E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| Foil. | |
That which sets off something to advantage. The allusion is to the metallic leaf used by jewellers to set off precious stones. (French, feuille; Latin, folium; Greek, phullon, a leaf.) | 1 |
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Hector, as a foil to set him off. | |
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Ill be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance |
Your skill shall, like a star i the darkest night, |
Stick flery off indeed. | |
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Shakespeare: Hamlet, v. 2. |
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He foiled me. He outwitted me. | 2 |
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If I be foiled, there is but one ashamod who never was gracious.Shakespeare: As You Like It, i. 2. |
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To run a foil. To puzzle; to lead astray. The track of game is called its foil; and an animal hunted will sometimes run back over the same foil in order to mislead its pursuers. | 3 |
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