(first) dibs (on something)
slang The rights to something, or the rights to have first choice of something. "Dibs" are usually claimed verbally. The word is a shortening of "dibstones," counters used in an 18th-century children's game. I call dibs on the front seat! Hey, I had dibs on being first in line! A: "Can I have this pudding cup?" B: "No, Sarah's got first dibs."
call dibs (on something)
slang To claim the right to do or choose something first before others. "Dibs" is a shortening of "dibstones," counters used in an 18th-century children's game. Hey, I called dibs on sitting in the front seat of the car! Whoever calls dibs can have this last piece of cake. Sally called dibs on this one, so you'll have to pick a different one.
have (got) dibs
slang To have claimed the right to do or choose something first before others. "Dibs" are usually claimed verbally. The word is a shortening of "dibstones," counters used in an 18th-century children's game. Hey, I had dibs on being first in line! A: "Can I have this pudding cup?" B: "No, Sarah's got dibs." Hey, Sally has dibs on this one, so you'll have to pick a different one.
have dibs on (something)
slang To have the rights to something, or the rights to have first choice of something. "Dibs" are usually claimed verbally. Hey, I had dibs on being first in line! That's not fair! Mom, I had dibs on the front seat! A: "Can I have the last pudding cup?" B: "No, Sarah has dibs on it."
put dibs on (something)
slang To claim the right to do or choose something first before others. A possessive adjective can be used between "put" and "dibs." I put dibs on sitting in the front seat of the car! Sally put her dibs on this one, so you'll have to pick a different one.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
dibs on something
a claim on something. I've got dibs on the yellow one! Dibs on the front seat!
have dibs on something
to reserve something for oneself; to claim something for oneself. (Often said by children.) I have dibs on the last piece of cake. John has dibs on the last piece again. It isn't fair.
put one's dibs on something
to lay a claim to something; to announce one's claim to something. She put her dibs on the last piece of cake. I put my dibs on the seat by the window.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
have dibs on
Have a first claim on something, as in If you don't want it, I have dibs on the next available apartment. This term was originally schoolyard slang. [c. 1930]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.