sive: We had to wait a long time for a poor dinner, and pay a long bill for it when it came. 3. (Finance) a bill of exchange that runs for more than 30 and often more than 60 days: The fluctuations in long bills are co-extensive with the fluctuations in the value of money. 4. a bird with a long bill (such as a snipe or a woodcock): We always had flushed a few “long bills from the wet swales. longbill— = long bill 4: The bird footprints seem to be from a distant ancestor of modern birds such as ducks, plovers, and longbills . long clothes • long robes long clothes—long dress for a baby’s body: But before he was out of long clothes , the cloven foot began to show; he developed a taste for low pleasures. long robes—long, loose garment worn as a sign of rank or office by judges, priests, etc.: In most nations judges wear long robes , usually black or red, and sit on an elevated platform during trials. long head • short head long head —(coll.) capacity for calculation and foresight: He has always had luck, and he has a long head too. short head—a narrow margin in victory (originally of horse races): A photo finish was predicted by polls. The final one showed M. Mitered winning by a short head . Long John • long johns Long John—1. a nickname of a tall, thin man: As I had warned Long John , there comes a time when you begin to think that you know it all. 2. is used of a long coffee table: Some of his most famous pieces from this period are the 1946 “Long John ” table and the simple 1948 chaise lounge. 3. a timber tree (Triplaris surinamensis) found along the lower Amazon and in the Guianas: An unusual tree which is flow- ering at the moment is the Long John tree. long johns —(sl.) long woolen underwear: We stripped down to our long johns so that the technicians could plaster us all over with strips of wet paper. long line • long-distance line long line—a deep-sea fishing-line: Every third hook on the long lines is baited with crabs. long-distance line—(U.S.) a telephone line connecting two exchanges in different telephone areas: The lines between exchanges in this country [Britain] are known as trunks. For these the American terms toll line or long-distance line is used. long shillings • short money long shillings—(UK coll.) good wages: There are “long shillings ” to be earned at the docks, but no easy ones; and the work is not only hard but dangerous. short money—1. money to borrow or to lend upon short- time loans: Long-term money market interest rates fell, whereas short money market rates remained unchanged. 2. a small amount of money: The weaknesses in his game were magnified by the fact that he was playing on short money . long ship • long-boat long ship—(hist.) a galley accommodating a large number of rowers: It was the perfection of the sailing long ship that heralded the beginning of the Viking Age. long-boat—the largest boat belonging to a sailing vessel: The vessel is going to pieces, and it is full time to get into the long-boat and leave her. long story • short story long story—said of a long narrative or account: Miss Sally told us a long story about her friends and about her “coming- out party.” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase tall story—(also: tall tale) a story that is difficult to believe: Their parents yarned over cups of tea, swapped tall stories and books. short story—a piece of fiction shorter than a novel: The short story of today is one of two kinds—what is called the Mag- azine Story; and the newer kind which derives from Chekhov. Long Tom • Tom Long Long Tom—1. a heavy gun of great length: I was already sergeant when we made a night attack and captured and blew up Long Tom . 2. (Austral.) a marine fish of the family Beloni- dae: Long Toms have the habit of leaping from the water, when either pursuing or being pursued. 3. a gold-washing cradle: “Long Tom ” or cradle was a trough filled with earth, into which water flowed; the cradle was rocked, and the gold washed from the earth fell into a tin dish. 4. a particularly high-powered telephoto camera lens: Russ, grinning, remem- bered a Long Tom lens he had seen in the hands of one of the photographers. Tom Long—said of a lazy, slow man who takes a long time in coming, etc.: We are very concerned that many people will be fooled into thinking that they could live with a Tom Long government. look a spectacle • look spectacular look a spectacle —appear silly or ridiculous: Dressed in our finest raingear, I imagine we did look a spectacle while waiting for our clothes to become clean once again. look spectacular —look extremely attractive: Diana looked spectacular in a continually changing wardrobe of red, black and white dresses with matching feather boas. look ahead to something • look forward to something look ahead to something—prepare or plan smth. for the future: Drivers and teams are now looking ahead to the next contest in Malaysia. look forward to something—anticipate smth. with great pleasure: Every year the children look forward to the holidays coming. look alive • look half dead look alive —1. (coll.) act or respond quickly: Challenge your staff to become excited about the services they provide. Chal- lenge them to look alive ! 2. (of images) appear life-like: I want my paintings to look alive — so you feel you can step right into it and get lost. look half dead—(also: look more dead than alive) said of smb. in a very poor physical condition (owing to illness, exhaustion, etc.): People sleeping on the floor, looking half dead and mis- erable, are an all too familiar sight in transportation termi- nals. look at someone • look on someone look at someone—1. direct one’s gaze towards smb.: “My God, look at these people! Just look at them—I ask you,” he exclaimed. 2. take a person as an example: Education is not necessary for success in life; look at your uncle Joe. look on someone—regard smb. as a particular kind of person: Do you look on him as an authority on the subject? look at something • look on something look at something —1. direct one’s gaze towards smth.: Look at this plant … its leaves all point to the north, as true as the magnet. 2. examine or consider smth. with attention and in detail: We must look at the question from all sides. look on something—1. (of a room, etc.) give a view of smth.; overlook smth. (also: look on to something): Breakfast is also long clothes – 222 –