Flowery Language, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A euphemism for blasphemous and obscene speech.

Flower of Chivalry, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Flowing-hope, subs. (military).—A forlorn hope.

Flub-dub-and-Guff, subs. phr. (American).—Rhetorical embellishment; high-falutin’ (q.v.).

1888. Detroit Free Press, August. Rev. Mr. Selah (to desk editor of the Daily Roarer)—‘Mr. Seezars, are you going to publish my prayer in full?’ Desk Editor—‘In full? Well, I guess not.’ (Changing his tone)—‘However, we’ll do what we can for you. By swiping out the flub-dub-and-guff, I guess we’ll have room to put in the points.’

Flue, subs. (old). 1. The Recorder of London or any large town. Bamfylde Moore-Carew.

2. (colloquial).—The filth, part fluff, part hair, part dust, which collects under ill-kept beds, and at the junctures of sofas and chairs; Beggar’s Velvet (q.v.).

1860. Dickens, Uncommercial Traveller. ‘Arcadian London.’ A power they possess of converting everything into flue. Such broken victuals as they take by stealth appear (whatever the nature [[34]]of the viands) to generate flue.… Ibid. ‘Refreshment for Travellers.’ Take the old established Bull’s Head … with its old-established flue under its old established four-post bedsteads.

3. (common).—A contraction of ‘influenza.’

Verb (common).—To put in pawn.