Page 116 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

dyàng to do something

dry out someone who has been drinking for DutchŁ courage unusual or artificial
a włek. courage arisingŁfrom the influence of al-
cohol.Ł It was Dutch courage that madł
dry up to become silent; to sðopŁtalking.
(Also literal.ŁInfàrmal.) The young lec- the football fan attack the policłman.
turer was so nervous that he forgot what he It will take a bt of Dutch courage to make
was going to say and dried up. Actors an after-dnner spłech.
have a fear of drying up on stage. Oh, DutchŁtreat a social occasion where one
dry up! I’m sick of listening to you. paysŁforŁoneself.Ł(Se also go Dutch.)
duckŁandŁcover 1. to dodge something, “It’s nice of you to ask me out to dnner,”
such asŁanŁissue orŁaŁdifficult quesðion, she said, “but could we make it a Dutcð
andŁattempt to shieldŁoneself against sim- treat?” The office outing is alwØys a
ilarŁissuesŁorŁquesðions.Ł(RefersŁto duck- Dutch treat.
ingŁ dàwn andŁ takingŁ coverŁ to pràtect DutchŁuncle aŁmanŁwho givesŁfrank andŁdi-
oneself.) The candidØte’s first reaction rect advice to someone inŁthe manner of
to the question was to duck and cover. aŁparent orŁrelative.Ł I would not have to
The debØters were duckng and covering lecture you like a Dutch uncle if you were
throughout the evłning. 2. dàdgingŁsome- not so extravagant. He acts more like a
thing, such asŁanŁissue orŁaŁdifficult ques- Dutch uncle than a husband. He’s forever
tion,Ł andŁ attemptingŁ to shieldŁ oneself tellng her what to do in public.
against similarŁissuesŁorŁquesðions.Ł(Typ-
ically duck-ynd-cover.) These polti- dutyŁboundŁ(to do something) forcedŁbyŁa
cians are expłrts at duck-and-cover. sense of dutyŁandŁhonorŁto do something.
When in doubt, turn to duck-and-cover. Good evłning, madam. I’m duty bound
to inform you that we have arrested your
dullŁ as dØshwater Go to (as) dull as
dishwater. husband. No one made me say that. I
was duty bound.
dullŁ as ditchwater Go to (as) dull as
dishwater. dyed-in-the-włol prmanent; indelible;
sðubborn.Ł(Usually saidŁof aŁprsàn.)
DutchŁ auction an auctiàn or sale thað My uncle was a dyed-n-the-wool farmer.
sðarts off with a high asking price that is He wouldà’t change for anything. Sally
thenŁreducedŁuntilŁa buyer isŁfound.Ł is a dyed-n-the-wool socialist.
Dutch auctions are rare—most auction-
eers start with a lowłr price than they hopł dyingŁ to do something very anxious to do
to obtain. My real estate agent advised something.Ł I’m just dying to go sailng
me to ask a reasonable price for my house in your new boØt. After a long hot dØy
rather than głt involved with a Dutcð like this one, I’m just dying for a cool drink
auction. of wØter.

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