English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms D, page 5
Idioms D, page 5: from: 'disaster written all over' to: 'dog eat dog'
- disaster written all over it
- If something, such as a plan or idea, has disaster written
all over it, it is thought to be heading for complete failure, or will cause
a lot of trouble.
"Mary's idea of a holiday with her in-laws has disaster written all over it!"
- If something, such as a plan or idea, has disaster written
all over it, it is thought to be heading for complete failure, or will cause
a lot of trouble.
- dive in headfirst
- If you begin something enthusiastically, without thinking
about the possible consequences, you dive in headfirst.
"Tony accepted the project without calculating the time it would take; he always dives in headfirst!"
- If you begin something enthusiastically, without thinking
about the possible consequences, you dive in headfirst.
- do a double take
- Someone who does a double take looks again in
surprise at something unexpected.
"He did a double take when he saw his wife in a restaurant with another man."
- Someone who does a double take looks again in
surprise at something unexpected.
- do a disappearing act
- If someone does a disappearing act, they simply vanish,
especially if they have done something wrong or dishonest.
"Just before the police arrived, the suspect did a disappearing act."
- If someone does a disappearing act, they simply vanish,
especially if they have done something wrong or dishonest.
- do a good turn
- If you dosomeone a good turn, you act in a helpful way.
"Mike is a great guy - always ready to do a good turn."
- If you dosomeone a good turn, you act in a helpful way.
- (not) do justice
- Something that does not show the true value of someone or
something does not do justice to them/it.
"The photograph doesn't do her justice; she's much prettier than that."
- Something that does not show the true value of someone or
something does not do justice to them/it.
- do more harm than good
- If the effect of an action is more damaging than helpful, it
does more harm than good.
"Giving him money did more harm than good - he spent it on alcohol."
- If the effect of an action is more damaging than helpful, it
does more harm than good.
- do nothing by halves
- When a person does everything they are engaged in completely
and thoroughly, they are said to do nothing by halves .
"When she cooks, it's a four-course meal - she does nothing by halves!"
- When a person does everything they are engaged in completely
and thoroughly, they are said to do nothing by halves .
- do somebody's dirty work
- To do somebody's dirty work means to do the
unpleasant or difficult work that another person does not want to do.
"Life is easy for Harry. He always finds someone to do his dirty work!"
- To do somebody's dirty work means to do the
unpleasant or difficult work that another person does not want to do.
- do the spadework
- Someone who does the preparatory
work or the preliminary research.
"Although I did all the spadework, my name was never mentioned."
- Someone who does the preparatory
work or the preliminary research.
- do the trick
- If something does the trick, it does exactly what is
needed, or achieves the desired effect.
"Another coat of paint should do the trick."
- If something does the trick, it does exactly what is
needed, or achieves the desired effect.
- just what the doctor ordered
- If something is just what the doctor ordered, it is
extremely pleasant and will help you feel better.
"A week-end in the sun - just what the doctor ordered!"
- If something is just what the doctor ordered, it is
extremely pleasant and will help you feel better.
- a doddle
- If a task or activity is a doddle, it is very
easy to do or perform.
"How did the exam go?" "No problem, it was a doddle."
- If a task or activity is a doddle, it is very
easy to do or perform.
- dodge a bullet
- If you dodge a bullet, you narrowly avoid a very
serious problem or a disaster.
"I dodged a bullet when I missed the plane. It crashed just after take-off."
- If you dodge a bullet, you narrowly avoid a very
serious problem or a disaster.
- dog eat dog
- This expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in
pursuit of one's own interests, with no concern for morality.
"The business world is tough today. There's a general dog-eat-dog attitude."
- This expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in
pursuit of one's own interests, with no concern for morality.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists D ...
more alphabetical lists...
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.