| 词组 | dime |
| 释义 | dime Ⅰ 1. noun 1 ten dollars US, 1958. 2 one hundred dollars US, 1988. 3 one thousand dollars US, 1974. 4 ten years; a ten-year prison sentence US, 1967. 5 a pretty girl. A product of a one-to-ten scale for rating beauty, with ten being the best; thus an updated way of saying 'a ten' US, 2002.► on a dimeprecisely, suddenly US, 1996 2. verb to betray, to inform on US, 1970 Ⅱ ⇨ dime bag; dime noun a packet of drugs sold for ten dollars US, 1970 Ⅲ ⇨ dime special; dime noun crack cocaine US, 1998 dime's worth of differenceA minuscule, insignificant, or indiscernible amount of difference. Often used in the negative for extra emphasis. There isn't a dime's worth of difference between the two candidates—they're both crooks, in my opinion. You can holler all you like, it won't make a dime's worth of difference. drop a dimeTo snitch or inform on someone to a person of higher authority. Originally street slang for informing to police, it refers to the old price of using a public payphone (10 cents). Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Timmy is such a teacher's pet, always ready to drop a dime on any of the other students he thinks are misbehaving. He knew he was facing 10 years in prison, so he agreed to drop a dime or two to police in exchange for a lighter sentence. yankee dimeA kiss. My grandmother would always say, "Come give me a yankee dime, my dear," when she wanted a kiss. dime a dozenUbiquitous; so abundant or common as to hold little or no value. In Los Angeles, waiters trying to become famous actors are a dime a dozen. That bird might be a rare sight where you come from, but around here they're a dime a dozen. be a dime a dozenTo be ubiquitous; to be so abundant or common as to hold little or no value. In Los Angeles, waiters trying to become famous actors are a dime a dozen. That bird might be a rare sight where you come from, but around here they're a dime a dozen. not worth a dimeslang Worthless; undeserving of even the smallest amount of money. Primarily heard in US. These wild abstract paintings are not worth a dime to me—they give me a headache! That house is not worth a dime, if you ask me. I mean, the ceiling has already partially collapsed, and the foundation is sinking! nickel and dime (one) to deathTo assess costs or fees in enough small amounts that it adds up to a substantial sum. Between the increases in property tax, sales tax, and income tax, I feel like the government is trying nickel and dime us to death. These phone companies all make their profits by nickeling and diming their customers with hidden charges and fees. be not worth a dimeslang To be worthless; to be undeserving of even the smallest amount of money. These wild abstract paintings are not worth a dime to me—they give me a headache! That house is not worth a dime, if you ask me. I mean, the ceiling has already partially collapsed, and the foundation is sinking! nickel and dime (one)To assess costs or fees in enough small amounts that it adds up to a substantial sum. Between the increases in property tax, sales tax, and income tax, I feel like the government is constantly trying to nickel and dime us. My phone company has been nickel and diming me for years. stop coldTo immediately or suddenly stop or come to a complete halt. I don't know what happened. The engine was running fine a second ago but then just stopped cold! Both of us stopped cold when we heard the gunshot in the distance. nickel-and-dimeTo assess costs or fees in enough small amounts that it adds up to a substantial sum. Between the increases in property tax, sales tax, and income tax, I feel like the government is trying nickel-and-dime us to death. That phone company is nickel-and-diming their customers with all those fees. stop on a dimeTo come to a complete halt very suddenly or in a very short distance. This car is fast, but it can also stop on a dime when it needs to. Watch out how he stops on a dime and then changes direction with the ball. Because its speed is controlled by electromagnetic rails, this train can stop on a dime. turn on a dime1. To turn very quickly and with great agility. The steering is so good on this car that you can turn on a dime, even at high speeds. The running back turned on a dime and broke the tackle. 2. By extension, to change focus, activity, opinion, or behavior very suddenly or abruptly. He's usually a nice guy, but his temper can turn on a dime sometimes. Politicians have no loyalty to their causes—they'll turn on a dime if it means they'll get more votes. on a dime1. With agile precision, especially with limited room to maneuver. Primarily heard in US. He stopped on a dime to catch that ball—look at that agility! The steering is so good on this car that you can turn on a dime, even at high speeds. 2. In an instant; very quickly, rapidly, or abruptly. He's usually a nice guy, but his temper can turn on a dime sometimes. get off the dimeTo begin to act, often after a delay. The phrase comes from early 20th-century dance halls. The deadline to enroll is a week away, so you need to get off the dime and pick a college. dime storeA store that sells goods at low prices (at one time, literally 10 cents). We can get that cheaper at the dime store, you know. dime-dropperOne who snitches or informs on someone to a person of higher authority. Originally street slang for someone who informs to the police, it refers to the old price of using a public payphone (10 cents). Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I bet Timmy's the dime-dropper—he's such a teacher's pet, always ready to tattle on any of the other students he thinks are misbehaving. He knew he was facing 10 years in prison, so he agreed to be a dime-dropper for the police in exchange for a lighter sentence. (a) dime a dozenFig. abundant; cheap and common. People who can write good books are not a dime a dozen. Romantic movies are a dime a dozen. get off the dimeSl. to start moving; to get out of a stopped position. Why don't you get off the dime and complete some of these projects that you started? As soon as the board of directors gets off the dime on this proposal, we will have some action. nickel-and-dime someone (to death)Fig. to make numerous small monetary charges that add up to a substantial sum. Those contractors nickel-and-dimed me to death. Just give me the whole bill at one time. Don't nickel-and-dime me for days on end. not worth a dimeand not worth a red centworthless. This land is all swampy. It's not worth a dime. This pen I bought isn't worth a dime. It has no ink. stop on a dimeFig. to come to a stop in a very short distance. This thing will stop on a dime. Imagine a bus that could stop on a dime. stop someone coldto halt someone immediately. When you told us the bad news, it stopped me cold. turn on a dimeFig.[for a vehicle] to turn in a very tight turn. This car can turn on a dime. I need a vehicle that can turn on a dime. dime a dozenSo plentiful as to be valueless. For example, Don't bother to buy one of these-they're a dime a dozen. The dime was declared the American ten-cent coin in 1786 by the Continental Congress. [First half of 1900s] drop a dimeInform on or betray someone, as in No one can cheat in this class-someone's bound to drop a dime and tell the teacher. This expression, alluding to the ten-cent coin long used for making a telephone call, originated as underworld slang for phoning the police to inform on a criminal and occasionally is extended to any kind of betrayal. [1960s] get off the dimeTake action, especially following a time of indecision or delay. For example, It's time this administration got off the dime and came up with a viable budget. This expression originated in the 1920s in dance-halls as an imperative for dancers to get moving. By 1926 it had been extended to other activities. on a dimeIn a very small space, suddenly, as in That horse is so well trained it can turn on a dime. This expression alludes to the fact that the dime is the smallest-size U.S. coin. [Early 1900s] stop coldAlso, stop dead or in one's tracks or on a dime . Halt suddenly, come to a standstill, as in When a thread breaks, the machine just stops cold, or He was so surprised to see them in the audience that he stopped dead in the middle of his speech , or The deer saw the hunter and stopped in its tracks, or An excellent skateboarder, she could stop on a dime. The first term uses cold in the sense "suddenly and completely," a usage dating from the late 1800s. The first variant was first recorded in 1789 and probably was derived from the slightly older, and still current, come to a dead stop, with the same meaning. The second variant uses in one's tracks in the sense of "on the spot" or "where one is at the moment"; it was first recorded in 1824. The third variant alludes to the dime or ten-cent piece, the smallest-size coin. a dime a dozenAMERICANIf things or people are a dime a dozen, there are a lot of them, and so they are not especially valuable or interesting. Note: A dime is an American coin worth ten cents. Writers are a dime a dozen, a new one will be easy enough to find. Films about primitive people are a dime a dozen right now. Note: The usual British expression is two a penny. turn on a dimeAMERICANIf something or someone turns on a dime, they suddenly change completely or do something completely different from what they were doing before. Note: A dime is an American coin worth ten cents. Employers need to be flexible and to turn on a dime in order to stay competitive. Note: If something happens on a dime, it happens suddenly, in complete contrast to what was happening before. Outdoors I heard the rain stop on a dime. Note: The idea is of being able to change direction quickly and easily in a very small space, as if your foot were on a coin. nickel and dimeAMERICAN1. If you describe something as nickel and dime, you mean that it is not important or serious, or involves only small amounts of money. Note: A nickel is a five cent coin and a dime is a ten cent coin. I want to keep the campaign on the issues that matter. I'm not interested in that nickel and dime stuff. Some claim the company's nickel-and-dime charges are driving away sellers of inexpensive items. Note: You can also say nickel-dime with the same meaning. It's nickel-dime stuff, though, compared to what you and Michael have to deal with. 2. If someone nickels and dimes someone or something, they harm them by continually taking small amounts of money away from them, or by continually making small changes or requests. Note: A nickel is a five cent coin and a dime is a ten cent coin. The claims aren't huge but there are a lot of them and it all adds up. We're getting nickeled and dimed to death. a dime a dozenvery common and of no particular value. US informalA dime is a small US coin worth ten cents which occurs in various US expressions as a metaphor for cheapness or smallness. 1998 New Scientist Of course, medical breakthroughs are not a dime a dozen. get off the dimebe decisive and show initiative. US informal 2001 U.S. News & World Report Congress must get off the dime and redeem the commitments that President Bush made to New York City. on a dime1 (of a manoeuvre that can be performed by a moving vehicle or person) within a small area or short distance. 2 quickly or instantly. US informalThe British equivalent to sense 1 is on a sixpence (see sixpence). drop the (or a) dime oninform on someone to the police. US informal 1990 Scott Turow The Burden of Proof Dixon says he's thought it over, the best course for him is just to drop the dime on John. on a ˈdime(American English) (British English less frequent on a ˈsixpence)1 in a short space or small area: A 3000 ton train doesn’t stop on a dime.These racing boats can turn on a dime. 2 quickly or suddenly: Market conditions can turn on a dime (= change quickly).This information enables us to respond to new opportunities on a dime. A dime is a small coin of the US and Canada which is worth ten cents. ˌnickel-and-ˈdimeinvolving only a small amount of money; not important: I’m going to make serious money this time. No more no nickel-and-dime stuff for me. ▶ ˌnickel-and-ˈdime verb charge many small fees which add up to a large amount in total: Unlike other companies, we charge a flat fee so we won’t nickel-and-dime you to death.dime store n. an establishment that is chaotic because of its small scale. I can’t stand this dime store anymore. This is no way to run a law firm. dime-dropper n. an informer. (see also drop a dime.) I think that Taylor is the dime-dropper who caused the roust. drop a dime tv. to inform the police of criminal activity. (Underworld. See explanation at dime-dropper.) No, almost anybody will drop a dime these days. get off the dime in. [for something or someone] to start moving. (To get off the dime that one stopped on in stop on a dime.) If this project gets off the dime, we’ll be okay. nickel and dime someone (to death) tv. to make numerous small monetary charges that add up to a substantial sum. Just give me the whole bill at one time. Don’t nickel and dime me for days on end. nickel and dime someoneverbSee nickel and dime someone to death stop on a dime in. to stop immediately. Imagine a bus that could stop on a dime. thin dime n. a dime, thought of as a very small amount of money. (A concept eroded by inflation.) For only one thin dime you will receive our exciting catalog of novelties and tricks. turn on a dime in. to turn sharply; to turn in a small radius. A car that will turn on a dime at high speed without turning turtle is what I want. a dime a dozen Overly abundant; commonplace. on a dime At a precise point; within a narrowly defined area: a sports car that stops on a dime. drop a dimeSlang To make a telephone call, especially to the police to inform on or betray someone. dime a dozen, aReadily available, so cheap as to be without value. The dime being an American coin, declared the ten-cent piece by the Continental Congress in 1786 (the word comes from the French dime, for “tithe,” or one-tenth), this expression is obviously American in origin and probably owes its long life to alliterative appeal. Inflation has further degraded the meaning. Early in the twentieth century a dime could buy a paperback book (dime novel) or a cup of coffee and a doughnut; “Brother, can you spare a dime?” was the universal cry for a handout during the Great Depression of the 1930s. drop a dimeTo snitch, to betray. Once upon a time, pay phones in enclosed booths could be found on most urban streets as well as in other public areas. Vandalism was rare, so the phones worked, and equally surprising to us today, local calls cost a dime. A person who wanted to report something to the authorities that he or she didn't want anyone to overhear and didn't want the call traced located a secluded phone booth and deposited ten cents. That's the dime that was dropped down the coin slot. The dime-dropper took a big chance, because if the droppee found out, the rat stood a good chance of being exterminated. get off the dimeTo move or to stop wasting time. Back in the 1920s and '30s, taxi dancers were female dance hall employees whose livelihood was dancing with any men who paid for the opportunity. The usual fee was ten cents, but that's not what “dime” in “get off the dime” meant. Dancing with man after man for hours on end was tiring business, and the women often draped themselves over their partners and moved their feet as little as possible, no more than the width of a dime. Although the men didn't object, dance hall managers did. That sort of mobility might lead to hankypanky that would invite attention from the police and other enforcers of public morality. “Get off the dime” was the order, whereupon the women were then obliged to take more energetic dance steps. |
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