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Idiom |
Meaning |
|
D |
Dab
hand at something |
If you're a dab hand at something, you're very good at doing it.
"Why don't you call Suzy? She's a dab hand at organizing barbecues." |
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Dance
attendance (on somebody) |
If you dance attendance on someone, you are constantly available
for that person and attend to their wishes.
"She's rich and famous and expects everyone to dance attendance on
her." |
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Dance
to someone's tune |
If you dance to someone's tune, you do whatever that person tells
you to do.
"He is the company's major shareholder so the
management has to
dance to his tune." |
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In the dark |
If someone is kept or left in the dark about
something, they are not
informed about it
. "The personnel were kept in the dark about the
merger until the last
minute." |
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Darken
someone's door |
If you darken someone's door, you come as an unwanted or
unwelcome visitor.
"Just get out of here, and never darken my door again!" |
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Call it a day. |
A person who decides to "call it a day"
decides to stop doing finish doing something, generally
because they are tired. |
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A day late and a dollar short |
If something is a day late and a dollar short, it comes too
late and is not good enough.
"They offered me an internship when I'd already found a job - a day late
and a dollar short!" |
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Daylight
robbery
(also: highway robbery) |
The term 'daylight robbery' is used when the price of something
is thought to be much too high.
"$10 for an orange juice? That's daylight robbery!" |
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Dead as a dodo |
To say that something is (as) dead as a dodo means that it
is without doubt dead or obsolete, or has gone out of fashion.
(The dodo is a bird that is now extinct.)
"The floppy disk is an invention that is now (as) dead as a
dodo." |
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Dead
as a doornail |
This expression is used to stress that a person or thing is
unquestionably dead.
"They've
started fighting again, so the peace agreement is now
dead as a doornail." |
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Dead
duck |
This expression refers to a project or scheme which has been abandoned
or is certain to fail.
"The new cinema is going to be a dead duck because it's too far away
from the town centre." |
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Dead loss |
Someone or something described as a dead loss is absolutely
useless or a complete failure. "When it comes to
gardening, my brother is a dead loss." |
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Dead
set against something |
If you are dead set against something, you are strongly
opposed to it.
"My father wanted a dog, but my mother was dead set against the idea." |
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Dead wood |
The term dead
wood refers to people or things which are no longer
considered useful or necessary. "The new manager wants to reduce
costs by cutting out the dead wood." |
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Dead
to the world |
A person who is dead to the world is fast asleep.
"Don't worry. You won't disturb him. He's dead to the
world!" |
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Wouldn't be caught/seen dead |
If someone says that they wouldn't be caught or seen dead in a
particular place or doing something, they mean that they would be
too ashamed or
embarrassed. "My seven-year-old
son thinks he's a big boy; he wouldn't be caught
dead holding my hand!" |
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Deaf
ear |
If you turn a deaf ear to something, you refuse to listen.
"Sandy turned a deaf ear to the guide's advice and got lost in
the
mountains." |
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A raw deal |
If you say that someone has got a raw
deal, you think they have been treated
unfairly or badly. |
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Deck
out |
If you deck out someone or something, you dress or decorate them
in a special way.
"Paul decked out his car
for the wedding." |
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Off the deep end |
A person who goes off the deep end
becomes suddenly very angry or
emotional. |
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Deliver
the goods |
If a person delivers the goods, they do what is expected of them
or what they have promised to do.
"Let's hope that new whiz-kid the
boss hired can deliver the goods!" |
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Out of your depth |
If you are out of your depth, it means you are
in a situation which is too difficult for you, or
which you know little about. |
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Devil's
advocate |
During a discussion or debate, if you play devil's advocate,
you
pretend to be against an idea or plan in order to determine the validity
of the arguments in favour of it.
"She decided to play devil's
advocate just to see how strongly people
felt about the project." |
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The
devil is in the details |
This expression refers to a task or a job which appears simple
but is in fact more difficult to accomplish.
"Framing a picture looks easy but the devil is in the details!" |
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The
devil makes work for idle
hands |
This expression means that people who do not have enough to do are often tempted to
do something wrong. "It's not good for kids to have
nothing to do at the week-end - the devil makes work
for idle hands!" |
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The
devil take the hindmost |
This expression means that you should think of yourself and not worry
about other people.
"When the boat capsized it was a case of 'the devil take the
hindmost',
but luckily they all survived." |
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Speak of the devil! |
This is said to refer to a person who appears
just when his/her name is mentioned. "Speak of the
devil! We were just talking about your invitation!" |
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The
dice are loaded |
If everything seems to work to your
disadvantage and you are not
likely to succeed, you can say that the dice are loaded
against you.
"I applied for the job, but being a woman, and over forty, the
dice were
loaded against me." |
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Dice with
death |
If you put your life at risk by doing something very dangerous,
you dice with death.
"Going mountain-climbing alone is dicing with death." |
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The die is cast |
To say that the die is cast means that an irrevocable decision
has
been made which will determine the future.
"I've handed in my resignation so now the die is cast!" |
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Die with one's boots on |
A person who dies with their boots on dies while still leading an
active life.
"He says he'll never retire. He'd rather die with his boots
on!" |
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A different kettle of fish |
To describe a person, thing or situation
as a different kettle of fish
means that it is
completely different from what was previously
mentioned. "You may have good business relations,
but living in the country is a
different kettle of fish." |
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Dig in your
heels |
If you dig in your heels,
you refuse to do something, especially if
someone is trying to convince you to do so.
"My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an apartment." |
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Dig
one's own grave |
A person who digs their own grave does something which causes
their own downfall.
"If you drop out of college now, with such high unemployment, you'll
be
digging your own grave!" |
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Dim
view |
If you take a dim view of something, you dislike or disapprove of
it.
"My previous boss took a dim view of wearing casual wear to work." |
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(In)
dire
straits |
If a person or organization is in dire straits, they are in a
very difficult situation.
"The loss of major contracts has put the company in dire
straits." |
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Wash your dirty linen in public. |
To wash one's dirty linen in public means
to talk about unpleasant personal matters in the presence
of others. |
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Do someone's dirty
work |
To do someone's dirty work means to do the
unpleasant or difficult work that the other person does
not want to do. |
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Disappear into thin air |
If someone or something disappears into thin
air, they vanish in a
mysterious way.
"After being accused of embezzlement, the director disappeared
into thin
air." |
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Disaster
written all over it |
If something, such as a plan or idea, has disaster written all
over it, it is thought to be heading for complete failure or will
cause a lot of trouble.
"Mary's idea of a holiday with her
in-laws has disaster written all over it!" |
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Do a double take |
Someone who does a double take looks again in surprise at
something unexpected.
"He did a double take when he saw his wife in a restaurant with
another man." |
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Do a disappearing act |
If someone does a disappearing act, they simply
vanish,
especially if they have done something wrong or dishonest.
"Just before the police arrived, the suspect did a
disappearing act." |
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Do more harm than good |
If the effect of an action is more damaging than helpful, it does
more harm than good."
"Giving him money did more harm than good - he spent it on alcohol." |
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Do
nothing by halves |
When a person does everything they are engaged in completely and
thoroughly, they are said to do nothing by halves.
"When she cooks, it's a four-course meal - she does nothing by halves!" |
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Do
someone a good turn |
If you do someone a good turn, you act in a
helpful way.
"Mike is a great guy - always ready to do a good turn." |
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Do someone's dirty
work |
To do someone's dirty work means to do the
unpleasant or difficult work that the other person does
not want to do. |
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Do the spadework |
Someone who does the spadework does the preparatory work
or the
preliminary research for something.
"Although I did all the spadework, my name was never mentioned." |
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Do the trick |
If something does the trick, it does exactly what
is needed
or achieves the desired effect.
"Another coat of paint should do the trick." |
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Dog's
life |
People use this expression when complaining about a situation or job
which they find unpleasant or unsatisfactory.
"It's a dog's life working in the after-sales department." |
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Dog
eat dog |
This expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in pursuit of
one's own interests, with no concern for morality.
"The business world is tough today. There's a general
dog-eat-dog
attitude." |
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A
dog in the manger |
A person referred to as a dog in the
manger is someone who stops others enjoying something he/she
cannot use or doesn't want.
"Bob's a real dog in the manger; he's not free to play golf but he won't lend his golf clubs
to anyone." |
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Every
dog has its day |
This expression means that
everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life.
"I didn't win this time, but I'll be lucky one day.
Every dog
has its day!" |
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Give a dog a bad name |
People who lose
their reputation have difficulty regaining it because
others continue to blame or suspect them. "Tom was suspected as
usual. Give a dog a bad name!" |
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Go to the dogs |
To say that a company, organization or country is
going to the dogs
means that it is becoming less successful
or efficient than before. "Some think the company will go
to the dogs if it is nationalized." |
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Let sleeping dogs lie |
If you tell somebody to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them
not to interfere with a situation because they could cause
problems.
"Look - they've settled their differences. It's time to let sleeping dogs
lie." |
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My
dogs are barking
|
When a person says that their dogs are barking they mean that
their
feet are hurting.
"I've been shopping all day. My dogs are barking." |
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Why keep a
dog and bark
yourself? |
This
expression means that if someone can do a task for you, there's no reason to do it yourself. "The shuttle stops in front
of our house but my father continues to drive to the
airport. Why keep a dog and bark yourself!" |
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Dog and
pony show |
A dog and pony show is a marketing event or presentation
which has
plenty of style but not much content. |
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In the doghouse |
If you are in the
doghouse, somebody is angry with you because you have
done something wrong. "Mark is in the doghouse because he
damaged his father's car." |
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In the doldrums |
To say that a person, a business or the economy
in general is in the doldrums means that the
situation is gloomy and that nothing new is
happening. "Despite the recent measures, the economy remains in the
doldrums." |
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On the
dole |
A person who is receives financial assistance from the government
when they are unemployed is on the dole.
"Their father is on the dole so the family is living on a tight budget." |
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A
done deal |
This expression is used to refer to an agreement or decision which has
been reached on a certain matter.
"We're still considering several proposals, so it's not a done deal
yet." |
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Done and
dusted |
When a project, task or activity is done and dusted, it is
completely finished or ready.
"I've nearly finished preparing the presentation. When it's all
done and dusted I'll be able to relax." |
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The done
thing |
The correct way to behave in a particular social situation is called
the done thing.
"Wearing jeans to play golf is not the done thing." |
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Donkey
work |
This expression is used to describe the unpleasant, boring parts of a
job.
"I do the donkey work - my boss gets the credit!" |
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Doom
and gloom |
A general atmosphere of pessimism, and a feeling that the
situation is
not going to improve, is referred to as doom and
gloom.
"Fortunately it's not doom and gloom for all businesses,
in spite of the economic situation." |
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Beyond a shadow
of a doubt |
This expression is used to express absolute certainty about
something.
"There wasn't a shadow of a doubt
in our minds about Susan's
sincerity." |
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Doubting
Thomas |
A 'doubting Thomas' is as person who will not believe
something
without proof, or without seeing it for themselves.
"Believe me - it's a one-way street now.
Don't be such a doubting
Thomas!" |
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Down at heel |
A person who is down-at-heel is someone
whose appearance is untidy
or neglected because of lack of money.
"The down-at-heel student I first met became a successful writer." |
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Down in the dumps |
Someone who is down in the dumps is depressed or feeling gloomy.
"Alex has been down in the dumps since he
failed his exam." |
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Down the drain |
To say
that money, time or effort has gone down the drain, means
that it has been wasted or
lost. "His years of research went down the
drain when the company went
bankrupt." |
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Down in the mouth |
When someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy, discouraged
or depressed.
"You look a bit down in the mouth.
What's the matter?" |
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Down payment |
When someone makes a down payment, they pay a part of the total
amount agreed when signing a purchase deal or contract.
"Emma and Paul are excited. They put a down payment on their first
house yesterday." |
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Down to earth |
Someone who is down to earth is not a dreamer but a realistic
and practical person who has sensible reactions and expectations.
"Don't ask Suzy for help. She's fun, but not very down to earth." |
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All downhill/downhill all the way |
If something is all downhill or downhill all the way, it
is very easy compared to the difficulties encountered beforehand.
"The hardest part for the burglars was turning off the alarm system.
After that it was all downhill." |
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Go
downhill |
When something goes downhill it deteriorates or gets worse
little by little.
"The restaurant has been going downhill since the arrival of the
new owner." |
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Drag
one's feet |
If you drag your feet, you delay a decision or participate without any
real enthusiasm. "The government is dragging its feet on
measures to reduce pollution." |
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Drastic
times call for drastic
measures |
When faced with a difficult situation,
it is sometimes necessary to take
actions which in normal circumstances would
appear extreme.
"After Johnny's third accident, his father confiscated his
car.
Drastic times call for drastic measures!" |
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Draw a blank |
If you look for or try to remember something, and draw a blank,
you fail to find what you are looking for. |
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Draw the line |
If you decide to draw the
line, you decide when an activity or situation
becomes
unacceptable. "When a person's private life is concerned, the
media should know where
to draw the line." |
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Draw a line in the sand |
If you draw a line in the sand, you establish a limit beyond
which a
certain situation or activity will not be accepted.
"That's it! We're going to
draw a line in the sand and make this our final
proposal." |
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Dream
ticket |
If you refer to two people as a dream ticket, you think they
would
work well together and be successful.
"Clinton and Obama teaming up for the general election would be a
dream ticket for many Democrats." |
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Dressed to
kill |
When someone, especially a woman, is dressed to kill, they are
wearing very fashionable or glamorous clothes intended to attract
attention. "She arrived at the reception dressed to kill." |
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Dressed up to the
nines |
To describe someone as dressed up to the nines means
that they are wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.
"Caroline musts be going to a party - she's dressed up to the
nines!" |
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In
dribs and drabs |
If something comes in dribs and drabs, it arrives little by
little, in small
amounts or numbers.
"Instead of the crowd that was expected, people arrived in dribs and drabs." |
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Drink like a fish |
A person who drinks like a
fish is a heavy drinker or one who drinks
a lot. 'I'm nervous if Joe drives when we go out because he drinks like a
fish!" |
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Drive a hard bargain |
A person who drives a hard bargain always
makes sure they gain
advantage in a business deal. "Be
prepared for tough negotiations with Stuart - he drives a bard
bargain." |
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Drive
up the wall |
If somebody or something drives you up the wall, they do
something
that greatly annoys or irritates you.
"I can't concentrate with all the noise - it's driving me up the
wall!" |
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Drop a bombshell
|
If someone makes an unexpected or shattering announcement, they
drop a bombshell. "Her new husband dropped a
bombshell when he announced that he
was already the father of three children!" |
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Drop like flies |
If people drop like flies, they fall ill or die in large numbers.
"There's an epidemic of flu at the moment. Senior citizens
are dropping
like flies." |
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At the drop of a hat |
If you do something at the drop of a hat, you
do it immediately and
without hesitation "I've
got great friends. They're ready to help out at the drop of a
hat." |
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Drop names
(name-dropping) |
When you drop names, you mention the names of famous people
you know or have met in order to impress others.
"There goes Jack dropping names again.
People will soon get tired
of listening to him!" |
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A drop in the ocean |
To refer to an amount as a drop in the ocean
means that it is very
small compared to the amount needed or
expected. "The revenue from the proposed tax reform is a drop
in the ocean compared to the
deficit." |
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A sitting duck |
A sitting duck is an easy target, a person who is easy to
deceive. "The young girl was a sitting duck
for the photographer." |
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Dull as ditchwater (also : dull as
dishwater)
|
To refer to something as being as dull as ditchwater means that it
is
very boring. "The film was a dull at ditchwater. I
nearly fell asleep." |
| |
Dumbing down |
If something, such as a television programme or a film production,
is dumbed down, it is deliberately made less intelligent or less
demanding, in order to attract a larger audience.
"Some TV channels are dumbing down their programmes in an attempt
to increase their audience ratings." |
| |
Hit the dust |
The expression hit the dust is a humorous way of referring to death. |
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The
dust has settled |
To say that the dust has settled means that the situation has become
calmer after a series of unpleasant or chaotic events.
"After her difficult divorce, she waited until the dust had settled
before
making any plans." |
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Go
Dutch |
To go
Dutch with somebody means to share the cost of something
such as a meal or a concert. |
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Above and beyond the
call of duty |
If a person does something which is above
and beyond the call of
duty, they show a
greater degree of courage or effort than is usually
required or expected in their job. "The fire-fighter
received a medal for his action which went above and beyond the call of duty." |
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Dwell
on something |
If someone dwells on something, they think or talk about it all
the time.
"My mother-in-law has health problems,
but I wish she wouldn't always
dwell on the subject." |
| |
Dyed-in-the-wool |
This expression is used to describe a person who has fixed,
uncompromising, deep-felt beliefs to which they are committed.
"Bob and Jane are dyed-in-the-wool ecologists who use only
biodegradable products." |
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To be dying for something |
If you are dying for something, you have a strong desire for
it. "I'm dying for a cup of tea!" |