dab (redirected from dabs)

dab something off (of) something and dab something off

to pat or wipe something off something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Please dab the butter off your chin. Please dab off the butter. Dab the moisture off of the apples.

dab something on(to) something and dab something on

to pat or spread carefully something onto something else. Dab some medicine onto the scratch. Dab on some medicine.

dab at something

to touch or pat something. The painter dabbed at the canvas, making little changes here and there. Don't just dab at the wall, spread the paint on!

---

be a dab hand  (British & Australian)

to be very good at an activity (often + at ) You should get Ann to have a look at that. She's a dab hand at getting stains out of clothes. (often + with ) I hear you're a dab hand with the paintbrush. (= you are good at painting)

See also: hand

smack-bang  (British, American & Australian informal) also smack-dab (American informal)

exactly in a particular place, especially in the middle of somewhere (always + adv/prep ) She lives smack-bang in the middle of London.