main

vulgar slang Of a male, to urinate (where "main vein" is slang for the penis). Will you order us another round of drinks? I'm just going to go drain the main vein real quick.

nautical To issue and partake in an extra ration of alcoholic spirits, especially rum or grog, amongst members of crew aboard a sea vessel. (The mainbrace, also spelled "main brace," is a brace attached to the main yard on sailing ships. "Splicing the mainbrace" was originally the very difficult job of repairing this brace, one which earned the repairman an extra ration of spirits; eventually, this euphemistic secondary meaning became the primary one.) As part of the celebrations for her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen gave the order to all in the Royal Navy to splice the mainbrace as a gesture of good cheer.

The most prominent street in a small town. It is typically home to many businesses. This town has a main street with a lot of cute shops.

Rur. by force or brute strength. Tom: How did you get that piano up the stairs? Mary: By main strength and awkwardness. By main strength and awkwardness, we got all the luggage crammed into the car.

basically; generally. Mary: Everything looks all right—in the main. Sally: What details need attention? Mary: Just a few things here and there. Like on page 27. John: Are you all ready? Sue: I think we're ready, in the main. John: Then, we shall go.

Fig. great force; brute force. They finally got the piano moved in to the living room by main strength and awkwardness. Lifting the antique table must be done carefully. This is not a job requiring main strength and awkwardness.

Cliché great physical strength; great force. The huge warrior, with all his might and main, could not break his way through the castle gates. The incredible might and main of the sea crushed the ship against the cliff.

mostly Major crime seems to be, in the main, caused by drugs and poverty.

if someone has an eye for the main chance, they are always looking for opportunities to make money and to improve their situation She was someone who had an eye on the main chance and who never missed an opportunity to exploit others.

to be the person that someone has a romantic or sexual relationship with Didn't you know? Jennifer is Bob's main squeeze.

mostly, usually Bystanders, middle-aged women in the main, protested loudly. In the main, our students reach exam level after a year.

the biggest and most important road in a town We walked up and down the town's main drag looking for a post office.

with all your effort and strength War is something we should be working might and main to avoid.

Look out for one's own best interest. For example, Tom is watching the company's progress very closely; he always has an eye to the main chance . [c. 1600]

For the most part, chiefly, as in It was an excellent conference in the main. [First half of 1600s]

The principal street of a city or town, as in Several stores on the main drag have closed. This slangy term was first recorded in 1851.

Strenuously, vigorously, as in She pulled on the rope with all her might and main. This expression is redundant, since the noun main also means "strength" or "power." It survives only in this phrase, which may also be dying out. [Late 1200s]

The biggest or most important thoroughfare of a town or city. “Drag” came from a term for a wagon or carriage that a horse would pull or drag. By extension the road on which the vehicle was dragged became a slang word for “street”—think of drag racing.