| 释义 |
dead wood, ˈdead-wood
1. a. Wood dead upon the tree; the dead branches of fruit-trees, or the like; hence fig. Also (U.S.) in tenpins, a pin that has been knocked down and lies in the alley in front of those remaining.
to get, have, possess the dead-wood (U.S. slang); to have one at a disadvantage, secure the advantage.
1851L. Clappe Shirley Lett. (1922) 84 If they ask a man an embarrassing question, or in any way have placed him in an equivocal position, they will triumphantly declare that they have ‘got the dead-wood on him’. 1858Southern Lit. Messenger XXVII. 351/1 He..sent his ball..straight to the left quarter of the Centre-Pin, and never left any dead wood on the alley. 1867A. D. Richardson Beyond Miss. xi. 134 ‘The deadwood’—from the game of ‘tenpins’, in which a fallen pin sometimes lies in front of the standing ones so that the first ball striking it will sweep the alley. ‘I have the dead wood on him’ was used familiarly, meaning: ‘I have him in my power.’ 1872C. King Mountain Sierra Nev. x. 211 He considered himself to possess the ‘dead-wood’. 1947Time 17 Mar. p. i, An automatic bowling pin spotter that sets up pins..removes dead wood.. and even calls fouls! 1951E S. Gardner Case of Borrowed Brunette xix. 207 Well, they've evidently got the dead-wood on you now, Perry. They know that you took Eva Martell to that rooming-house.
b. dead-wood fence: a fence made of rough logs, fallen branches, etc. Chiefly Austral.
1813J. Taylor Arator 208 They [sc. hogs] are the cause of dead wood fences, which render..labour unproductive. 1852L. A. Meredith My Home in Tasmania I. x. 157 A ‘dead-wood fence’, that is, a mass of timber four or five feet thick, and five or six high, the lower part being formed of..logs..and the upper portion consisting of the smaller branches skilfully laid over. 1959in S. J. Baker Drum ii. 103.
2. Naut. Solid blocks of timber fastened just above the keel at each end of the ship, to strengthen those parts.
1727–52Chambers Cycl. s.v. Ship (Plate), The rising or Dead Wood. 1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1789), It determines the heighth of the dead-wood, afore and abaft. 1879Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 187/2 The deadwood, stemson, and other strengthenings.
attrib.1792Trans. Soc. Encourag. Arts X. 225 To draw the Kelson and dead-wood bolts out. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Dead-wood knees, the upper foremost and aftermost pieces of dead wood.
3. fig. A person or thing regarded as useless or unprofitable; a hindrance or impediment. Also attrib. orig. U.S.
1887Sci. Amer. 1 Oct. 209/1 The commissioner [of patents] has made some effort..to cut the deadwood out of the examining and clerical forces left him as a legacy by his predecessor. 1903McClure's Mag. July 326 No dead wood is taken into the concern unless it is through the supposed necessities of family or business relations. 1928Daily Express 11 Aug. 9/5 These papers do not receive any advertising support from us unless they make a price which we consider is adequate when you cut out their dead-wood circulation. 1929Daily Tel. 15 Jan. 6/3 Amalgamations of what have hitherto been competing concerns are being formed, the specific objects being to cut out any dead-wood which may be handicapping the smooth working of the machine, to promote efficiency by the pooling of brains and experience. |