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[cut to the bone]{v. phr.} To make (something) the least or smallest possible amount; reduce severely; leave out everything extra or unnecessary from. •/Father cut Jane’s allowance to the bone for disobeying him./ •/When father lost his job, our living expenses had to be cut to the bone./

[cut to the quick]{v. phr.} To hurt someone’s feelings deeply. •/The children 's teasing cut Mary to the quick./

[cut two ways] See: CUT BOTH WAYS.

[cut up]{v.} 1. {informal} To hurt the feelings of; wound. — Usually used in the passive. •/John was badly cut up when Susie gave him back his ring./ 2. {slang} To act funny or rough; clown, •/Joe would always cut up if there were any girls watching./ •/At the party Jim and Ron were cutting up and broke a chair./ Compare: FOOL AROUND.

D

[dab] See: SMACK-DAB or SMACK-TO DAB.

[dagger] See: CLOAK-AND-DAGGER, LOOK DAGGERS.

[daily dozen]{n.}, {informal} Gymnastic exercises; especially, several different exercises done daily. •/The boys did their daily dozen early each morning./

[daisy] See: PUSH UP DAISIES.

[dam] See: WATER OVER THE DAM.

[damn] See: GIVE A HANG, NOT WORTH A TINKER’S DAMN.

[damned if one does, damned if one doesn’t]{adj. phr.} No matter what one does, someone is likely to criticize one. •/No matter what decisions I make, there are always some people who will approve them and those who won’t. It is a classical case of "damned if I do, damned if I don’t."/

[dance] See: SONG AND DANCE.

[dance to another tune]{v. phr.} To talk or act differently, usually better because things have changed; be more polite or obedient because you are forced to do it. •/Johnny refused to do his homework but punishment made him dance to another tune./ Compare: CHANGE ONE’S TUNE, SING A DIFFERENT TUNE.

[dander] See: GET ONE’S BACK UP, GET ONE’S DANDER UP or GET ONE’S IRISH UP.

[dandy] See: JIM-DANDY.

[dangerous] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING.

[dare say]{v. phr.} To think probable; suppose; believe. — Used in first person. •/Mary is unhappy now but I dare say she will be laughing about this tomorrow./ •/There is no more ice cream on the table, but I dare say we can find some in the kitchen./

[dare one to do something]{v. phr.} To challenge someone to do something. •/"I dare you to jump off that rock into the sea," Fred said to Jack./

[dark] See: IN THE DARK, SHOT IN THE DARK, WHISTLE IN THE DARK.

[darken one’s door] or [darken the door] To appear, as in a doorway; enter someone’s home or establishment. — Used in negative imperative sentences especially with "never" and "again". •/If you leave this house now, never darken my door again./ •/After a son shamed his father by having to go to prison, the father told him never to darken his door again./

[dark horse]{n.}, {informal} A political candidate little known to the general voting public; a candidate who was not expected to run. •/Every once in a while a dark horse candidate gets elected President./