This word enters into numerous combinations indicating energetic, rapid, or intense action, motion, and thought. The chief are:—
LIKE (or AS) ANYTHING; A BASKET OF CHIPS; BEANS; BILLY-HO; A BIRD; BLAZES; BOOTS, or OLD BOOTS; BRICKS, or A THOUSAND, or A CART-LOAD, OF BRICKS; A DOG IN A FAIR; FUN; A HOUSE ON FIRE; HELL; HOT CAKE; MAD; ONE O’CLOCK; SHIT TO A SHOVEL; A SHOT; A STREAK; THUNDER; THE VERY DEVIL; A TOM-TIT ON A HORSE-TURD; WINKEY or WINKY. (Fr. comme la bourrique à Robespierre).
1542. UDALL, The Apophthegmes of Erasmus, p. 32. And thesame maiden, where the lokers on quaked and trembled for feare, daunced without any feare at all emong sweardes and kniues, beyng as sharpe AS ANY THYNG.
1690. The Pagan Prince [quoted by NARES]. So that the Belgians, hearing what a clutter the Albionians made of their victory which they had got but by one spot of a die, they fell a making a bonfires and fire-works LIKE MAD, and rejoicing and triumphing for the great victory.
1690. CROWNE, The English Friar, iii. As soon as ever the stop of coaches is over, my lady will drive LIKE MAD.
1692. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, Fables, 290. A Bear was so Enrag’d once at the Stinging of a Bee, that he ran LIKE MAD into the Bee-Garden, and Over-turn’d All the Hives in Revenge.
c. 1703. PEPYS, Diary, II. 6. A mad coachman that drove LIKE MAD.
1716. CROKER, Suffolk Correspondence, i. 8. [Tell] dear Molly I like her LIKE ANYTHING.
1740. RICHARDSON, Pamela, II. 57. O my dear father and mother, I fear your girl will grow as proud AS ANYTHING.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 23. But a pelt in the smellers … set it going LIKE FUN. Ibid., 25. The whole populace flash’d the white grin LIKE A BASKET OF CHIPS.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, 139. Bump they cums agin the post, and out flies the fare LIKE BRICKS.
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, 2. The breeze struck us, and it came on to blow LIKE THUNDER. Ibid. We were bowling along right before it, rolling LIKE THE VERY DEVIL.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Jackdaw of Rheims).
| That little Jackdaw kept hopping about; | |
| Here and there | |
| LIKE A DOG IN A FAIR, | |
| Over comfits and cates, | |
| And dishes and plates. | |
| Ibid. (The Witches’ Frolic). | |
| Old Goody Jones, | |
| All skin and bones, | |
| Follows ‘LIKE WINKING.’ | |
| Ibid. (Misadventures at Margate). | |
| The tear-drop in his little eye again began to spring, | |
| His bosom throbb’d with agony,—he cried LIKE ANYTHING! | |
| Ibid. (The Ingoldsby Penance). | |
| For the Friar to his skirts closely sticks, | |
| ‘Running after him,’—so said the Abbot,—‘LIKE BRICKS!’ |
1845. B. DISRAELI, Sybil; or, The Two Nations, 330. Syllabubs LIKE BLAZES, and snapdragon as makes the flunkeys quite pale.
1847. ROBB, Streaks of Squatter Life, 37. He lit upon the upper town and its member LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICK!
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlegh, 204. Tapping his claret for him, as the pugilists call it, and sending him down LIKE A SHOT.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III. p. 159. She liked this very much, in fact so much, that the other little ones used to cry LIKE BLAZES because I wouldn’t let them have a turn at them [the stilts]. Ibid., i. 29. He trotted on LIKE ONE O’CLOCK.
c. 1859. DE QUINCEY, The Spanish Military Nun, sect. 24. The horse was so maddened by the wound, and the road so steep, that he went LIKE BLAZES.
1860. New Orleans Picayune, 27 April (Police Report). When it came to the breakdown, Your Honor, he kicked up a row like a drove of contrary mules, and when we wanted to turn him out, he fell upon us LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICKS, and threatened to make minced meat of the police and every one of us.
1864. Western World, 5 March. ‘When Mr. Nye had finished, Mr. Stewart rose, and with his irresistible logic and impressive language came down upon him LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICKS, till he was utterly crushed and demolished.’
1865. M. E. BRADDON, Sir Jasper’s Tenant, xxvii. p. 282. I’ll stick to you LIKE OLD BOOTS.
1869. W. S. GILBERT, Bab Ballads, ‘Captain Reece.’
| If ever they were dull or sad, | |
| The Captain danced to them LIKE MAD. |
1873. CARROLL, Through the Looking-Glass, iv. 73, ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’
| They wept LIKE ANYTHING to see | |
| Such quantities of sand. |
1874. The Saturday Review, Jan., 55. An Oxford man, nay even a Balliol man … introduced in the story a pleasing change by such a phrase as jawing away LIKE OLD BOOTS.
1883. Graphic, 17 March, 287, 1. Nevertheless, this solid fare disappeared, with the beer, LIKE WINKING.
1888. Puck’s Library, 15. ‘Will go LIKE HOT CAKES.’ Book Seller (to Clerk). ‘Haven’t we an overstock of ‘Jack, the Giant Killer,’ on hand, James?’ Clerk. ‘Yes, sir.’ Book Seller. ‘Well, take ’m up to the Polo Grounds this afternoon; they’ll sell fast enough there.’
1890. A. C. GUNTER, Miss Nobody of Nowhere, p. 153. ‘Second National Bank LIKE A STREAK!’ screams the new-made lord to the driver.
1891. MRS. LOVETT CAMERON, in Lippincott’s Magazine, Aug., p. 142. ‘He’s as fit as a fiddle, miss,’ said Griggs, admiringly, as Susan kissed her old friend’s satin coat with enthusiasm, ‘and he’ll carry you LIKE A BIRD to-morrow.’
1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 57. I’d be there, LIKE A SHOT. Ibid., 33. I jest blew away LIKE OLD BOOTS.
LIKE ONE O’CLOCK HALF STRUCK, phr. (common).—Hesitatingly.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 19. He stands LIKE ONE O’CLOCK HALF-STRUCK.
LIKE A WHALE. See WHALE.
LIKE CHRISTMAS BEEF. See BEEF.
LIKE A BIRCH-BROOM IN A FIT. See BIRCH-BROOM.
I LIKE THAT! phr. (common).—A derisive answer to a questionable statement: e.g., ‘I am a capital pedestrian.’ ‘I like that!’
YOU TALK LIKE A HALFPENNY BOOK (or PENNY BOOK), adv. phr. (common).—Said in derision of a fluent or affected speaker.
