angle for farthings
obsolete To beg out of a prison window with a receptacle of some kind, such as a box or cup on a string, like an angler trying to catch fish. Primarily heard in UK. Imagine the days when prisons looked out onto public streets, with the prisoners shouting down at you or angling for farthings.
guardian angel
1. An angel or other supernatural being who is appointed to protect, guide, or otherwise watch over a particular individual. You're lucky to be alive after that accident! You must have a guardian angel!
2. A person who protects, guides, or otherwise looks after the welfare of someone. Uncle John became my guardian angel after my parents died, always making sure I had everything I needed.
play (all) the angles
To make use or take advantage of every means or opportunity one can find in order to reach or attain one's goal. Unless you happen to be incredibly lucky, you have to play all the angles when you're an actor looking for work. You're not going to get anywhere in this industry if you aren't willing to play the angles.
angle at (something)
To plan or scheme to get or achieve something; to try to get something in an indirect or roundabout way. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) We've been angling at securing a contract with a major development company from the Middle East for the last few months. What exactly are you angling at? If it's a pay raise, you can just forget about it.
angle of attack
The position of an airplane as it moves through the air. What is our angle of attack, Captain? Are we going to be able to land this plane as planned?
angle for (something)
To plan or scheme to get or achieve something; to try to get something in an indirect or roundabout way. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) We've been angling for a contract with a major development company from the Middle East for the last few months. What exactly are you angling for? If it's a pay raise, you can just forget about it.
angle
1. noun An agenda or aim. In this usage, "angle" is preceded by a noun, pronoun, or article. You never used to have any interest in the family business. What's your angle here? Todd seems very disingenuous to me, so I always assume that he's got an angle.
2. noun An understanding or interpretation of something. In this usage, "angle" is preceded by a noun, pronoun, or article. That author has a really interesting angle on World War II. Carly actually witnessed the accident, so you should get her angle on it.
3. verb To fish with a line and hook. (A fishing hook was previously called an "angle.") My father is out angling on the lake today.
4. verb To pursue an agenda or aim, usually subtly or deceptively. What exactly are you angling at? Just say it! With all the late nights he's spent at the office recently, I think Bruce is angling for a promotion
5. verb To put forth a particular (often biased) view or interpretation of something. Don't listen to my mother, she always angles her stories in a way that makes me the villain.
angle off
To move at a particular angle, rather than in a straight line. You need to angle off to the left, to avoid hitting those rocks.