单词 | gnaw a file |
释义 | > as lemmasgnaw a file a. A metal (usually steel) instrument, having one or more of its surfaces covered with numerous small raised cutting edges or teeth, for abrading, reducing, or smoothing surfaces. to bite file, gnaw a file: figurative to make an attempt that can result only in vexatious failure (in allusion to the fable); similarly to lick a file (see quot. 1647). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > shaping tools or equipment > file > [noun] filea800 the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > attempt the impossible to hunt for or catch a hare with a tabor1399 gnaw a file1484 to take hares with foxes1577 to seek a hare in a hen's nest1599 to wash a Negro (white)1611 to milk the bull (also he-goat, ram)1616 to lick a file1647 to set the tortoise to catch the hare1803 to look for a needle in a haystack1855 to bite file1880 a800 Corpus Gloss. (Sweet) 1234 Lima, fiil. OE Riddle 71 4 Nu eom wraþra laf, fyres ond feole, fæste genearwad, wire geweorþad. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xliv. 12 The yren smyth with the file wroȝte. 1432 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 91 A vyle, and a forser with loke and kye. 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope iii. xii She [the serpent] fond a fyle whiche she beganne to gnawe with her teethe. c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) iii. 22 Ane file is ane instrument to file doune yrn. 1647 H. More Philos. Poems i. 11. cxii Like the mistaken Cat that lick'd the file. 1649 Bp. J. Hall Humble Motion to Parl. 26 As soone as they have done licking of this file. 1697 J. Evelyn Numismata vi. 214 The File..which they..use for the better smoothing of the Edges. 1774 J. Beattie Minstrel: 2nd Bk. xiv. 8 So gnaw'd the viper the corroding file. 1824 T. Tredgold Pract. Ess. Strength of Cast Iron 90 These bars yielded freely to the file. 1880 W. Cory Guide Mod. Eng. Hist. i. 105 He bit at the file of English obstinacy, and broke his teeth. < as lemmas |
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