pigeon

be (one's) pigeon

To be one's area of expertise or responsibility. I can't approve expense reports, but Betty can—that's her pigeon.

See also: pigeon

clay pigeon

A person who is easily exploited, deceived, or taken advantage of, especially due to being in a position of vulnerability. Likened to the clay pigeons (small clay discs) used as targets in trapshooting. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. He was used as a clay pigeon by the mafia, who laundered money through his accounts.

milk the pigeon

obsolete To try to do or facilitate something that is unlikely to happen or be successful. Albert appears to be milking the pigeon right now in the stables—there's no way he'll convince Catherine to get back on that horse.

pigeon-eyed

slang Very drunk, especially to such a degree that one's senses have been heavily affected. He just sat at the bar for the whole night getting pigeon-eyed. Working in a 24-hour fast food restaurant in the middle of the city, you get pretty used to pigeon-eyed idiots coming in at all hours of the evening looking for junk food.

put the cat among the pigeons

To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. Primarily heard in UK. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably put the cat among the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to put the cat among the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate.

put the cat amongst the pigeons

To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. Primarily heard in UK. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably put the cat amongst the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to put the cat amongst the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate.

set the cat among the pigeons

To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. Primarily heard in UK. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably set the cat among the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to set the cat among the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate.

stool pigeon

An informant, especially a criminal working as a spy for law enforcement officers. Although the criminal agreed to help the police in order to avoid prison time, he was afraid the other gang members would kill him if they discovered he was a stool pigeon.

See also: pigeon, stool

throw the cat among the pigeons

To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably thrown the cat among the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to throw the cat among the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate.

clay pigeon

A person easily duped or taken advantage of, as in You're a clay pigeon for all of those telephone fund-raisers. The term alludes to the clay pigeon of trapshooting, which replaced the use of live birds in this sport in the 1860s. Its transfer to figurative use in the first half of the 1900s probably is explained by the much older slang use of pigeon for "dupe." Also see fall guy.

stool pigeon

A decoy or informer, especially a police spy. For example, Watch out for Doug; I'm sure he's a stool pigeon for the supervisor. This term alludes to a bird tied to a stool or similar perch in order to attract other birds, which will then be shot. However, one writer believes that stool is a variant for stale or stall, both nouns used for a decoy bird before 1500 or so. [c. 1820]

See also: pigeon, stool

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

put the cat among the pigeons

set the cat among the pigeons

BRITISH

If a remark or action puts the cat among the pigeons or sets the cat among the pigeons, it causes trouble, worry or anger. The bank is poised to put the cat among the pigeons this morning by slashing the cost of borrowing. Once again she set the cat among the pigeons, claiming that Michael was lying.

be someone's pigeon

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED

If something is your pigeon, you have to deal with it. I'm glad this is your pigeon rather than mine. Note: Originally this expression was `that's not my pidgin'. The word `pidgin' represents a 17th century Chinese pronunciation of the word `business'. The expression literally meant the same as `that's not my business'.

See also: pigeon

a stool pigeon

OLD-FASHIONED

A stool pigeon is someone who gives secret information to the police. There's nothing the mob hates more than a stool pigeon. Note: This expression is used to express disapproval. Note: This expression comes from the old practice of putting a wooden pigeon on a seat to trick other pigeons.

See also: pigeon, stool

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

put (or set) the cat among the pigeons

say or do something that is likely to cause trouble or controversy. British

This expression was first recorded in J. Stevens 's New Spanish and English Dictionary ( 1706 ), where it is explained as referring to a man coming into the company of a group of women. The idiom flutter the dovecotes (see flutter) is based on the same idea of a group of pigeons as a tranquil or harmless community.

1998 New Scientist The…study has firmly put the cat among the pigeons by claiming that most of the therapeutic effects of expensive antidepressant pills…can be mimicked by dummy pills.

be someone's pigeon

be someone's concern or affair.

In this phrase, the word pigeon derives from pidgin , as in pidgin English , the term for a grammatically simplified form of a language used for communication between people not sharing a common language. Pidgin itself represents a Chinese alteration of the English word ‘business’: it entered the English language with the meaning ‘occupation’ or ‘affair(s)’ in the early 19th century, emerging from the hybrid of English and other languages used at that time between Europeans and the Chinese for trading purposes.

See also: pigeon

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

put/set the cat among the ˈpigeons

(British English, informal) do something that is likely to cause trouble: She told all the staff they would have to cancel their holidays, and that really set the cat among the pigeons.

be somebody’s pigeon

(old-fashioned, British English) be somebody’s responsibility or business: Somebody needs to write a report on training for the manager, but it’s not my pigeon. Gustav will have to tell them first, it’s his pigeon.

See also: pigeon

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

clay pigeon

n. a gullible person; a pigeon. (Underworld.) We need a clay pigeon to divert attention from the snatch.

pigeon

1. n. a dupe; a sucker; someone singled out to be cheated. (see also patsy.) There’s our pigeon now. Don’t let him see us sizing him up.

2. n. a good-looking girl or woman. Who was the dreamy little pigeon I saw you with last night?

3. Go to stool (pigeon).

pigeon-eyed

mod. alcohol intoxicated. Who is that pigeon-eyed guy over there who is having such a hard time standing up?

stool (pigeon)

and stoolie (ˈstul ˈpɪdʒən and ˈstuli)

n. an informer. (Originally underworld.) Some stool pigeon spilled the works to the boys in blue. I’m no stoolie!

See also: pigeon, stool

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

See also:

be somebody's pigeon
be someone's pigeon
be (one's) pigeon
be somebody's department
be (not) (one's) department
department
not (one's) department
not your department
pigeon-eyed

References in classic literature

At an altitude of five hundred feet, the pigeon drove on over the town of Berkeley and lifted its flight to the Contra Costa hills.

The pigeon was now flying low, and where a grove of eucalyptus presented a solid front to the wind, the bird was suddenly sent fluttering wildly upward for a distance of a hundred feet.

Two or more ranges of hills the pigeon crossed, and then Winn saw it dropping down to a landing where a small cabin stood in a hillside clearing.

A man, reading a newspaper, had just started up at the sight of the returning pigeon, when be heard the burr of Winn's engine and saw the huge monoplane, with all surfaces set, drop down upon him, stop suddenly on an air-cushion manufactured on the spur of the moment by a shift of the horizontal rudders, glide a few yards, strike ground, and come to rest not a score of feet away from him.

Peter Winn gripped his son's hand in grim silence, and fondled the pigeon which his son had passed to him.

The Night Born

One morning, whilst at his window inhaling the fresh air which came from the river, and casting a longing look to the windmills of his dear old city Dort, which were looming in the distance behind a forest of chimneys, he saw flocks of pigeons coming from that quarter to perch fluttering on the pointed gables of Loewestein.

The Black Tulip

Some millions of pigeons were supposed to have already passed, that morning, over the valley of Templeton; but nothing like the flock that was now approaching had been seen before.

Horses were loaded with the dead; and, after this first burst of sporting, the shooting of pigeons became a business, with a few idlers, for the remainder of the season, Richard, however, boasted for many a year of his shot with the

“cricket;” and Benjamin gravely asserted that he thought they had killed nearly as many pigeons on that day as there were Frenchmen destroyed on the memorable occasion of Rodney’s victory.

Pioneers

`Well, be off, then!' said the Pigeon in a sulky tone, as it settled down again into its nest.

Alices Adventures In Wonderland

Sri Lankan tropical wear brand Pigeon Island, based on marine conservation and plastic recycling, recently partnered with Blue Resources Trust, a marine research, conservation, and education non-profit organisation based in Sri Lanka.

Tropical wear brand Pigeon Island stands for conservation

Aug 20, 2019 (LBO) - Sri Lankan tropical wear brand Pigeon Island, based on marine conservation and plastic recycling, recently partnered with Blue Resources Trust, a marine research, conservation, and education non-profit organisation based in Sri Lanka.

Pigeon Island partners Blue Resources Trust to create conservation programs

Flapping their wings at a furious rate, the competition is stiff between the airborne competitors taking part on the ancient sport of pigeon racing.

Flying high: What goes up must stay there

Summary: Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 1 (ANI): India may have to wait almost a month for the results of the Lok Sabha elections, but a political war from roofs of Lucknow is fought and won by some pigeon owners every day.

Lucknow pigeons compete to ensure their party win

THE Daily Record article on a pigeon filmed inside the scandal-hit Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow caused a stir online.

@dailyrecord

词组	pigeon
释义	pigeon be (one's) pigeon To be one's area of expertise or responsibility. I can't approve expense reports, but Betty can—that's her pigeon. See also: pigeon clay pigeon A person who is easily exploited, deceived, or taken advantage of, especially due to being in a position of vulnerability. Likened to the clay pigeons (small clay discs) used as targets in trapshooting. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. He was used as a clay pigeon by the mafia, who laundered money through his accounts. See also: clay, pigeon milk the pigeon obsolete To try to do or facilitate something that is unlikely to happen or be successful. Albert appears to be milking the pigeon right now in the stables—there's no way he'll convince Catherine to get back on that horse. See also: milk, pigeon pigeon-eyed slang Very drunk, especially to such a degree that one's senses have been heavily affected. He just sat at the bar for the whole night getting pigeon-eyed. Working in a 24-hour fast food restaurant in the middle of the city, you get pretty used to pigeon-eyed idiots coming in at all hours of the evening looking for junk food. put the cat among the pigeons To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. Primarily heard in UK. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably put the cat among the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to put the cat among the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate. See also: among, cat, pigeon, put put the cat amongst the pigeons To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. Primarily heard in UK. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably put the cat amongst the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to put the cat amongst the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate. See also: amongst, cat, pigeon, put set the cat among the pigeons To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. Primarily heard in UK. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably set the cat among the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to set the cat among the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate. See also: among, cat, pigeon, set stool pigeon An informant, especially a criminal working as a spy for law enforcement officers. Although the criminal agreed to help the police in order to avoid prison time, he was afraid the other gang members would kill him if they discovered he was a stool pigeon. See also: pigeon, stool throw the cat among the pigeons To do or say something that is likely to cause alarm, controversy, or unrest among a lot of people. The prime minister's casual remarks about the role of ethnicity in unemployment numbers has predictably thrown the cat among the pigeons on both sides of the political spectrum. We didn't want to throw the cat among the pigeons, so we decided not to mention the bomb threat until we knew for certain that it was legitimate. See also: among, cat, pigeon, throw Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. clay pigeon A person easily duped or taken advantage of, as in You're a clay pigeon for all of those telephone fund-raisers. The term alludes to the clay pigeon of trapshooting, which replaced the use of live birds in this sport in the 1860s. Its transfer to figurative use in the first half of the 1900s probably is explained by the much older slang use of pigeon for "dupe." Also see fall guy. See also: clay, pigeon stool pigeon A decoy or informer, especially a police spy. For example, Watch out for Doug; I'm sure he's a stool pigeon for the supervisor. This term alludes to a bird tied to a stool or similar perch in order to attract other birds, which will then be shot. However, one writer believes that stool is a variant for stale or stall, both nouns used for a decoy bird before 1500 or so. [c. 1820] See also: pigeon, stool The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. put the cat among the pigeons or set the cat among the pigeons BRITISH If a remark or action puts the cat among the pigeons or sets the cat among the pigeons, it causes trouble, worry or anger. The bank is poised to put the cat among the pigeons this morning by slashing the cost of borrowing. Once again she set the cat among the pigeons, claiming that Michael was lying. See also: among, cat, pigeon, put be someone's pigeon BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED If something is your pigeon, you have to deal with it. I'm glad this is your pigeon rather than mine. Note: Originally this expression was `that's not my pidgin'. The word `pidgin' represents a 17th century Chinese pronunciation of the word `business'. The expression literally meant the same as `that's not my business'. See also: pigeon a stool pigeon OLD-FASHIONED A stool pigeon is someone who gives secret information to the police. There's nothing the mob hates more than a stool pigeon. Note: This expression is used to express disapproval. Note: This expression comes from the old practice of putting a wooden pigeon on a seat to trick other pigeons. See also: pigeon, stool Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. put (or set) the cat among the pigeons say or do something that is likely to cause trouble or controversy. British This expression was first recorded in J. Stevens 's New Spanish and English Dictionary ( 1706 ), where it is explained as referring to a man coming into the company of a group of women. The idiom flutter the dovecotes (see flutter) is based on the same idea of a group of pigeons as a tranquil or harmless community. 1998 New Scientist The…study has firmly put the cat among the pigeons by claiming that most of the therapeutic effects of expensive antidepressant pills…can be mimicked by dummy pills. See also: among, cat, pigeon, put be someone's pigeon be someone's concern or affair. In this phrase, the word pigeon derives from pidgin , as in pidgin English , the term for a grammatically simplified form of a language used for communication between people not sharing a common language. Pidgin itself represents a Chinese alteration of the English word ‘business’: it entered the English language with the meaning ‘occupation’ or ‘affair(s)’ in the early 19th century, emerging from the hybrid of English and other languages used at that time between Europeans and the Chinese for trading purposes. See also: pigeon Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary put/set the cat among the ˈpigeons (British English, informal) do something that is likely to cause trouble: She told all the staff they would have to cancel their holidays, and that really set the cat among the pigeons. See also: among, cat, pigeon, put, set be somebody’s pigeon (old-fashioned, British English) be somebody’s responsibility or business: Somebody needs to write a report on training for the manager, but it’s not my pigeon. Gustav will have to tell them first, it’s his pigeon. See also: pigeon Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary clay pigeon n. a gullible person; a pigeon. (Underworld.) We need a clay pigeon to divert attention from the snatch. See also: clay, pigeon pigeon 1. n. a dupe; a sucker; someone singled out to be cheated. (see also patsy.) There’s our pigeon now. Don’t let him see us sizing him up. 2. n. a good-looking girl or woman. Who was the dreamy little pigeon I saw you with last night? 3. Go to stool (pigeon). pigeon-eyed mod. alcohol intoxicated. Who is that pigeon-eyed guy over there who is having such a hard time standing up? stool (pigeon) and stoolie (ˈstul ˈpɪdʒən and ˈstuli) n. an informer. (Originally underworld.) Some stool pigeon spilled the works to the boys in blue. I’m no stoolie! See also: pigeon, stool McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions See also: be somebody's pigeon be someone's pigeon be (one's) pigeon be somebody's department be (not) (one's) department department not (one's) department not your department pigeon-eyed References in classic literature At an altitude of five hundred feet, the pigeon drove on over the town of Berkeley and lifted its flight to the Contra Costa hills. The pigeon was now flying low, and where a grove of eucalyptus presented a solid front to the wind, the bird was suddenly sent fluttering wildly upward for a distance of a hundred feet. Two or more ranges of hills the pigeon crossed, and then Winn saw it dropping down to a landing where a small cabin stood in a hillside clearing. A man, reading a newspaper, had just started up at the sight of the returning pigeon, when be heard the burr of Winn's engine and saw the huge monoplane, with all surfaces set, drop down upon him, stop suddenly on an air-cushion manufactured on the spur of the moment by a shift of the horizontal rudders, glide a few yards, strike ground, and come to rest not a score of feet away from him. Peter Winn gripped his son's hand in grim silence, and fondled the pigeon which his son had passed to him. The Night Born One morning, whilst at his window inhaling the fresh air which came from the river, and casting a longing look to the windmills of his dear old city Dort, which were looming in the distance behind a forest of chimneys, he saw flocks of pigeons coming from that quarter to perch fluttering on the pointed gables of Loewestein. The Black Tulip Some millions of pigeons were supposed to have already passed, that morning, over the valley of Templeton; but nothing like the flock that was now approaching had been seen before. Horses were loaded with the dead; and, after this first burst of sporting, the shooting of pigeons became a business, with a few idlers, for the remainder of the season, Richard, however, boasted for many a year of his shot with the “cricket;” and Benjamin gravely asserted that he thought they had killed nearly as many pigeons on that day as there were Frenchmen destroyed on the memorable occasion of Rodney’s victory. Pioneers `Well, be off, then!' said the Pigeon in a sulky tone, as it settled down again into its nest. Alices Adventures In Wonderland Sri Lankan tropical wear brand Pigeon Island, based on marine conservation and plastic recycling, recently partnered with Blue Resources Trust, a marine research, conservation, and education non-profit organisation based in Sri Lanka. Tropical wear brand Pigeon Island stands for conservation Aug 20, 2019 (LBO) - Sri Lankan tropical wear brand Pigeon Island, based on marine conservation and plastic recycling, recently partnered with Blue Resources Trust, a marine research, conservation, and education non-profit organisation based in Sri Lanka. Pigeon Island partners Blue Resources Trust to create conservation programs Flapping their wings at a furious rate, the competition is stiff between the airborne competitors taking part on the ancient sport of pigeon racing. Flying high: What goes up must stay there Summary: Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 1 (ANI): India may have to wait almost a month for the results of the Lok Sabha elections, but a political war from roofs of Lucknow is fought and won by some pigeon owners every day. Lucknow pigeons compete to ensure their party win THE Daily Record article on a pigeon filmed inside the scandal-hit Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow caused a stir online. @dailyrecord
随便看	plunk plunk down plunk (someone, something, or oneself) down plus plus interest plus-minus plus or minus plus ça change plus ça change (plus c'est la même chose) ply ply between ply for business ply for hire ply for hire/trade/business ply for trade Plymouth ply (one's) trade ply (one) with (something) ply with ply your trade pm PMJI PMOYS PMSL pneumonia