"Dead" means without life, but in English we also use it to make an expression more lively!
"Dead center" is the exact middle of something: He hit the target dead center.
"Dead of winter" means the coldest, darkest time: She had to travel a long way in the dead of winter.
"Stop dead" means to stop moving: We stopped dead when we heard him shout.
"Dead ahead" means directly in front: When I went up on deck, Hainan Island was dead ahead.
"Dead end" means a street with no exit: I had to back the car out of the dead end.
"Dead heat" means a tie: The two race-horses crossed the finish line in a dead heat.
"Dead letter" means two things: a letter that can't be delivered, or a law that's not enforced: Her postcard ended up in the dead-letter office. The law against smuggling is a dead letter.
"Deadline" is the time when something must be done: The deadline for completing the report is noon on June 5.
"Deadlock" means lack of activity because of two equal forces fighting each other: The talks have reached a deadlock because neither side will give up anything.
"Deadpan" means a face without expression: He's got such a deadpan that I never know what he's thinking.
"Dead set" means very determined: She is dead set on going to China this year.
"Deadwood" means a useless person or thing: That company is losing money because it has so much deadwood in its management.
"Dead shot" means very accurate: He is a dead shot with a pistol or rifle.
"Deadbeat" means someone who doesn't pay his debts: I lent him $100, but the deadbeat never paid me back.
Here are some other "death" expressions.
If a girl is drop-dead gorgeous, she is so beautiful that the boys die when they look at her.
If a ship is dead in the water, it has no power.
A person who sleeps very hard is dead to the world.
A dangerous building is a deathtrap.
If you like something very much, you are willing to die to get it; so some people say, "This chocolate cake is to die for."
If a person dies violently, we might say, "He died with his boots on." (This is why in the American West, the cemetery was called Boot Hill--because the people buried there died with their boots on.)
Do you know any other "death" expressions in English?
I'm dying to keep all the "dead" expressions in my mind!
Posted by: Lingo | August 27, 2007 at 03:26 AM
Don't worry, Lingo--you're too young to die! :-)
Posted by: Crof | August 28, 2007 at 07:46 PM