A lid is the top of a box or other container which can be removed or raised when you want to open the container.
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Your lids are the pieces of skin which cover your eyes when you close them.
A dull pain began to throb behind his lids.
3. singular noun
If you say that someone is keeping thelidon an activity or a piece of information, you mean that they are restricting the activity or are keeping the information secret.
[informal]
The soldiers' presence seemed to keep a lid on the violence. [+ on]
Their finance ministry is still trying to put a lid on the long-simmering securitiesscandal. [+ on]
4. singular noun
If you say that you want to keep alidon the cost of doing something, you mean that you want to prevent it costing you more than you feel is reasonable.
If our industry is to remain competitive it must mean keeping a lid on prices.
More Synonyms of lid
lid in British English
(lɪd)
noun
1.
a cover, usually removable or hinged, for a receptacle
a saucepan lid
a desk lid
2. short for eyelid
3. botany another name for operculum (sense 2)
4. slang short for skidlid
5. US old-fashioned, slang
a quantity of marijuana, usually an ounce
6. dip one's lid
7. flip one's lid
8. put the lid on
9. take the lid off
Derived forms
lidded (ˈlidded)
adjective
Word origin
Old English hlid; related to Old Friesian hlid, Old High German hlit cover
lid in American English
(lɪd)
noun
1.
a movable cover, hinged or unattached, as for a box, trunk, pot, etc.; top
2.
eyelid
3. US, Informal
a curb or restraint
to put a lid on gambling
4. Slang
a cap, hat, etc.
5. Slang
a small package of marijuana, usually about an ounce
6. Botany; Loosely
an operculum
Word origin
ME < OE hlid (akin to Ger -lid in augenlid, eyelid) < base seen in OE hlidan, to cover < IE base *lei-, to lean1
More idioms containing
lid
keep the lid on something
blow the lid off something
flip your lid
Examples of 'lid' in a sentence
lid
Cover with a lid and set aside.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You sense the toughest task so far has been keeping a lid on things.
The Sun (2016)
Cover with a lid and bring to the boil.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Will it keep a lid on pay?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Put the lid on the casserole and place in the oven.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
And the boot lid wouldn't open.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Turn the heat down, cover a lid and cook until soft.
The Sun (2016)
When times are good migrants arrive, look for work and keep a lid on costs and prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Thread fruit on to skewers and place in plastic freezer box with a lid.
The Sun (2013)
Top with the lid of the roll and serve at once.
The Sun (2011)
Tip in the mussels and cover with a lid.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Stir and put the lid on to keep warm.
The Sun (2013)
But today the actors lift the lid on their secret lives.
The Sun (2007)
This would act as a lid on inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Sprinkle the spears with a little salt and put the lid on.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She closed the lid of the laptop.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Place in a plastic bag or plastic box with lid and allow to cool.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Place a lid over the top of the stuffing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Take off the heat and cover with a lid.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Keeping a tight lid on your emotions.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
Put the lid on the dish and place the dish in the oven for three hours.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Place food on the grill over the tray and close the lid while cooking.
The Sun (2014)
The infrared sensors on the bowl detect movement and open the lid as your pet approaches.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Does a larger picture emerge to match the one on the lid of the box?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
And she could lift the lid on top stars.
The Sun (2014)
Put a lid on or cover it with foil and cook for two more minutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It contends that the ability to keep a lid on costs alone should enable it to deliver strong returns to shareholders.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If bosses manage to keep a lid on labour costs while boosting investment, industry will prosper.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As long as workers produce more per hour, companies can lift pay without raising prices - keeping a lid on inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
lid
British English: lid /lɪd/ NOUN
A lid of a container is the top which you open to reach inside.
She lifted the lid of the box.
American English: lid
Arabic: غِطَاءٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: tampa
Chinese: 盖子
Croatian: poklopac
Czech: poklice víko nádoby
Danish: låg
Dutch: deksel
European Spanish: tapa
Finnish: kansi
French: couvercle
German: Deckel
Greek: καπάκι
Italian: coperchio
Japanese: 蓋
Korean: 뚜껑
Norwegian: lokk
Polish: pokrywka
European Portuguese: tampa
Romanian: capac
Russian: крышка
Latin American Spanish: tapa
Swedish: lock
Thai: ฝาปิด
Turkish: kapak
Ukrainian: кришка
Vietnamese: cái vung
Chinese translation of 'lid'
lid
(lɪd)
n(c)
[of box, case, pan]盖(蓋) (gài) (个(個), gè)
(= eyelid) 眼睑(瞼) (yǎnjiǎn) (个(個), gè)
to keep a/the lid on sth (fig) 隐(隱)瞒(瞞)某事 (yǐnmán mǒushì)
(noun)
Definition
a removable or hinged cover
I lifted the lid to give it a quick stir.
Synonyms
top
the plastic tops from aerosol containers
covering
Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
cover
Put a polythene cover over it to protect it from dust.
idiom
See put a lid on something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cover
Definition
anything which covers
Put a polythene cover over it to protect it from dust.