While sports fishing off the Florida coast, a tourist capsized his boat. He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft.
Spotting and old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouted,
"Are there any gators around here?!"
"Naw," the man hollered back, "they ain"t been around for years!"
Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming leisurely toward the shore.
About halfway there he asked the guy,
"How"d you get rid of the gators?"
"We didn"t do nothin"," the beachcomber said. "The sharks got "em."
admiral n. Naval officer ranking below vice admiral.
- —n. - back part of anything.
- space behind, or position at the back of, anything.
- colloq. Buttocks. —adj. At the back. bring up the rear come last. [probably from *rearward or *rearguard]
- v. - a bring up and educate (children). B breed and care for (animals). C cultivate (crops).
- (of a horse etc.) Raise itself on its hind legs.
- a set upright. B build. C hold upwards.
- extend to a great height. [old english]
REDO
v. (redoing; 3rd sing. Present redoes; past redid; past part. Redone) 1 do again.
- redecorate.
REED
n. - a water or marsh plant with a firm stem. B tall straight stalk of this.
- a strip of cane etc. Vibrating to produce the sound in some wind instruments. B (esp. In pl.) Such an instrument. reeded adj. [old english]
REEF
n. - ridge of rock or coral etc. At or near the surface of the sea.
- a lode of ore. B bedrock surrounding this. [old norse rif]
- —n. Each of several strips across a sail, for taking it in or rolling it up to reduce its surface area in a high wind. —v. Take in a reef or reefs of (a sail). [dutch from old norse]
REEK
—v. (often foll. By of) 1 smell strongly and unpleasantly.
- have unpleasant or suspicious associations (reeks of corruption). —n. - foul or stale smell.
- esp. Scot. Smoke.
- vapour, visible exhalation. [old english]
REEL
—n. - cylindrical device on which thread, silk, yarn, paper, film, wire, etc., are wound.
- quantity of thread etc. Wound on a reel.
- device for winding and unwinding a line as required, esp. In fishing.
- revolving part in various machines.
- a lively folk or scottish dance. B music for this. —v. - wind (thread, fishing-line, etc.) On a reel.
- (foll. By in, up) draw (fish etc.) In or up with a reel.
- stand, walk, or run unsteadily.
- be shaken mentally or physically.
- rock from side to side, or swing violently.
- dance a reel. reel off say or recite very rapidly and without apparent effort. [old english]
REIN
—n. (in sing. Or pl.) 1 long narrow strap with each end attached to the bit, used to guide or check a horse etc.
- similar device used to restrain a child.
- means of control. —v. - check or manage with reins.
- (foll. By up, back) pull up or back with reins.
- (foll. By in) hold in as with reins.
- govern, restrain, control. give free rein to allow freedom of action or expression. Keep a tight rein on allow little freedom to. [french rene from latin retinere *retain]
RELY
v. (-ies, -ied) (foll. By on, upon) 1 depend on with confidence or assurance.
- be dependent on. [latin religo bind closely]
REME
abbr. Royal electrical and mechanical engineers.
REND
v. (past and past part. Rent) archaic tear or wrench forcibly. [old english]
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