He shaves close, «ad vivum resecat», he cuts to the quick. The phrase is applied to persons too exact in taking what is their due. «The avaricious man», as described by Theophrastus, «though his tenants pay him their rent duly every month, will teaze them for an odd farthing that remained at their last reckoning and is perpetually inculcating to his wife never to lend any thing; for an end of a candle, or an handful of salt or of oatmeal will amount to money at the year's end. He makes the barber shave him to the quick, that it may be the longer before he wants him again». Shylock would abate nothing of the penalty of his bond, though it should cost the debtor his life, but says to those soliciting his forbearance,

«My deeds upon my head: I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeiture of my bond»
(William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1).

A late chief magistrate of London, on being told by one of his workmen, an old and faith ful servant, what pleasure he had received in seeing his master in his state coach, though pleased with the homage the poor man had paid him, yet nature so far prevailed, that he mulcted him a quarter of a day for time lost in going to see the procession.

Checking immoderate commendation, or praise. «Nullum ego sum nuinen, quid me immortalibus æquas?» I am a mere human being, with all the follies and failings incident to them, why do ye then raise me to the rank of the gods, may be said by any one, finding himself treated with too much homage and adulation.

"You have hit the matter to a hair," or "the nail on the head," that is, you are perfectly right in your conjecture.

He will find some chink, some aperture by which he will escape, was said of crafty, subtle, and cunning men, who, confine them ever so carefully, would still find some method of getting loose; a Monkhausen. But the adage is also applicable to persons who are ingenious in finding a flaw in any engagement or agreement, when it is no longer their interest to abide by the terms of it; to the lower members of the law, who read a deed not so much to find out what was the intention of the parties, as to see whether it may not be made to bear some other construction.
To find out meanings never meant.
Or who, in penning a deed, contrive to insert some word of doubtful, or equivocal sense, that may vitiate some of the covenants, always looking to the advantage of the craft.

God has visited him for his sins. It has come home to him at last. The security he so long enjoyed, proved a snare to him, and led him to the commission of still greater crimes, hoping for the same impunity; but the merited punishment has at length overtaken him. It intimates, that no offence, though committed ever so privately, can escape the knowledge of the Deity, or ultimately his just vengeance.

The business is on the hinge: it is in that state that it must now, one way or the other, be soon terminated, alluding to a door, which, hanging on its hinges, may be shut or opened by a very slight impulse. We also say the business hinges (turns) on such a circumstance; if that be made out, it will end successfully, if not it will fail.

It will be shewn by the event: we shall thence learn whether what has been stated be the real truth.