Little Fighting Fours, subs. phr. (military).—The Forty-fourth Foot. [From the prowess of its men, who are of small stature].
Little-finger. To cock one's
little finger, verb. phr. (common).—To
drink much and often.
For synonyms see Drinks and
Screwed.
Little-go, subs. (University).—The
public examination which
students at the English Universities
have to pass in the second
year of residence: also called the
'previous examination' (as preceding
the final one for a degree),
and, at Oxford, smalls (q. v.).
1841. Thackeray, King of Brentford's Testament, 86, 7. At college, though not fast, Yet his little-go and great-go He creditably pass'd.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, iii. A tutor, don't you see old boy? He's coaching me, and some other men, for the little-go.
Little-go-vale, subs. (old).—Orderly
step to the first examination.—Grose
(1823).
Little-quid, subs. (Scots').—The
devil. For synonyms see Skipper.
Little-joker, subs. (sharpers').—The
pea under the thimble in the
thimble-rigging game. See also
Joker, sense 3.
Little Man, subs. (Eton College).—See
quot.
c.1880. Sketchy Memoirs of Eton, p. 16. He called the footman (or little man . . .) and bade him reach down the obnoxious placard.
Little man in the boat. See Boat.
Little-side, subs. (Rugby).—A
term applied to all games, organised
between houses only.
Little-sister, subs. (venery).—The
female pudendum. For synonyms
see Monosyllable. Ger.
Schwesterlein.
Little-snakesman, subs. (thieves').—A
young thief passed into a
house through a window so that
he may open the door to the
gang.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, 11. 82, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Little spot. See Spot.
Little William, subs. phr. (American).—A
bill.
Live, adj. (American).—Energetic;
active; intelligent.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., p. 6, col. 1. At a private muster the other night they came up in good force, decided to organize the party by wards, to maintain a live association, and to find the money to keep it going.
To live under the cat's-paw. See Cat's-paw.
To live to the door, verb. phr. (common).—To live up to one's means.
Live-eels, subs. (rhyming).—The
fields.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Live eels. Bell has gone to live eels, to 'read' and write with Joe.
Live-horse, subs. (workmen's).—Work
done over and above that
included in the week's bill: cf.
Dead-horse.
