ization: The youngsters are manipulated by a little band of experienced “godfathers ” who make the plans but never risk their own lives. godly man • man of God godly man—a deeply religious person: They were the godly men ; and it was the business of the ruling classes to endow them with benefices. man of God—1. an ordained priest; a clergyman of the Christian Church: I don’t expect to hear that kind of language from a man of God . 2. a holy man; a saint: It was on the tried friendship of that true man of God that Harold chose to lean. godmother • Mother of God godmother —a female person who presents a child at bap- tism: For each male child to be baptized the rubric requires two godfathers and one godmother . Mother of God—(also: God’s Mother) a name of the Virgin Mary the mother of Christ: Mary, then, was the Virgin Mother of God . She remained in perpetual virginity. God’s child • godchild God’s child—(also: child of God) said of people born of God, that is by God’s creation: Man is God’s child , and the sin of the man consists in perpetually living as if it were false. godchild —smb. for whom a godparent acts as sponsor at baptism: A godparent was expected to see to his or her god - child ’s upbringing, should the parents be unable to do so. God’s Country • Holy Land, the God’s Country(also: God’s Own Country) usually applied to the United States: Now that I no longer live in God’s Coun - try I often feel the need to return to the spectacular views of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Holy Land, the—places where Jesus Christ lived; land held in religious awe: Did not the Pope send all the Princes of Christendom upon a Fool’s Errand, to gain the Holy Land ? God’s Son • godson God’s Son(also: Son of God, the) a name of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ was and is God’s son . Jesus was God’s gift to a sinful world. godson—a male person for whom a godparent acts as sponsor at baptism: She promised that her godson would achieve wealth and position. Note: The compound does not correlate in meaning with the phrase God the Son—(in the Christian tradition) the second person of the Trinity: Something that is begotten has a definite beginning and a cornerstone of the Trinity is that “God the Son ” has always existed. gold balls • golden balls gold balls—1. a plant “marsh marigold” (Caltha palustris) bearing yellow cup-shaped flowers: Gold Cups and Gold Balls are names now almost forgotten. 2. the three gilt balls used as a pawnbroker’s sign: The three gold balls still used as a sign of the pawnbroker’s shop are supposed to have originated from St. Nicholas’s three bags of gold. golden balls — = gold balls 2: Isaak, with a happy cry, pointed to the three golden balls . Mendel smiled but was exhausted when they got to the pawnshop. gold digger • gold hunter gold digger—(sl.) a woman who uses her attractions to extract money from men: I never believed she was in love with him. I always said she was a gold digger . gold hunter —a fine precision watch of expert craftsmanship: He looked pointedly at his watch, a fine gold hunter which he pulled out of his pocket. goldcrest • golden crest goldcrest—a tiny European bird (Regulus regulus) having a bright yellow crown patch bordered with black: I raised my binoculars and there was a goldcrest flitting around in its quest for insects. golden crest—a wooly bog herb (Lophiola aurea) of eastern North America with yellowish flowers: Golden crest is native to Florida. It is frequent in the bogs and flatwoods of the Florida panhandle. golden age • golden years golden age—1. a period of ideal prosperity and happiness: The reign of Charles IV was a Golden Age in Czech history. The end of this period, however, brought economic and polit- ical strife to the area. 2. said of a period in which smth. specific is at its highest state of excellence: The beginning of the jet age in aircraft was a “golden age ” in aviation. I did not realize it at the time. 3. (euph.) old age: This lover of children cer- tainly has a story to tell about the ups and downs of her life as she attains the golden age of 60. golden years — = golden age 3: They are addressed as “senior citizens” and congratulated on their attainment of the “golden years .” golden ager • golden oldie golden ager—(U.S. euph.) an elderly person: Frank bought himself a drink in the bar while watching the golden agers gossip in the lounge area. golden oldie—(UK coll.) anything old but classic: The majority of nature photographers will be using cameras at least a few years old, and often some golden oldies . golden cage • golden handcuffs golden cage —(also: gilded cage) said of a situation where a person is living in luxury but without freedom: After years of living in a golden cage she finally makes an attempt to regain control over her own life. golden handcuffs—substantial monetary incentives offered to a valued employee to persuade him to remain with the com- pany: Mr. Thomson is in line for a £280000 “golden hand - cuffs ” payout on top of his normal remuneration. good as a play • good as gold good as a play —said of smth. very entertaining or intensely amusing: Are they not as good as a play , trying their hand at legislation? good as gold —1. (of a child) well behaved; not giving trouble: As soon as a few were bumped off by way of example, all the others became as good as gold . 2. (of a pledge, etc.) faithful; reliable: When one of our representatives makes a commit- ment, you can rest assured that his promise is as good as gold . 3. quite perfect in quality: The chip, which can be implanted in products, is good as gold . They use it to track the flow of goods from supplier to store shelf. good at something • good on something • good with something good at something—proficient in a subject or an activity: Boys and girls rate themselves as being equally good at science at the primary-school level. good on something—skilful in one’s performance on a musi- cal instrument: Hayes said that Pearl was “quite good” on the violin and also proficient on the mandolin. good with something—competent in the use of smth.: He was very good with horses — he worked with them so that they trusted and respected him. good business • pretty business good business —said of a profitable and rewarding occupa- godly man – 154 –