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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

make a better door than a window en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To obstruct someone's view, especially as a result of thoughtlessness.
    • She griped fetchingly at a clot of news workers who blocked her view. "You make a better door than a window, kid," she told one reporter. 1996 February 20, Francis X. Clines, “Judgments On Politics, Primaries, Pancakes”, in New York Times, retrieved 18 Jul 2015:
    • An advertising poster on a transit shelter makes a better door than a window, when trying to spot oncoming traffic. 2014 November 5, Jack Lakey, “Advertising poster blocks drivers' view”, in Toronto Star, Canada, retrieved 18 Jul 2015:
    • “You're blocking the picture,” Maria says. . . . “You make a better door than a window.” 1986, Tony Ardizzone, The Evening News, →ISBN, page 27:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
made a better door than a window Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
made a better door than a window Tense=Past lexicographic
makes a better door than a window Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
making a better door than a window Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Relateds

when God closes a door he opens a window

Translations (5)

es no eres hijo del cristalero (Translations) · es la carne de burro no es transparente (Translations) · fr t’es pas transparent (Translations) · pt não és transparente (Translations) · fr ton père n’est pas vitrier (Translations)