D

[dab] See: SMACK-DAB or SMACK-TO DAB.

[dagger] See: CLOAK-AND-DAGGER, LOOK DAGGERS.

[daily dozen]{n.}, {informal} Gymnastic exercises; especially, several different exercises done daily. •/The boys did their daily dozen early each morning./

[daisy] See: PUSH UP DAISIES.

[dam] See: WATER OVER THE DAM.

[damn] See: GIVE A HANG, NOT WORTH A TINKER’S DAMN.

[damned if one does, damned if one doesn’t]{adj. phr.} No matter what one does, someone is likely to criticize one. •/No matter what decisions I make, there are always some people who will approve them and those who won’t. It is a classical case of "damned if I do, damned if I don’t."/

[dance] See: SONG AND DANCE.

[dance to another tune]{v. phr.} To talk or act differently, usually better because things have changed; be more polite or obedient because you are forced to do it. •/Johnny refused to do his homework but punishment made him dance to another tune./ Compare: CHANGE ONE’S TUNE, SING A DIFFERENT TUNE.

[dander] See: GET ONE’S BACK UP, GET ONE’S DANDER UP or GET ONE’S IRISH UP.

[dandy] See: JIM-DANDY.

[dangerous] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING.

[dare say]{v. phr.} To think probable; suppose; believe. — Used in first person. •/Mary is unhappy now but I dare say she will be laughing about this tomorrow./ •/There is no more ice cream on the table, but I dare say we can find some in the kitchen./

[dare one to do something]{v. phr.} To challenge someone to do something. •/"I dare you to jump off that rock into the sea," Fred said to Jack./

[dark] See: IN THE DARK, SHOT IN THE DARK, WHISTLE IN THE DARK.

[darken one’s door] or [darken the door] To appear, as in a doorway; enter someone’s home or establishment. — Used in negative imperative sentences especially with "never" and "again". •/If you leave this house now, never darken my door again./ •/After a son shamed his father by having to go to prison, the father told him never to darken his door again./

[dark horse]{n.}, {informal} A political candidate little known to the general voting public; a candidate who was not expected to run. •/Every once in a while a dark horse candidate gets elected President./

[dark of the moon]{n. phr.}, {literary} A time when the moon is not shining or cannot be seen. •/A was the dark of the moon when the scouts reached camp and they had to use flashlights to find their tents./ Contrast: FULL OF THE MOON.

[dash cold water on] See: THROW COLD WATER ON.

[dash light]{n.} A light on the front inside of a car or vehicle. •/Henry stopped the car and turned on the dash lights to read the road map./

[dash off]{v.} To make, do, or finish quickly; especially, to draw, paint, or write hurriedly. •/Ann took out her drawing pad and pencil and dashed off a sketch of the Indians./ •/John can dash off several letters while Mary writes only one./ •/Charles had forgotten to write his English report and dashed it off just before class./

[date] See: DOUBLE-DATE, TO DATE.

[date back]{v. phr.} To go back to a given period in the past. •/My ancestors date back to the sixteenth century./

[dawn on]{v.} To become clear to. •/It dawned on Fred that he would fail the course if he did not study harder./

[day] See: ALL IN A DAY’S WORK, CALL IT A DAY, CARRY THE DAY, EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY, FATHER’S DAY, FOREVER AND A DAY, GOOD DAY, MAKE A DAY OF IT, NAME DAY, NIGHT AND DAY, ONE OF THESE DAYS, or SOME OF THESE DAYS, PASS THE TIME OF DAY, RAINY DAY, SAVE THE DAY, SEE BETTER DAYS, THAT’LL BE THE DAY.

[day and night] or [night and day] {adv.} 1. For days without stopping; continually. Syn.: AROUND THE CLOCK. •/Some filling stations on great highways are open day and night 365 days a year./ •/The three men took turns driving the truck, and they drove night and day for three days./ 2. Every day and every evening. •/The girl knitted day and night to finish the sweater before her mother’s birthday./

[day by day]{adv.} Gradually. •/The patient got better day by day./

[day in and day out] or [day in, day out] {adv. phr.} Regularly; consistently; all the time; always. •/He plays good tennis day in and day out./ — Also used with several other time words in place of day: week, month, year. •/Every summer, year in, year out, the ice cream man comes back to the park./

[day in court]{n. phr.} A chance to be heard; an impartial hearing; a chance to explain what one has done. •/The letters from the faculty members to the dean gave Professor Smith his day in court./

[daylight] See: SCARE OUT OF ONE’S WITS or SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF, SEE DAYLIGHT.

[daylight saving time] also [daylight saving] or [daylight time] or [fast time] {n.} A way of keeping time in summer that is one or two hours ahead of standard time. — Abbreviation DST. •/Many places in the United States keep their clocks on daylight saving time in the summer; in this way people get up earlier and have more free time in the afternoon and evening while it is still daylight./ •/Father said that next week it will get dark later because we will change to daylight saving lime./ •/We go off daylight saving in the fall./ Compare: CENTRAL TIME. Contrast: STANDARD TIME.

[daylight robbery] See: HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

[daydream]{v.} To spend time in reverie; be absentminded during the day. •/John spends so much time daydreaming that he never gets anything done./

[day of grace]{n. phr.} An extension period after the due date of some contract or bond. •/The premium is due on the first of each month, but they allow ten days of grace./

[day of reckoning]{n. phr.} 1. A time when one will be made to account for misdeeds. •/When the criminal was caught and brought to trial his victims said, "finally, the day of reckoning has come."/ 2. A time when one’s will and Judgment are severely tested. •/"You always wanted to run the department," the dean said to Professor Smith. "Now here is your chance; this is your day of reckoning."/

[day off]{n.} A day on which one doesn’t have to work, not necessarily the weekend. •/Monday is his day off in the restaurant, because he prefers to work on Saturdays and Sundays./

[day-to-day]{adj.} Daily; common; everyday. •/For best results, students' homework should be checked on a day-to-day basis./

[days are numbered] (Someone or something) does not have long to live or stay. •/The days of the old school building are numbered./ •/When a man becomes ninety years old, his days are numbered./

[dazzle] See: RAZZLE-DAZZLE.

[dead] See: CATCH DEAD, DROP DEAD, STONEDEAD.

[dead ahead]{adv.}, {informal} Exactly in front; before. •/The school is dead ahead about two miles from here./ •/Father was driving in a fog, and suddenly he saw another car dead ahead of him./

[deadbeat]{n.}, {slang} A person who never pays his debts and who has a way of getting things free that others have to pay for. •/You’ll never collect from Joe — he’s a deadbeat./

[dead and buried]{adj. phr.} Gone forever. •/Slavery is dead and buried in twentieth-century America./

[dead as a doornail]{adj. phr.} Completely dead without the slightest hope of resuscitation. •/This battery is dead as a doornail; no wonder your car won’t start./

[dead broke] See: STONE-BROKE.

[dead center]{n.} The exact middle. •/The treasure was buried in the dead center of the island./ Often used like an adverb. •/The arrow hit the circle dead center./

[dead duck]{n.}, {slang} A person or thing in a hopeless situation or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen. •/When the pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck./

[deadhead]{n.}, {slang} An excessively dull or boring person. •/You’ll never get John to tell a joke — he’s a deadhead./

[dead letter]{n. phr.} An undeliverable letter that ends up in a special office holding such letters. •/There is a dead letter office in most major cities./

[deadline]{n.} A final date by which a project, such as a term paper, is due. •/The deadline for the papers on Shakespeare is November 10./

[dead loss]{n. phr.} A total waste; a complete loss. •/Our investment in Jack’s company turned out to be a dead loss./

[dead on one’s feet]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Very tired but still standing or walking; too tired to do more; exhausted. •/Jimmy never leaves a job unfinished. He continues to work even when he’s dead on his feet./ •/After the soldiers march all night, they are dead on their feet./ Compare: DEAD TIRED, WEAR OUT(2).

[deadpan]{adj.}, {adv.}, {slang} With an expressionless or emotionless face; without betraying any hint of emotion. •/She received the news of her husband’s death deadpan./

[dead pedal]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A slow moving vehicle. •/Better pass that eighteen wheeler, Jack; it’s a dead pedal./

[dead ringer]{n. phr.} A person who strongly resembles someone else. •/Charlie is a dead ringer for his uncle./

[dead set against]{adj. phr.} Totally opposed to someone or something. •/Jack is dead set against the idea of marriage, which upsets Mary./

[dead tired]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very tired; exhausted; worn out. •/She was dead tired at the end of the day’s work./ Compare: DEAD ON ONE’S FEET.

[dead to rights]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Without a chance of escaping blame; proven wrong. •/Mother had Bob dead to rights, because she caught him with his hand in the cookie jar./ •/The police caught the man dead to rights./

[dead to the world]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Fast asleep. •/Tim went to bed very late and was still dead to the world at 10 o’clock this morning./ 2. As if dead; unconscious. •/Tom was hit on the head by a baseball and was dead to the world for two hours./

[dead-end]{n.} A street closed at one end; a situation that leads nowhere. •/Jim drove into a dead-end street and had to back out./ •/Mary was in a dead-end job./

[dead-end]{v.} To not continue normally but end in a closure (said of streets). •/Our street dead-ends on the lake./

[deaf] See: TURN A DEAF EAR TO.

[deal] See: GOOD DEAL or GREAT DEAL, NEW DEAL, NO DEAL, THINK A GREAT DEAL OF, WHEEL AND DEAL.

[deal in]{v. phr.} To sell; do business in a certain commodity. •/Herb’s firm deals in sporting goods./

[deal with]{v. phr.} 1. To conduct negotiations or business dealings with. •/John refuses to deal with the firm of Brown and Miller./ 2. To handle a problem. •/Ted is a very strong person and dealt with the fact that his wife had left him much better than anyone else I know./

[dealer] See: WHEELER-DEALER at WHEEL AND DEAL.

[dear] See: FOR DEAR LIFE.

[Dear John letter]{n. phr.} A note or a letter informing one that a romantic relationship or a marriage is over. •/Jane left a "Dear John letter" on the table and went home to live with her parents./

[dear me]{interj.} Used to show surprise, fear, or some other strong feeling. •/Dear me! My purse is lost, what shall I do now?/

[death] See: AT DEATH’S DOOR, BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, CATCH ONE’S DEATH OF or TAKE ONE’S DEATH OF, SIGN ONE’S OWN DEATH WARRANT, TO DEATH.

[death knell]{n.}, {formal} 1. The ringing of a bell at a death or funeral. •/The people mourned at the death knell of their friend./ 2. {literary} Something which shows a future failure. •/Bill’s poor grade on his final examination sounded the death knell of his hope to be a doctor./ •/His sudden deafness was the death knell of his hope to become President./

[death on]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very successful in meeting or dealing with. •/Joe is death on fast balls. He usually knocks them out of the park./ 2. Disliking or strongly against; very strict about. •/The new teacher is death on students who come late to class./ •/The twins' grandmother is death on smoking./

[deck] See: HIT THE DECK, ON DECK.

[decked out]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Dressed in fancy clothes; specially decorated for some festive occasion. •/The school band was decked out in bright red uniforms with brass buttons./ •/Main Street was decked with flags for the Fourth of July./

[declare] See: I DECLARE.

[deep] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, GO OFF THE DEEP END, IN DEEP, KNEE-DEEP.

[deep-six]{v.}, {slang} To throw away; dispose of. •/As the police boat came near, the drug smugglers deep-sixed their cargo./ (An expression originally used by sailors, suggesting throwing something into water six fathoms deep.)

[deep water]{n.} Serious trouble or difficulty. •/When Dad tried to take Mom’s place for a day, he found himself in deep water./

[defense] See: ZONE DEFENSE.

[defiance] See: IN DEFIANCE OF.

[degree] See: TO A DEGREE, TO THE NTH DEGREE.

[deliver the goods]{v. phr.} 1. To carry things and give them to the person who wants them. •/Lee delivered the goods to the right house./ 2. {slang} To succeed in doing well what is expected. •/The new pitcher delivered the goods by striking out 20 men in his first game./ •/This personal computer surely delivers the goods./ Compare: BRING HOME THE BACON.

[delta wave]{n.}, {informal}, {semi-technical} A brain wave 1-3 cycles per second, associated with very deep sleep. •/Good night, honey, I’m off to produce some delta waves./ Compare: CATCH SOME Z’S, HIT THE HAY or HIT THE SACK.

[demand] See: IN DEMAND.

[Dennis the Menace]{n. phr.} After the notorious television character played by a young boy who always creates trouble for the grownups. Any hyperactive little boy who needs calming down. •/"Your son, Joey, is becoming a regular Dennis the Menace," Jane said to Elvira./

[dent] See: MAKE A DENT IN.

[deposit] See: ON DEPOSIT.

[depth] See: BEYOND ONE’S DEPTH.

[desk clerk] See: ROOM CLERK.

[detective] See: HOUSE DETECTIVE.

[devil] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, FULL OF THE OLD NICK or FULL OF THE DEVIL, GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE, GO TO THE DEVIL, PLAY THE DEVIL WITH, RAISE THE DEVIL, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS.

[devil-may-care]{adj.} Not caring what happens; unworried. •/Johnny has a devil-may-care feeling about his school work./ •/Alfred was a devil-may-care youth but became more serious as he grew older./

[devil-may-care attitude]{n. phr.} An attitude of no concern for financial or other loss. •/"Easy come, easy go," John said in a devil-may-care attitude when he lost all of his money during a poker game./

[devil of it] or [heck of it] {n. phr.} 1. The worst or most unlucky thing about a trouble or accident; the part that is most regrettable. •/Andy lost his notebook, and the devil of it was that the notebook contained all his homework for the coming week./ •/When I had a flat tire, the devil of it was that my spare tire was flat too./ 2. Fun from doing mischief. — Used after "for". •/The boys carried away Miss White’s front gate just for the devil of it./

[devil to pay]{n. phr.} Great trouble. — Used after "the". •/There’ll be the devil to pay when the teacher finds out who broke the window./ •/When Jim wrecked his father’s car, there was the devil to pay./

[dewey-eyed] See: MISTY-EYED.

[diamond in the rough]{n. phr.} A very smart person without a formal education who may have untutored manners. •/Jack never went to school but he is extremely talented; he is a veritable diamond in the rough./

[dibs] See: TO HAVE DIBS ON or TO PUT DIBS ON.

[dice] See: NO DEAL or NO DICE.

[Dick] See: TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

[die] See: CROSS ONE’S HEART or CROSS ONE’S HEART AND HOPE TO DIE, DO-OR-DIE, NEVER SAY DIE.

[die away] or [die down] {v.} To come slowly to an end; grow slowly less or weaker. •/The wind died down./ •/The music died away./ •/He waited until the excitement had died down./ •/His mother’s anger died away./

[die in one’s boots] or [die with one’s boots on] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be killed or hanged rather than die in bed. •/The badmen of the Old West usually died in their boots./ •/The robber said he wanted to die with his boots on./

[die is cast]{v. phr.}, {literary} To make an irrevocable decision. (From Julius Caesar’s famous words in Latin, "alea iacta est", when he crossed the river Rubicon, which meant war.) •/Everything was ready for the invasion of Europe, the die had been cast, and there was no turning back now./

[die off]{v.} To die one at a time. •/The flowers are dying off because there has been no rain./

[die on the vine] or [wither on the vine] {v. phr.} To fail or collapse in the planning stages. •/The program for rebuilding the city died on the vine./

[die out]{v.} To die or disappear slowly until all gone. •/This kind of bird is dying out./ •/If you pour salt water on grass, it dies out./ •/The American colonists started colleges so that learning would not die out./

[difference] See: MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE.

[different] See: SING A DIFFERENT TUNE or WHISTLE A DIFFERENT TUNE.

[dig down]{v.}, {slang} To spend your own money. •/The school let the club use the bus and driver free for their trip, but they had to dig down to pay for gas and meals./ •/"So you broke Mrs. Brown’s window?" Tom’s father said, "You’ll have to dig down and pay for it,"/

[dig in]{v.}, {informal} 1. To dig ditches for protection against an enemy attack. •/The soldiers dug in and waited for the enemy to come./ 2a. To go seriously to work; work hard. •/John dug in and finished his homework very quickly./ 2b. To begin eating. •/Mother set the food on the table and told the children to dig in./

[dig out]{v.} 1. To find by searching; bring out (something) that was put away. •/Jack dug his sled out of the cellar./ •/The newspaper printed an old story dug out of their records./ Compare: DIG UP. 2. {informal} To escape. — Usually used with "of". Often used in the phrase "dig oneself out of a hole." •/The pitcher dug himself out of a hole by striking the batter out./

[dig up]{v.}, {informal} To find or get (something) with some effort. •/Sue dug up some useful material for her English composition./ •/Jim asked each boy to dig up twenty-five cents to pay for the hot dogs and soda./ Compare: DIG OUT.

[dilemma] See: HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

[dim] See: TAKE A DIM VIEW OF.

[dime a dozen]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Easy to get and so of little value; being an everyday thing because there are many of them; common. •/Mr. Jones gives A’s to only one or two students, but in Mr. Smith’s class, A’s are a dime a dozen./

[dime store] or [five-and-dime] or [five-and-ten] {n. phr.} A store that sells things that cost little. •/Charles bought a pencil at the five-and-dime./

[dine out]{v. phr.} To not eat at home but to go to a restaurant. •/"Let’s dine out tonight, honey," she said to her husband. "I am tired of cooking dinner every night."/ See: EAT OUT.

[dint] See: BY DINT OF.

[dip into]{v. phr.} 1. To scan or sample lightly and briefly (said of printed materials). •/I didn’t get a chance to read all of War and Peace, but I dipped into it here and there./ 2. To take money out of a savings account or a piggy bank. •/I am sorry to have to say that I had to dip into the piggy bank; I took out $6.75./

[dirt] See: EAT DIRT, HIT THE DIRT, PAY DIRT.

[dirt cheap]{adj.} Extremely inexpensive. •/The apartment we are renting is dirt cheap compared to other apartments of similar size in this neighborhood./

[dirty] See: AIR ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC.

[dirty look]{n.}, {informal} A look that shows dislike. •/Miss Parker sent Joe to the principal’s office for giving her a dirty look./

[dirty old man]{n. phr.} An older man who shows an unhealthy interest in young girls. •/"Stay away from Uncle Algernon, Sally," her mother warned. "He is a dirty old man."/

[dirty one’s hands] or [soil one’s hands] {v. phr.} To lower or hurt one’s character or good name; do a bad or shameful thing. •/The teacher warned the children not to dirty their hands by cheating in the examination./ •/I would not soil my hands by going with bad people and doing bad things./

[dirty story]{n. phr.} An improper or obscene story. •/Uncle Bill is much too fond of telling dirty stories in order to embarrass his friends./

[dirty trick]{n. phr.} A treacherous action; an unfair act. •/That was a dirty trick John played on Mary when he ran away with her younger sister./

[disappear] or [evaporate] or [vanish into thin air] {v. phr.} To disappear quickly, without leaving a trace. •/Money seems to disappear into thin air these days./ •/Jack just vanished into thin air before the meeting had started./

[discretion] See: THROW CAUTION TO THE WINDS also THROW DISCRETION TO THE WINDS.

[discretion is the better part of valor]{literary} When you are in danger or trouble, good sense helps more than foolish risks; it is better to be careful than to be foolishly brave. — A proverb. •/When you are facing a man with a knife, discretion is the better part of valor./

[dish] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER.

[dish of tea] See: CUP OF TEA.

[dish out]{v.} 1. To serve (food) from a large bowl or plate. •/Ann’s mother asked her to dish out the beans./ 2. {informal} To give in large quantities. •/That teacher dished out so much homework that her pupils complained to their parents./ 3. {slang} To scold; treat or criticize roughly. •/Jim likes to dish it out, but he hates to take it./ Compare: HAND OUT.

[dish the dirt]{v. phr.}, {slang} To gossip, to spread rumors about others. •/Stop dishing the dirt. Sally, it’s really quite unbecoming!/

[disk jockey]{n.} An employee at a radio station or in a dance club who puts on the records that will be broadcast. •/Jack is working as a disk jockey at the local FM station./

[dispose of]{v.} 1. To throw away; give away, or sell; get rid of. •/John’s father wants to dispose of their old house and buy a new one./ •/The burglars had difficulty in disposing of the stolen jewelry./ 2. To finish. with; settle; complete. •/The boys were hungry, and quickly disposed of their dinner./ •/The committee soon disposed of all its business./ 3. To destroy or defeat. •/The champion disposed of the other fighter by knocking him out in the second round./ •/Our planes disposed of two enemy planes./

[dispute] See: IN DISPUTE.

[distance] See: KEEP AT A DISTANCE, KEEP ONE’S DISTANCE.

[ditch] See: LAST DITCH,

[dive] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN or GO INTO A NOSE DIVE.

[do] See: HAVE DONE, HAVE DONE WITH, HAVE TO DO WITH, LET GEORGE DO IT, LET ONE’S RIGHT HAND KNOW WHAT ONE’S LEFT HAND IS DOING, LET’S DON’T, MAKE DO, WELL-TO-DO, WHAT’S UP or WHAT’S DOING.

[do a double take]{v. phr.}, {informal} To look again in surprise; suddenly understand what is seen or said. •/John did a double take when he saw Bill in girls' clothes./ •/When Evvie said she was quitting school, I did a double take./

[do a job on]{v. phr.}, {slang} To damage badly; do harm to; make ugly or useless. •/The baby did a job on Mary’s book./ •/Jane cut her hair and really did a job on herself./

[Doakes] See: JOE DOAKES.

[do a stretch]{v. phr.} To spend time in jail serving one’s sentence. •/Jake has disappeared from view for a while; he is doing a stretch for dope smuggling./

[do away with]{v.} 1. To put an end to; stop. •/The teachers want to do away with cheating in their school./ •/The city has decided to do away with overhead wires./ Compare: RID OF. 2. To kill; murder. •/The robbers did away with their victims./

[do by someone or something]{v.} To deal with; treat. — Used with a qualifying adverb between "do" and "by". •/Andy’s employer always does very well by him./

[do credit] or [do credit to] also ({informal}) [do proud] To add to or improve the reputation, good name, honor, or esteem of; show (you) deserve praise. •/Your neat appearance does you credit./ •/Mary’s painting would do credit to a real artist./

[doctor] See: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.

[doctor up]{v. phr.} To meddle with; adulterate. •/You don’t have to doctor up this basic salad with a lot of extras as I am trying to lose weight./

[do duty for]{v. phr.} To substitute for; act in place of. •/The bench often does duty for a table./

[Doe] See: JOHN DOE.

[doesn’t add up to a can of beans]{v. phr.} To be of little or no value. (Said of plans, ideas, etc.) •/"That’s a fairly interesting concept you got there, Mike, but the competition is bound to say that it doesn’t add up to a can of beans."/

[do for]{v.}, {informal} To cause the death or ruin of; cause to fail. — Used usually in the passive form "done for". •/The poor fellow is done for and will die before morning./ •/Andy’s employer always does very well by him./ •/If Jim fails that test, he is done for./

[dog] See: EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY, GO TO THE DOGS, HOT DOG, LEAD A DOG’S LIFE, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, RAIN CATS AND DOGS.

[dog days]{n. phr.} The hottest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (July and August). (The ancient Romans associated this time with the "Dog Star" — Sirius — which becomes visible in the heavens at this time of year.) •/"The dog days are upon us," John said. "It’s time to go swimming in the lake."/

[dog-eat-dog(1)]{n.} A way of living in which every person tries to get what he wants for himself no matter how badly or cruelly he must treat others to get it; readiness to do anything to get what you want. •/In some early frontier towns it was dog-eat-dog./

[dog-eat-dog(2)]{adj.} Ready or willing to fight and hurt others to get what you want. •/During the California gold rush, men had a dog-eat-dog life./

[doghouse] See: IN THE DOGHOUSE.

[dog in the manger]{n. phr.} A person who is unwilling to let another use what he himself has no use for. •/Although Valerie lives alone in that big house, she is like a dog in the manger when it comes to letting someone sharing it with her./

[dog one’s steps]{v. phr.} To follow someone closely. •/All the time he was in Havana, Castro’s police were dogging his steps./

[dog’s age] or [coon’s age] {n.}, {informal} A very long time. Usually used after "for" or "in" with a negative. •/Charlie Brown! I haven’t seen you for a coon’s age./ •/Father hasn’t had a night out with the boys in a dog’s age./ •/I waited for him for a dog’s age, but he didn’t come./ Syn.: MONTH OF SUNDAYS.

[dog’s life]{n. phr.} A life of misery, poverty, and unhappiness. •/Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, lived a dog’s life inside an empty barrel./

[do in]{v.}, {slang} 1. To ruin; destroy. •/Mr. Smith’s business was done in by a fire that burned down his store./ 2a. To kill; murder. •/The poor man was done in by two gangsters who ran away after the crime./ 2b. To make tired; exhaust. •/The boys were done in after their long hike./ Syn.: WEAR OUT(2). 3. To cheat; swindle. •/Mr. Jones was done in by two men who claimed to be collecting money for orphans and widows./

[doing] See: NOTHING DOING.

[do justice to]{v. phr.} 1. To do (something) as well as you should; do properly. •/Barbara had so many things to do that she could not do justice to her lessons./ •/The newspaper man did not do justice to the story./ 2. To eat or drink with enthusiasm or enjoyment. •/The boy did justice to the meal./

[dole out]{v. phr.} To measure out sparingly. •/Since the water ration was running low in the desert, the camp commandant doled out small cups of water to each soldier./

[dollar] See: BET ONE’S BOTTOM DOLLAR at BET ONE’S BOOTS, FEEL LIKE A MILLION or FEEL LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS, LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.

[doll up]{v.}, {slang} 1. To dress in fine or fancy clothes. •/The girls dolled up for the big school dance of the year./ •/The girls were all dolled up for the Christmas party./ 2. To make more pretty or attractive. •/The classrooms were all dolled up with Christmas decorations./ Compare: DECKED OUT.

[done for]{adj. phr.} Finished; dead. •/When the police burst in on the crooks, they knew they were done for./

[done to a turn] See: TO A T or TO A TURN.

[done with]{adj. phr.} Finished; completed. •/As soon as you’re done with your work, give us a call./

[don’t cross your bridges until you come to them] See: CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE ONE COMES TO IT.

[don’t cry before you’re hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT.

[don’t let’s] See: LET’S DON’T.

[don’t look a gift horse in the mouth] See: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

[do one a good turn]{v. phr.} To perform an act of kindness, friendship, or help to another person, unselfishly, without expectation of reward. •/"I’ll be happy to help you any time you need it," John said. "After all you have done me so many good turns."/

[do one good]{v. phr.} To benefit. •/The fresh air will do you good after having been inside the house all day./

[do one good] or [do one’s heart good] {v. phr.} To give satisfaction; please; gratify. •/It does my heart good to see those children play./

[do one’s best]{v. phr.} To perform at one’s optimum capacity; spare no effort in fulfilling one’s duties. •/"I’ve really done my best teaching you people," the tired professor said on the last day of classes. "I hope you got something out of this course."/

[do one’s bit] or [part] {v. phr.} To shoulder one’s share of responsibility in a communal undertaking; shirk one’s obligation. •/"Let me go home and rest, fellows, " John said. "I think I’ve done my bit for this project. "/

[do one’s thing] or [do one’s own thing] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do what one does well and actually enjoys doing. •/Two thousand fans paid $15 each to hear the rock group do their thing./ 2. To follow one’s bent; for example, to be engaged in left-wing politics, some sort of meditation, or use of drugs (particularly in the sixties). •/The hippies were doing their own thing when the cops came and busted them./ 3. To be engaged in an unusual activity that strikes others as odd. •/Leave Jim alone, he’s just doing his own thing when he’s standing on his head./

[do one’s worst]{v. phr.} To do one’s utmost by resorting to every foul means possible. •/Hitler did his worst to drive out the Allied invasion from Europe, but he failed./

[door] See: AT DEATH’S DOOR, AT ONE’S DOOR, CLOSED-DOOR, CLOSE ITS DOORS, CLOSE THE DOOR or BAR THE DOOR or SHUT THE DOOR, DARKEN ONE S DOOR, or DARKEN THE DOOR, FOOT IN THE DOOR, KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR, LAY AT ONE’S DOOR, LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN, NEXT DOOR, OPEN ITS DOORS, OPEN THE DOOR, SHOW THE DOOR, SLAM THE DOOR IN ONE’S FACE at IN ONE’S FACE.

[do-or-die]{adj.} Strongly decided, very eager and determined. •/With a real do-or-die spirit the team scored two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game./ •/The other army was larger but our men showed a do-or-die determination and won the battle./

[doorstep] See: AT ONE’S DOOR or AT ONE’S DOOR-STEP.

[do over]{v. phr.} 1. To renovate; redecorate. •/The new owners are going to do over the entire building in the fall./ 2. To repeat. •/Please do that math problem over until you get it right./

[dope out]{v.}, {slang} To think of something that explains. •/The detectives tried to dope out why the man was murdered./ Syn.: FIGURE OUT.

[do proud] See: DO CREDIT.

[do someone out of something]{v.}, {informal} To cause to lose by trickery or cheating. •/The clerk in the store did me out of $2.00 by overcharging me./

[dose of one’s own medicine] or [taste of one’s own medicine] {n. phr.} Being treated in the same way you treat others; something bad done to you as you have done bad to other people. •/Jim was always playing tricks on other boys. Finally they decided to give him a dose of his own medicine./

[dot] See: ON THE DOT also ON THE BUTTON.

[do tell]{interj.}, {informal} An inelegant expression used to show that you are a little surprised by what you hear. •/"You say George is going to get married after all these years? Do tell!" said Mrs. Green./ Syn.: YOU DON’T SAY.

[do the business]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do what is needed or wanted; get the job done; take proper action. •/The boys had trouble in rolling the stone, but four of them did the business./ •/When the little boy cut his finger a bandage did the business./

[do the honors]{v. phr.} To act as host or hostess (as in introducing guests, carving, or paying other attentions to guests.) •/The president of the club will do the honors at the banquet./

[do the trick]{v. phr.}, {informal} To bring success in doing something; have a desired result. •/Jim was not passing in English, but he studied harder and that did the trick./ •/The car wheels slipped on the ice, so Tom put sand under them, which did the trick./ Compare: TURN THE TRICK.

[do things by halves]{v. phr.} To do things in a careless and incomplete way. •/When he reads a book he always does it by halves; he seldom finishes it./

[do time] or [doing time] See: DO A STRETCH.

[do to death]{v. phr.} To overdo; do something so often that it becomes extremely boring or tiresome. •/The typical car chase scene in motion pictures has been done to death./

[dot the i’s and cross the t’s]{v. phr.} To be careful, thorough, and pay close attention to detail. •/"The best way to get an A on the final exam," the teacher said, "is for every one to dot the i’s and cross the t’s."/ Compare: MIND ONE’S P’S AND Q’S.

[double back]{v.} 1. To turn back on one’s way or course. •/The escaped prisoner doubled back on his tracks./ 2. To fold over; usually in the middle. •/The teacher told Johnny to double back the sheet of paper and tear it in half./

[double check]{n.} A careful second check to be sure that something is right; a careful look for errors. •/The policeman made a double check on the doors in the shopping area./

[double-check]{v.} 1. To do a double check on; look at again very carefully. •/When the last typing of his book was finished, the author double-checked it./ 2. To make a double check; look carefully at something. •/The proofreader double-checks against errors./

[double-cross]{v.} To promise one thing and deliver another; to deceive. •/The lawyer double-crossed the inventor by manufacturing the gadget instead of fulfilling his promise to arrange a patent for his client./ Compare: SELL DOWN THE RIVER, TWO-TIME.

[double date]{n.}, {informal} A date on which two couples go together. •/John and Nancy went with Mary and Bill on a double date./

[double-date]{v.}, {informal} To go on a double date; date with another couple. •/John and Nancy and Mary and Bill double-date./

[double duty]{n.} Two uses or jobs; two purposes or duties. •/Matthew does double duty. He’s the janitor in the morning and gardener in the afternoon./ •/Our new washer does double duty; it washes the clothes and also dries them./

[double-header]{n.} Two games or contests played one right after the other, between the same two teams or two different pairs of teams. •/The Yankees and the Dodgers played a double-header Sunday afternoon./ •/We went to a basketball double-header at Madison Square Garden and saw Seton Hall play St. John’s and N.Y.U. play Notre Dame./

[double nickel]{adv.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} The nationally enforced speed limit on some highways — 55 MPH. •/We’d better go double nickel on this stretch, partner; there’s a bear in the air./

[double-park]{v.} To park a car beside another car which is at the curb. •/Jimmy’s father double-parked his car and the police gave him a ticket./ •/If you double-park, you block other cars from passing./

[double-talk]{n.} 1. Something said that is worded, either on purpose or by accident, so that it may be understood in two or more different ways. •/The politician avoided the question with double-talk./ 2. Something said that does not make sense; mixed up talk or writing; nonsense. •/The man’s explanation of the new tax bill was just a lot of double-talk./

[double up]{v.} 1. To bend far over forward. •/Jim was hit by the baseball and doubled up with pain./ 2. To share a room, bed, or home with another. •/When relatives came for a visit, Ann had to double up with her sister./

[doubt] See: GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, NO DOUBT.

[do up]{v.} 1a. To clean and prepare for use or wear; launder. •/Ann asked her mother to do up her dress./ 1b. To put in order; straighten up; clean. •/At camp the girls have to do up their own cabins./ 2. To tie up or wrap. •/Joan asked the clerk to do up her purchases./ 3a. To set and fasten (hair) in place. •/Grace helped her sister to do up her hair./ Compare: PUT UP. 3b. {informal} To dress or clothe. •/Suzie was done up in her fine new skirt and blouse./

[do up brown]{v. phr.}, {slang} To do in a thorough or complete way. •/When Jim does a job, he does it up brown./

[do well by]{v. phr.} To benefit; help; treat exceptionally well. •/In his will Grandpa did well by all of his grandchildren and left each of them one million dollars./

[do with]{v.} 1. To find enough for one’s needs; manage. — Usually follows "can". •/Some children can do with very little spending money./ Compare: GET ALONG, MAKE DO. 2. To make use of; find useful or helpful. — Follows "can" or "could". •/After a hard day’s work, a man can do with a good, hot meal./ •/After cleaning out the basement, the boy could do with a bath./

[do without] or [go without] {v.} 1. To live or work without (something you want); manage without. •/Ann said that she likes candy, but can do without it./ •/We had to go without hot food because the stove was broken./ 2. To live or work without something you want; manage. •/If George cannot earn money for a bicycle, he will have to do without./ Compare: GET ALONG, GET BY.

[down and out]{adj. phr.} Without money; without a job or home; broke. •/Poor Sam lost his job after his wife had left him; he is really down and out./

[down-and-outer]{n. phr.} A person who has lost everything and is penniless. •/Joe goes from shelter to shelter asking for food and a place to sleep; he’s become a regular down-and-outer./

[down-at-heel] or [down-at-the-heel] or [down-at-the-heels] {adj.} Poorly kept up or dressed shabby; not neat; sloppy. •/John is always down-at-the-heels, but his sister is always very neat./ •/Old houses sometimes look down-at-the-heel./

[down east] or [Down East] {n.} The northeast coastal part of the United States and part of Canada; especially: the coastal parts of Maine. •/Many people in Boston like to go down east for their summer vacation./ Compare: I WOULDN’T DO IT FOR A FARM DOWN EAST.

[down in the dumps] or [down in the mouth] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Sad or discouraged; gloomy; dejected. •/The boys were certainly down in the dumps when they heard that their team had lost./

[down on]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Having a grudge against; angry at. •/John is down on his teacher because she gave him a low grade./

[down one’s alley] or [up one’s alley] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Suited to your tastes and abilities; what you like or like to do. •/Baseball is right down Jim’s alley./ Compare: CUP OF TEA.

[down one’s neck] See: BREATHE DOWN ONE’S NECK.

[down one’s nose] See: LOOK DOWN ONE’S NOSE.

[down one’s throat] See: JUMP DOWN ONE’S THROAT, SHOVE DOWN ONE’S THROAT or RAM DOWN ONE’S THROAT.

[down on one’s luck]{adj.}, {informal} Having bad luck; having much trouble; not successful in life. •/Harry asked me to lend him ten dollars, because he was down on his luck./ •/The teacher is easy on Jane because Jane has been down on her luck lately./ Compare: HARD ROW TO HOE, HARD SLEDDING, ON ONE’S UPPERS.

[down payment]{n.} A retainer paid to a prospective seller. •/How much of a down payment do you require for this new car?/

[down the drain]{adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {informal} Wasted; lost. •/It is money down the drain if you spend it all on candy./ •/Our plans to go swimming went down the drain when it rained./ Compare: GO BY THE BOARD.

[down the hatch!]{v. phr.}, {informal} Let us drink! •/When we celebrated Mom’s birthday, we all raised our glasses and cried in unison, "Down the hatch!"/

[down the line]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Down the road or street; straight ahead. •/The church is down the line a few blocks./ 2. All the way; completely; thoroughly. •/Bob always follows the teacher’s directions right down the line./

[down-to-earth]{adj.} Showing good sense; practical. •/The committee’s first plan for the party was too fancy, but the second was more down-to-earth./ •/Mr. Jenkins never seems to know what is happening around him, but his wife is friendly and down-to-earth./ Compare: COME BACK TO EARTH.

[down to the wire]{adj.}, {slang} 1. Running out of time, nearing a deadline. •/Bob is down to the wire on his project./ 2. Being financially almost broke, being very low on cash or other funds. •/We can’t afford going to a restaurant tonight — we’re really down to the wire!/

[down with a disease]{adj. phr.} Ill or sick. •/Aunt Liz is down with the flu this week; she has to stay in bed./

[dozen] See: BY THE DOZEN, DAILY DOZEN, DIME A DOZEN, SIX OF ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER.

[drag in]{v.} To insist on bringing (another subject) into a discussion; begin talking about (something different.) •/No matter what we talk about, Jim drags in politics./ •/Whenever anyone mentions travel, Grace has to drag in the trip to Mexico she took ten years ago./

[drag on] or [drag out] {v.} 1. To pass very slowly. •/The cold winter months dragged on until we thought spring would never come./ 2. To prolong; make longer. •/The meeting would have been over quickly if the members had not dragged out the argument about dues./

[drag on the market]{n. phr.} An article for which the demand has fallen off thus causing an oversupply. •/Your type of word processor went out of style and is now a drag on the market./

[drag oneself up by one’s boot straps] See: PULL ONESELF UP BY THE BOOT STRAPS.

[drag one’s feet] or [drag one’s heels] {v. phr.} To act slowly or reluctantly. •/The children wanted to watch television, and dragged their feet when their mother told them to go to bed./ •/The city employees said the mayor had promised to raise their pay, but was now dragging his feet./

[drag out] See: DRAG ON.

[drag race]{n.}, {slang} An automobile race in which the drivers try to cover a certain distance (usually one quarter mile) in the shortest possible time. •/Drag races are often held on airport landing strips./ •/Holding drag races is a good way to stop teenage hot rod racing on public highways./ Compare: DRAG STRIP.

[drag strip]{n.}, {slang} A place where drag races are held. •/Before the race Paul loaded his racer onto the trailer to take it out of town to the drag strip for the race./ Compare: DRAG RACE.

[drain] See: DOWN THE DRAIN.

[draw] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH or BEAT TO THE DRAW.

[draw a bead on]{v. phr.}{informal} 1. To aim at; sight (with a gun). •/The deer bounded into the forest before the hunters could draw a bead on them./ •/John drew a bead on the elk, but didn’t have the heart to pull the trigger./ 2. To take (something) as an aim or goal. •/"I’m drawing a bead on the Literary Society president’s office," said Tom./ 3. To use as a target of attack; criticize. •/Whenever a politician makes a mistake, his opponents are ready to draw a bead on him./

[draw a blank]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To obtain nothing in return for an effort made or to get a negative result. •/I looked up all the Joneses in the telephone book but I drew a blank every time I asked for Archibald Jones./ 2. To fail to remember something. •/I am trying to think of the name but I keep drawing a blank./ 3. To be consistently unsuccessful at doing something. •/I keep trying to pass that math exam but each time I try it I draw a blank./

[draw a conclusion]{v. phr.} To make an inference. •/After he failed to keep an appointment with me for the third time, I drew the conclusion that he was an unreliable person./

[draw a line] or [draw the line] {v. phr.} 1. To think of as different. •/The law in this country draws a line between murder and manslaughter./ •/Can you draw the line between a lie and a fib?/ 2. To set a limit to what will be done; say something cannot be done. •/We would like to invite everybody to our party, but we have to draw a line somewhere./ — Often used with "at". •/Mrs. Jones draws the line at permitting the children to play in their father’s den./ •/People fighting for their freedom often do not draw the line at murder./

[draw a long breath] or [take a long breath] {v. phr.} To breathe deeply when getting ready to speak or act. •/Father asked who broke the window. Jim drew a long breath and admitted that he had done it./ •/The salesman took a long breath and started his talk./

[draw a parallel]{v. phr.} To make a comparison. •/It is easy to draw a parallel between the characters of Saint Francis of Assisi and Great Saint Theresa of Aquila, but this doesn’t mean that all saints are alike./

[draw and quarter]{v. phr.}, {literary} 1. To execute someone in the barbaric medieval fashion of having him torn into four pieces by four horses tearing his body in four different directions. •/The captured foreign marauders were drawn and quartered by the angry citizens of ancient Frankfurt./ 2. To punish someone very severely. •/"If you miss another homework assignment, John," the teacher said, "I’ll have you drawn and quartered."/

[draw aside]{v. phr.} To separate; take to one side. •/He drew her aside and whispered into her ear, "Johanna, please marry me!"/

[draw back]{v.} To move back; back away; step backward; withdraw; move away from. •/When the man spotted the rattlesnake, he drew back and aimed his shotgun./ •/The children drew back from the dog when it barked at them./ •/When the pitcher drew back his arm to pitch the ball, Tom ran as fast as he could to steal second base./ •/Some juice from the grapefruit that Father was eating squirted in his eye and he drew back in surprise./ Compare: DROP BACK.

[drawback]{n.} Disadvantage; obstacle; hindrance. •/The biggest drawback of Bill’s plan is the cost involved./

[draw blood]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make someone feel hurt or angry. •/If you want to draw blood, ask Jim about his last money-making scheme./ •/Her sarcastic comments drew blood./

[drawer] See: TOP-DRAWER.

[draw fire]{v. phr.} 1. To attract or provoke shooting; be a target. •/The general’s white horse drew the enemy’s fire./ 2. To bring criticism or argument; make people say bad things about you. •/Having the newest car in your group is sure to draw fire./

[drawing card]{n.} The most important figure in a multi-person event; the top entertainer during a show; the best professor or researcher at a university, etc. •/During the concert series Barbra Streisand was the biggest drawing card./ •/The biggest drawing card at many a university is the resident Nobel Laureate./

[draw in one’s horns] See: PULL IN ONE’S HORNS.

[draw interest]{v. phr.} To earn interest on invested capital. •/My savings account draws 4.5% interest./

[draw lots]{v. phr.} To select at random from a series in order to determine precedents or apportionment. •/The refugees to be evacuated drew lots on who would get a place on the first airplane out of the besieged city./

[draw near]{v. phr.} To approach; come near. •/The time is drawing near when this century will end and the next will begin./

[draw off]{v. phr.} To drain away; deflect. •/A light flanking attack was made in order to draw off the enemy’s fire./

[draw on]{v. phr.} 1. To arrive; approach. •/As midnight drew on, the New Year’s Eve party grew louder and louder./ 2. To secure funds from a bank or person. •/Jack kept drawing on his bank account so much that several of his checks bounced./

[draw out]{v. phr.} 1. To take out; remove. •/Johnny drew a dollar out of the bank to buy his mother a present./ •/The hunter drew out his gun and shot the snake./ 2. To make (a person) talk or tell something. •/Jimmy was bashful but Mrs. Wilson drew him out by asking him about baseball./ 3. To make come out; bring out. •/The bell of the ice-cream truck drew the children out of the houses./ •/Mary was drawn out of her silence by Billy’s jokes./ 4. To make longer or too long; stretch. •/The Smiths drew out their vacation at the beach an extra week./ •/It was a long drawn out meeting because everybody tried to talk at once./ •/Mary and her mother drew out their goodbyes so long at the bus station that Mary almost missed the bus./

[draw the fire of] See: DRAW OFF.

[draw the line] See: DRAW A LINE.

[draw to a close]{v. phr.} To finish; terminate; come to an end. •/The meeting drew to a close around midnight./

[draw up]{v.} 1. To write (something) in its correct form; put in writing. •/The rich man had his lawyers draw up his will so that each of his children would receive part of his money when he died./ 2. To plan or prepare; begin to write out. •/The two countries drew up a peace treaty after the war ended./ •/Plans are being drawn up for a new school next year./ Compare: WRITE UP. 3. To hold yourself straight or stiffly, especially because you are proud or angry. •/When we said that Mary was getting fat, she drew herself up angrily and walked out of the room./ 4. To stop or come to a stop. •/The cowboy drew up his horse at the top of the hill./ •/A big black car drew up in front of the house./ Syn.: PULL UP.

[dread] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

[dream of]{v.} To think about seriously; think about with the idea of really doing; consider seriously. — Usually used with a negative. •/I wouldn’t dream of wearing shorts to church./

[dressing down]{n.}, {informal} A scolding. •/The sergeant gave the soldier a good dressing down because his shoes were not shined./

[dress a window] See: WINDOW DRESSING.

[dress like a million dollars] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.

[dress up]{v.} 1a. To put on best or special clothes. •/Billy hated being dressed up and took off his best suit as soon as he got home from church./ 1b. To put on a costume for fun or clothes for a part in a play. •/Mary was dressed up to play Cinderella in her school play./ 2. To make (something) look different; make (something) seem better or more important. •/A fresh coat of paint will dress up the old bicycle very much./ •/Tommy dressed up the story of what he did on vacation and made it seem twice as interesting as it was./

[dressed fit to kill] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.

[dressed like a peacock] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.

[dribs and drabs]{n. phr.} Portions; small bits. •/John paid Oliver back what he owed him in dribs and drabs./

[drift off]{v. phr.} 1. To fall asleep, •/He kept nodding and drifting off to sleep while the lecturer was speaking./ 2. To depart; leave gradually. •/One by one, the sailboats drifted off over the horizon./

[drink down]{v. phr.} To drink in one gulp; swallow entirely. •/Steve was so thirsty that he drank down six glasses of orange juice in rapid succession./

[drink in]{v. phr.} To absorb with great interest. •/The tourists stood on the beach drinking in the wonderful Hawaiian sunset./

[drink like a fish]{v. phr.} To drink (alcoholic beverages) in great quantities; to be addicted to alcohol. •/John is a nice guy but, unfortunately, he drinks like a fish./

[drink up]{v. phr.} To finish drinking; empty one’s glass. •/"Drink up that cough syrup," the nurse said, "and never mind the taste,"/

[drive] See: LINE DRIVE.

[drive a bargain]{v. phr.} 1. To buy or sell at a good price; succeed in a trade or deal. •/Tom’s collie is a champion; it should be easy for Tom to drive a bargain when he sells her puppies./ •/Father drove a hard bargain with the real estate agent when we bought our new house./ 2. To make an agreement that is better for you than for the other person; make an agreement to your advantage. •/The French drove a hard bargain in demanding that Germany pay fully for World War I damages./

[drive a hard bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN.

[drive at]{v.} To try or want to say; mean. — Used in the present participle. •/John did not understand what the coach was driving at./ •/He had been talking for half an hour before anyone realized what he was driving at./

[drive home]{v. phr.} To argue convincingly; make a strong point. •/The doctor’s convincing arguments and explanation of his X-ray pictures drove home the point to Max that he needed surgery./

[drive-in]{adj.}/{n.} A kind of movie theater, fast food restaurant, or church, where the customers, spectators, or worshippers do not leave their automobiles but are served the food inside their cars, can watch a motion picture from inside their cars, or can participate in a religious service in their cars. •/Let’s not waste time on the road; let’s just eat at the next drive-in restaurant./ •/There is a drive-in theater not far from where we live./ •/Max and Hilde go to a drive-in church every Sunday./

[drive like Jehu]{v. phr.}, {informal} To drive very fast, carelessly or recklessly. •/When Joe is late for work, he drives like Jehu./

[drive one ape], [bananas], [crazy], [mad] or [nuts] {v. phr.}, {informal} To irritate, frustrate, or tickle someone’s fancy so badly that they think they are going insane. •/"Stop teasing me, Mary," John said. "You are driving me nuts."/ •/"You are driving me bananas with all your crazy riddles," Steve said./

[drive one round the bend]{v. phr.}, {informal} To upset someone so much that they think they are going crazy. •/"Slow down, please," Miss Jones cried. "You are driving me around the bend!"/ Contrast: DRIVE ONE APE, BANANAS, ETC.

[driver] See: BACKSEAT DRIVER.

[drive to the wall]{v. phr.} To defeat someone completely; to ruin someone. •/Poor Uncle Jack was driven to the wall by his angry creditors when his business failed./ Compare: GO TO THE WALL.

[drive someone bananas] or [drive someone nuts] or [drive someone ape] {v. phr.}, {slang} {informal} To excite someone to the point that he or she goes out of his or her mind; to drive someone crazy. •/You’re driving me bananas/nuts with that kind of talk!]

[drop] See: AT THE DROP OF A HAT, BOTTOM DROP OUT, JAW DROP or JAW DROP A MILE.

[drop a line]{v. phr.} To write someone a short letter or note. •/Please drop me a line when you get to Paris; I’d like to know that you’ve arrived safely./

[drop back]{v.} To move or step backwards; retreat. •/The soldiers dropped back before the enemy’s attack./ •/The quarterback dropped back to pass the football./ Compare: DRAW BACK, FADE BACK, FALL BACK.

[drop by] or [stop by] {v.} 1. or [drop around] To make a short or unplanned visit; go on a call or errand; stop at someone’s home. •/Drop by any time you’re in town./ •/Mv sister dropped around last night./ •/Don’t forget to stop by at the gas station./ Syn.: DROP IN. 2. or [drop into] To stop (somewhere) for a short visit or a short time. •/We dropped by the club to see if Bill was there, but he wasn’t./ •/I dropped into the drugstore for some toothpaste and a magazine./

[drop by the wayside] See: FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.

[drop dead]{v.}, {slang} To go away or be quiet; stop bothering someone. — Usually used as a command, •/"Drop dead!" Bill told his little sister when she kept begging to help him build his model airplane./ •/When Sally bumped into Kate’s desk and spilled ink for the fifth time, Kate told her to drop dead./ Compare: BEAT IT, GET LOST.

[drop in]{v.} To make a short or unplanned visit; pay a call. — Often used with "on". •/We were just sitting down to dinner when Uncle Willie dropped in./ •/The Smiths dropped in on some old friends on their vacation trip to New York./ Syn.: DROP BY, RUN IN(2).

[drop in the bucket]{n. phr.} A relatively small amount; a small part of the whole. •/Our university needs several million dollars for its building renovation project; $50,000 is a mere drop in the bucket./

[drop name]{v. phr.} To impress people by mentioning famous names. •/He likes to pretend he’s important by dropping a lot of names./

[drop off]{v.} 1. To take (someone or something) part of the way you are going. •/Joe asked Mrs. Jones to drop him off at the library on her way downtown./ 2. To go to sleep. •/Jimmy was thinking of his birthday party as he dropped off to sleep./ 3. To die. •/The patient dropped off in his sleep./ 4. or [fall off] To become less. •/Business picked up in the stores during December, but dropped off again after Christmas./ Contrast PICK UP(14).

[dropout]{n.} Someone who did not finish school, high school and college primarily. •/Tim is having a hard time getting a better job as he was a high-school dropout./ •/Jack never got his B.A. as he became a college dropout./

[drop out]{v.} To stop attending; quit; stop; leave. •/In the middle of the race, Joe got a blister on his foot and had to drop out./ •/Teenagers who drop out of high school have trouble finding jobs./

[drown one’s sorrows] or [drown one’s troubles] {v. phr.}, {informal} To drink liquor to try to forget something unhappy. •/When his wife was killed in an auto accident, Mr. Green tried to drown his sorrows in whiskey./ •/When Fred lost his job and had to give up his new car, he tried to drown his troubles at the nearest tavern./

[drown one’s troubles] See: DROWN ONE’S SORROWS.

[drown out]{v.} To make so much noise that it is impossible to hear (some other sound). •/The children’s shouts drowned out the music./ •/The actor’s words were drowned out by applause./

[drum up]{v.} 1. To get by trying or asking again and again; attract or encourage by continued effort. •/The car dealer tried to drum up business by advertising low prices./ 2. To invent. •/I will drum up an excuse for coming to see you next week./ Syn.: MAKE UP(2), THINK UP.

[dry] See: CUT AND DRIED, HIGH AND DRY.

[dry behind the ears]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Experienced; knowing how to do something. Usually used in the negative. •/John had just started working for the company, and was not dry behind the ears yet./ Compare: KNOW ONE’S WAY AROUND. Contrast: WET BEHIND THE EARS.

[dry out]{v. phr.} To cure an alcoholic. •/A longtime alcoholic. Uncle Steve is now in the hospital getting dried out./

[dry up]{v.} 1. To become dry. •/The reservoir dried up during the four-month drought./ 2. To disappear or vanish as if by evaporating. •/The Senator’s influence dried up when he was voted out of office./ 3. {slang} To stop talking. — Often used as a command. •/"Dry up!" Tony said angrily when his friend told him for the third time that he had made a mistake in his theme./ Syn.: SHUT UP(1).

[dual highway] See: DIVIDED HIGHWAY.

[duck] See: DEAD DUCK, KNEE HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER or KNEE HIGH TO A DUCK, LAME DUCK, LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK’S BACK.

[duckling] See: UGLY DUCKLING.

[duck out]{v. phr.} To avoid; escape from something by skillful maneuvering. •/Somehow or other Jack always manages to duck out of any hard work./

[duck soup]{n.}, {slang} 1. A task easily accomplished or one that does not require much effort. •/That history test was duck soup./ 2. A person who offers no resistance; a pushover. •/How’s the new history teacher? — He’s duck soup./

[duddy] See: FUDDY-DUDDY.

[due] See: GIVE ONE’S DUE, GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE, IN DUE COURSE at IN GOOD TIME.

[due to]{prep.} Because of; owing to; by reason of. •/His injury was due to his careless use of the shotgun./ •/Joe’s application to the University was not accepted due to his failing English./

[dull] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.

[dumb bunny]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} Any person who is gullible and stupid. •/Jack is a regular dumb bunny./

[dumbwaiter]{n.} A small elevator for carrying food, dishes, etc., from one floor to another in hotels, restaurants, or large homes. •/The banquet was delayed because the dumbwaiter broke down and the food had to be carried upstairs by hand./

[dumps] See: DOWN IN THE DUMPS or DOWN IN THE MOUTH.

[dust] See: BITE THE DUST, KICK UP A FUSS or KICK UP A DUST, WATCH ONE’S DUST, AFTER THE DUST CLEARS/WHEN THE DUST SETTLES.

[dust off]{v.}, {informal} 1. To get ready to use again. •/Four years after he graduated from school, Tom decided to dust off his algebra book./ 2. To throw a baseball pitch close to. •/The pitcher dusted off the other team’s best hitter./ Syn.: BRUSH BACK.

[Dutch] See: BEAT ALL or BEAT THE DUTCH, GO DUTCH, IN DUTCH.

[dutch treat]{n.}, {informal} A meal in a restaurant or an outing at the movies, concert, or theater where each party pays his or her own way. •/"I am willing to accept your invitation," Mary said, "but it will have to be Dutch treat."/

[duty] See: DO DUTY FOR, DOUBLE DUTY, HEAVY DUTY, OFF DUTY, ON DUTY.

[duty bound]{adj. phr.} Forced to act by what you believe is right. •/Abraham Lincoln walked miles once to return a few pennies that he had overcharged a woman because he felt duty bound to do it./ •/John felt duty bound to report that he had broken the window./

[duty calls]{n. phr.} One must attend to one’s obligations. •/"I’d love to stay and play more poker," Henry said, "but duty calls and I must get back to the office."/

[dwell on] or [dwell upon] {v.} To stay on a subject; not leave something or want to leave; not stop talking or writing about. •/Joe dwelt on his mistake long after the test was over./ •/Our eyes dwelled on the beautiful sunset./ •/The principal dwelled on traffic safety in his talk./ Compare: HARP ON. Contrast: TOUCH ON.

[dyed-in-the-wool]{adj. phr.} Thoroughly committed; inveterate; unchanging. •/He is a died-in-the-wool Conservative Republican./

[dying to]{adj. phr.} Having a great desire to; being extremely eager to. •/Seymour is dying to date Mathilda, but she keeps refusing him./