| 释义 |
early doors, n. and adv. orig. and chiefly Brit.
Brit. |ˌəːli ˈdɔːz|, U.S. |ˌərli ˈdɔ(ə)rz|
[‹ early adj. + the plural of door n.]
A. n. In a theatre, etc.: a period of admission ending some time before the performance begins, during which a wider selection of seating is available, usually for a higher price (see also quot. 1952). Now hist.
1883Times 3 Jan. 8/5 (advt.) Drury-Lane.—Sinbad. Every evening at 7.15... Early doors to unreserved parts 6d. extra. 1892N.Y. Times 9 Oct. 16/6 The distribution of packets of free tickets to the London theatres, with the object of obtaining fees for early doors and transfers for dearer seats, is being ventilated in the papers. 1910in M. Rickards & M. Twyman Encycl. Ephemera (2000) Plate 16 (theatre poster) Note New Prices.—All Grand Circle, 1s. Front Rows Stalls. 1s. Pit Stalls (Tip-up Chairs) 6d... Early Doors—All Grand Circle, 1s. 3d. Front Rows Stalls, 1s. 3d. Pit Stalls (Tip-up Chairs), 9d. 1946H. Scott (title) The early doors: origins of the music hall. 1952W. Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 68 Early doors, doors leading to the cheaper parts of the house–the pit and the gallery. They are opened earlier than those of the more expensive section of the auditorium. 1996Daily Tel. 29 Jan. 19/6 As a regular visitor to Wimbledon theatre in those days [sc. 50 years ago], I can well remember that ‘Early Doors’ for admission to the gallery cost a shilling; they were so called because if you arrived early enough you could choose your seat.
B. adv. Early on; near the beginning.
Freq. in the context of Association Football.
1979B. Clough in Observer 18 Nov. 30/9 Early doors it was vital to me that they like me, too. But I became so attached to them as players that when I left Derby I found I liked them more than they liked me. 1991Guardian 16 Mar. 24/1 If you are going to go out of a cup competition it's best to go early doors. 1994Daily Rec. (Glasgow) (Electronic ed.) 2 Nov. We have struggled to score goals this season, but if we can grab a goal early doors, we should be looking to pile forward and get all the bad performances of this season out of our system. 1997‘Q’ Deadmeat 409 That's why I put money into your little drugs operation... I knew early doors that Bones was holding you back. 2002Ministry Jan. 164/2 Manga's birthdays are generally rammed early doors, so you're best off picking tickets up in advance. |