"D" Slang

drop

Music

A timed release of a new NFT or collection; projects hype a 'drop' date the way streetwear and music releases work.

drop a bag

Street

To splurge or invest heavily in something.

drop a dime

General

To tip off the authorities or tell on someone. Historically evokes dropping a dime in a payphone to call the cops.

drop a slip

Street

To submit a written request or, pejoratively, to inform on someone by dropping a note into a staff box.

drop and hook

General

A freight workflow where the driver uncouples the loaded trailer at a customer's yard, immediately couples to a pre-loaded outbound trailer, and rolls. No waiting on a dock, no live load. The good kind of stop — minutes instead of hours.

drop bear

General

A mythical carnivorous koala said to drop on unsuspecting people, used to tease tourists.

drop in

General

To begin riding a ramp, bowl, or halfpipe by placing the tail on the coping and tipping the board and body forward down into the transition.

drop set

General

Taking a set to failure, immediately reducing the weight, and continuing for more reps to extend the set.

drop the ball

General

To make a mistake by neglecting or forgetting a task.

dropkick

General

A worthless, foolish or contemptible person.

dropped 30

General

To 'drop' a scoring total on an opponent; e.g. dropping 30 means scoring 30 points.

dropping dimes

General

Consistently delivering high-quality assists that set teammates up to score.

dropping in

General

Taking off on a wave that another surfer is already riding and has priority on. It is the most notorious breach of surf etiquette.

dropshot

Gaming

Hitting the deck the moment you start shooting, so the enemy's crosshair sails over your head while yours stays on theirs. A classic close-quarters CoD move.

drouth

General

A thirst, or a drought; also a habitual drinker ('an auld drouth').

drouthy

General

Thirsty; inclined to drink. A 'drouth' is a thirst or a heavy drinker.

drt

General

Dead Right There. EMS/fire shorthand radioed or muttered when the patient is obviously deceased on scene — no CPR, no transport, no miracle. It's the call you clear in five minutes because there's nothing to do but wait for the coroner.

drug seeker

General

A patient believed to be attending chiefly to secure controlled drugs rather than for genuine medical need.

drum

General

Trustworthy information or advice; 'give someone the drum'.

drunker than cooter brown

General

Very drunk. Cooter Brown is a legendary figure said to have stayed drunk to avoid the Civil War draft.

druthers

General

What a person would rather do; almost always in "if I had my druthers."

dry

General

Describes a physique with little water under the skin, making muscles look hard, grainy and defined. The opposite of a smooth, watery look.

dry dating

Internet

Dry dating is meeting for dates that don't revolve around drinking, such as coffee or activities, so impressions are sober and genuine.

dry peek

Gaming

You swing a corner raw. No flash, no smoke, no help, just you and your aim versus whoever's holding. High risk, all mechanics.

dry powder

Internet

Dry powder is uninvested cash that investors or funds hold in reserve so they can move quickly on opportunities without having to sell existing holdings. Private equity and VC firms track it closely.

dry snitching

Street

Passing information to officers indirectly, for example by talking loudly about someone's activity so a guard overhears, rather than reporting outright.

dry spell

Internet

A prolonged period during which a person isn't dating anyone or having sex, often lamented humorously. Common talk during single seasons.

dry texting

Internet

Dry texting is sending short, flat, one-word or low-energy responses that signal little interest and stall the conversation.

dt-ing

General

To be experiencing delirium tremens — the severe, potentially fatal withdrawal syndrome from alcohol, with tremor, agitation and hallucinations.

dtm

Internet

Self-aware admission that you yourself went overboard.

dtr

Internet

Short for define the relationship, the talk about what you two actually are.

dts

General

A dangerous state of alcohol withdrawal marked by tremor, agitation, hallucinations, and autonomic instability that can be fatal if untreated.

dual-threat quarterback

General

A quarterback with the ability to hurt defenses both by throwing accurately and by running effectively.

dubes

General

Dubarry deck shoes — Irish-made leather boat shoes. Worn by the D4 set, rugby lads and anyone with a holiday home in West Cork. A pair of Dubes signals a very specific Irish demographic before they open their mouth.

dubplate

General

A one-off recording (often an artist re-voicing a hit with a sound system's name) cut exclusively for a sound system to play in clashes.

dubs

General

Slang for the 20-inch wheels that are standard on most BMX bikes. The name comes from the double-zero of '20 inch'.

ducat

Street

A slip authorizing a prisoner to move to an appointment or assignment around the facility. Pink in the California system.

ducats

Internet

Slang for money, borrowing the name of a historic European gold coin. Also spelled 'duckets.'

duck and dive

Street

Cockney rhyming slang for 'skive' (avoid work) and generally to dodge and hustle.

duck dive

General

A technique of pushing the nose of the board underwater and diving beneath an oncoming wave while paddling out, to avoid being pushed back.

duck, duck, gray duck

General

The Minnesota variant of the children's chasing game Duck, Duck, Goose, in which the picker names colors and 'gray duck' triggers the chase.

ducks on the pond

General

Baserunners occupying the bases, especially two or three, presenting scoring chances.

duckwalk

General

One of the five elements of vogue femme. You drop into a low squat on your heels, then kick the feet out one at a time, scooting forward in time with the music. Named for exactly what it looks like: a duck waddling. Looks effortless, murders your thighs. It's a foundational element judges expect to see, so a sloppy duckwalk gets you read.

ducky

General

Said sarcastically to mean the opposite, that something is not fine at all.

duds

General

Underpants. Up north, especially round Manchester, your duds are your kecks — the underwear layer, not the trousers.

due diligence

General

The forensic pre-deal check. Buyer's bankers, lawyers and accountants tear through the target's contracts, financials, IP, litigation, HR files, everything. Goal is no surprises after the wire goes out. Lives in a virtual data room these days.

dugout

Street

A small carrying box with two compartments: one for ground cannabis and one for a one-hitter or 'bat', letting the user load and smoke discreetly on the go.

duke of kent

General

Rent. The monthly hit to the landlord, dressed in royal robes for comic effect.