Figures of Speech:
(A)

1. 

cock  =

 

(a) a type of tap (faucet); valve

(b)  the sex organ of a man [not to be used in formal situations]

(c)  the part of a gun (firearm) which hits the bullet

 

2. to cock  =  to get ready to shoot by pulling back the ‘cock’ of a gun

3. cock-headed  =  (of a man) fanciful; having very high opinion of one’s own abilities

4. cock-brained  =  not very clever (not intelligent)

5. cock-footed  =  (of a person) whose feet are turned inwards

6. cock crow  =   (at) dawn (= the time of the sun rise – early in the morning)

 

7. cock shut  =  (at) dusk  (= the time of the sun set – evening, before it becomes dark)

8. cock-and-hen  = (a) including/ with both male and female [said of a party, meeting, gathering, etc] (b) a slang expression for ‘ten’

9. cock loft  =  an attic

10. cock-bird high/height  =  in high spirits; very happy

11. (a)  a cock shot; (b)  a cock shy [said of an ill-prepared attempt to do something; object of some unkind fun (black humour, i.e. a crippled or a mentally disturbed person being laughed at); a target not chosen well or shooting at something without taking a good aim]

12. cock-a-hoop  =  very, very happy

13. cock-eyed  [said of something that is not straight or level or in the right position]

14. (a)  cock-up (noun)  =  an act of spoiling something because of not knowing how to do or of inefficiency

(b)  to cock something up (verb)  =  to spoil or ruin something because of not knowing how to do or of inefficiency

15. the cock of the walk [said of someone… (a)  who is (or thinks themselves) the most important in a group (b)  who dominates (or tries to dominates)  others in a group]

16. as proud as a cock

17. to fly/leap at (someone) like a cock at a bilberry (‘bilberry’ = a kind of a bush plant) [said of somebody, usually a young man who tries very hard but gets little or nothing]

18. as game as a fighting cock (‘game’ = cunning, very careful approach at doing something; high in spirit; ready and willing to take a challenge)

19. to quarrel like fighting cocks

20. cock-and-bull story  =  an improbable and absurd story [said of an excuse or an explanation which is unbelievable]

21. to live like fighting cocks [said of people with the best food, best treatment, etc. like the cocks used in the cockfight which are looked after well]

22. who eats his cock (rooster) alone must saddle his horse alone [said to point out that if one enjoys his good luck or fortune alone, without sharing it with others, one must also bear or face troubles or difficulties alone because nobody comes forward to help]

23. cock the eye (or nose, ears, etc.)  =  to show oneself (turn up) in a shamelessly bold manner

24. cock an eye/ear for/at somebody or something  =  to look/listen carefully

25. young cocks love no coops [said of young people that they do not like rules, restrictions, etc.]

26. the red cock will crow on (someone’s) house [a warning that (someone’s) house will be set on fire]

27. (a)  every cock crows on his own dunghill [said of a man who acts brave in the safety and security of his own home grounds]; (b)  cock on his own dunghill [said of a local bully (= a strong big boy/man who teases, frightens or threatens weaker and helpless people than he)

28. to go off at half cock  =  to start to do something too soon, before all the preparations are complete or before preparing well, and so the result is not totally satisfactory]

29. to cock a snook at  = (a) to show open disrespect for something or someone (b) (usually by young children) to make a rude gesture at someone by putting one’s thumb to the nose with the fingers of that hand outstretched

30. cock(ed) hat  =  a kind of hat worn in former (old) times

 

31. cockfight  =  an arranged fight between cocks watched as a sport by people

32.

cockhorse  =  a long stick with a toy horse head fixed at the top end with which children play pretending to ride it

33. cocksure  =  very confident; (sometimes) over-confident

34. cocktail  = (a)  a mixed alcoholic drink; (b)  a mixed sea-food dish

 

35. have not a cock left to crow [said of a situation where someone is without the simplest necessary things of normal life]

 

36. a cock of a different hackle [said of an opponent (enemy) with a completely different plan or strategy or way of approach]

37. that cock won’t fight [an expression used to mean “an unlikely excuse” or “(some) argument is not of any use”]