last thing, the • one final thing last thing, the —1. smth. that a person does in the last place: The last thing I do at night before going to bed is to check my e-mail. 2. smth. least likely to be expected under the cir- cumstances: Doesn’t he know that orange juice is the last thing to drink if you’re dieting? 3. (also: last word, the) smth. that is most up-to-date; smth. that cannot be surpassed: The last thing in leather is pearl-tinted fish-skin. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase latest thing, the— = last thing, the 3: The sketch of Bain’s facsimile machine of 1843 will shake up those who think the fax machine is the latest thing in technology. one final thing—(also: one final word) is used to introduce a parting comment or advice: And one final thing , don’t haul around a lot of expensive camera stuff. It just tells the thieves who to rob. last word, the • last words last word, the—1. (also: last thing, the) smth. that is most up-to-date; smth. that cannot be surpassed: These three white trucks represent the last word in modern emergency equip- ment. 2. said of a person or thing that is as bad as it is possible to find: Don’t talk to me about untidy kids. I’ve got two at home that are the last word . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase one final word(also: one final thing) used to introduce a parting comment or advice: “One final word , keep your chin up.” “Good advice!” last words —an utterance that was the last smb. made before dying: The victim of the crime, in her last words , declares, quite unprotestingly, that it is what she expected. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase famous last words1. the final statement made by a famous person who is dying: James Lawrence, whose famous last words were “Don’t give up the ship,” is buried next to steamboat inventor Robert Fulton. 2. (ironic) a remark or prediction likely to be proved wrong by events: “With modern technology, we can climb Everest in half the time it took Hillary in 1953.” “Famous last words !” late on in life • later on in life late on in life —during the last part of one’s life or career: He started out as a proofreader late on in life , having grown tired of the motorway driving and office politics of his sales job. later on in life—at a later stage of one’s life or career: In addition to literature, Gulistan was attracted to motion pic- tures. Later on in life he used this talent as a documentary producer. latency period • latent period latency period—(Psychology) the period between the ages of 4 or 5 and about 12 years, which separates pregenital sexuality from the beginning of puberty: I remember a very definite change when I reached what in modern child psychology is called the “latency period .” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase latency time—(Computers) the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer: The access time consists of the latency time plus the transfer time. The latency represents the amount of time it takes to find the cho- sen address. latent period—(med.) the period during which a disease lurks in the system before manifesting its presence: Rubeola is unequivocally contagious. A latent period of from ten to fourteen days intervenes between exposure and the develop- ment of the febrile symptoms. laundry list • shopping list laundry list—said of a large number of usually unpleasant things: General Motors is charged by its critics with primary responsibility for a laundry list of social ills, including air pol- lution. shopping list—said of a long list of items to be considered, acted upon, etc.: Ground-to-air missiles were on the “shop - ping list ” of defense equipment taken to Moscow. Law Day • Lawful Day Law Day—(U.S.) the day established by a resolution of Congress in 1961 to draw attention to the principles of justice and the practice of law: For the last several years the American Bar Association has been sponsoring “Law Day ” on May 1. Lawful Day —(hist.) a day on which the courts sat; a day on which particular kinds of business might be legally done: A calendar indicated the lawful days for legal business, and also the festivals, anniversaries of historical events, etc. law of nature • law of the jungle law of nature —(also: natural law) 1. is used to refer to a par- ticular phenomenon always occurring if certain conditions are present: A fundamental law of nature must capture a cause- and-effect relation about the workings of the real world. 2. is used of ideas, etc. as implanted by nature in the human mind: Right libertarians are not alone in claiming that their particular ideology is based on the law of nature . law of the jungle —(also: jungle law) the superiority of brute force or self-interest in the ruthless struggle for survival: A purely materialistic society inevitably succumbs to the law of the jungle and political dictatorship. lawman • man of law lawman —(U.S.) 1. a law-enforcement officer: Had he actu- ally seen the rough law-men bundle the startled widow into the Black Maria? 2. a sheriff or marshal: A retired lawman , still sporting a tin star, demonstrated how he could kill with either hand. man of law —(UK dated) a lawyer: Another man of law now came in, straight from the magistrates’ chamber. lay a finger on someone • put the finger on someone lay a finger on someone—(also: set a finger on someone) touch or harm a person however slightly: I never ever laid a finger on him. We were very good friends. put the finger on someone—(sl.) inform against smb.; de- nounce a person to the police: If I’m grabbed with this junk I’ll rot in jail before I put the finger on you. lay a finger on something • lay one’s finger on something lay a finger on something—harm or interfere with smth. how- ever slightly: Nobody is going, within the foreseeable future, to lay a finger on the trade unions. lay one’s finger on something—(also: put one’s finger on some- thing) 1. find or locate smth.: So far I haven’t been able to lay my finger on the book you requested. 2. point out precisely where smth. is wrong, etc.: I know that, if I knew enough about this case, I could lay my finger on the cause. lay a weight on something • lay weight on something lay a weight on something—(also: put a weight on something) add weight to smth.; make smth. heavy: Try either bending a warm board carefully by hand, or lay a weight on it overnight. lay weight on something—emphasize smth.; treat smth. as being particularly important: We have laid weight on the problem of quality ever since the company’s inception. – 211 – lay a weight on something