- white ant
- vbAustralianto denigrate, undermine. The phrase is based on the action of theAustralian termite and was given prominence by its use in TV soap operas such as Neigh-bours.
Contemporary slang . 2014.
white ant
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White ant — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
white ant — noun count a TERMITE … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
white ant — white′ ant′ n. ent termite • Etymology: 1675–85 … From formal English to slang
white ant — n. TERMITE … English World dictionary
white ant — Termite Ter mite, n.; pl. {Termites}. [F. See {Termes}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of pseudoneoropterous insects belonging to {Termes} and allied genera; called also {white ant}. See Illust. of {White ant}. [1913 Webster] Note: They… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
white-ant — ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ transitive verb ( ed/ ing/ s) Etymology: white ant : to wreck or take over surreptitiously as if by the boring of termites : undermine by underhanded means the popular front was white anted by a Communist minority … Useful english dictionary
white-ant — /ˈwaɪt ænt/ (say wuyt ant) verb (t) Colloquial to subvert or undermine from within (an organisation or enterprise). –white anter, noun –white anting, noun …
white ant — /ˈwaɪt ænt/ (say wuyt ant) noun 1. any of various species of wood eating isopterous insects which, like ants, exhibit social organisation and often form enormous moist colonies; destructive of trees, wooden fences, houses, etc.; termite. –phrase… …
white-ant — /hwuyt ant , wuyt /, v.t. Australian Informal. to undermine or subvert from within. [1915 20] * * * … Universalium
white ant — noun whitish soft bodied ant like social insect that feeds on wood • Syn: ↑termite • Hypernyms: ↑insect • Hyponyms: ↑dry wood termite, ↑Reticulitermes flanipes, ↑Reticulitermes lucifugus, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
white ant — noun Date: 1684 termite … New Collegiate Dictionary
