the order of the day

Something that is a priority in a certain situation or at a given time. If you're taking the kids to the beach, then sunscreen is the order of the day. While you're in college, studying is the order of the day, not socializing!

See also: of, order

order of the day

something necessary or usual at a certain time. Warm clothes are the order of the day when camping in the winter. Going to bed early was the order of the day when we were young.

See also: of, order

order of the day, the

The prevailing or expected mode, the current agenda, as in Volatility is the order of the day in high-tech stocks, or T-shirts and blue jeans were the order of the day for the picnic. This expression, dating from the late 1600s, originally alluded to the subject of debate in a legislature on a particular day, as well as to specific commands given to troops. Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1700s.

See also: of, order

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.

the order of the day

COMMON If something is the order of the day, it is what is happening or necessary in a particular situation. Wage cuts were the order of the day owing to the government's economic measures. Informality is the order of the day among all the Princess's household.

See also: of, order

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

the order of the day

1 the prevailing state of things. 2 something that is required or recommended.

2 2001 Rural Cooperatives Mergers and consolidations have been the order of the day among cooperatives that are faced with the declining number of producers and rising energy-based and other costs.

See also: of, order

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

the ˌorder of the ˈday

what is normally done, etc. or should be done in a particular situation; the usual attitudes, beliefs, etc. of a particular group of people: Dinner jackets and evening dresses are the order of the day at these parties.

See also: of, order

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

order of the day, the

The agenda; the most important activity or issue. This term originated in the seventeenth century and was used both in the military, for specific commands given to the troops for the day, and in legislative bodies for the day’s agenda. By the late eighteenth century it was being used figuratively, as by George Washington, quoted as saying (1795), “Peace has been (to borrow a modern phrase) the order of the day.” The poet Howard Fish put it very cynically (The Wrongs of Man, 1819): “The good but pine; the order of the day is—prey on others, or become a prey.”

See also: of, order

See also:

References in classic literature

It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of the day."

View in context

We gazed helplessly at the systematic, cold, gray-eyed obstinacy of the Easterly weather, while short rations became the order of the day, and the pinch of hunger under the breast-bone grew familiar to every sailor in that held-up fleet.

View in context

dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, the order of the day is not to allow any person to remain in this corridor; I am on guard for that particular purpose."

View in context

Laughter and excitement were the order of the day. Trent, with his suddenly pallid face and unseeing eyes, seemed a little out of place in such a scene of pleasure.

View in context

The order of the day had been carefully arranged by a committee.

View in context

these are no thoughts for the present times, when muskets, standards, proclamations, and beating of drums are the order of the day."

View in context

The children of the neighborhood recovered from the awe of the grand carriage which once had visited Martin, and from safe distances they called him "hobo" and "bum." The Silva tribe, however, stanchly defended him, fighting more than one pitched battle for his honor, and black eyes and bloody noses became quite the order of the day and added to Maria's perplexities and troubles.

View in context

Behind the tents the great war-horses, armed at all points, champed and reared, while their masters sat at the doors of their pavilions, with their helmets upon their knees, chatting as to the order of the day's doings.

View in context

What's the order of the day? Is Master Snawley to come along with us?'

View in context

But, for the most part, projects absorbing huge amounts of cash and time are not the order of the day in the UK North Sea any more.

Sea change in new oil and gas projects; The Voice of the North

Summary: Ascot [UK], Jun 19 (ANI): Top hats, plumes of feathers and flowers were the order of the day as the British Royalty enjoyed day one of the Royal Ascot here on Tuesday.

Royals usher in day 1 of the Ascot races in style

Kenyans have one more week to register for Huduma Namba, following an order for an extension by President Uhuru Kenyatta.Friday was the last day for the listing so long queues were the order of the day as members of the public skipped work and school in a last minute rush.

Uhuru extends Huduma Namba registration by one week

Lamenting how, according to her, the society is drifting towards moral declension, Abdullateef said shameful acts in various forms had become the order of the day.

Embrace Hijab Or Forget Our Votes, Muslim Women Tell Politicians

The order of the day as notified by the Sindh Assembly's secretariat, in addition to a Question Hour regarding the prisons department, featured an adjournment motion filed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's member Mohammad Hussain to be tabled for admissibility.

Sindh Assembly meets today

Hard Work and Energizing Discussions was the order of the Day!!

Maryland Nurses Association leadership day April 2, 2016