left
hard left
also hard-left
[N-SING] the N, oft N n
You use hard left to describe those members of a left wing political group or party who have the most extreme political beliefs. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use far left)
...the hard-left view that foreign forces should not have been sent.left field
1 [N-SING] usu prep N
If you say that someone or something has come out of left field or is out in left field, you mean that they are untypical, unusual, or strange in some way.
The question came out of left field, but Mary Ann wasn't really surprised...
He is, like most theorists, out there in left field, ignoring the experimental evidence.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Left-field means slightly odd or unusual. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
...a left-field cabaret act...
Her parents were creative and left-field and wanted Polly to become a singer or a truck driver.
= unconventionalleft lug|gage
[N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
Left luggage is used to refer to luggage that people leave at a special place in a railway station or an airport, and which they collect later. (BRIT)
...a left luggage locker at Victoria Station.♦ left1 /l'eft/ (left) REMAINING
1
Left is the past tense and past participle of leave.
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, v n ADJ
If there is a certain amount of something left, or if you have a certain amount of it left, it remains when the rest has gone or been used.
Is there any gin left?...
He's got plenty of money left...
They still have six games left to play.
[PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If there is a certain amount of something left over, or if you have it left over, it remains when the rest has gone or been used.
So much income is devoted to monthly mortgage payments that nothing is left over.
...a large bucket of cut flowers left over from the wedding.♦♦♦ left2 /l'eft/ (left) DIRECTION AND POLITICAL GROUPINGS
The spelling Left is also used for meanings 3 and 4.
1 [N-SING] usu the N
The left is one of two opposite directions, sides, or positions. If you are facing north and you turn to the left, you will be facing west. In the word `to', the `t' is to the left of the `o'.
In Britain cars drive on the left.
...the brick wall to the left of the conservatory...
Beaufort Castle is on your left.
≠ right
[ADV] ADV after v
Left is also an adverb.
Turn left at the crossroads into Clay Lane.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Your left arm, leg, or ear, for example, is the one which is on the left side of your body. Your left shoe or glove is the one which is intended to be worn on your left foot or hand.
≠ right
3 [N-SING-COLL] the N
You can refer to people who support the political ideals of socialism as the left. They are often contrasted with the right, who support the political ideals of capitalism and conservatism.
...the traditional parties of the Left...
≠ right
4 [N-SING] the N, usu to the N
If you say that a person or political party has moved to the left, you mean that their political beliefs have become more left-wing.
After Mrs Thatcher's first election victory in 1979, Labour moved sharply to the left...
≠ rightstage left
[ADV] usu ADV after v, also prep ADV
Stage left is the left side of the stage for an actor who is standing facing the audience.
He entered stage left.
also hard-left
[N-SING] the N, oft N n
You use hard left to describe those members of a left wing political group or party who have the most extreme political beliefs. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use far left)
...the hard-left view that foreign forces should not have been sent.left field
1 [N-SING] usu prep N
If you say that someone or something has come out of left field or is out in left field, you mean that they are untypical, unusual, or strange in some way.
The question came out of left field, but Mary Ann wasn't really surprised...
He is, like most theorists, out there in left field, ignoring the experimental evidence.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Left-field means slightly odd or unusual. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
...a left-field cabaret act...
Her parents were creative and left-field and wanted Polly to become a singer or a truck driver.
= unconventionalleft lug|gage
[N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
Left luggage is used to refer to luggage that people leave at a special place in a railway station or an airport, and which they collect later. (BRIT)
...a left luggage locker at Victoria Station.♦ left1 /l'eft/ (left) REMAINING
1
Left is the past tense and past participle of leave.
2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, v n ADJ
If there is a certain amount of something left, or if you have a certain amount of it left, it remains when the rest has gone or been used.
Is there any gin left?...
He's got plenty of money left...
They still have six games left to play.
[PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If there is a certain amount of something left over, or if you have it left over, it remains when the rest has gone or been used.
So much income is devoted to monthly mortgage payments that nothing is left over.
...a large bucket of cut flowers left over from the wedding.♦♦♦ left2 /l'eft/ (left) DIRECTION AND POLITICAL GROUPINGS
The spelling Left is also used for meanings 3 and 4.
1 [N-SING] usu the N
The left is one of two opposite directions, sides, or positions. If you are facing north and you turn to the left, you will be facing west. In the word `to', the `t' is to the left of the `o'.
In Britain cars drive on the left.
...the brick wall to the left of the conservatory...
Beaufort Castle is on your left.
≠ right
[ADV] ADV after v
Left is also an adverb.
Turn left at the crossroads into Clay Lane.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Your left arm, leg, or ear, for example, is the one which is on the left side of your body. Your left shoe or glove is the one which is intended to be worn on your left foot or hand.
≠ right
3 [N-SING-COLL] the N
You can refer to people who support the political ideals of socialism as the left. They are often contrasted with the right, who support the political ideals of capitalism and conservatism.
...the traditional parties of the Left...
≠ right
4 [N-SING] the N, usu to the N
If you say that a person or political party has moved to the left, you mean that their political beliefs have become more left-wing.
After Mrs Thatcher's first election victory in 1979, Labour moved sharply to the left...
≠ rightstage left
[ADV] usu ADV after v, also prep ADV
Stage left is the left side of the stage for an actor who is standing facing the audience.
He entered stage left.