The Ls

a labour of Hercules

a task that requires a lot of strength, effort, or time. Cleaning the entire house after the party was a real labour of Hercules.

labour the point

to explain something more than is necessary. I think we've all understood the idea – there's no need to labour the point.

it isn't over till the fat lady sings

used to say that a situation is not finished until the final result is known. The score is close, but it isn't over till the fat lady sings.

Lady Bountiful

a woman who is very generous, especially in a way that shows off her generosity. She's always playing Lady Bountiful, donating money and telling everyone about it.

live off the land (or the country)

to grow or catch all the food you need. After moving to the countryside, they tried to live off the land.

up with the lark

to wake up very early in the morning. Farmers are usually up with the lark.

speak the same language

to have similar ideas, opinions, or ways of thinking. We get on well because we speak the same language about business.

fall (or drop) into someone's lap

to be received or achieved without any effort. The job offer just fell into his lap.

be the last word

the most modern, advanced, or best example of something. This new smartphone is the last word in technology.

in the lap of luxury

in very comfortable and expensive conditions. After years of hard work, they’re now living in the lap of luxury.

in the lap of the gods

used to say that the result of something is uncertain and depends on luck. We’ve done all we can – it’s in the lap of the gods now.

have the last word

to have the final say in a discussion or argument. She always has to have the last word in every conversation.

(drinking) in the last chance saloon

making a final attempt before it is too late. The team is in the last chance saloon – they must win this match.

laugh someone or something out of court

to refuse to take someone or something seriously. His ridiculous excuse was laughed out of court.

laugh someone or something to scorn

to show strong contempt by laughing. They laughed his suggestion to scorn.

last thing

the very last action before something else. I always check my emails last thing at night.

late in the day

too late to be useful. It’s a bit late in the day to change the plan now.

laugh up your sleeve

to be secretly amused. She was laughing up her sleeve at his mistake.

good for a laugh

entertaining or amusing. Going to the comedy club is always good for a laugh.

play something for laughs

to do something in a way intended to be funny. He played the role purely for laughs.

have the last laugh

to succeed or be proved right when others thought you would fail. She had the last laugh when her prediction came true.

be laughing

to be in a fortunate position. If we win this contract, we’ll be laughing.

no laughing matter

a serious subject. Losing your job is no laughing matter.

look to your laurels

to make an effort to maintain your reputation. The champion will have to look to his laurels if he wants to keep the title.

laugh in someone's face

to show open contempt or disbelief. When I asked for a raise, he laughed in my face.

the laugh is on me (or you, etc.)

used when you realise you were wrong and others can laugh at you. I thought I was right, but the laugh’s on me.

a laugh a minute

very funny or entertaining. The show was a laugh a minute.

laugh yourself silly (or sick)

to laugh uncontrollably. We laughed ourselves silly watching the comedy.

laugh on the other side of your face

to stop being amused when something goes wrong. You’ll be laughing on the other side of your face when the bill arrives.

be a law unto yourself

to behave in an independent way, ignoring rules. He’s a law unto himself and does things his own way.

take someone to law

to start a legal case against someone. They threatened to take him to law over the contract.

lead someone by the nose

to control someone completely. She leads him by the nose – he does everything she says.

lay a charge

to formally accuse someone of a crime. The police decided to lay a charge against the suspect.

lay a (or the) ghost

to finally stop being troubled by a past problem. The victory helped lay the ghost of their previous defeat.

lead from the front

to take an active part in what you are leading. The manager leads from the front and works alongside the team.

lead in your pencil

energy or enthusiasm, especially sexual (informal). He still has plenty of lead in his pencil.

lay someone low

to make someone ill or weak. The flu laid her low for a week.

lead with your chin

to behave in a way that makes you vulnerable to attack or criticism. He led with his chin by making that bold statement.

lay something on thick (or with a trowel)

to exaggerate praise or flattery. He was laying the compliments on thick.

lay something to rest

to finally settle or resolve something. The report should lay those rumours to rest.

lay something up in lavender

to put something away carefully for future use (old-fashioned). She laid her wedding dress up in lavender.

leave much (or a lot) to be desired

to be not very good. The service at the hotel left a lot to be desired.

like a leech

clinging to someone persistently. He stuck to her like a leech all evening.

spring a leak

to start leaking (of a boat or container). The boat sprang a leak during the storm.

make up (the) leeway

to make up for lost time or progress. We need to make up the leeway if we want to finish on schedule.

a leap in the dark

an action whose results are uncertain. Starting the business was a leap in the dark.

leap to the eye

to be immediately noticeable. The mistake leapt to the eye as soon as I read it.

be left at the post

to be left behind at the start of something. The other competitors left him at the post.

have two left feet

to be clumsy, especially when dancing. I can’t dance – I have two left feet.

left, right, and centre

everywhere or in all directions. They were spending money left, right, and centre.

least said, soonest mended

it is better to say little about something bad. I won’t comment – least said, soonest mended.

feel (or find) your legs

to become confident in a new situation. It took her a few weeks to find her legs in the new job.

leave someone cold

to fail to impress or interest someone. The film left me cold.

on your last legs

about to fail or collapse. The old car is on its last legs.

in less than no time

very quickly. He fixed the problem in less than no time.

a legend in their own lifetime

someone famous while still alive. She became a legend in her own lifetime.

go legit

to start operating legally (after illegal activity). After years in the black market, he decided to go legit.

let someone down gently

to give bad news kindly. I tried to let her down gently about the rejection.

let it drop (or rest)

to stop talking about something. Let’s just let the matter drop.

let it go (or pass)

to decide not to react to something. I was annoyed but decided to let it go.

lady (or man or gentleman) of leisure

someone who does not have to work. Since retiring, he’s been living as a gentleman of leisure.

let or hindrance

without any obstruction. The work proceeded without let or hindrance.

hand someone a lemon

to give someone something worthless. The used car turned out to be a real lemon.

lend an ear (or your ears)

to listen sympathetically. She’s always willing to lend an ear.

let something drop (or fall)

to accidentally reveal information. He let the secret drop during the conversation.

lend your name to something

to support something by allowing your name to be associated with it. She lent her name to the charity campaign.

to the letter

exactly as instructed. He followed the rules to the letter.

keep a (or the) lid on

to control something to prevent it from becoming worse. The government tried to keep a lid on the scandal.

do your level best

to try as hard as possible. I did my level best to finish on time.

put the (or a) lid on

to stop something completely. That decision put the lid on further discussion.

on the level

honest and legal. I promise everything is on the level.

take liberties

to behave too freely or disrespectfully. He’s always taking liberties with other people’s things.

take (or lift) the lid off

to reveal the truth about something. The investigation lifted the lid on the corruption.

give the lie to something

to show that something is not true. The new evidence gave the lie to his claims.

licence to print money

a way of making a lot of money easily. Owning that franchise is a licence to print money.

at a lick

quickly. He ran off at a lick.

let something lie

to leave a matter without further discussion. It’s best to let the argument lie.

a lick and a promise

a quick and careless wash or clean. I just gave the car a lick and a promise.

lie like a trooper

to tell lies very easily. He lies like a trooper when he’s in trouble.

lick someone's boots

to behave obsequiously. He’s always licking the boss’s boots.

lie through your teeth (or in your throat)

to tell a very obvious lie. He was lying through his teeth.

live a lie

to live in a false or dishonest way. She felt she had been living a lie for years.

lick your lips (or chops)

to show pleasure at the thought of something. He licked his lips at the idea of the prize.

as far as in me lies

to the best of my ability. I’ll help you as far as in me lies.

do anything for a quiet life

to do whatever is necessary to avoid trouble. He agreed just to have a quiet life.

blow the lid off

to reveal something shocking. The journalist blew the lid off the scandal.

for the life of me

used to emphasise inability. I can’t for the life of me remember his name.

throw a lifeline to someone

to give help in a difficult situation. The loan threw a lifeline to the struggling company.

of a lifetime

the best or most important of its kind. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.

lift (or stir) a finger (or hand)

to make the slightest effort. He never lifts a finger to help around the house.

larger than life

having a very strong personality. He’s a larger-than-life character.

be light on

to not have enough of something. The report was rather light on detail.

be light on your feet

to move gracefully. She’s very light on her feet when she dances.

in (the) light of

considering something. In light of recent events, we’ve changed the plan.

light the (or a) fuse (or touchpaper)

to start something that will cause trouble. His comment lit the fuse for the argument.

not on your life

absolutely not. “Are you going to lend him money?” “Not on your life!”

see life

to have a lot of varied experiences. Travelling helps you see life.

take your life in your hands

to do something very risky. Driving in that storm was taking your life in your hands.

the light of your life

the person you love most. His daughter is the light of his life.

to the life

exactly like the original. The portrait was her to the life.