English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - D, page 3
from: 'by degrees'
to: 'dice are loaded'
- by degrees
- If something happens or develops by degrees, it
happens gradually or little by little as time goes by.
"By degrees their business relationship grew into friendship."
- If something happens or develops by degrees, it
happens gradually or little by little as time goes by.
- deliver the goods
- If a person delivers the goods, they do what is
expected of them or what they have promised to
do.
"Let's hope that new whiz-kid the boss hired can deliver the goods!"
- If a person delivers the goods, they do what is
expected of them or what they have promised to
do.
- out of your depth
- If you are out of your depth, you are in a situation
which is too difficult for you, or which you know little about.
"Liz started building a website with little computer knowledge, so she was soon out of her depth and had to look for help."
- If you are out of your depth, you are in a situation
which is too difficult for you, or which you know little about.
- left to one's own devices
- If you leave someone to their own devices, you let
them look after themselves, without help or supervision.
"When left to their own devices, many children watch TV and eat junk food."
- If you leave someone to their own devices, you let
them look after themselves, without help or supervision.
- devil's advocate
- During a discussion or debate, if you play devil's advocate,
you pretend to be against an idea or plan in order to determine the validity of the arguments in favour of it.
"She decided to play devil's advocate just to see how strongly people felt about the project."
- During a discussion or debate, if you play devil's advocate,
you pretend to be against an idea or plan in order to determine the validity of the arguments in favour of it.
- the devil is in the details
- This expression refers to a task or a job which appears
simple but is in fact more difficult to accomplish.
"Framing a picture looks easy but the devil is in the details."
- This expression refers to a task or a job which appears
simple but is in fact more difficult to accomplish.
- the devil makes hard work for idle hands
- This expression means that people who do not have enough to
do are often tempted to do something wrong.
"It's not good for kids to have nothing to do at the week-end; the devil makes work for idle hands!"
- This expression means that people who do not have enough to
do are often tempted to do something wrong.
- the devil take the hindmost
- This expression means that you should think of yourself and not worry about other people.
"When the boat capsized it was a case of 'the devil take the hindmost', but luckily they all survived."
- This expression means that you should think of yourself and not worry about other people.
- there'll be the devil to pay
- This is a way of announcing that there will be trouble if something happens.
"Be careful. There'll be the devil to pay if you break anything!"
- This is a way of announcing that there will be trouble if something happens.
- between the devil and the deep blue sea
- If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea,
you are in a situation where there are two equally unacceptable alternatives.
"When the new product didn't take off, the company was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: abandon the product or start a new marketing campaign."
- If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea,
you are in a situation where there are two equally unacceptable alternatives.
- speak of the devil!
- This is said to refer to a person who appears just when his/her name is mentioned.
"Well, speak of the devil! We were just talking about your invitation."
- This is said to refer to a person who appears just when his/her name is mentioned.
- dial it back
- If you dial it back, you reduce the intensity of something, or tone
it down.
"When Lucas started getting all excited, his mother said: Hey Lucas, dial it back a bit!"
- If you dial it back, you reduce the intensity of something, or tone
- the dice are loaded (against someone)
- If everything seems to work to your disadvantage, and success seems unlikely, perhaps for unfair reasons,
you can say that the dice are loaded against you.
"I applied for the job, but being a woman, and over forty, the dice were loaded against me."
- If everything seems to work to your disadvantage, and success seems unlikely, perhaps for unfair reasons,
you can say that the dice are loaded against you.
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