dote

dote

slang Primarily heard in Ireland.

1. Someone who is extremely cute or adorable, especially a baby or young child. Is that your new baby? Oh my goodness, what a dote!

2. A very sweet, thoughtful, or generous person. A: "Here, I got you a coffee." B: "Oh, thank you, Sarah! You're such a dote!"

dote on (someone or something)

To give a lot of love and attention to someone or something, perhaps to excess. I can't help but dote on my kids whenever they're home from college—I just miss them so much when they're away!

See also: dote, on

dote over (someone or something)

To give a lot of love and attention to someone or something, perhaps to excess. I can't help but dote over my kids whenever they're home from college—I just miss them so much when they're away! Don't you think it's a bit weird the way he dotes over that car?

See also: dote, over

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

dote on

v.

To show excessive fondness or love to someone: My grandmother dotes on all of her grandchildren.

See also: dote, on

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.