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dead-nuts

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: deadnuts and dead nuts

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adjective

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dead-nuts (not comparable)

  1. (informal) Precise, exact, completely accurate.
    • 2005, Michael Dregni, editor, Harley-Davidson: The Good, the Bad, and the Legendary, →ISBN, page 121:
      Bator, after hundreds of hours spent studying publicity stills, re-running tapes of the movie, and talking to cast and crew members, came up with a deadnuts duplication. Late last year, an exact replica of the Hopper chopper was completed, too.
    • 2011, Peter Pavia, chapter 13, in Dutch Uncle, →ISBN:
      “Told you that bitch was trouble. You gotta listen to old Mike.”
      “Okay, you were dead-nuts on that one.”

Adverb

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dead-nuts (not comparable)

  1. (informal) Precisely, exactly, completely.
    • 1890 June 7, “Doubtful”, in Punch, or the London Charivari[1], volume 98, page 270:
      Jockey: My opinion's of little account,
      But I don't mind admitting, yer honour,
      I am not dead nuts on my mount.
    • 2000 June 11, Herb McCormick, “The Boating Report: Amid Big Names, an Underrated Sailor Wins Off Newport”, in New York Times[2], retrieved 5 January 2016:
      And all the boats are dead-nuts even.
    • 2012, David Freed, chapter 13, in Flat Spin[3], →ISBN:
      I nailed the localizer dead-nuts center, squared the glideslope indicator, slowed my airspeed and rode the needles all the way down at a steady ninety knots.
    • 2015, Alan Spector, chapter 27, in Body Not Recovered[4], →ISBN:
      “But I'm not having this conversation unless I'm dead-nuts sure that each of you would be willing to listen.”

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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