smell of the lamp

smell of the lamp
I. phrasal
: to bear marks of study and labor rather than of genius or inspiration : seem artificial

to them a discussion of sovereignty in the abstract would have smelt of the lamp — C.A.Beard

— usually used of a literary composition
II. phrasal
: the appearance of having been produced by pedantry and plodding scholarship rather than vital inspiration

when he speaks about economic or social issues the smell of the lamp hangs about every cliché-cluttered sentence — H.G.Nicholas

* * *

smell of the lamp
To show signs of great elaboration or study
• • •
Main Entry:lamp

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • To smell of the lamp — Lamp Lamp (l[a^]mp), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, adis, fr. Gr. ?, ?, torch, fr. ? to give light, to shine. Cf. {Lampad}, {Lantern}.] 1. A light producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Children of the Lamp — is a series of fantasy novels for senior children as well as adolescents and adults written by the British author P.B. Kerr. It tells the story of twin djinn, John and Philippa Gaunt, and their challenges with adapting to the world of djinn. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Lamp — (l[a^]mp), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, adis, fr. Gr. ?, ?, torch, fr. ? to give light, to shine. Cf. {Lampad}, {Lantern}.] 1. A light producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick used for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lamp burner — Lamp Lamp (l[a^]mp), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, adis, fr. Gr. ?, ?, torch, fr. ? to give light, to shine. Cf. {Lampad}, {Lantern}.] 1. A light producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lamp fount — Lamp Lamp (l[a^]mp), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, adis, fr. Gr. ?, ?, torch, fr. ? to give light, to shine. Cf. {Lampad}, {Lantern}.] 1. A light producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lamp jack — Lamp Lamp (l[a^]mp), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, adis, fr. Gr. ?, ?, torch, fr. ? to give light, to shine. Cf. {Lampad}, {Lantern}.] 1. A light producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lamp shade — Lamp Lamp (l[a^]mp), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, adis, fr. Gr. ?, ?, torch, fr. ? to give light, to shine. Cf. {Lampad}, {Lantern}.] 1. A light producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lamp shell — Lamp Lamp (l[a^]mp), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, adis, fr. Gr. ?, ?, torch, fr. ? to give light, to shine. Cf. {Lampad}, {Lantern}.] 1. A light producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lamp — (n.) c.1200, from O.Fr. lampe lamp, lights (12c.), from L. lampas a light, torch, flambeau, from Gk. lampas torch, lamp, beacon, meteor, light, from lampein to shine, from nasalized form of PIE root *lap to shine (Cf. Lith. lope light, O.Ir.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • lamp — lampless, adj. /lamp/, n. 1. any of various devices furnishing artificial light, as by electricity or gas. Cf. fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamp. 2. a container for an inflammable liquid, as oil, which is burned at a wick as a means of… …   Universalium

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