justify ["dZ^s tI faI] tv. to explain why one did something; to give a good reason for something. jut out (from something ) to stick outward or project from some- thing. jut out (into something ) to stick outward or project into an area. jut out (over someone or some- thing ) to stick out or project over someone or something. juvenile ["dZu v@ naIl] 1. n. a child [from a legal point of view]. 2. n. a young animal. 3. adj. youthful; for young people. justify 306 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 306 TLFeBOOK kangaroo [kAN g@ "ru] n. a large animal of Australia that hops on its hind legs. (Plural ends in -s.) keel ["kil] n. the main beam along the bottom of a boat or ship on which the frame is built. keel over to fall over; to capsize. keen ["kin] 1. adj. [of a cutting edge] sharp. (Adv: keenly. Comp: keener; sup: keenest.) 2. adj. [of a sense of taste, vision, hearing, touch, or smell] very sensitive or sharp. (Figurative on Q. Adv: keenly. Comp: keener; sup: keen- est.) keen on doing something willing or eager to do something. keep ["kip] 1. tv., irreg. to cause someone or something to remain somewhere. (Past tense and past participle: kept.) 2. tv., irreg. to have something for a period of time; to continue to have some- thing. 3. iv. to continue to do something. keep a civil tongue (in one’s head) to speak decently and politely. (Also with have.) keep a close rein on someone or something Go to keep a tight rein on someone or something . keep a secret to know a secret and not tell anyone. keep a stiff upper lip to be cool and unmoved by disturbing events. (Also with have.) keep a straight face to make one’s face stay free from laughter. keep a tight rein on someone or something and keep a close rein on someone or something to watch and control someone or something closely. keep after someone (about some- thing ) to nag someone about something. keep an eye out (for someone or something ) to watch for the arrival or appearance of someone or something. (Also with have. The an can be replaced by one’s.) keep at someone (about some- thing ) to harass someone about something. keep at something to continue to do something; to continue to try to do something. keep away (from someone or something ) to avoid someone or something; to maintain a physical distance from someone or some- thing. keep back (from someone or something ) to continue to stay in a position away from someone or something. keep body and soul together to feed, clothe, and house oneself. keep from doing something to avoid doing something; to refrain from doing something. keep late hours to stay up or stay out until very late; to work late. keep off ((of ) something ) to remain off something; not to tres- pass on something. keep on an even keel to remain cool and calm. 307 K 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 307 Copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc . Click Here for Terms of Use. TLFeBOOK keep on someone (about some- thing ) to nag someone about something. keep on ( something ) to work to remain mounted on something, such as a horse, bicycle, etc. keep on something to pay close attention to something. keep one’s ear to the ground Go to have one’s ear to the ground. keep one’s eye on a ball 1. to watch or follow the ball carefully, especially when one is playing a ball game; to follow the details of a ball game very carefully. 2. to remain alert to the events occur- ring around one. keep one’s feet on the ground to remain sensible and able to func- tion reasonably. keep one’s head above water to stay ahead of one’s responsibilities. keep one’s nose to the grind- stone to keep busy continuously over a period of time. keep one’s opinions to oneself to stop mentioning one’s own opin- ions, especially when they disagree with someone else’s. keep one’s temper and hold one’s temper not to get angry; to hold back an expression of anger. keep one’s weather eye open to watch for something (to happen); to be on the alert (for something); to be on guard. keep one’s word to uphold one’s promise. keep ( oneself ) to oneself to remain private; not to mix with other peo- ple very much. keep out (of something ) 1. to remain uninvolved with some- thing. 2. to remain outside some- thing or someplace. keep someone at something to make sure someone continues to work at something. keep someone back 1. to hold a child back in school. 2. to keep someone from advancing in life. keep someone down to prevent someone from advancing or suc- ceeding. keep someone from doing some- thing to prevent someone from doing something. keep someone in stitches to cause someone to laugh loud and hard, over and over. (Also with have.) keep someone on to retain some- one in employment longer than is required or was planned. keep someone or something back to hold someone or something in reserve. keep someone or something hang- ing in midair to maintain some- one or something in a state of waiting before reaching an ending or completion. keep someone or something in mind and bear someone or something in mind to remember and think about someone or something. keep someone or something off Go to hold someone or something off. keep someone or something out (of something ) 1. to prevent someone or something from get- ting into something or some place. keep on someone (about something) 308 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 308 TLFeBOOK 2. to keep the subject of someone or something out of a discussion. keep someone posted to keep someone informed (of what is happening); to keep someone up- to-date. keep someone up 1. to hold some- one upright. 2. to prevent some- one from going to bed or going to sleep. keep something on to continue to wear an article of clothing. keep something on an even keel to keep something in a steady and untroubled state. keep something to oneself to keep something a secret. keep something under one’s hat to keep something a secret; to keep something in one’s mind (only). keep something under wraps to keep something concealed (until some future time). keep something up 1. to hold or prop something up. 2. to continue doing something. 3. to maintain something in good order. keep the home fires burning to keep things going at one’s home or other central location, maintain- ing a routine. keep the wolf from the door to maintain oneself at a minimal level; to keep from starving, freez- ing, etc. keep up (with the Joneses) to stay financially even with one’s peers; to try hard to get the same amount of material goods that one’s friends and neighbors have. keep up (with the times) to stay in fashion; to keep up with the news; to be contemporary or mod- ern. keeper ["kip #] n. someone who keeps someone or something; a protector; a guard; someone who cares for animals in a zoo. (See also zookeeper.) keepsake ["kip sek] n. something that is kept to remind the owner of someone or something; a memento. keg ["kEg] 1. n. a small wooden barrel, especially one that holds 100 pounds of nails. 2. n. a small metal barrel, especially one that holds beer. → sitting on a powder keg kennel ["kEn @l] n. a place where dogs are kept. kept ["kEpt] past tense and past participle of keep. ketchup and catsup ["kEtS @p, "ket s@p ] n. a thick liquid, made from tomatoes, that is put on food for flavoring. (Plural only for types and instances.) kettle ["kEt @l] n. a large cooking pot; a pot for heating liquids. → a fine kettle of fish → the pot calling the kettle black key ["ki] 1. n. a device that unlocks or locks a lock; something that unlocks something that is locked. 2. n. something that gives access to an answer or a solution; something that provides the answers or solu- tions for something. (Figurative on Q.) 3. n. a part of a machine or instrument that is pressed down to make something happen, as on a computer keyboard, a typewriter, or a piano. 4. n. a musical scale that begins on a particular note; a key 309 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 309 TLFeBOOK set of related musical notes. 5. adj. important; essential; basic. keyboard ["ki bord] 1. n. a row of keys that make a certain musical sound when pressed. 2. n. an elec- tronic device that creates music. 3. n. the rows of keys standing for letters, symbols, and numbers as found on typewriters, computers, etc. keynote ["ki not] adj. [of a speech or a speaker] primary or main. (Prenominal only.) keypad ["ki pAd] 1. n. [on a com- puter] a special, separate set of number keys arranged as on a cal- culator. 2. n. any small control panel having an arrangement of push buttons, as found on a tele- phone or a calculator. kick ["kIk] 1. tv. to strike someone or something with the foot, usu- ally the toe of a shoe or boot. 2. iv. to move one’s legs back and forth as if kicking something as in Q. 3. n. an act of striking someone or something with the foot, as in Q. kick back (at someone or some- thing ) to kick at someone or some- thing in revenge. kick something back (to someone or something ) to move something back to someone, something, or someplace by kicking. kick something down to break down something by kicking. kick something in to break through something by kicking. kick something out (of something ) to move something out of some- thing or someplace by kicking. kick up a fuss and kick up a row; kick up a storm to become a nuisance; to misbehave and dis- turb (someone). (Row rhymes with cow.) kick up a row Go to kick up a fuss. kick up a storm Go to kick up a fuss. kick up one’s heels to celebrate; to act free or liberated. kid ["kId] 1. n. a child; a youngster. (Informal.) 2. n. a baby goat. 3. n. the skin of W. (No plural.) 4. tv. to tease someone; to joke with someone; to trick someone. 5. adj. [of a brother or sister] younger. (Informal. Prenominal only.) → handle someone with kid gloves kid stuff Go to kid’s stuff. kidney ["kId ni] 1. n. one of the two organs that separate waste and water from the bloodstream, cre- ating urine. 2. the adj. use of Q. kid’s stuff and kid stuff a very easy task. kill ["kIl] 1. tv. to cause the death of someone or something directly. 2. tv. to end something; to cause something to end. (Figurative on Q.) 3. iv. to cause death. 4. n. an animal that is hunted and killed as in Q. (No plural.) kill someone or something off to kill all of a group of people or creatures. kill the fatted calf to prepare an elaborate banquet (in someone’s honor). kill the goose that laid the golden egg to destroy the source of one’s good fortune. kill time to waste time. kill two birds with one stone to solve two problems with one solu- keyboard 310 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 310 TLFeBOOK tion; to achieve two good results from one action. killed outright killed immediately. killer ["kIl #] n. someone or some- thing that kills; someone or some- thing that causes death. kilogram ["kIl @ grAm] n. a metric unit of weight, equal to 1,000 grams or about 2.2 pounds. kilometer [kI "lam @ t#] n. a metric unit of distance, equal to 1,000 meters or about ⁵⁄₈ of a mile. kilowatt ["kIl @ wat] n. a metric unit of electrical power, equal to 1,000 watts per hour. kin ["kIn] n. family; relatives. (No plural form. Treated as plural.) → someone’s next of kin kind ["kaInd] 1. n. a sort; a type; a variety. 2. adj. thoughtful; helpful. (Adv: kindly. Comp: kinder; sup: kindest.) → two of a kind kindergarten ["kIn d# gard n] n. the grade before first grade, usu- ally for children between the ages of 4 and 6. kindness ["kaInn@s] n. the quality of being kind; politeness and car- ing. → do someone a kindness → the milk of human kindness king ["kIN] 1. n. the male ruler of a nation where the head of the country inherits his office from a previous ruler. 2. n. a playing card with a picture of Q on it. 3. n. a playing piece in chess that can move one space in any direction. → fit for a king kingdom ["kIN d@m] 1. n. a country ruled by a king or queen. 2. n. one of three kinds of life forms—such as the animal or plant kingdom. kiss ["kIs] 1. n. a touching of one’s lips to someone or something, especially someone else’s lips. 2. tv. to touch one’s lips to someone or something, especially someone else’s lips. 3. iv. [for two people] to kiss each other on the lips, as in W. kiss and make up to forgive (someone) and be friends again. (Also used literally.) the kiss of death an act that puts an end to someone or something. kiss something good-bye to antici- pate or experience the loss of something. kit ["kIt] 1. n. a container or carry- ing device that holds tools, equip- ment, or supplies for a specific purpose. 2. n. the parts and instructions needed to build a par- ticular thing, such as a model air- plane. → first-aid kit kitchen ["kItS @n] 1. n. a room where food is stored and cooked. 2. the adj. use of Q. → everything but the kitchen sink kite ["kaIt] n. a small wooden frame covered with cloth, paper, or plastic and attached to a long string—flown in the wind for amusement. → (as) high as a kite kitten ["kIt n] n. a baby cat; a young cat. → (as) weak as a kitten knee ["ni] 1. n. the front part of the joint in the middle of the leg. 2. n. the part of a pants leg that covers Q. knee 311 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 311 TLFeBOOK kneecap ["ni kAp] n. the flat bone at the front of the knee. kneel ["nil] iv., irreg. to put the weight of one’s body on one or both knees. (Past tense and past participle: kneeled or knelt.) kneel down (before someone or something ) to show respect by get- ting down on one’s knees in the presence of someone or some- thing. knelt ["nElt] a past tense and past participle of kneel. knew ["nu] past tense of know. knew it was coming and (had) known it was coming to have known in advance that something was to happen. knife ["naIf] 1. n., irreg. a long, flat utensil or tool that has a handle and a sharp edge used for cutting. (Plural: knives.) 2. tv. to stab someone or something. knit ["nIt] tv. to make a fabric or clothing by using long needles to loop yarn or thread together. knit one’s brow to wrinkle one’s brow, especially by frowning. knives ["naIvz] plural of knife. knock ["nak] 1. iv. to hit one’s knuckles against something. 2. n. the noise made by rapping or tap- ping as with Q. 3. n. a sharp hit; a rap; a thump. 4. tv. to hit or bump something and make it move or fall; to hit something against someone or something. knock it off to stop talking; to be silent. (Usually a rude command.) knock on wood a phrase said to cancel out imaginary bad luck. (Often said when one has just mentioned something good that one hopes will succeed or con- tinue.) knock someone cold 1. to knock someone out. (Informal.) 2. to stun someone; to shock someone. knock someone for a loop Go to throw someone for a loop. knock someone or something down to thrust someone or some- thing to the ground by force. knock someone out 1. to knock someone unconscious. 2. to make someone unconsciousness. 3. to wear someone out; to exhaust someone. knock someone over to surprise or overwhelm someone. (Figurative.) knock (up) against someone or something to bump against some- one or something. knot ["nat] 1. n. a tight lump made where pieces of rope, cord, hair, string, etc., are tied together. 2. n. a hard circle of wood in a board, where a small branch was joined. 3. n. a unit of speed equal to 1.15 miles per hour, used to measure the movement of ships and wind at sea. 4. tv. to tie something in Q; to fasten something with Q. 5. iv. to become tied or twisted into Q. → tie the knot → tie someone in knots know ["no] 1. tv., irreg. to have met and become familiar with some- one. (Past tense: knew; past par- ticiple: known.) 2. tv., irreg. to understand something; to have had experience with something. 3. tv., irreg. to recognize someone or something. 4. tv., irreg. to have knowledge about someone or kneecap 312 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 312 TLFeBOOK something; to have information about someone or something. (The object can be a clause with that U.) → (had) known it was coming → in the know → let someone know (about something ) → not know one’s own strength → not know someone from Adam → not know enough to come in out of the rain know (all) the tricks of the trade to possess the skills and knowledge necessary to do some- thing. know better to be wise, experi- enced, or well taught. know one’s ABCs to know the most basic things (like the alphabet) about something. know someone by sight to know the name and recognize the face of someone. know someone or something like a book Go to know someone or some- thing like the palm of one’s hand. know someone or something like the back of one’s hand Go to know someone or something like the palm of one’s hand. know someone or something like the palm of one’s hand and know someone or something like the back of one’s hand; know someone or something like a book to know someone or some- thing very well. know something from memory to have memorized something so that one does not have to consult a written version; to know some- thing well from having seen it very often. know something in one’s bones Go to feel something in one’s bones. know something inside out to know something thoroughly; to know about something thor- oughly. know the ropes to know how to do something. know the score and know what’s what to know the facts; to know the facts about life and its difficulties. know what’s what Go to know the score. know when one is not wanted to sense when one’s presence is not welcome; to know when one is not among friends. (Usually said when someone feels hurt by being ignored by people.) know which side one’s bread is buttered on to know what is most advantageous for oneself. know-how knowledge and skill. (Informal.) knowledge ["nal IdZ] n. the infor- mation that is known about some- one or something. (No plural.) known ["non] Past participle of know. known fact something that is gen- erally recognized as a fact. known quantity someone whose character, personality, and behav- ior are recognized and under- stood. knuckle ["n^k @l] n. the joint between the bones of a finger or the joint between a finger and the hand. knuckle 313 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 313 TLFeBOOK lab ["lAb] n. laboratory. label ["leb @l] 1. n. a small notice bearing important information. 2. tv. to attach Q to something. labor ["leb #] 1. n. a kind of work, especially hard, physical work. (No plural.) 2. n. workers, espe- cially in contrast to people in management. (No plural. Treated as singular.) 3. n. the work a woman’s body does to bring about birth; the contractions of the womb in the process of giving birth. (No plural.) 4. the adj. use of Q, W, or E. 5. iv. to work hard. → the fruit(s) of one’s labor(s) → in labor → one’s labor(s) labor of love a task that is either unpaid or badly paid and that one does simply for one’s own satisfac- tion or pleasure to please someone whom one likes or loves. labor pains ["leb # "penz] n. the (mother’s) pains that accompany the birth of a child. laboratory ["lAb r@ tor i] 1. n. a room or building that contains scientific equipment for experi- ments, tests, manufacture, or instruction. (Often shortened to lab.) 2. the adj. use of Q. lace ["les] 1. n. a delicate web of cotton or other thread woven into a design or pattern. (No plural.) 2. n. a string used for tying some- thing closed, especially for tying one’s shoes closed; a shoelace. 3. adj. made of Q. lace into someone or something to set to work on someone or some- thing; to attack E someone or something. lace something (up) to tie some- thing closed, especially one’s shoes, using a string that goes through a series of holes or loops. lack ["lAk] 1. n. a shortage of some- thing; the condition of not having any of something. 2. tv. to need something; not to have enough of something; to be without some- thing. lacy ["les i] 1. adj. made of lace. (Adv: lacily. Comp: lacier; sup: lac- iest.) 2. adj. delicate and complex like lace; having a delicate pattern. (Figurative on Q. Adv: lacily. Comp: lacier; sup: laciest.) ladder ["lAd #] n. a set of steps attached to two side pieces, used for climbing up to reach some- thing or climbing down from something. → at the bottom of the ladder ladies’ man a man who likes the company of women and whose company is liked by women, the suggestion being that he likes to flirt with them. ladle ["led l] 1. n. a large, deep spoon with a long handle, used for serving a liquid from a bowl. 2. tv. to serve a liquid using Q. lady ["led i] 1. n. a refined woman. (Compare this with gentleman.) 2. n. a woman. (Also a term of address.) lady-killer a man who is very popular with women and who 314 L 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 314 Copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc . Click Here for Terms of Use. TLFeBOOK likes to flirt and make love with them; a man whom women can- not resist. lag ["lAg] n. a delay; the period of time between the end of one event and the start of another. lag behind ( someone or some- thing ) to fall behind someone or something; to linger behind some- one or something. laid ["led] past tense and past par- ticiple of lay. → kill the goose that laid the golden egg lain ["len] a past participle of lie E. lair ["lEr] n. an animal’s shelter; the place where an animal sleeps. lake ["lek] n. a large body of water surrounded by land. lamb ["lAm] 1. n. a young sheep. 2. n. the meat of Q used as food. (No plural.) → (as) innocent as a lamb → in two shakes of a lamb’s tail → like a lamb to the slaughter → like lambs to the slaughter lame ["lem] adj. not able to walk properly; limping; crippled. (Adv: lamely. Comp: lamer; sup: lamest.) lamp ["lAmp] 1. n. a device that makes light; an electric light bulb. 2. n. a stand—often ornamental— that holds an electric light bulb. lamppost ["lAmp post] n. a post that supports a street light. lampshade ["lAmp Sed] n. a cover that fits over the electric light bulb in a lamp to soften the glare of the light. land ["lAnd] 1. n. the dry, solid part of the earth’s surface; the part of the earth’s surface that is not cov- ered with water. (No plural.) 2. n. ground; dirt; soil. (No plural.) 3. n. a portion of Q; an area of ground. (No plural.) 4. n. a coun- try. 5. iv. [for someone or some- thing that is moving or falling through the air] to stop and come to rest somewhere, especially on the ground. 6. iv. [for an airplane] to return to the ground safely. 7. tv. [for a pilot] to return an air- plane to the ground safely. → do a land-office business → lay of the land → live off the fat of the land → on land the land of Nod sleep. (Humorous. From the fact that people some- times nod when they are falling asleep. This is a pun, because the land of Nod is also the name of a place referred to in the Bible.) land someone with someone or something to give or pass on some- one or something unpleasant or unwanted to someone else. land up somehow or somewhere to finish somehow or somewhere; to come to be in a certain state or place at the end. (Usually in the wrong place or in a bad situation.) land (up)on someone or something to light or come to rest on some- one or something. landing ["lAn dIN] n. [an airplane’s] coming to earth; [a pilot’s] act of bringing a plane to earth. landing strip n. the runway or strip of pavement or earth where a plane leaves and returns to earth, especially if short or privately owned. landing strip 315 05 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 315 TLFeBOOK . return an air- plane to the ground safely. → do a land-office business → lay of the land → live off the fat of the land → on land the land of Nod sleep. (Humorous. From the fact that people some- times. over the electric light bulb in a lamp to soften the glare of the light. land ["lAnd] 1. n. the dry, solid part of the earth’s surface; the part of the earth’s surface that is not cov- ered. one’s hand Go to know someone or something like the palm of one’s hand. know someone or something like the palm of one’s hand and know someone or something like the back of one’s hand; know someone