terms of his punctuality: Jane is a hard worker, very method- ical, and a good time-keeper . 3. said of a watch or clock: This is a Bulova military style wrist watch and for its age it is super clean and a good time-keeper . Kentish man • Man of Kent Kentish man —(UK dated) a native of Kent born east of the river Medway: The strong Kentish Man , gave three proofs of his extraordinary strength before his Majesty. Man of Kent—(UK dated) a native of Kent born west of the river Medway: Man of Kent , a title claimed by the inhabitants of the Weald as their peculiar designation: all others they regard as Kentish men. key man • key-holder key man—a person who plays a leading or important role in smth.: One of the key men in this new method of assessing needs and opportunities is the local prefect. key-holder —a person who keeps the keys of a workshop, factory, etc.: Workmen were waiting outside ready to begin work for the day. The key-holder had not arrived. kick against something • kick something kick against something—protest about or oppose smth.: They knew life … and it was as useless to kick against the laws of society as to interfere with the laws of nature. Cf.: kick against the pricks — protest about or oppose smth. without success (harming oneself by doing so): Somewhere in our teens or twen- ties most of us shrug and decide not to “kick against the pricks .” kick something —strike smth. with the foot: Actually, to push didn’t really do it, you kind of had to kick the door to really get it to pop open. kick one’s heels • kick up one’s heels kick one’s heels—(coll.) have nothing to do, especially while being kept waiting (also: cool one’s heels): I had to kick my heels for nearly two hours before I could see the boss. kick up one’s heels—(coll.) cast off one’s inhibitions and have a good time: I took two weeks for my holidays and had a pleasant time kicking up my heels around the beaches of Majorca. kill an elephant • shoot the bull kill an elephant—do smth. to excess; overdo things: Tagua palm is also called natural ivory. We found tagua all over the place and you don’t have to kill an elephant for it! Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase kill the rabbit1. (dated euph.) get a positive test result from an old-fashioned pregnancy test: Back in my mom’s day … there was “the rabbit test.” If a woman was pregnant, it was said that she “killed the rabbit .” 2. (Aviation) turn down the intensity of the approach lights: If you ever hear “kill the rabbit ” while listening to air traffic control, the pilot is asking the controller to turn off the strobe lights. shoot the bull —(U.S. sl.) engage in idle chat: It was raining, so everybody spent the day indoors drinking beer and shooting the bull . kill the clock • kill time kill the clock—(Sport) keep the ball away from the opposing team at the end of a game so that they cannot score: The Warthogs kept passing the ball back and forth among them so as to kill the clock . kill time —do smth. which is not very interesting while one is waiting for time to pass: We then went over to the record shop just to kill time . See also: kill-time / killing time. kill-time • killing time kill-time —an occupation which is not very useful or inter- esting, intended to pass away the time: It was such an utter loss to the reader, that he could not so well call it passtime as kill-time . killing time —said of the time at which an animal is fit to be killed: Hog killing time is a season of severe and lasting cold weather, required for the preserving of the meat. See also: kill the clock / kill time. king bird • king of birds king bird —an American tyrant flycatcher (Tyrannus caroli- nensis): If you ever saw a crow with a king bird after him, you will get an image of a dull speaker and a lively listener. king of birds—said of the eagle: The strength, keen vision, graceful and powerful flight of the eagle are proverbial, and have given to him the title of the king of birds . Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase king’s bird—(also: king bird of paradise) a bird of the genus Paradisea: The king’s bird is carried in the procession, and the yelling and chatting of the marketers is heard above anything. King Charles’s head • King’s head King Charles’s head—a subject that keeps on appearing in a person’s conversation: He talks about nothing but money— it’s becoming a King Charles’s head ! Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase King Charlesshort for “King Charles’s Spaniel”: A little “King Charles ,” with a crimson ribbon round his neck is jumping on the sofa. King’s head—representation of a king on a postage stamp, etc.: Take care never to step on a coin or banknote or a postage stamp with the king’s head on it. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound kinghead— a coarse annual plant (Ambrosia trifida): The seeds consist of one central beak surrounded by a circle of five or more marginal points, giving a king’s crown appear- ance, hence the plant’s common names—kinghead and crown-weed. king for a day • king of day, the king for a day—a person whose fame, popularity, etc., is but short-lived: Superintendent Michael Snow was king for a day in Middlefield this summer, serving as grand marshal of the town’s bicentennial parade. king of day, the—(poetic) the Sun: I have never seen Italy’s far-famed sky, but I do not think it could surpass that evening sunset. The king of day sinking into the bosom of Silver Lake… king of metals • queen’s metal king of metals —gold: This king of metals will remain with us as long as beauty wishes to adorn itself and designers wish to create timeless classics in jewelry. queen’s metal—an alloy of tin, antimony, lead and bismuth: Queen’s metal serves also for teapots and other domestic uten- sils. king of waters • water king king of waters—the name given to the river Amazon: There are many large rivers … but what are these, severally, to the “king of waters ” on whose deep current fleets and navies may float. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase king of the sea1. a fabulous being that lives in water and rules over the sea: The tale centers around the water spirit Undine, daughter of the King of the Sea . 2. ruler of the sea: There was Will Merrymouth, whose daring in fight and skill in seamanship had won him the soubriquet of “King of the Sea .” – 207 – king of waters