of the most peculiar and interesting insects in Texas is called the “devil’s horse .” devil’s dust • dust devil devil’s dust—wool or cotton waste made from old cloth by a machine called the “devil”: The operation sends forth clouds of floating fibers—the real and original “devil’s dust .” dust devil—a whirlwind visible as a column of dust: A whirling dust-devil would scutter across the plain for a couple of miles. Diamond State, the • Gem State, the Diamond State, the—(U.S.) a nickname of the State of Delaware: Long called the Diamond State , a name arising from a quotation attributed to Jefferson … Delaware’s re- sources are varied and rich. Gem State, the—(U.S.) a nickname of the State of Idaho: Idaho’s nickname, the “Gem State ,” is well deserved due to the 80 varieties of gemstones found within her borders. die away • die out die away—(of a sound or light) become weaker or fainter: The sound of the car died away in the distance. die out—1. (of a group of living things) perish; become ex- tinct: If too many of these rare animals are killed, their kind will die out . 2. (of practices, customs, ideas, etc.) cease to exist; disappear: It’s time this selfish habit died out . die for something • die from something die for something—(Progressive Tense) want smth. very ur- gently: Her husband moved past us into the bar…. “I’m dying for a margarita.” die from something—(also: die of something ) 1. die as a result of some cause: In a severe winter, wild animals can die from lack of food. 2. (Progressive Tense) be in an extreme state of the feeling mentioned: The children are dying from curiosity to see what’s in the parcel. die in a ditch • die in the last ditch die in a ditch—die destitute in dire poverty: He who ab- stains from whisky will never die in a ditch . die in the last ditch—fight desperately defending smth. to the last: I can be sure never to see my country’s ruin: I will die in the last ditch . Cf.: last-ditch effort— a desperate final at- tempt: He is negotiating with prosecutors in a last-ditch effort to avert trial. die on one’s feet • die standing up die on one’s feet—1. die while still working; keep working till the end: Harvey spent the next week working on the gen- erator. He had died on his feet . 2. fight and give one’s life courageously: Rather than surrender without a fight, the ex- hausted army fought bravely to the bitter end and died on their feet . 3. become absolutely exhausted (also: be dead on one’s feet): I was cheered the whole way round and this really helped over the last two miles when I was dying on my feet . Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase die in one’s boots—(also: die with one’s boots on) 1. = die on one’s feet 1: I suppose I’ll have to retire one day, but that’s a long way off. I’d much rather die in my boots . 2. = die on one’s feet 2: “General,” he later reported to Dodge, “they died in their boots but brought peace.” 3. die a violent death: Charlie talked of the early days in the Marshalls when every white man lived like a prince, and died in his boots from a bullet or a spear. die standing up = die on one’s feet 2: Kurdish people through- out southern Turkey have decided they would rather die stand - ing up than spend their lives on their knees. differ from someone • differ with someone differ from someone—1. be unlike another person in some way: John only differs from his brother in being less masculine and less sternly religious. 2. have different opinions on some matter: My dear sir, I am sorry to differ from you. I think that we are soldiers, and damned good ones at that. differ with someone— = differ from someone 2: In politics, he differed with his brother-in-law, William Biles, Hough ad- hering strongly to the Proprietary party. differ in something • differ on something differ in something—(of two or more people or things) be un- like in some respect: The two brothers are like each other in appearance, but differ widely in their tastes. differ on something—(also: differ about something) have dif- ferent opinions on some matter: Since the discussion is not making any progress, perhaps it is best to agree to differ on this issue. different cup of tea, a • not someone’s cup of tea different cup of tea, a—(also: another cup of tea) a different state of affairs; smth. of an altogether different kind: London in wartime is a very different cup of tea from Winchester. not someone’s cup of tea—said of smth. that is not to a per- son’s taste or does not appeal to one: If Yeats isn’t your cup of tea , why not try some of the more contemporary Irish poets? Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase cup of tea, a—(coll.) an individual of the kind mentioned (es- pecially an older woman): Miss Prentice seems to be a very un- pleasant cup of tea . dig a hole for oneself • dig one’s own grave dig a hole for oneself—(also: dig oneself into a hole) get oneself into an awkward or restrictive situation: Melton has dug a hole for himself that will take the remainder of his term to come out of. He has made so many promises in his few months in office… dig one’s own grave—be the cause of one’s own failure or downfall: When a plot was disclosed he did not use the occa- sion to make a comprehensive purge. However humane this behavior may seem, politically it was digging his own grave . dig one’s heels in • dig oneself in dig one’s heels in—act firmly; refuse to yield: It is not an in- dication of my lack of ability, but rather a sign that it is time for me to dig my heels in and exert more effort. dig oneself in—(also: dig in) 1. (of soldiers) dig a protective place for oneself: We were ordered to dig ourselves in and I can assure you that it did not take us long to dig our trench. 2. establish oneself securely; get oneself settled (in a new job, etc.): I am relatively new to the photography world although I’ve dug myself in and tried to improve as much as I can. dime a dozen, a • ten to the dozen dime a dozen, a —said of people or things that are very com- mon and easy to get: Fad diets are a dime a dozen . It seems like every time we turn around there is a new diet. ten to the dozen—(also: nineteen to the dozen) talk very fast and without stopping: Everybody is talking ten to the dozen about the fantastic film material they’ve shot. dine on something • dine out on something dine on something—have smth. for dinner: They dined on mince, as there was nothing else in the house. dine out on something—gain social success by telling inter- esting stories: You’ll dine out on it for weeks, won’t you, old boy? Note: Neither expression fully correlates in meaning with the phrase dine off something—1. = dine on something: We dined devil’s dust – 96 –