1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, v. ch. 30. 'Twas Ælian, that long-bow man, that told you so, never believe him, for he lies as fast as a dog can trot.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 64], s.v.
1819-24. Byron, Don Juan, xvi. 1. At speaking truth perhaps they are less clever, But draw the long-bow better now than ever.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxx. What is it makes him pull the long bow in that wonderful manner?
1871. Daily News, 29 Dec. If now and then he appears to draw the long bow, or rather to shoot with an extraordinary rifle, he does not abuse the reader's faith unmercifully.
1883. A. Dobson, Old-World Idylls, p. 134. The great Gargilius, then, behold! His long bow hunting tales of old Are now but duller.
English synonyms. To climb a steep hill; to come (or cut) it strong (or fat, or thick); to embroider; to gammon (q.v.); to lay it on thick; to put on the pot; to pull a leg; to slop over.
French synonyms. La faire à l'oseille; en voilà une sévère; c'est plus fort que de jouer au bouchon.
Spanish synonym. Jacarear.
Italian synonym. Spalare.
Long Chalk. By a long chalk,
phr. (colloquial).—By far; in a
large measure.
1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), 447. Still Sir Alured's steed was by long chalks the best.
1838-40. Haliburton, The Clockmaker, p. 26 (ed. 1826). 'Yes,' says he, 'your factories down East beat all natur; they go ahead on the English a long chalk.'
1844. Charles Selby, London by Night, ii. 2. Jack. Yes, and I opine which will come off second best by long chalks.
1848. Ruxton, Life In The Far West, 2. Not a hundred years ago by a long chalk.
1856. C. Bronté, Professor, iii. 'You are not as fine a fellow as your plebeian brother by a long chalk.'
1883. Grenville Murray, People I Have Met, 133. The finest thing in the world; or . . . 'the best thing out by many chalks.'
1888. Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, v. 'Isn't it as easy to carry on for a few years more as it was twenty years ago?' 'Not by a long chalk.'
1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 209. 'Oh, everyone to their taste, of course; she's not mine by a long chalk.'
Long-crown, subs. (old).—A clever
fellow: as in the proverb, 'That
caps long-crown, and he capped
the Devil.'
Long-dispar, subs. (Winchester
College).—See quot.
1866. Mansfield, School Life, 84. There were six of these [dispars (q.v.) or portions] to a shoulder, and eight to a leg of mutton, the other joints being divided in like proportion. All these 'dispars' had different names; the thick slice out of the centre of the leg was called a 'middle cut,' . . . the ribs 'Racks,' the loin long dispars.
Long drink, subs. phr. (common).—A
considerable quantity, as compared
to a nip (q.v.), i.e., a drop
of short (q.v.).
1883. Daily Telegraph, 2 July, p. 5, col. 3. The list of long drinks which may be imbibed with deliberation and through the medium of a couple of straws.
Long-ear, subs. (American University).—1.
A reading man; a sober
student. See Short-ear.
2. in pl. (common).—A donkey. For synonyms see Moke.
Long Eliza, subs. (trade).—See quot.
1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 4 Dec. Long-elizas (the trade term for certain
