sheep-dip
Definition
- Noun:
- A liquid preparation for cleaning and protecting sheep: "sheep-dip" refers to a chemical solution used to immerse sheep in order to kill external parasites, such as ticks and mites, and to protect their wool.
- The act or place of dipping sheep: The term can also denote the process of treating sheep with this solution, or the container (like a trough or tank) where the dipping takes place.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The farmer bought a large supply of sheep-dip to treat the flock before winter. (The chemical solution for parasite control.)
- After the sheep-dip, the animals were left to dry in the sun. (The process of applying the solution.)
- The sheep-dip needed to be cleaned out after the season. (The container or tank used for dipping.)
Advanced Usage
- "sheep-dip" as a verb (rare): To treat sheep with this solution.
- They sheep-dip the herd annually to maintain health. (To apply the chemical dip.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sheep-dipping (n): The act or process of applying sheep-dip.
- Sheep-dipping is a routine farm task in many regions. (The activity of treating sheep.)
Synonyms
- Parasiticide: A substance that kills parasites (more general).
- Insecticide: A chemical used to kill insects (overlaps in function).
Related Idioms
- "to be like sheep-dip": (informal, rare) Used metaphorically to describe something that is harsh, strong, or unpleasant, often in reference to its chemical nature.
- The new cleaning solution was like sheep-dip — it stung the eyes. (Very strong or irritating.)
Note: "sheep-dip" is primarily a technical agricultural term and has very limited figurative or idiomatic use.