mare

the female of a horse, and other related animals, such as mules, zebra and donkey {the female of a donkey is usually called a ‘jenny’}

Figures of Speech:

1.

mare (noun)  =

(a)  an ugly and bad-tempered woman

(b)  (in folklore) a female demon believed to cause nightmares (‘demon’ = devil; ‘nightmare’ = bad, frightening dream)

(c)  {plural – maria}  one of many huge dry dark plains on the surface of the moon or Mars, or any of the other planets, visible as dark marking

2.

pedlar’s mare [said to mean that whoever wants the mare must also be ready to have the pedlar]

3.

red mare  =  a bush-fire

4.

grey mare  =  a piece of furniture used by a cooper or chair-maker (‘cooper’ = a person who makes and/or repairs barrels and tubs)

5.

(a)  two-legged mare

(b)  wooden-legged mare = the gallows, a wooden frame for hanging criminals in olden days

6.

mare’s tails  =  cirrus clouds that indicate a storm

7.

as strong as a Flanders mare

8.

simper like a mare eating thistles (‘simper’ = foolish-looking smile; ‘thistle’ = a kind of flowering plant with leaves having sharp needle-like growth (prickles) on the edges)

9.

as hot as mare’s piss

10.

(a)  Shank’s mare

(b)  to go on Shank’s mare  =  (of a person)  to go on foot; to walk from a place to another – not using any vehicle

11.

… get nothing of the mare except the halter (‘halter’ =  a head-collar to tie up or to lead animals such as horse, cattle, and other livestock) [said to imply that something has been proved a bad business for someone]

12.

tell a tale to a mare and it’ll let a fart [said of someone who takes trouble or wastes energies on unwilling audience]

13.

to cry the mare [said of the farm that is the first to finish harvest in an area]

14.

the man shall have his mare again [said when the order of certain situation is restored]

15.

it is a careless parting between the old mare and the broken cart [said of the end of an affectionless (bad) marriage]

16.

the grey mare is the better horse [said of a situation where an old woman is in control; where the wife controls the family]

17.

a fidging mare must be well girded (‘fidging’ = restless, eager; ‘girded’ = to tie a horse’s mouth with a belt to control it) [said to imply that a cunning person must be kept under careful observation]

18.

to run before your mare to the market  =  to take unnecessary trouble for nothing; to behave in a funny or silly way

19.

it is hard to make an old mare leave flinging [said to imply that it is not easy to change someone who is habitually wicked (bad)]

20.

(to find) a mare’s nest  =  (of someone) to discover something silly or unimportant and imagine that discovery to be very important; a very complicated situation

<<< Back to List M —-    Next … marmoset >>>