| 单词 | to say b to a battledore |
| 释义 | > as lemmasto say B (or Bo!) to a battledore 5. Phrases. not to know a B from a battledore (archaic): to be utterly illiterate; to say B (or Bo!) to a battledore (obsolete): to open one's mouth in speech (cf. to say bo to a goose at goose n. 1d); hence, battledore is alliteratively used along with B in various locutions. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > speak [verb (intransitive)] > speak up (with courage) to say B (or Bo!) to a battledore1570 to say bo to a goose (also occasionally battledore)1588 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1405/2 Hee knew not a B. from a battledoore, nor euer a letter of the booke. 1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. I2 Now you talke of a Bee, Ile tell you a tale of a Battle-dore. 1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe To Rdr. Euery man can say Bee to a Battledore, and write in prayse of Vertue. 1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 118 The Clergy of this time were..not able to say bo to a battledore. 1630 J. Taylor Wks. ii. 43/1 Criticks..That of a B. will make a Battledore. 1877 [see sense 3]. 1884 W. Black Judith Shakespeare xxi Fools that scarce know a B from a battledoor. < as lemmas |
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