who may unexpectedly come to the front: Every now and then a dark horse is heard of, who is supposed to have done wonders at some obscure small college. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase gray mare, the—(dated) the wife who rules her husband (in allusion to the saying “the gray mare is the better horse”): Thus, by the covetousness of this woman, who was the gray mare , and the folly of the master … my good principles were nearly eradicated from my bosom. white horse1. (pl.) white foam and spray on the crests of waves: As mariners say, the sea is covered with “white horses .” 2. (UK) a horse carved into the side of a chalk hill and visible from a great distance (most some hundreds of years old): The Uffington white horse is by far the oldest … and is of an entirely different design. 3. (White Horse) the proprietary name of a brand of whisky: White Horse was the first distillery to sport screw caps. Cf.: white mule(U.S. sl.) cheap or illicitly distilled whisky: I know a good bootlegger over there in Santa Fe, and if you take me over there, I’ll buy you a gallon of White Mule . 4. (U.S. Drug users) cocaine: White Horse , White Lady, White Girl: Those are just a handful of cocaine’s street names. dark matter • gray matter dark matter—objects not directly detectable by astronomers, thought to exist in the universe to account for observed grav- itational effects: The composition of dark matter is unknown, but may include new elementary particles. gray matter1. brownish-gray nerve tissue, especially of the brain and spinal cord: The researchers found increased gray matter density in women in the left hemisphere of the brain associated with language. 2. mental power; intellect: The odi- ous Krendler, in particular, learns to use his gray matter for, perhaps, the first time in his life. dash it • make a dash for it dash it—(interj.) is used to express one’s annoyance about smth.: Dash it , Tony … you really ought to be careful. make a dash for it—(coll.) run away very quickly (to avoid being caught): We all began to ask each other why he hadn’t made a dash for it . date back to something • date from something date back to something —go back in time to a particular date: The rare binding of this manuscript dates back to the late middle-ages. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase backdate something1. put an earlier date to a docu- ment than the actual one: The vet backdated the vaccination dates for horses in an attempt to satisfy Jockey Club rules. 2. make smth. retrospectively valid: The wage increases are to be backdated to the first of January. date from something—be in existence since a particular time: This building dates from the beginning of the last century. day and night • day or night day and night—continually; all the time: We worked day and night to finish the project before the end of the month. day or night—at any time whatever: The Internet is the best shopping mall in the world and one that you can visit day or night . day-man • man of the day day-man —a man who does work during the day or on a day-shift: A company taxi is usually driven by both a day- man and a night-man. man of the day —1. an outstanding man of his time: Hamsun was a man of the day , who, despite his age, strove to make his ideal into a reality. Cf.: man of the year—a man who has done the most to influence the events of the particular year (as featured by the U.S. newsmagazine Time): Mikhail Gorbachev was the man of the year for 1987, an eminently defensible choice…. 2. (Military) a soldier on duty for the day: Cooked food was “dished out” by the orderly men of the day . day off • off day day off —a day away from work, school, etc.: The bus-driver spends his “day off ” in driving on a pal’s bus, on the box-seat by his pal’s side. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase day out1. a day away from home when one is free from duty: Ollie just loves going to shows and he thoroughly enjoyed his day out . 2. a servant’s free day: When it is the maid’s day out , Jack insists on helping with the dishes. off day—1. a day when one does not feel fit or does not per- form well: The bartender could have smiled a little but maybe it was his off day . 2. = day off 1: I could also change which day was my off day to line up with friends’ birthdays or other cel- ebrations. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase far-off day—a day remote in time: On that far-off day I lay on the rocks and listened to the deep rhythm of the Atlantic. day order • order of the day day order—(Stock market) a customer’s order that expires at the close of the day: A day order is canceled if it is not executed before the close of business. order of the day —1. an agenda: The order of the day will be issued each day with detailed information on Conference. 2. a statement issued by a commander to his troops: In his Order of the Day Mannerheim thanked the civil guards for their work for the benefit of the country. 3. fixed and regular way of doing things: He was sick of living on literary lunches where nouvelle cuisine seemed to be the order of the day . daytime • time of day daytime —the part of the day when there is natural light: In the Tokyo area, users’ charges of electricity at nighttime are rated lower compared to that in the daytime . time of day—1. the hour shown on a clock: Perhaps it was a student who committed suicide at this very time of day , on this very day, in this very building? 2. a particular period dur- ing the day: Birds are generally most active at this time of day and most inactive in the early afternoon. dead-alive • living dead dead-alive —(also: dead and alive) 1. (of a place) spiritless or boring: Do you think I could hold out a week in this dead- alive place? Not me! 2. (of people) miserable; inactive and dull: You will die in a home for old people surrounded by dead- alive persons. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase more dead than alive(also: half dead) in a very poor physical condition owing to illness, etc.: A policeman found him, more dead than alive , in the street where he had been beaten up. living dead —1. (also: living corpse) smb. who seems com- pletely unaware of what is happening around: I remember reading that being a full blown addict is the “living dead .” Being alive, but dead, how morose. 2. a vampire; a zombie: I felt as if we were in the presence of a ghoul, the living dead . dead and alive • half dead dead and alive—(also: dead-alive) 1. (of a place) spiritless or boring: This is rather a dead and alive place but I like the climate for I have not known a sick day since I have been up here. 2. (of people) miserable; inactive and dull: Part of my early days in London I was familiar with what is called hyper–Calvinistic Baptists … but I never was amongst such a dead-and-alive lot. half dead—(also: more dead than alive) in a very poor phys- ical condition owing to illness, etc.: I had identified the lati- dark matter – 92 –