[lip service]{n.} Support shown by words only and not by actions; a show of loyalty that is not proven in action. — Usually used with "pay". •/Bv holding elections, communism pays lip service to democracy, but it offers only one candidate per office./ •/Some people pay lip service to education, but don’t vote taxes for better schools./

[liquid assets]{n. phr.} Those belongings that can be easily converted into cash. •/Herb asked for a loan and the bank manager told him to bring in proof of all his liquid assets./

[liquor up]{v. phr.}, {slang} To drink an excessive amount of liquor before engaging in some activity as if comparing oneself to a car that needs to be filled before a journey. •/Joe always liquors up before he takes Sue for a dance./

[list] See: SUCKER LIST, WAITING LIST.

[listen in]{v.} 1. To listen to a radio broadcast. •/We found them listening in to the president’s speech./ 2. To listen to the talk of others, often to talk that is not intended for your ears; eavesdrop. •/When Mary talked to her boyfriend on the telephone, her little brother listened in./

[listen to reason]{v. phr.} To listen to and think about advice that you are given. •/Joe was stubborn and would not listen to reason./ •/It will save you a lot of trouble if you will just listen to reason./

[litterbug]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who leaves garbage in a public place, such as a park or beach or a street; one who litters. •/Don’t be a litterbug; keep the city clean!/

[little] See: A LITTLE, A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING, GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, MAKE LITTLE OF, NOT A LITTLE, QUITE A LITTLE or QUITE A LITTLE BIT, THINK LITTLE OF, TWIST AROUND ONE’S LITTLE FINGER.

[little does one think]{v. phr.} To not realize; not expect; be hardly aware of. •/Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the father of twin daughters./

[little folk] or [little people] See: WEE FOLK.

[little frog in a big pond] or [small frog in a big pond] {n. phr.} An unimportant person in a large group or organization. •/In a large company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little frog in a big pond./ •/When Bill transferred to a larger high school, he found himself a small frog in a big pond./ Contrast: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.

[little pitchers have big ears] Little children often overhear things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect they would notice. — A proverb. •/Be especially careful not to swear in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears./

[little theater]{n.} A theater, usually with nonprofessional actors and actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure and practice than for profit. •/Little theater groups are active in all parts of the United States./ •/Many famous actors began in little theaters./

[lit up like a Christmas tree]{adj. phr.}, {informal} To be drunk. •/On New Year’s Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.

[live] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.

[live and learn] You learn more new things the longer you live; you learn by experience. — A proverb. •/"Live and learn," said Mother. "I never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is."/ •/Janet made her new dress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it shrank and was too little. Live and learn./

[live and let live] To live in the way you prefer and let others live as they wish without being bothered by you. •/Father scolds Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it’s her hair and his pipe; live and let live./ Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.

[live down]{v.} To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter) by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or forgotten by not repeating it. •/John’s business failure hurt him for a long time, but in the end he lived it down./ •/Frank was rather a bad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up./ •/Sandra called her principal the wrong name at the banquet, in front of everyone, and she thought she would never live it down./

[live from hand to mouth]{v. phr.} To live on little money and spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future; have just enough. •/Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family lived from hand to mouth when he had no job./ •/These Indians live from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots./

[live high off the hog] or [eat high on the hog] See: EAT (LIVE) HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.

[live in] or [room in] {v.}, {informal} To live in the school you attend or the place where you work. •/Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college./ •/Many women advertise for mother’s helpers to room in with families and help take care of children./

[live in a fool’s paradise]{v. phr.} To deceive oneself; tell oneself unreal stories. •/His information is based on a lot of misunderstanding — the poor guy is living in a fool’s paradise./

[live in an ivory tower]{v. phr.} To be blind to real life; live an unrealistically sheltered existence. •/Professor Nebelmacher has no idea of the cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower./

[live in the fast lane]{v. phr.}, {informal} To live a full and very active life pursuing wealth and success. •/They have been living in the fast lane ever since they arrived in New York City./

[live it up]{v. phr.}, {informal} To pursue pleasure; enjoy games or night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. •/Joe had had a hard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it up./ •/The western cowboys usually went to town on Saturdays to live it up./

[live off someone]{v. phr.} To be supported by someone. •/Although Eric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to live off his elderly parents./

[live off the fat of the land] See: FAT OF THE LAND.

[live on borrowed time]{v. phr.} To live or last longer than was expected. •/Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on borrowed time./ •/Mr. Brown was living on borrowed time because a year ago the doctors had told him he would only live six months./

[live out]{v.} 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. •/Smith lived out the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved to the South again./ •/After retiring, John and his wife lived out their lives in Florida./ 2. To last through; endure to the end of. •/We lived out the winter on short ration./ •/He lived out the earthquake, but his house was destroyed./

[live out of a suitcase]{v. phr.} To have no permanent residence or a permanent place to hang one’s clothes. •/When Jennifer accepted her new job, she had no idea that she would have to live out of a suitcase for six months./

[live up to]{v.} To act according to; come up to; agree with; follow. •/So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to the example he saw in Lincoln./ •/Bob was a man who lived up to his promises./ •/The new house didn’t live up to expectations./