dough

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(one's) cake is dough

One's actions have failed or not led to the desired outcome—much like a cake that is still dough after baking. The phrase appears in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. I know you worked really hard on this project, but it looks like your cake is dough, and you won't be winning the contest.

be rolling in dough

To be exceptionally wealthy; to have large amounts of money to spend. I hear her father is rolling in dough, so I wouldn't be too worried about her future. Once we get this plan underway, we'll be rolling in dough in no time!

dough-face

obsolete During the US Civil War, a Northerner with a sympathetic view of the South and slavery. A lot of dough-faces were driven by greed—slave labor would have made them a lot of money.

dough-faced

1. Exceptionally pale in the face. She was pale as a ghost after that car nearly ran into her on the sidewalk. I've been dough-faced my whole life—I look sickly if I don't use a lot of blush and bronzer.

2. Cowardly. I'm not surprised that Tom didn't come to the rally—he's too dough-faced to defend his beliefs in public.

dough-head

Someone who is dumb or stupid. Did you see the guy who's wearing two different shoes? What a dough-head.

early money is like yeast(, because it helps to raise the dough)

Early investments can help generate the growth of large amounts of money in the future. Used especially as a maxim in political fundraising. You've got to have an attitude of "early money is like yeast" as we raise money for our candidates. If we don't get the jump on fundraising now, we won't have a chance of making gains in the Senate. You really ought to start investing as soon as you can. Just remember, early money is like yeast, because it helps to raise the dough!

See also: because, early, help, like, money, raise, to

fork out the dough

To pay, generally unwillingly, a certain amount of money. If you want the most cutting edge technology, you'd better be prepared to fork out the dough for it. Listen, fork out the dough or you'll never see your husband again!

fork over the dough

To pay, generally unwillingly, a certain amount of money. If you want the most cutting edge technology, you'd better be prepared to fork over the dough for it. Listen, fork over the dough or you'll never see your husband again!

rolling in dough

Exceptionally wealthy; having large amounts of money to spend. I hear her father is rolling in dough, so I wouldn't be too worried about her future. Once we get this plan underway, we'll be rolling in dough in no time!

dough

(do)

n. money. (see also bread.) I got a lot of dough for that ring I found.

dough head

n. a nerd; a simpleton. Tom, don’t be such a dough head. Read the instructions and do it right.