Where did the phrase lily-livered come from?
Etymology. The first known use of lily-livered was in 1605. From the medieval belief that the liver was the seat of courage, and the pale color of the lily flower. A person who had no blood in their liver would have no courage and would thus be a coward.
Is lily-livered an idiom?
Cowardly or fearful. I’m not surprised that Tom didn’t come to the rally—he’s too lily-livered to defend his beliefs in public.
What does lily-livered in Shakespeare?
Lily-livered means “cowardly,” and it has its origins in medieval physiology. When Shakespeare was writing, the prevailing belief was that there were four bodily fluids, or humors, whose balance not only affected your health, but your character.
What is another word for lily-livered?
In this page you can discover 17 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for lily-livered, like: chicken, afraid, coward, fainthearted, gutless, timid, yellow, chickenhearted, cowardly, craven and dastardly.
What is the term liver lips mean?
slang, derogatory, offensive. (Especially of a black person) having very thick and dark lips.
How do you use lily-livered in a sentence?
1. Not a city for the lily-livered or faint-hearted. 2. The Government are still lily-livered in that respect.
What is hare brained mean?
foolish sense 1
Definition of harebrained 1 : foolish sense 1. 2 : absurd, ridiculous. Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About harebrained.
What does hedge pig mean Shakespeare?
hedge-pig – someone who doesn’t care about.
What does the lily symbolize?
Each different variety of lily holds a different meaning. But the most common meaning is purity and fertility. The sweet and innocent beauty of the lily flower has given it the association of fresh life and rebirth.
What does it mean if your lips are yellow?
Oral thrush. Oral candidiasis, or oral thrush, occurs when an overgrowth of the Candida fungus develops in the mouth. Oral thrush can cause white or yellow patches on the inner cheeks, tongue, gums, or lips, as well as: redness or soreness in the mouth.
What is another word for lily livered?
lily-livered Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms. Related to lily-livered: solely, perpetually, identifying, against, brusque, free-standing, doomy lil·y-liv·ered (lĭl′ē-lĭv′ərd) adj. Cowardly; timid. [From lily, pale, bloodless.] American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
What is the meaning of lily-livered?
Definition of lily-livered : lacking courage : cowardly Synonyms & Antonyms for lily-livered
Why is the liver called the seat of courage?
The first known use of lily-livered was in 1605. From the medieval belief that the liver was the seat of courage, and the pale color of the lily flower. A person who had no blood in their liver would have no courage and would thus be a coward.
Are We lily-livered at Gor?
The basis of the word lily-livered lies in the once-held belief that a person’s health and temperament are influenced by four bodily fluids, or humors: blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. But as I said in this column after the unexpected blip, at Gor we are not lily-livered.