turn him out, he fell upon us like a thousand of bricks, and threatened to make minced meat of the police and every one of us.
1864. Western World, 5 March. 'When Mr. Nye had finished, Mr. Stewart rose, and with his irresistible logic and impressive language came down upon him like a thousand of bricks, till he was utterly crushed and demolished.'
1868. Miss Braddon, Sir Jasper, xxvii. p. 282. I'll stick to you like old boots.
1869. W. S. Gilbert, Bab Ballads, 'Captain Reece.' If ever they were dull or sad, The Captain danced to them like mad.
1873. Carroll, Through a Looking Glass, iv. 73. They wept like anything to see such quantities of sand.
1874. Saturday Review, Jan., 55. An Oxford man, nay even a Balliol man . . . introduced in the story a pleasing change by such a phrase as jawing away like old boots.
1883. Graphic, 17 March, 287, 1. Nevertheless, this solid fare disappeared, with the beer, like winking.
1888. Puck's Library, 15. 'Will go like hot cakes.' Book Seller (to Clerk). 'Haven't we an overstock of 'Jack, the Giant Killer,' on hand, James?' Clerk. 'Yes, sir.' Book Seller. 'Well, take 'm up to the Polo Grounds this afternoon; they'll sell fast enough there.'
1890. Gunter, Miss Nobody, 153. 'Second National Bank like a streak,' screams the new-made lord to the driver.
1891. Mrs. Lovett-Cameron, in Lippincott, Aug., p. 142. 'He's as fit as a fiddle, miss,' said Griggs, admiringly, as Susan kissed her old friend's satin coat with enthusiasm, 'and he'll carry you like a bird to-morrow.'
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 57. I'd be there, like a shot. Ibid. 33. I jest blew away like old boots.
Like one o'clock half struck, phr. (common).—Hesitatingly.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 19. He stands like one o'clock half-struck.
Like a whale. See Whale.
Like Christmas Beef. See Beef.
Like a Birch-broom in a fit. See Birch-broom.
I like that! phr. (common).—A derisive answer to a questionable statement: e.g. 'I am a capital pedestrian.' 'I like that!'
You talk like a halfpenny book (or penny book), adv. phr. (common).—Said in derision of a fluent or affected speaker.
Likeness, subs. (thieves').—See
quot.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. likeness, a phrase used by thieves when the officers . . . are examining their countenances; as, 'the traps are taking our likeness.'
Lil (or Lill), subs. (common).—A
book; a document of any kind;
a five pound note. In America a
dollar. [Gypsy: cf. Borrow,
Romano-lavo-lil = Gypsy Word
Bk.]. See quots.
1821. D. Haggart, Life's Glossary, 172. Lil, a pocket-book.
1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, xvii. p. 63 (1888). The more shame for you—a snake-fellow—a horse witch—and a lil reader—yet you can't shift for yourself.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Lil, a pocket-book. Lill, a bad bill.
Lilliputian, subs. (colloquial).—A
dwarf.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.
Lily-Benjamin, subs. (common).—A
white great coat. See Benjamin.
Lily-liver, subs. (common).—A
coward.
1863. Thackeray, Roundabout Papers, xii. When people were yet afraid
