counsel

a counsel of despair

An admission of defeat, hopelessness, or resignation to a particular negative outcome or situation. It saddens me to hear such a counsel of despair from our president about the situation regarding our healthcare system. Though obviously spruced up with media-friendly spin, the PR statement amounted to little more than a counsel of despair regarding the company's future outlooks.
See also: counsel, despair, of

a counsel of perfection

Instructions or advice given for one to attain an ideal but unfeasible or unrealizable standard. But in the current market, those enter the workforce are coming up against a counsel of perfection, demanding that they have not only a college degree or two, but also several years' experience and a huge list of professional references if they hope to find any job that pays more than minimum wage.
See also: counsel, of, perfection

a fool may give a wise man counsel

Do not be overconfident in others' advice. I know you hold Bill in high esteem, but I don't think you should do as he suggested. Just keep in mind that a fool may give a wise man counsel.
See also: counsel, fool, give, man, may, wise

counsel (someone) about (something)

To advise one on a particular topic or issue. Since you used to handle this project, can you counsel Joanne about it?
See also: counsel

counsel (someone) against (something)

To advise one against taking some action. As his defense lawyer, you need to counsel your client against making incriminating statements like that.
See also: counsel

keep (one's) own counsel

To not share one's thoughts or plans with others. I'm just naturally a private person, so I keep my own counsel.
See also: counsel, keep, own
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

counsel someone about something

to give advice to someone about something. Will you counsel George about which tires to buy?
See also: counsel

counsel someone against something

to advise someone against doing something. The lawyer counseled her against suing the government. I was counseled against going for a walk alone at night.
See also: counsel

keep one's own counsel

Fig. to keep one's thoughts and plans to oneself; to withhold from other people one's thoughts and plans. Jane is very quiet. She tends to keep her own counsel. I advise you to keep your own counsel.
See also: counsel, keep, own
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

keep one's own counsel

Say little or nothing about one's opinions or intentions. For example, Betty is notorious for keeping her own counsel; you never know what she really thinks. This expression employs counsel in the sense of "a secret," a usage dating from about 1300.
See also: counsel, keep, own
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a counsel of despair

an action to be taken when all else fails.
2003 Guardian This is not a counsel of despair. The argument in favour of the euro can be won, as Winning From Behind, a pamphlet published today by Britain in Europe, argues.
See also: counsel, despair, of

a counsel of perfection

advice that is ideal but not feasible.
1986 E. Hall in Home Owner Manual Twice yearly desludging has been recommended but this is probably a counsel of perfection.
See also: counsel, of, perfection
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

keep your own ˈcounsel

(formal) keep your thoughts, plans, etc. secret: Try to keep your own counsel when you’re with him, or he’ll tell everyone what you say.
See also: counsel, keep, own
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a counsel of despair
  • despair
  • drive (one) to despair
  • drive to despair
  • fall into despair
  • counsel (someone) about (something)
  • counsel about
  • sink into despair
  • like a dying duck in a thunderstorm
  • by the board
References in periodicals archive
Todd Sheldon, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Supervalu Inc., will leave the grocery chain next month.
9 noteworthy in-house career moves
Fred Beckley was appointed general counsel and executive vice president of business affairs for Quepasa Corp., a social media technology company.
GC appointments
First, the successful trial counsel is a key member of both the brigade and OSJA teams.
The triple threat trial counsel
TEI commends the Office of Chief Counsel for its efforts to streamline the technical advice process and provide alternatives to obtain timely, issue-specific advice.
TEI files comments on IRS Chief Counsel notice on case specific legal advice: letter submitted on August 28, 2006, by TEI President David L. Bernard to Donald L. Korb, Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service
That being said, a better understanding of the common interest doctrine will inevitably serve to facilitate the flow of communication among policyholders, assigned defense counsel and insurers and lead to better outcomes for all concerned.
Sharing secrets: the 'common interest' doctrine is the key to whether an insurer is entitled to receive privileged communications between a policyholder and defense counsel
3 You may share the substance of your communications with counsel with your colleagues without jeopardizing the privilege.
4 myths about attorney-client privilege
The Amended Notice was served in accordance with the OCC rules by overnight delivery, signature requested, in care of Respondent's counsel. Respondent failed to file an answer within the 20-day period.
Final enforcement decisions issued by the Board of Governors
Once the Prisoners' Counsel Act became law the bar was forced to address difficult issues related to the obligations of advocates to their clients.
The Bar and the Old Bailey, 1750-1850
Reasoning that the individual class members had not agreed to personally compensate class counsel, the Service held that attorneys' fees paid to plaintiffs' counsel were not includible in gross income.
Class actions and the attorneys' fees conundrum
In one case, denial of access to counsel had potentially severe repercussions.
No lawyers beyond this point: immigration authorities bar the door
Because the impetus for the creation of the Miranda rights was the Supreme Court's concern that custodial interrogations are intrinsically coercive, the right to counsel contained within Miranda applies only when the subject of interrogation is in custody.
Constitutional rights to counsel during interrogation: comparing rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. (Legal Digest)
Generally, if a steering committee or individual creditors wish to protect themselves on the local law front, they will need to hire competent and experienced local counsel to help navigate and interpret the local legal system.
Restructuring: a how-to guide: successful debt restructurings in emerging markets require careful planning by foreign creditors
Once the program was in place, Beaumont administrators provided training to participating clergy in how to counsel students, including the creation of talking points for the church officials on "Reasons for a School-church Alliance."
AU challenges clergy counselling in Texas public school
They wish to better understand cost sources and are increasingly insisting on use of defense counsel who can demonstrate, not merely promise, reduced cost and high-quality services.
Computerization: reengineering the lawyering process for the 21st century
It is important for the owner's counsel to work closely in tandem with those law firms; further, counsel needs to regularly communicate with the receiver, management company and other affected parties in order to better serve the short- and long-term business goals of the various parties.
Not always better to give than receive