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dye

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dye in the wool

To stain wool fibers with dye before they are spun into thread, thus making the coloration more permanent. This phrase has led to the idiomatic modifier "dyed-in-the-wool," meaning permanent and or firmly established, such as one's opinions. All of our products are handmade, and we always dye in the wool to ensure that your clothing's color remains vibrant for years to come.

See also: dye, wool

how-d'ye-do

1. An informal, colloquial greeting (a contraction of "how do you do?"). Well hey, Bob, how-d'ye-do? Been a long time since I've seen you around here!

2. An unfortunate, unpleasant, or awkward situation or circumstance; a troublesome or difficult state of affairs. (Often phrased as "a fine how-d'ye-do.") Well that's a fine how-d'ye-do. I'm on the job for just two days and I find out that the company is going bankrupt!

of the blackest dye

To the furthest degree or extent. If you are trying to get your poor mother to take the blame for you, you are really a criminal of the blackest dye!

See also: black, dye, of

dyed-in-the-wool

[of someone] permanent or extreme. My uncle was a dyed-in-the-wool farmer. He wouldn't change for anything. Sally is a dyed-in-the-wool socialist.

dyed-in-the-wool

if you describe someone as dyed-in-the-wool, you mean they have very strong opinions and will not change (always before noun) He's a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist where cooking is concerned - he won't have any modern gadgets in the kitchen.

of the deepest dye

Of the most extreme sort.

See also: deep, dye, of