degree (redirected from -degree)

the third degree (informal)

a situation in which someone tries to find out information by asking you a lot of questions. Where have I been, who have I been with! What's this? The third degree? If I'm even half an hour late she gives me the third degree. I got the third degree from my dad when I got in last night.

See also: third

to the nth degree

as much or as far as possible. What I find is that you can follow instructions to the nth degree and still get it wrong.

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by degrees

in small stages. By degrees the country began to question the decisions their leaders were making.

to the nth degree

as much or as far as possible. It was a perfect evening — the parking, the dining, the service, everything worked to the nth degree. She pushed dance traditions to the nth degree.