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coach was planning who would play in the big game he counted Paul out,
because Paul had a hurt leg./ 2. To count out loud to ten to show that
(a boxer who has been knocked down in a fight) is beaten or knocked
out if he does not get up before ten is counted. * /The champion was
counted. out in the third round./ 3a. To add up; count again to be
sure of the amount. * /Mary counted out the number of pennies she
had./ 3b. To count out loud, (especially the beats in a measure of
music). * /The music teacher counted out the beats
"one-two-three-four," so the class would sing in time./
[count to ten] {v. phr.}, {informal} To count from one to ten so
you will have time to calm down or get control of yourself; put off
action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong. * /Father
always told us to count to ten before doing anything when we got
angry./ Compare: KEEP ONE'S HEAD. Contrast: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE
HANDLE.
[county mounty] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon}
Sheriff's deputy. * /The county mounties are parked under the bridge./
[courage] See: HAVE THE COURAGE OF ONE'S CONVICTIONS, SCREW UP
ONE'S COURAGE.
[course] See: IN DUE COURSE, MATTER OF COURSE, OF COURSE, PAR FOR
THE COURSE.
[court] See: DAY IN COURT, FRONT COURT, HOLD COURT, KANGAROO COURT.
[cousin] See: FIRST COUSIN, SECOND COUSIN.
[cover] See: FROM COVER TO COVER at FROM --- TO(3), UNDER COVER.
[cover a lot of ground] {v. phr.} To process a great deal of
information and various facts. * /Professor Brown's thorough lecture
on asteroids covered a lot of ground today./
[covered-dish supper] or [potluck supper] A meal to which each
guest brings a share of the food. * /Dolly made a chicken casserole
for the covered-dish supper./
[cover girl] {n.} A pretty girl or woman whose picture is put on
the cover of a magazine. * /Ann is not a cover girl, but she is pretty
enough to be./
[cover ground] or [cover the ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go a distance;
travel. * /Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes, because they cover
ground so quickly./ 2. {informal} To move over an area at a speed that
is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground. * /The new infielder
really covers the ground at second base./ * /Herby's new car really
covers ground!/ 3. To give or receive the important facts and details
about a subject. * /If you're thinking about a trip to Europe, the
airline has a booklet that covers the ground pretty well./ * /The
class spent two days studying the Revolutionary War, because they
couldn't cover that much ground in one day./
[cover one's tracks] or [cover up one's tracks] {v. phr.} 1. To
hide and not leave anything, especially foot marks, to show where you
have been, so that no one can follow you. * /The deer covered his
tracks by running in a stream./ 2. {informal} To hide or not say where
you have been or what you have done; not tell why you do something or
what you plan to do. * /The boys covered their tracks when they went
swimming by saying that they were going for a walk./ Compare: COVER
UP(1).
[cover the waterfront] {v. phr.} To talk or write all about
something; talk about something all possible ways. * /The principal
pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior./
[cover up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To hide something wrong or bad from
attention. * /The spy covered up his picture-taking by pretending to
be just a tourist./ * /A crooked banker tried to cover up his stealing
some of the bank's money by starting a fire to destroy the records./
Compare: COVER ONE'S TRACKS(2). 2. In boxing: To guard your head and
body with your gloves, arms, and shoulders. * /Jimmy's father told him
to cover up and protect his chin when he boxed./ 3. To protect someone
else from blame or punishment; protect someone with a lie or alibi. -
Often used with "for". * /The teacher wanted to know who broke the
window and told the boys not to try to cover up for anyone./ * /The
burglar's friend covered up for him by saying that he was at his home
when the robbery occurred./
[cover-up] {n.}, {slang} A plan or excuse to escape blame or
punishment; lie, alibi. * /When the men robbed the bank, their
cover-up was to dress like policemen./ * /Joe's cover-up to his mother
after he had been fighting was that he fell down./
[cow] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY COW, SACRED COW.
[cowboy] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who drives his car
carelessly and at too great a speed in order to show off his courage.
* /Joe's going to be arrested some day - he is a cowboy on the
highway./
[cow college] {n.}, {slang} 1. An agricultural college; a school
where farming is studied. * /A new, bigger kind of apple is being
grown at the cow college./ 2. A new or rural college not thought to be
as good as older or city colleges. * /John wanted to go to a big
college in New York City, not to a cow college./
[cows tail] {n.}, {dialect} A person who is behind others. * /John
was the cow's tail at the exam./ * /Fred was always the old cow's tail
for football practice./
[cozy up] {v.}, {slang} To try to be close or friendly; try to be
liked. - Usually used with "to". * /John is cozying up to Henry so he
can join the club./
[crack] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK or TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.
[crack a book] {v. phr.}, {slang} To open a book in order to study.
- Usually used with a negative. * /John did not crack a book until the
night before the exam./ * /Many students think they can pass without
cracking a book./
[crack a bottle] {v. phr.} To open a new bottle of alcoholic
beverage. * /On birthdays it is customary to crack a bottle and offer
one's best wishes./
[crack a joke] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a joke; tell a joke. *
/The men sat around the stove, smoking and cracking jokes./
[crack a smile] {v. phr.}, {informal} To let a smile show on one's
face; permit a smile to appear. * /Bob told the whole silly story
without even cracking a smile./ * /Scrooge was a gloomy man, who never
cracked a smile./ * /When we gave the shy little boy an ice cream
cone, he finally cracked a smile./
[crack down] {v. phr.}, {informal} To enforce laws or rules
strictly; require full obedience to a rule. * /After a speeding driver
hit a child, the police cracked down./ - Often used with "on". *
/Police suddenly cracked down on the selling of liquors to minors./ *
/The coach cracked down on the players when he found they had not been
obeying the training rules./
[crack of dawn] {n. phr.} The time in the morning when the sun's
rays first appear. * /The rooster crows at the crack of dawn and wakes
up everybody on the farm./
[cracked up] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Favorably described or
presented; praised. - Usually used in the expression "not what it's
cracked up to be". * /The independent writer's life isn't always
everything it's cracked up to be./ * /In bad weather, a sailing cruise
isn't what it's cracked up to be./
[cracking] See: GET CRACKING - at GET GOING(2).
[crackpot] {n.}, {attrib. adj.}, {informal} 1. {n.} An eccentric
person with ideas that don't make sense to most other people. * /Don't
believe what Uncle Noam tells you - he is a crackpot./ 2. {attrib.
adj.} * /That's a crackpot idea./
[crack the whip] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get obedience or
cooperation by threats of punishment. * /If the children won't behave
when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip./
[crack up] {v.} 1. To wreck or be wrecked; smash up. * /The
airplane cracked up in landing./ * /He cracked up his car./ 2.
{informal} To become mentally ill under physical or mental overwork or
worry. * /He had kept too busy for years, and when failures came, he
cracked up./ * /It seemed to be family problems that made him crack
up./ 3. Burst into laughter or cause to burst into laughter. * /That
comedian cracks me up./
[cradle] See: ROB THE CRADLE.
[cradle robber], [cradle robbing] See: ROB THE CRADLE.
[cramp] See: WRITER'S CRAMP.
[cramp one's style] {v. phr.}, {informal} To limit your natural
freedom; prevent your usual behavior; limit your actions or talk. *
/He cramped his style a good deal when he lost his money./ * /Army
rules cramped George's style./
[crash dive] {n.} A sudden dive made by a submarine to escape an
enemy; a dive made to get deep under water as quickly as possible. *
/The captain of the submarine told his crew to prepare for a crash
dive when he saw the enemy battleship approaching./
[crash-dive] {v.} 1. To dive deep underwater in a submarine as
quickly as possible. * /We shall crash-dive if we see enemy planes
coming./ 2. To dive into (something) in an airplane. * /When the
plane's motor was hit by the guns of the enemy battleship, the pilot
aimed the plane at the ship and crash-dived into it./
[crash the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} To enter without a ticket or
without paying; attend without an invitation or permission. * /Bob got
into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate./ * /Three boys
tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn't let them in./
[craw] See: STICK IN ONE'S CRAW.
[crawl up] See: RIDE UP.
[crazy] or [mad] or [nuts about] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Excessively fond of; infatuated with. * /Jack is totally nuts about
Liz, but she is not too crazy about him./
[cream] See: VANISHING CREAM.
[cream of the crop] {n. phr.} The best of a group; the top choice.
* /May Queen candidates were lovely, but Betsy and Nancy were the
cream of the crop./ * /The students had drawn many good pictures and
the teacher chose the cream of the crop to hang up when the parents
came to visit./
[creature of habit] {n. phr.} A person who does things out of habit
rather than by thought. * /Our boss is a creature of habit, so let us
not confuse him with too many new ideas./
[credibility gap] {n.}, {hackneyed phrase}, {politics} An apparent
discrepancy between what the government says and what one can observe
for oneself. * /There was a tremendous credibility gap in the USA
during the Watergate years./
[credit] See: DO CREDIT.
[creek] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
[creep] See: THE CREEPS.
[creep up on] {v.} 1. To crawl towards; move along near the ground;
steal cautiously towards so as not to be seen or noticed. * /The mouse
did not see the snake creeping up on it over the rocks./ * /Indians
were creeping up on the house through the bushes./ 2. or [sneak up on]
To come little by little; arrive slowly and unnoticed. * /The woman's
hair was turning gray as age crept up on her./ * /Winter is creeping
up on us little by little./ * /The boys didn't notice the darkness
creeping up on them while they were playing./ Compare: COME OVER.
[crew] See: SECTION GANG or SECTION CREW.
[crew cut] or [crew haircut] {n.} A boy's or man's hair style, cut
so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. * /Many boys like
to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler./
[crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.
[crocodile tears] {n.} Pretended grief; a show of sorrow that is
not really felt. * /When his rich uncle died, leaving him his money,
John shed crocodile tears./ (From the old legend that crocodiles make
weeping sounds to attract victims and then shed tears while eating
them.)
[crook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK.
[crop] See: CASH CROP, CREAM OF THE CROP, STICK IN ONE'S CRAW or
STICK IN ONE'S CROP.
[crop out] {v.} To appear at the surface; come through or show
through from hiding or concealment. * /Rocks often crop out in New
England pasture land./ * /A hidden hate cropped out in his words./
[cropper] See: COME A CROPPER.
[crop up] {v.} To come without warning; appear or happen
unexpectedly. * /Problems cropped up almost every day when Mr. Reed
was building his TV station./ * /Serious trouble cropped up just when
Martin thought the problem of his college education was solved./
Compare: TURN UP.
[cross] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, CARRY ONE'S CROSS, DOUBLE CROSS,
KEEP ONE'S FINGERS CROSSED at CROSS ONE'S FINGERS(1b).
[cross a bridge before one comes to it] {v. phr.} To worry about
future events or trouble before they happen. - Usually used in
negative sentences, often as a proverb. * /"Can I be a soldier when I
grow up, Mother?" asked Johnny. "Don't cross that bridge until you
come to it," said his mother./ Compare: BORROW TROUBLE.
[cross-check(1)] {v.} To test the truth of by examining in
different ways or by seeing different reports about. * /If you see
something in a book that may not be true, be sure to crosscheck it in
other books./
[cross-check(2)] {n.} The testing of the truth of by checking one
report against another or others. * /A cross-check with other books
will show us if this story is true./
[cross fire] {n.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more
places at once so that the lines of fire cross. * /The soldiers on the
bridge were caught in the crossfire coming from both sides of the
bridge./ 2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two or more
people; also, a dispute; a quarrel. * /There was a cross fire of
excited questions and answers between the parents and the children who
had been lost in the woods./ * /The principal and the graduates
quarreled about the football team, and the coach was caught in the
cross fire and lost his job./
[cross one's fingers] {v. phr.} 1a. To cross two fingers of one
hand for good luck. * /Mary crossed her fingers during the race so
that Tom would win./ 11b. or [keep one's fingers crossed] {informal}
To wish for good luck. * /Keep your fingers crossed while I take the
test./ 2. To cross two fingers of one hand to excuse an untruth that
you are telling. * /Johnny crossed his fingers when he told his mother
the lie./
[cross one's heart] or [cross one's heart and hope to die] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To say that what you have said is surely true;
promise seriously that it is true. - Often used by children in the
longer form. Children often make a sign of a cross over the heart as
they say it, for emphasis. * /"Cross my heart, I didn't hide your
bicycle," Harry told Tom./ * /"I didn't tell the teacher what you
said. Cross my heart and hope to die," Mary said to Lucy./
[cross one's mind] or [pass through one's mind] {v. phr.} To be a
sudden or passing thought; be thought of by someone; come to your
mind; occur to you. * /At first Bob was puzzled by Virginia's waving,
but then it crossed his mind that she was trying to tell him
something./ * /When Jane did not come home by midnight, many terrible
fears passed through Mother's mind./
[cross one's path] {v. phr.} To meet or encounter someone; to come
upon someone more by accident than by plan. * /Surprisingly, I crossed
John's path in Central Park one afternoon./
[cross street] {n.} A street that crosses a main street and runs on
both sides of it. * /Elm Street is a cross street on Main Street and
there is a traffic light there./ Compare: THROUGH STREET.
[cross swords] {v. phr.}, {literary} To have an argument with;
fight. - Often used with "with". * /Don't argue with the teacher;
you're not old enough to cross swords with her./
[cross the wire] {v. phr.} To finish a race. * /The Russian crossed
the wire just behind the American./
[cross up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To block or upset; throw into
confusion or disorder. * /We were going to catch him at the gate, but
he crossed us up by going in the back way./ * /Father crossed up the
surprise party we had planned for him by not getting back in time./ 2.
To deceive or be false to. * /George crossed up his partner by selling
a lot of things secretly./
[crow] See: EAT CROW.
[crow before one is out of the woods] {v. phr.} To be glad or brag
before you are safe from danger or trouble. - Usually used in negative
sentences, often as a proverb, "Don't crow before you are out of the
woods." * /John thought his team would win because the game was almost
over, but he didn't want to crow before they were out of the woods./
Often used in a short form, "out of the woods". * /Mary nearly died
during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet./
[crown jewels] {n. pl.} The crown, staff, and jewels used for the
crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal
power and authority. * /The crown jewels are handed down from one king
to the next when the new king is crowned./
[crow to pick] See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.
[crust] See: UPPER CRUST.
[crux of the matter] {n. phr.} The basic issue at hand; the core
essence that one must face. * /The crux of the matter is that he is
incompetent and we will have to fire him./
[cry] See: FAR CRY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HUE AND CRY.
[cry] or [scream bloody murder] {v. phr.} To bitterly and loudly
complain against an indignity. * /Pete cried bloody murder when he
found out that he didn't get the promotion he was hoping for./
[cry before one is hurt] or [holler before one is hurt] {v. phr.},
{informal} To complain when there is no reason for it; become upset
because you are worried or afraid. - Used in negative sentences. *
/When Billy went to the barber, he began to cry before the barber cut
his hair and his father told him not to cry before he was hurt./ -
Often used as a proverb. * /John was worried because he would soon
have a new boss. His mother said, "Don't cry before you're hurt!"/
Syn.: BORROW TROUBLE.
[cry buckets] {v. phr.} To shed an excessive amount of tears. *
/Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat./
[cry for] or [cry out for] {v.}, {informal} To need badly; be
lacking in. * /It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is
crying for it./ * /The school is crying out for good teachers./
[cry out] {v.} 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. * /The woman
in the water cried out "Help!"/ 2. To complain loudly; protest
strongly. - Used with "against". * /Many people are crying out against
the new rule./
[cry out for] See: CRY FOR.
[cry over spilled milk] or [cry over spilt milk] {v. phr.},
{informal} To cry or complain about something that has already
happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. * /After
the baby tore up Sue's picture book, Sue's mother told her there was
no use crying over spilled milk./ * /You have lost the game but don't
cry over spilt milk./ Compare: MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, WATER
OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
[crystal ball] {n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass)
that is used by fortune-tellers. * /The fortune-teller at the fair
looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip
next year./ 2. Any means of predicting the future. * /My crystal ball
tells me you'll be making the honor roll./
[crystal gazing] {n.} The attempt to predict future events. * /The
magician's specialty was crystal gazing./
[cry uncle] See: SAY UNCLE.
[cry wolf] {v. phr.} To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that
you know is not there. * /The general said that the candidate was just
crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the
country./ (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed
a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)
[cub scout] {n.} A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of
the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. * /Jimmie is only seven,
too young to be a Cub Scout./
[cucumber] See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
[cudgel] See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.
[cudgel one's brains] See: BEAT ONE'S BRAINS OUT.
[cue in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To add new information to that which
is already known. * /Let's not forget to cue in Joe on what has been
happening./
[cuff] See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.
[culture vulture] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who is an avid
cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities
ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a
town visited, and brags about it. * /Aunt Mathilda is a regular
culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European
capital going to museums and operas./
[cup] See: IN ONE'S CUPS.
[cup of tea] also [dish of tea] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Something
you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation.
Used with a possessive. * /You could always get him to go for a walk:
hiking was just his cup of tea./ Compare: DOWN ONE'S ALLEY. 2.
Something to think about; thing; matter. * /That's another cup of
tea./ Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.
[curb service] {n.} Waiting on customers while they sit in their
cars. * /Families with small children often look for hamburger stands
that offer curb service./
[curiosity killed the cat] {informal} Getting too nosy may lead a
person into trouble. - A proverb. * /"Curiosity killed the cat,"
Fred's father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just
before Christmas./
[curl] See: PIN CURL.
[curl one's hair] {v. phr.}, {slang} To shock; frighten; horrify;
amaze. * /Wait till you read what it says about you - this'll curl
your hair./ * /The movie about monsters from another planet curled his
hair./
[curl up] {v.} 1a. To become curly or wavy. * /Bacon curls up when
it is cooked./ 1b. To roll oneself into a ball. * /Tim curled up in
bed and was asleep in five minutes./ 2. See: FOLD UP.
[current] See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.
[curry favor] {v.} To flatter or serve someone to get his help or
friendship. * /Joe tried to curry favor with the new teacher by doing
little services that she didn't really want./ * /Jim tried to curry
favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest girl in
the class./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.
[curve] See: THROW A CURVE.
[cut] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.
[cut a class] {v. phr.} To be truant; to deliberately miss a class
and do something else instead. * /"If you keep cutting classes the way
you do, you will almost surely flunk this course," John's professor
said to him./
[cut a figure] {v. phr.} To make a favorable impression; carry off
an activity with dignity and grace. * /With his handsome face and
sporty figure, Harry cuts quite a figure with all the ladies./
[cut across] {v.} 1. To cross or go through instead of going
around; go a short way. * /John didn't want to walk to the corner and
turn, so he cut across the yard to the next street./ 2. To go beyond
to include; stretch over to act on; affect. * /The love for reading
cuts across all classes of people, rich and poor./
[cut-and-dried] {adj. phr.} Decided or expected beforehand;
following the same old line; doing the usual thing. * /The decision of
the judge was cut-and-dried./ * /The ways of the king's court were
cut-and-dried./ * /People at the convention heard many cut-and-dried
speeches./
[cut and run] {v.}, {informal} To abandon an unfavorable situation.
* /When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to
cut and run./
[cut a swathe] {v. phr.} 1a. To mow a path through a field. * /The
farmer cut a swathe through the high grass with his scythe./ 1b. To
cut down as if by mowing. * /The machine gun cut a swathe in the lines
of enemy soldiers./ 2. {informal} To attract notice; make an
impression; seem important. * /The movie star cut a wide swathe when
he walked down the street./ * /John tries to show off and cut a big
swathe with the girls./ Compare: GO OVER(6), MAKE A HIT.
[cut back] {v.} 1. To change direction suddenly while going at full
speed. * /The halfback started to his left, cut back to his right, and
ran for a touchdown./ 2. To use fewer or use less. * /After the big
job was finished, the builder cut back the number of men working for
him./ * /The school employed forty teachers until a lower budget
forced it to cut back./
[cut back] {v. phr.} To diminish; lessen; decrease (said of
budgets). * /The state had to cut back on the university budget./
[cutback] {n.} An act of decreasing monetary sources. * /The
cutback in military spending has caused many bases to be closed./
[cut both ways] or [cut two ways] {v. phr.} To have two effects;
cause injury to both sides. * /People who gossip find it cuts both
ways./
[cut corners] {v. phr.} 1. To take a short way; not go to each
corner. * /He cut corners going home in a hurry./ 2. To save cost or
effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. * /John's father asked him
to cut corners all he could in college./ 3. To do less than a very
good job; do only what you must do on a job. * /He had cut corners in
building his house, and it didn't stand up well./
[cut down] {v.} To lessen; reduce; limit. * /Tom had to cut down
expenses./ * /The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking./
[cut down to size] {v. phr.}, {informal} To prove that someone is
not as good as he thinks. * /The big boy told John he could beat him,
but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size./ Syn.: PUT IN
ONE'S PLACE.
[cut ice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a difference; make an
impression; be accepted as important. - Usually used in negative,
interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /When Frank had found a
movie he liked, what others said cut no ice with him./ * /Jones is
democratic; a man's money or importance never cuts any ice with him./
* /Does comfort cut any ice with you?/ * /I don't know if beauty in a
woman cuts any ice with him./
[cut in] {v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in a
line of cars, people, etc.; push in. * /After passing several cars,
Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident./ - Often used with
"on". * /A car passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to
brake quickly or she would have hit it./ * /The teacher beside the
lunch line saw Pete cut in, and she sent him back to wait his turn./
2. To stop a talk or program for a time; interrupt. * /While Mary and
Jim were talking on the porch, Mary's little brother cut in on them
and began to tell about his fishing trip./ * /While we were watching
the late show, an announcer cut in to tell who won the election./
Syn.: BREAK IN(2). 3. {informal} To tap a dancer on the shoulder and
claim the partner. * /Mary was a good dancer and a boy could seldom
finish a dance with her; someone always cut in./ - Often used with
"on". * /At the leap year dance, Jane cut in on Sally because she
wanted to dance with Sally's handsome date./ 4. To connect to an
electrical circuit or to a machine. * /Harry threw the switch and cut
in the motor./ * /The airplane pilot cut in a spare gas tank./ 5.
{informal} To take in; include. * /When John's friends got a big
contract, they cut John in./
[cut into] {v.} 1. To make less; reduce. * /The union made the
company pay higher wages, which cut into the profits./ * /The other
houses got old and shabby, and that cut into the value of his house./
* /At first Smith led in votes, but more votes came in and cut into
his lead./ 2. To get into by cutting in. * /She heard the other women
gossiping and cut into the talk./ * /While Bill was passing another
car, a truck came around a curve heading for him, and Bill cut back
into line quickly./
[cut loose] {v.} 1. To free from ties or connections, cut the
fastenings of. * /The thief hastily cut the boat loose from its
anchor./ Compare: LET LOOSE(1a). 2. {informal} To break away from
control; get away and be free. * /The boy left home and cut loose from
his parents' control./ 3. {informal} To behave freely or wildly. *
/The men had come to the convention to have a good time, and they
really cut loose./ * /When he got the news of his job promotion, Jack
cut loose with a loud "Yippee!"/ Compare: LET GO(6).
[cut no ice] {v. phr.} To have no effect; achieve no result; be
insignificant. * /The fact that the accused is a millionaire will cut
no ice with this particular judge./
[cut off] {v.} 1. To separate or block. * /The flood cut the
townspeople off from the rest of the world./ * /The woods cut off the
view./ * /His rudeness cuts him off from friends he might have./ 2. To
interrupt or stop. * /The television show was cut off by a special
news report./ * /We were told to pay the bill or the water would be
cut off./ 3. To end the life of; cause the death of. * /Disease cut
Smith off in the best part of life./ 4. To give nothing to at death;
leave out of a will. * /Jane married a man her father hated, and her
father cut her off./ * /Frank's uncle cut him off without a penny./ 5.
To stop from operating; turn a switch to stop. * /The ship cut off its
engines as it neared the dock./ Syn.: SHUT OFF, TURN OFF.
[cut off one's nose to spite one's face] {v. phr.} To suffer from
an action intended originally to harm another person. * /In walking
out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his
nose to spite his face, since no business wanted to hire him
afterwards./
[cut offs] {n.}, {colloquial} Pants cut to the length of shorts and
usually left unhemmed so as to look old and worn, e.g., considered
cool and elegant. * /Jack always wears cut-offs during the summer./
[cut one's eyeteeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).
[cut one's losses] {v. phr.} To stop spending time, money, or
energy on unprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes well. *
/"Just cut your losses, Jim," his father suggested, "and get on with
the rest of your life."/
[cut one's teeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).
[cut one's throat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To spoil one's chances;
ruin a person. * /He cut his own throat by his carelessness./ * /The
younger men in the company were cutting each other's throats in their
eagerness to win success./ * /John cut Freddie's throat with Mary by
telling her lies./
[cut out(1)] {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop; quit. * /All right, now -
let's cut out the talking./ * /He was teasing the dog and Joe told him
to cut it out./ Compare: BREAK UP(3). 2. To displace in favor. * /Tony
cut Ed out with Mary./ * /John cut out two or three other men in
trying for a better job./
[cut out(2)] {adj.} 1. Made ready; given for action; facing. *
/Mary agreed to stay with her teacher's children all day; she did not
know what was cut out for her./ - Often used in the phrase "have one's
work cut out for one." * /If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he
has his work cut out fur him./ 2. Suited to; fitted for. * /Warren
seemed to be cut out for the law. It was clear very early that Fred
was cut out to he a doctor./
[cut rate(1)] {n.} A lower price; a price less than usual. * /Toys
are on sale at the store for cut rates./
[cut-rate(2)] {adj.} Sold for a price lower than usual; selling
cheap things. * /If you buy cut-rate things, be sure they are good
quality first./ * /John's brother bought a cut-rate bicycle at the
second-hand store./ * /There is a cut-rate drug-store on the corner./
[cut short] {v.} To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or too
soon. * /Rain cut short the ball game./ * /An auto accident cut short
the man's life./ * /When Dick began to tell about his summer vacation
the teacher cut him short, saying "Tell us about that another time."/
[cut teeth] {v. phr.} 1. To have teeth grow out through the gums. *
/The baby was cross because he was cutting teeth./ 2. or [cut eye
teeth] {informal} To learn something very early in life; gain
experience; start by learning or doing. - Used with a possessive,
usually used with "on". * /The professional ball player cut his teeth
on a baseball bat in the sandlots./ * /Mr. Jones's company is building
the new Post Office in town but Mr. Jones cut his eye teeth as a
carpenter./
[cut the ground from under] {v. phr.} {informal} To make (someone)
fail; upset the plans of; spoil the argument for (a person) in
advance. * /Paul wanted to he captain but we cut the ground from under
him by saying that Henry was the best player on the team./ * /Several
workers applied for the retiring foreman's job, but the owner cut the
ground from under them by hiring a foreman from another company./
[cut the mustard] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do well enough in what
needs to be done; to succeed. * /His older brothers and sisters helped
Max through high school, but he couldn't cut the mustard in college./
[cut-throat] {adj.} Severe; intense; unrelenting. * /There is
cut-throat competition among the various software companies today./
[cut to pieces] {v. phr.} 1. To divide into small parts with
something sharp; cut badly or completely. * /Baby has cut the
newspaper to pieces with scissors./ 2. To destroy or defeat
completely. * /The soldiers were cut to pieces by the Indians./ *
/When Dick showed his book report to his big sister for correction,
she cut it to pieces./
[cut to the bone] {v. phr.} To make (something) the least or
smallest possible amount; reduce severely; leave out everything extra
or unnecessary from. * /Father cut Jane's allowance to the bone for
disobeying him./ * /When father lost his job, our living expenses had
to be cut to the bone./
[cut to the quick] {v. phr.} To hurt someone's feelings deeply. *
/The children 's teasing cut Mary to the quick./
[cut two ways] See: CUT BOTH WAYS.
[cut up] {v.} 1. {informal} To hurt the feelings of; wound. -
Usually used in the passive. * /John was badly cut up when Susie gave
him back his ring./ 2. {slang} To act funny or rough; clown, * /Joe
would always cut up if there were any girls watching./ * /At the party
Jim and Ron were cutting up and broke a chair./ Compare: FOOL AROUND.
[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
because Paul had a hurt leg./ 2. To count out loud to ten to show that
(a boxer who has been knocked down in a fight) is beaten or knocked
out if he does not get up before ten is counted. * /The champion was
counted. out in the third round./ 3a. To add up; count again to be
sure of the amount. * /Mary counted out the number of pennies she
had./ 3b. To count out loud, (especially the beats in a measure of
music). * /The music teacher counted out the beats
"one-two-three-four," so the class would sing in time./
[count to ten] {v. phr.}, {informal} To count from one to ten so
you will have time to calm down or get control of yourself; put off
action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong. * /Father
always told us to count to ten before doing anything when we got
angry./ Compare: KEEP ONE'S HEAD. Contrast: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE
HANDLE.
[county mounty] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon}
Sheriff's deputy. * /The county mounties are parked under the bridge./
[courage] See: HAVE THE COURAGE OF ONE'S CONVICTIONS, SCREW UP
ONE'S COURAGE.
[course] See: IN DUE COURSE, MATTER OF COURSE, OF COURSE, PAR FOR
THE COURSE.
[court] See: DAY IN COURT, FRONT COURT, HOLD COURT, KANGAROO COURT.
[cousin] See: FIRST COUSIN, SECOND COUSIN.
[cover] See: FROM COVER TO COVER at FROM --- TO(3), UNDER COVER.
[cover a lot of ground] {v. phr.} To process a great deal of
information and various facts. * /Professor Brown's thorough lecture
on asteroids covered a lot of ground today./
[covered-dish supper] or [potluck supper] A meal to which each
guest brings a share of the food. * /Dolly made a chicken casserole
for the covered-dish supper./
[cover girl] {n.} A pretty girl or woman whose picture is put on
the cover of a magazine. * /Ann is not a cover girl, but she is pretty
enough to be./
[cover ground] or [cover the ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go a distance;
travel. * /Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes, because they cover
ground so quickly./ 2. {informal} To move over an area at a speed that
is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground. * /The new infielder
really covers the ground at second base./ * /Herby's new car really
covers ground!/ 3. To give or receive the important facts and details
about a subject. * /If you're thinking about a trip to Europe, the
airline has a booklet that covers the ground pretty well./ * /The
class spent two days studying the Revolutionary War, because they
couldn't cover that much ground in one day./
[cover one's tracks] or [cover up one's tracks] {v. phr.} 1. To
hide and not leave anything, especially foot marks, to show where you
have been, so that no one can follow you. * /The deer covered his
tracks by running in a stream./ 2. {informal} To hide or not say where
you have been or what you have done; not tell why you do something or
what you plan to do. * /The boys covered their tracks when they went
swimming by saying that they were going for a walk./ Compare: COVER
UP(1).
[cover the waterfront] {v. phr.} To talk or write all about
something; talk about something all possible ways. * /The principal
pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior./
[cover up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To hide something wrong or bad from
attention. * /The spy covered up his picture-taking by pretending to
be just a tourist./ * /A crooked banker tried to cover up his stealing
some of the bank's money by starting a fire to destroy the records./
Compare: COVER ONE'S TRACKS(2). 2. In boxing: To guard your head and
body with your gloves, arms, and shoulders. * /Jimmy's father told him
to cover up and protect his chin when he boxed./ 3. To protect someone
else from blame or punishment; protect someone with a lie or alibi. -
Often used with "for". * /The teacher wanted to know who broke the
window and told the boys not to try to cover up for anyone./ * /The
burglar's friend covered up for him by saying that he was at his home
when the robbery occurred./
[cover-up] {n.}, {slang} A plan or excuse to escape blame or
punishment; lie, alibi. * /When the men robbed the bank, their
cover-up was to dress like policemen./ * /Joe's cover-up to his mother
after he had been fighting was that he fell down./
[cow] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY COW, SACRED COW.
[cowboy] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who drives his car
carelessly and at too great a speed in order to show off his courage.
* /Joe's going to be arrested some day - he is a cowboy on the
highway./
[cow college] {n.}, {slang} 1. An agricultural college; a school
where farming is studied. * /A new, bigger kind of apple is being
grown at the cow college./ 2. A new or rural college not thought to be
as good as older or city colleges. * /John wanted to go to a big
college in New York City, not to a cow college./
[cows tail] {n.}, {dialect} A person who is behind others. * /John
was the cow's tail at the exam./ * /Fred was always the old cow's tail
for football practice./
[cozy up] {v.}, {slang} To try to be close or friendly; try to be
liked. - Usually used with "to". * /John is cozying up to Henry so he
can join the club./
[crack] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK or TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.
[crack a book] {v. phr.}, {slang} To open a book in order to study.
- Usually used with a negative. * /John did not crack a book until the
night before the exam./ * /Many students think they can pass without
cracking a book./
[crack a bottle] {v. phr.} To open a new bottle of alcoholic
beverage. * /On birthdays it is customary to crack a bottle and offer
one's best wishes./
[crack a joke] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a joke; tell a joke. *
/The men sat around the stove, smoking and cracking jokes./
[crack a smile] {v. phr.}, {informal} To let a smile show on one's
face; permit a smile to appear. * /Bob told the whole silly story
without even cracking a smile./ * /Scrooge was a gloomy man, who never
cracked a smile./ * /When we gave the shy little boy an ice cream
cone, he finally cracked a smile./
[crack down] {v. phr.}, {informal} To enforce laws or rules
strictly; require full obedience to a rule. * /After a speeding driver
hit a child, the police cracked down./ - Often used with "on". *
/Police suddenly cracked down on the selling of liquors to minors./ *
/The coach cracked down on the players when he found they had not been
obeying the training rules./
[crack of dawn] {n. phr.} The time in the morning when the sun's
rays first appear. * /The rooster crows at the crack of dawn and wakes
up everybody on the farm./
[cracked up] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Favorably described or
presented; praised. - Usually used in the expression "not what it's
cracked up to be". * /The independent writer's life isn't always
everything it's cracked up to be./ * /In bad weather, a sailing cruise
isn't what it's cracked up to be./
[cracking] See: GET CRACKING - at GET GOING(2).
[crackpot] {n.}, {attrib. adj.}, {informal} 1. {n.} An eccentric
person with ideas that don't make sense to most other people. * /Don't
believe what Uncle Noam tells you - he is a crackpot./ 2. {attrib.
adj.} * /That's a crackpot idea./
[crack the whip] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get obedience or
cooperation by threats of punishment. * /If the children won't behave
when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip./
[crack up] {v.} 1. To wreck or be wrecked; smash up. * /The
airplane cracked up in landing./ * /He cracked up his car./ 2.
{informal} To become mentally ill under physical or mental overwork or
worry. * /He had kept too busy for years, and when failures came, he
cracked up./ * /It seemed to be family problems that made him crack
up./ 3. Burst into laughter or cause to burst into laughter. * /That
comedian cracks me up./
[cradle] See: ROB THE CRADLE.
[cradle robber], [cradle robbing] See: ROB THE CRADLE.
[cramp] See: WRITER'S CRAMP.
[cramp one's style] {v. phr.}, {informal} To limit your natural
freedom; prevent your usual behavior; limit your actions or talk. *
/He cramped his style a good deal when he lost his money./ * /Army
rules cramped George's style./
[crash dive] {n.} A sudden dive made by a submarine to escape an
enemy; a dive made to get deep under water as quickly as possible. *
/The captain of the submarine told his crew to prepare for a crash
dive when he saw the enemy battleship approaching./
[crash-dive] {v.} 1. To dive deep underwater in a submarine as
quickly as possible. * /We shall crash-dive if we see enemy planes
coming./ 2. To dive into (something) in an airplane. * /When the
plane's motor was hit by the guns of the enemy battleship, the pilot
aimed the plane at the ship and crash-dived into it./
[crash the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} To enter without a ticket or
without paying; attend without an invitation or permission. * /Bob got
into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate./ * /Three boys
tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn't let them in./
[craw] See: STICK IN ONE'S CRAW.
[crawl up] See: RIDE UP.
[crazy] or [mad] or [nuts about] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Excessively fond of; infatuated with. * /Jack is totally nuts about
Liz, but she is not too crazy about him./
[cream] See: VANISHING CREAM.
[cream of the crop] {n. phr.} The best of a group; the top choice.
* /May Queen candidates were lovely, but Betsy and Nancy were the
cream of the crop./ * /The students had drawn many good pictures and
the teacher chose the cream of the crop to hang up when the parents
came to visit./
[creature of habit] {n. phr.} A person who does things out of habit
rather than by thought. * /Our boss is a creature of habit, so let us
not confuse him with too many new ideas./
[credibility gap] {n.}, {hackneyed phrase}, {politics} An apparent
discrepancy between what the government says and what one can observe
for oneself. * /There was a tremendous credibility gap in the USA
during the Watergate years./
[credit] See: DO CREDIT.
[creek] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
[creep] See: THE CREEPS.
[creep up on] {v.} 1. To crawl towards; move along near the ground;
steal cautiously towards so as not to be seen or noticed. * /The mouse
did not see the snake creeping up on it over the rocks./ * /Indians
were creeping up on the house through the bushes./ 2. or [sneak up on]
To come little by little; arrive slowly and unnoticed. * /The woman's
hair was turning gray as age crept up on her./ * /Winter is creeping
up on us little by little./ * /The boys didn't notice the darkness
creeping up on them while they were playing./ Compare: COME OVER.
[crew] See: SECTION GANG or SECTION CREW.
[crew cut] or [crew haircut] {n.} A boy's or man's hair style, cut
so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. * /Many boys like
to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler./
[crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.
[crocodile tears] {n.} Pretended grief; a show of sorrow that is
not really felt. * /When his rich uncle died, leaving him his money,
John shed crocodile tears./ (From the old legend that crocodiles make
weeping sounds to attract victims and then shed tears while eating
them.)
[crook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK.
[crop] See: CASH CROP, CREAM OF THE CROP, STICK IN ONE'S CRAW or
STICK IN ONE'S CROP.
[crop out] {v.} To appear at the surface; come through or show
through from hiding or concealment. * /Rocks often crop out in New
England pasture land./ * /A hidden hate cropped out in his words./
[cropper] See: COME A CROPPER.
[crop up] {v.} To come without warning; appear or happen
unexpectedly. * /Problems cropped up almost every day when Mr. Reed
was building his TV station./ * /Serious trouble cropped up just when
Martin thought the problem of his college education was solved./
Compare: TURN UP.
[cross] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, CARRY ONE'S CROSS, DOUBLE CROSS,
KEEP ONE'S FINGERS CROSSED at CROSS ONE'S FINGERS(1b).
[cross a bridge before one comes to it] {v. phr.} To worry about
future events or trouble before they happen. - Usually used in
negative sentences, often as a proverb. * /"Can I be a soldier when I
grow up, Mother?" asked Johnny. "Don't cross that bridge until you
come to it," said his mother./ Compare: BORROW TROUBLE.
[cross-check(1)] {v.} To test the truth of by examining in
different ways or by seeing different reports about. * /If you see
something in a book that may not be true, be sure to crosscheck it in
other books./
[cross-check(2)] {n.} The testing of the truth of by checking one
report against another or others. * /A cross-check with other books
will show us if this story is true./
[cross fire] {n.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more
places at once so that the lines of fire cross. * /The soldiers on the
bridge were caught in the crossfire coming from both sides of the
bridge./ 2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two or more
people; also, a dispute; a quarrel. * /There was a cross fire of
excited questions and answers between the parents and the children who
had been lost in the woods./ * /The principal and the graduates
quarreled about the football team, and the coach was caught in the
cross fire and lost his job./
[cross one's fingers] {v. phr.} 1a. To cross two fingers of one
hand for good luck. * /Mary crossed her fingers during the race so
that Tom would win./ 11b. or [keep one's fingers crossed] {informal}
To wish for good luck. * /Keep your fingers crossed while I take the
test./ 2. To cross two fingers of one hand to excuse an untruth that
you are telling. * /Johnny crossed his fingers when he told his mother
the lie./
[cross one's heart] or [cross one's heart and hope to die] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To say that what you have said is surely true;
promise seriously that it is true. - Often used by children in the
longer form. Children often make a sign of a cross over the heart as
they say it, for emphasis. * /"Cross my heart, I didn't hide your
bicycle," Harry told Tom./ * /"I didn't tell the teacher what you
said. Cross my heart and hope to die," Mary said to Lucy./
[cross one's mind] or [pass through one's mind] {v. phr.} To be a
sudden or passing thought; be thought of by someone; come to your
mind; occur to you. * /At first Bob was puzzled by Virginia's waving,
but then it crossed his mind that she was trying to tell him
something./ * /When Jane did not come home by midnight, many terrible
fears passed through Mother's mind./
[cross one's path] {v. phr.} To meet or encounter someone; to come
upon someone more by accident than by plan. * /Surprisingly, I crossed
John's path in Central Park one afternoon./
[cross street] {n.} A street that crosses a main street and runs on
both sides of it. * /Elm Street is a cross street on Main Street and
there is a traffic light there./ Compare: THROUGH STREET.
[cross swords] {v. phr.}, {literary} To have an argument with;
fight. - Often used with "with". * /Don't argue with the teacher;
you're not old enough to cross swords with her./
[cross the wire] {v. phr.} To finish a race. * /The Russian crossed
the wire just behind the American./
[cross up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To block or upset; throw into
confusion or disorder. * /We were going to catch him at the gate, but
he crossed us up by going in the back way./ * /Father crossed up the
surprise party we had planned for him by not getting back in time./ 2.
To deceive or be false to. * /George crossed up his partner by selling
a lot of things secretly./
[crow] See: EAT CROW.
[crow before one is out of the woods] {v. phr.} To be glad or brag
before you are safe from danger or trouble. - Usually used in negative
sentences, often as a proverb, "Don't crow before you are out of the
woods." * /John thought his team would win because the game was almost
over, but he didn't want to crow before they were out of the woods./
Often used in a short form, "out of the woods". * /Mary nearly died
during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet./
[crown jewels] {n. pl.} The crown, staff, and jewels used for the
crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal
power and authority. * /The crown jewels are handed down from one king
to the next when the new king is crowned./
[crow to pick] See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.
[crust] See: UPPER CRUST.
[crux of the matter] {n. phr.} The basic issue at hand; the core
essence that one must face. * /The crux of the matter is that he is
incompetent and we will have to fire him./
[cry] See: FAR CRY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HUE AND CRY.
[cry] or [scream bloody murder] {v. phr.} To bitterly and loudly
complain against an indignity. * /Pete cried bloody murder when he
found out that he didn't get the promotion he was hoping for./
[cry before one is hurt] or [holler before one is hurt] {v. phr.},
{informal} To complain when there is no reason for it; become upset
because you are worried or afraid. - Used in negative sentences. *
/When Billy went to the barber, he began to cry before the barber cut
his hair and his father told him not to cry before he was hurt./ -
Often used as a proverb. * /John was worried because he would soon
have a new boss. His mother said, "Don't cry before you're hurt!"/
Syn.: BORROW TROUBLE.
[cry buckets] {v. phr.} To shed an excessive amount of tears. *
/Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat./
[cry for] or [cry out for] {v.}, {informal} To need badly; be
lacking in. * /It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is
crying for it./ * /The school is crying out for good teachers./
[cry out] {v.} 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. * /The woman
in the water cried out "Help!"/ 2. To complain loudly; protest
strongly. - Used with "against". * /Many people are crying out against
the new rule./
[cry out for] See: CRY FOR.
[cry over spilled milk] or [cry over spilt milk] {v. phr.},
{informal} To cry or complain about something that has already
happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. * /After
the baby tore up Sue's picture book, Sue's mother told her there was
no use crying over spilled milk./ * /You have lost the game but don't
cry over spilt milk./ Compare: MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, WATER
OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
[crystal ball] {n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass)
that is used by fortune-tellers. * /The fortune-teller at the fair
looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip
next year./ 2. Any means of predicting the future. * /My crystal ball
tells me you'll be making the honor roll./
[crystal gazing] {n.} The attempt to predict future events. * /The
magician's specialty was crystal gazing./
[cry uncle] See: SAY UNCLE.
[cry wolf] {v. phr.} To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that
you know is not there. * /The general said that the candidate was just
crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the
country./ (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed
a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)
[cub scout] {n.} A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of
the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. * /Jimmie is only seven,
too young to be a Cub Scout./
[cucumber] See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
[cudgel] See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.
[cudgel one's brains] See: BEAT ONE'S BRAINS OUT.
[cue in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To add new information to that which
is already known. * /Let's not forget to cue in Joe on what has been
happening./
[cuff] See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.
[culture vulture] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who is an avid
cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities
ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a
town visited, and brags about it. * /Aunt Mathilda is a regular
culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European
capital going to museums and operas./
[cup] See: IN ONE'S CUPS.
[cup of tea] also [dish of tea] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Something
you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation.
Used with a possessive. * /You could always get him to go for a walk:
hiking was just his cup of tea./ Compare: DOWN ONE'S ALLEY. 2.
Something to think about; thing; matter. * /That's another cup of
tea./ Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.
[curb service] {n.} Waiting on customers while they sit in their
cars. * /Families with small children often look for hamburger stands
that offer curb service./
[curiosity killed the cat] {informal} Getting too nosy may lead a
person into trouble. - A proverb. * /"Curiosity killed the cat,"
Fred's father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just
before Christmas./
[curl] See: PIN CURL.
[curl one's hair] {v. phr.}, {slang} To shock; frighten; horrify;
amaze. * /Wait till you read what it says about you - this'll curl
your hair./ * /The movie about monsters from another planet curled his
hair./
[curl up] {v.} 1a. To become curly or wavy. * /Bacon curls up when
it is cooked./ 1b. To roll oneself into a ball. * /Tim curled up in
bed and was asleep in five minutes./ 2. See: FOLD UP.
[current] See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.
[curry favor] {v.} To flatter or serve someone to get his help or
friendship. * /Joe tried to curry favor with the new teacher by doing
little services that she didn't really want./ * /Jim tried to curry
favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest girl in
the class./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.
[curve] See: THROW A CURVE.
[cut] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.
[cut a class] {v. phr.} To be truant; to deliberately miss a class
and do something else instead. * /"If you keep cutting classes the way
you do, you will almost surely flunk this course," John's professor
said to him./
[cut a figure] {v. phr.} To make a favorable impression; carry off
an activity with dignity and grace. * /With his handsome face and
sporty figure, Harry cuts quite a figure with all the ladies./
[cut across] {v.} 1. To cross or go through instead of going
around; go a short way. * /John didn't want to walk to the corner and
turn, so he cut across the yard to the next street./ 2. To go beyond
to include; stretch over to act on; affect. * /The love for reading
cuts across all classes of people, rich and poor./
[cut-and-dried] {adj. phr.} Decided or expected beforehand;
following the same old line; doing the usual thing. * /The decision of
the judge was cut-and-dried./ * /The ways of the king's court were
cut-and-dried./ * /People at the convention heard many cut-and-dried
speeches./
[cut and run] {v.}, {informal} To abandon an unfavorable situation.
* /When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to
cut and run./
[cut a swathe] {v. phr.} 1a. To mow a path through a field. * /The
farmer cut a swathe through the high grass with his scythe./ 1b. To
cut down as if by mowing. * /The machine gun cut a swathe in the lines
of enemy soldiers./ 2. {informal} To attract notice; make an
impression; seem important. * /The movie star cut a wide swathe when
he walked down the street./ * /John tries to show off and cut a big
swathe with the girls./ Compare: GO OVER(6), MAKE A HIT.
[cut back] {v.} 1. To change direction suddenly while going at full
speed. * /The halfback started to his left, cut back to his right, and
ran for a touchdown./ 2. To use fewer or use less. * /After the big
job was finished, the builder cut back the number of men working for
him./ * /The school employed forty teachers until a lower budget
forced it to cut back./
[cut back] {v. phr.} To diminish; lessen; decrease (said of
budgets). * /The state had to cut back on the university budget./
[cutback] {n.} An act of decreasing monetary sources. * /The
cutback in military spending has caused many bases to be closed./
[cut both ways] or [cut two ways] {v. phr.} To have two effects;
cause injury to both sides. * /People who gossip find it cuts both
ways./
[cut corners] {v. phr.} 1. To take a short way; not go to each
corner. * /He cut corners going home in a hurry./ 2. To save cost or
effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. * /John's father asked him
to cut corners all he could in college./ 3. To do less than a very
good job; do only what you must do on a job. * /He had cut corners in
building his house, and it didn't stand up well./
[cut down] {v.} To lessen; reduce; limit. * /Tom had to cut down
expenses./ * /The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking./
[cut down to size] {v. phr.}, {informal} To prove that someone is
not as good as he thinks. * /The big boy told John he could beat him,
but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size./ Syn.: PUT IN
ONE'S PLACE.
[cut ice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a difference; make an
impression; be accepted as important. - Usually used in negative,
interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /When Frank had found a
movie he liked, what others said cut no ice with him./ * /Jones is
democratic; a man's money or importance never cuts any ice with him./
* /Does comfort cut any ice with you?/ * /I don't know if beauty in a
woman cuts any ice with him./
[cut in] {v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in a
line of cars, people, etc.; push in. * /After passing several cars,
Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident./ - Often used with
"on". * /A car passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to
brake quickly or she would have hit it./ * /The teacher beside the
lunch line saw Pete cut in, and she sent him back to wait his turn./
2. To stop a talk or program for a time; interrupt. * /While Mary and
Jim were talking on the porch, Mary's little brother cut in on them
and began to tell about his fishing trip./ * /While we were watching
the late show, an announcer cut in to tell who won the election./
Syn.: BREAK IN(2). 3. {informal} To tap a dancer on the shoulder and
claim the partner. * /Mary was a good dancer and a boy could seldom
finish a dance with her; someone always cut in./ - Often used with
"on". * /At the leap year dance, Jane cut in on Sally because she
wanted to dance with Sally's handsome date./ 4. To connect to an
electrical circuit or to a machine. * /Harry threw the switch and cut
in the motor./ * /The airplane pilot cut in a spare gas tank./ 5.
{informal} To take in; include. * /When John's friends got a big
contract, they cut John in./
[cut into] {v.} 1. To make less; reduce. * /The union made the
company pay higher wages, which cut into the profits./ * /The other
houses got old and shabby, and that cut into the value of his house./
* /At first Smith led in votes, but more votes came in and cut into
his lead./ 2. To get into by cutting in. * /She heard the other women
gossiping and cut into the talk./ * /While Bill was passing another
car, a truck came around a curve heading for him, and Bill cut back
into line quickly./
[cut loose] {v.} 1. To free from ties or connections, cut the
fastenings of. * /The thief hastily cut the boat loose from its
anchor./ Compare: LET LOOSE(1a). 2. {informal} To break away from
control; get away and be free. * /The boy left home and cut loose from
his parents' control./ 3. {informal} To behave freely or wildly. *
/The men had come to the convention to have a good time, and they
really cut loose./ * /When he got the news of his job promotion, Jack
cut loose with a loud "Yippee!"/ Compare: LET GO(6).
[cut no ice] {v. phr.} To have no effect; achieve no result; be
insignificant. * /The fact that the accused is a millionaire will cut
no ice with this particular judge./
[cut off] {v.} 1. To separate or block. * /The flood cut the
townspeople off from the rest of the world./ * /The woods cut off the
view./ * /His rudeness cuts him off from friends he might have./ 2. To
interrupt or stop. * /The television show was cut off by a special
news report./ * /We were told to pay the bill or the water would be
cut off./ 3. To end the life of; cause the death of. * /Disease cut
Smith off in the best part of life./ 4. To give nothing to at death;
leave out of a will. * /Jane married a man her father hated, and her
father cut her off./ * /Frank's uncle cut him off without a penny./ 5.
To stop from operating; turn a switch to stop. * /The ship cut off its
engines as it neared the dock./ Syn.: SHUT OFF, TURN OFF.
[cut off one's nose to spite one's face] {v. phr.} To suffer from
an action intended originally to harm another person. * /In walking
out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his
nose to spite his face, since no business wanted to hire him
afterwards./
[cut offs] {n.}, {colloquial} Pants cut to the length of shorts and
usually left unhemmed so as to look old and worn, e.g., considered
cool and elegant. * /Jack always wears cut-offs during the summer./
[cut one's eyeteeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).
[cut one's losses] {v. phr.} To stop spending time, money, or
energy on unprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes well. *
/"Just cut your losses, Jim," his father suggested, "and get on with
the rest of your life."/
[cut one's teeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).
[cut one's throat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To spoil one's chances;
ruin a person. * /He cut his own throat by his carelessness./ * /The
younger men in the company were cutting each other's throats in their
eagerness to win success./ * /John cut Freddie's throat with Mary by
telling her lies./
[cut out(1)] {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop; quit. * /All right, now -
let's cut out the talking./ * /He was teasing the dog and Joe told him
to cut it out./ Compare: BREAK UP(3). 2. To displace in favor. * /Tony
cut Ed out with Mary./ * /John cut out two or three other men in
trying for a better job./
[cut out(2)] {adj.} 1. Made ready; given for action; facing. *
/Mary agreed to stay with her teacher's children all day; she did not
know what was cut out for her./ - Often used in the phrase "have one's
work cut out for one." * /If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he
has his work cut out fur him./ 2. Suited to; fitted for. * /Warren
seemed to be cut out for the law. It was clear very early that Fred
was cut out to he a doctor./
[cut rate(1)] {n.} A lower price; a price less than usual. * /Toys
are on sale at the store for cut rates./
[cut-rate(2)] {adj.} Sold for a price lower than usual; selling
cheap things. * /If you buy cut-rate things, be sure they are good
quality first./ * /John's brother bought a cut-rate bicycle at the
second-hand store./ * /There is a cut-rate drug-store on the corner./
[cut short] {v.} To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or too
soon. * /Rain cut short the ball game./ * /An auto accident cut short
the man's life./ * /When Dick began to tell about his summer vacation
the teacher cut him short, saying "Tell us about that another time."/
[cut teeth] {v. phr.} 1. To have teeth grow out through the gums. *
/The baby was cross because he was cutting teeth./ 2. or [cut eye
teeth] {informal} To learn something very early in life; gain
experience; start by learning or doing. - Used with a possessive,
usually used with "on". * /The professional ball player cut his teeth
on a baseball bat in the sandlots./ * /Mr. Jones's company is building
the new Post Office in town but Mr. Jones cut his eye teeth as a
carpenter./
[cut the ground from under] {v. phr.} {informal} To make (someone)
fail; upset the plans of; spoil the argument for (a person) in
advance. * /Paul wanted to he captain but we cut the ground from under
him by saying that Henry was the best player on the team./ * /Several
workers applied for the retiring foreman's job, but the owner cut the
ground from under them by hiring a foreman from another company./
[cut the mustard] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do well enough in what
needs to be done; to succeed. * /His older brothers and sisters helped
Max through high school, but he couldn't cut the mustard in college./
[cut-throat] {adj.} Severe; intense; unrelenting. * /There is
cut-throat competition among the various software companies today./
[cut to pieces] {v. phr.} 1. To divide into small parts with
something sharp; cut badly or completely. * /Baby has cut the
newspaper to pieces with scissors./ 2. To destroy or defeat
completely. * /The soldiers were cut to pieces by the Indians./ *
/When Dick showed his book report to his big sister for correction,
she cut it to pieces./
[cut to the bone] {v. phr.} To make (something) the least or
smallest possible amount; reduce severely; leave out everything extra
or unnecessary from. * /Father cut Jane's allowance to the bone for
disobeying him./ * /When father lost his job, our living expenses had
to be cut to the bone./
[cut to the quick] {v. phr.} To hurt someone's feelings deeply. *
/The children 's teasing cut Mary to the quick./
[cut two ways] See: CUT BOTH WAYS.
[cut up] {v.} 1. {informal} To hurt the feelings of; wound. -
Usually used in the passive. * /John was badly cut up when Susie gave
him back his ring./ 2. {slang} To act funny or rough; clown, * /Joe
would always cut up if there were any girls watching./ * /At the party
Jim and Ron were cutting up and broke a chair./ Compare: FOOL AROUND.
[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