king (redirected from kinged)

*cocky as the king of spades

boastful; overly proud. (*Also: as ~.) He'd challenge anyone to a fight. He's as cocky as the king of spades. She strutted in, cocky as the king of spades.

See also: cocky, spade

*king's ransom

Fig. a great deal of money. (To pay an amount as large as one might have to pay to get back a king held for ransom. *Typically: cost ~; pay ~; spend~.) I would like to buy a nice watch, but I don't want to pay a king's ransom for it. It's a lovely house. I bet it cost a king's ransom.

See also: ransom

Cash is king.

Prov. It is best to keep one's investment money in cash. (Said when the prices in the securities markets are too high. It is better to build up cash and wait for a break in the market.) Things look a little pricey now. I'd say that cash is king for the moment. I'm holding a little cash for a little bottom fishing, but I wouldn't say that cash is king.

See also: cash

cat can look at a king

Prov. No one is so important that an ordinary person cannot look at him or her; everyone has the right to be curious about important people. Jane: I get so angry at those people who read tabloid magazines. The private lives of television stars are none of their business. Alan: Don't be so hard on them. A cat can look at a king. Fred: You shouldn't stare at me like that. I'm your boss. Jill: A cat can look at a king.

See also: can, cat, look

fit for a king and fit for the gods

Fig. very nice; luxurious. What a delicious meal. It was fit for a king. Our room at the hotel was fit for a king.

See also: fit

In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Prov. A person who is not particularly capable can attain a powerful position if the people around him or her are even less capable. Jill: How on earth did Joe get promoted to be head of his department? He's such a blunderer! Jane: In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

See also: country, man

Kings have long arms. and Governments have long arms.

Prov. Those who are in power can always catch and punish people who have opposed them, no matter how far away those opponents may go. After his attempt to assassinate the king, the prince sailed to a distant country, although his wife warned him it would be to no avail. "Kings have long arms," she reminded him.

See also: arm, have, long

sport of kings

horse racing. The sport of kings has sure impoverished a lot of commoners.

See also: sport

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a king's ransom

a very large amount of money (not used with the ) She was wearing a diamond necklace which must have been worth a king's ransom.

See also: ransom

king of the castle  (British) also king of the hill (American)

the most successful or most powerful person in a group of people Jamie Spence was king of the castle yesterday when he beat the defending champion in the third round. Our team is sure to be king of the hill this year.

See turn king's's evidence, live like a king

See also: castle

live like a king

to live in a very comfortable way with all the luxuries you want He lived like a king for six months, drinking champagne and driving a Porsche, until the money finally ran out.

See also: like, live

turn king's/queen's evidence  also turn state's evidence

if someone who has been accused of a crime turns king's evidence, they give information in a court of law about other people involved in the crime in order to have their own punishment reduced She was given a lenient sentence in exchange for turning king's evidence.

See also: evidence, turn

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a king's ransom

a large amount of money A visit to one of those amusement parks can cost a king's ransom.

Usage notes: often used with worth or cost, as in the example

See also: ransom