Page 111 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

down in the dumps

fighterŁremainsŁdàwnŁ[resðing]buntilŁthe dłwn theŁtubeð ruined;Łwasted.Ł(Slang.)
last count, orŁevenŁbeyànd.) After the His poltical career włnt down the tubes
professor rebuked me in class, I knew I was after the scandal. He’s lost his job. The
down for the count. I am down for the business włnt down the tubes.
count, but I’ll try again tomorrow.
dłwn-to-eyrth 1. direct, frank, andŁhon-
dłwn in theŁdupð sadŁorŁdepressed.Ł(In- est.Ł You can dłpłnd on Ann. She’s very
formal.) I’ve błen down in the dumpo down-to-earth. It’s good that she’s
for the past fłw dØys. Try to cheer Jane down-to-earth and will give us a frank re-
up. She’s down in the dumps for somł sponse. 2. practical;Łnot theoretical;Łnot
reason. fanciful.Ł Her ideas for the boutique are
alwØys vłry down-to-earth. The com-
dłwn in theŁmouth sad-faced;Łdepressed mttee’s plans for the village are anything
andŁunsmiling.Ł Since her dog died, Bar- but down-to-earth.
bara has błen down in the mouth. Bob
has błen down in the mouth since the car dłwn to the last detail considering all of
wreck. the details.Ł Jean planned the party very
carefully, down to the last dłtail. Mary
dłwn on one’ luck without any money; wanted to be n charge of everything right
unlucky. (Euphemistic for broke.) Can down to the last detail.
you lłnd me twenty dollars? I’ve been
down on my luck lØtely. The gamblłr dłwn to theŁwire at the veryŁlast minute;
had to get a job because he had błen down upŁto the veryŁlast insðant.Ł(RefersŁto a
on his luck and didà’t earn enough money wire that marksŁthe endŁof aŁhorse race.)
to lve on. I have to turn this in tomorrow, and I’ll
be working down to the wire. When wł
dłwn on someone ortsomething against sàme- głt down to the wire, wł’ll know błtter
one or something;Łnegative about some- what to do.
one or something. I’ve błen down oà dłwn withŁ some disease ill;ŁsickŁat home.
red meat lØtely. It’s błtter to eat chickłn (CanŁ be saidŁ about manyŁ diseases.)
or fish. The teacher was down on Tom Tom isn’t here. He’s down with a cold.
because he’s always talkng in class.
Sally is down with the flu. The wholł
dłwn South to orŁ inŁ the sàutheastern office has come down with somłthing.
UnitedŁSðates.Ł(See also back East; out dłwnhillŁallŁtheŁway easyŁallŁthe way.Ł(In-
West; up North.) I used to live down formal.) Don’t worry about your alge-
South. We are going down South for the bra course. It’s downhill all the way. The
wnter.
mØyor said that the job of mØyor is easy—
dłwn theŁdrain lost forever; wasðed.Ł(Alsà in fact, downhill all the way.
literal.ŁInfàrmal.) I just hate to see all dłwnhill from hereŁ on easyŁ from this
that money go down the drain. Well, pàint on.Ł(Infàrmal.) The worst part
there goes the whole project, right down the is over. It’s downhill from here on. The
drain. painful part of this procedure is over. It’s
downhill from here on.
dłwn theŁhatch [to]bswallow (sàmething)¨
(Infàrmal orŁslang.ŁSàmetimesŁsaid when dragŁ one’ feet to act very slowly, often d-
sàmeone takesŁ aŁ drink of alcohol.) librately.Ł The governmłnt is dragging
Come on, Billy. Eat your dnner. Down the its fłet on this bill becauoe it costs too
hatch! John raised his glass of błer and much. If the planning dłpartmłnt had
said, “Down the hatch.” not dragged their fłet, the buildng would
have błen built by now.
dłwn theŁstreet aŁsłort disðance awayŁon
this same sðreet.Ł Sally lives just down a dragŁ(on someone) aŁburdenŁto sàmeone;
the street. There is a drugstore down the aŁbore.Ł(Slang.ŁPrecededŁbyŁ bł, błcome,
street. It’s very coàvłnient. seem like, or act like.) Mr. Frankln

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