John Major’s grey image may disguise a wolf in sheep’s cloth - ing . N name the day • name-day name the day—fix the date for a wedding: Then he made hot love to her, and pressed her hard to name the day . name-day—(in Catholic or Orthodox tradition) the feast day of the saint after whom one is named at baptism: There is no St. Jennifer, so I celebrate my name day on the Feast of St. Geneviève. Native Americans • native-born Americans Native Americans—1. (also: first Americans) American Indi- ans: We have a new section for you featuring posters of Native Americans and Native American Artwork. 2. (hist.) members of a minor American political group having a brief existence in the early 19th century: The Native Americans were pledged not to vote for any foreigner for office. native-born Americans—persons associated with America by birth: The word “Creole” is used in Louisiana to express a native-born American , whether black or white, descended from old world parents. natural birth • natural born natural birth —childbirth in which psychological condition- ing replaces the use of anesthesia, etc.: This definition [normal birth] may also be equated with natural birth —birth without interference. natural born —1. said of a child actually begotten by one in contrast to adopted: Natural born children of employees are eligible for benefits if they are born before the employee retires. 2. said of a person with a natural talent or aptitude for smth.: You have the ability to motivate others to do their best. You are a natural born teacher and mentor. 3. said of a person hav- ing the legal status of citizen by birth: A person born to a mother who was a natural-born subject of the United King- dom had the rights of a natural-born subject. natural man • natural person natural man —1. an uncultivated, uncivilized man: Let us not forget that “Typee” is a glorification of the noble savage, uncorrupted by the vices of civilization, and that Melville looked upon the natural man as good. 2. a man having a usual or normal character; smb. who is not exceptional in any way: My friend George is the natural man drawn to pubs and bar- maids. 3. a man who is especially apt or suited to do smth.: Philip was the natural man to whom to turn, for he came from Bethsaida and he would have local knowledge. natural person1. (legal) a human being as distinguished in law from an artificial or juristic person: Associations for car- rying on the business of banking may be formed by any num- ber of natural persons . 2. a man or woman who is especially apt or suited to do smth.: As director of the university’s archae- ological activities, she was the natural person to compile the volumes. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase natural born person—(also: natural born citizen) a per- son born in the country and having the legal status of citizen: You are a natural born person , and unless you specifically enter into a contract with the state—then you have pre-existing natural rights. natural to someone • natural with someone natural to someone—(of behavior, etc.) being in accordance with a person’s habits or character: He spoke with a stiff man- ner that was not natural to him. natural with someone—1. = natural to someone: This feeling was not natural with him. It was probably only due to some derangement of his own health. 2. behaving in a simple, easy manner towards smb.: Mary is caring and compassionate. She was natural with both Kessia and Joshua, and gained their trust instantly. nearest thing, the • very near thing, a nearest thing, the—said of smth. that is very much like a particular type of thing: Soho is the nearest thing in Central London to a red light district. very near thing, a—1. a dangerous situation that a person just manages to avoid: The list of what could have gone badly wrong is a long one. It was certainly a very near thing . 2. said of an election, competition, etc. barely won because of almost equal chances of the contenders: “Do you think he’s going to get in?” “It’ll be a very near thing because the opposition will be so strong.” neck and crop • neck and neck neck and crop—completely; altogether: An unexpected episode caused me to be ejected neck and crop from my club. neck and neck—keeping level in a race, competition, etc.: The Soviet World and the Free World were running neck and neck in the training of scientists. need doing • need to do need doing —said of things that require fixing, improving, etc.: Nice land with a small brook running through it. Fence needs painting, and barns need repairing. need to do—is used to indicate that a course of action is desirable or necessary: I am sorry about the absence, but I need to go and will not be talked out of it. needle someone • put someone on the needle needle someone(coll.) 1. make smb. angry or annoyed by teasing or provoking the person: We kept needling Bill about his new girl friend, but apparently we went too far. 2. prod or goad a person to a specified action: A few annoying expe- riences that have probably happened to many, have needled me into expressing these feelings. Note: a) The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone the needle— = needle someone 1: He couldn’t resist giving me the needle one more time and still would not admit that I had beat him at his own game. Cf.: get the needle(coll.) become irritated or angry because one has been ridiculed, etc.: The silly ass got the needle , because she asked for the ring. b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have the needle to someone—(coll.) be extremely angry with a person: There will always be some team which will have the needle to a referee and want to get rid of him. put someone on the needle—turn a person into a drug addict: He’s using all his dope allowance now…. You know who put him on the needle and supplied him? neglect in something • neglect of something neglect in something—lack of proper care or oversight with respect to smth.: If we discover neglect in Ralf ’s treatment at the hospital we will bring forward charges. neglect of something —(also: neglect for something ) treatment of smth. as of no importance: There has been a neglect of the interests of farmers in recent years. negro head • nigger head negro head —1. (dated) a nest of tree-ants: The color of these nests is black, from which, and their irregular surface and – 239 – negro head