American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

die away Also, die down. Gradually diminish, fade, or subside; slowly come to an end. For example, As they moved higher up, their voices died away, or The rain seems to be dying down.

The first term, from the late 1600s, today is most often applied to a diminishing sound and was originally used to describe the wind slowing down or ceasing to blow. The variant dates from the first half of the 1800s.

die down

hand. see DIE AWAY.

die for Also, be dying for. Long for, desire excessively, as in I'm dying for some ice cream. This hyperbolic usage dates from the late 1500s. Also see DIE TO.

die hard

Take a long time to cease to exist or be dropped from consideration. For example, Old prejudices die hard, or The more radical parts of this proposal will die hard. This idiom alludes to struggling against physical death. [Late 1700s]

die in harness

hand. see DIE WITH ONE'S BOOTS ON.

die is cast, the

The decision or course of action has been determined and cannot be changed. For example, Now that I've announced my resignation, the die is cast. This expression comes from the Latin Iacta alea est, "the dice have been thrown," which according to Suetonius was said by Julius Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon and invaded Italy in 49 B.C. In English it dates from the first

half of the 1600s.

die laughing

Experience extreme amusement, as in When his pants fell down, I thought I'd die laughing. This hyperbolic expression was used by Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew (3:2): "Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing." Also see SPLIT ONE'S SIDES.

die off

Perish one by one, as in A celibate community, the Shakers are dying off. [Late 1600s]

die out

Gradually become extinct, as in As technology advances, and Western culture spreads, many folk traditions are dying out. [Mid-1800s]

diet

hand. see ON A DIET.

die to Also, be dying to. Long greatly to do something, as in I'm dying to go to Alaska. [c. 1700]

Also see DIE FOR.

die with one's boots on Also, die in harness. Expire while working, keep working to the end, as in He'll never retire?

he'll die with his boots on, or She knows she'll never get promoted, but she wants to die in harness. Both phrases probably allude to soldiers who died on active duty. Until the early 1600s the noun boot denoted a piece of armor for the legs, which may have given rise to this usage; and Shakespeare used harness in the sense of armor when he wrote: "At least we'll die with harness on our back" (Macbeth 5:5).

differ

hand. see BEG TO DIFFER. Also see under DIFFERENCE; DIFFERENT.

difference

hand. see MAKE A DIFFERENCE; SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE. Also see under DIFFERENT.

different

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with DIFFERENT, also see HORSE OF A

DIFFERENT COLOR; KETTLE OF FISH, DIFFERENT; MARCH TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER; SING A DIFFERENT TUNE; WEAR ANOTHER (DIFFERENT) HAT.

different as night and day Also, different as day and night. Totally unlike. For example,

Although they are sisters, they are as different as night and day. Also see NIGHT AND DAY.

different strokes for different folks

hand. see under NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTES.

dig down

Pay with money from one's own pocket; be generous. For example, We've got to dig down deep to make the next payment. [Colloquial; c. 1940]

dig in

1. Excavate trenches to defend one-self in battle and hold one's position, as in The battalion dug in and held on. This usage gained currency in the trench warfare of World War I. [Mid-1800s] 2. Also, dig in one's heels. Adopt a firm position, be obstinate and unyielding. For example, Arthur refused to argue the point and simply dug in, or The dog dug in its heels and refused to move.

[Colloquial; late 1800s] 3. Begin to work intensively, as in If we all dig in it'll be done before dark. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s] 4. Also, dig into. Begin to eat heartily, as in Even before all the food was on the table they began to dig in, or When the bell rang, the kids all dug into their lunches. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

dig one's own grave

Seriously harm oneself, cause one's own ruin or downfall. For example, If Sam pursues that course, he'll be digging his own grave. [First half of 1900s]

dig out

1. Extract, remove, as in He was determined to dig out every bit of metal he could find. [Late 1300s] 2. Find by searching for, as in He dug out his first contract from the file. [Mid-1800s]

dig up

1. Search out, find, obtain, as in I'm sure I can dig up a few more supporters. [Mid-1800s] 2. dig up some dirt or the dirt. Find derogatory information about someone or something. For example, The editor assigned him to dig up all the dirt on the candidates. The slangy use of the noun dirt for "embarrassing or scandalous information" dates from about 1840, but this metaphoric expression is a century newer.

dilemma

hand. see HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

dim

hand. see TAKE A DIM VIEW.

dime

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with DIME, also see DROP A DIME; GET OFF

THE DIME; NOT WORTH A DIME; ON A DIME.

dime a dozen

So plentiful as to be valueless. For example, Don't bother to buy one of these?

they're a dime a dozen. The dime was declared the American ten-cent coin in 1786 by the Continental Congress. [First half of 1900s]

dine

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with DINE, also see EAT (DINE) OUT; WINE

AND DINE.

dine out on

Be invited to dinner because of something one knows about and can discuss. For example, "In a couple of years you will be dining out on this murder" (Ngaio Marsh, A Man Lay Dead, 1934). [First

half of 1900s] Also see EAT OUT; SING FOR ONE'S SUPPER.

dint

hand. see BY DINT OF.

dip into

1.Investigate superficially, as in He began to dip into Chaucer, or She's just dipping into psychology. This expression alludes to plunging briefly into a liquid. [Late 1600s]

2.Withdraw something in small amounts, usually money, as in I'll have to dip into my savings. This usage employs dip into in the sense of plunging one's hand or a ladle into a pot, water, or the like for the purpose of taking something out. [Early 1800s]

dip one's toes into Also, get one's toes into or wet. Begin to do something novel or unfamiliar, as in I have been dipping my toes into Asian cooking, or She's eager to go to Europe and has been getting her toes wet by getting travel information. [Late 1900s] Also see GET

ONE'S FEET WET.

direction

hand. see STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

dirt

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with DIRT, also see DIG UP (DIRT); DISH THE

DIRT; EAT CROW (DIRT); HIT THE DECK (DIRT); PAY DIRT; TREAT LIKE DIRT. Also see under DIRTY.

dirt cheap

Very inexpensive, as in Their house was a real bargain, dirt cheap. Although the idea dates back to ancient times, the precise expression, literally meaning ''as cheap as dirt," replaced the now obsolete dog cheap. [Early 1800s]

dirty

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with DIRTY, also see DOWN AND DIRTY;

WASH ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC.

dirty joke

A smutty story, as in Teenagers love to tell dirty jokes. The use of dirty in the sense of "obscene" or "indecent" dates from the late 1500s, but its application to a joke began only in the 20th century. The same sense also appears in such expressions as dirty book, for a pornographic book; dirty old man, for a middle-aged or elderly lecher; and dirty word or talk dirty, for a lewd, offensive expression or sexually explicit conversation.

dirty look, give a

Scowl at someone, look disapproving. For example, When I started to tell the story, Carol gave me a really dirty look. This expression has largely replaced the earlier and more formal black look. [Colloquial; 1920s]

dirty one's hands Also, get one's hands dirty or soil one's hands. Do something shameful or

illegal. For example, He refused to dirty his hands and give jobs to the big campaign donors, or Getting one's hands dirty by lying to the boss will be severely punished, or She would not soil her hands by cheating. This expression is a metaphor for literally defiling or soiling oneself. [Mid-1600s]

dirty tricks

Undercover or clandestine operations and deceitful stratagems in politics and espionage. For example, This campaign has been dominated by the dirty tricks of both sides. The adjective dirty here is used in the sense of "unethical" or "unfair." The term originally was applied to covert intelligence operations carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency, whose planning directorate was nicknamed "department of dirty tricks." It later was extended to underhanded activity intended to undermine political opponents and commercial rivals. [1940s]

dirty work

An unpleasant, distasteful, or thankless task or job. For example, Jane complained that she had to do all the dirty work while her colleagues took long vacations. [First half of 1900s]

discount

hand. see AT A DISCOUNT.

discretion

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with DISCRETION, also see THROW CAUTION

(DISCRETION) TO THE WINDS.

discretion is the better part of valor

It is better to be prudent than merely courageous, as in I'm signing up for the easy course first; discretion is the better part of valor. This proverb, a synonym of LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP,

was first recorded in 1477. Charles Churchill put it in poetic form: "Even in a hero's heart, Discretion is the better part" (The Ghost, 1762). Shakespeare also used a form of it: "The better part of valor is discretion" (I Henry IV, 5:4).

disguise

hand. see BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

dish

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with DISH, also see DO THE DISHES. Also

see under DISHWATER.

dish out

1. Deal out, dispense, as in He dishes out advice to one and all. This expression alludes to serving food from a dish. [Colloquial; first half of 1600s] 2. dish it out. Dispense abuse or punishment, as

in He can dish it out with the best of them, but he can't take it. [Slang; c. 1930]

dish the dirt

Spread gossip or scandal, as in Sally was notorious for dishing the dirt. [Slang; 1920s]

dishwater

hand. see DULL AS DISHWATER.

dispense with

1. Manage without, forgo, as in We can dispense with the extra help. Shakespeare had this idiom in Timon of Athens (3:2): "Men must learn now with pity to dispense." [c. 1600] 2. Get rid of, do away with, as in The European Union is trying to dispense with tariff barriers. [Late 1500s] 3.

Exempt one from a law, promise, or obligation, as in He asked the court to dispense with swearing on the Bible. This usage originally applied to religious obligations (to which the Pope granted dispensation). [Early 1500s]

disposal

hand. see PUT AT SOMEONE'S DISPOSAL.

dispose of

1. Attend to, settle, deal with, as in He quickly disposed of the problem. [Early 1600s] 2. Transfer, part with, as by giving away or selling. For example, They wanted to dispose of the land as soon as possible. [Second half of 1600s] 3. Get rid of, throw out, as in Can we dispose of the trash in this barrel? Oliver Goldsmith had this idiom in She Stoops to Conquer (1773): "I'm disposing of the husband before I have secured the lover." [Mid-1600s] 4. Kill or destroy; also, humorously, consume. For example, The king was determined to dispose of his enemies, or John disposed of the cake in no time. [Second half of 1800s]

dispute

hand. see IN DISPUTE.

distance

hand. see GO THE DISTANCE; KEEP ONE'S DISTANCE; SPITTING DISTANCE.

ditch

hand. see LAST-DITCH EFFORT.

divide and conquer Also, divide and govern or rule. Win by getting one's opponents to fight among themselves. For example, Divide and conquer was once a very successful policy in sub-Saharan Africa. This expression is a translation of the Latin maxim, Divide et impera ("divide and rule"), and began to appear in English about 1600.

do, doing

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with DO, also see CAN DO WITH; CAN'T DO

ANYTHING WITH; DO YOU READ ME?; HARD WAY (DO IT THE); HAVE NO BUSINESS DOING; HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH; HAVE TO DO WITH; HOW DO YOU DO; JUST AS SOON DO; LEAD ONE TO (DO); LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT RIGHT HAND IS DOING; MAKE DO; NO CAN DO; NOTHING DOING; TAKE DOING; THAT WILL DO; TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT; UP AND ABOUT (DOING); WHAT DO YOU KNOW; WHAT'S NEW (DOING). Also see under DOES; DONE; DON'T.

do a disappearing act

Vanish, as in As soon as the teacher came outside, Mary did a disappearing act. This expression describes a sudden disppearance as if by magic and presumably alludes to a magician's performance. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

do a double take

hand. see DOUBLE TAKE.

do a job on Also, do a number on. Damage, harm, as in The cat really did a job on the upholstery, or The teacher did a number on the class with that assignment. This slangy idiom uses job (or number) in the sense of "something negative."

do an about-face Also, do a flip-flop or one-eighty. Reverse one's opinion or course of action. For example, The board did an about-face on acquiring more land, or We expected Dad to do a flip-flop concerning our vacation plans, or They had relied on Jim to vote for Harry, but he did a one-eighty and cast his vote for the incumbent. The first term, alluding to the army command to turn around, dates from the first half of the 1900s, and the variants from the second half of the 1900s (the last refers to a 180-degree change of direction).

do any good

Improve a situation or effect a favorable result, as in Tell me if this new medicine does any good. [Early 1700s] A negative version, do no good, is slightly older (late 1600s); for example, All his explanations will do no good.

do as I say

Obey my instructions, as in Never mind about the other mothers?

you do as I say. This admonitory order is sometimes followed by a self-deprecating phrase, Do as I say, not as I do, meaning "don't imitate my behavior but obey my instructions." This order first appeared in John Selden's Table-Talk (c. 1654): "Preachers say, 'Do as I say, not as I do.'"

do away with

1. Make an end of, eliminate. For example, The town fathers have decided to do away with the old lighting system. 2. Demolish, destroy, kill, as in The animal officer did away with the injured deer lying by the side of the road. In the 13th century both usages were simply put as do away, the

with being added only in the late 1700s.

do blindfolded Also, do standing on one's head. Perform very easily, as in Dave said he could do the income tax return blindfolded, or An excellent carpenter, he could do just about anything standing on his head. For a synonymous hyperbolic expression, see WITH ONE ARM TIED.

do by

Behave with respect to, treat, as in John was determined to do well by his children. This idiom was first recorded about 1175.

dock

hand. see IN THE DOCK.

do credit to

hand. see DO ONE PROUD, def. 1.

doctor

hand. see JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.

dodo

hand. see under DEAD AS A DOORNAIL.

does, doesn't

hand. see EASY DOES IT; HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES; HOW DOES THAT GRAB YOU?; LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING; THAT DOES IT.

do for

1. Bring about the death, defeat, or ruin of, as in He swore he'd do for him. This usage is often put

in the passive voice (see DONE FOR). [First half of 1700s] 2. Care or provide for, take care of, as in They decided to hire a housekeeper to do for Grandmother. This usage today is more common in Britain than in America. [Early 1500s]

dog

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with DOG, also see COON'S (DOG'S) AGE;

EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY; GONE TO POT (THE DOGS); HAIR OF THE DOG; HANG-DOG LOOK; HOT DOG; IN THE DOGHOUSE; LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE; PUT ON THE DOG; RAIN CATS AND DOGS; SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG; SHAGGY DOG STORY; SICK AS A DOG; TAIL WAGGING THE DOG; TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS; THROW TO THE WOLVES (DOGS); TOP BANANA (DOG).