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dash1 verb (dashes, dashed, dashing) 1 intrans to run quickly; to rush. 2 intrans to crash or smash. 3 (often dash against something) to hit or smash it violently. 4 to destroy or put an end to (hopes, etc). noun (dashes) 1 a quick run or sudden rush. 2 a small amount of something added, especially a liquid. 3 a patch of colour. 4 a short line (-) used in writing to show a break in a sentence, etc. 5 in Morse code: the longer of the two lengths of signal element, written as a short line. Compare dot. 6 confidence, enthusiasm and stylishness. 7 N Amer sport a short race for fast runners. 8 a dashboard.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c as dasch; from earlier daschen or dassen to rush or strike violently.

dash off to leave abruptly.

dash off something or dash something off to produce or write it hastily.

dash

1. long dash -

introduces an explanation or expansion • The film is excellent - it has slick photography, a pacy plot and lavish costumes.

ALTERNATIVE STYLE (more formal): a colon.

It introduces an emphatic comment • He can do it - and he will!

In pairs, it encloses an emphatic comment • There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

In pairs, it encloses an inserted comment or aside • I'm told his car - some fancy foeign job, I believe - cost over £18,000.

ALTERNATIVE STYLES (less informal): a pair of commas; (less informal still) a pair of round brackets.

2. short dash -

links the limits of a range • the 1914-18 War • pages 467-481 • volumes I-IV • an A-Z guide to the birds of Britain.

Don't use a dash to link items in a phrase beginning with 'between' or 'from':

• between 1987-95;

• from 1918-1939;

• between 1987 and 1995;

• from 1918 to 1939.

It links two or more words that together modify a following word • a 3-0 win for Arsenal • the Paris-Lyon autoroute • the space-time continuum.

dash1 verb (dashes, dashed, dashing) 1 intrans to run quickly; to rush. 2 intrans to crash or smash. 3 (often dash against something) to hit or smash it violently. 4 to destroy or put an end to (hopes, etc). noun (dashes) 1 a quick run or sudden rush. 2 a small amount of something added, especially a liquid. 3 a patch of colour. 4 a short line (-) used in writing to show a break in a sentence, etc. 5 in Morse code: the longer of the two lengths of signal element, written as a short line. Compare dot. 6 confidence, enthusiasm and stylishness. 7 N Amer sport a short race for fast runners. 8 a dashboard.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c as dasch; from earlier daschen or dassen to rush or strike violently.

dash off to leave abruptly.

dash off something or dash something off to produce or write it hastily.

dash

1. long dash -

introduces an explanation or expansion • The film is excellent - it has slick photography, a pacy plot and lavish costumes.

ALTERNATIVE STYLE (more formal): a colon.

It introduces an emphatic comment • He can do it - and he will!

In pairs, it encloses an emphatic comment • There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

In pairs, it encloses an inserted comment or aside • I'm told his car - some fancy foeign job, I believe - cost over £18,000.

ALTERNATIVE STYLES (less informal): a pair of commas; (less informal still) a pair of round brackets.

2. short dash -

links the limits of a range • the 1914-18 War • pages 467-481 • volumes I-IV • an A-Z guide to the birds of Britain.

Don't use a dash to link items in a phrase beginning with 'between' or 'from':

• between 1987-95;

• from 1918-1939;

• between 1987 and 1995;

• from 1918 to 1939.

It links two or more words that together modify a following word • a 3-0 win for Arsenal • the Paris-Lyon autoroute • the space-time continuum.

dash1 verb (dashes, dashed, dashing) 1 intrans to run quickly; to rush. 2 intrans to crash or smash. 3 (often dash against something) to hit or smash it violently. 4 to destroy or put an end to (hopes, etc). noun (dashes) 1 a quick run or sudden rush. 2 a small amount of something added, especially a liquid. 3 a patch of colour. 4 a short line (-) used in writing to show a break in a sentence, etc. 5 in Morse code: the longer of the two lengths of signal element, written as a short line. Compare dot. 6 confidence, enthusiasm and stylishness. 7 N Amer sport a short race for fast runners. 8 a dashboard.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c as dasch; from earlier daschen or dassen to rush or strike violently.

dash off to leave abruptly.

dash off something or dash something off to produce or write it hastily.

dash

1. long dash -

introduces an explanation or expansion • The film is excellent - it has slick photography, a pacy plot and lavish costumes.

ALTERNATIVE STYLE (more formal): a colon.

It introduces an emphatic comment • He can do it - and he will!

In pairs, it encloses an emphatic comment • There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

In pairs, it encloses an inserted comment or aside • I'm told his car - some fancy foeign job, I believe - cost over £18,000.

ALTERNATIVE STYLES (less informal): a pair of commas; (less informal still) a pair of round brackets.

2. short dash -

links the limits of a range • the 1914-18 War • pages 467-481 • volumes I-IV • an A-Z guide to the birds of Britain.

Don't use a dash to link items in a phrase beginning with 'between' or 'from':

• between 1987-95;

• from 1918-1939;

• between 1987 and 1995;

• from 1918 to 1939.

It links two or more words that together modify a following word • a 3-0 win for Arsenal • the Paris-Lyon autoroute • the space-time continuum.