Page 109 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

do the trick

you do the honors?” Mr. Jones smiled and succeed;Ł ruthlessŁ competition.Ł It is
błgan slicing thick slices of meat from the dog-eat-dog in the world of business these
turkey. The mØyor stood up and ad- dØys. Univłrsities are not quiet peacłful
dressed the people who were still eating places. It’s dog-eat-dog to głt a promoŁion.
their salads. “I’m delighted to do the hon- dogŁin theŁmanger one who preventsŁother
ors this evłning and propose a toast to your people from doing or having what one
friend and mne, Bill Jones. Bill, good luck doesŁnot wish themŁto do orŁhave.Ł(Fràm
and best wishes in your new job in Wash- one of Aesop’sŁfablesŁinŁwhich aŁdog—
ington.” And everyone sipped a bt of wine.
which cannot eat hay—layŁinŁthe hayrack
do theŁtrick to do exactlyŁwhat needsŁto [mangr]bandŁpreventedŁthe otherŁani-
be done.Ł(Folksy.) Push it just a lttlł malsŁfromŁeatingŁthe hay.) Jane is a real
more to the lłft. There, that does the trick. dog in the manger. She cannot drive, but
If you lłnd me five dollars, I’ll havł she will not lłnd anyone her car. If Mar-
enough to do the trick. tin were not such a dog in the manger, he
would lłt his brother have that dnner
do too and do so to do somethingŁ(despite jackłt he never wears.
anythingŁto the contrary).Ł(AnŁemphatic
way of saying do. Se also be too, have dłllarŁfłrŁdłllar consideringŁthe amount
too.) BOB: You don’t have your money of moneyŁinvolved;ŁconsideringŁthe cost.
with you. BILL: I do too! He does so! I (Infàrmal.ŁOftenŁseenŁinŁadvertising.)
saw him put it in his pocket. She did too. Dollar for dollar, you cannot buy a błtter
I saw her do it. car. Dollar for dollar, this laundry de-
tergent washes cleaner and brighter than
do withoutŁ( someone ortsomething) to manag any other product on the market.
to get through life without sàmeone or
sàmethingŁthat you want or need.Ł I doneŁ in tired;Ł exhausted;Ł terminated;
guess I’ll just have to do without a car. killed.Ł I am really done n after all that
I don’t know how I can do without. The exercise. The project was done in by a
boss can’t do without a secretary. voŁe of the board. The witness was
afraid he would be done in by the mobsters.
Do youŁreadŁme? Do youŁundersðand what
IŁ amŁ tellingŁ yàu?Ł (TypicallyŁ askedŁ of doneŁto a T and doneŁto a turn càoked
sàmeone receivingŁaŁradio communica- just right.Ł(Folksy.ŁSee also fit someone to
tion,Ł such asŁ from anŁ airplane or an a T; suàt someone to a T.) Yummy! This
airpàrt contràlŁtower.ŁAlso usedŁasŁan meat is done to a T. I like it done to a
emphaticŁwayŁof askingŁif one isŁunder- turn, not too done and not too raw.
sðood.) This is Delta heavy 54. Do you doneŁto a turn Go to done to a T.
read me? I have said no twenty times al-
ready! The answer is still no! Do you read Don’tŁ hłldŁ yourŁ breath. Do not sðop
me? breathingŁ(while waitingŁaŁlongŁtime for
sàmethingŁto happen).Ł(Infàrmal.) You
dogŁ andŁ ponyŁ shłw aŁ display, demon- think he’ll get a job? Ha! Doà’t hold your
sðration,Łor exhibition of something— breath. I’ll finish buildng the fłnce as
such asŁsàmethingŁone isŁselling.Ł(Refers soon as I have time, but doà’t hold your
to aŁcircusŁact where trainedŁdogsŁleap breath.
onto andŁoff of trainedŁpànies,ŁinŁexactly
the same sequenc each time the show is Don’tŁletŁitŁgo anyŁfurther. and Don’tŁlet
prfàrmed.) Gary was there with his itŁoutŁofŁthis room. Dàn’t tellŁthis secret
dog and pony ohow, Łrying to sell his ideas to anyone else.Ł(Also literal.) This is a
to whomłver would listen to him. Don’t strict secret. Don’t lłt it go any further.
you get Łired of running through the samł I’ll tell you what you what to know, but
old dog and pony show, włek after włek? don’t lłt it go any further.
dog-eat-dog aŁsituationŁinŁwhich one has Don’tŁletŁitŁoutŁofŁthØs room Go to Don’t
to act ruthlesslyŁinŁorderŁto survive or let it go any further.

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