1. adjective An old-fashioned way of saying "outdoors," that is, outside of a building in the open air. Where did it originate? It was hard leaving my parents and all my friends from high school, but when an opportunity to attend school in Europe is knocking on the door, you have to seize the chance. answer the door. (informal) He walked out the door. Backdoor definition, a door at the rear of a house, building, etc. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. at the door. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content. Meaning: An initial inroad that may lead to greater influence in future. : : phrase: : "it's early doors yet": : by which iy is meant "there is plenty of time at present": : thanks for any advice: : regards to all: "Ron Atkinson is the inventor of the phrase "early doors" a juxtposition of two previously unrelated words, which has been unquestioningly accepted into the English language. as one door closes, another (one) opens. The Makeup of idioms and pointing out a small sofa for him to sit and wait for her, she went silently toward the, My eyes were fixed on the bronze handle of the fencing-room, While he was hesitating, the station-master passed the, No one could say just where they appeared upon the open lawn on their way to the front, It was close on twelve o'clock when Anne heard the servant's voice, outside her bedroom, Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, close the barn door after the horse has bolted, close the stable door after the horse has bolted, closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, don't let the door hit you on the way out. Example: I convinced them to start displaying my artwork. be knocking on the door. We sent the children out of doors to play. See full dictionary entry for door. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/be+on+the+door. Definition and synonyms of on the door from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education. to work at the entrance to a theatre, club etc, collecting tickets → door Examples from the Corpus be on the door • One of his hands was on the door, the other extended to her. “Don’t let Arnie drink more than one beer or it’s Katie bar the door.” Origin. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. This is the British English definition of on the door.View American English definition of on the door. Meaning. ARRIVE. Idiom definition, an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general grammatical rules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics. All Free. someone is "behind the door" when they only have a simple understanding of a situation, a person is ignorant or oblivious to the full meaning of a situation or is naive. Where did it originate? By/through the back door definition: If you say that someone gets or does something by the back door or through the back door... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples See also: • Thanking her at the door, he asked who at the committee might know something and be willing to talk about it. the back door. Meaning: Money always has a telling influence. Example: He’s not really good enough to be an F1 driver but he got in the team because he brought a major sponsorship deal with him. phrase. Learn more. I’m making a loss on it but it’s a foot in the door. The term goes back to the 1300s, the phrase dead as a doornail is found in poems of the time. Don’t let the door hit you is a shortened rendering of an idiom with several variations. The idiom to get one’s foot in the door goes back at least to the 1800s. A mat placed before a doorway for wiping the shoes. Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017. open the door: [idiom] to make (something) easier or more likely to happen. At death's door definition: If you say that someone is at death's door , you mean they are very ill indeed and likely... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples To be presenting (itself) as a possibility or opportunity in the near future, especially temporarily. We will examine the meaning of the expression get one’s foot in the door, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. as one door closes, another opens. → door Examples from the Corpus at the door • Cover is $ 4 at the door. Definition: With everything included (said of a price) For example: “That car will cost you $8,600 out the door.”. at the door. Learn more. Slang One who submits meekly to domination or mistreatment by others. at the door: [idiom] knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. APT BO. be on the door. Change your default dictionary to American English. Learn more. or to open the door. see also backdoor, fire door, French door, open door, revolving door, screen door, sliding door, stage door, swinging door, trapdoor; 2 the space when a door is open Marc appeared through a door at the far end of the room. Dead as a doornail is a phrase which means not alive, unequivocally deceased. After being cooped up in my cubicle all week, it feels great to spend some time in the out-of-doors. next door definition: 1. in the next room, house, or building: 2. very close: 3. the person or people living in the…. See more. be on the door to work at the entrance of a building, collecting tickets or preventing particular people from entering used to refer to a house or other building: Sam only lives a few doors (away/up/down) from us. Idiom definition is - an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for 'undecided') or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way). a toe in the door. to take indirect or unofficial route to get something done; to be dishonest in order to do something which is either of meaning or value; could literally refer to a back door of a building; Example Sentences. be on the ˈdoor. as one door closes, another one opens. To get (or have) a foot in the door means to gain or have a first introduction to a profession or organization. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. To be stationed at the entrance to a venue or event. Often hyphenated. (informal) She just arrived—she just came in the door. As such he should be cherished." … Every guy may have his specific girl-next-door prototype, but in general, she's the girl whom you always admired from afar and were afraid to approach, fearing that any erotic projection toward her would ruin her image as a decent, pure and almost virginal womanly ideal. The term dead as a doornail was used in the 1500s by William Shakespeare, and in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843. What would you do if the chance to make half a million dollars was … door - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. Used since at least the late 1800’s, the origin of this idiom is very difficult to trace. The agency was given to him because he slid into the contract through the back door. doormat synonyms, doormat pronunciation, doormat translation, English dictionary definition of doormat. : at (one's) door. An idiom is a commonly used word, group of words, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. The door closed behind him. Meaning of show someone the door in English show someone the door to tell someone to leave or make it clear you want someone to leave: Your boss isn’t going to show you the door just because you made … All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Often used when talking about sexual meanings or situations. Usually refers to desirable opportunities. See more. leave the door open for (something or doing something), lock the barn door after the horse has bolted, lock the barn/stable door after the horse has bolted/is stolen, to, lock the stable door after the horse has bolted, lock the stable door after the horse is stolen, shut the stable door after the horse has bolted, shut/lock/close the stable door after the horse has bolted, when one door closes, another (one/door) opens, when one door shuts, another (one/door) opens, when poverty comes in (at) the door, love flies out (of) the window, When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window, when the wolf comes in (at) the door, love creeps out (of) the window, you make a better door than you do a window, the webmaster's page for free fun content, doom (someone or something) to (something), Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association, Door and Shutter Manufacturers' Association. work at the entrance to a theatre, club, etc., for example collecting tickets from people as they enter: We should be able to get in free because I know the guy on the door. be knocking on the door; be on the door; be pushing at an open door; beat a path to (one's) door; beat a path to door; beat a path to somebody's door; beat a path to someone's door; behind closed doors; blow (one's) doors off; blow doors off; blow someone’s doors off; blow the doors off; blow the doors off (something) broad as a barn door; by the back door We should be able to get in free because I know the guy on the door. 1. out of doors definition: 1. outdoors: 2. outdoor: 3. the outdoors: . But one of the important meanings is: to get in a critical/advantageous position, to get in the starting position for a process. • The jury was told that Mr Johnson was on the door when the four arrived at his party at about three am. Define doormat. : No, I don't think it's an idiom: the meaning varies with the context. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you! This book opens the door to some of the most exciting findings in solid-state physics. 2. : Fans were waiting by the backdoor of the theater, hoping to catch a glimpse of the band. I forgot my ID—do you think the guy who's on the door will still let me in? How to use idiom in a sentence. 2. noun The outside; the outdoors. The price paid that includes the cost of the item being purchased and tax included. n. 1. Although the expression seems to have originated in America and it is rarely heard outside the US, the only credible claims to its origin are Scottish. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/door, Lady Arabella took in her hand a small key which hung at the end of her watch-chain, and moved to a small, Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber, But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and, While she was speaking the frog knocked again at the, "I am certain there is somebody knocking at the, Mrs Brooks, thinking that the speaker was coming to rush out of the, "Trust in His mercy!" See also: door, on. If someone or something opens the door to a good new idea or situation, they introduce it or make it possible . As they say, a golden key can open any door. Researchers are opening doors to reveal why things happen and how things work. door-to-door definition: 1. going from one house or building in an area to another: 2. going from one house or building in…. if someone is at the door, they are waiting for you to open the door of a building so they can come inside There’s somebody at the front door. RELATED IDIOMS : as one door closes another opens you shouldn't be discouraged by failure as other opportunities will soon present themselves – proverb at deaths door = at death's door so ill that you may die 1994 - S. P. - Somtow Jasmine Nights - How stupid of me to trouble her with my petty problems when she's probably at death's door! Jury was told that Mr Johnson was on the door • Cover is $ 4 at the door,. - the free dictionary, the Origin of this idiom is very to! 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