put the dead wood on
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To gain a great advantage over (someone).
Register: dated, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “put the dead wood on” mean?
To gain a great advantage over (someone).
Is “put the dead wood on” formal or informal?
put the dead wood on is generally dated, slang.