Idioms/D
Idioms beginning with D. Select an idiom for more details.
a done deal
INFORMAL
A done deal is an agreement or a decision that is final.
a drop in the bucket
If an amount is a drop in the bucket, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed.
a drop in the ocean
If an amount is a drop in the ocean, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed.
damned if you do and damned if you don't
If you say "damned if you do and damned if you don't" you're saying that no matter what someone does, they'll be criticised for it.
day to day
If something happens day to day, it's part of your usual daily routine.
de rigueur FORMAL
If something is de rigueur, it is necessary to have if you want to be fashionable or be accepted into a particular social scene.
dead in the water
If something is dead in the water, it has no chance of succeeding or of making any progress.
dead to the world INFORMAL
If you're dead to the world, you are sound asleep.
deep pockets
You can say a person or an organisation has deep pockets if they have lots of money.
dig one's own grave
If you dig your own grave, you do something unwise that will result in your own failure or downfall in the future.
dig up dirt
If you dig up dirt on someone, you try to find details from their past to make them look bad in the present.
dig your heels in
If you dig your heels in, you stubbornly resist something or refuse to change.
dirt cheap
You can say something is dirt cheap if it costs very little money.
do someone's dirty work
If you do someone's dirty work for them, you do something unpleasant for them because they don't want to do it for themselves.
do you the world of good
If something does you the world of good, it makes you feel a lot better.
do your best
If you do your best, you do something as well as you possibly can, or to the best of your ability.
dot the i's and cross the t's
If you dot the i's and cross the t's, you do something very carefully to make sure you haven't made any mistakes.
down in the dumps | down in the mouth INFORMAL
If you're down in the dumps, or down in the mouth, you're feeling sad.
down to earth
If someone is down to earth, they are practical and sensible.
drag your feet | drag your heels
If you drag your feet, or drag your heels, you do something slowly because you don't really want to do it.
draw a blank INFORMAL
If you draw a blank, you get no response when you ask for something, or get no results when you search for something.
dressed (up) to the nines INFORMAL
If you are dressed to the nines, or dressed up to the nines, you are wearing very smart clothes for a special occasion.
drink like a fish INFORMAL
If someone drinks like a fish, they drink a lot of alcohol.
drop a bombshell
If you drop a bombshell, you announce some shocking news.
the die is cast
We can say the die is cast after a decision has been made that will strongly affect a situation, and it can't be reversed.