angel



angel's advocate

One who looks for and argues in support of the positive aspects and benefits of a certain argument, whether or not he or she believes them to be true. it is the opposite of a "devil's advocate," who argues against something for the sake of argument, not due to a personal opinion. I know a lot of people oppose the building of a new railway, but let me play angel's advocate for a second and tell you about all the ways it will improve our city!
See also: advocate

enough to make the angels weep

So terrible, distressing, or grievous as to shake the foundations of one's faith or hope. The tragedy of those two young boys' deaths is enough to make the angels weep.
See also: angel, enough, make, weep

guardian angel

1. An angel or other supernatural being who is appointed to protect, guide, or otherwise watch over a particular individual. You're lucky to be alive after that accident! You must have a guardian angel!
2. A person who protects, guides, or otherwise looks after the welfare of someone. Uncle John became my guardian angel after my parents died, always making sure I had everything I needed.
See also: angel

you're an angel

You are sweet and or/perfect. You can do no wrong. You brought me coffee? Ah, you're an angel. Right, like you stole the mascot. You're an angel, and you were at the library when it happened!
See also: angel

fallen angel

1. An angel who has rebelled against God and has been subsequently cast out of heaven. The Bible describes Lucifer as having become a fallen angel after he desired to become God rather than be a servant of God.
2. In finance, a stock or bond that has drastically declined in value. Try to avoid investing in fallen angels—they may have been highly priced once, but they will never return to their original value.
3. A company or organization that was previously successful but is currently failing. The high school's debate team was this year's fallen angel, losing all of their competitions after being dominant last year.
See also: angel, fallen

oil of angels

Money, particularly when used as a bribe. "Angel" was formerly a term for a type of coin. I think we'll be seated soon—I gave the hostess some oil of angels. Oil of angels is the only thing that's going to save you from some goons breaking your kneecaps.
See also: angel, of, oil

be on the side of the angels

To behave in a kind or charitable way, or to support such actions. With war tearing apart the country, being on the side of the angels can cost you your life.
See also: angel, of, on, side

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Prov. Foolish people usually do not understand when a situation is dangerous, so they are not afraid to do things that would frighten more sensible people. Alan: Bob is too scared to go in and confront the boss, so I'm going to. Jane: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
See also: angel, fear, Fool, rush, tread

on the side of the angels

supporting what is kind, right, or good She was on the side of the angels even though it was neither profitable nor popular.
See also: angel, of, on, side

a fallen angel

a company or sports team that was successful in the past but is not successful now (usually plural) Derby County were this season's fallen angels, being sent into the Second Division after losing all their matches.
See also: angel, fallen

be on the side of the angels

someone who is on the side of the angels is doing something good or kind The aid agencies are the only people firmly on the side of the angels in this conflict.
See also: angel, of, on, side

fools rush in where angels fear to tread

Ignorant or inexperienced individuals get involved in situations that wiser persons would avoid, as in I've never heard this symphony and here I am conducting it-oh well, fools rush in where angels fear to tread , or He tried to mediate their unending argument-fools rush in. This expression, so well known it is sometimes shortened as in the second example, is a quotation from Alexander Pope's Essay on Criticism (1709): "No place so sacred from such fops is barr'd ... Nay, fly to altars; there they'll talk you dead; For fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
See also: angel, fear, fool, rush, tread

on the side of the angels

Supporting the good side, as in Whatever you may think of him, on important issues he's usually on the side of the angels . This expression was coined by Benjamin Disraeli in 1864 in a speech about Darwin's theory that man is descended from apes: "The question is this: Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels." Before long it was extended to broader use, specifically to the moral view.
See also: angel, of, on, side

angel

1. n. a secret financier. I was hoping for an angel to see this project through, but all the fat-cats seem to have disappeared.
2. n. a sweetheart. (Also a term of address.) Okay, angel, let’s get in the car.
3. n. a sniper hiding in a high place, such as on the roof of a building. The guards looked upward, watching for angels.
4. n. 1,000 feet of altitude, in flight. At about eighteen angels, we began to level out.

angel dust

and angel hair and dust of angels
n. the common name for phencyclidine (PCP). (Originally drugs.) I thought that angel hair and stuff like that was a problem of the sixties. He had a bit of a problem with some “dust of angels.” It almost killed him.
See also: angel, dust

angel hair

verb
See also: angel, hair

dust of angels

verb
See also: angel, dust, of

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Huri-Biblical
Noboruno-bo-ṙooJapanese
EricaER-i-kə (English)English, Swedish, Italian
HÁLfdan-Ancient Scandinavian
Mirandamə-RAN-də (English)English, Dutch
Kaja (1)KAH-yah (Swedish, Estonian)Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Estonian, Slovene