silk



(as) smooth as silk

Very smooth and soft, with no imperfections. Have you tried this chocolate mousse? It has an incredible flavor and is smooth as silk. I love how your face feels after you shave—it's as smooth as silk!
See also: silk, smooth

take silk

To be appointed a Queen's Counsel (QC) or King's Counsel (KC), the highest ranking position of a senior barrister in the British law system. Primarily heard in UK. Since taking silk, the honourable Thomas Jeffries, QC, has served the public and the crown most admirably.
See also: silk, take

black-silk barge

slang A fat woman. Primarily heard in UK. I hate to say that Jenny's a black-silk barge, but she's gained so much weight that I barely recognize her.
See also: barge

hit the silk

To jump out of an aircraft. The phrase refers to a skydiver's parachute. A lot of people think skydiving is nerve-wracking, but when I hit the silk, I'm completely calm.
See also: hit, silk

make a silk purse of a sow's ear

To fashion something beautiful or valuable out of poor materials. Often used in the negative, such as "cannot make a silk purse of a sow's ear." What do you want me to do with this tacky dress? I can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear!
See also: ear, make, of, purse, silk

silk-stocking district

A section of a city that is dominated by the upper-class. Even if you had the money, you wouldn't want to live in a silk-stocking district—you'd be totally subject to the whims of your wealthy neighbors.
See also: district

*smooth as glass

 and *smooth as silk
Cliché smooth and shiny. (often used to describe calm bodies of water. *Also: as ~.) The bay is as smooth as glass, so we should have a pleasant boat trip. This custard is smooth as silk.
See also: glass, smooth

*soft as a baby's bottom

 and soft as a baby's backside; *soft as down; *soft as silk; *soft as velvet
Cliché very soft and smooth to the touch. (*Also: as ~.) This cloth is as soft as a baby's bottom. The kitten's fur was as soft as down. Your touch is soft as silk. This lotion will make your skin soft as velvet.
See also: bottom, soft

You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Prov. You cannot make someone more refined than he or she is by nature. I've given up trying to get my cousin to appreciate classical music. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
See also: cannot, ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

  (old-fashioned)
something that you say which means you cannot make a good quality product using bad quality materials To make chairs that'll last, you need good strong pieces of wood. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

Be unable to turn something ugly or inferior into something attractive or of value, as in No matter how expensive his clothes, he still looks sloppy-you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear . This expression was already a proverb in the mid-1500s.
See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

smooth as silk

Lacking impediments or obstacles, unhindered, as in The negotiations went smooth as silk. This simile alludes to the slippery quality of silk. [c. 1900] Also see smooth sailing.
See also: silk, smooth

laid to the bone

1. mod. alcohol intoxicated. He got himself laid to the bone.
2. and silked to the bone mod. naked. She was laid to the bone and screaming bloody murder when he opened the door. I was all silked to the bone, getting ready for a shower, when the phone rings.
See also: bone, laid

silked to the bone

verb
See also: bone, silk

silk

n. a Caucasian. (Black.) He told his mama that if she doesn’t treat him better, he’s gonna bring some silk home for dinner and let her see what the neighbors think.

silks

n. clothing. I gotta get some new silks before spring.
See also: silk

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Paramonos-Ancient Greek
RodgerRAH-jərEnglish
FestusFES-təs (English)Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Hohepa-Maori
CaryKER-eeEnglish
LorenzLO-rentsGerman