单词 | out on a limb |
释义 | > as lemmasout on a limb d. out on a limb, in an isolated or stranded position; at a disadvantage. Originally U.S. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > [phrase] > in a difficult position > in straits waterOE straitly steadc1400 need-stead?c1450 at the worst hand1490 in suds1575 lock1598 at a bad hand1640 in a wood1659 in bad bread1743 up a stump1829 in a tight (also awkward, bad, etc.) spot1851 up shit creek1868 in the cart1889 in the soup1889 out on a limb1897 in a spot1929 up the creek1941 consommé1957 1897 A. H. Lewis Wolfville 59 Seven of us..seein' whatever can we tie down an' brand, when some Mexicans gets us out on a limb. 1934 Amer. Speech 9 11/2 A player is out on a limb when he is allowed to play a hand at an overambitious contract. 1939 F. S. Fitzgerald Lett. (1964) 50 She might not consider the rearrangement of someone else's words a literary composition, which would leave you out on a limb. 1943 J. B. Priestley Daylight on Sat. xxvii. 210 Somebody does something dam' silly, which probably means that some poor devils somewhere are left out on a limb. 1948 J. Steinbeck Russ. Jrnl. (1949) iii. 41 No one is willing to go out on any limb. No one is willing to say yes or no to a proposition. He must always go to someone higher. 1959 Economist 18 Apr. 214/2 President Nasser is out on a bit of a limb, but in this uncomfortable situation he can take comfort from the thought that there is still no other pan-Arab leader in sight. 1972 Guardian 7 Feb. 10/6 Once in the Commission, the British Civil Servant will feel out on a limb, away from the main-stream of his department. 1973 Times 23 May 16/5 At the international law of the sea conference Britain could find herself isolated and out on a limb. < as lemmas |
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