English Idioms - D
English and American idioms starting with the letter D are a great example of English learning resources
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Daft as a brush
A person who has no common sense is as daft as a brush
Damp squib
A damp squib is a thing which was going to have a great effect but instead didn’t
Dancing on someone's grave
Dancing on someone’s grave is to live longer than a rival and feel success as a result
Dark horse
A person who is called a dark horse is someone who keeps secrets and hides their true abilities
Davey Jones' locker
Davey Jones’ Locker refers to the bottom of the ocean, and is a fictional place where drowned sailors ended up
Day in the sun
You day in the sun is the period when people notice you and give you attention
Daylight robbery
Being charged too much for a product or services is called daylight robbery
Dead air
Dead air originates from the radio when nobody is talking, and so means a period of silence
Dead and buried
When something is dead and buried, it means it was finished and forgotten a long time ago
Dead as a dodo
To point out the characteristics of something as being dead as a dodo, you really mean to say it is dull and boring (or even dead)
Dead as a doornail
A lifeless thing is dead as a doornail
Dead certain
When you are absolutely sure about something, you are dead certain
Dead duck
A dead duck is something which is very likely going to die
Dead even
Things which are dead even are at the same point in movement, such as runners in a race
Dead from the neck up
A stupid person can be referred to as dead from the neck up
Dead heat
A dead heat is what happens when more than one person finishes a task at exactly the same time, and no single winner can be chosen
Dead in the water
A task or project which is dead in the water is not progressing, and can be considered a failure
Dead level best
When trying your very best to achieve, you have done your dead level best
Dead man walking
If someone is awaiting severe punishment for their actions, they are a dead man walking
Dead meat
If you call someone dead meat you are threatening them with physical punishment, as a bully would
Dead men's shoes
Wearing dead men’s shoes is taking on the role of another, often by having removed them yourself
Dead right
Being completely correct is being dead right
Dead to the world
A person in a deep sleep or is unaware of the things happening around them is dead to the world
Dead wrong
When you are completely wrong about something, you are dead wrong
Deaf as a post
A deaf person or a person with very bad hearing is deaf as a post
Dear John letter
A dear John letter is a letter which ends a personal relationship
Death of a thousand cuts
Suffering from a death of a thousand cuts means that you are experiencing many small problems. Collectively they are doing great harm to you
Death warmed up
Looking like death warmed up means that you look extremely ill, as if you have just been brought back to life
Decorate the mahogany
Decorating the mahogany is placing money on the counter when buying drinks for others in a bar or pub
Deep pockets
A person who has deep pockets has a lot of money
Deep pockets but short arms
Having deep pockets means having lots of money, but short arms suggests that they are tight with their bountiful wealth
Deer in the headlights
Having a deer in the headlights refers to the point at which you have to make a sudden decision
Deliver the goods
When people expect a certain standard of service from you, delivering the goods means achieving that expected level
Demon weed
A demon weed is a short idiom to represent tobacco
Derring-do
Showing great courage and bravery is showing derring-do
Devil finds work for idle hands
When people get into trouble and pursue criminal activities because of a lack of things to keep them busy, you can say that the devil finds work for idle hands
Devil is in the detail
Fine points in agreements of plans which if ignored cause great problems later on are called devils in the details
Devil may care
When the devil may care, you are a person who lives a life of danger
Devil's advocate
Playing the devil’s advocate is following an opinion different to your own in order to win
Diamond in the rough
A person who has great ability and lots of potential but is unsophisticated, is a diamond in the rough
Die is cast
When making a decision which can no longer be undone, you can say that the die is cast
Different kettle of fish
A different kettle of fish is something which is completely different to the previous things mentioned
Different ropes for different folks
Different ropes for different folks means that different people like different things
Different strokes for different folks
When talking about the fact that different people do things in different ways you can say that there are different strokes for different folks
Dig way down deep
Thinking at a very deep personal level is digging way down deep
Dig your heels in
The beginning of your defensive stance against something is digging your heels in
Dime a dozen
If things are called a dime a dozen, they are very common and not at all significant
Dine on ashes
When someone pays great attention and focus to previous failures, they are said to dine on ashes
Dip your toes in the water
Dipping your toes in the water is to try out something gently to see if you like it
Dirty dog
A person who can’t be trusted like a cheating spouse is a dirty dog
Discerning eye
Someone who can recognise the faults of another has a discerning eye
Discretion is the better part of valour
Occasionally it is better to keep quiet when faced with a problem in the knowledge that saying something will only make it worse. This is also known as discretion is the better part of valour
Dish the dirt
Dishing the dirt means to reveal a secret about someone, which is often negative
Do a Devon Loch
When you almost succeed but fail just before, it is called doing a Devon Loch
Do a Lord Lucan
Running away and disappearing is known as doing a Lord Lucan, as he was a man who ran away after a murder
Do a runner
Leaving the scene without paying is called doing a runner
Do as you would be done by
This is a moral lesson and suggests that you should do to others as you would expect them to do to you, and is called do as you would be done by
Do the needful
Doing what is necessary and required is doing the needful
Do the running
The person in charge of the actual operation of things is sad to be doing the running
Do their dirty work
Doing the dirty work of someone is carrying out the tasks they don’t want to do, which are often unpleasant and sometimes illegal
Do's and don't's
The accepted rules and practices of something are called the do’s and don’ts
Dodge the bullet
When faced with a problem, the person who can dodge the bullet can either solve the situation or at least point it in another direction without harming themselves
Dog and pony show
A dog and pony show is a marketing trick which tries to advertise a poor quality product as a high quality one
Dog days
The days of summer which are the hottest are the dog days
Dog eat dog
A dog eat dog world is a business term which suggests that competitors will act ruthlessly and without morals in order to succeed
Dog in the manger
A dog in the manger is a person who won’t allow other people to use the things they have, even when they are useless to them
Dog tired
Begin extremely tired is being dog tired
Dog's dinner
A dog’s dinner is a mess of chaos and confusion
Dog's life
A life which is tough and of low quality is a dog’s life
Dog-eared
An object which is in a bad condition, usually as a result of it’s age, is dog-eared
Dog-whistle politics
In terms of politics, a policy which indirectly appeals to prejudice people is called dog-whistle politics
Doggy bag
If at a restaurant you have food left over and you would like to take home, you can ask for a doggy bag to carry it in
Doldrums
The doldrums refers to a person or place which is miserable
Dollars for doughnuts
A thing which is guaranteed to happen is dollars for doughnuts
Don't bite the hand that feeds
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you means that you shouldn’t attack the person or thing which is helping you
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched
When someone gives you advice and says don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched, they are advising against being certain of something before it has even happened
Don't cry over spilt milk
Don’t cry over spilt milk is advice which says it’s pointless to worry about something bad which has already happened
Don't give up the day job
If a person attempts to show off their skill but doesn’t really have any, you can tell them not to give up their day job
Don't hold your breath
Advising a person that something they are expecting may not be as good as their actual hopes is done by telling them they shouldn’t hold their breath
Don't judge a book by the cover
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover means that you shouldn’t form opinions of people based on your first impressions
Don't know whether to wind a watch or bark at the moon
A person who can’t make a decision doesn’t know whether to wind a watch or bark at the moon
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Not pointing out the faults of a present is the same as not looking a gift horse in the mouth
Don't mention the war
Generally speaking, not mentioning the war asks you not to mention things which will cause upset amongst others
Don't push my buttons!
Pushing someone’s buttons is annoying someone by skilfully picking on things which have an effect
Don't stand there with curlers in your hair
When faced with a person who doesn’t move and keeps you waiting, you can say, ‘don’t stand there with curlers in your hair
Don't sweat the small stuff
Advising someone to not sweat the small stuff is the same as telling them not to worry about trivial things
Don't take any wooden nickels
Don’t take any wooden nickels is a warning about being conned or ripped off
Don't throw bricks when you live in a glass house
People who throw bricks when they live in glass houses are hypocrites. Advising someone against doing this is a warning that if you attach others for their faults, they may attack you back in the same way for yours
Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you
Not troubling trouble until trouble troubles you is a suggestion that you shouldn’t go in search of trouble
Don't upset the applecart
The applecart represents a situation which is in equilibrium, and asking someone not to upset the applecart means that they shouldn’t disturb the way things are
Don't wash your dirty laundry in public
When advised not to wash you dirty laundry in public, you are really being told not to have arguments if others can see
Done to death
Something which has been done to death has been done so many times that people have lost interest
Donkey's years
A long period of time is referred to as donkey’s years
Doormat
Someone who lacks confidence and is pushed around by others is a doormat
Dot all the i's and cross all the t's
Doing something very precisely and carefully is dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s
Double Dutch
When something is said which is hard or impossible to understand, it is called double Dutch
Double take
Doing a double take is having a quick second reaction to something, with the second being more focussed than the first
Double whammy
Two problems happening at the same time is called a double whammy
Double-edged sword
A double-edged sword is something which can be useful and a danger at the same time
Doubting Thomas
Someone who needs to experiencing things personally in order to believe them is a doubting Thomas
Down and out
A person who is down and out is someone who lives a poor and miserable life
Down at heel
Being down at heel means having little or no money
Down for the count
A person who has failed completely with no chance of recovery is down for the count
Down in the doldrums
A depressed and miserable person is someone who is down in the doldrums
Down in the dumps
When someone feels sad and depressed they are down in the dumps
Down in the mouth
When a person is down in the mouth, it means that they are unhappy about something
Down the drain
Money which goes down the drain is money wasted on something
Down the hatch
When drinking alcohol, ‘down the hatch’ is a suggestion to finish the drink
Down the pan
A business or plan which has gone down the pan has failed completely
Down the tubes
Going down the tubes means to be ruined
Down to the wire
In a competition, going down to the wire suggests that the winner can’t be known until the last moment
Down-to-earth
A person who is down to earth has a genuine character and doesn’t pretend to be better than others
Drag your feet
Someone who drags their feet moves or progresses slowly on purpose
Drag your heels
Dragging you heels is what you do when you try hard not to do the thing you should by working slowly
Draw a blank
Drawing a blank means receiving no useful information when asking questions
Draw a line in the sand
A person who draws a line in the sand states what their limits are and refuses to cross them
Draw a long bow
When someone draws a long bow, they are actually lying by exaggerating the facts
Draw the line
Drawing a line means that you state a hypothetical limit to your actions beyond which you will not go
Draw the short straw
When deciding on individual responsibilities within a group, the person who draws the short straw has to do the task nobody wants
Dress someone down
If you want to tell someone off or scold them, you can dress them down
Dress to kill
A person who is dressed to kill is wearing very smart or beautiful clothes
Dressed to the nines
Being dressed to the nines means wearing your best clothes
Drink like a fish
Someone who drinks like a fish is either an alcoholic or drinks excessively
Drive a wedge
Driving a wedge between people is finding a way to make them dislike each other
Drive home
When a message is driven home, it means that it was forced upon you until you completely understood it, often with the use of dramatic examples
Drive someone up the wall
Irritating a person to a great degree is the same as driving them up the wall
Drive you spare
An annoying person is someone who can drive you spare
Driven by a motor
A chatterbox is someone driven by a motor, because they never stop
Drop a bombshell
The announcement of a piece of news which is shocking to those who hear it is called dropping a bombshell
Drop a dime
Asking someone to drop a dime is the same as asking them to give you a phone call
Drop in the bucket
Something which is so insignificant that it barely affects you is a drop in the bucket
Drop in the ocean
A drop in the ocean is something which has little affect on you because of its insignificance
Drop into your lap
Receiving a bonus by surprise is called a drop in you lap
Drop like flies
When a number of things around you failed in their tasks, you can say that they dropped like flies
Drop someone a line
Dropping someone a line means to attempt communication either through letter or phone call
Drop the ball
A person who dropped the ball is someone who failed in the responsibilities and caused a problem for everyone
Dropped like a hot cake
Something which is got rid of quickly is dropped like a hot cake
Drown your sorrows
A sad person may find peace by getting drunk, and is said to be drowning their sorrows
Drunk as a lord
An extremely drunk person is drunk as a Lord
Drunker than a peach orchard boar
Someone who is drunker than a peach orchard boar is very drunk indeed
Dry as a bone
When something is as dry as a bone, there is no moisture on or in it, and is often very hard as a result
Dry run
A practice attempt at something is called a dry run
Dry spell
Going through a dry spell means not being as creative or successful as you normally are
Duck soup
A task which is easy to complete is duck soup
Duck to water
Naturally being able to do something is being like a duck to water
Ducks in a row
A well disciplined and ordered person has all their ducks in a row
Dull as ditchwater
A person or thing which is dull as ditchwater is extremely boring indeed
Dumb as a rock
Someone who is dumb as a rock is stupid and has no common sense
Dunkirk spirit
When people work together in times of difficulty, they are said to have Dunkirk spitit
Dutch auction
A Dutch auction is the process of changing something until all people agree with it
Dutch courage
Dutch courage refers to alcohol which when drunk, gives you the feeling of courage you need if faced with a scary situation
Dutch treat
A Dutch treat is the same as going Dutch, and means that people pay only for their part of the bill
Dutch uncle
A person who gives unwanted advice is a Dutch uncle
Dutch wife
A hot water bottle is called a Dutch wife
Dwell on the past
When someone dwells on the past, they spend too much time thinking about their history
Dyed-in-the-wool
An avid and unquestioning supporter of a political party is a dyed-in-the-wool devotee
