| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| lead pipe cinch | certain of the result, a foregone conclusion | The Jets are a lead pipe cinch to win the game. They're better. |
| lead you down the garden path | tell you a false story, give you a line | He said the trip to Paris was free. He led me down the garden path. |
| lead you on | promise good things, pretend to be good | I know you love Jo, but she was leading you on. She loves Paul. |
| leaf out | grow new leaves, in leaf | She trimmed the branches before the trees began to leaf out. |
| leak | allow people to know, tell the media | Details of the program were leaked to a newspaper. |
| leak | (See have a leak) | |
| lean times | times of poverty, hard times | During lean times they sold eggs for 50¢ a dozen. |
| learn the lingo | learn the language, know the idioms | To work in the computer industry you have to learn the lingo. |
| learn the ropes | learn the first steps, learn the basics, know the ropes | He wants to learn the ropes, to learn how to play jazz. |
| learn your place | learn to know where and when to speak | When I was young, kids learned their place; they showed respect. |
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