adder
a kind of snake – thick and short body but poisonous; related to the vipers; found in Europe and Asia – there are several kinds with different names – ‘puff adder’ and ‘night adder’ in Africa; ‘death adder’ in Australia;
Special Features:

The adder is the only poisonous snake found in Great Britain.
Adders do not lay eggs; but give birth to approximately eight live young, usually in late summer.
Female adders are larger than males.
Figures of Speech:
1.
as deaf as an adder = (of someone) cannot hear
2.
death-adder man = [Australian expression] a bad tempered person who lives away from others on purpose
3.
(of someone) has death-adders in his pocket = [Australian expression] someone who is very mean (stingy) with money
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Author: B C Kumar
Mr. Kumar, an English language teacher, having taught in many countries around the world including Ethiopia and Oman shares this English Language Reference website using material that he has written and compiled during the past 20 years.
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