English Bites Library
Common Expressions
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explore the common expressions library
dance to someone's tune
To dance to someone's tune is to do whatever someone tells you to.
We'll have to dance to the tune of our new boss.
 
dare say
I dare say means I suppose, or it seems likely.
I dare say you find this example useful.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
I'd be lost, very saddened to have to give up and not show movies. It's been part of my life now for almost a quarter of a century, but I dare say I'd have to live with it.
 
dates back
goes back in time to
The feud dates back to an insult someone made twenty years ago
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
The construction of the 1,400km line is the realisation of a grand vision that dates back more than 100 years.
 
David and Goliath battle
A David and Goliath battle is an uneven contest between someone very small and someone very large and powerful with the possibility that the small contestant might win.
This Saturday's game between the teams on the top and bottom of the competition looks like being a David and Goliath battle.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's shaping up to be a David and Goliath battle and it's being waged from these modest campaign headquarters in Devonport.
 
days are numbered
To say that something's days are numbered means that it hasn't got long to live.
In some countries the days of smoking in restaurants are numbered.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Visit many suburban shopping strips these days and you'd be forgiven for thinking the days of the corner store are well and truly numbered.
 
dead easy
Dead easy is slang. It means very, very easy.
Learning English with English Bites is dead easy.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
And while there are ready-made worm farms available, it's dead easy to make your own.
 
dead heat
A dead heat is a draw or a tie. It's when contestants get the same result as their opponents.
The race ended in a dead heat.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's going to be a dead heat today, I can guarantee that.
 
dead loss
complete failure; useless
This car is a dead loss - it won't go over 40km per hour.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
I'd say it's a dead loss. There's 100 acres here I don't think any of it's going to be much good to us.
 
dead meat
in serious trouble
You'll be dead meat if she finds out what you've done.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
And on the other hand, you had Gough Whitlam leading the renaissance of the Labor Party - bringing it back from 20 years of being dead meat.
 
dead of night
The dead of night is the quietest, darkest hours of the night .
He waited until the dead of night before breaking into the house.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
They come in the dead of night- ghostly forms, bright lights, and now they're getting physical.
 
devil's advocate
A devil's advocate is someone who argues against something without believing that what they are saying is true.
She doesn't really think that we should cut everyone's salary - she's just playing devil's advocate.
 
different kettle of fish
A different kettle of fish is something that is completely different from something that has just been mentioned.
Novelists are not always good sciptwriters. Writing for the screen is a different kettle of fish.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Do you think you would give the pulp mill a run for its money? I doubt that very much. We are a different kettle of fish in many ways. Our paper is entirely hand made using 2 000-year-old processes...
 
dig deep
To dig deep is to give lots of money or make a special effort.
You should dig deep for this worthy charity.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It is big corporates digging deep and they are ready to dig deep for young Australians.
 
dire straits
To be in dire straits is to be in extreme difficulty or in terrible circumstances.
We were in dire straits when I lost my job.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
There are no new drugs on the horizon, as far as we know, so if we don't do something soon, invest money and convince pharmaceutical companies that they have to do more in this area, then we're going to be in dire straits.
 
do a vanishing act
If someone does a vanishing act they go away or become difficult to find when there is unpleasant work to do or consequences to face.
Whenever it's time to do the dishes he does a vanishing act.
 
do it up
To do something up is to renovate it or improve it.
We'll have to do up the house before we try to sell it.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Well, I bought it two months ago. Did it all up. Was an auto electrician and I decided to put it in the ute show.
 
do your bit
Someone who is doing their bit is making a contribution or doing their share of the work.
He's doing his bit for the cause.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
But at the very least, they believe they're doing their bit to restore what they see as an imbalance in not only Australian theatre, but in the broader community.
 
do your nut
To do your nut is to lose your temper.
He did his nut when I told him I'd lost the money.
 
dog eat dog
A situation that is dog eat dog is fiercely competititive and unsentimental.
It's a dog eat dog world in big business.
 
dog's breakfast
Something that is a dog's breakfast is a mess.
You look like a dog's breakfast this morning.
 
dog's life
When someone says it's a dog's life, they mean that it is a life without much pleasure.
It's a dog's life in jail.
 
dolled-up
dressed in a showy way
She was all dolled-up to go out.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
I think it's, you know, like I said before, it's a night for us to, you know, get all dolled-up or whatever.
 
donkey work
Donkey work is the difficult and boring parts of a job.
I'll have to do the donkey work I suppose?
 
down in the dumps
To be down in the dumps is to be very sad or depressed.
I was down in the dumps when our team lost the final.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
My first impression was, "My goodness! Australia so beautiful!" The building looked so clean, the smell was so sweet. Just the perfect place. You can imagine that just heaven. This feeling lasted for a few months, and then I was really down in the dumps.
 
down the track
in the future
A few years down the track, I'll finish studying and find a job.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
A year down the track, the adoption will be finalised.
 
down to
Down to means caused by.
This mess is down to you.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Across the board, every type of child care service is really struggling to attract and retain skilled and qualified staff, and it's largely down to the appallingly low wages and poor conditions.
 
drag your feet
do something slowly and reluctantly
The government is dragging its feet over the new reforms.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
...if people drag their feet when it comes to investigating the possibilities that infections are causing these diseases, and if they dismiss them without really having evidence that warrants dismissing them, then many people may die.
 
draw a line in the sand
decide at what point you will not accept any more
We are drawing a line in the sand and not accepting any more road closures.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
And it's in the other direction, along the South Gippsland coast where residents are drawing a line in the sand.
 
draw a long bow
Drawing a long bow means to exaggerate or to make something seem bigger or better than it really is.
You'd be drawing a long bow to say that you sing like Pavarotti.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
We get some success in that but we'd be drawing a long bow if we said were as successful in that as we'd like.
 
draw me back
bringing me back; attracting me back
The quality of food at the market keeps drawing me back.
 
draw the line
To draw the line means to refuse to do something.
I draw the line at working on the weekend.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
But for now, the mill is drawing the line at testing other forms of native animal poo for paper-making qualities.
 
draw to a close
Something that is drawing to a close is about to finish.
The film is drawing to a close.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
...we can't underestimate how important those opportunities are as people's lives are drawing to a close.
 
dream come true
A dream come true means something you’ve waited for or wanted for a long time has finally become real.
Being chosen for the part in the film was a dream come true.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
His 500 year old works sell for millions if you can find one. That one could turn up in Adelaide would be a dream come true.
 
dressed to the nines
To be dressed to the nines is to be wearing very formal and elegant clothes.
We got dressed to the nines for the wedding.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
When Vicki isn't dressed to the nines, she's one of 111 students at the Cunderdin Agricultural College in WA.
 
drive up the wall
Being sent or driven up the wall is being driven crazy or being very annoyed.
The loud music next door is sending me up the wall.
 
drive you up the wall
To drive somebody up the wall is to annoy them or make them angry.
The noise from next door is driving me up the wall.
 
driving force
A driving force is the main cause of something or the person who makes things happen.
He is the driving force behind this project.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
The driving force behind the boom is 4-wheel drives.
 
drop in the ocean
A drop in the ocean means an insignificant contribution or having the same effect as one drop of water has in the whole ocean.
Reducing pollution by taking the train instead of driving is just a drop in the ocean, but at least it's not adding to the problem.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
While Recruitnet admits its recycling effort is just a drop in the ocean, it hopes to inspire both computer producers and consumers to do more to combat the problem.
 
drop out
leave; abandon; quit school
He dropped out of university in his first year.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Principal Steve Boyle hatched the childcare plan after watching many students become pregnant and drop out of the education system for good.
 
drum up
To drum up is to solicit things, especially trade or customers
We need to drum up a lot more support if we are going to win the election.
 
dummy run
A dummy run is a trial or an experimental attempt.
We need to do a dummy run to make sure that it works.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
We've done a lot of dummy runs to date, so we're fairly comfident we've got it right.
 
dyed in the wool
Someone who is dyed in the wool is seriously commited to something and not likely to change.
He's a dyed in the wool football fanatic.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Maybe in the short-term, zero tolerance thing will scare off a handful of newcomers to it, but for guys that are dyed in the wool graffiti artists or vandals, they're going to keep doing it irrespective of what the laws are.
 
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