Chapter Strawberry to Stump Orator of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Strawberry to Stump Orator

Strawberry means the straying plant that bears berries (Anglo-Saxon, streow berie). So called from its runners, which stray from the parent plant in all directions.

Strawberry Preachers So Latimer called the non-resident country clergy, because they strayed from their parishes, to which they returned only once a year. (Anglo-Saxon, streowan, to stray.)

Streak of Silver (The). The British Channel. So called in the Edinburgh Review, October, 1870.

Street and Walker (Messrs.). “In the employ of Messrs. Street and Walker.” Said of a person out of employment. A gentleman without means, whose employment is walking about the streets.

Stretcher An exaggeration; a statement stretched out beyond the strict truth. Also a frame on which the sick or wounded are carried; a frame on which painters' canvas is stretched; etc.

Strike (A). A federation of workmen to quit work unless the masters will submit to certain stated conditions. To strike is to leave off work, as stated above. (Anglo-Saxon, stric-an, to go.)

“Co-operation prevents strikes by identifying the interests of labour and capital.”- R.T. Ely: Political Economy, part iv. chap. iv. 238.

Strike (1 syl.). Strike, but hear me! So said Themistocles with wonderful self- possession to Eurybiades, the Spartan general. The tale told by Plutarch is this: Themistocles strongly opposed the proposal of Eurybiades to quit the bay of Salamis. The hot-headed Spartan insultingly remarked that “those who in the public games rise up before the proper signal are scourged.” “True,” said Themistocles, “but those who lag behind win no laurels.” On this, Eurybiades lifted up his staff to strike him, when Themistocles earnestly but proudly exclaimed, “Strike, but hear me!”
   To strike hands upon a bargain or sírike a bargain. To confirm it by shaking or striking hands.

Strike Amain Yield or suffer the consequences. The defiance of a man-of-war to a hostile ship. To strike amain is to lower the topsail in token of submission. To wave a naked sword amain is a symbolical command to a hostile ship to lower her topsail.

Strike a Bargain (To). In Latin, foedus ferire; in Greek, horkia temein. The allusion is to the Greek and Roman custom of making sacrifice in concluding an agreement or bargain. After calling the gods to witness, they struck- i.e. slew- the victim which was offered in sacrifice. The modern English custom is simply to strike or shake hands.

Strike Sail To acknowledge oneself beaten; to eat umble pie. A maritime expression. When a ship in fight or on meeting another ship, lets down her topsails at least half-mast high, she is said to strike, meaning that she submits or pays respect to the other.

“Now Margaret
Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve
When kings command.”
Shakespeare; 3 Henry VI., iii. 8.

Strike while the Iron is Hot In French, “Il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud.” Either act while the impulse is still fervent, or do what you do at the right time. The metaphor is taken from a blacksmith working a piece of iron, say a horse-shoe, into shape. It must be struck while the iron is red-hot or it cannot be moulded into shape. Similar proverbs are “Make hay while the sun shines.” “Take time by the forelock.”

String Always harping on one string. Always talking on one subject; always repeating the same thing. The allusion is to the ancient harpers; some, like Paganini, played on one string to show their skill, but more would have endorsed the Apothecary's apology- “My poverty, and not my will, consents.”

Stripes A tiger. In India a tiger is called Master Stripes.

“Catch old Stripes come near my bullock, if he thought a `shooting-iron' was anywhere about. Even if there were another Stripes, he would not show himself that night.”- Cornhill Magazine (My Tiger Watch).