door (redirected from dooring)

back-door

by/through the back door - not in a direct, official, or honest way. The minister dismissed suggestions that the move was a back-door attempt to introduce national identity cards.

be at death's door (informal)

to be nearly dead. Don't exaggerate, it was only flu - you were hardly at death's door.

beat a path to someone's door

to be very eager to speak to someone and do business with them. Put that ad in the paper and you'll have half the town beating a path to your door.

See also: beat, path

behind closed doors

if something is done behind closed doors, it is done in private. The United Nations Security Council met behind closed doors in New York.

See also: behind, closed

by/through the back door

not in a direct, official, or honest way. He accused the government of privatizing the health service through the back door.

See also: back, through

close/shut the door on something

to make it impossible for something to happen, especially a plan or a solution to a problem. There are fears that this latest move might have closed the door on a peaceful solution.

See also: close, shut

closed-door

a closed-door event is one that is secret and not open to the public. At a special closed-door session of the UN, the ambassador confirmed the withdrawal of his country's troops. (always before noun)

closing/shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted

trying to stop something bad happening when it has already happened and the situation cannot be changed. Improving security after a major theft would seem to be a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

See also: after, bolt, has, horse, shut

get a/your foot in the door (British, American & Australian, Australian)

to start working at a low level for an organization because you want a better job in the same organization in the future. I know it's not the job you'd hoped for, but at least you can use it to get your foot in the door.

See also: foot

give someone a foot in the door

get a/your foot in the door - to start working at a low level for an organization because you want a better job in the same organization in the future. The freelance work I did gave me a foot in the door.

See also: foot, give

keep the wolf from the door

to have enough money to be able to eat and live. Forty percent of the country's population receive part-time wages that barely keep the wolf from the door.

See also: from, keep, wolf

lay something at someone's door

to blame someone for something bad that has happened. The blame for their deaths was laid firmly at the government's door.

See also: lay

never darken your door again (old-fashioned)

if you tell someone never to darken your door again, you mean you never want to see them again. Did her father really tell you never to darken his door again? How melodramatic.

See also: again, never

open (new) doors

to give someone new opportunities. The success of that film opened new doors for him. (sometimes + for) Early results show that the new system would open doors to disadvantaged people. (sometimes + to)

See also: open

open the door to something

to allow something new to start. The ceasefire opens the door to talks between the two sides. A new kind of fat-free fat could open the door to a revolution in snack foods.

See also: open

push at an open door

to achieve what you want easily because a lot of people agree with you or help you. The campaigners are pushing at an open door because most local residents support their campaign against the new road. (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: open, push

a revolving door (mainly American)

the movement of people from one organization or activity to another, especially from government jobs to private companies. Congress has tightened regulations to slow down the revolving door between government and industry. (often + between)

show someone the door

to make it clear that someone must leave. I told her that I wasn't interested in her scheme and she showed me the door in no uncertain terms.

See also: show

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at death's door

dying or very ill. He literally was at death's door when a liver became available for transplant.

beat a path to someone's door

to be very eager to see you. Whenever some ordinary guy wins a big lottery, the press beats a path to his door.

See also: beat, path

behind closed doors

privately or secretly. The serious meetings took place behind closed doors and not during social events. Politicians still decide on candidates behind closed doors.

See also: behind, closed

close the door on something

1. to end a situation or event. The court's decision closes the door on a shameful episode in the country's history.

2. to prevent something from happening. We shouldn't be too quick to close the door on change. I'm trying to decide what to do next, and I'm not going to close the door on anything.

See also: close

door to door

1. from one place to another. The trip takes an hour door to door.

2. at or to every house. Harris ran a classic political campaign, visiting with folks door to door.

get your foot in the door

to have an opportunity. This part-time work has allowed Frank to get his foot in the door and he hopes it will lead to a full-time job.

See also: foot

lay something at someone's door

to blame someone for something. The error in the notice about the date of our next meeting must be laid at my door.

lay the blame on someone/something

See also: lay

open doors (to someone/something)

to provide new opportunities or possibilities. These days, it's cable TV that is opening doors to talented young people and giving them a chance to succeed. When I was a student, a college diploma was guaranteed to open doors.

open the door to something

See also: open

open the door to something

to allow something to happen. The meeting opened the door to real peace talks between the two sides.

open doors (to someone/something)

See also: open

show someone the door

to make someone leave. Jones made the mistake of complaining about the boss and was shown the door. Dick was rude to my family and I simply showed him the door.

See also: show

through the back door

illegally or dishonestly. Bennett had many friends in city government and was known for getting jobs for his friends through the back door.

See also: back, through