did not dash

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not dash" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something did not move quickly or did not run. Example: "Despite the urgency of the situation, she did not dash to the exit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When I realised on a busy Thursday that I had dashed off to work without first voting I did not dash home again in time to do my civic duty, the first such omission of my adult life.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"You notice, the men didn't dash ashore after being aboard a landing craft for five solid days," Lieb says.

The Guardian

'You notice, the men didn't dash ashore after being aboard a landing craft for five solid days,' Lieb says.

The Guardian

(Thanks to his pronounced limp, Mr. Furst ungraciously points out, Mercier actually "didn't dash very well").

The New York Times - Travel

He had been locked up in a room in Chantilly by Jean Cocteau so that he didn't dash off on one of his drinking binges instead (he was fond of these, as you can gather from Francis Steegmuller's biography of Cocteau, and once went on a two-week bender with Brancusi, travelling on a whim from Marseilles to Corsica).

The Guardian - Books

Cabbies enjoying a day off didn't dash out on rainy days to help soak up the extra demand.

Forbes

If not, DO NOT DASH IN and DASH OUT, just to say you were there.

Huffington Post

Do not dash your eyes around their face.

WikiHow

"But there are lots of studies showing that people eating their traditional foods in the Mediterranean areas of the world have less heart disease and less high blood pressure". But don't dash away from the DASH diet too soon.

Harvard University

Wait Waitt! Don't dash for the exits in your excitement! "I was particularly struck by the degree of erudition about contemporary American poetry that Gwynn brought to his case that Nabokov meant 'Pale Fire' to be a reproof to over-casual, over-personal, over-trivial trends in American poetry.

Stanford University

You move in a fairly straight line, so as long as you don't dash forwards nobody shoot get behind you.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did not dash" to emphasize a controlled or unhurried movement, especially when contrasting it with an expected hasty action.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "did not dash" can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "didn't run" or "didn't rush" in everyday speech.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not dash" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the absence of a quick or sudden movement. As Ludwig indicates, it's a grammatically sound way to express a lack of hasty action. Examples from Ludwig show it used to contrast expected behavior.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did not dash" is a grammatically correct way to express the absence of a quick or sudden movement. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is well-formed and usable in English. While Ludwig indicates common usage, it's more formal than alternatives like "didn't run" or "didn't rush". Primarily found in news, academic, and wiki sources, it conveys a neutral tone. Consider context when choosing "did not dash" to ensure it aligns with the desired level of formality and that a simpler option isn't more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

didn't rush

Replaces "dash" with "rush", implying a lack of hurried movement.

didn't hurry

Substitutes "dash" with "hurry", indicating a deliberate lack of speed.

didn't bolt

Uses "bolt" instead of "dash", suggesting not running away suddenly.

didn't sprint

Replaces "dash" with "sprint", emphasizing a lack of rapid, short-distance running.

didn't tear

Uses "tear" in place of "dash", implying not moving with great speed or force.

didn't speed

Replaces dash with speed, emphasizing lack of acceleration.

refrained from running

Uses a more formal structure indicating a conscious decision not to run.

avoided rushing

Indicates a deliberate effort to not move hastily.

took their time

Emphasizes a lack of urgency, the opposite of dashing.

moved deliberately

Highlights a slow and measured pace, unlike a dash.

FAQs

What does "did not dash" mean?

The phrase "did not dash" means someone or something did not move quickly or suddenly. It implies a lack of hurried movement or a deliberate avoidance of rushing.

How can I use "did not dash" in a sentence?

You can use "did not dash" to describe a situation where someone refrained from running or moving quickly. For example, "Despite the alarm, he "didn't rush", maintaining a calm demeanor".

Which is correct, "did not dash" or "didn't dash"?

"Didn't dash" is a contraction of "did not dash" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. "Did not dash" is more formal and suitable for academic or professional writing.

What are some alternatives to "did not dash"?

Alternatives include "didn't run", "didn't hurry", or ""didn't rush"". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.