midge

a kind of insect – small with only two wings, long delicate legs – lives in water in larva stage (most of the species)

Two types: biting midge and non-biting midge

*biting midge:

({in North America} also ‘punkies’ and ‘no-see-ums’ – cannot see them)

very small – less than ¼ of an inch, feeds on animal blood, spreads livestock diseases, about 4000 species (kinds) found worldwide

*non-biting midge:

small, looks like (resembles) a mosquito, but harmless, several thousands of species (kinds) found worldwide

Figures of Speech:

1.

(a)  midge

(b)  midget

= a dwarf; an under-sized person; a person with small physic

2.

midge’s knee-buckle [said of something very small]

3.

as light as a midge (‘light’ = very little in weight)

4.

as fast as a midge in a treacle pot (‘fast’ =  hold or attach very tightly; ‘treacle’ = a dark, thick syrup obtained from refining sugar)

= fixed firmly

5.

(he) wouldn’t give what would blind the eye of a midge [said of a miser – someone who does not want to spend or give any money to anybody]

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