Dutch feast, where the host gets drunk before his guest.
Dutch uncle, a personage often introduced in conversation, but exceedingly difficult to describe; “I’ll talk to him like a Dutch uncle!” conveys the notion of anything but a desirable relation.
Earl of Cork, the ace of diamonds.—Hibernicism.
“‘What do you mean by the Earl of Cork?’ asked Mr. Squander. ‘The ace of diamonds, your honour. It’s the worst ace, and the poorest card in the pack, and is called the Earl of Cork, because he’s the poorest nobleman in Ireland.’”—Carleton’s Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry.
Early, “to get up EARLY,” to prepare for a difficult task. “You’ll have to get up very EARLY in the morning to beat that.” Early rising and ability seem also closely connected by certain modifications of this expression. Possibly the belief is that a man who rises early for early rising’s sake deserves to be clever. Perhaps the greatest enjoyment a day labourer—whose work commences at six in the winter mornings, and who may have to rise at half-past four and trudge off—can have, is a “quiet snooze” after the usual time of rising. The early rising in “the steel” is the chief terror of that institution in the minds of habitual criminals.
Earwig, a clergyman, also one who prompts another maliciously and privately.
Earwigging, a private conversation; a rebuke in private; an attempt to defame another unfairly, and without chance of appeal; a [WIGGING] is more public.
Ease, to rob; “EASING a bloke,” robbing a man.
Eat his head off. A horse who is kept idle in the stable is said to EAT HIS HEAD OFF. Of late the phrase has been applied to servants who have little to do but constantly “dip their noses in the manger.”