Idioms for daily use (D)

Dead meat
This is used as a way of threatening someone: You'll be dead meat if you don't go
along.
 

Dead men's shoes
If promotion or success requires replacing somebody, then it can only be
reached by dead men's shoes' by getting rid of them.
 

Dead right
This means that something or someone is absolutely correct, without doubt.
 

Dead to the world
If somebody's fast asleep and completely unaware of what if happening around
them, he or she's dead to the world.
 

Dead wrong
If someone is dead wrong, they are absolutely in error, absolutely incorrect or of
incorrect opinion.
 

Deaf as a post
Someone who is as deaf as a post is unable to hear at all.
 

Dear John letter
A letter written by a partner explaining why they are ending the relationship is a
 

Dear John letter.
 

Death of a thousand cuts
If something is suffering the death of a thousand cuts, or death by a thousand
cuts, lots of small bad things are happening, none of which are fatal in
themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.
 

Death warmed up
(UK) If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. ('death
warmed over' is the American form)
 

Decorate the mahogany
(USA) When someone buys a round a pub or bar, they decorate the mahogany;
putting cash on the bar.
 

Deep pockets
If someone has deep pockets, they are wealthy.
 

Deep pockets but short arms
Someone who has money but never puts his hand in his pocket to pay for
anything has deep pockets but short arms.
 

Deer in the headlights
When one is caught offguard and needs to make a decision, but cannot react
quickly.
 

Deliver the goods
 

Do what is required, come up to expectations. For example, Kate delivered the
goods and got us the five votes we needed. This phrase alludes to delivering an
order of groceries or other items. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]
 

Demon weed
Tobacco is the demon weed.

Don't take any wooden nickels
(USA) This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped off.
 

Don't throw bricks when you live in a glass house
 

Don't call others out on actions that you, yourself do. Don't be a hypocrite.
 

Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you
 

Don't go looking for trouble or problems- let them come to you.
 

Don't upset the applecart
If you are advised not to upset the applecart, you are being told not to disturb
the way things are done because it might ruin things.
 

Don't wash your dirty laundry in public
(UK) People, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in
their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in
public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English,
'don't air your dirty laundry in public' is used.)
 

Done to death
If a joke or story has been done to death, it has been told so often that it has
stopped being funny.
 

Donkey work
Donkey work is any hard, boring work or task.
 

Donkey's years
This idiom means 'a very long time'.
 

Doormat
A person who doesn't stand up for themselves and gets treated badly is a
doormat.
 

Dot all the i's and cross all the t's
If you dot all the i's and cross all the t's, you do something very carefully and
thoroughly.
 

Double Dutch
(UK) If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.
 

Double take
If someone does a double take, they react very slowly to something to show how
shocked or surprised they are.
 

Double whammy
A double whammy is when something causes two problems at the same time, or
when two setbacks occur at the same time.
 

Double-edged sword
If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then
they are using a double-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways.
 

Doubting Thomas
A Doubting Thomas is someone who only believes what they see themselves, not
what they are told.

Drunk as a lord
(UK) Someone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.
 

Drunker than a peach orchard boar
(USA) Southern US expression - Very drunk, as when a boar would eat fermented
peaches that have fallen from the tree.
 

Dry as a bone
If your lawn is as dry as a bone, the soil is completely dry.
 

Dry as snuff
If something is as dry as snuff, it is very dry indeed.
 

Dry run 

A dry run is a full rehearsal or trial exercise of something to see how it will work
before it is launched.
 

Dry spell
If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren't being as successful as
they normally are.
 

Duck soup
(USA) If something is duck soup, it is very easy.
 

Duck to water
If you take to something like a duck to water, you find when you start that you
have a natural affinity for it.
 

Ducks in a row
(USA) If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.
 

Dull as ditchwater
(UK) If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a
long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty
colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad).
(In American English,'things are 'dull as dishwater'.)
 

Dumb as a rock
If you are dumb as a rock, you have no common sense and are stupid.
 

Dunkirk spirit
(UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult
time.
 

Dutch auction
If something is sold by setting a price, then reducing it until someone buys it, it
is sold in a Dutch auction. It can also mean that something is changed until it is
accepted by everyone.
 

Dutch courage
Dutch courage is the reckless bravery caused by drinking too much.
 

Dutch treat
If something like a meal is a Dutch treat, then each person pays their own share
of the bill.
 

Dutch uncle
A Dutch uncle is a person who gives unwelcome advice.