spread eagle
[verb]
Synonyms: sprawl, drape, scamble, spelder, spraddle, ramble, scramble, sprangle, straddle, straggle

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

spread eagle noun phr. & adjective. [sprɛd 'i:g(ǝ)l] Also spread-eagle. L16.
[from SPREAD-EAGLE + EAGLE noun.]
A. noun phr.
1. A representation of an eagle with legs and wings extended, esp. as an emblem or inn sign. L16.
b. Skating. A straight glide made with the feet turned outwards in one straight line. E19.
c. A boastful or self-assertive person. L19.

2. A person held or secured with the arms and legs stretched out, orig. esp. to be flogged. L18.

3. A fowl flattened out for broiling. M19.

4. Stock Exchange. An operation by which a broker agrees to buy shares within a specified time at a specified price and sells the option of buying shares of the same stock within the same time at a higher price. Also = SPREAD noun 8. US. M19.
b. attrib. or as adjective. Usu. with hyphen.
1. High-sounding, grandiloquent. rare. M19.

2. Bombastic, extravagantly boastful; esp. loudly or aggressively patriotic. US. M19.

3. Having the position or appearance of a spread eagle. M19.

■ spread-eagleism noun (chiefly US) grandiloquence in speech, loud or aggressive patriotism M19.

■ spread-eagleist noun (chiefly US) a person characterized by spread-eagleism L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

spread-eagle verb. [sprɛd'i:g(ǝ)l] E19.
[formed as SPREAD verb.]
1. verb intrans. Skating. Perform a spread eagle. E19.

2. verb trans. Stretch out, hold, or secure in the position of a spread eagle, orig. esp. for punishment. Also, spread or splay apart, scatter; esp. (Cricket) knock down (the wicket). Freq. as spread-eagled ppl adjective. E19.
■ E. Waugh A dead child, like a broken doll, spreadeagled in the deserted roadway. New Yorker A detective..spread-eagled Garreau against the wall.

3. verb trans. Defeat utterly, esp. in horse-racing. M19.

4. verb intrans. Speak or act in a grandiloquent or loudly patriotic way. Chiefly US. M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲