be half the (something) (one) used to be

To lose some of one's skill in a particular area. This phrase can also be applied derisively to men who appear to have lost their virility, especially after marriage. After years away from the sport, she's half the swimmer she used to be—I doubt she'll place in the upcoming meet. A: "Can you believe that Joe is out shopping with his wife right now, instead of watching the game with us?" B: "Ever since he got married, he's half the man he used to be." When I went back to grad school in my 30s, I found that I was half the student I used to be. It was really hard to motivate myself to do homework after so many years without it!

erotic dancer

Someone who dances seductively for an audience while wearing little or no clothing. Please tell me you didn't go see erotic dancers during your bachelor party. Yes, it's true—I paid my way through college by being an erotic dancer. Look, I don't feel comfortable staring at a stage full of erotic dancers wearing next to nothing.

exotic dancer

Someone who dances seductively for an audience while wearing little or no clothing. Please tell me you didn't go see exotic dancers during your bachelor party. Yes, it's true—I paid my way through college by being an exotic dancer. Look, I don't feel comfortable staring at a stage full of exotic dancers wearing next to nothing.

gandy dancer

old-fashioned A worker in a railway gang who lays and maintains railroad tracks. My granddaddy worked as a gandy dancer building the first stretch of railroads across the state. The first gandy dancers laid down railroad tracks in this area in 1836. Every time you ride the train into the city, think of the gandy dancers who made all this possible.

grave-dancer

One who delights in or benefits from someone else's death or misfortune. I'm sure Laura's thrilled that my venture failed—I know she's secretly a grave-dancer. I'm not usually a grave-dancer, but I never liked Melissa, so I can't say I'm sad that things aren't working out for her. Don't be a grave-dancer. You wouldn't want someone celebrating your failures, would you?

lap dancer

Someone, typically a woman, who dances exotically while straddling and rubbing against a customer's lap. John's friends took him to a strip club and paid a lap dancer to give him a private session for his birthday. My parents don't approve of her working as a lap dancer, but she's earning enough to pay her way through college.

pole dancer

A dancer who uses a vertical pole fixed to the ground and ceiling as part of their dance routine, often by twirling and swinging around it. Though traditionally performed as erotic entertainment while nude or partially clothed, such dancing is also done for fitness or fun. I know my parents wouldn't have approved if they knew I was working as a pole dancer to pay for college, so I just told them I was waiting tables. If you're really interested in becoming a pole dancer, I teach classes at the gym.

erotic dancer

n. a dancer, typically female, who performs teasing and sexually stimulating dances, usually on a stage. She was a school teacher by day and an erotic dancer by night.

grave-dancer

n. someone who profits from or takes advantage of someone else’s misfortune. (From dance on someone’s grave, seemingly in celebration of someone else’s misfortune.) I don’t want to seem like a grave-dancer, but his defeat places me in line for a promotion.

lap dancer

n. an exotic dancer who writhes and rubs her posterior on the lap of a seated customer. Most of us lap dancers follow rules about no touching.

pole dancer

n. a woman, thought of as a stripper, who performs erotic dances around a metal pole, onstage, exploiting the pole’s phallic form. Jed swears that he has never seen an inept pole dancer.