Chapter Lift up the Voice to Lilis of L by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Lift up the Voice to Lilis

Lift up the Voice (To). To shout or cry aloud; to utter a cry of joy or of sorrow.

“Saul lifted up his voice and wept.”- I Sam. xxiv. 16.

Lifted up Put to death; to raise on a cross or gibbet.

“When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am He.”- John viii 28.

Lifter A thief. We still call one who plunders shops a “shop-lifter.”

“Is he so young a man, and so old a lifter?” Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida, i.2.

Lifting (The). In Scotland means lifting the coffin on the shoulders of the bearers. Certain ceremonies preceded the funeral.

“When at the funeral of an ordinary husband-man, one o'clock was named as the hour for `lifting,' the party began to assemble two hours previously.”- Saladin: Agnostic Journal, Jan. 14,1893, p. 27.

   At the first service were offered meat and ale; at the second, shortbread and whisky; at the third, seed-cake and wine; at the fourth, currant-bun and rum: at the last, sugar-biscuits and brandy.

Lifting or Lifting the Little Finger. Tippling. In holding a beaker or glass, most persons stick out or lift up the little finger. “Lifting” is a contracted form of the full phrase.

Ligan Goods thrown overboard, but tied to a cork or buoy in order to be found again. (Latin ligare, to tie or bind.)
    Flotsam. The débris of a wreck which floats on the surface of the sea, and is often washed ashore. (Latin flotare, to float.)
   Jetson or jetsam. Goods thrown overboard in a storm to lighten the vessel. (Latin jacere, to cast forth, through the French jeter.)

Light Life. Othello says, “Put out the light and then put out the light.” In May, 1886, Abraham Harper, a market-gardener, of Oxford, hit his wife in the face, and threatened to “put her light out,” for which he was fined 5s. and costs. (Truth, May 20th, 1886.)

Light Graces, holiness. Called “the candle of the Lord,” the “lamp of God,” as, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord.” (Prov. xx. 27.)

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works.”- Matt. v. 16.

   To stand in one's own light. To act in such a way as to hinder advancement.

“He stands in his own light through nervous fear.”- The Leisure Hour, 1886.

Light Comedian (A), in theatrical parlance, is one who performs in what is called legitimate comedy, but is very different to the “low comedian,” who is a farceur. Orlando, in As You Like It, might be taken by a “light comedian,” but not by a “low comedian.” Tony Lumpkin and Paul Pry are parts for a “low comedian,” but not for a “light comedian.”

Light Horsemen Those who live by plunder by night. Those who live by plunder in the daytime are Heavy Horsemen. These horsemen take what they can crib aboard ship, such as coffee-beans, which they call pease; sugar, which they call sand; rum, which they called vinegar, and so on. The broker who buys these stolen goods and asks no questions is called a fence. (See Captain Marryat: Poor Jack, chap. xviii.)

Light Troops i.e. light cavalry, meaning Lancers and Hussars, who are neither such large men as the “Heavies,” nor yet so tall. (See Light-Armed Artillery.)

Light-armed Artillery The Royal Horse Artillery. The heavy artillery are the garrison artillery.

Light as a Feather (See Similes .)

Light-fingered Gentry (The). Pick-pockets and shop-lifters.