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[day of grace]{n. phr.} An extension period after the due date of some contract or bond. •/The premium is due on the first of each month, but they allow ten days of grace./

[day of reckoning]{n. phr.} 1. A time when one will be made to account for misdeeds. •/When the criminal was caught and brought to trial his victims said, "finally, the day of reckoning has come."/ 2. A time when one’s will and Judgment are severely tested. •/"You always wanted to run the department," the dean said to Professor Smith. "Now here is your chance; this is your day of reckoning."/

[day off]{n.} A day on which one doesn’t have to work, not necessarily the weekend. •/Monday is his day off in the restaurant, because he prefers to work on Saturdays and Sundays./

[day-to-day]{adj.} Daily; common; everyday. •/For best results, students' homework should be checked on a day-to-day basis./

[days are numbered] (Someone or something) does not have long to live or stay. •/The days of the old school building are numbered./ •/When a man becomes ninety years old, his days are numbered./

[dazzle] See: RAZZLE-DAZZLE.

[dead] See: CATCH DEAD, DROP DEAD, STONEDEAD.

[dead ahead]{adv.}, {informal} Exactly in front; before. •/The school is dead ahead about two miles from here./ •/Father was driving in a fog, and suddenly he saw another car dead ahead of him./

[deadbeat]{n.}, {slang} A person who never pays his debts and who has a way of getting things free that others have to pay for. •/You’ll never collect from Joe — he’s a deadbeat./

[dead and buried]{adj. phr.} Gone forever. •/Slavery is dead and buried in twentieth-century America./

[dead as a doornail]{adj. phr.} Completely dead without the slightest hope of resuscitation. •/This battery is dead as a doornail; no wonder your car won’t start./

[dead broke] See: STONE-BROKE.

[dead center]{n.} The exact middle. •/The treasure was buried in the dead center of the island./ Often used like an adverb. •/The arrow hit the circle dead center./

[dead duck]{n.}, {slang} A person or thing in a hopeless situation or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen. •/When the pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck./

[deadhead]{n.}, {slang} An excessively dull or boring person. •/You’ll never get John to tell a joke — he’s a deadhead./

[dead letter]{n. phr.} An undeliverable letter that ends up in a special office holding such letters. •/There is a dead letter office in most major cities./

[deadline]{n.} A final date by which a project, such as a term paper, is due. •/The deadline for the papers on Shakespeare is November 10./

[dead loss]{n. phr.} A total waste; a complete loss. •/Our investment in Jack’s company turned out to be a dead loss./

[dead on one’s feet]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Very tired but still standing or walking; too tired to do more; exhausted. •/Jimmy never leaves a job unfinished. He continues to work even when he’s dead on his feet./ •/After the soldiers march all night, they are dead on their feet./ Compare: DEAD TIRED, WEAR OUT(2).