dirt
Loose soil on the ground, for example in a yard, garden, or field.
Loose soil or earth that forms the surface of the ground, especially when it is not covered by grass or plants.
Dust, mud, or other unclean stuff on things that makes them not clean.
Any unclean substance such as dust, mud, or grease that makes something look or feel dirty.
Bad private information about someone that can make other people think badly of them.
Secret or private information about someone that could harm their reputation if made public.
Sex words, pictures, or stories that people see as rude or not proper.
Sexually explicit or obscene material, language, or stories considered morally offensive or dirty.
A way to talk about a person as if they have no value and do not deserve respect.
A person, or their social status, regarded as having no value and deserving no respect.
- Base: dirt
- Plural: dirt
dig up dirt (on [someone])
1look for damaging information
To try hard to find bad private information about someone, especially to hurt their reputation.
- Reporters were trying to dig up dirt on the candidate before the debate.
- She hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on her ex-husband.
- The tabloids are always digging up dirt on celebrities.
dirt poor
1extremely poor, with no money
Very, very poor; having almost no money or property.
- He grew up dirt poor in a small farming village.
- Even though they were dirt poor, his parents always shared what they had.
- The family went from dirt poor to comfortable in just one generation.
eat dirt
1accept humiliation or defeat
To be forced to accept that you were wrong or lost, in a way that feels very bad and embarrassing.
- He had to eat dirt and admit that his plan had failed.
- After all his bragging, he ended up eating dirt in front of everyone.
- The team made their critics eat dirt by winning the championship.
have dirt on [someone]
1possess harmful private information
To know bad private information about someone that could hurt them if other people find out.
- The journalist claimed she had dirt on several famous actors.
- He says he has dirt on his boss and could get him fired.
- They were afraid to speak out because the company had dirt on them.
hit pay dirt
1suddenly find something valuable
To suddenly find something that is very valuable or very useful, often after a long search.
- The researchers hit pay dirt when they discovered the new treatment.
- We hit pay dirt with that new client; they doubled our sales.
- She hit pay dirt at the flea market and found a painting worth thousands.
someone’s name is dirt
1have a very bad reputation
People think very badly of this person now; they do not respect or trust them anymore.
- After the scandal, his name was dirt in the whole town.
- If you cheat your customers, your name will be dirt in the industry.
- Her name is dirt at that company after what happened.
throw dirt at [someone]
1attack someone’s reputation with talk
To say bad or false things about someone so that other people will think badly of them.
- During the campaign, both sides threw dirt at each other.
- He’s just throwing dirt at her because he’s jealous.
- Instead of throwing dirt at your coworkers, try to solve the problem together.
treat [someone] like dirt
1treat someone with no respect
To be very rude or unkind to someone, as if they have no value.
- He treats his employees like dirt, and many of them have quit.
- I’m not going to let anyone treat me like dirt anymore.
- She realized she had been treating her sister like dirt and apologized.
dirt cheap
1Extremely inexpensive
Very, very cheap; costing almost nothing.
- These tickets were dirt cheap!
- The old car was dirt cheap but worked fine.
dirt cheap
2extremely cheap in price
Very, very cheap; costing almost nothing.
- These tickets were dirt cheap, so I bought four of them.
- The hotel was dirt cheap, but it was clean and safe.
- You can get fresh fruit dirt cheap at the market near closing time.
dish the dirt
1Share gossip or scandalous details
To tell bad or secret things about someone.
- Come on, dish the dirt! What did he say?
- Come on, let’s get coffee and dish the dirt about the party.
- The magazine loves to dish the dirt on celebrities.
- The article dishes the dirt on life inside the royal family.
- They love to sit around and dish the dirt on their coworkers.