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[let's don't] also [don't let's] <substandard> Let's not; let us not; I suggest that we don't. * /"'Let's go out and play," said Fred. "Let's don't until the rain stops," said Mary./ * /Don't let's go now. Let's go tomorrow instead./

[let's have it] See: LET HAVE IT.

[let sleeping dogs lie] Do not make (someone) angry and cause trouble or danger; do not make trouble if you do not have to. - A proverb. * /Don't tell Father that you broke the window. Let sleeping dogs lie./

[let slip] <v. phr.> To unintentionally reveal. * /Ellen let it slip that she had been a witness to the accident./

[letter] See: CHAIN LETTER, NIGHT LETTER, TO THE LETTER.

[letter-perfect] <adj. phr.> Memorized perfectly; perfect to the last letter. * /The actor was letter-perfect in his role./

[let the cat out of the bag] <v. phr.>, <informal> To tell about something that is supposed to be a secret. * /We wanted to surprise Mary with a birthday gift, but Allen let the cat out of the bag by asking her what she would like./ - Sometimes used in another form. * /Well, the cat is out of the bag - everybody knows about their marriage./ Compare: GIVE AWAY(3), LET OUT(2), SPILL THE BEANS.

[let the chips fall where they may] <v. phr.> To pay no attention to the displeasure caused others by your actions. * /The senator decided to vote against the bill and let the chips fall where they may./ * /The police chief told his men to give tickets to all speeders and let the chips fall where they may./ Compare: COME WHAT MAY.

[let the grass grow under one's feet] <v. phr.>, <informal> To waste time; be slow or idle. * /Grandpa spends so much time sitting and thinking that Grandma accuses him of letting the grass grow under his feet./

[let up] <v.>, <informal> 1. To become less, weaker, or quiet; become slower or stop. * /It's raining as hard as ever. It's not letting up at all./ * /It snowed for three days before it let up and we could go outdoors./ 2. To do less or go slower or stop; relax; stop working or working hard. * /Grandfather has been working all his life. When is he going to let up?/ * /Let up for a minute. You can't work hard all day./ * /Jim ran all the way home without letting up once./ Compare: SLOW DOWN. Contrast: BEAR DOWN. 3. To become easier, kinder, or less strict. - Usually used with "on". * /Let up on Jane. She is sick./ Syn.: EASE UP. 4. or [change up] To pitch a ball at less than full speed in baseball. - Usually used with "on". * /John pitched a ball that was very fast and the batter missed it. Then he let up on the next pitch and the batter was badly fooled./

[let well enough alone] or [leave well enough alone] <v. phr.> To be satisfied with what is good enough; not try to improve something because often that might cause more trouble. * /John wanted to make his kite go higher, but his father told him to let well enough alone because it was too windy./ * /Ed polished up his car until his friends warned him to leave well enough alone./ * /Ethel made a lot of changes in her test paper after she finished. She should have let well enough alone, because she made several new mistakes./ Compare: LET RIDE.

[level] See: ON THE LEVEL.

[level best] <adj. phr.> One's utmost; one's very best. * /Eric refused to stay in school although his parents did their level best to make him finish./

[levelheaded] <adj. phr.> Having good common sense; practical; reasonable. * /What our office needs is a good, level-headed manager./

[level off] or [level out] <v.> 1. To make flat or level. * /The steamroller leveled out the gravel roadbed and then the concrete was poured./ 2. To move on an even level. * /The airplane leveled out at 2,000 feet./ * /After going up for six months, the cost of living leveled off in September./

[level with] <v. phr.> To tell someone the truth; not engage in lies and subterfuge. * /"You can level with me," his father said. "Did you break that window?"/

[liberty] See: TAKE LIBERTIES.

[lick and a promise] <n. phr.>, <informal> A careless, hasty job; an unsatisfactory piece of work. * /You didn't wash your hands. You just gave them a lick and a promise./ * /The boys didn't cut the grass properly. All it got was a lick and a promise./

[lickety-split] also [lickety-cut] <adv.>, <informal> At full speed; with a rush. * /As soon as school was out the boys ran lickety-split to the swimming pool./

[lick into shape] <v. phr.> To make perfect; drill; train. * /The sergeant licked the new volunteer army into shape in three months./

[lick one's boots] <v. phr.> To flatter or act like a slave; do anything to please another. * /She wanted her boyfriend to lick her boots all the time./ * /A wise king would not want his friends and officials to lick his boots./

[lick one's chops] <v. phr.>, <informal> To think about something pleasant; enjoy the thought of something. * /John is licking his chops about the steak dinner tonight./ * /Tom is licking his chops about the lifeguard job he will have at the beach next summer./ * /Our team is licking its chops because we beat the champions last night./ (From the fact that some animals lick their mouths when they expect to be fed or when they see food, and after eating.) Compare: LOOK FORWARD TO, MAKE ONE'S MOUTH WATER.

[lick the --- out of] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF.

[lid] See: FLIP ONE'S LID, THE LID.

[lie] See: GIVE THE LIE TO, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT.

[lie around] <v. phr.> To be unused; inert. * /This old typewriter has been lying around ever since Grandpa died./

[lie down on the job] <v. phr.>, <informal> To purposely fail to do your job; neglect a task; loaf. * /Bill isn't trying to learn his lessons. He is lying down on the job./ * /If you lie down on your job, you will lose it./

[lief] See: AS SOON also AS LIEF, HAD AS SOON also HAD AS LIEF.

[lie in state] <v. phr.> Of a dead person: To lie in a place of honor, usually in an open coffin, and be seen by the public before burial. * /When the president died, thousands of people saw his body lying in state./

[lie in wait] <v. phr.> To watch from hiding in order to attack or surprise someone; to ambush. * /The driver of the stage-coach knew that the thieves were lying in wait somewhere along the road./

[lie low] or <nonstandard> [lay low] <v.>, <informal> 1. To stay quietly out of sight; try not to attract attention; hide. * /After holding up the bank, the robbers lay low for a while./ 2. To keep secret one's thoughts or plans. * /I think he wants to be elected president, but he is lying low and not saying anything./

[lie through one's teeth] <v. phr.> To lie uninhibitedly and unashamedly. * /Everyone in the courtroom could sense that the accused was lying through his teeth./

[lie to] <v.> Of a ship: To stay in one place facing against the wind; stop. * /Our ship will lie to outside the harbor until daylight./ Compare: LAY TO(2).

[lieu] See: INSTEAD OF also IN LIEU OF.

[life] See: BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, BIG AS LIFE, CAT HAS NINE LIVES, CHARMED LIFE, COME ALIVE OT COME TO LIFE, FACTS OF LIFE, FOR DEAR LIFE, FOR THE LIFE OF ONE, LEAD A DOG'S LIFE, NIGHT LIFE, NOT ON YOUR LIFE OR ONE'S LIFE, TAKE ONE'S LIFE IN ONE'S HANDS, TIME OF ONE'S LIFE, YOU BET or YOU BET YOUR LIFE, WALK OF LIFE, WITHIN AN INCH OF ONE'S LIFE.

[life of Riley] <n. phr.>, <informal> A soft easy life; pleasant or rich way of living. * /He's living the life of Riley. He doesn't have to work anymore./ Compare: BED OF ROSES, IN CLOVER, LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG.

[life of the party] <n. phr.> A person who makes things enjoyable or interesting for a group of people. * /Bill is the life of the party at school. He is always making us laugh./

[lift a finger] or [lift a hand] also [raise a hand] <v. phr.> 1. To do something; do your share; to help. - Usually used in the negative. * /We all worked hard except Joe. He wouldn't lift a finger./ * /The king did not lift a hand when his people were hungry./ Compare: LEND A HAND.

[light] See: BRING TO LIGHT, COME TO LIGHT, DASH LIGHT, HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL, IN THE LIGHT OF, MAKE LIGHT OF, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, OUT LIKE A LIGHT, SEE THE LIGHT, TRAVEL LIGHT.

[light-fingered] <adj.> Given to stealing; having a tendency to be dishonest or a kleptomaniac. * /I always suspected that Freddie might be lightfingered and my suspicions were confirmed when he was arrested for shoplifting./

[light housekeeping] <n.>, <slang> An arrangement in which an unmarried couple live together. * /Are Joe and Sue married? - Oh, no, - it's just a case of light housekeeping./ See: SHACK UP WITH.

[light into] See: LAY INTO.

[lightly] See: ONCE OVER LIGHTLY at ONCE OVER(2).

[lightning never strikes twice in the same place] The same accident does not happen twice; the same person does not have the same luck again. - A proverb. * /Billy won a pony in the contest last year, but lightning never strikes twice in the same place./

[light on] also [light upon] <v.> To pick out by sight from among others; see; notice. * /His eyes lighted on the cookies and he remembered how hungry he was./ * /Her eyes lighted upon the row of boxes, and she asked what was in them./

[light out] <v.>, <slang> 1. To run as fast as you can. * /The boy lit out for home with the bully chasing him./ * /On the next pitch the runner will light out for second./ 2. To go away in a hurry; leave suddenly. - Often used with "for". * /Jack won't be in town long. He wants to light out as soon as he has enough money saved./ * /The robbers lit out for Mexico./ Syn.: BEAT IT, TAKE OFF(1), HEAD FOR THE HILLS.

[light up] <v.> Suddenly to look pleased and happy. * /Martha's face lit up when she saw her old friend./ * /Tom will really light up when he sees his new bike!/

[like] See: EAT LIKE A BIRD, FEEL LIKE, LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY, NOTHING LIKE, THE LIKES OF or THE LIKE.

[like a bird] See: EAT LIKE A BIRD.

[like a book] See: READ ONE LIKE A BOOK.

[like a fish out of water] See: FISH OUT OF WATER.

[like a glove] See: FIT LIKE A GLOVE.

[like a hole in the head] <adv. phr.> Not at all; scarcely; grudgingly; in an unwelcome manner. * /Joan needs her mother-in-law to stay with her for a week like a hole in the head./

[like a horse] See: EAT LIKE A HORSE.

[like a light] See: OUT LIKE A LIGHT.

[like a million] See: FEEL LIKE A MILLION.

[like a million dollars] See: LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.

[like anything] <adv. phr.> To an extreme degree. * /He swore like anything when he found out that he hadn't been promoted./

[like a steel trap] See: MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP.

[like clockwork] See: GO LIKE CLOCKWORK or GO OFF LIKE CLOCKWORK.

[like crazy] See: LIKE MAD.

[like father, like son] A son is usually like his father in the way he acts. - A proverb. * /Frank's father has been on the city council; he is now the mayor, and is running for governor. Frank is on the student council and is likely to he class president. Like father, like son./ * /Mr. Jones and Tommy are both quiet and shy. Like father, like son./ Compare: SPITTING IMAGE, FOLLOW IN ONE'S FOOTSTEPS.

[like hell] <adv.>, <slang>, <vulgar>, <avoidable> 1. With great vigor. * /As soon as they saw the cops, they ran like hell./ 2. <interj.> Not so; untrue; indicates the speaker's lack of belief in what he heard. * /Like hell you're gonna bring me my dough!/

[like it is] See: TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

[like looking for a needle in a haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

[like mad] or [like crazy] <adv.>, <slang>, <informal> With great enthusiasm and vigor; very fast. * /We had to drive like mad (like crazy) to get there on time./ See: LIKE HELL(1).

[like two peas in a pod] <adj. phr.> Closely similar; almost exactly alike. * /The twin sisters Eve and Agnes are like two peas in a pod./

[like water] <adv. phr.> As something easily poured out or wasted; freely. - Usually used in the phrase "spend money like water". * /Sailors on shore leave often spend money like water./ * /During the World Wars, the United States spent money like water./

[like water off a duck's back] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Without changing your feelings or opinion; without effect. * /Advice and correction roll off him like water off a duck's back./ * /Many people showed him they didn't like what he was doing, but their disapproval passed off him like water off a duck's back./

[lily] See: GILD THE LILY also PAINT THE LILY.

[limb] See: OUT ON A LIMB.

[line] See: BLOW ONE'S LINES or FLUFF ONE'S LINES, CHOW LINE, DOWN THE LINE, DRAW A LINE or DRAW THE LINE, DROP A LINE, END OF THE ROAD or END OF THE LINE, FOUL LINE, GOAL LINE, GOAL LINE STAND, HOLD THE LINE, HOOK, LINE AND SINKER, IN LINE, IN LINE WITH, INTO LINE, LAY ON THE LINE or PUT ON THE LINE, ON THE LINE, OUT OF LINE, OUT OF LINE WITH, READ BETWEEN THE LINES, TOE THE LINE, WALK THE CHALK or WALK THE CHALK LINE.

[line drive] <n.> A batted baseball that is usually hit hard and travels in the air not far above the ground. * /The batter hit a line drive to left field for a single./

[linen] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC.

[line of fire] <n. phr.> The path that something fired or thrown takes. * /When the bandit and the police began to shoot, John was almost in their line of fire./ Compare: CROSS FIRE.

[line of least resistance] or [path of least resistance] <n. phr.> The easiest way; the way that takes least effort. * /In becoming a doctor like his father John had really just followed the line of least resistance./ * /Some parents take the path of least resistance with their children and let them do as they please./

[line of scrimmage] <n. phr.> An imaginary line on a football field parallel to the goal lines where each play except the kickoff begins. * /The play was stopped at the line of scrimmage./

[line one's pockets] also [line one's purse] <v. phr.>, <informal> To get a lot of money unfairly; get rich by being dishonest. * /The policeman lined his pockets by taking bribes./ * /The inspector lined his pockets by permitting contractors to use poor building materials./ Compare: FEATHER ONE'S NEST.

[lineup] <n.> 1. An alignment of objects in a straight line. * /A lineup of Venus and the moon can be a very beautiful sight in the night sky./ 2. An arrangement of suspects through a one-way mirror so that the victim or the witness of a crime can identify the wanted person. * /She picked out her attacker from a police lineup./

[line up] <v. phr.> 1. To take places in a line or formation; stand side by side or one behind another; form a line or pattern. * /The boys lined up and took turns diving off the springboard./ * /The football team lined up in a "T" formation./ 2. To put in line. * /John lined up the pool balls./ 3. To adjust correctly. * /The garage man lined up the car's wheels./ 4a. <informal> To make ready for action; complete a plan or agreement for; arrange. * /Henry's friends lined up so many votes for him that he won the election./ * /Roger lined up a summer job before school was out./ * /The superintendent lined up all the new teachers he needed before he went on vacation./ 4b. <informal> To become ready for action; come together in preparation or agreement. * /The football schedule is lining up well; the coach has arranged all games except one./ * /Larry wanted to go to the seashore for the family vacation, but the rest of the family lined up against him./ Compare: GANG UP, SHAPE UP, TAKE SIDES.