dirt

dig the dirt

to try to find out bad things about someone in order to stop other people admiring them. No effort is being spared to dig up dirt on the enemy. (often + on)

See also: dig

dirt cheap (informal)

extremely cheap. This may seem like a great deal of money but in advertising terms it is dirt cheap.

See also: cheap

dirt-poor (informal)

extremely poor. Most of the population in this undeveloped area were dirt-poor and jobless.

dish the dirt (informal)

to tell people unpleasant or shocking personal information about someone. Shauna agreed to dish the dirt on her millionaire ex-lover for a fee of £5,000. (often + on) Some journalists just enjoy dishing the dirt.

See also: dish

do someone dirt (American, informal)

to behave unfairly or badly towards someone, often without them knowing. Mack really did me dirt - he stopped me from getting my promotion.

hit the deck/dirt (American & Australian, informal)

to fall to the ground, or to quickly lie on the ground, especially to avoid danger. The shooting started, and I heard someone shout 'Hit the deck!'

See also: deck, hit

hit/strike pay dirt (American & Australian)

to achieve or discover something important or valuable. She finally hit pay dirt with her third novel which quickly became a best seller.

See also: hit, pay, strike

rub someone's nose in it (informal, informal)

to say or do something which makes someone remember that they have failed. I didn't tell him I'd started another relationship. I didn't want to rub his nose in it.

See also: nose, rub

treat someone like dirt

to behave badly towards someone in a way that shows that you do not respect them. I don't know why she stays with him. He treats her like dirt.

See also: like, treat

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dig up (some) dirt (on someone)

to look for and find unpleasant or embarrassing information about someone. They tried to dig up some dirt on their political enemies.

Etymology: based on the slang meaning of dirt (= negative information about a person)

See also: dig

dish the dirt (on someone/something)

to talk about other people without worrying about being truthful. E-mail us and dish the dirt on anyone – husbands, kids, whoever. Did you know that now astronauts can dish the dirt from space?

dish out something

Etymology: based on the phrase dish out food (= to serve food ) and dirt (= negative information about a person)

See also: dish

hit pay dirt

to succeed. He hit pay dirt with his next movie, which grossed $270 million worldwide.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of pay dirt (= dirt that contains valuable metals)

See also: hit, pay

hit the dirt

to fall to the ground suddenly to avoid danger. The kid next door threw a rock at him, but Ted hit the dirt and the rock didn't hit him.

See also: hit

treat someone like dirt

to deal with someone in a manner that shows no respect for them. If you treat your customers like dirt, they won't come back to your shop.

See also: like, treat