double tap
1. noun The firing of a semi-automatic gun twice in rapid succession into the same target zone, especially the head of a victim. The assassin's signature kill was a single shot to the chest and a double tap to the head of his targets.
2. noun The act of touching or pressing lightly with the fingers twice in rapid succession, as on a touch-sensitive screen or device. Just give the application's icon a quick double tap for it to open.
3. verb To fire a semi-automatic gun twice in rapid succession into the same target zone, especially the head of a victim. Always be sure to double tap your target to ensure they will not be getting up again.
4. verb To tap a touch-sensitive screen or device twice in rapid succession. You just have to double tap the icon on the screen for the application to open.
tap the admiral
To drink directly (and secretly) from a cask, as if by a straw and gimlet. The phrase refers to British admiral Horatio Nelson, whose corpse was transported to England in a liquor-filled cask that is said to have arrived empty of liquor. Someone must have tapped the admiral because we are out of liquor already!
wrap it before you tap it
slang Make sure you put on a condom before you have sex. Bring condoms tonight, man—you gotta wrap it before you tap it!
on tap
1. Lit. having to do with beer served from a barrel or keg. Do you have any imported beers on tap here? I like beer on tap. The canned stuff tastes funny to me.
2. Fig. immediately available. I have just the kind of person you're talking about on tap. The cook has any kind of food you might want on tap.
tap at something
to make one or more light blows on something. Fred tapped at the door, but no one heard him. Who is tapping at my window?
tap on something
to make one or more light blows on something. Who is that tapping on my windowpane? I wish you would stop tapping on the tabletop.
tap out
1. Sl. to lose one's money in gambling or in the securities markets. I'm gonna tap out in about three more rolls—just watch. I really tapped out on that gold-mining stock.
2. Sl. to die; to expire. My dog tapped out after being hit by a car. Mary was so tired that she thought she was going to tap out.
tap someone (for something)
to select someone for some purpose or position. The committee tapped John to run for Congress. I had thought they were going to tap Sally.
tap someone or something on something
to make one or more light blows on some part of someone or something. Someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around to see who it was. I tapped the drum on the top to find its pitch.
tap something down
to pound something down with light blows. Please tap that nail down so no one gets hurt on it. Tap down the tack, if you would.
tap something into something
and tap something into move something in with light blows. The mechanic tapped the bracket into place. The worker tapped in the bracket.
tap something out
1. Lit. to clean something, as the ashes out of a pipe, by tapping. He took the pipe out of his mouth and tapped the ashes out. He tapped out the soil from the flower pot.
2. Fig. to send a message in Morse code, as on a telegraph. The telegraph operator tapped a message out and waited for a reply. The operator tapped out a message.
3. Fig. to thump the rhythm of a piece of music [on something]. Tap the rhythm out until you get it right. Let's tap out the rhythm together.
tap something with something
to make light blows on something with something. Alice tapped the table with her keys in an annoying fashion. Just tap the nail lightly with your hammer.
tap-dance like mad
Sl. to appear busy continuously; to have to move fast or talk cleverly to distract someone. When things get tough, the whole Congress tap-dances like mad. Any public official knows how to tap-dance like mad when the press gets too nosy.
What's on tap for today?
Inf. What is on the schedule for today?; What is going to happen today? (As a beer that is on tap and ready to be served.) Tom: Good morning, Fred. Fred: Morning. What's on tap for today? Tom: Trouble in the morning and difficulty in the afternoon. Fred: So nothing's new. Sally: Can we have lunch today? Sue: I'll have to look at my schedule and see what's on tap for today.
tap for
v. To select someone for something, such as an appointment to an office: The mayor tapped his top aide for the position of communications director.
tap into
v.1. To gain access to some resource: The building tapped into the city's water supply.
2. To take advantage of some sentiment: The politician tapped into voter anger and won the election.
tap out
v.1. To produce something with a succession of light taps: She tapped out a rhythm with her pencil. The captain tapped out a distress signal in Morse code. I tapped the letter out on my computer.
2. To submit in a fight, wrestling match, or other contest by tapping the ground with the hand: Unable to free himself from the choke hold, the wrestler tapped out.
3. Baseball To hit the ball weakly so that one is put out at first base: The batter tapped out, and the inning was over. The hitter tapped out with a ground ball to third base.
4. To deplete some resource or the resources of someone or something: The hurricane tapped out the city's emergency funds. The medical expenses tapped us out. The housing market is tapped out now that so many new houses have been built.
on tap
1. mod. having to do with beer sold from a barrel or keg. Do you have any imported beers on tap here?
2. mod. immediately available. I have just the kind of person you’re talking about on tap.
tap dance like mad
in. to be busy continuously; to have to move fast to distract someone. Any public official knows how to tap dance like mad without getting out of breath or sweating.
tap out
1. in. to lose one’s money gambling or in the securities markets. (see also
tapped.)
I’m gonna tap out in about three more rolls—just watch. I really tapped out on that gold-mining stock. 2. in. to die; to expire. Mary was so tired that she thought she was going to tap out.
tap someone (for something)
tv. to select someone for some purpose or position. The committee tapped John to run for Congress.
tap someone
verbtapped
(tæpt)1. and tapped out mod. broke. The consumer is just about tapped. Don’t expect much buying in that sector.
2. and tapped out mod. exhausted. I need a nap. I’m tapped out.
3. and tapped out mod. ruined. We are tapped. That really did it to us.
4. mod. arrested. (As if one were tapped on the shoulder by a police officer.) I knew I was gonna get tapped eventually, but I just couldn’t stop stealing.
tapped out
verb