SETTING THE THAMES ON FIRE
\sˈɛtɪŋ ðə tˈɛmz ˌɒn fˈa͡ɪ͡ə], \sˈɛtɪŋ ðə tˈɛmz ˌɒn fˈaɪə], \s_ˈɛ_t_ɪ_ŋ ð_ə t_ˈɛ_m_z ˌɒ_n f_ˈaɪə]\
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Doing some wonderful act, or showing extraordinary power. Thames is thought by some to be here the word temse (a sieve), the rim of which might be set on fire by an active workman; as the Seine also may be both the river and a fishing-net. But this seems very doubtful.
By Henry Percy Smith
Word of the day
Snake's-head
- Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head.
Nearby Words
- setter-wort
- setterwort
- settima
- setting
- setting hen
- Setting the Thames on fire
- setting up
- setting-coat
- setting-dog
- setting-up exercise
- settle