double-breasted
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double-'breasted adj (especially of a coat or JACKET) made
so that one side of the front is brought across the other side of
the front with a double row of buttons → compare SINGLE-
BREASTED
double-'check v [I;T] to examine (something) twice or
again for exactness or quality: These figures must be double-
checked before the report is published.
double 'chin n a fold of loose skin between the face and
neck that looks like a second chin
double 'cream n [U] BrE very thick cream → compare
SINGLE CREAM
double-'cross v [T] slang to cheat (especially someone with
whom one has already agreed to do something dishonest):
One of the thieves double-crossed the others by hiding the
stolen jewels. —double cross n —-er n
double 'date n infml, especially AmE a social meeting in which
two couples go out together —double-date v [I/(with)] Let's
double-date (with Joanne and Jerry).
double-'dealer n infml a dishonest deceiving person —ing n
[U]
CULTURAL NOTE
In Britain, there are a lot of companies
selling double-glazed windows and doors, and
double-glazing salesmen are known for putting a lot of
pressure on people to buy their product.
—double-glaze v [T]
double-decker
doub-le-head-er /ˌdʌbəl'hedər/ n two games of BASEBALL
played one after the other
double in'demnity [U] AmE law a feature of a life insurance
POLICY that allows for twice the amount of money to be paid
if the insured person dies in a particular way, such as an
accident: a double indemnity clause
double 'jeopardy n law the act of taking a person to court
for a second time for the same offence. This is not allowed
in American law except in special situations.
double-'jointed adj having joints that allow movement
(especially of the fingers) backwards as well as forwards: He's
double-jointed. | a double-jointed elbow
double 'life n a completely separate family, home, or job etc
that someone has, and which they keep secret from other
people, often in order to deceive them: Marie had no idea
that her husband was leading/living a double life with
another woman.
double-'park v [I;T] to park (a vehicle) on a road beside
another vehicle already parked. It is ILLEGAL in Britain and
the US.
'double play n in BASEBALL the action of putting out two
runners by throwing the ball quickly from one BASE to the
next
double-'quick adj, adv infml very quick(ly): Get the doctor
double-quick – the baby's swallowed a pin!
double 'room n a room in a hotel etc in which two people
can sleep: Have you got a double room for one night, please?
doub-les /'dʌbəlz/ n pl. doubles a match, especially of
tennis, played between two pairs of players: the men's/
women's doubles at Wimbledon → compare SINGLES; see also
MIXED DOUBLES
double-'sided adj (of tape, paper etc) having something on
both surfaces: Stick down the edge of the carpet with double-
sided sticky tape.
D
double-'decker n 1 also double-decker 'bus a bus with
two levels, the typical British bus → compare SINGLE-
DECKER 2 a SANDWICH made with three pieces of bread
leaving two spaces that are filled with food
double 'digits n [P] AmE the numbers from 10 to 99 →
compare DOUBLE FIGURES
double-'dip¹ n AmE an ice cream CONE with two balls of ice
cream
double-dip² v [I] AmE to collect pay or money from two
places at once, usually in a way that is not legal or not
approved of, such as receiving WELFARE while working
double-'dutch n [U] 1 humor speech or writing that one
cannot understand; nonsense: Their conversation about com-
puters was all double-dutch to me! 2 AmE a game of jumping
over two long ropes which are quickly passed one after the
other beneath the jumper's feet and over the head
double-'edged adj 1 having two cutting edges 2 having
two quite different purposes or meanings: a spy with a
double-edged mission | a double-edged remark/compliment
double en-ten-dre /ˌdu:blɒn'tɒndrɔll -blɑ:n'tɑ:rn-/ n Fr a
word or phrase that may be understood in two different
ways, one of which is usually sexual
double 'fault n (in games like tennis) two mistakes in a
player's SERVICE which may lose a point
double 'feature n DOUBLE BILL
double 'figures n [P] the numbers 10 to 99; DOUBLE DIGITS
AmE: I don't know how many people work there, but it's well
into double figures.
double 'first n (in Britain) two first-class university degrees
obtained at the same time. People have to be very clever to
achieve this: a brilliant research doctor with a double first
from Cambridge
double-'glazing n [U] especially BrE glass on a window or
door in two separate sheets with a space in between them:
The double-glazing keeps in the heat and keeps out the noise.
doublespeak /'dʌbəlˌspi:k/ n [U] BrE derog speech that is
complicated and can have more than one meaning, some-
times used deliberately to deceive or confuse people →
compare DOUBLE-TALK
double 'standard n a rule, principle, judgment etc which
is more severe for one set of people, situation etc than
another, especially the rules of sexual behaviour, which are
more severe for women than for men
doub-let /'dʌblɪt/ n a tight-fitting article of clothing for
men, worn on the upper half of the body in Europe from
about 1400 to the middle 1600s: doublet and hose
double 'take n infml a quick but delayed movement of
surprise usually made for humorous effect (used especially in
the phrase do a double take)
'double-talk n [U] infml language that appears to be serious or
sincere but may have more than one meaning or be a
mixture of sense and nonsense —double-talk v [I;T] You
can't double-talk your way out of this! —-er n → compare
DOUBLE SPEAK
double-think /'dʌbəlˌθɪŋk/ n [U] derog belief in two oppos-
ing ideas at the same time
double 'time n [U] 1 double wages paid to people who
work at weekends or on public holidays as a reward for
working on days when most people do not want to work →
compare time and a half (TIME¹) 2 AmE a slow run, done
especially by people in the army
double 'vision n [U] (the state of) seeing two of everything
after e.g. a knock on the head or too much alcohol
double wham-my /ˌdʌbəl 'wæmi/ n infml a combination of
two bad things which come together: the double whammy of
more taxes and higher prices
double 'whisky also large whisky n pl. -whiskies two
measures of whisky from a bottle in a bar, PUB etc: a double
whisky and soda/coke
double 'yellow 'lines also double 'yellows n [P] BrE