Dictionary: DE – DEADH

► DE n. 1. a DEfendant → 1970 US criminals’ sl.
n. 2. the DEceased → 1970 US criminals’ sl.
► DEAC n. a deacon → 1742 Amer. sl. 
► DEACON n. 1. a superior or head workman; an adept, a proficient, a master; a thoroughly capable man → 1790 Sc. 
n. 2. a chimney-sweep’s scraper → 19C chimney-sweeps’ usage 
n. 3. an excessively stupid or unpleasant person → 20C teen sl., derogatory
n. 4. a prison warden → 1949 US sl.
vb. 1. to arrange so as to present a specious and attractive appearance; to present the best and largest specimens (of fruit or vegetables) to view and conceal the defective ones → 1855 US sl. 
vb. 2. to sophisticate, to adulterate, to doctor, as, to ‘deacon’ wine or other liquor → 1889 Amer. sl. 
► DEACON SEAT n. 1. in a lumber camp: the long bench in the bunkhouse → 1851 US sl. 
n. 2. the seats nearest a fire → 1975 US sl. 
► DEACON-SEATER n. a good tall story → 1975 Amer. dial. 
► DEACON’S NOSE n. the flat lobe at the nether end of a chicken, which is like a mammal’s tail, base for the tail-feathers → 1967 Can. sl. 
► DEACTION n.  a finishing or perfecting → 1656 obs. 
► DEAD adj. 1.  dull; tedious and uninteresting → 1000 
adj. 2. of the face: deadly pale, wan → 1386 obs. 
adj. 3. ruined; destroyed → 1400 
adj. 4. lacking brilliance and overtones; flat; dull → 1530 
adj. 5  absolute; assured → 1589 
adj. 6. complete, utter → E17
adj. 7. of a beer bottle, whisky bottle, or other bottle: finished, empty → M18 sl. 
adj. 8. flat  → 1782 obs.
adj. 9. very drunk → 19C
adj. 10. tired to exhaustion → 1813 Amer. sl. 
adj. 11. perfect; genuine; veritable; unmistakable; absolute → 1819 Amer. sl.
adj. 12. of people: forgotten → M19 African-American sl. 
adj. 13. ample; great in number or quantity → 1866 Amer. sl. 
adj. 14. unconscious, senseless → 1887 Amer. dial. 
adj. 15. being no longer a tramp or criminal; reformed → 1899 Amer. sl. 
adj. 16. of things, ideas: unfashionable, out of style → M19 African-American sl. 
adj. 17. of a house or place: uninhabited, empty, deserted → L19 sl. 
adj. 18. quiet → 20C Aust. sl. 
adj. 19. having completed a dribble and being forced either to shoot or pass → 20C basketball sl. 
adj. 20. of a horse racing track: not conducive to fast racing → 20C Aust. sl. 
adj. 21. sexually dull → 20C Aust. sl. 
adj. 22. having no knowledge; exceedingly stupid; dense → 1900 sl. 
adj. 23. not operating; not startable →  1902 Amer. sl. 
adj. 24. of a place, esp. a club or party: boring, unexciting → 1930 sl. 
adj. 25. intoxicated with marijuana → M20 US drug culture sl. 
adj. 26. finished; lost; arrested, captured → 1950 sl. 
adj. 27. of a racehorse: not run on its merits; ridden to lose deliberately → 1957 Aust. sl. 
adj. 28. penniless → 1960 African-American sl. 
adj. 29. said of a bumper that scores when hit but does not propel the ball back into play → 1977 US pinball sl. 
adj. 30. in a bar: used to describe a drink that has been abandoned → 1985 UK sl. 
adj. 31. said of a shot made such that the cue ball stops completely after striking the object ball → 1990 US pool sl. 
adj. 32. facing trouble → 1990 US students’ sl. 
adj. 33. of dice: weighted to have one face land up more often than the law of averages would predict → 1993 US sl. 
adv. intensifier; very, thoroughly, absolutely, extremely, completely; wholeheartedly → 1589
n. 1. death → 1766 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial. 
n. 2. a complete failure in recitation → 1827 Amer. students’ sl. 
n. 3. problems, trouble → 20C W. Indies & Barbados sl. 
n. 4. a letter or package that can neither be delivered nor returned → 1950 US Post Office usage
n. 5. a corpse → 1971 Barbados
n. 6. in card games: cards that have been discarded → 1973 US sl. 
n. 7. an empty house → L20 sl. 
vb. 1. to become dead; to die → 950 obs. 
vb. 2. to deprive of sensation or consciousness; to stupefy; to benumb → 1382 obs. 
vb. 3. to lose vitality, force, or vigour; to become numb; to lose heat or glow → 1384 obs. 
vb. 4. to deprive of force or vigour → 1586 obs. 
vb. 5. of a teacher: to cause a student to fail in recitation → 1837 Amer. sl. 
vb. 6. to make a complete failure in recitation; to be ignorant of the lesson → 1847 Amer. sl. 
vb. 7. to loaf around; to idle → 20C US sl. 
vb. 8. to abandon, esp. one’s boyfriend or girlfriend → 1997 African-American sl.
vb. 9. to remove, to steal → 2000 US prison sl. 
► THE DEAD n. horse as dead certainties → 1870 turf sl. 
► DEAD-A-BIRD adj. nearly dying; ill → 1893 Eng. dial. 
► DEAD ABOVE THE EARS adj. inattentive; absent-minded → 1942 Amer. sl.  (Bk.)
► DEAD AIR n. a sudden and undesirable silence → 1950 US broadcasting sl. 
► DEAD ALIVE adj. 1. dull, inactive, spiritless; stupid → 1591 chiefly US
adj. 2. miserable, down in the mouth → M19 sl. 
adv. (‘dead-alive) extremely slowly → 1971 Trinidad and Tobago 
n. the number five → 1981 UK bingo sl. 
► DEAD AND ALIVE adj. 1. miserable, down in the mouth → M19 sl. 
adj. 2. dull, inactive, spiritless, stupid → 1862 chiefly US
► DEAD AND GONE adj. dead and buried → 1871 Sc. & Eng. dial. 
► DEAD AND GONE BACK adj. dead and buried → 1900 Eng. dial.  (Bk.)
► DEAD AND HAPPED UP adj. dead and buried → 1900 Eng. dial.  (Bk.)
► DEAD AND LOW LAID adj. dead and buried → 1900 Eng. dial.  (Bk.)
► DEAD AND WON’T LIE DOWN phr. refusing to give in → 20C Aust. sl. 
► DEADAS n. meat → 1990 W. Indies sl. 
► DEAD AS A BED-POST adj. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS A DODO adj. absolutely lifeless; entirely hopeless; defunct or out of date → 1904 sl. 
► DEAD AS A DOOR-NAIL adj. completely or certainly dead; absolutely lifeless; entirely hopeless → 1350
► DEAD AS A DOOR-POST adj. quite dead → 1906 Amer. dial. 
► DEAD AS A HAMMER adj. quite dead → 1866 Eng. & Amer. dial. 
► DEAD AS A HATCHET adj. quite dead → 1899 Amer. dial. 
► DEAD AS A HERRING adj. completely or certainly dead → 1598
► DEAD AS A LOG adj. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS A MACKEREL adj. quite dead → 1853 Amer. dial. 
► DEAD AS A MAGGOT adj. quite dead → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS A MAWK adj. quite dead → 1805 Sc. 
► DEAD AS A MELL adj. ‘as dead as a door-nail’; quite dead → 1798 Sc. 
► DEAD AS A MOA adj. long dead; outmoded → 1955 NZ sl.
► DEAD AS A NIT adj. quite dead → 1883 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► DEAD AS A PICKLED HERRING adj. quite dead → 1852 Amer. dial.
► DEAD AS A RAG adj. quite dead → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS A SMELT adj. quite dead → 1854 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► DEAD AS A WOODEN INDIAN adj. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS BARNEY’S BULL adj. absolutely worthless → M19  sl.
► DEAD AS BILLY-BE-DAMNED adj. very dead → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS CHOPPED SAUSAGE adj. quite dead → 1843 Amer. dial.
► DEAD AS DISCO adj. completely dead → 1995 US sl.
► DEAD AS DITCHWATER adj. of beer, spirits, etc.: flat, stale → 1900 Sc. & Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS DOGSHIT adj. absolutely dead → 1980 sl.
► DEAD AS HANNAH EMERSON adj. quite dead → 1907 Amer. dial.
► DEAD AS HAY adj. lifeless; lacking energy → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS HECTOR adj. quite dead → 1908 Amer. dial.
► DEAD AS JOB’S TURKEY adj. very dead → 1853 Amer. dial.
► DEAD AS JULIUS CAESAR adj. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD AS KELSEY’S NUTS adj. very definitely dead; out of favour → 1930 US sl.
► DEAD AS MUTTON adj. 1. completely dead → 1788 sl.
adj. 2. of a place: quiet, deserted → 1843 sl.
► DEAD-ASS adj. 1. very boring, feeble, or very stupid → 20C Amer. sl.
adj. 2. (usually as ‘dead-ass’) lacking animation, energy, or spirit; lifeless; usually considered vulgar → 1961 Amer. sl.
adv. 1. lifelessly, listlessly → 1970 US sl.
adv. 2. utterly; absolutely; completely, totally; usually considered vulgar → 1971 Amer. sl.
n. 1. the seated rump; usually considered vulgar → 1950 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a lazy or stupid person; a boring, useless or feeble person; an absolute dullard; an idler → 1959 Amer. sl.
n. 3. one whose case is hopeless; a goner → 1968 Amer. sl.
► DEAD-ASS BROKE adj. utterly broke → 1971 Amer. sl.
► DEAD-ASS STUPID adj. completely stupid → 1985 Amer. sl.
► DEAD-ASS WRONG adj. completely wrong → 1983 Amer. sl.
► DEAD ATTRACTIVE adj. completely cute → 1980 Amer. sl.
► DEAD BABIES n. semen → 1998 US sl.
► DEAD BABY n. suet pudding with sauce → 1950 sl., chiefly UK juvenile usage
► DEAD-BANG adj. 1. of a criminal case: open-and-shut; irrefutable → 1934 Amer. sl.
adj. 2. certain; absolute → 1985 Amer. sl.
adv. 1. absolutely; without doubt; hence, in the act; redhanded → 1919 Amer. police usage
adv. 2.squarely; smack → 1978 Amer. sl.
► DEAD-BANG GUILTY adj. absolutely guilty → 1987 Amer. sl.
► DEAD BATTERY n. an irritable or gloomy person; a pessimist → 1945 World War II Amer. sl.
► DEAD BEAT adj. 1. thoroughly defeated → 1820 sl.
adj. 2. completely exhausted → 1821
adj. 3. lazy, idle → M19 sl.
adj. 4. certain → 1859 US sl.
adj. 5. useless, ne’er-do-well, impoverished → L19 sl.
adj. 6. shabby and grungy; down and out → 20C Aust. sl.
adj. 7. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
(nouns usually as ‘deadbeat’)
n. 1. of people: a failure, a down-and-out, an impoverished person; a person down on their luck; a jobless and homeless person → M19 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a malingerer or loafer; one who avoids exertion in any form; anyone exempt from military action, even if in uniform → 1862 Amer. sl., esp. military
n. 3.  a fraudulent or worthless item; also, a deception or disappointment → 1866 Amer. sl.
n. 4. a cadger or sponger; a penniless scrounger; a worthless idler; one who will not or cannot pay debts → 1871 Amer. sl.
n. 5. a worthless or unsociable person; a party pooper or one who is considered a wet blanket → 1872 Amer. sl.
n. 6. an impostor or pretender; a fraud; a cheat → 1873 Amer. sl.
n. 7. a mixture of ginger-soda and whisky, taken by hard drinkers after a night’s carousal → 1877 US sl.
n. 8. a hobo or tramp riding free on a train → 20C Amer. sl.
n. 9. one who cheats or cons someone out of money or other valuables → 1900 African-American sl.
vb. 1. to waste time; to idle about; to take advantage of, to impose on → 1881 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to cheat → L19 US sl.
vb. 3. to sponge on someone → L19 US sl.
► DEADBEAT DAD n. a man who is delinquent in paying child support awards → 1990 Amer. sl.
► DEADBEAT DADDY n. a man who is delinquent in paying child support awards → 1990 Amer. sl.
► DEADBEATER n. a dead person → 20C Amer. sl.
► DEADBEATISM n. worthlessness → M19 sl.
► DEADBELL n. a ringing in the ears → 20C Irish sl.
► DEAD BETWEEN THE EARS adj. inattentive; absent-minded → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD BIRD n. 1. in horse racing: a certainty → 1889 Aust. sl.
n. 2. a hopeless case, situation, or person → 1900 US sl.
n. 3. a vulture → 1967 Amer. dial.
► DEAD BOARD n. an Internet bulletin board system designed by, and for, fans of the Grateful Dead → 1994 US sl.
► DEAD BOOK vb. to kill, to hang → E19 UK criminals’ sl.
► DEAD-BORN adj. stillborn; pert. to a child born dead → 1330 now chiefly Eng. dial.
► DEAD-BROKE adj. ruined, bankrupt, penniless; destitute → 1842 Amer. colloq.
vb. to impoverish → M19
► DEAD-BROKER n. a down-and-out, an impoverished person → L19 Aust. sl.
► DEAD BUTT adj. (usually as ‘dead-butt’) lacking animation, energy, or spirit; lifeless; usually considered vulgar → 1958 Amer. sl.
n. the seated rump; usually considered vulgar → 1959 Amer. sl.
► DEAD CARD n. something that is hopeless, out of favour, unlucky, unfashionable, or unpopular → 1899 Amer. sl.
► DEAD CARGO n. the proceeds of a robbery that have turned out to be less valuable than hoped → L17 UK criminals’ sl.
► DEAD CART n. a vehicle used for transporting the dead; a hearse → 1965 Amer. dial.
► DEAD CAT n. in the circus: a lion, tiger, etc. that does not perform but is only exhibited → 1930 Amer. circus usage
► DEAD-CAT BOUNCE n. a tiny rise or recovery after a decline → 1990 Amer. stock market usage
► DEAD CAT ON THE LINE n. something causing suspicion, mistrust, or concern; something immoral → 1965 Amer. dial.
► DEAD CAT UP THE BRANCH phr. used to suggest that something is suspicious, something is not as it should be, someone is attempting to deceive the speaker → 20C sl.
► DEAD CAT UP THE LINE phr. used when something seems suspicious → 20C African-American sl.
► DEAD CENTRE n. 1. a point at which nothing is happening → 1920 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a cemetery → 1961 UK sl.
► DEAD-CERT adj. certain → 1993 Aust. sl.
n. (‘dead cert’) a certainty, esp. in race-course betting → 1889 UK sl., orig. sporting & gambling usage
► DEAD CHICKEN n. a doomed person, a lost soul → 1960 US sl.
► DEAD CHOCKER ► DEAD CHOKKA adj. very bored → 1950 sl., orig. military usage
► DEAD CHUFFED adj. 1. highly delighted → 1950 sl.
adj. 2. displeased, disgruntled → 20C army sl.
► DEAD-CINCH adj. certain → 2001 UK sl.
n. (as ‘dead cinch’) a horse, etc. supposed to be certain to win; a thing sure to happen; an absolute certainty → 1927 sl.
► DEAD CLEAR TO YOUR NAVEL adj. lifeless → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD COP n. a sure way to win, or to make money → 1870 sporting sl.
► DEAD-COPPER n. an informer to the police → 1920 Aust. sl.
► DEAD CUNT n. a strong term of abuse → 1990 Aust. sl.
► DEAD-DEAF adj. quite deaf → 1865 Sc.
► DEAD DOG int. a command to a dog: lie down and remain still → 1965 Amer. dial.
n. a drained liquor bottle → 1918 US Navy sl.
► DEAD-DOING adj. ‘doing to death’; causing death; killing, murderous; destructive, fatal, mortal → 1590 obs.
► DEAD-DOUR adj. utterly immovable → 1900 Sc. (Bk.)
► DEAD DROP n. in espionage or a sophisticated criminal venture: a location where a message can be left by one party and retrieved by another → 1986 US sl.
► DEAD DRUNK adj. so drunk as to be insensible or unable to move; in a state of prostration through intoxication → 1599
► DEAD DUCK n. 1. a person or thing that has become useless, worthless, or powerless; an absolute failure → 1829 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a person lacking good prospects; a person or thing doomed to failure or disaster; one whose case is hopeless; a goner → 1944 sl.
► DEAD EASY adj. said of any woman (other than a prostitute), who is ready to go home and sleep with a man → 20C Cockneys’ colloq.
► DEAD EGG n. a colourless, uninspiring person; a ‘wet blanket’ → 1964 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► DEADEN vb. 1. to slow down or reduce the speed of something → 1661 
vb. 2. to kill someone → 1974 Amer. dial.
► DEAD END n. in bowls: an end (a stage of play) that has to be replayed when the jack is driven out of bounds → 1990 UK
► DEAD-END KID n. a youth with no future, usually a male → 20C Amer. sl.
► DEAD-END STREET n. the female genitals → 1930 Can.
► DEADENER n. 1. one that is stunning; a ‘knockout’ → 1870 Amer. sl.
n. 2. an enormous meal eaten after having been deprived of food for some time → 1927 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a bully; one who prefers to settle arguments through violence → 1930 Aust. sl.
► DEADER n. 1. a dead person; a corpse → 1853 sl.
n. 2. an utterly exhausted person → 1895 Amer. sl.
n. 3. a hearse → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEADERS n. animal flesh, meat by-products eaten as food → 1980 W. Indies & Black British teen sl.
► DEADER THAN A DOORNAIL adj. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEADER THAN A HERRING adj. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEADER THAN A PELCHER adj. quite dead → 1927 Amer. dial.
► DEADER THAN A WOODEN INDIAN adj. dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEADER THAN HAY adj. lifeless, lacking energy → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► DEADER THAN KELSEY’S NUTS adj. very definitely dead; out of favour → 1930 US sl.
► DEADEYE n. 1. a worthless fellow; a dolt → 1849 US nautical usage
n. 2. Deady brand gin; gin → 1890 US sl.
n. 3. a skilled marksman → 1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. the anus → 1961 US sl., esp. nautical & prison usage
n. 5. a pure black marble → 1970 Amer. dial.
vb. to stare at in a chilly manner → 1960 US sl.
► DEAD EYE AND HORSE n. a pie and sauce → 20C Aust. rhyming sl.
► DEADEYE DICK n. 1. an active male homosexual → 1960 Amer. homosexual sl.
n. 2. (as ‘dead eye dick’) a person who is an excellent shot → 1986 Aust. sl.
► DEAD-EYES UNDER adj. of a ship: listing heavily → M19 nautical sl.
► DEADFALL n. 1. a dishonest, disreputable, vice-ridden drinking establishment → 1837 US sl.
n. 2. a Western stunt rider in motion pictures → 1925 cinematic sl.
► DEAD FETTLE n. a lifeless condition → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD FINISH n. the end → 1881 Aust. sl.
► THE DEAD FINISH n. 1. the extreme point or instance of courage, cruelty, excellent, endurance, etc. → 1881 Aust. colloq.
n. 2. an excellent person; an out-and-outer → 1892 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD FINK n. an attractive girl → 20C Irish sl.
► DEAD FISH n. a gambler who places small bets to prolong the inevitable → 1963 US sl.
► DEAD-FLESHED adj. having a chilly sensation like dead flesh → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD FLICK adj. very desirable → 20C Irish sl.
► DEADFOOT n. a slow vehicle → 1976 US sl.
► DEAD FOR adj. in desperate need of → 1876 Amer. sl.
► DEAD FOR ADO adj. dead and done with → 16C colloq.
► DEAD FOR SLEEP adj. deadly in need of sleep → 1957 Amer. dial.
► DEAD FROM THE HOOFS UP adj. inattentive; absent-minded → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD FROM THE NECK BOTH WAYS adj. exceedingly stupid → 1924 Amer. sl.
► DEAD FROM THE NECK UP  adj. 1. no longer open to new ideas → 20C Amer. sl.
adj. 2. exceedingly stupid; brainless; habitually tongue-tied → 1911 sl.
adj. 3. inattentive; absent-minded → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD FROST n. a fiasco, a complete failure → 1875 theatrical sl.
► DEAD GAFF n. a premises with no-one in → 1955 UK sl.
► DEAD-GAME adj. dissolute, ostentatious → L19 US students’ sl.
► DEAD-GARTH n. the burying ground → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD GIVE-AWAY n. 1. a notable indication, or betrayal of guilt, or defect; a completely betrayal → 1882 US colloq.
n. 2. a swindle, a deception → L19 sl., orig. US
► DEAD GROTTY adj. nasty → 1984 Amer. sl.
► DEAD HAND n. 1. an expert → 19C sl. 
n. 2. in poker: any hand held by a player who has bet all of his chips or money on the hand → 1947 US sl.
► DEADHEAD adj. 1. useless; non-participant → M19 sl.
adj. 2. non-paying → 1892 Amer. dial.
adv. 1. for free → M19 sl.
adv. 2. of a cab, aeroplane, etc.: being driven without its usual load or passengers → 1920 sl.
n. 1. one who receives goods or services without paying; a person travelling or receiving admission to games, theatres, etc. without charge → 1841 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a non-participant, one who does not contribute → M19 sl.
n. 3. one who stands about a bar to drink at the expense of others → 1892 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
n. 4. a pilot, flight attendant, etc., travelling on a plane as a passenger → 20C Aust. sl.
n. 5. a bottle of wine or spirits that has been emptied → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 6. a member of a football or cricket team called upon to play at a pinch → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 7. a dull and ineffectual person; a lifeless or boring person → 1907 sl.
n. 8. a cheat → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
n. 9. a drunk person → 1930 African-American sl.
n. 10. a stupid person → 1930 African-American sl.
n. 11. a railroad car or engine being pulled empty → 1938 Amer. dial.
n. 12. an old ox → 1940 Amer. dial.
n. 13.  a lazy, worthless person or animal; an idler, a loafer; a term of disparagement → 1965 Amer. dial.
n. 14. a very inexperienced person → 1965 Amer. dial.
n. 15. a person who doesn’t pay his bills → 1965 Amer. dial.
n. 16. an old man → 1965 Amer. dial.
n. 17. a follower of the Grateful Dead, a band strongly associated with psychedelic drugs, seen by many to epitomise the hippie ideal → 1972 US sl.
n. 18. a person given a ticket or tickets for having performed minor services in a theatrical production → 1973 US sl.
n. 19. a non-playing observer of gambling → 1974 US sl.
n. 20. a young person, preaching a philosophy of ‘love and peace’, backed by a wide spectrum of drug usage, esp. of cannabis and hallucinogens; a hippie, esp. a devotee of a ‘back to nature’ lifestyle → 1980 sl.
n. 21. a state of non-communication → 2000 sl.
vb. 1. to obtain goods, services, transportation, admission, etc. without paying; to sponge; to allow someone to do the same → 1855 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to drive a cab, aeroplane, etc. without its usual load or passengers → 1920 sl.
vb. 3. in trucking: to drive a return trip without a load → 1951 Amer. dial.
vb. 4. to work at a useless job → 1958 Amer. dial.
vb. 5. to coast in a car with a depleted petrol supply → 1976 US sl.
vb. 6. to discourage → 2001 UK sl.
vb. 7. to ignore → 2002 UK sl.
► DEAD-HEADED adj. 1. useless; non-participant → M19 sl.
adj. 2. inattentive; absent-minded → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD HEART n. the arid inland regions of Australia → 1906 Aust. sl.
► DEAD-HEARTED adj. dead in feeling, callous, insensible → 1642
► DEAD HEAT n. a necktie → 1980 Aust. sl.
► DEAD-HOLE n. a grave → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEAD HORSE n. 1. a debt for wages paid in advance which must be worked off → 1832 Amer. dial.
n. 2. work that doesn’t pay but must be done → M19 sl.
n. 3. a debt of any kind → 1854 Amer. dial.
n. 4. stew → 20C sl.
n. 5. tomato sauce → 1966 Aust. rhyming sl.
► DEAD HORSES n. shooting stars → 1892 W. Indian sl. (Bk.)
► THE DEAD HOUR OF NIGHT n. midnight → 1870 Sc.
► DEAD-HOUSE n. 1. a building or room in which dead bodies are kept for a time; a mortuary → 1833
n. 2. a grave → 1844 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a room in an outback public house set aside for those who are incapably drunk → M19 Aust. sl.
n. 4. a particularly unappealing bar or saloon → L19 US sl.
n. 5. a funeral parlour → 1965 Barbados sl.