doorstep

doorstep
   1. to abandon a baby
   In the days when there was a stigma attached to unmarried woman having babies and little help for them if they did, the baby might be left on the doorstep of a prosperous house, the mother ringing a bell and then leaving.
   Some figurative use of the behaviour of parents towards unwanted children:
    When it became obvious... from the hour of my conception, that my parents intended to doorstep me... (N. Mitford, 1945)
   2. aggressively to interview an unwilling person
   To catch a victim reluctant to be interviewed, a journalist may thrust a microphone at him, possibly with a camera also recording the scene, as he attempts to enter or leave his home.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Doorstep — Door step , n. The stone or plank forming a step before an outer door. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • doorstep — 1810, from DOOR (Cf. door) + STEP (Cf. step) (n.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • doorstep — ► NOUN 1) a step leading up to the outer door of a house. 2) Brit. informal a thick sandwich or slice. ► VERB (doorstepped, doorstepping) Brit. informal 1) (of a journalist) wait uninvited outside the home of (someone) for an interview or… …   English terms dictionary

  • doorstep — [dôr′step΄] n. a step that leads from an outer door to a path, lawn, etc …   English World dictionary

  • doorstep — door|step1 [ˈdo:step US ˈdo:r ] n 1.) a step just outside a door to a house or building on the doorstep ▪ He stood on the doorstep , straightening his tie. ▪ the front doorstep 2.) on sb s/the doorstep a) very near someone s home ▪ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • doorstep — [[t]dɔ͟ː(r)step[/t]] doorsteps, doorstepping, doorstepped 1) N COUNT A doorstep is a step in front of a door on the outside of a building. 2) VERB (disapproval) When journalists doorstep someone, they go to their home and try to get an interview… …   English dictionary

  • doorstep — I UK [ˈdɔː(r)ˌstep] / US [ˈdɔrˌstep] noun [countable] Word forms doorstep : singular doorstep plural doorsteps 1) a small step outside the main door to a house or other building 2) British informal a very thick sandwich or piece of bread • on… …   English dictionary

  • doorstep — 1. noun a) Step of a door. The threshold of a doorway. On ones doorstep. b) Ones immediate neighbourhood or locality. They want to build the prison right on our doorstep, it will only be half a mile away and being that close scares me …   Wiktionary

  • doorstep — door|step [ dɔr,step ] noun count a small step outside the main door to a house or building on your doorstep very close to where you live: You re lucky to have the school right on your doorstep …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • doorstep — 1 noun (C) 1 a step just outside a door to a house or building 2 on your doorstep very near to where you live or are staying: Wow! You ve got the beach right on your doorstep! 3 BrE informal a very thick piece of bread cut from a loaf 2 verb (I)… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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