Idioms for curl
curl one's lip,
to assume or display an expression of contempt: He curled his lip in disdain.
curl one's/the hair,
to fill with horror or fright; shock: Some of his stories about sailing across the Atlantic are enough to curl one's hair.
Origin of curl
1400–50; late Middle English, apparently back formation from
curled, metathetic variant of Middle English
crulled (past participle)
crul (adj.); compare Middle Dutch
crullen to curl,
cruller
OTHER WORDS FROM curl
Words nearby curl
British Dictionary definitions for curl up (1 of 2)
curl up
verb (adverb)
(intr)
to adopt a reclining position with the legs close to the body and the back rounded
to become or cause to become spiral-shaped or curved
(intr)
to retire to a quiet cosy setting
to curl up with a good novel
British informal
to be or cause to be embarrassed or disgusted (esp in the phrase curl up and die)
British Dictionary definitions for curl up (2 of 2)
curl
/ (kɜːl) /
verb
noun
See also
curl up
Word Origin for curl
C14: probably from Middle Dutch
crullen to curl; related to Middle High German
krol curly, Middle Low German
krūs curly
Idioms and Phrases with curl up
curl up
Assume a position with the legs drawn up; settle down for sleep in this posture. For example, I love to curl up with a good book. [c. 1900]
curl up and die. Retreat, collapse, die, as in At first the horse was ahead but in the home stretch she curled up and died, or I'll just curl up and die if he shows up. This colorful expression for collapsing or dying is often used hyperbolically (second example). [Early 1900s]
curl someone up. Kill someone, as in The sheriff said he'd curl up that outlaw. This usage originated as cowboy slang in the second half of the 1800s.