American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

leave out

Omit, fail to include, as in This sentence doesn't make sense; a key word has been left out. [Late 1400s]

leave out in the cold

hand. see OUT IN THE COLD.

leave out of account

hand. see TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

leave someone alone Also, let someone alone. Refrain from disturbing or interfering

with someone. For example, She'll manage very well if you just leave her alone, or Stop teasing the

dog; let him alone. [c. 1400] Also see LEAVE ONE IN PEACE; LET ALONE; LET BE.

leave someone in peace

Avoid disturbing or bothering someone, as in It's best to leave Dean in peace when he's paying the bills. This expression uses peace in the sense of "undisturbed," a usage dating from the early 1200s. Also see

leave someone in the lurch

hand. see LEAVE IN THE LURCH.

leave someone to his or her resources

Let one rely on oneself to do what he or she likes or to get out of trouble. For example, Left to his own resources, my four-year-old might well turn the hose on the dog, or Refusing to pay for Lydia's traffic ticket, Dad insisted on leaving her to her resources.

leave the door open

Allow for further action or discussion. For example, This will's terms leave the door open for fighting among the heirs. This metaphoric expression transfers the invitation implied by an open door to future events. Also see OPEN THE DOOR TO.

leave to someone's own devices

Allow someone to do as he or she wishes. For example, Left to his own devices, he would hire someone to do the yard work. This expression, uses device in the sense of "a plan or scheme." [Late 1800s]

leave to someone's tender mercies

Submit to another's power or discretion, especially to an unsympathetic individual. Today this expression is always used ironically, as in We left him to the tender mercies of that stiff-necked, arrogant nurse. It alludes to a biblical passage (Proverbs 12:10): "A righteous man regardeth the

life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

leave well enough alone Also, let well enough alone. Do not try to change something lest you make it worse. For example, This recipe has turned out fine in the past, so leave well enough alone. The idea behind this expression dates from ancient Greek times, specifically Aesop's fable about a fox who refused a hedgehog's offer to take out its ticks lest, by removing those that are full, other hungry ones will replace them. Put as let well alone from the early 1700s, it was first recorded as let well enough alone in 1827. Also see LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE.

leave without a leg to stand on

hand. see WITHOUT A LEG TO STAND ON.

leave word

Leave a message, as in Please leave word at the desk when you check out, or I left word about my plans with the secretary; didn't she tell you? This expression employs word in the sense of "information," a usage dating from the 10th century.

left

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with LEFT, also see HANG A LEFT; OUT IN

LEFT FIELD; RIGHT AND LEFT; TAKE UP WHERE ONE LEFT OFF; TWO LEFT FEET.

left field

hand. see OUT IN LEFT FIELD.

left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, the

The actions are uncoordinated, especially when they are contrary, as in Purchasing has placed the order and accounting says we can't pay for more supplies this month; the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Today this expression is nearly always used as a criticism. But, it first appeared in the New Testament (Matthew 6:3) in an approving sense, when Jesus recommended not publicizing one's good deeds?

not letting the left hand know what the right hand does. [Early 1600s]

left-handed compliment Also, backhanded compliment. An insult in the guise of an

expression of praise. For example, She said she liked my hair, but it turned out to be a left-handed compliment when she asked how long I'd been dyeing it. This expression uses left-handed in the sense of "questionable or doubtful," a usage dating from about 1600.

left wing

The liberal or radical faction of a political group, as in Many consider him a leader of the Democratic Party's left wing. This expression originated in the seating practice of European legislatures, whereby those holding liberal views were assigned to the left side of the house. [First half of 1800s]

leg

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with LEG, also see ARM AND A LEG; BREAK A

LEG; ON ONE'S LAST LEGS; PULL SOMEONE'S LEG; SHAKE A LEG; STRETCH ONE'S LEGS; TAIL BETWEEN ONE'S LEGS; WITHOUT A LEG TO STAND ON.

leg up, a

1. The act of assisting someone, giving someone a boost. For example, Studying with Jane, who knows French history well, will give you a leg up for the final exam. This usage alludes to helping a person get on a horse by getting a foot in the stirrup. [First half of 1800s] 2. A position of advantage, as in Because of the advertising campaign, we had a leg up on the competition.

leisure

hand. see AT LEISURE; AT ONE'S LEISURE.

lend a hand Also, lend a helping hand. Be of assistance, as in Can you lend them a hand with putting up the flag, or Peter is always willing to lend a helping hand around the house.

[Late 1500s] lend color to

Embellish, especially to give the appearance of truth. For example, I'm sure he lied about reaching the summit; that detailed account about losing his pack merely lent color to the story. This expression uses color in the sense of "appearance of authenticity." [Late 1700s]

lend itself to

Adapt to, be suitable for. For example, The Bible lends itself to numerous interpretations, or This plot of land lends itself to a variety of uses. [Mid-1800s]

lend one's ear Also, lend an ear. Pay attention, listen, as in "Friends, Romans, country-men, lend me your ears" (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 3:2). This idiom may be obsolescent. [Late 1300s]

length

hand. see AT ARM'S LENGTH; AT LENGTH; GO TO ANY LENGTH.

leopard cannot change its spots, a Also, the tiger cannot change its stripes. One can't change one's essential nature. For example, He's a conservative, no matter what he says; the leopard cannot change its spots. These metaphoric expressions both originated in an ancient Greek proverb that appears in the Bible (Jeremiah 13:23): "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" It was first recorded in English in 1546.

less

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with LESS, also see COULDN'T CARE LESS; IN

(LESS THAN) NO TIME; MORE OR LESS; MUCH LESS.

lesser of two evils

The somewhat less unpleasant of two poor choices. For example, I'd rather stay home and miss the picnic altogether than run into those nasty people?

it's the lesser of two evils. This expression was already a proverb in ancient Greek and appeared in English by the late 1300s. Chaucer used it in Troilus and Cressida.

lesson

hand. see LEARN ONE'S LESSON; TEACH A LESSON.

less than

Not at all or hardly at all. For example, He had a less than favorable view of the matter, or She had a less than adequate grasp of

the subject. This expression uses less in the sense of "a smaller quantity, number, or extent than is implied," a usage dating from about A.D. 1000. The same sense appears in less than

no time, a hyperbolic term for a very short time (as in Don't worry, he'll be here in less than no time) that dates from about 1800.

let

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with LET, also see BLOW (LET) OFF STEAM;

GIVE (LET) SOMEONE HAVE HIS OR HER HEAD; (LET SOMEONE) HAVE IT; LIVE AND LET LIVE. Also see under LEAVE.

let alone

1. See LEAVE SOMEONE ALONE. 2. Not to mention, as in We have no room for another house guest, let alone an entire family. [c. 1800]

let be

Leave undisturbed, refrain from interfering with. For example, Stop fussing with the tablecloth; let it be, or, as A.E. Housman put it in A Shropshire Lad (1896): "Will you never let me be?" [Second

half of 1100s] Also see LEAVE SOMEONE ALONE; LEAVE SOMEONE IN PEACE.

let bygones be bygones

What's done is done; don't worry about the past, especially past errors or grievances. For example,

Bill and Tom shook hands and agreed to let bygones be bygones. [First half of 1600s]

let daylight through or into Shoot or stab a person, especially fatally. For example, Stick up your hands or I'll let daylight through you. This idiom alludes to making a hole in someone's body. [Slang; early 1700s]

let down

1. Cause to descend, lower, as in They let down the sails. [Mid-1100s] 2. Also, let up. Slacken, abate, as in Sales are letting down in this quarter, or They didn't let up in their efforts until the end. The first term dates from the mid-1800s, the variant from the late 1700s. 3. See LET

SOMEONE DOWN. Also see LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN.

let down easy

hand. see under LET SOMEONE DOWN.

let down one's hair

hand. see LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN.

let drop Also, let fall. Utter a word or hint, either casually or inadvertently. For example, He let drop the fact that he'd decided to run for office, or She let fall some bits of gossip about the other teachers. [Late 1500s]

let fly

Discharge a missile or fire a weapon; also, attack verbally. For example, He let fly a rotten egg at the speaker, or They let fly some insults laced with four-letter words. The first usage dates from

about A.D. 1000, the second from the late 1500s.

let go

1. Allow to escape, set free, as in The police decided to let him go. [c. 1300] 2. Also, let go of.

Release one's hold on, as in Please let go of my sleeve, or Once he starts on this subject, he never lets go. [Early 1400s] 3. let it go. Allow it to stand or be accepted. For example, Let it go; we needn't discuss it further. This usage is sometimes amplified to let it go at that, meaning "allow matters to stand as they are." [Late 1800s] 4. Cease to employ, dismiss, as in They had to let 20 workers go. 5. Also, let oneself go. Behave without restraint, abandon one's inhibitions; also, neglect one's personal hygiene and appearance. For example, When the music began, Jean let herself go and started a wild dance, or After her husband's death she let herself go, forgetting to bathe and staying in her nightgown all day. The first sense dates from the late 1800s, the second from the early 1900s.

let grass grow

hand. see DON'T LET THE GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET.

let in on

Allow someone to know about or participate in something, as in I'm going to let you in on a little secret. This idiom was first recorded in 1904.

let it all hang out

Be totally candid in expressing feelings and opinions; hold nothing back. For example, The psychiatrist urged him not to spare any details, to let it all hang out. [Slang; late 1960s]

things slide. The first term, alluding to things moving along as though they were riding a horse or vehicle, dates from the early 1900s; the variant, using slide in the sense of "pass by," dates from the late 1500s. Also see under LET SLIP.

let sleeping dogs lie

Allow inactive problems to remain so, as in Jane knew she should report the accident but decided to let sleeping dogs lie. This injunction to avoid stirring up trouble was already a proverb in the 13th century. It alludes to waking up a fierce watchdog and has been stated in English since the late 1300s.

let slide

hand. see LET RIDE; LET SLIP.

let slip

1. Also, let slip or slide by; let slide. Miss an opportunity; waste time. For example, We forgot to buy a ticket and let our big chance slip by, or He let the whole day slide by. The first term dates from the mid1500s, the variant from the late 1500s. 2. Also, let slip out. Reveal something, usually inadvertently, as in He let it slip out that he had applied for the vacant position.

[Mid-1800s] 3. let slip through one's fingers. Fail to seize an oppor

tunity, as in We could have won the trophy but we let it slip through our fingers. [First half of 1600s]

let someone

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with LET SOMEONE, also see under LET

ONE.

let someone down

1. Fail to support someone; also, disappoint someone. For example, I was counting on John to come, but he let me down, or The team didn't want to let down the coach. [Late 1400s] A British phrase with the same meaning is let the side down, alluding to some kind of competition (sports, politics) and dating from the mid-1900s. It is occasionally used in America. 2. let someone down easy. Convey bad or disappointing news in a considerate way, so as to spare the person's self-respect. For example, The teacher knew that Paul would have to repeat the course and that there was no way to let him down easy. [Colloquial; mid-1700s] Also see LET DOWN.

let someone have it

hand. see HAVE IT, def. 5.

letter

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with LETTER, also see BREAD AND BUTTER

LETTER; CRANK CALL (LETTER); DEAD LETTER; FOUR-LETTER WORD; POISON-PEN LETTER; RED-LETTER DAY; TO THE LETTER.

letter of the law

The precise wording rather than the spirit or intent. For example, Since it was the first time he'd broken the rules, the school decided to ignore the letter of the law and just give him a warning.

[Late 1500s]

let the cat out of the bag

Give away a secret, as in Mom let the cat out of the bag and told us Karen was engaged. This expression alludes to the dishonest practice of a merchant substituting a worthless cat for a valuable pig, which is discovered only when the buyer gets home and opens the bag. [Mid-1700s]

Also see PIG IN A POKE.

let the chips fall where they may

No matter what the consequences, as in I'm going to tell the truth about what happened, and let the chips fall where they may. This metaphoric term alludes to chopping wood and is usually joined to a statement that one should do what is right (that is, the woodcutter should pay attention to the main task of cutting logs and not worry about small chips). [Late 1800s]

Move toward stability or consistency, as in Prices have leveled off. This idiom transfers a physical flattening to a figurative one. [Mid-1900s]

level with someone

Speak frankly and openly to someone, as in His companions advised him to level with the customs inspector. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see ON THE LEVEL.

liberty

hand. see AT LIBERTY; TAKE THE LIBERTY OF.

lick and a promise, a

A superficial effort made without care or enthusiasm. For example, I haven't time to do a good job of vacuuming, just enough for a lick and a promise. This expression is believed to allude to the quick lick a cat or other animal might give itself and a promise to do more or better at some future time. [Mid-1800s]

lick into shape Also, whip into shape. Bring into satisfactory condition or appearance, as in The garden looks neglected, but Dad will soon lick it into shape, or We need at least three more practices before the team is whipped into shape. The expression using lick, which some think alludes to how bears treat their cubs, dates from about 1600. The variant alludes to the forceful use of a whip to accomplish something.

lick one's chops Also, lick one's lips. Anticipate with great pleasure. For example, The kids were licking their chops as Mother described the family vacation plans, or I couldn't help but lick my lips when she talked about the menu. Both expressions allude to anticipating a tasty morsel of food.

The second is the older, dating from about 1500 and used interchangeably with lick one's fingers, now seldom heard. The first also served as 1930s jazz slang for warming up, chops meaning "the jaw or mouth" (a usage dating from the 1300s).

lick one's wounds

Recuperate from injuries or hurt feelings. For example, They were badly beaten in the debate and went home sadly to lick their wounds. This expression alludes to an animal's behavior when wounded. It was originally put as lick oneself clean or whole, dating from the mid-1500s.

lick someone's boots

Act with extreme servility, as in This man wanted every employee to lick his boots, so he had a hard time keeping his staff. Shakespeare used this idiom in the form of lick someone's shoe in The Tempest (3:2). [Late 1500s]

lick the stuffing out of Also, lick the tar out of. hand. See under BEAT THE

LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.

lid

hand. see BLOW THE LID OFF; FLIP ONE'S LID; PUT THE LID ON.

lie

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with LIE, also see BAREFACED LIE; GIVE THE

LIE TO; (LIE) IN STATE; LAY OF THE LAND (HOW THE LAND LIES); LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE; LIVE A LIE; MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT; TAKE LYING DOWN; WHITE LIE.

lie down Also, lie down on the job. Be remiss or lazy. For example, They fired Max because he was always lying down on the job. This expression alludes to lying down in the sense of "resting." [Early 1900s]

lie in

1. Be in confinement for childbirth, as in She thought she'd be lying in by next week. This usage is probably dying out. The name of Boston's Lying-In Hospital was changed to Women's Hospital in the 1970s. [Mid-1400s] 2. Also, lie in one's hands or in one's power. Rest or depend on something or someone, as in The solution lies in research, or The decision lies in the President's hands, or It does not lie in my power to turn this situation around. [Mid-1300s] Also see LIE IN

WAIT; LIE THROUGH ONE'S TEETH.

lie in state

hand. see under IN STATE.

lie in wait

Remain hidden while preparing to attack, as in The opposition was quietly lying in wait for the incumbent to make his first big mistake. This expression originally alluded to physical attacks and is now often used figuratively. [Mid-1400s] Also see LAY FOR.

lie low Also lay low. Keep oneself or one's plans hidden; bide one's time to act. For example, The children lay low, hoping their prank would soon be forgotten, or The senator decided to lay low until his opponent had committed her

self to raising taxes. This expression calls up the image of a hunter concealed in the brush, waiting for game. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

lie through one's teeth Also, lie in one's teeth. Utter outrageous falsehoods, as in He was lying through his teeth when he said he'd never seen her before; they've known each other for years. This expression presumably alludes to a particular facial grimace one assumes when lying. [c. 1300]

lieu

hand. see under INSTEAD OF.

lie with

Be decided by, dependent on, or up to. For example, The choice of restaurant lies with you. Starting about 1300 this phrase meant ''to have sexual intercourse with," a usage that is now