let the cat out of the bag • let the genie out of the bottle let the cat out of the bag—(accidentally) reveal a secret: A few days later, when I wasn’t around, she let the cat out of the bag . Apparently, she didn’t realize she had ruined a surprise. let the genie out of the bottle—let smth. bad happen that cannot be put right or controlled: The ambassador warned that the deployment of space weapons will “let the genie out of the bottle .” let the fox guard the henhouse • put the cat among the pigeons let the fox guard the henhouse—(also: set the fox to keep the geese) trust a person with smth. that he is especially likely to misappropriate or abuse: Back in 1951, members of the State Department wrote the text of the treaty. Now different people in the State Department are trying to define what was written. I don’t believe we should let the fox guard the henhouse . put the cat among the pigeons—(also: set the cat among the pigeons) do or say smth. that is bound to cause trouble and make people angry: I put the cat among the pigeons by rec- ommending that revalidation should include the provision of a certificate that the doctor has passed a knowledge test at some stage in the five year period. let’s be having you • thanks for having me let’s be having you—is used at public places as a request to move somewhere quickly: Ladies and gentlemen, let’s be hav - ing you : the museum closes in ten minutes. thanks for having me—thank you for your hospitality (said as one says goodbye): Thanks for having me , Jo—we’ve all had a lovely time! letter box • mailbox letter box —1. (UK) a private box or other container to which mail is delivered: When I came back from holiday the first thing I found in my letter box was a letter refusing my pro- posal for the TV show. 2. (UK) a narrow opening in a door through which a mailman can push envelopes, cards, etc.: Mr. Marble, who was already awake … heard the newspaper pushed through the letter box of the front door downstairs. 3. a box in a public place in which letters are deposited for dispatch: Of all the clues, the most promising of all was that provided by the scrawl on a penny postcard, dropped in a letter box in Newark. 4. a film format for movies when shown on television: The term “letter box ” was originally coined by 20th Century–Fox when CinemaScope first appeared in 1953. mailbox—1. (U.S.) a private box to which mail is delivered (in some areas the resident signals the mailman by putting up the little red flag that the mailbox contains letters to be picked up and mailed): A letter in his mailbox during his sophomore year of college started Dawayne on a journey that took him to Boston, then Hawaii. 2. = letter box 3: Letters are collected from mail - boxes located throughout the country, each posted with a sign that informs customers of mail pick-up times. 3. (Computers) the directory where computer stores messages: How do I change the display order of the messages in my mailbox ? I want the most recent items to appear at the top of my list. See also: post box / post-office box. letterman • man of letters letterman —(U.S.) a sportsman who has received some mark of distinction: He holds a Masters degree in Physical Educa- tion from the Citadel, where he was a three years letterman in football. Note: The compound does not correlate in meaning with mail- man—a person who delivers letters, etc. or collects them from the letter-boxes: Our mail was delivered by the mailman who drove his car to every mail box along his assigned route. man of letters —(formal) a scholar; a writer: To listen to the discoursing of an accomplished man of letters is always a pleas- ure. level someone • level with someone level someone—1. knock a person down: However, Cody got cocky. He began to taunt Marshall, who leveled him with a football style tackle. 2. totally baffle a person; render smb. completely helpless: These questions absolutely leveled me. Actually, they still do; I just handle it better. level with someone—(coll.) give smb. one’s honest opinion; speak frankly with a person: I’d better level with you, son…. From now on, control is through me. level something against someone • level something at someone level something against someone—state a charge or criticism against a person: He seems to have quite the tendency of lev - eling accusations against other people based on pure, thin-air speculation. level something at someone—1. aim smth., such as a weapon, directly towards smb.: In a moment he was up again, swaying unsteadily on his feet, but still trying to level his rifle at me. 2. = level something against someone: Both sides have spent much time leveling accusations at each other about political games and endangering the safety of Australians. liable for something • liable to something liable for something—legally responsible for smth.: Is a man liable for his wife’s debts in your country? liable to something —1. subject to some penalty: If you drive a car to the danger of the public, you make yourself liable to a heavy fine. 2. predisposed to smth.; likely to do smth.: We put ourselves under pressure, which made us liable to mistakes in making decisions. liberty boat • liberty ship liberty boat—(UK Nautical) a boat carrying sailors with leave to go ashore: They knew that the liberty-boat would be on shore for them at that hour. liberty ship—(WWII) a prefabricated U.S.-built merchant vessel: Some of the wartime “liberty” ships fractured when lying in port, without operational loads. liberty boy • liberty man liberty boy —1. (coll.) a noisy partisan of liberty; a supporter for a freedom movement: The liberty boys were honored with the presence of ministers. 2. (UK Nautical) a sailor having leave of absence: People from ships called “liberty boys ” are only allowed to come on shore on Sundays for recreation. liberty man— = liberty boy 2: A few hundred liberty men on each side … their flights delayed by bad weather, returned to the firing line too late. life in the wild • life in the wilderness life in the wild—(of animals and birds) life in an undomes- ticated free state in their natural surroundings: Even as Buck is increasingly drawn to a life away from humanity, a life in the wild , his affection for Thornton keeps him from making the final break. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound wildlife— wild animals and birds living in a natural undomesticated state: We showed the photos of the animal to locals who know the wildlife of the area, but nobody had ever seen this creature before. life in the wilderness—life in a mostly uninhabited area in its natural state, such as a forest or mountainous region: The story tells of a modern-day pioneer who becomes bored with the troubles of city life and heads for life in the wilderness . – 217 – life in the wild