18-letter words containing d, o, a

stand-by generator — an electrical system which operates automatically in case the usual system malfunctions
standard deviation — a measure of dispersion in a frequency distribution, equal to the square root of the mean of the squares of the deviations from the arithmetic mean of the distribution.
standard of living — a grade or level of subsistence and comfort in everyday life enjoyed by a community, class, or individual: The well-educated generally have a high standard of living.
standing committee — a permanent committee, as of a legislature, society, etc., intended to consider all matters pertaining to a designated subject.
standoff insulator — a type of insulator that supports an electrical conductor at a distance from other elements or surfaces.
stomach sweetbread — sweetbread (def 1).
straits of florida — a sea passage between the Florida Keys and Cuba, linking the Atlantic with the Gulf of Mexico
strathclyde region — a former local government region in W Scotland: formed in 1975 from Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Buteshire, Dunbartonshire, and parts of Argyllshire, Ayrshire, and Stirlingshire; replaced in 1996 by the council areas of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Argyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and East Ayrshire
subordinate clause — a clause that modifies the principal clause or some part of it or that serves a noun function in the principal clause, as when she arrived in the sentence I was there when she arrived or that she has arrived in the sentence I doubt that she has arrived.
subsidiary company — a company whose controlling interest is owned by another company.
summary proceeding — a mode of trial authorized by statute to be held before a judge without the usual full hearing.
sun-dried tomatoes — tomatoes that have been dried or preserved by exposure to the sun
supraorbital ridge — browridge.
sutton-in-ashfield — a market town in N central England, in W Nottinghamshire. Pop: 41 951 (2001)
swollen-headedness — the quality of being conceited
take a dim view of — not bright; obscure from lack of light or emitted light: a dim room; a dim flashlight.
talk of the devil! — used when an absent person who has been the subject of conversation appears
tan someone's hide — to convert (a hide) into leather, especially by soaking or steeping in a bath prepared from tanbark or synthetically.
telford and wrekin — a unitary authority in W Central England, in Shropshire. Pop: 160 300 (2003 est). Area: 289 sq km (112 sq miles)
temporary hardness — hardness of water due to the presence of magnesium and calcium hydrogencarbonates, which can be precipitated as carbonates by boiling
tender loving care — considerate and kindly care, as of someone who is ill, upset, etc
tertiary education — education, following secondary education at a school, at a college or university
the back of beyond — a very remote place
the bird has flown — the person in question has fled or escaped
the damage is done — If you say 'the damage is done', you mean that it is too late now to prevent the harmful effects of something that has already happened.
the dark continent — a term for Africa when it was relatively unexplored
the first sea lord — the senior of the two serving naval officers who sits on the admiralty board of the Ministry of Defence
the grand national — an annual steeplechase run at Aintree, Liverpool, since 1839
the hand of fatima — a symbol of a hand used in some Arabic countries to protect against the evil eye, a magical power
the heavens opened — it started pouring with rain
the lords temporal — (in Britain) peers other than bishops in their capacity as members of the House of Lords
the operative word — If you describe a word as the operative word, you want to draw attention to it because you think it is important or exactly true in a particular situation.
the same old story — the familiar or regular course of events
the-dark-continent — Africa: so called, especially during the 19th century, because little was known about it.
theodore gericault — (Jean Louis André) Théodore [zhahn lwee ahn-drey tey-aw-dawr] /ʒɑ̃ lwi ɑ̃ˈdreɪ teɪ ɔˈdɔr/ (Show IPA), 1791–1824, French painter.
thioantimonic acid — a hypothetical acid, H3SbS4, known only in the form of its salts
thioarsenious acid — any of a group of hypothetical acids, H3AsS3, HAsS2, and H4As2S5, known only in the forms of their salts
thiosulphuric acid — an unstable acid known only in solutions and in the form of its salts. Formula: H2S2O3
thomas alva edison — Thomas Alva [al-vuh] /ˈæl və/ (Show IPA), 1847–1931, U.S. inventor, especially of electrical devices.
three-cornered hat — a triangular shaped hat which was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries; its turned up brim formed a gutter for catching rain
to a grinding halt — If you describe a bad situation as grinding, you mean it never gets better, changes, or ends.
to agree to differ — If two people who are arguing about something agree to disagree or agree to differ, they decide to stop arguing because neither of them is going to change their opinion.
to be above ground — to be alive
to be on the radar — to be noticed or important
to be said for sth — If you say there is a lot to be said for something, you mean you think it has a lot of good qualities or aspects.
to clear the decks — If you clear the decks, you get ready to start something new by finishing any work that has to be done or getting rid of any problems that are in the way.
to cut the mustard — If someone does not cut the mustard, their work or their performance is not as good as it should be or as good as it is expected to be.
to find fault with — If you find fault with something or someone, you look for mistakes and complain about them.
to get a bad press — If someone or something gets a bad press, they are criticized, especially in the newspapers, on television, or on radio. If they get a good press, they are praised.
to hold your peace — If you hold or keep your peace, you do not speak, even though there is something you want or ought to say.

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