to trap a drain

Jessamy’s eyes widened. What was it Matchett had said? That she would not take sauce from Jessamy because she was ‘only the housekeeper’s niece and the cook-housekeeper at that?’

to tame a rebellion

'I stopped for one night to see Ur and the Chaldees and for three days in Baghdad with the A.O.C., who happens to be an old friend of mine.'.