l Idioms

Track sports: The bar set for hurdles, high jumps, or pole vaulting is set high and higher for the runners or jumpers as the meets progress and the competition gets more difficult.

The record for pole vaulting was set at Donetsk by Renaud Lavillenie. The bar was at 6.16 meters.

The lowest bar set is the least restrictive and the least difficult.

"The Corwyn (gun) bill would set a national bar at the lowest denominator."

difficult to win; to win against great odds

That horse is a long shot to win the Belmont race.

very difficult to do

That stock is a long shot to hit one hundred on the American stock exchange.

The lead dog is the first or lead dog of a pack of dogs pulling sleds over snow. This idiom is used particularly in northern places, such as Alaska, but not necessarily.

The most famous sled dog, with a statue honoring him in New York Central Park is Balto, who saved children's lives in 1933 by delivering medicine in Alaska.

to manage, lead

"Lead Dog's ability to manage this complex program is masterful." Will you be the lead dog on this project?

Ropes are integral (central) to the sport of sailing

If you want to be a sailor, you need to learn how the ropes work for the jib and main sail.

to learn how to do anything

You'll learn the ropes of this job soon enough.

to start sailing, start the motor, let out the sails

We're out of the harbor. Let her rip.

to start something

Let's go. Let her rip.

level or flat playing field is important so that the play is fair.

We need a level playing field for soccer, so one team does not have to run uphill.

to be fair, to be equal

They had more troops. We bombed them, so we had a level playing field before we sent in our troops.

to be in a division for persons who are light in weight and not as strong as those in the heavyweight division.

Carlos Ortiz was a lightweight champion in the 1960's.

to be of lesser importance

He can't help you. He is a lightweight in this corporation.

as a duck sits on water

That target practice was easy, like hitting a sitting duck.

to be unaware of something about to happen

The ememy's troops were like sitting ducks. They did not suspect an attack.

to put the gun barrel down

I lowered my sights as the clay pidgeon dropped.

to take or accept less

I have to lower my sights about my career. I am not going to get a Master's in Business Administration.

to put the boom of a sailboat down (See DERIVATION below for definition of "boom")

Lower the boom as we come into the harbor. We won't need as much wind.

to reprimand, scold or get angry at someone

Joe was not performing at work. The boss lowered the boom on him. He told him to improve his work or he would be fired.