DRESSED TO KILL, DROP IN THE BUCKET, A, DRUM (SOMEONE)/GET DRUMMED OUT OF THE CORPS: American English Idioms #60

DRESSED TO KILL

One might say that a person is dressed to kill when they are wearing clothes that are appropriate for the occasion, especially if the outfit is something fancy. The idiom originates from the phrase “to dress (someone) up to kill” meaning to prepare someone for an event or task that will take place.

Some slang terms use the language of clothing to convey a message. One such term is ‘dressed to kill’. In this idiom, the speaker means that they are trying their hardest. The speaker may have been going through a difficult time and they may have just found someone that can help them get out of their situation. They will use all of the tools in their arsenal to try and get situated in a better life.

A person is ‘dressed to kill’ when they are dressed in an elegant and fashionable way, particularly when they are meeting someone for the first time. This phrase is commonly used in the UK. The meaning of this phrase can be interpreted in different ways.

The idiom “to dress to kill” primarily means to dress in a manner, often lavish or ostentatious, that is calculated to attract attention and impress others. The use of the term originated from the 18th century British generals who commonly wore their dress uniform on a day of battle so as to appear dignified and full of authority. In this way, it is a metaphor for presenting oneself in an overwhelming fashion.

DROP IN THE BUCKET, A

The phrase “a drop in the bucket” is an idiomatic expression meaning “a very small or insignificant contribution.” The phrase’s origin stems from a common misperception that a bucket could be filled to the brim with drops of water. In fact, a bucket could only hold about 1,168 drops.

The phrase “drop in the bucket” is a figure of speech that means “a very small or insignificant contribution.

An idiom meaning that one’s efforts are not enough to produce a significant change in a situation, in reference to how little water can be captured in an average bucket.

The phrase “a drop in the bucket” is based on the concept of how small an amount is collected in a bucket when rain falls or when someone pours water into it. The idiom carries the implication that even an individual’s contribution may be too insignificant to make any difference.

A drop in the bucket idiom is a metaphor that means to be insignificant or meaningless. It can also mean that something does not make a large difference. If someone says “a drop in the bucket”, they are saying that “the impact of an event, person, or thing doesn’t make a large difference”.

The phrase “a drop in the bucket” is often used to describe something that has little or no impact on a situation. This phrase derives from the idea that the amount of water in a bucket would not be sufficient enough to make any difference against, for example, a fire.

DRUM (SOMEONE)/GET DRUMMED OUT OF THE CORPS

The phrase to drum someone out of something is a metaphor or simile meaning to expel someone from an organization, team, company, etc.

Many people who are not familiar with the meaning of this phrase may believe it to be a type of drumming. However, this is a common idiomatic expression with a variety of meanings. To drum someone out is to force them out of a position, often through harassment and ridicule. Examples include forcing someone to resign from their position or making them feel unwelcome in an organization. To drum someone up means to go looking for something, such as finding a new customer or recruiting employees.

A drum someone out of the business is an idiom for getting somebody to stop working or doing something. It is difficult to drum someone out of the business because it means they need to be fired from their company, which would require a lot of work. It would be difficult to drum somebody out of the business because it is hard to get people fired in many cases.

To drum someone out of a position, typically in the military, is to expel them from that position. This is normally done with dishonor and can be permanent or temporary depending on the severity of their infraction.