laugh up one's sleeve

sleeve

L l

Definitions of laugh up one's sleeve words

noun laugh up one's sleeve the part of a garment that covers the arm, varying in form and length but commonly tubular. 1
noun laugh up one's sleeve an envelope, usually of paper, for protecting a phonograph record. 1
noun laugh up one's sleeve Machinery. a tubular piece, as of metal, fitting over a rod or the like. 1
verb with object laugh up one's sleeve to furnish with sleeves. 1
verb with object laugh up one's sleeve Machinery. to fit with a sleeve; join or fasten by means of a sleeve. 1
idioms laugh up one's sleeve have something up one's sleeve, to have a secret plan, scheme, opinion, or the like: I could tell by her sly look that she had something up her sleeve. 1

before 950

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 950; Middle English sleve, Old English slēfe (Anglian), slīefe; akin to Dutch sloof apron

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

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