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Labor of loveA labor of love is a project or task undertaking for the interest or pleasure in doing it rather than the reward, financial or otherwise.Labour of loveA labour of love is a project or task undertaking for the interest or pleasure in doing it rather than the reward, financial or otherwise.Lame duckIf something or someone is a lame duck, they are in trouble.Land of nodIf someone has gone to the land of nod, they have fallen asleep or gone to bed.Landslide victoryA landslide victory is a victory in an election by a very large margin.Lap dogA lap dog is a person who is eager to please another at the expense of his or her own needs in order to maintain a position of privilege or favor.Lap of the godsIf something is in the lap of the gods, it is beyond our control and fate will decide the outcome.Larger than lifeIf something is excessive or exaggerated, it is larger than life.Last hurrahIf an elderly person does something special before they die, it is a last hurrah.Last laughThe person who has the last laugh ends up with the the advantage in a situation after some setbacks.Last strawThe last straw is the final problem that makes someone lose their temper or the problem that finally brought about the collapse of something. It comes from an Arabic story, where a camel was loaded with straw until a single straw placed on the rest of the load broke its back.Last-ditchA last-ditch attempt is a desperate attempt that will probably fail anyway.Late bloomerWhen someone does not obtain success with their interests, talents, or personality until later in their lives, we say they are a late bloomer.Laugh a minuteSomeone who is a laugh a minute is very funny.Laugh to see a pudding crawl(UK) Someone who would laugh to see a pudding crawl is easily amused and will laugh at anything.Laugh up your sleeveIf you laugh up your sleeve, you laugh at someone secretly.Laughing stockIf someone becomes a laughing stock they do something so stupid or wrong that no one can take them seriously and people scorn and laugh at them.Laughter is the best medicineLaughing is often helpful for healing, especially emotional healing.Law of unintended consequencesEvents and/or actions that result from the implementation of a law or rule that the makers of the law did not expect.Law unto yourselfIf somebody's a law unto themselves, they do what they believe is right regardless of what is generally accepted as correct.Lay a glove onIf you lay a glove on someone, you strike a blow against them in an argument, dispute, etc. (Mostly used in the negative)Lay down the lawIf someone lays down the law, they tell people what to do and are authoritarian.Lay it on thickIf someone lays it on thick, they make an emotion or experience seem more important or serious than it really is.Lay of the landThe lay of the land is the way something is organised, runs, is arranged, etc. ('The lie of the land' is also used.)Lay on the tableThis phrase occurs in the official records of meetings or deliberations of various government bodies. If a proposal or motion is laid on the table, it is essentially a euphemism, meaning that "nothing further will be done in this matter" or "we are not going to do anything about this" or "we refuse the petition".Lay wasteTo lay waste to something is to destroy it.Lead someone up the garden pathIf someone leads you up the garden path, they deceive you, or give you false information that causes you to waste your time. 'Lead someone down the garden path' is also used.Lead with the chinIf someone leads with their chin, they speak or behave without fear of the consequences.Lean and meanAn organisation that is lean and mean has no excess or unnecessary elements and is very competitive.Learn the ropesIf you are learning the ropes, you are learning how to do something.Leave no stone unturnedIf you look everywhere to find something, or try everything to achieve something, you leave no stone unturned.Leave well aloneIf you leave something well alone, you keep a safe distance from it, either physically or metaphorically.Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doingIf the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, then communication within a company, organisation, group, etc, is so bad that people don't know what the others are doing.Left in the darkIf you are left in the dark about something, you aren't given the information that you should have.Left to your own devicesIf someone is left to their own devices, they are not controlled and can do what they want.Left-handed complimentA left-handed compliment is one that sounds like praise but has an insulting meaning. ('Backhanded compliment' is an alternative form.)Legend in your own lunchtimeSomebody who becomes a legend in their own lifetime acquires fame, but often only to a select or specialist audience, while they are still alive.Lend an earIf you lend an ear, you listen to what someone has to say. ('Lend your ear' is an alternative form.)Leopard can't change its spotsThis idiom means that people cannot change basic aspects of their character, especially negative ones. ("A leopard doesn't change its spots" is also used.)Lesser of two evilsSomething that is the lesser of two evils, is an unpleasant option, but not as bad as the other.Let aloneThis is used to emphasise how extreme something could be: 'We hadn't got the money to phone home, let alone stay in a hotel.' This emphasises the utter impossibility of staying in a hotel.Let bygones be bygonesIf people decide to let bygones be bygones, they decide to forget old problems or grievances they have with each other.Let sleeping dogs lieIf someone is told to let sleeping dogs lie, it means that they shouldn't disturb a situation as it would result in trouble or complications.Let the best be the enemy of the goodIf the desire for an unattainable perfection stops someone from choosing good possibilities, they let the best be the enemy of the good.Let the cat out of the bagIf you accidentally reveal a secret, you let the cat out of the bag.Let the chips fall where they mayThis means that we shouldn't try to control events, because destiny controls them.Let the devil take the hindmostThis idiom means that you should think of yourself and not be concerned about other people; look after yourself and let the devil take the hindmost.Let the genie out of the bottleIf people let the genie out of the bottle, they let something bad happen that cannot be put right or controlled.Let the grass grow round your feetIf you let the grass grow round your feet, you delay doing things instead of taking action.Let your guard downIf you let your guard down, you relax and stop looking out for danger.
Let your hair downIf someone lets their hair down, they relax and stop feeling inhibited or shy.Let's call it a dayThis is used as a way of suggesting that it is time to stop working on something.Letter of the lawIf people interpret laws and regulations strictly, ignoring the ideas behind them, they follow the letter of the law.Level bestIf you do your level best, you make every possible efforrt to do something as well as you can.Level playing fieldIf there's a level playing field everybody is treated equally.License to print moneyA license to print money is something that generates a large income without much effort.Lick someone's bootsIf you lick someone's boots, you behave in a very servile manner and try to please someone.Lie like a rugIf someone lies like a rug, they lie to the point where it becomes obvious that they're lying.Lie lowIf someone lies low, they try not to be found or caught.Lie through your teethSomeone who is always lying, regardless of what people know, lies through their teeth.Life and limbWhen people risk life and limb, they could be killed or suffer serious injuries.Life is just a bowl of cherriesThis idiom means that life is simple and pleasant.Light a fire underIf you light a fire under somebody, you strongly motivate them to work faster.Light at the end of the tunnelIf you can see light at the end of the tunnel, then you can see some signs of hope in the future, though things are difficult at the moment.Light bulb momentA light bulb moment is when you have a sudden realisation about something, like the light bulbs used to indicate an idea in cartoons.Light on your feetIf someone is light on their feet, they can move quickly and are agile.Light years aheadIf you are light years ahead of others, you are a long way in front of them in terms of development, success, etc.Lightning fastSomething that is lightning fast is very fast indeed.Lightning rodSomeone or something that attracts a lot of negative comment, often diverting attention from other problems, is a lightning rod.Like a bat out of hellThis expression means extremely quickly.Like a beached whaleOnce a whale is on a beach, it cannot get back into the easily, so if you are completely stuck somewhere and can't get away, you are stranded like a beached whale.Like a bear with a sore head(UK) If someone's like a bear with a sore head, they complain a lot and are unhappy about something.Like a bull at a gateIf you tackle a job very quickly, without any real thought about what you are doing, you are going at it like a bull at a gate.Like a cat on hot bricksIf someone is like a cat on hot bricks, they are very nervous or excited.Like a cat that got the creamIf someone looks very pleased with themselves and happy, they look like a cat that got the cream.Like a duck to waterIf someone has a natural talent for something and enjoys it, they take to it like a duck to water.Like a fish needs a bicycleIf someone needs something like a Fish Needs a Bicycle, they do not need it at all, originally a feminist slogan: A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.Like a fish out of waterIf someone feels like a fish out of water, they are very uncomfortable in the situation they are in.Like a hawkIf you watch something or someone like a hawk, you observe very closely and carefully.Like a headless chickenIf someone rushes about like a headless chicken, they move very fast all over the place, usually without thinking.Like a kid in a candy storeIf someone is like a kid in a candy store, they are very excited about something.Like a moth to a flameSomething that is like a moth to a flame is attracted to something that is deadly or dangerous.Like a rat deserting a sinking shipIf people leave a company because they know that it's about to have serious problems, or turn their back on a person about to be in a similar situation, they are said to be like rats deserting a sinking ship.Like Chinese arithmeticIf something is complicated and hard to understand, it's like Chinese arithmetic.Like clockworkIf something happens like clockwork, it happens at very regular times or intervals.Like father, like sonThis idiom is used when different generations of a family behave in the same way or have the same talents of defects.Like giving a donkey strawberries(UK) If something is like giving a donkey strawberries, people fail to appreciate its value.Like green corn through the new maid(USA) If something is very fast, it is like green corn through the new maid.Like it or lump itWhen people say this, they mean that the person will have to accept the situation because it isn't going to change.Like lambs to the slaughterIf somebody does something unpleasant without any resistance, they go like lambs to the slaughter.Like nailing jello to the wall(USA) Describes a task that is very difficult because the parameters keep changing or because someone is being evasive.Like no one's businessIf I say my children are growing like no one's business, it means they're growing very quickly. See also 'Like the clappers' and 'Like there's no tomorrow'.Like peas in a podIf people or things are like peas in a pod, they look identical.Like pulling teethIf something if like pulling teeth, it is very difficult, especially if trying to extract information or to get a straight answer from someone.Like taking candy from a baby(USA) If something is like taking candy from a baby, it is very easy to do.Like the back of your handIf you know something like the back of your hand, you know it very well indeed.Like the clappersIf something is going like the clappers, it is going very fast.Like there's no tomorrowIf you do something like there's no tomorrow, you do it fast or energetically.Like two peas in a podThings that are like two peas in a pod are very similar or identical,Like watching sausage getting madeIf something is like watching sausages getting made, unpleasant truths about it emerge that make it much less appealing. The idea is that if people watched sausages getting made, they would probably be less fond of them. Like white on rice(USA) If you do something like white on rice, you do it very closely: When Bob found out I had front row tickets for the concert, he stuck to me like white on rice.Like wildfireIf something happens or spreads like wildfire, it happens very quickly and intensely.Lily-liveredSomeone who is lily-livered is a coward.Lines of communicationLines of communication are the routes used to communicate by people or groups who are in conflict; a government might open lines of communication with terrorists if it wished to negotiate with them.Lion's shareThe lion's share of something is the biggest or best part.Lip serviceWhen people pay lip service to something, they express their respect, but they don't act on their words, so the respect is hollow and empty.Little ol' meLittle ol' me is a way of referring to yourself that is meant to be modest or self-deprecatory, though often fake.Little pitchers have big ears(USA) This means that children hear more and understand the world around them better than many adults realize.Little strokes fell great oaksMeaning: even though something may seem impossible, if you break it up into small parts and take one step at a time, you will succeed.Live and let liveIf you live and let live, you accept other people as they are, although they may have a different way of life.Live high off the hogIf you are living high off the hog, you are living lavishly.Live wireA person who is very active, both mentally and physically, is a live wire.Living over the brushLiving together out of wedlock. "They are living over the brush" originates from a form of marriage when a couple held hands and jumped over a besom to signal their commitment to each other, because they couldn't have a church marriage.Lo and beholdThis phrase is used to express surprise.Loan sharkA loan shark lends money at very high rates of interest.Lock and loadThis is a military term meaning "be ready and prepared".Lock hornsWhen people lock horns, they argue or fight about something.Lock the stable door after the horse has boltedIf someone takes action too late, they do this; there is no reason to lock an empty stable.Lock, stock and barrelThis is an expressions that means 'everything'; if someone buys a company lock, stock and barrel, they buy absolutely everything to do with the company.Lone wolfA lone wolf is a person who prefers to do things on their own or without help from other people.Long faceSomeone with a long face is sad or depressed about something.Long in the toothIf someone is long in the tooth, they are a bit too old to do something.Long shotIf something is a long shot, there is only a very small chance of success.Long time no hearThe speaker could say this when they have not heard from a person, either through phone calls or emails for a long time.Long time no see'Long time no see' means that the speaker has not seen that person for a long time.Look after number 1You are number one, so this idiom means that you should think about yourself first, rather than worrying about other people.Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves(UK) If you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves, meaning that if someone takes care not to waste small amounts of money, they will accumulate capital. ('Look after the pence and the pounds will look after themselves' is an alternative form of this idiom.)Look before you leapThis idiom means that you should think carefully about the possible results or consequences before doing something.Look on the bright sideIf you look on the bright side, you try to see things in an optimistic way, especially when something has gone wrong.Look out for number oneIf you look out for number one, you take care of yourself and your interests, rather than those of other people.Look what the cat dragged inThis idiom is used when someone arrives somewhere looking a mess or flustered and bothered.Looks like we're the last dogs hungWhen you are the last people left in the hall after an event. You look around and say..."looks like we're the last dogs hung."Loose cannonA person who is very difficult to control and unpredictable is a loose cannon.Loose endA loose end is an unresolved problem or unifinished business.Loose lips sink shipsTo have loose lips means to have a big mouth, susceptible to talking about everything and everyone. Sinking ships refers to anything from small acquaintances to long and hearty relationships (with friends or a significant other). So when one says loose lips sink ships, one is basically saying if you can't shut up you are going to end hurting people, usually psychologically or emotionally.Loose lips sink ships comes from World War I and/or WWII, when sailors on leave from their ships might talk about what ship they sailed on or where it had come from, or where it was going. If they talked too much (had 'loose lips') they might accidentally provide the enemy with anecdotal information that might later cause their ship to be tracked, and bombed and sunk, hence 'Loose lips sink ships.' Later, it came to mean any excessive talk might sabotage a project.Lord love a duckAn exclamation used when nothing else will fit. Often fitting when one is stunned or dismayed.Lord willing and the creek don't risePertains to the ability to accomplish a task or meet an obligation, barring unforseen complications. Example: "I will be at work tomorrow, Lord willing and the creek don't rise."Lose faceTo lose one's reputation or standing is to lose faceLose heartIf you lose heart, you stop believing that you can succeed in something, or lose your confidence, courage or conviction.Lose the plotIf someone loses the plot, they have stopped being rational about something.Lose your bottle(UK) If someone loses their bottle, they lose the courage to do something.Lose your gourdIf someone has lost the gourd, they are out of the mind or have gone crazy- "gourd" is a melon-l
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