a fish out of
hand against a fly. That’s right. She wØter. Whenever I am with your
wouldà’t lft a hand. Would you raise friends, I fłel like a fish out of wØter. What
your hand against your own brother?
on earth do you see in them—or me?
lØghtŁ as a feather Go to (as) làght as a At a formal dance, John is like a fish out
feather. of wØter.
lØghtŁinto someone ortsomething Go to lace into likeŁa houseŁafire Go to like a house on
someone or something. fire.

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