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 45 of 57: from “signature” to “smoke dope”.
- signature noun A mark or sign of implication.
- signpost verb To direct (somebody) to services, resources, etc.
- silhouette noun A brief written description of someone or something; an outline, a sketch.
- silk noun A Queen's Counsel, King's Counsel or Senior Counsel.
- silken adj Having a smooth, soft, or flowing utterance; attractive or (typically derogatory) convincing through pleasing expression.
- silver bullet noun Any straightforward solution perceived to have great effectiveness or to bring miraculous results.
- simmer verb To be on the point of breaking out into anger; to be agitated.
- simmer up verb To arise, usually of an emotion, as if from a steamy, simmering action.
- sin bin noun A place for transgressors, a limbo; a place of confinement or self-isolation after (or in order to avert) transgressions; a state of…
- sinew noun Muscular power, muscle; nerve, nervous energy; vigor, vigorous strength.
- sinewed adj Equipped; strengthened.
- sinewy adj Having or showing nervous strength.
- sing a different tune verb To hold a different opinion or appreciation (about something); to possess a new, changed, or regenerated mindset, usually for the better.
- sink verb To experience apprehension, disappointment, dread, or momentary depression.
- sink like a stone verb To completely fail.
- sink one's teeth into verb To become enthusiastically involved in.
- sinner noun A person with negative qualities; one who does bad things.
- sinuous adj Morally crooked; shifty.
- sip verb To consume slowly.
- siphon verb To steal or skim off something, such as money, in small amounts; to embezzle.
- sistren noun The (female) body of members, especially of a sorority or religious order.
- sit down verb To meet formally at a conference table.
- situate verb To place or put into an intangible place or position, such as social, ethical, fictional, etc.
- size noun Degree of rank, ability, character, etc.
- skein verb To intertwine or weave (something) with another thing.
- skeleton noun A very thin person.
- skeleton key noun A key (A crucial step or requirement) or (An idea, theory or observation that explains, justifies or renders (something) comprehensible).
- skeletonize verb To reduce to little or nothing.
- skewer verb To severely mock or discredit.
- skid row noun A situation of great desperation or misfortune.
- skin a flint verb Go to great lengths to save or gain something, particularly money.
- skin color noun One's ethnicity.
- skinlessness noun sensitiveness; vulnerability.
- skirmish noun Any minor dispute.
- skirt verb To avoid or ignore (something); to manage to avoid (something or a problem); to skate by (something).
- skitter noun A skittering movement.
- skittle verb To defeat easily.
- skulk noun A group of people seen as being fox-like (e.g. cunning, dishonest, or having nefarious plans).
- skull noun The mind or brain.
- sky daddy noun A god.
- skyscraper noun Anything very tall or high.
- skywalker noun A member of the Mohawk group of Native Americans; especially one who is or was involved in steelworking on tall buildings in New York City.
- slam on the brakes verb To abruptly halt any activity or progress, especially due to problems or financial reasons.
- slap verb To impose a penalty, etc. on (someone).
- slap in the face noun Something unexpectedly said or done which causes shock or offense; an insult, rebuke, or rebuff.
- slash noun A sharp reduction in resources allotted.
- slate verb To appoint or designate (someone or something); also, to nominate or propose (someone or something); specifically (politics), to nominate…
- slaughterhouse noun The scene of a massacre.
- slave noun A drudge; one who labors or is obliged (e.g. by prior contract) to labor like a slave with limited rights, e.g. an indentured servant.
- slave labour noun The employment of workers for meagre pay to do tedious tasks.
- slave of the lamp noun A person who does, or is obliged to do, what they are bid; something that dutifully performs virtually any task.
- slave-driver noun An employer or supervisor who demands excessive amounts of work from an employee.
- slavery noun A condition in which one is captivated or subjugated, as by greed or drugs.
- sled noun A car (automobile) or truck, usually called so with the implication of sledlike traits: heavy, low-slung, and prone to going fast but not…
- sleep with one eye open verb To remain vigilant at all times, especially by remaining partially awake or sleeping only lightly so as to avoid being caught off guard.
- sleepmarch verb To perform actions without being aware of them, especially with militaristic or at least goal-oriented overtones.
- sleepwalk verb To perform actions without being aware of them; to do something that invites certain results without confronting that possibility.
- sleepwalker noun One who goes though life in a state of obliviousness.
- sleepy adj Dull; lazy.
- sleight of hand noun Any form of clever or skillful trickery or deception.
- slender adj Meagre; deficient.
- slice and dice verb To rearrange or analyze in a number of different ways, often arbitrarily.
- slice of the pie noun A portion of some desirable resource or reward.
- sliding door noun Denotes a crucial decision point at which outcomes diverge depending on which of two courses is followed.
- slime verb To besmirch or disparage.
- slimeball noun A person who is slimy (that is, sneaky or underhanded) or otherwise undesirable.
- sliming noun The action of besmirching or disparaging another.
- slimy adj Friendly in a false, calculating way; underhanded; two-faced; sneaky; slick; smarmy.
- slip verb To move down; to slide.
- slippery adj Evasive; difficult to pin down.
- slippery slope noun A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious.
- slipstream noun A generated advantage which makes forward movement easier.
- slipstreamer noun Someone who goes with the flow; someone who follows with what others are doing.
- slop noun Content or entertainment which is worthless, or produced and consumed mindlessly.
- slopwork noun Hasty, slovenly work of any kind.
- slough of despond noun A state of disheartening hopelessness; pit of despair.
- slow down verb To become less intense, enthusiastic, etc., usually with a positive connotation, implying that one is stripped of exaggerated or…
- slow lane noun A situation in which someone or something is not making progress as quickly as others.
- slow train noun The act of doing something (possibly, but not necessarily traveling) slowly.
- slubber verb To cover or daub (something) carelessly with a substance; to stain.
- slugfest noun A tough, heated contest.
- sluice gate noun Something which restrains or releases a substantial volume, a flood, of activity, emotion, etc.
- slumber noun A state of ignorance or inaction.
- slushy adj Of a person, soupy; sentimental.
- slut noun Someone who seeks attention through inappropriate means or to an excessive degree.
- small adj Young, as a child.
- small ball noun Any strategy that involves proceeding by small increments.
- small beer noun Something that is of relatively little importance.
- smarting adj Experiencing emotional pain or embarrassment.
- smash verb To ruin completely and suddenly.
- smatter verb To make (someone or something) dirty; to bespatter, to soil.
- smell verb To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savour.
- smell out verb To find out by prying.
- smell test noun An informal check of whether an idea or proposal is credible, ethical, etc., using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
- smelly adj Having a quality that arouses suspicion.
- smile noun Favour; propitious regard.
- smirch noun A stain on somebody's reputation.
- smite verb To strike with love or infatuation.
- smoke noun A fleeting illusion; something insubstantial, evanescent, unreal, transitory, or without result.
- smoke dope verb To engage in fanciful reverie or wishful thinking.