to bitt the cable, in order to fasten it or to slacken it gradually, which is called veering away

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Britain is living out the nightmare we Canadians dodged. We spent decades debating our country’s future, but somehow avoided Quexit.

Then, after another pause, he said: Well, if you must know, it's my Thunder-box. […] He opened it, showing a mechanism of heavy cast-iron brass and patterned earthenware of solid Edwardian workmanship. On the inside of the lid was a plaque bearing the embossed title Connolly's Chemical Closet.