bird-lime

A gardener carefully applies bird-lime to a branch to protect the fruit.

Definition

Noun: - A sticky, viscous substance, typically made from the bark of holly or mistletoe, smeared on twigs to catch small birds by entangling their feet when they land.

Usage Examples

• (The sticky substance was used to capture birds by adhesion.)
• (The substance was a traditional method for bird trapping.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be caught in bird-lime": to be trapped or ensnared in a difficult situation (metaphorical).
  • The politician found himself caught in bird-lime after the scandal broke. (He was entangled in a sticky and inescapable predicament.)

Variants and Related Words

• Birdlime (n): alternative spelling of bird-lime.
  • The recipe for birdlime has been passed down through generations of trappers. (The same sticky substance.)

Synonyms

• Birdlime: the same substance.
• Lime: a shortened form, though "lime" more commonly refers to the fruit or mineral.
• Sticky trap: a general term for any adhesive device used to catch animals.

Related Idioms

• Stick like bird-lime: to adhere persistently or cling tenaciously.
  • The rumor stuck like bird-lime, impossible to shake off. (The rumor clung stubbornly to the person's reputation.)