Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

Makkai Adam

[dead duck]{n.}, {slang} A person or thing in a hopeless situation or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen. •/When the pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck./

[deadhead]{n.}, {slang} An excessively dull or boring person. •/You’ll never get John to tell a joke — he’s a deadhead./

[dead letter]{n. phr.} An undeliverable letter that ends up in a special office holding such letters. •/There is a dead letter office in most major cities./

[deadline]{n.} A final date by which a project, such as a term paper, is due. •/The deadline for the papers on Shakespeare is November 10./

[dead loss]{n. phr.} A total waste; a complete loss. •/Our investment in Jack’s company turned out to be a dead loss./

[dead on one’s feet]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Very tired but still standing or walking; too tired to do more; exhausted. •/Jimmy never leaves a job unfinished. He continues to work even when he’s dead on his feet./ •/After the soldiers march all night, they are dead on their feet./ Compare: DEAD TIRED, WEAR OUT(2).

[deadpan]{adj.}, {adv.}, {slang} With an expressionless or emotionless face; without betraying any hint of emotion. •/She received the news of her husband’s death deadpan./

[dead pedal]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A slow moving vehicle. •/Better pass that eighteen wheeler, Jack; it’s a dead pedal./

[dead ringer]{n. phr.} A person who strongly resembles someone else. •/Charlie is a dead ringer for his uncle./

[dead set against]{adj. phr.} Totally opposed to someone or something. •/Jack is dead set against the idea of marriage, which upsets Mary./

[dead tired]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very tired; exhausted; worn out. •/She was dead tired at the end of the day’s work./ Compare: DEAD ON ONE’S FEET.

[dead to rights]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Without a chance of escaping blame; proven wrong. •/Mother had Bob dead to rights, because she caught him with his hand in the cookie jar./ •/The police caught the man dead to rights./

[dead to the world]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Fast asleep. •/Tim went to bed very late and was still dead to the world at 10 o’clock this morning./ 2. As if dead; unconscious. •/Tom was hit on the head by a baseball and was dead to the world for two hours./

[dead-end]{n.} A street closed at one end; a situation that leads nowhere. •/Jim drove into a dead-end street and had to back out./ •/Mary was in a dead-end job./

[dead-end]{v.} To not continue normally but end in a closure (said of streets). •/Our street dead-ends on the lake./

[deaf] See: TURN A DEAF EAR TO.

[deal] See: GOOD DEAL or GREAT DEAL, NEW DEAL, NO DEAL, THINK A GREAT DEAL OF, WHEEL AND DEAL.

[deal in]{v. phr.} To sell; do business in a certain commodity. •/Herb’s firm deals in sporting goods./

[deal with]{v. phr.} 1. To conduct negotiations or business dealings with. •/John refuses to deal with the firm of Brown and Miller./ 2. To handle a problem. •/Ted is a very strong person and dealt with the fact that his wife had left him much better than anyone else I know./

[dealer] See: WHEELER-DEALER at WHEEL AND DEAL.

[dear] See: FOR DEAR LIFE.

[Dear John letter]{n. phr.} A note or a letter informing one that a romantic relationship or a marriage is over. •/Jane left a "Dear John letter" on the table and went home to live with her parents./

[dear me]{interj.} Used to show surprise, fear, or some other strong feeling. •/Dear me! My purse is lost, what shall I do now?/

[death] See: AT DEATH’S DOOR, BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, CATCH ONE’S DEATH OF or TAKE ONE’S DEATH OF, SIGN ONE’S OWN DEATH WARRANT, TO DEATH.

[death knell]{n.}, {formal} 1. The ringing of a bell at a death or funeral. •/The people mourned at the death knell of their friend./ 2. {literary} Something which shows a future failure. •/Bill’s poor grade on his final examination sounded the death knell of his hope to be a doctor./ •/His sudden deafness was the death knell of his hope to become President./

[death on]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very successful in meeting or dealing with. •/Joe is death on fast balls. He usually knocks them out of the park./ 2. Disliking or strongly against; very strict about. •/The new teacher is death on students who come late to class./ •/The twins' grandmother is death on smoking./

[deck] See: HIT THE DECK, ON DECK.