hit the deck

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deck¹

(dĕk)

1. A platform extending horizontally from one side of a ship to the other.

a. A platform or surface likened to a ship's deck.

b. An unroofed platform, typically with a railing, that adjoins a building or is built on a rooftop.

c. The roadway of a bridge or an elevated freeway.

3. The piece of hard material, usually wood or composite, to which the frames housing the wheels are attached on a skateboard or landboard.

a. A pack of playing cards.

b. A group of data processing cards.

c. A digital file containing slides for a presentation.

5. A tape deck.

tr.v. decked, deck·ing, decks

1. To furnish with or as if with a deck.

2. Slang To knock down: He decked his sparring partner.

Idioms:

clear the deck Informal

To prepare for action.

hit the deck Slang

1. To get out of bed.

2. To fall or drop to a prone position.

3. To prepare for action.

on deck

1. On hand; present.

2. Sports Waiting to take one's turn, especially as a batter in baseball.

[Middle English dekke, from Middle Dutch dec, roof, covering; see (s)teg- in Indo-European roots.]

deck²

(dĕk)

tr.v. decked, deck·ing, decks

1. To clothe with finery; adorn. Often used with out: We were all decked out for the party.

2. To decorate: decked the halls for the holidays.

[Dutch dekken, to cover, from Middle Dutch decken; see (s)teg- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Verb

hit the deck - fall or drop suddenly, usually to evade some danger; "The soldiers hit the dirt when they heard gunfire"

hit the dirt

move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right"

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

When he hit the deck he hadn't time to speak to any of us.

View in context

Thomas added: "I'm not sure who was the first one down but myself and Froomey must have been in the top 10 or 15 and we had nowhere to go so we hit the deck. No real damage, I just lost a bit of skin."

Froome and Thomas OK after tumble; CYCLING

Johnson is perfectly prepared to revert to his hit the deck hard and aim for the ribs strategy if he is not swinging the ball dangerously as he now knows he can.

Johnson ready with deadly 'chin music' to curb Pietersen's natural flourish

Here's how to "hit the deck" with a few simple clean-up "solutions." After general swabbing with powdered laundry detergent and water, attack winter wear and residual stains, as follows.

Messy outdoor deck

We all hit the deck. The commander on the ground hit the deck in front of me and there was a bullet just inches above his head.

WALES: Marine tells of battle horror

The midfielder went into a late and high tackle, leaving referee Andy Haines reaching for his red card as soon as Osborne hit the deck.

BEES BUZZING; Port Vale 0 Brentford 3 Coca Cola FOOTBALL LEAGUE TWO

He resumed after an eight count but Prescott unleashed another flurry of punches and Khan hit the deck once more before being counted out.

SPORTSFILE: Khan slumps to quickfire defeat

Hit the deck, hit the deck in the right area - that is what we kept repeating to ourselves."

The need for speed

Wheelgun shooters should not be affected since their casings don't necessarily hit the deck & become part of the treasure.

Sneaky brass hounds

That kid has the voice of authority, and all inebriated suckers hit the deck. As I fully expected, the video was brilliant yet excellent.

The Washington Street skatepark art shmooze

Also out from Turner/Rhino is the first stereophonic release of MGM's 1955 HIT THE DECK, which restores two deleted numbers.

hit the deck

deck 1

deck 2

deck¹

deck²