| 释义 |
free and easy, adj. phr., (adv.) and n.
A. adj. phr. Unconstrained, natural, unaffected; also, careless, slipshod. Hence, easy-going; (morally) lax, permissive.
1699Lister Journ. Paris 41 In a very free and easie posture. 1711Addison Spect. No. 119 ⁋3 The fashionable World is grown free and easy. 1756R. Baron Pref. Milton's Eikon., In the book before us his style is for the most part free and easy. 1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. viii, I don't think he has ever got back since that day to his original free-and-easy swagger. 1864Newman Apologia 134, I had a lounging free-and-easy way of carrying things on. 1930Morison & Commager Growth of Amer. Republic xx. 357 The fair, free and easy daughter of the leading publican. a1957W. S. Campbell in Webster (1961), Too free and easy a community to put up with reformers or longhairs. 1960K. Amis Take Girl like You iv. 61 ‘It's just that I don't believe in this—whatever you call it—this free-and-easy way of going on. It—’ ‘Anticipation of marriage is probably how they put it in your—in the advice columns.’ 1981Washington Post 10 Aug. c4 Among the assorted pleasures of the Glen Echo Park summer dance festival is the free and easy atmosphere.
b. quasi-adv.
1772Hutton Bridges 83 Arches..over large waters, which with their navigation pass free and easy under them at the same time.
B. n. A convivial gathering for singing, at which one may drink, smoke, etc.
1823in ‘Jon Bee’ [J. Badcock] Slang. 1832Examiner 460/1 The prisoner was a frequenter of Free and Easys. 1878Besant & Rice Celia's Arb. xxxvi. (1887) 264 The Blue Anchor..where there was a nightly free-and-easy for soldiers and sailors.
Hence free-and-easiness.
1868Holme Lee B. Godfrey xxxiv. 184 Belle and Blanche..were well-bred free-and-easiness personified. 1912Beerbohm Christmas Garland 36 The general free-and-easiness. 1959H. Hamilton Answer in Negative i. 9, I came to Fleet Street..and I still like the free-and-easiness of it. |