Dot Your i’s and Cross Your t’s

Meaning of Idiom ‘Dot your (or one’s) i’s and cross your t’s To dot your i’s and cross your t’s means to pay attention to the fine details when completing a task; to be meticulous and precise; to make sure everything is done correctly; to not allow for any mistakes; to be careful and attentive … Read more

Dilly Dally

The English word dally means to act or move slowly. The idiom dilly dally is a reduplicative compound based on dally, in which sounds are contrasted and repeated. Dilly dally probably arose because of another such idiom shilly-shally, a now archaic term meaning to be undecided or have a hard time making up one’s mind.1 … Read more

Dirt Cheap Meaning

Meaning of Idiom ‘Dirt Cheap’ When something is dirt cheap it is very inexpensive. 1 Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Examples Of Use “You won’t believe what I found at a garage sale. An autographed Stephen King novel. It was dirt cheap, too!” “Fifteen dollars a month for … Read more

Die Is Cast, the

Meaning of Idiom ‘The Die is Cast’ The die is cast means the future is set and things will unfold inevitably because a decision has been made or a course of action has been taken which cannot be changed. 1,2,3 Examples of Use “Well, I’ve sold my house and quit my job. The die is cast!” … Read more

Dish The Dirt

Meaning Dish the dirt: Gossip or spread malicious rumors or negative information and to do so with no regards to the damage done to others. Compare: Dish Out or Dish it Out Examples Of Use “The tabloid exists solely to dish the dirt on celebrities.” “The reporter made a career out of dishing the dirt so … Read more

Dish Out or Dish it Out

Also: Dish it out but can’t take it Meaning Dish out (something): To give out something (advice, praise, favors, insults, criticism, information, etc.) in large amounts. The idiom is normally used in a critical sense and it is often negative things that are “dished out.” Dish it out: To dispense insults or abuse. Although the … Read more

Diamond in the Rough

Also: Rough diamond. Meaning of Idiom ‘Diamond in the Rough’ When we call someone or something ‘a diamond in the rough‘ we mean that their good qualities are hidden. The idiom describes a person who is good but is perhaps uncouth, unkempt, rude, socially awkward, etc. With a little work, this person’s good qualities could be … Read more