American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

hand. see under COON'S AGE.

dog's life

A miserably unhappy existence, as in He's been leading a dog's life since his wife left him. This expression was first recorded in a 16th-century manuscript and alludes to the miserable subservient existence of dogs during this era. By the 1660s there was a proverb: "It's a dog's life, hunger and ease."

do in 1.Tire out, exhaust, as in Running errands all day did me in. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see DONE IN.

2. Kill, as in Mystery writers are always thinking of new ways to do their characters in. [Slang; early 1900s] Also see def. 4. 3. Ruin utterly; also cheat or swindle. For example, The five-alarm fire did in the whole block, or His so-called friend really did him in. [First half of 1900s] 4. do oneself in. Commit suicide, as in She was always threatening to do herself in. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

do justice to

1. Treat fairly or adequately, with full appreciation, as in That review doesn't do the play justice. This expression was first recorded in John Dryden's preface to Troilus and Cressida (1679): "I cannot leave this subject before I do justice to that Divine Poet." 2. do oneself justice. Execute in ac

cordance with one's abilities, as in She finally got a position in which she could do herself justice.

[Second half of 1800s]

doldrums

hand. see IN THE DOLDRUMS.

dollar

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with DOLLARS, also see FEEL LIKE A MILLION

DOLLARS; LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS; YOU CAN BET YOUR ASS (BOTTOM DOLLAR).

dollars to doughnuts, it's

It's a virtual certainty, as in It's dollars to doughnuts that the team will make the playoffs. This metaphoric term pits dollars against doughnuts as in a bet. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

dolled up Also, all dolled up. Dressed or fixed up smartly and, often, ostentatiously, usually for a special occasion. For example, There's no need to get all dolled up?

it's just a picnic, or They dolled up the classroom for parents' night. This expression alludes to a person or object being as attractive as a pretty doll. It is also put verbally, to doll up, as in I wanted to doll up my apartment before the guests arrived. [Colloquial; c. 1900] Also see

GUSSIED UP.

done

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with DONE, also see EASIER SAID THAN

DONE; GOOD AS DONE; HAVE DONE (WITH); NO SOONER SAID (THAN DONE); NOT DONE; OVER AND DONE WITH; SEEN ONE, SEEN THEM ALL (BEEN THERE, DONE THAT); WHAT'S DONE IS DONE; WHEN ALL'S SAID AND DONE. Also see under DO.

done deal

An irrevocable agreement, as in Once you've signed the lease, it's a done deal. This slangy expression, first recorded in 1979, may have come from done thing, originating in the late 1600s.

done for

1. Exhausted, worn out, as in This old computer is just about done for. [Colloquial; c. 1800] Also

see DONE IN. 2. Doomed to death or destruction, as in Before he went to the hospital it seemed as if he was done for. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

done in

Exhausted, very tired, as in After that hike I felt absolutely done in. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also

see DONE FOR, def. 1.

done to a T

hand. see TO A T.

donkey's years

A long time, as in I haven't seen her in donkey's years. This expression punningly alludes to the considerable length of the animal's ears. [Early 1900s]

do no good

hand. see under DO ANY GOOD.

don't ask

A phrase used to fend off questions about a situation one finds awkward, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory. For example, How did we do in the bridge tournament? Don't ask! [Colloquial; 1960s] For a similar phrase, see FORGET IT.

don't change horses at midstream

hand. see CHANGE HORSES AT MIDSTREAM.

don't cross that bridge till you come to it

hand. see CROSS A BRIDGE WHEN ONE COMES TO IT.

don't hold your breath

hand. see HOLD ONE'S BREATH.

don't let the grass grow under one's feet

Act now, don't delay. For example, Write your applications today; don't let the grass grow under your feet. This expression alludes to waiting so long that grass can grow. [c. 1600]

don't mention it

hand. see under YOU'RE WELCOME.

don't put off

hand. see PUT OFF.

do one

hand. Also see DO SOMEONE.

do one good

1. Be of benefit to one, as in I'm sure some fresh air will do her good. [Late 1400s] 2. Also, do one's heart good. Please, gratify, give satisfaction. For example, It does my heart good to see the young couple so happy.

do one's best Also, do one's level best or one's damnedest. Perform as well as one can, do the utmost possible, as in I'm doing my best to balance this statement, or She did her level best to pass the course, or He did his damnedest to get done in time. The first term dates from the 16th century, but the addition of level, here meaning "very," occurred only in the mid-1800s; the variant dates from the late 1800s.

do one's bit Also, do one's part. Make an individual contribution to an overall effort. For example, You can always rely on Anne to do her bit, or I'm anxious to do my part as a board member. [Early 1900s]

do one's duty

1. Do one's tasks or what is expected of one. For example, He was only doing his duty when he made the children finish their work. [Early 1500s] 2. Defecate or urinate, as in Please keep the dog outdoors until he does his duty. This euphemism for attending to such needs is heard less often today. [1930s]

do oneself in

hand. see DO IN, def. 4.

do one's heart good

hand. see DO ONE GOOD.

do one's homework

Be well prepared, as in Steve had done his homework before the meeting and could answer all of the client's questions. This usage transfers a school assignment to a broader context. [c. 1930]

do one's thing Also, do one's own thing. Pursue one's interests or inclination; do what one does best or enjoys the most. For example, I really give him credit for doing his thing and not being discouraged by what the critics say, or Phyllis is busy doing her own thing, running the magazine and publishing books. Although this colloquialism became closely associated with the counterculture of the 1960s, it is actually much older. In one of his essays (1841) Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "But do your thing and I shall know you." However, it came into wide use only during the mid-1900s.

door

hand. see AT DEATH'S DOOR; AT ONE'S DOOR; BACK DOOR; BEAT A PATH TO SOMEONE'S DOOR; BEHIND CLOSED DOORS; CLOSE THE DOOR ON; DARKEN ONE'S DOOR; FOOT IN THE DOOR; KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR; LAY AT SOMEONE'S DOOR; LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN; LOCK THE BARN DOOR; NEXT DOOR TO; OPEN DOORS; OPEN THE DOOR TO; SEE SOMEONE OUT (TO THE DOOR); SHOW SOMEONE OUT (TO THE DOOR); SHOW SOMEONE THE DOOR; WOLF AT THE DOOR.

do or die

Exert supreme effort because failure is close at hand, as in Carol was going to set up the computer, do or die. This hyperbolic expression in effect says one will not be deterred by any obstacle. [c. 1600]

doornail

hand. see DEAD AS A DOORNAIL.

doorstep

hand. see under AT ONE'S DOOR (ON ONE'S DOORSTEP).

door to door

1.Calling at each house, apartment, store, etc. in an area, in order to deliver, sell, or ask for something. For example, We were asked to go door to door to collect enough signatures. [c. 1900]

2.Sent from a place of origin or pickup to a place of delivery. For example, They quoted me a price for door to door, as well as a lower one if I would pick up the goods myself. This usage is nearly always applied to a shipment of merchandise.

do out of

Cheat or deprive someone of something. For example, Jane tried to do me out of my inheritance but the lawyer wouldn't let her. [Early 1800s]

do over Also, do something over. 1. Also, do over again. Repeat something, as in This setup won't work; I'll have to do it over again. 2. Redecorate, as in We've decided to do over the living room. [Early 1900s]

dope out

1. Work or figure out, as in I've been trying to dope out this new computer program. [Slang; c. 1900] 2. Also, dope up. Use narcotics or psychotropic drugs, as in They said the fraternity initiation may involve doping up. The first term dates from the early 1900s, the variant from about 1970.

do's and don'ts

Rules or customs concerning some activity, as in It's important to know the do's and don'ts of diplomatic receptions. This expression alludes to what one should and should not do or say. [c. 1900]

dose of one's own medicine Also, taste of one's own medicine. Repayment or retaliation, as in It's time we gave them a dose of their own medicine and simply forget to call them back, or Joe was upset at being left out, but they were just giving him a taste of his own medicine. [Late 1800s]

do someone

hand. Also see DO ONE.

do someone proud

1.Also, do credit to someone. Be a source of honor, distinction, or pride. For example, She did us proud, handling the problem with such aplomb, or Your new title does you credit. [Early 1800s]

2.Treat someone or oneself generously or extravagantly, as in You really did us proud with that banquet. [Early 1800s]

do someone wrong Also, do someone damage or harm. Injure someone; be unfaithful or disloyal; act unjustly or unfairly toward someone. For example, John's done me wrong, and I intend to tell him so, or She did him real damage when she started that rumor. The first term dates from the late 1300s; the substitutions of damage and harm are newer. However, while these locutions are still current, a more common modern usage is to turn them into verbal phrases?

that is, wrong someone, harm someone, damage someone. do something over

hand. see DO OVER.

dot

Reverse one's course, go back the way one has come. For example, The officer lost the suspect, who had doubled back on him. This term, at first put simply as to double, is used largely to describe a way of evading pursuit. [Late 1500s]

double bill

hand. see DOUBLE FEATURE.

double cross

A deliberate betrayal; violation of a promise or obligation, as in They had planned a double cross, intending to keep all of the money for themselves. This usage broadens the term's earlier sense in sports gambling, where it alluded to the duplicity of a contestant who breaks his word after illicitly promising to lose. Both usages gave rise to the verb double-cross. [Late 1800s]

double date

A social engagement in which two couples go together, as in They went on a double date with her brother and his girlfriend. [c. 1920]

double Dutch

1. Language that cannot be understood, gibberish, as in They might have been speaking double Dutch, for all I understood. This usage dates from the 1870s (an earlier version, however, had it as

DOUBLE TALK. 2. A game of jump rope in which players jump over two ropes swung in a crisscross fashion.

double duty

Fulfilling two functions at the same time, as in Our pickup truck does double duty, since it is used for the business and for family outings.

double feature Also, double bill. A program consisting of two full-length films shown for the price of a single ticket. For example, It was a double feature and lasted five hours, or The women's conference had a double bill, first speakers from China and then visiting guests from the rest of the world. This expression is occasionally loosely used for other paired events (as in the second example). [c. 1930]

double in brass

Serve in two capacities, as in In this company everyone is asked to double in brass occasionally.

This expression was originally used in the traveling circus, where, for example, a clown was also expected to play an instrument in the street parade. The original allusion, however, is to an instrumentalist who plays more than one instrument in an ensemble, a practice particularly common among players of brass instruments. [Late 1800s]

double life

hand. see LEAD A DOUBLE LIFE.

doublespeak

hand. see DOUBLE TALK, def. 2.

double standard

A set of principles establishing different provisions for one group than another; also, specifically, allowing men more sexual freedom than women. For example, She complained that her father had a double standard?

her brothers were allowed to date, but she was not, even though she was older. [Mid1900s]

double take, do a

Show a delayed reaction to an unusual remark or circumstance; also, look at something or someone again. For example, He did a double take when his ex-wife appeared at his wedding.

[1930s]

double talk

1. Meaningless speech, gibberish mixing real and invented words. For example, Some popular songs are actually based on double talk. [1930s] 2. Also, doublespeak. Deliberately ambiguous and evasive language. For example, I got tired of her double talk and demanded to know the true story, or His press secretary was very adept at doublespeak. This usage dates from the late 1940s, and the variant from about 1950.

double up

1.Bend over suddenly, as in pain or laughter. For example, She doubled up with a cramp. [Late 1800s]

2.Share accommodations meant for one person, as in The hotel ran out of rooms, so we had to double up. [Late 1700s]

doubt

hand. see BEYOND A DOUBT; CAST DOUBT ON; GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT; NO DOUBT; SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

doubting Thomas

One who is habitually doubtful. For example, He was a doubting Thomas about the coming merger, not believing it would ever happen. The term alludes to the disciple Thomas, who doubted Jesus's resurrection until he had first-hand evidence of it (John 20:24-29).

do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Behave toward others as you would like to have them behave toward you, as in Of course I'll help him out; it's a case of do unto others, and I may be in the same boat one day. This so-called golden rule is stated in just about every ancient writing about behavioral precepts (including the New Testament, Talmud, Koran, and the Analects of Confucius). Among the earliest appearances in English is Earl Rivers' translation of a saying of Socrates (Dictes and Sayenges of the Philosophirs, 1477): "Do to other as thou wouldst they should do to thee, and do to none other but as thou

wouldst be done to." It is so well known that it is often shortened.

do up

1. Fasten up or put up; also, dress up. For example, Let's do up all the gifts in matching paper, or

Please help me do up the collar button, or Jane did up her hair for the dance, or The children were all done up in their best outfits. [c. 1800] 2. do something up brown or do it up brown. Do something thoroughly or very well, as in They really did it up brown for the dinner party. The allusion here is unclear, but it may be to wrapping a package in brown paper. [Mid-1800s]

do well

1. Prosper, thrive, succeed, as in He's done well in the market. [c. 1300] 2. do well to do something. Fare better or act prudently by doing something, as in She would do well to ask permission before she leaves. [Late 1400s]

do with

Put up or manage with, as in I can do with very little sleep. [Early 1800s] Also see CAN DO

WITH; HAVE TO DO WITH.

do without

Manage in spite of being without something. For example, They will just have to do without a vacation this year, or There was no telephone in the cabin, but we soon learned to do without.

[Early 1700s]

down

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with DOWN, also see BACK DOWN; BATTEN

DOWN THE HATCHES; BEAR DOWN; BEAT DOWN; BE DOWN; BELT DOWN; BOG DOWN; BOIL DOWN TO; BREAK DOWN; BREATHE DOWN ONE'S NECK; BRING DOWN; BRING DOWN THE HOUSE; BUCKLE DOWN; BUILD DOWN; BURN DOWN; CALL DOWN; CAST DOWN; CAUGHT WITH ONE'S PANTS DOWN; CHOW DOWN; CLAMP DOWN; CLOSE DOWN; COME DOWN; COME DOWN ON; COME DOWN TO; COME DOWN WITH; COOL DOWN; COOL OFF (DOWN); COUNT DOWN; CRACK DOWN; CUT DOWN; DEEP DOWN; DIE AWAY (DOWN); DIG DOWN; DRAW DOWN; DRESSING DOWN; FACE DOWN; FALL DOWN; FLAG DOWN TO; GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS; GO DOWN (DOWNHILL); GO DOWN THE LINE; HAND DOWN; HANDS DOWN; HIT SOMEONE WHEN DOWN; HOLD DOWN; IT'S ALL DOWNHILL; JUMP DOWN SOMEONE'S THROAT; KEEP DOWN; KNOCK BACK (DOWN); KNOCK DOWN DRAG OUT; KNOCK DOWN WITH A FEATHER; KNUCKLE DOWN; LAY DOWN; LAY DOWN THE LAW; LEAD DOWN THE GARDEN PATH; LET DOWN EASY; LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN; LET SOMEONE DOWN; LET THE SIDE DOWN; LIE DOWN (ON THE JOB); LIVE DOWN; LOOK DOWN ON; LOW-DOWN, GET THE; MARK DOWN; MIX DOWN; MOW DOWN; NAIL DOWN; PIN DOWN; PIPE DOWN; PLAY DOWN; PLUNK DOWN; PULL DOWN; PUT DOWN; PUT DOWN

ROOTS; PUT ONE'S FOOT DOWN; RAM DOWN SOMEONE'S THROAT; RING DOWN THE CURTAIN; RUB DOWN; RUN DOWN; SCALE DOWN; SELL DOWN THE RIVER; SEND DOWN; SET DOWN; SETTLE DOWN; SHAKE DOWN; SHOOT DOWN; SHOUT DOWN; SHUT DOWN; SIMMER DOWN; SIT DOWN; SLAP DOWN; SLOW DOWN; SPLASH DOWN; STAND DOWN; STARE DOWN; STEP DOWN; STRIKE DOWN; SUIT DOWN TO THE GROUND; TAKE DOWN; TAKE DOWN A NOTCH; TAKE LYING DOWN; TALK DOWN TO; TEAR DOWN; THE LOWDOWN ON; THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET; THUMBS UP (DOWN); TIE DOWN; TONE DOWN; TOUCH DOWN; TRACK DOWN; TRADE DOWN; TURN DOWN; TURN UPSIDE DOWN; UPS AND DOWNS; VOTE DOWN; WASH DOWN; WATER DOWN; WEAR DOWN; WEIGH DOWN; WHEN IT COMES (DOWN) TO; WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN; WIND DOWN; WRITE DOWN.

down and dirty

1. Vicious, not governed by rules of decency, as in The candidates are getting down and dirty early in the campaign. [Slang; early 1980s] 2. Very earthy, uninhibitedly sexual. For example, "L.A. club people rarely get down and dirty on a dance floor" (The New Yorker, May 21, 1990). [Late 1980s]

down and out

Lacking funds or prospects; destitute, penniless. For example, After losing his job, car, and home, he was completely down and out. This term probably originated in boxing, where it alludes to the fighter who is knocked down and stays down for a given time, thereby losing the bout. [c. 1900]

Also see DOWN FOR THE COUNT.

down cold, have

Learn or accomplish perfectly. For example, I have this song down cold. The slangy use of cold for "completely" dates from the late 1800s and the phrase itself from about 1900.

down for the count

Defeated, finished, doomed, as in I doubt if he'll ever leave the hospital; his illness really has him down for the count. This expression alludes to the losing boxer, unable to get to his feet before the umpire has counted to ten (the count). [1920s]

downhill all the way Also, all downhill from here. 1. Easy from this point, without obstacles the rest of the way. For example, Once we had the basic design, it was downhill all the way. 2.

Deteriorating or declining from this point on, as in When the cancer couldn't be removed, it was downhill all the way for him. The usage therefore needs to be clarified by the context to indicate which of these opposite meaning is intended. The figurative use of downhill dates from the late 1500s. Also see GO DOWNHILL.

down in the dumps Also, down in the mouth. Discouraged, depressed, or sad, as in She's been down in the dumps ever since she lost the match, or What's wrong with him? He's so down in the mouth about everything. The noun dumps has been used for "a state of depression" since the early 1500s, and down in the mouth, alluding to the downturned corners of the mouth as a sign of