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~ L ~ Labor of love A labor of love is a project or task undertaking for the interest or pleasure in doing it rather than the reward, financial or otherwise. Page 43 www.dk-english.com Dorking School of English, Bangkok Thailand Labour of love A labour of love is a project or task undertaking for the interest or pleasure in doing it rather than the reward, financial or otherwise. Lame duck If something or someone is a lame duck, they are in trouble. Land of nod If someone has gone to the land of nod, they have fallen asleep or gone to bed. Lap of the gods If something is in the lap of the gods, it is beyond our control and fate will decide the outcome. Larger than life If something is excessive or exaggerated, it is larger than life. Last hurrah If an elderly person does something special before they die, it is a last hurrah. Last laugh The person who has the last laugh ends up with the the advantage in a situation after some setbacks. Last straw The last straw is the final problem that makes someone lose their temper or the problem that finally brought about the collapse of something. It comes from an Arabic story, where a camel was loaded with straw until a single straw placed on the rest of the load broke its back. Last-ditch A last-ditch attempt is a desperate attempt that will probably fail anyway. Laugh to see a pudding crawl (UK) Someone who would laugh to see a pudding crawl is easily amused and will laugh at anything. Laughing stock If someone becomes a laughing stock they do something so stupid or wrong that no one can take them seriously and people scorn and laugh at them. Law unto yourself If somebody's a law unto themselves, they do what they believe is right regardless of what is generally accepted as correct. Lay down the law If someone lays down the law, they tell people what to do and are authoritarian. Lead someone up the garden path If someone leads you up the garden path, they deceive you, or give you false information that causes you to waste your time. 'Lead someone down the garden path' is also used. Lead with the chin If someone leads with their chin, they speak or behave without fear of the consequences. Leave no stone unturned If you look everywhere to find something, or try everything to achieve something, you leave no stone unturned. Leave well alone If you leave something well alone, you keep a safe distance from it, either physically or metaphorically. Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing If the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, then communication within a company, organisation, group, etc, is so bad that people don't know what the others are doing. Left in the dark If you are left in the dark about something, you aren't given the information that you should have. Left to your own devices If someone is left to their own devices, they are not controlled and can do what they want. Left-handed compliment A left-handed compliment is one that sounds like praise but has an insulting meaning. ('Backhanded compliment' is an alternative form.) Legend in your own lunchtime Somebody who becomes a legend in their own lifetime acquires fame, but often only to a select or specialist audience, while they are still alive. Lend an ear If you lend an ear, you listen to what someone has to say. ('Lend your ear' is an alternative form.) Leopard can't change its spots This idiom means that people cannot change basic aspects of their character, especially negative ones. ("A leopard doesn't change its spots" is also used.) Lesser of two evils Page 44 www.dk-english.com Dorking School of English, Bangkok Thailand Something that is the lesser of two evils, is an unpleasant option, but not as bad as the other. Let alone This is used to emphasise how extreme something could be: 'We hadn't got the money to phone home, let alone stay in a hotel.' This emphasises the utter impossibility of staying in a hotel. Let bygones be bygones If people decide to let bygones be bygones, they decide to forget old problems or grievances they have with each other. Let sleeping dogs lie If someone is told to let sleeping dogs lie, it means that they shouldn't disturb a situation as it would result in trouble or complications. Let the cat out of the bag If you accidentally reveal a secret, you let the cat out of the bag. Let the chips fall where they may This means that we shouldn't try to control events, because destiny controls them. Let the devil take the hindmost This idiom means that you should think of yourself and not be concerned about other people; look after yourself and let the devil take the hindmost. Let the genie out of the bottle If people let the genie out of the bottle, they let something bad happen that cannot be put right or controlled. Let the grass grow round your feet If you let the grass grow round your feet, you delay doing things instead of taking action. Let your hair down If someone lets their hair down, they relax and stop feeling inhibited or shy. Letter of the law If people interpret laws and regulations strictly, ignoring the ideas behind them, they follow the letter of the law. Level playing field If there's a level playing field everybody is treated equally. Lie low If someone lies low, they try not to be found or caught. Lie through your teeth Someone who is always lying, regardless of what people know, lies through their teeth. Life and limb When people risk life and limb, they could be killed or suffer serious injuries. Light at the end of the tunnel If you can see light at the end of the tunnel, then you can see some signs of hope in the future, though things are difficult at the moment. Light bulb moment A light bulb moment is when you have a sudden realisation about something, like the light bulbs used to indicate an idea in cartoons. Light years ahead If you are light years ahead of others, you are a long way in front of them in terms of development, success, etc. Lightning rod Someone or something that attracts a lot of negative comment, often diverting attention from other problems, is a lightning rod. Like a beached whale Once a whale is on a beach, it cannot get back into the easily, so if you are completely stuck somewhere and can't get away, you are stranded like a beached whale. Like a bear with a sore head (UK) If someone's like a bear with a sore head, they complain a lot and are unhappy about something. Like a cat on hot bricks If someone is like a cat on hot bricks, they are very nervous or excited. Like a cat that got the cream If someone looks very pleased with themselves and happy, they look like a cat that got the cream. Like a duck to water If someone has a natural talent for something and enjoys it, they take to it like a duck to water. Like a fish needs a bicycle [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |