dirty1 adjectivedirty2 adverbdirty3 verb
dirtydirt‧y1 /ˈdɜːti $ ˈdɜːr-/ ●●● S2 W3 adjective (comparative dirtier, superlative dirtiest) 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Do you have any dirty clothes you need me to wash?
- Having to lay employees off is a dirty job.
- He used to keep a collection of dirty books hidden under his bed.
- How did the floor get so dirty?
- Look how dirty your hands are!
- Take off those dirty jeans.
- The government led a dirty war against its own citizens.
- They just sit around telling dirty jokes - it's very boring.
- We were hot and dirty after working in the garden all afternoon.
- I didn't anticipate spending days mucking out some of the dirtiest piggeries I had ever seen.
- The air in El Paso is arguably the dirtiest in Texas, violating federal standards for ozone, carbon monoxide and particulates.
THESAURUS
not clean: · His clothes were untidy and he had dirty hands.
very dirty: · Each year filthy water causes millions of cases of illness.
covered with mud: · It had been raining hard and the path was muddy.
covered with dust: · the dusty shelves in the attic
covered with oil or grease: · Greasy food is bad for your health.
(also mucky British English) informal fairly dirty and needing to be cleaned or washed: · He was wearing a grubby white T-shirt.· mucky fingers
covered with thick dirt or dirt that has been there a long time: · I couldn’t see much out of the grimy windows of the train.
looking dark, dirty, and unpleasant. Used about rooms, houses, and buildings: · We worked in a dingy little office behind the station.
used about land, water, or air that has been made dirty: · 85% of city dwellers breathe heavily polluted air.
made dirty by a dangerous substance or bacteria: · The virus is mainly spread through contaminated food.
formal extremely dirty and unpleasant. Used about the place or conditions in which someone lives: · People are living in squalid conditions, with little water and no sanitation.
formal used about dirty conditions that are likely to cause disease, especially conditions in kitchens, restaurants, and hospitals: · The food was prepared under unhygienic conditions.
(also insanitary British English) formal used about dirty conditions that are likely to cause disease, especially because there is not a good system for getting rid of waste: · People’s health is being threatened by overcrowded and insanitary homes.· They work for long hours in unsanitary conditions.
formal made dirty, especially by waste from your body: · Soiled nappies should be changed as quickly as possible.
Longman Language Activatordirty not clean: · Look how dirty your hands are!· Take off those dirty jeans.· We were hot and dirty after working in the garden all afternoon.· Do you have any dirty clothes you need me to wash?get dirty (=become dirty): · How did the floor get so dirty?
covered in mud: · Your shoes are really muddy - take them off before you come in.· They moved slowly along the muddy footpath.· She left a trail of muddy footprints behind her.
a dusty room, piece of furniture etc is covered in dust, especially because no one has cleaned it or moved it for a long time: · The room was dark and dusty.· dusty shelves· The journal was dusty and beginning to fall apart.
something that is greasy looks dirty because it has an oily substance on it: · greasy pots and pans· Dick wiped his hands on a greasy rag.· Her long greasy hair hung down to her shoulders.
something that is grubby is fairly dirty, usually because it has been used a lot and not washed: · He blew his nose with a grubby handkerchief.· Her coat was grubby and one of the sleeves was torn.· From his back pocket Robert took out a grubby scrap of paper.
something that is grimy has a covering of dirt on its surface, especially because it has not been cleaned for a long time: · Chris was in a grimy apron, sweeping up.· The whole town was grimy from smoke and coal-dust.· It was difficult to see through the grimy windows of the cafe.
especially British, informal dirty: · Don't wear your best shoes -- you'll only get them all mucky.· The cafeteria was self-service, and guests had to carry their food on little plastic trays to mucky tables.
very dirty extremely dirty: · The inside of the oven was filthy.· We didn't go swimming because the water looked filthy.· filthy sheetsabsolutely filthy: · You ought to wash that sweatshirt - it's absolutely filthy.
very dirty - use this especially about air or water: · the foul air of the factory· A foul haze of pollution hung over the city.
very dirty and unpleasant - use this about the place or conditions in which someone lives: · Dalmer lived in a squalid little room above a shop.· Her childhood was spent in the squalid slums east of the city.squalid conditions: · After the squalid conditions of the refugee camps even this place seems preferable.
dirty and bad for your health likely to cause disease - use this about dirty conditions in kitchens, restaurants, and hospitals: · It is unhygienic to store raw meat at that temperature.· Hospital cleaners were criticized for the unhygienic conditions of the central kitchens.
water or air that is polluted has a lot of harmful waste or poisonous chemicals in it: · Sayers said that if he's elected his administration will make a priority of cleaning up the region's polluted rivers.· Central London is the most polluted spot in Britain.polluted with/by: · Large parts of the Mediterranean are still polluted with toxic waste.heavily polluted (=very badly polluted): · The air was heavily polluted with exhaust fumes.
food, water, or land that is contaminated is not safe to use or be in because dangerous chemicals or bacteria have come into it: · contaminated drinking watercontaminated with/by: · Several people became ill after eating hamburger meat contaminated with the E.coli bacteria.heavily contaminated (=very badly contaminated): · The soil around the plant is heavily contaminated.
insanitary conditions are dirty and likely to cause disease, especially because there is no effective way of getting rid of waste: · Amnesty claims the prisoners are being kept in overcrowded and insanitary conditions.
to make something dirty use this especially in negative statements: · Try not to get the floor dirty.· I don't want to get my new shoes dirty.
to make something dirty , especially clothes: · You can borrow my gloves, but please try not to dirty them.· As he stood on the pavement, muddy water splashed up and dirtied his trousers.
formal to make clothes, sheets, etc dirty, especially with sweat, waste from your body, or other liquids: · The baby had soiled her diaper again.· His shirtfront was soiled with blood and his hair was wild.· Many of the pages had been soiled by the old man's dirty fingers.
to make something dirty and dangerous to make air, water, the ground etc dirty by putting chemicals or waste products into it, so that it is unsafe for use by people or animals: · An investigation revealed that the mine was polluting both the air and the groundwater.· The company is charged with polluting the River Mersey by allowing crude oil to enter the river.pollute something with something: · The factory explosion, which polluted the surrounding area with dioxin, was reportedly caused by negligence.
to accidentally make a place or a substance dirty and dangerous by adding something to it, for example chemicals or bacteria: · Lead pipes can contaminate drinking water.· The food was contaminated during the production process.
something that makes things dirty dust, mud, or anything else that makes things dirty: · Why is there dirt all over the back seat of the car?· She swept the dirt off the back porch.· He took off his glasses, which were covered with dirt.speck of dirt (=small piece of dirt): · The rooms were cleaned until every speck of dirt and grit was gone.
dry powder that forms a layer on furniture, floors, clothes etc, especially when they have not been cleaned or moved for a long time: · Max brushed the dust off his coat.layer of dust: · There was a thick layer of dust on the furniture.
wet earth that sticks to your shoes, clothes, car, tyres etc: · There's mud all over the carpet.· Hayley scraped the dried mud off her boots.· Their expensive riding jackets were covered in mud.
the harmful effects on water, air, or land of chemicals and waste from factories, cars, modern farming methods etc: · Industrial pollution has killed much of the river's wildlife.· Pollution from cars is the main cause of global warming.· The convention, signed by the six states bordering the Black Sea, aims to reduce current pollution levels.
British informal dirt or mud: · I'll just clean the muck off the windscreen and wing mirrors.be covered in muck: · His hands and fingernails were filthy, his face and legs covered in muck.
thick, dark dirt that covers a surface over a period of time and is difficult to remove: · On one wall of the entryway hangs a large oil painting, covered with grime.· His hands were black with grime from working on the car.
dishonest behaviour dishonest behaviour: · Are you accusing me of dishonesty?· The report accuses both politicians of dishonesty and of misrepresenting the facts.
when someone who works for the government, the police etc uses their power dishonestly to get money or gain an advantage: · The chief of police was forced to resign after allegations of corruption.· The administration has frequently been accused of corruption and abuse of power.widespread corruption: · Corruption has become so widespread there that you almost can't imagine the system working without it.
when someone offers money to a politician or government official in order to persuade them to do something: · Officials said the bribery investigation would continue.· US firms are alleged to have used bribery to win contracts.· Several politicians are linked to the bribery and sex scandal.bribery and corruption: · One of Murrow's chief campaign promises was to do something about bribery and corruption.
American dishonest behaviour by politicians who accept money from companies in return for helping them: · Stevens was in court yesterday facing charges of graft and tax evasion.· A major investigation is underway to root out graft there, he said.
British business activities or ways of making money that are clever and dishonest, though not actually illegal: · We couldn't discover anything specific, but there was definitely some sharp practice going on.· His grandfather had made a fortune out of a piece of commercial sharp practice in the 19th century.
dishonest activities that are designed to gain political advantage, for example by spreading false information about your opponents: · Burrows denied that members of his election staff had been involved in dirty tricks.· The book focuses on the dirty tricks, break-ins, and illegal campaign contributions of the 1972 presidential election.dirty tricks campaign: · They had carried out a dirty tricks campaign to discredit opposition leaders.
books, jokes, remarks etc that are about sex and are offensive obscene words or pictures are about sex and are very offensive: · 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' was banned as an obscene book.· He was charged with smuggling obscene materials into the UK.
informal dirty books, jokes, films etc are about sex - use this especially to show that you think these are unpleasant: · They just sit around telling dirty jokes - it's very boring.· He used to keep a collection of dirty books hidden under his bed.
clothes that are indecent show parts of the body that are usually covered; actions or movements that are indecent are sexual, but in a way many people think is not pleasant or acceptable: · You can't wear that dress to the dinner party -- it's positively indecent!· Models were forced into all sorts of indecent poses for the camera.
lewd remarks or behaviour show that the person saying them or doing something is thinking about sex, and they are usually offensive: · "Say no more!'' he grinned, giving her a lewd wink.· Although his jokes were a little lewd, he always made us laugh.
informal films, jokes etc that are blue are about sex and usually use offensive language: · I found the kids watching a blue movie on the video last night.· Her jokes are too blue for most audiences.
showing or describing sexual acts in a very offensive way: · The magazine printed filthy pictures that shocked everyone.
American jokes, stories, remarks etc that are off-color talk about sex in a way that is not acceptable in a particular situation: · He occasionally tells an off-color joke, but his image is practically that of a saint.
informal books, stories, films etc that are about sex - use this when you strongly disapprove of this: · There's too much violence and smut on TV these days.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
a stack of dirty dishes in the sink She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes. kids telling dirty jokes She looked at me as if I had said a dirty word. you and your dirty little deals Why has Jake been giving me dirty looks (=unfriendly looks) all morning?
a stack of dirty dishes in the sink She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes. kids telling dirty jokes She looked at me as if I had said a dirty word. British English (=think about sex a lot)
British English (=a weekend when a man and woman who are not married to each other go away to have sex)
you and your dirty little deals British English (=treat someone in a way that is unfair or dishonest)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=that spreads radioactive material)
· People who live in a very clean environment may have a lower immunity to germs.
(=about sex)· A bunch of boys were telling dirty jokes.
· a bag of dirty laundry
Why has Jake been giving me dirty looks (=unfriendly looks) all morning?· What’s that dirty mark on your coat?
· How did you get such dirty nails?
· Where shall I put the dirty nappy?
(=a shameful secret)· The exclusion of black people from the film industry is one of Hollywood’s dirty little secrets.
· Diseases can be spread by dirty water.
(=a rude word)· You couldn’t say dirty words on television.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Even the dirtiest player in National Football League history.
· Her unnecessary decision to do the dirtiest work in the place struck them as alarming.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► wash your dirty linen/laundry► it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it► dirty bomb► something is a dirty word► dirty trickPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► get your hands dirty► talk dirty (to somebody)
1- Tell Fran I'm not going to do her dirty work for her.
- Her unnecessary decision to do the dirtiest work in the place struck them as alarming.
- Amy kept crying, and everybody was giving us dirty looks.
- Frank turned round and gave me a really dirty look.
- My aunt's friends always used to give me dirty looks when I brought my kids over, because they knew I wasn't married.
- Pete came in filthy dirty from playing in the backyard.
- Bomb threats and other dirty tricks kept many voters at home.
not clean covered in or marked by an unwanted substance OPP clean: a stack of dirty dishes in the sink How did you get so dirty?dirty clothes/washing/laundry She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes.2sex relating to sex, in a way that is considered immoral or unpleasant: kids telling dirty jokes a dirty magazine She looked at me as if I had said a dirty word.have a dirty mind British English (=think about sex a lot)dirty weekend British English (=a weekend when a man and woman who are not married to each other go away to have sex)3bad/immoral used to emphasize that you think someone or something is bad, dishonest, or immoral: You’re a dirty liar! a dirty fighter you and your dirty little dealsdo the dirty on somebody British English (=treat someone in a way that is unfair or dishonest) What a dirty trick!4something is a dirty word if something is a dirty word, people believe it is a bad thing even if they do not know or think much about it SYN swear word: ‘Liberal’ has somehow become a dirty word in America.5give somebody a dirty look to look at someone in a very disapproving way: Susan gave her brother a dirty look.6dirty trick a dishonest or unfair action, especially done by a government, company, or organization: political dirty tricks7wash your dirty linen/laundry (also air your dirty laundry American English) to discuss something embarrassing or bad about yourself where everyone can see, know, or hear: The divorce has meant airing their dirty laundry in court.8do somebody’s dirty work to do an unpleasant or dishonest action for someone, so that they do not have to do it themselves: I’m not talking to him; you do your own dirty work!9it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it used to say that something is unpleasant to do, but that it is necessary – often used humorously10drugs American English informal containing or possessing illegal drugs11dirty bomb a bomb that contains a radioactive substance which makes the bomb more dangerous than bombs containing only traditional explosives12sport a dirty sports event is one in which people competing in the event have illegally used drugs to improve their performance: Many people think that the race has been a dirty event for years.13environment producing pollution or carbon dioxide: dirty forms of energy—dirtily adverbTHESAURUSdirty not clean: · His clothes were untidy and he had dirty hands.filthy very dirty: · Each year filthy water causes millions of cases of illness.muddy covered with mud: · It had been raining hard and the path was muddy.dusty covered with dust: · the dusty shelves in the atticgreasy covered with oil or grease: · Greasy food is bad for your health.grubby (also mucky British English) informal fairly dirty and needing to be cleaned or washed: · He was wearing a grubby white T-shirt.· mucky fingersgrimy covered with thick dirt or dirt that has been there a long time: · I couldn’t see much out of the grimy windows of the train.dingy /ˈdɪndʒi/ looking dark, dirty, and unpleasant. Used about rooms, houses, and buildings: · We worked in a dingy little office behind the station.polluted used about land, water, or air that has been made dirty: · 85% of city dwellers breathe heavily polluted air.contaminated made dirty by a dangerous substance or bacteria: · The virus is mainly spread through contaminated food.squalid /ˈskwɒləd $ ˈskwɑː-/ formal extremely dirty and unpleasant. Used about the place or conditions in which someone lives: · People are living in squalid conditions, with little water and no sanitation.unhygienic /ʌnhaɪˈdʒiːnɪk◂ $ -ˈdʒe-, -ˈdʒiː-/ formal used about dirty conditions that are likely to cause disease, especially conditions in kitchens, restaurants, and hospitals: · The food was prepared under unhygienic conditions.unsanitary (also insanitary British English) formal used about dirty conditions that are likely to cause disease, especially because there is not a good system for getting rid of waste: · People’s health is being threatened by overcrowded and insanitary homes.· They work for long hours in unsanitary conditions.soiled formal made dirty, especially by waste from your body: · Soiled nappies should be changed as quickly as possible.dirty1 adjectivedirty2 adverbdirty3 verb
dirtydirty2 adverb informal COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Why has Jake been giving me dirty looks (=unfriendly looks) all morning?
(=that spreads radioactive material)
· People who live in a very clean environment may have a lower immunity to germs.
(=about sex)· A bunch of boys were telling dirty jokes.
· a bag of dirty laundry
Why has Jake been giving me dirty looks (=unfriendly looks) all morning?· What’s that dirty mark on your coat?
· How did you get such dirty nails?
· Where shall I put the dirty nappy?
(=a shameful secret)· The exclusion of black people from the film industry is one of Hollywood’s dirty little secrets.
· Diseases can be spread by dirty water.
(=a rude word)· You couldn’t say dirty words on television.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► dirty great/dirty bigPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► get your hands dirty► talk dirty (to somebody)
1play dirty to behave in a very unfair and dishonest way, especially in a competition or game: - I hate playing basketball with Bill - he always plays dirty.
- Warren was willing to play dirty in order to get the job.
- She said Smith paid her to pose naked and talk dirty to him.
- Pete came in filthy dirty from playing in the backyard.
- Bomb threats and other dirty tricks kept many voters at home.
a team that plays dirty2talk dirty to talk about sex using offensive words3dirty great/dirty big British English spoken extremely big: a dirty great snakedirty1 adjectivedirty2 adverbdirty3 verb
dirtydirty3 verb (past tense and past participle dirtied, present participle dirtying, third person singular dirties) [intransitive, transitive] VERB TABLE
dirty
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | dirty |
| he, she, it | dirties | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | dirtied |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have dirtied |
| he, she, it | has dirtied | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had dirtied |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will dirty |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have dirtied |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am dirtying |
| he, she, it | is dirtying | |
| you, we, they | are dirtying | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was dirtying |
| you, we, they | were dirtying | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been dirtying |
| he, she, it | has been dirtying | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been dirtying |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be dirtying |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been dirtying |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- As he stood on the pavement, muddy water splashed up and dirtied his trousers.
- There were cigarette butts and dirtied napkins everywhere.
- You can borrow my gloves, but please try not to dirty them.
- He opened a book with his thumbnail, as if afraid of dirtying his fingers.
- The army, long seen as standing above the fray, dirtied its reputation in Kashmir earlier this year.
Longman Language Activatordirty
not clean: · Look how dirty your hands are!· Take off those dirty jeans.· We were hot and dirty after working in the garden all afternoon.· Do you have any dirty clothes you need me to wash?get dirty (=become dirty): · How did the floor get so dirty?
covered in mud: · Your shoes are really muddy - take them off before you come in.· They moved slowly along the muddy footpath.· She left a trail of muddy footprints behind her.
a dusty room, piece of furniture etc is covered in dust, especially because no one has cleaned it or moved it for a long time: · The room was dark and dusty.· dusty shelves· The journal was dusty and beginning to fall apart.
something that is greasy looks dirty because it has an oily substance on it: · greasy pots and pans· Dick wiped his hands on a greasy rag.· Her long greasy hair hung down to her shoulders.
something that is grubby is fairly dirty, usually because it has been used a lot and not washed: · He blew his nose with a grubby handkerchief.· Her coat was grubby and one of the sleeves was torn.· From his back pocket Robert took out a grubby scrap of paper.
something that is grimy has a covering of dirt on its surface, especially because it has not been cleaned for a long time: · Chris was in a grimy apron, sweeping up.· The whole town was grimy from smoke and coal-dust.· It was difficult to see through the grimy windows of the cafe.
especially British, informal dirty: · Don't wear your best shoes -- you'll only get them all mucky.· The cafeteria was self-service, and guests had to carry their food on little plastic trays to mucky tables.
very dirty extremely dirty: · The inside of the oven was filthy.· We didn't go swimming because the water looked filthy.· filthy sheetsabsolutely filthy: · You ought to wash that sweatshirt - it's absolutely filthy.
very dirty - use this especially about air or water: · the foul air of the factory· A foul haze of pollution hung over the city.
very dirty and unpleasant - use this about the place or conditions in which someone lives: · Dalmer lived in a squalid little room above a shop.· Her childhood was spent in the squalid slums east of the city.squalid conditions: · After the squalid conditions of the refugee camps even this place seems preferable.
dirty and bad for your health likely to cause disease - use this about dirty conditions in kitchens, restaurants, and hospitals: · It is unhygienic to store raw meat at that temperature.· Hospital cleaners were criticized for the unhygienic conditions of the central kitchens.
water or air that is polluted has a lot of harmful waste or poisonous chemicals in it: · Sayers said that if he's elected his administration will make a priority of cleaning up the region's polluted rivers.· Central London is the most polluted spot in Britain.polluted with/by: · Large parts of the Mediterranean are still polluted with toxic waste.heavily polluted (=very badly polluted): · The air was heavily polluted with exhaust fumes.
food, water, or land that is contaminated is not safe to use or be in because dangerous chemicals or bacteria have come into it: · contaminated drinking watercontaminated with/by: · Several people became ill after eating hamburger meat contaminated with the E.coli bacteria.heavily contaminated (=very badly contaminated): · The soil around the plant is heavily contaminated.
insanitary conditions are dirty and likely to cause disease, especially because there is no effective way of getting rid of waste: · Amnesty claims the prisoners are being kept in overcrowded and insanitary conditions.
to make something dirty use this especially in negative statements: · Try not to get the floor dirty.· I don't want to get my new shoes dirty.
to make something dirty , especially clothes: · You can borrow my gloves, but please try not to dirty them.· As he stood on the pavement, muddy water splashed up and dirtied his trousers.
formal to make clothes, sheets, etc dirty, especially with sweat, waste from your body, or other liquids: · The baby had soiled her diaper again.· His shirtfront was soiled with blood and his hair was wild.· Many of the pages had been soiled by the old man's dirty fingers.
to make something dirty and dangerous to make air, water, the ground etc dirty by putting chemicals or waste products into it, so that it is unsafe for use by people or animals: · An investigation revealed that the mine was polluting both the air and the groundwater.· The company is charged with polluting the River Mersey by allowing crude oil to enter the river.pollute something with something: · The factory explosion, which polluted the surrounding area with dioxin, was reportedly caused by negligence.
to accidentally make a place or a substance dirty and dangerous by adding something to it, for example chemicals or bacteria: · Lead pipes can contaminate drinking water.· The food was contaminated during the production process.
something that makes things dirty dust, mud, or anything else that makes things dirty: · Why is there dirt all over the back seat of the car?· She swept the dirt off the back porch.· He took off his glasses, which were covered with dirt.speck of dirt (=small piece of dirt): · The rooms were cleaned until every speck of dirt and grit was gone.
dry powder that forms a layer on furniture, floors, clothes etc, especially when they have not been cleaned or moved for a long time: · Max brushed the dust off his coat.layer of dust: · There was a thick layer of dust on the furniture.
wet earth that sticks to your shoes, clothes, car, tyres etc: · There's mud all over the carpet.· Hayley scraped the dried mud off her boots.· Their expensive riding jackets were covered in mud.
the harmful effects on water, air, or land of chemicals and waste from factories, cars, modern farming methods etc: · Industrial pollution has killed much of the river's wildlife.· Pollution from cars is the main cause of global warming.· The convention, signed by the six states bordering the Black Sea, aims to reduce current pollution levels.
British informal dirt or mud: · I'll just clean the muck off the windscreen and wing mirrors.be covered in muck: · His hands and fingernails were filthy, his face and legs covered in muck.
thick, dark dirt that covers a surface over a period of time and is difficult to remove: · On one wall of the entryway hangs a large oil painting, covered with grime.· His hands were black with grime from working on the car.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Why has Jake been giving me dirty looks (=unfriendly looks) all morning?
(=that spreads radioactive material)
· People who live in a very clean environment may have a lower immunity to germs.
(=about sex)· A bunch of boys were telling dirty jokes.
· a bag of dirty laundry
Why has Jake been giving me dirty looks (=unfriendly looks) all morning?· What’s that dirty mark on your coat?
· How did you get such dirty nails?
· Where shall I put the dirty nappy?
(=a shameful secret)· The exclusion of black people from the film industry is one of Hollywood’s dirty little secrets.
· Diseases can be spread by dirty water.
(=a rude word)· You couldn’t say dirty words on television.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► get your hands dirty► talk dirty (to somebody)
1to make something dirty2to make someone feel or seem bad, dishonest, or immoral: - Pete came in filthy dirty from playing in the backyard.
- Bomb threats and other dirty tricks kept many voters at home.
The army’s actions dirtied its reputation.3dirty your hands to do hard physical work, in which your hands become dirty