(not) a dicky bird
(Not) anything at all. We've had him detained for four hours, but he won't say a dicky bird to us about his involvement in the robbery. We heard not a dicky-bird out of the kids all night—they were quiet as can be. I don't know who the boss is leaning toward giving the promotion to—she hasn't said a dicky bird to me about it.
dickey
obsolete An undergarment worn beneath a petticoat. A respectable lady never goes out without a dickey! Between the dickey, the petticoat, and the gown itself, I feel like I can barely move! I'm glad I don't have to worry about things like petticoats, dickeys, and corsets in today's world!
dicky
1. adjective, slang In poor condition; unwell. Primarily heard in UK. Tom said he was feeling a little dicky today, so he might be a bit late getting into work. A: "Would you like some eggs and sausages for breakfast?" B: "No thanks, I've got a bit of a dicky tummy this morning." I don't care if you're feeling dicky—you're not missing your exams!
2. adjective, slang Functioning poorly or improperly. Primarily heard in UK. It looks like a dicky carburettor is to blame for your engine troubles. Hmm, if it works some of the time, your machine might just have a dicky connector. I think my phone has a dicky keyboard. Look, I just tried typing my name, and this is the nonsense I ended up with!
3. noun, slang A shirt. The term comes from rhyming slang in which "dicky" is short for "dicky dirt," which rhymes with "shirt." Primarily heard in UK. You don't even have your dicky on yet? Come on, man, it's almost time to leave! Can you answer the door? Someone's knocking and I haven't got a dicky on—or pants, for that matter! A: "So that's the dicky you plan to wear with that jacket?" B: "Mum!" A: "What? It's just a question."
dicky dirt
slang A shirt. The phrase comes from rhyming slang in which "dicky dirt" rhymes with "shirt." Primarily heard in UK. You don't even have your dicky dirt on yet? Come on, man, it's almost time to leave! Can you answer the door? Someone's knocking and I haven't got a dicky dirt on—or pants, for that matter! A: "So that's the dicky dirt you plan to wear with that jacket?" B: "Mum!" A: "What? It's just a question."
dicky-licker
vulgar slang One who performs fellatio. A homophobic slur often used to show general disdain for a male, regardless of his sexual orientation.
not hear a dicky bird
To not hear or receive any sound, utterance, or item of communication. ("Dicky bird" is sometimes hyphenated.) We haven't heard a dicky-bird out of the kids all night—I think one of us should go check on them.
not say a dicky bird
To not say or communicate anything at all. ("Dicky bird" is sometimes hyphenated.) We've had him detained for four hours, but he won't say a dicky bird to us about his involvement in the robbery.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.