A-Z Database
A metaphor with many different versions e.g. ‘nothing left in the tank’, ‘little left in the tank’ etc, which mean that reserves or supplies of almost...
see Lead balloon
If something comes out of left field, is out in left field, or comes from left field, it means odd, bizarre or unexpected. The origin is generally ack...
see Holding the baby/bag
Is to be abandoned or placed in a difficult situation without help, dates from the 16th century. It derives from an old medieval board game of French...
see Leave something in the tank
see Left/Right wings (in politics)
Left-footer is a British expression, probably of Ulster or Scottish origin, and is derogatory for a Roman Catholic. The first citation is obscure. Som...
The terms left and right as applied to politics or political viewpoints started off in France c.1789 during the French Revolution. The presiding offic...
Colloquial expression for befooling or kidding dates from the late 19th century but became Standard English by the early 20th century. During the 1930...
see Not a leg to stand on
To be drunk or inebriated, a British colloquial expression that dates from the 1960s.
British slang for sexual intercourse, usually used by males rather than females. A shortened form of 'to get one's leg over' which h...
British and American informal for something that is worthless or not the genuine article as in, for example, ‘the car I bought was a lemon’ dates from...
see Can the leopard change its spots?