plumb the depths of something

plumb the depths of something
plumb the depths (of (something)) to carefully examine something in order to understand or explain it.

Who would want to plumb the depths of the criminal mind?

Etymology: based on plumb line (= a cord with a heavy piece of metal attached to it, used to measure the depth of water under a ship)

New idioms dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • plumb the depths of something — plumb the depths of sth idiom to be or to experience an extreme example of sth unpleasant • His latest novel plumbs the depths of horror and violence. • It was at that stage in her life when she plumbed the depths of despair. • The team s poor… …   Useful english dictionary

  • plumb the depths of — plumb the depths (of (something)) to carefully examine something in order to understand or explain it. Who would want to plumb the depths of the criminal mind? Etymology: based on plumb line (= a cord with a heavy piece of metal attached to it,… …   New idioms dictionary

  • plumb the depths — (of (something)) to carefully examine something in order to understand or explain it. Who would want to plumb the depths of the criminal mind? Etymology: based on plumb line (= a cord with a heavy piece of metal attached to it, used to measure… …   New idioms dictionary

  • plumb the depths (of something) — …   Useful english dictionary

  • plumb the depths — 1. to experience extreme sadness. His wife left him in May and during the following months he plumbed the depths of despair. (usually + of) 2. to understand something in detail, especially something that is difficult to understand. In hypnosis we …   New idioms dictionary

  • plumb — I UK [plʌm] / US verb [transitive] Word forms plumb : present tense I/you/we/they plumb he/she/it plumbs present participle plumbing past tense plumbed past participle plumbed 1) formal to manage to understand something difficult or mysterious… …   English dictionary

  • plumb — plumb1 [ plʌm ] verb transitive 1. ) FORMAL to manage to understand something difficult or mysterious: science s attempts to plumb the mysteries of the universe 2. ) to connect the water pipes in a room or building plumb the depths (of something) …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • plumb — [[t]plʌ̱m[/t]] plumbs, plumbing, plumbed 1) VERB If you plumb something mysterious or difficult to understand, you succeed in understanding it. [LITERARY] [V n] She never abandoned her attempts to plumb my innermost emotions... [V n] Magda had… …   English dictionary

  • plumb — plumb1 [plʌm] v [T] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: plumb metal weight on a plumb line (13 21 centuries), from Old French plomb lead , from Latin plumbum] 1.) plumb the depths (of despair/misery/bad taste etc) to feel an unpleasant emotion in a very… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • plumb — 1 verb (T) 1 plumb the depths of despair/misery/bad taste etc to express a bad quality or feel an unpleasant emotion in a very extreme way: When his wife left him Matt plumbed the very depths of despair. 2 to succeed in understanding something… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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