lend (redirected from lent an ear)

Distance lends enchantment (to the view).

Prov. Things that are far away from you appear better than they really are. Jill: High school was the happiest time of my life. Jane: But that was fifteen years ago. I think distance lends enchantment to the view.

See also: distance

lend (someone) a hand and lend a hand (to someone)

Fig. to give someone some help, not necessarily with the hands. Could you lend me a hand with this piano? I need to move it across the room. Could you lend a hand with this math assignment? I'd be happy to lend a hand.

See also: hand

lend someone a hand with something

Fig. to help someone with something. (This need not involve "hands.") Could you please lend us a hand with this? Can I lend you a hand with that?

See also: hand

lend something out (to someone)

to allow someone to borrow something. I lent my tuxedo out to a friend who was going to a dance, and now I haven't anything to wear to the opera. I lent out my copy of the book. Sorry, I lent it out.

See also: out

lend something to someone

to make a loan of something to someone. Never lend money to a friend. Would you be able to lend your coat to Fred?

lend an ear to someone or something and lend your ear to someone or something

Fig. to listen to someone or what someone has to say. Lend an ear to me and I will tell you a story. Lend your ear to what I am saying.

See also: ear

lend color to something

Fig. to provide an interesting accompaniment for something. Your clever comments lent a great deal of color to the slide show of your vacation. The excellent master of ceremonies will lend color to an otherwise dry panel discussion.

See also: color

lend oneself or itself to something

Fig. [for someone or something] to be adaptable to something; [for someone or something] to be useful for something. This room doesn't lend itself to bright colors. John doesn't lend himself to casual conversation. I don't think that this gown lends itself to outdoor occasions.

See also: itself, oneself

Lend your money and lose your friend.

Prov. You should not lend money to your friends; if you do, either you will have to bother your friend to repay the loan, which will make your friend resent you, or your friend will not repay the loan, which will make you resent your friend. Bill: Joe needs a hundred dollars to pay his landlord. I'm thinking about lending it to him. Alan: Lend your money and lose your friend.

See also: and, friend, lose, money

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lend (somebody) a hand

to help someone do something, especially something that involves physical effort Could you lend me a hand with these books? He's always willing to lend a hand in the kitchen.

See also: hand

lend an ear

to listen carefully and in a friendly way to someone, especially someone who is telling you about a problem If you have any problems, go to Claire. She'll always lend a sympathetic ear.

See also: ear

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lend a (helping) hand also lend somebody a hand

to help do something Jay expected his children to lend a hand where they were needed.

See also: hand

lend an ear to somebody/something

to listen carefully and with understanding to someone or something Bush lent an ear to a group of oil executives who came to the White House. Aunt Rosalie lent a sympathetic ear to my troubles.

See also: ear

lend itself to something

to be good for a particular use It was surprising how well her book lent itself to being turned into a film.

See also: itself