silk

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(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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

You cannot fashion something beautiful or valuable out of poor materials. What do you want me to do with this tacky dress? You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!

*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.

*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.

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

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

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

If you say you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, you mean that it is impossible to make something very successful or of high quality out of something which is unsuccessful or of poor quality. He did his best to coach the team but you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Note: People often vary this expression. It takes more than a good swimming pool and an indoor tennis court or two to make a sow's ear of a resort into a silk purse. Afterwards, Kendall made no attempt to describe this sow's ear as a silk purse. Note: A sow is a female pig, and the ears of a pig are regarded as the least useful body parts when the animal is slaughtered.

See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

smooth as silk

1. If something is as smooth as silk, it is very smooth. The landing at Kirkwall turned out to be as smooth as silk. The cream left my skin as smooth as silk.

2. If someone is smooth as silk, they are polite and confident, often in a way that is not sincere. It might make it easier if I talked to him on my own. He's smooth as silk.

See also: silk, smooth

make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

turn something inferior into something of top quality.

The observation that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear has been proverbial since the late 16th century; there was an earlier version which featured a goat's fleece instead of a sow's ear .

See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

make a silk ˌpurse out of a sow’s ˈear

succeed in making something good out of material that does not seem very good at all: If you’re serious about taking up painting, invest in good quality brushes and canvas. After all, it’s no good trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

See also: ear, make, of, out, purse, silk

(as) smooth as ˈsilk

(also (as) smooth as a baby’s ˈbottom humorous) very smooth: He had just shaved and his face was as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

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.

silked to the bone

verb

See laid to the bone

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.