Volume 99 — MR. PUNCH'S DICTIONARY OF PHRASES.

FRIENDLY COMMENTS ON CHARACTER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

"She is never at a loss for a clever answer;" i.e., "A cat whose claws are always out."

"A little stand-offish to strangers, but wonderfully winning when one really knows him;" i.e., "Which one need never do, thank goodness!"

LEGAL.

"As your Lordship pleases;" i.e., "As a Judge, you are a stupid, self-sufficient dolt; but so long as my client, the solicitor, gets his costs, it doesn't matter a jot to me or him what you decide!"

"With your Lordship's permission, my Junior will settle the minutes;" i.e., "And so save us both the trouble of apportioning, in the customary perfunctory fashion, the oyster to the solicitors, and the shells to the clients."

IN THE SMOKING-ROOM.

"You don't mind my telling you exactly where I think you're wrong?" i.e., "You obviously want setting down, and I may as well do it."

"Do you mind just stating that over again?" i.e., "While I think of something to say in reply."

"Of course you know more about the subject than I do;" i.e., "I am pretty sure you never gave it a thought till this minute."

"If you care for my candid opinion;" i.e., "I am now about to be annoying, and perhaps rude."

"All right, I'm not deaf!" i.e., "Keep your confounded temper."

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