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Phrases related to: literal and figurative language Page #40

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double-edged swordUsed other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see double-edged,‎ sword.Rate it:

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double-tonguedSaying one thing to one person and something different to another; double talking; deceitful in speech.Rate it:

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doucement va bien loinFair and softly goes far; Slow and sure wins the race.Rate it:

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Down in the DumpsDepressed and unhappyRate it:

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down lowAfter asking you to "high five" or saying "up top" someone will then say "down low". This means they are asking you to "high five" or tap the palm of their hand with the palm of your hand down lower--about waist high--as they extend their hand out toward you. If you don't respond timely they may take their hand away and say "too slow" then laugh. It's just something Americans do to have fun.Rate it:

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Downing Streeta street leading off Whitehall in Westminster, London containing the residences of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the ExchequerRate it:

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drag one's feetTo procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.Rate it:

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drag something outDelay a decision by dragging, stretching, extending the conversation by injecting incidentals or humdrum history/misinformation/disproved calculations and extrapolations:Rate it:

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drag upUsed other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see drag,‎ up.Rate it:

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draw a line in the sandTo indicate the threshold or level above which something will become unacceptable or will provoke a response; to create a boundary and imply or declare that its crossing will provoke a (negative) response.Rate it:

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draw stumpsTo declare an end to the days play, and remove the bails and sometimes the stumps.Rate it:

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drinking ageA two and an ace as a starting hand in Texas hold 'emRate it:

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drive-by mediaMedia professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.Rate it:

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drop a bombTo announce surprising or alarming information suddenly and without warning.Rate it:

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drop a bombshellTo announce surprising or alarming information suddenly and without warning.Rate it:

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drop anchorTo release the anchor of a ship or boat, allowing it to fall to the bed of a body of water and thereby securing the vessel in place.Rate it:

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drop byTo visit informally and spontaneously.Rate it:

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drop outPrematurely and voluntarily leave (school, a race, or the like).Rate it:

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drop shipwhen a manufacturer ships products directly to a buyer by arrangement through a seller. The seller makes the sale of the product to the buyer and makes money from the sale without handling the product.Rate it:

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drop someone a lineWrite and send (someone) a note or telegram.Rate it:

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drug on the marketSomething which is overabundant at the moment and thus not in demand.Rate it:

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du temps que berthe filaitWhen Adam delved and Eve span; In the good old times.Rate it:

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duck duck gooseA children's game where kids sit in a circle facing each other with their eyes closed. One child is designated "it" and walks around the outside of the circle saying "duck" as he/she touches each child's head. Finally, instead of saying "duck" the person who is it says "goose!" then runs forward around the circle and tries to sit down in the spot where the "goose" was sitting. The goal of the game is for the person who is "it" to sit down before the "goose" catches him/her. If he/she does sit down before being touched/tagged, then the "goose" becomes "it" and the process begins again. If the "goose" catches the person who was "it" then the person who was "it' is out of the game and the circle moves in closer/smaller until only one sitting winner remains.Rate it:

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duck outTo depart quickly or exit abruptly by way of, especially in a manner which does not attract notice and before a meeting, event, etc. has concluded.Rate it:

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duck testfor application of common sense and/or intuition regardless of technical parameters.Rate it:

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dumb downTo convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.Rate it:

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dusty millerOne of several species of plants with leaves of a dusty appearance: Centaurea cineraria, Senecio cineraria, and Lychnis coronaria.Rate it:

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Dutch reckoningA (falsified) bill that is not itemised, and that is unjustifiably high.Rate it:

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Dutch TreatOne pays for oneself for food and entertainment on any social event/occasionRate it:

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dyed in the woolSimple past tense and past participle of dye in the wool.Rate it:

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dying quailA pop fly which is hit weakly and falls in front of the outfielders.Rate it:

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dynamite chargeUsed other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see dynamite,‎ charge.Rate it:

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é bom queUsed other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see é, bom, que.Rate it:

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e comoUsed other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see e, como.Rate it:

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e comoand how !Rate it:

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e così viaand so on, and so forthRate it:

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è l'uovo di Colomboit's as plain as the nose on your face; it's extremely clear and obvious.Rate it:

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e olha que"and mind you"!Rate it:

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e olhe láUsed other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see e, olhe, lá.Rate it:

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e olhe láUsed to end a sentence, indicates that a small improvement is already more than expected and one should not hope for more.Rate it:

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e por aí foraand so on; and so forthRate it:

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e taland suchRate it:

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e uns quebradosand changeRate it:

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e vissero per sempre felici e contentiand they lived happily ever afterRate it:

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E&OEErrors and omissions excepted or excluded.Rate it:

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ea aetate, id aetatis esseto be of such and such an age.Rate it:

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easy come, easy goEasily won and easily lost; usually said when resigned to a loss.Rate it:

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eat itUsed other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see eat,‎ it.Rate it:

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Eat Out of Your HandTo be incredibly supportive to someone; to trust and follow someone without inquiryRate it:

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eat upTo accept or believe entirely, immediately, and without questioning.Rate it:

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