lifeguard • life preserver lifeguard—1. a person assigned to watch against accidents to bathers at a beach, etc.: When a party bathe, one or two of the best swimmers should be posted as lifeguards . 2. a device attached to a locomotive for sweeping obstructions from the track: Had not the lifeguard protected the wheels of the engine the train would have been thrown off the line. life preserver—1. a life belt or other device used in saving life at sea: Taking a life preserver , I ventured into one of the little canoes. 2. a bludgeon loaded with lead, intended for self- defense: The prisoner was given in charge to the police, a life preserver having been found upon him. 3. smth. that may help a person in a critical situation: He was busy preparing a “life preserver ” in the form of stolen documents he could use later. Note: Neither compound fully correlates in meaning with life- saver1. = lifeguard 1: …mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, by which a life-saver inflates a victim’s lungs with his own breath. 2. = life preserver 3: Again many thanks for the money you sent. It was a life-saver . 3. a candy shaped like a small life-belt: The American soldiers gave us chocolate bars, life saver can- dies, chewing gums… lifeline • line of life lifeline —1. a rope (attached to a life-buoy) to which a per- son may cling to save his life: Lifelines used on Mr. Heath’s ill-fated yacht were yesterday called sub-standard by the British Safety Council. 2. smth. regarded as indispensable for survival: A £54-million “lifeline ” was thrown by the Gov- ernment yesterday to the farming industry. 3. (Palmistry) a line that supposedly indicates the duration and events in life: He felt a sharp pain in his palm, the part bounded by his life - line . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase live line—(also: live wire) a cable or wire carrying electric current: Safe work procedures require the use of rubber gloves and other live line tools. line of life—1. = lifeline 3: Had I been a gypsy palmist I might have paid more attention to the old grouch’s lines of life and fate. 2. occupation; line of business: His father being a physician, he also decided to follow in his footsteps and so began the preparation for this line of life . 3. (dated) one’s rank or station in life: She had received a more liberal education than is usually bestowed upon English women in the middle line of life . lifetime • time of life lifetime —1. the period during which a person, plant, or ani- mal is alive: Bigamy—marriage with a second wife or husband during the lifetime of the first. 2. the duration of a thing or a thing’s usefulness: The Viking spacecraft will consist of an orbiter and a lander, each with a lifetime of many months. 3. is used to hyperbolically designate an exceedingly long time: I got complications, had ups and downs. I was a lifetime in that ward. time of life —a particular period in a person’s life: He handles it with the delight that a new mental toy inspires in most men at a certain time of life . See also: one’s time of life / time of one’s life. lift the lid off something • put the tin lid on something lift the lid off something —(also: take the lid off something) expose or reveal smth. scandalous, shocking, etc. that has been hidden: They are all set to release their explosive video which will lift the lid off their work as undercover agents. put the tin lid on something—(also: put the lid on something) cause a plan, an activity, etc. to end: It’s got to be said that our last two results could well put the tin lid on our hopes. lift up something • uplift something lift up something1. physically raise or lift smth.: The bath- room door was hanging by one hinge, and you had to lift it up at the edge in order to even close it. 2. elevate smth. in rank, honor, etc.: These studies discuss the attempt of the Chinese in Malaya to establish various organizations for the Chinese to lift up their status. 3. (in the phrase “lift up one’s eyes”) look upwards: He didn’t lift up his eyes but looked to the ground. He was utterly ashamed of himself. 4. (in the phrase “lift up one’s voice”) make one’s voice louder (to be heard more clearly or in anger): “I didn’t know,” she cried out, lifting up her voice. “How could I help!” 5. (in the phrase “lift up one’s voice”) express one’s strong opinion about smth.: But if he saw this corruption, why did he not there and then lift up his voice against it. uplift something —1. = lift up something 1: As tectonic forces uplifted the island, this limestone was exposed to rainwater and began to dissolve. 2. = lift up something 2: She has not only uplifted the status of Chinese Opera, but has firmly placed Singapore on the cultural map of the world. 3. collect or pick up smth.: Somebody has left a message for Felson. The objective is to uplift the message without being detected. light-fingered • light-handed light-fingered —having nimble fingers, especially for stealing: Jimmy’s name has become a synonym for a light-fingered bur- glar who can crack the combination of a bank vault. light-handed—(of an approach, style, etc.) gentle and restrained: The story is presented in a light-handed way through the eyes of an eleven year-old girl and is fast-paced and entertaining. See also: light in hand / light of hand. light in hand • light of hand light in hand —(of a car, boat, etc.) easy to manage or control: For its bulk it is admirably wieldy and light in hand . light of hand —skilful and swift: He was by far the best dig- ger of them all; none so light of hand as he, so deft to extricate fragile objects… Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase sleight of hand1. used in reference to jugglery or con- juring: Rudy Twomoon is a sleight-of-hand magician who has been performing publicly for ten years. 2. tricky reasoning or practices: They say all the right things in public, and mean- while, with sleight of hand , they’re gutting the laws they don’t like. See also: light-fingered / light-handed. light pen • penlight light pen—(Computers) a penlike device used to transmit information by moving the tip on the screen: The light pen provides users with a natural, easy to use alternative to tradi- tional input devices. penlight—a small electric torch shaped like a pen: Miller had a pen-light in his hand and was looking at his watch. like a bull in a china shop • like an elephant in the room like a bull in a china shop —said of a rough or clumsy person who is very careless and often breaks things: I felt like a bull in a china shop as I perched on a settee in a room filled with wonderful treasures. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase like a bull at a gate— used of smb. acting with unchecked violence or impetuosity: She is dead scared of policemen and you’ll get nothing out of her if you go at it like a bull at a gate . like an elephant in the room— said of a problem that every- one knows well but no one talks about because it is embar- lifeguard – 218 –