(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A person or animal’s ~s are the long parts of their body that they use to stand on.
He was tapping his walking stick against his ~.
N-COUNT: usu poss N
-~ged
Her name was Sheila, a long-~ged blonde.
...a large four-~ged animal.
COMB in ADJ
2.
The ~s of a pair of trousers are the parts that cover your ~s.
He moved on through wet grass that soaked his trouser ~s.
N-COUNT: usu pl
3.
A ~ of lamb, pork, chicken, or other meat is a piece of meat that consists of the animal’s or bird’s ~, especially the thigh.
...a chicken ~.
...a ~ of mutton.
N-COUNT: n N, N of n
4.
The ~s of a table, chair, or other piece of furniture are the parts that rest on the floor and support the furniture’s weight.
His ankles were tied to the ~s of the chair...
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft n N, N of n
-~ged
...a three-~ged stool.
COMB in ADJ
5.
A ~ of a long journey is one part of it, usually between two points where you stop.
The first ~ of the journey was by boat to Lake Naivasha in Kenya.
N-COUNT: usu ord N, N of n
6.
A ~ of a sports competition is one of a series of games that are played to find an overall winner. (mainly BRIT)
They will televise both ~s of Leeds’ European Cup clash with Rangers.
N-COUNT
7.
If you say that something or someone is on their last ~s, you mean that the period of time when they were successful or strong is ending. (INFORMAL)
This relationship is on its last ~s.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
8.
If you are pulling someone’s ~, you are teasing them by telling them something shocking or worrying as a joke. (INFORMAL)
Of course I won’t tell them; I was only pulling your ~.
PHRASE: V inflects
9.
If you say that someone does not have a ~ to stand on, or hasn’t got a ~ to stand on, you mean that a statement or claim they have made cannot be justified or proved. (INFORMAL)
It’s only my word against his, I know. So I don’t have a ~ to stand on.
PHRASE: with brd-neg
10.
an arm and a ~: see arm
with your tail between your ~s: see tail