Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 61 страниц)

[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).