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Drop the hammer

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Drop the hammer

Origin of Phrases - D

 

Drop the hammer

Meaning: To kill someone.

 

Example: During the Ted Kazinski trial, the big question was not his guilt but if the jury would drop the hammer and call for the death penalty.

 

Origin: The "hammer" is the hammer of a gun. When the gun is cocked, the hammer has been pulled back. Pulling the trigger drops the hammer onto the cartridge, firing the gun. Popularized by the seemingly tireless stream of police dramas on television.

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Dicey situation

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Dicey situation

Origin of Phrases - D

 

Dicey situation

Meaning: Risky, potentially dangerous.

 

Example: Clinton put himself in a dicey situation by getting involved with a 21 year old intern.

 

Origin: Many betting games of chance, like craps, are played with dice. The phrase refers to the risk and uncertainty of those games.

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Daisy

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Daisy

Origin of Phrases - D

 

Daisy

The name of the flower comes from the expression "day's eve." The thought was that when the sun comes out, it opens its yellow eye.

 

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Dry As A Bone

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Dry As A Bone

Origin of Phrases - D

 

Dry As A Bone

It can be traced back to the 16th century, and is as literal an origin as you're ever going to find. It comes from dry bones in a human grave or of the bones of an animal long dead in the wild.
 

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Drinking a Toast

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Drinking a Toast

Origin of Phrases - D

 

Drinking a Toast

One of the meanings of "blank" is almost a forgotten one. At least as far back as the early 1800s, a blank referred to a lottery ticket that did not bring a prize. This is the blank that one draws.
 
 

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