dark
"keep it DARK," i.e., secret. A DARK horse is, in racing phraseology, a horse of whom nothing positive is known, but who is generally supposed to have claims to the consideration of all interested, whether bookmakers or backers.
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dark and bloody ground
Kentucky. So called by the Indians because of the fierce wars waged in the forests, and later so known by the whites for the same reason in their struggle against the red man.
dark cloud
A problem or worry that spoils an otherwise pleasant situation
dark cully
A married man that keeps a mistress, whom he visits only at night, for fear of discovery.
dark horse
A surprise winner or competitor
darkee
A dark lanthorn used by housebreakers. Stow the darkee, and bolt, the cove of the crib is fly; hide the dark lanthorn, and run away, the master of the house knows that we are here.
darken a church door
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
darken someone's door
to visit someone's home, often uninvited or unwelcome
darkman's budge
One that slides into a house in the dark of the evening, and hides himself, in order to let some of the gang in at night to rob it.
darky
Twilight; also a negro. DARKMANS, the night.
Darky Cuntinent
Africa.
darlo
Darlington
darn
Vulgar corruption of DAMN.—American.
darn tootin'
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
dart
A straight-armed blow in boxing.
dart about
To move quickly and nervously in different directions
Darwinian Theory
Charles Darwin (1809-82) published in 1859 Origin of Species, to prove that the numerous species now existing on the earth sprang originally from one or at most a few primal forms; and that the present diversity is due to special development and natural selection. In recent times the Darwinian theory has undergone very con- siderable modification but it is still the basis of scientific research. See EVOLUTION.
dash
A tavern drawer. To cut a dash: to make a figure.
dash
To jot down suddenly. "Things I have DASHED off at a moment’s notice."
dash my buttons
Here, "buttons" means- lot or destiny, and "dash" is a euphemistic form of a stronger word.
dash off
Create or write something quickly
dash someone's hopes
To disappoint or destroy someone's plans or expectations
date with destiny
An inevitable or predetermined event or encounter
daub
In low language, an artist. Also a badly painted picture.
daughter of Eve
A woman, especially one who is perceived as cunning or deceitful
David and Goliath
A situation where a smaller opponent faces a much larger or more powerful one
David and Jonathan
A type of inseparable friends. Similar examples of friendship were Pylades and Orestes (#.v.); Damon and Pythias G?.v.);etc.
david jones
The devil, the spirit of the sea: called Necken in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.
david’s sow
"as drunk as DAVID’S sow," i.e., beastly drunk. See origin of the phrase in Grose’s Dictionary.
Davis Cup
A silver trophy for an inter- national Lawn Tennis team championship, presented by the American politician, Dwight
davy
I'll take my davy of it; vulgar abbreviation of affidavit.
davy
"on my DAVY," on my affidavit, of which it is a vulgar corruption. Latterly DAVY has become synonymous in street language with the name of the Deity; "so help me DAVY," generally rendered, "swelp my DAVY." Slang version of the conclusion of the oath usually exacted of witnesses.
Davy Jones
A sailor's name for the supposed evil spirit of the sea. He's gone to Davy Jones's locker.
Davy Jones's locker
the bottom of the sea, especially as a grave for sailors
Davy Lamp
A miners safety-lamp invented by Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) and brought into use in the mines in 1816.
davy’s locker
Or DAVY JONES’S LOCKER, the sea, the common receptacle for all things thrown overboard;—a nautical phrase for death, is "gone to DAVY JONES’S LOCKER," which there means the other world.—See DUFFY.
dawdle
To loiter, or fritter away time.
dawk
The post.—Anglo-Indian.
dawn of a new day
A new beginning or fresh start
dawn of time
The beginning of time or the earliest period in history
dawn on
To become suddenly aware or realize something
day after day
Happening or done every day
day and age
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
day and night
continuously or constantly
Day and St
Peter's Eve "to be captaine and gardian of the batchelers and the unwedded youth of the civitie." For the year the "Mayor" had authority to punish those who frequented houses of ill-fame. He was termed "Mayor of the Bull-ring" because he conducted any bachelor who married during his term of office to an iron ring that used to hang in the market place and to which bulls were tied for baitmg, and make him kiss it.
day at the beach
an enjoyable and relaxing experience
day book
A book m which are set down the debits and credits which occur day by day. These are ultimately "posted" in the ledger (q.v.).
day in, day out
Always.
day lark
a person who is most active during the day
day lights
Eyes. To darken his day lights, or sow up his sees; to close up a man's eyes in boxing.
day of days
a uniquely special or important day
day of reckoning
Settlement day; when one has to pay up one's account or fulfil one's obligation; also used of the Day of Judgment.
day or night
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
day out
a day spent away from home for pleasure
daylight robbery
an act of theft or exploitation that is blatant and unfair
Daylight Saving
A system of advancing the clock by an hour on some specified day in the Spring, and putting back the hands one hour on a specified day in autumn. By this device greater advantage can be taken of the longer evenings of summertime.
daylights
Eyes; "to darken his DAYLIGHTS," to give a person black eyes. Also the spaces left in glasses between the liquor and the brim,—not allowed when bumpers are drunk. The toast-master in such cases cries "no DAYLIGHTS or heeltaps!"
days and nights
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
Days fatal to Kings
Much foolish super- stition has been circulated respecting certain days supposed to be "fatal" to the crowned heads of Great Britain^ The following notes will help the reader to discriminate truth from fiction : —
days of yore
times in the past, especially those considered charming or romantic
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