fatted calf

См. также в других словарях:

• Fatted calf — is a metaphor or symbol of festive celebration and rejoicing for someone s long awaited return. It derives from the parable of the prodigal son in the New Testament. In biblical times, people would often keep at least one piece of livestock that… …   Wikipedia

• kill the fatted calf — To celebrate or welcome lavishly or extravagantly • • • Main Entry: ↑calf kill the fatted calf see under ↑calf1 • • • Main Entry: ↑fat kill the fatted calf See under ↑calf1 • • • …   Useful english dictionary

• kill the fatted calf — If you kill the fatted calf, you have a celebration, usually to welcome someone who s been away a long time …   The small dictionary of idiomes

• kill the fatted calf — to celebrate in order to welcome a friend or relative that you have not seen for a long time. Annie s coming home, let s kill the fatted calf! …   New idioms dictionary

• kill the fatted calf — ► kill the fatted calf produce one s best food to celebrate, especially at a prodigal s return. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15.] Main Entry: ↑fat …   English terms dictionary

• calf — [ka:f US kæf] n plural calves [ka:vz US kævz] [Sense: 1; Date: 1300 1400; : Old Norse; Origin: kalfi] [Sense: 2 3; Origin: Old English cealf] 1.) the part of the back of your leg between your knee and your ↑ankle …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• calf — calf1 [kaf, käf] n. pl. calves or, esp. for 4, calfs [ME < OE cealf & ON kalfr < IE * geleb(h) < base * gel , to swell, form a ball (hence swelling, fetus, offspring) > CLUB, L globus] 1. a young cow or bull 2. the young of some other …   English World dictionary

• Calf —    Calves were commonly made use of in sacrifices, and are therefore frequently mentioned in Scripture. The fatted calf was regarded as the choicest of animal food; it was frequently also offered as a special sacrifice (1 Sam. 28:24; Amos 6:4;… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

• calf — calf1 calfless, adj. calflike, adj. /kaf, kahf/, n., pl. calves /kavz, kahvz/. 1. the young of the domestic cow or other bovine animal. 2. the young of certain other mammals, as the elephant, seal, and whale. 3. calfskin leather. 4. Informal. an… …   Universalium

• calf — noun plural calves, (C) 1 the part of the back of your leg between your knee and your ankle 2 the baby of a cow, or of some other large animals such as the elephant 3 be in calf if a cow is in calf, it is going to have a baby see also: kill the… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• calf — I. /kaf / (say kahf) noun (plural calves) 1. the young of the cow or of other bovine mammals (in cattle usually under one year of age). 2. the young of certain other animals, as the elephant, seal, and whale. 3. calfskin leather. 4. Colloquial an …