[lip service]{n.} Support shown by words only and not by actions; ashow of loyalty that is not proven in action. — Usually used with "pay".•/Bv holding elections, communism pays lip service to democracy, but itoffers only one candidate per office./ •/Some people pay lip service toeducation, but don’t vote taxes for better schools./

[liquid assets]{n. phr.} Those belongings that can be easily convertedinto cash. •/Herb asked for a loan and the bank manager told him to bring inproof of all his liquid assets./

[liquor up]{v. phr.}, {slang} To drink an excessive amount ofliquor before engaging in some activity as if comparing oneself to a car thatneeds to be filled before a journey. •/Joe always liquors up before he takesSue for a dance./

[list] See: SUCKER LIST, WAITING LIST.

[listen in]{v.} 1. To listen to a radio broadcast. •/We found themlistening in to the president’s speech./ 2. To listen to the talk of others,often to talk that is not intended for your ears; eavesdrop. •/When Marytalked to her boyfriend on the telephone, her little brother listened in./

[listen to reason]{v. phr.} To listen to and think about advice thatyou are given. •/Joe was stubborn and would not listen to reason./ •/Itwill save you a lot of trouble if you will just listen to reason./

[litterbug]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who leavesgarbage in a public place, such as a park or beach or a street; one wholitters. •/Don’t be a litterbug; keep the city clean!/

[little] See: A LITTLE, A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, GREAT OAKSFROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, MAKE LITTLE OF, NOT ALITTLE, QUITE A LITTLE or QUITE A LITTLE BIT, THINK LITTLE OF, TWIST AROUNDONE’S LITTLE FINGER.

[little does one think]{v. phr.} To not realize; not expect; be hardlyaware of. •/Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the father of twindaughters./

[little folk] or [little people] See: WEE FOLK.

[little frog in a big pond] or [small frog in a big pond] {n. phr.}An unimportant person in a large group or organization. •/In a large company,even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little frog in a bigpond./ •/When Bill transferred to a larger high school, he found himself asmall frog in a big pond./ Contrast: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.

[little pitchers have big ears] Little children often overhear things theyare not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect they would notice. — A proverb. •/Be especially careful not to swear in front of little children.Little pitchers have big ears./

[little theater]{n.} A theater, usually with nonprofessional actorsand actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure and practicethan for profit. •/Little theater groups are active in all parts of theUnited States./ •/Many famous actors began in little theaters./

[lit up like a Christmas tree]{adj. phr.}, {informal} To be drunk.•/On New Year’s Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree./ Compare: THREESHEETS TO THE WIND.

[live] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.

[live and learn] You learn more new things the longer you live; you learnby experience. — A proverb. •/"Live and learn," said Mother. "I never knewthat the Indians once had a camp where our house is."/ •/Janet made her newdress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it shrank and was too little.Live and learn./

[live and let live] To live in the way you prefer and let others live asthey wish without being bothered by you. •/Father scolds Mother because shewears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father because he smokes a smellypipe. Grandfather says it’s her hair and his pipe; live and let live./Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.

[live down]{v.} To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter) bygood conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or forgotten by notrepeating it. •/John’s business failure hurt him for a long time, but in theend he lived it down./ •/Frank was rather a bad boy, but he lived it downas he grew up./ •/Sandra called her principal the wrong name at thebanquet, in front of everyone, and she thought she would never live it down./

[live from hand to mouth]{v. phr.} To live on little money and spendit as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future; have justenough. •/Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family lived from hand tomouth when he had no job./ •/These Indians live from hand to mouth onberries, nuts, and roots./

[live high off the hog] or [eat high on the hog] See: EAT (LIVE) HIGHON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.

[live in] or [room in] {v.}, {informal} To live in the schoolyou attend or the place where you work. •/Jack decided to live in during hisfreshman year at college./ •/Many women advertise for mother’s helpers toroom in with families and help take care of children./

[live in a fool’s paradise]{v. phr.} To deceive oneself; tell oneselfunreal stories. •/His information is based on a lot of misunderstanding — the poor guy is living in a fool’s paradise./

[live in an ivory tower]{v. phr.} To be blind to real life; live anunrealistically sheltered existence. •/Professor Nebelmacher has no idea ofthe cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower./

[live in the fast lane]{v. phr.}, {informal} To live a full andvery active life pursuing wealth and success. •/They have been living in thefast lane ever since they arrived in New York City./

[live it up]{v. phr.}, {informal} To pursue pleasure; enjoy gamesor night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. •/Joe had had ahard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it up./ •/Thewestern cowboys usually went to town on Saturdays to live it up./

[live off someone]{v. phr.} To be supported by someone. •/AlthoughEric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to live off hiselderly parents./

[live off the fat of the land] See: FAT OF THE LAND.

[live on borrowed time]{v. phr.} To live or last longer than wasexpected. •/Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on borrowedtime./ •/Mr. Brown was living on borrowed time because a year ago thedoctors had told him he would only live six months./

[live out]{v.} 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. •/Smith livedout the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved to the Southagain./ •/After retiring, John and his wife lived out their lives inFlorida./ 2. To last through; endure to the end of. •/We lived out thewinter on short ration./ •/He lived out the earthquake, but his house wasdestroyed./

[live out of a suitcase]{v. phr.} To have no permanent residence or apermanent place to hang one’s clothes. •/When Jennifer accepted her new job,she had no idea that she would have to live out of a suitcase for sixmonths./

[live up to]{v.} To act according to; come up to; agree with; follow.•/So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to the example he sawin Lincoln./ •/Bob was a man who lived up to his promises./ •/The newhouse didn’t live up to expectations./