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Razor

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Hewing blocks with a razor. Livy relates how Tarquinius Priscus, defying the power of Attus Navĭus, the augur, said to him, “Tell me, if you are so wise, whether I can do what I am now thinking about.” “Yes,” said Navius. “Ha! ha!” cried the king; “I was thinking whether I could cut in twain that whetstone with a razor.” “Cut boldly!” answered the augur, and the king cleft it in twain at one blow.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Ravenglass (Cumberland)
Ravenstone
Ravenswood (Allan, Lord of)
Raw
Raw Lobster (A)
Rawhead and Bloody-Bones
Raymond (in Jerusalem Delivered)
Rayne (or Raine (Essex)
Razed Shoes
Razee (raz-za)
Razor
Razzia
Re (Latin)
Reach
Read between the Lines
Reade or Read (Simon)
Reader
Ready (The)
Ready-to-Halt
Real Jam
Real Presence