lizard
/'lizəd/
Definition
- Noun:
- A relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail: A lizard is a type of scaly, cold-blooded reptile, distinct from snakes, typically having four legs, movable eyelids, and external ear openings.
- A man who idles about in the lounges of hotels and bars in search of women who would support him: (Slang, dated) A man who leads an idle life, frequenting social venues to find a romantic partner for financial gain.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Reptile):
- A small, green lizard darted across the hot rocks.
- Lizards are common in warm climates and can often be seen basking in the sun.
- Noun (Slang):
- In the old noir film, the detective described the suspect as a lounge lizard living off wealthy widows. (This usage is now rare and literary.)
Advanced Usage
- "Lounge lizard": This is the full, more common slang term from which the second definition is derived. It specifically denotes a man who spends time in fashionable lounges or bars, often with the aim of attracting a wealthy partner.
- He was nothing but a lounge lizard, charming women at the hotel bar.
Variants and Related Words
- Lizard-like (adj): Resembling or characteristic of a lizard.
- The creature had a lizard-like appearance with scaly skin.
- Lizardfish (n): A type of fish, named for its reptilian appearance, not a variant of "lizard" itself.
Synonyms
- Reptile: A broader class of cold-blooded vertebrates that includes lizards, snakes, and turtles.
- Gecko, Iguana, Chameleon: Specific types of lizards.
- Gigolo, Gold-digger (male): Synonyms for the slang meaning, though with nuanced differences (a gigolo is paid for companionship, a gold-digger seeks wealth).
Related Phrases
- "Lizard brain": (Informal) A term referring to the primitive, instinctual part of the human brain (the basal ganglia), responsible for basic survival instincts.
- My lizard brain told me to run from the perceived danger.
Related Idioms
- "As nervous as a (long-tailed) cat in a room full of rocking chairs": While not directly about lizards, this idiom conveys extreme anxiety, similar to the skittish, alert nature often associated with lizards.
- "Sun yourself like a lizard": To bask or relax in warm sunlight.
- On vacation, I just want to lie by the pool and sun myself like a lizard.
Noun
-
a man who idles about in the lounges of hotels and bars in search of women who would support him
-
relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail
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