This page gathers the 5,691 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Figuratively” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 29 of 57: from “leave no stone unturned” to “logrolling”.
- leave no stone unturned verb To perform a task carefully and thoroughly, not missing any step.
- leave someone holding the bag verb To abandon somebody, leaving him or her holding the responsibility or blame.
- leaven noun Anything that induces change, especially a corrupting or vitiating change.
- leavenous adj Inducing change, especially a corrupting or vitiating change.
- leech noun A person who derives advantage from others in a parasitic fashion.
- left and right adv All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.
- left field noun An unexpected, bizarre, or unwatched source (especially in the phrases out of left field and from left field).
- left hook noun A surprise assault.
- leg noun Something that supports.
- leg up noun A boost, a sudden improvement; an advantage, an edge.
- legroom noun Freedom to move or grow.
- legs noun The ability of a movie to continue attracting an audience.
- lemming noun Any member of a group given to conformity or groupthink, especially a group poised to follow a leader off a cliff.
- lemon heaven noun An automobile that is of a very poor quality or that is in very poor shape.
- length noun Total extent.
- lens noun A way of looking, literally or figuratively, at something.
- leper noun Synonym of outcast: A person who is shunned, a pariah.
- leporine adj Of, relating to, or characteristic of a hare or a rabbit.
- leprosy noun Anything considered similarly permanent, harmful, and communicable, particularly when such a thing should be handled by avoidance or…
- leprous adj Immoral, or corrupted or tainted in some manner; also, ostracized, shunned.
- let blood verb To make (someone or something) bleed, in a general sense; to cut; to kill.
- let fly verb To unleash an angry outburst.
- let something ride verb To let something go, allow it to continue, or take no immediate action over it.
- level verb To bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.
- lever verb To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically).
- leviathan noun A thing which is monstrously great in size, strength, etc. (especially a ship); also, a person with great power or wealth.
- levitant adj that rises or floats in the air
- lewis noun The son of a Freemason, envisaged as assisting his father in heavy work or in old age.
- liaison noun An illicit sexual relationship or affair.
- librate verb To waver or deliberate between two opposing thoughts or choices.
- libration noun A wavering between two opposing thoughts or choices.
- lichen noun Something which gradually spreads across something else, causing damage.
- lid noun A restraint or control, as when "putting a lid" on something.
- life buoy noun Something that rescues one from difficulties.
- life expectancy noun The amount of time something is expected to last.
- life of the party noun A sociable and vivacious person.
- life raft noun Something that provides help in a state of difficulty or despair.
- life story noun A long and detailed monologue delivered to someone.
- life support noun A means of sustaining existence or continuation of something, usually in an artificial manner when it should have changed or terminated in…
- lifeblood noun That which is required for continued existence or function.
- lifesaver noun Someone or something that is very useful or helpful.
- lift noun An improvement in mood.
- lift a finger verb To make minimal effort; to help as little as possible.
- liftoff noun The point of launching into success or action.
- ligament noun That which binds or acts as a ligament.
- light noun Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
- light bulb noun Used in reference to the sudden arrival of a realization, an inspiration, an idea, or the like.
- light cone noun A (realized or imagined) data visualization of possible sets of future outcomes that is analogous to such a cone.
- light of one's eye noun One's beloved.
- light up verb To show an increase in activity or a brightening of mood.
- light up like a Christmas tree verb To become very bright and cheerful.
- light year noun A very long way.
- light-fingered adj Having nimble fingers, especially for stealing or picking pockets (pickpocketing), given to thievery or shoplifting.
- light-headed adj Thoughtless; volatile; frivolous.
- lightning noun Anything that moves very fast.
- lightning bolt noun Something that shocks or energizes, especially something that does so suddenly.
- lightning rod noun A person or thing that is a target for negative reactions and distracts criticism from another target.
- lightspeed noun An extremely fast speed.
- limber up verb To prepare; to make oneself ready.
- limbo verb Often followed by under: to pass under something, especially while bending backwards.
- lime-twig noun A thief.
- limekiln noun A burning sensation.
- limetwig verb To beset with limetwigs or snares; to entangle or impede
- limitate adj Bounded by a distinct line or boundary.
- limn verb To draw or paint; to delineate.
- limp verb To travel with a malfunctioning system of propulsion.
- linchpin noun A central cohesive source of stability and security; a person or thing that is critical to a system or organisation.
- line drawing noun The process of establishing a specific boundary, distinction or limit in regard to prescribing the best legal rule.
- line drawn on water noun Something transient or ephemeral.
- line of fire noun A position that is vulnerable to attack.
- line of thought noun A way of thinking about a particular topic, concept, or problem, that follows a logical progression of reasoning or argument.
- link noun An individual person or element in a system.
- linsey-woolsey noun Worthless material; nonsense; gibberish.
- lion's provider noun Any humble friend or follower.
- lioness noun A female lion (famous person regarded with interest and curiosity).
- lip verb To touch lightly.
- liquesce verb to become more like a liquid
- liquid gold noun Sandalwood oil
- liquidate verb To make (a sound) less harsh.
- litany noun A prolonged or tedious list.
- litmus test noun Any test which produces a binary, decisive result (for example, determining whether to appoint someone to a job) by measuring a single…
- little adj Independent, limited in scale, especially contrasted with well-organized and well-capitalized cartels controlling most of an industry…
- little black dress noun Something simple, versatile, and elegant; something that pairs well with many other things.
- little people noun Commoners; ordinary people.
- live verb To spend a great deal of time in a particular place.
- live by the sword, die by the sword proverb One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey a sense that poetic justice is inevitable.
- live under a rock verb To live in isolation: to live hermetically (especially, hermitically); thus, to be unaware of or be oblivious to common knowledge; to be…
- live wire noun An especially energetic, alert, or vivacious person.
- load noun A worry or concern to be endured, especially in the phrase a load off one's mind.
- load bearing adj Of a physical, digital, procedural etc. component, necessary to the integrity of the system of which it forms a part.
- loaded adj Of a die or dice: weighted asymmetrically, and so biased to produce predictable throws.
- loaded dice noun An advantage obtained by manipulating rules or insider influence.
- lobotomize verb To remove the vitality or intelligence from.
- lobotomy noun An act of removing or separating, and often disregarding or forgetting, something.
- lockstep noun Close connection, unison, rigid synchronization.
- lodestar noun A guiding tenet or principle.
- log noun A blockhead; a very stupid person.
- logistical nightmare noun Any situation or event that requires considerable coordination of many people or resources, beyond the original organizer's expectations.
- logjam noun A clog or such jam or mess that halts or greatly delays progress.
- logrolling noun A concerted effort to push forward mutually advantageous legislative agendas by combining two items, either or both of which might fail on…