How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.
lick the dust — 1. To be killed or finished off (informal) 2. To be abjectly servile • • • Main Entry: ↑lick … Useful english dictionary
To lick the dust — Lick Lick (l[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Licked} (l[i^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Licking}.] [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likk[=o]n, D. likken, OHG. lecch[=o]n, G. lecken, Goth. bi laig[=o]n, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei chein, Skr. lih, rih.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bite the dust — Synonyms and related words: bow, break up, crumble, crumble to dust, disintegrate, drop dead, fall, fall dead, fall down dead, fall to pieces, go down, go to pieces, go under, have enough, lick the dust, lose, lose out, lose the day, say uncle,… … Moby Thesaurus
bite the dust — to die A synonym of lick the dust, and usually of violent death, although not necessarily after falling from your horse in a Western movie. Rare figurative use: .. .Jerry will unleash some devil s device and another brilliant… … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
bite the dust — Meaning Die or fall prostrate to the ground. Origin From The Bible, Old Testament, Psalms lxxii. 6 His enemies shall lick the dust. Used later in many B feature cowboy movies … Meaning and origin of phrases
To lick the spittle of — Lick Lick (l[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Licked} (l[i^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Licking}.] [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likk[=o]n, D. likken, OHG. lecch[=o]n, G. lecken, Goth. bi laig[=o]n, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei chein, Skr. lih, rih.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Lick — (l[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Licked} (l[i^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Licking}.] [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likk[=o]n, D. likken, OHG. lecch[=o]n, G. lecken, Goth. bi laig[=o]n, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei chein, Skr. lih, rih. [root]121. Cf.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
dust — [dust] n. [ME < OE, akin to MLowG: for IE base see DUN1] 1. powdery earth or other matter in bits fine enough to be easily suspended in air 2. a cloud of such matter 3. confusion; turmoil 4. a) earth, esp. as the place of burial … English World dictionary
lick — licker, n. /lik/, v.t. 1. to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often fol. by up, off, from, etc.): to lick a postage stamp; to lick an ice cream cone. 2. to make, or cause to become, by stroking with the tongue:… … Universalium
dust — dustless, adj. /dust/, n. 1. earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. 2. a cloud of finely powdered earth or other matter in the air. 3. any finely powdered substance, as sawdust. 4. the ground; the earth s surface. 5. the substance to which … Universalium
