"D-list" - Word of the Day from the OED

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D-list, n. and adj.

DRAFT ENTRY June 2010

orig. U.S.

Brit. /dilst/, U.S. /dilst/  [< D n. + LIST n.⁶, after A-LIST n., B-LIST n., C-LIST n.] 

    A. n.

    1. The fourth in a series of lists, esp. lists ranked in order of preference or significance.

1951 White Bk. Aggressive Activities towards Yugoslavia (Yugoslav Min. Foreign Affairs) II. iii. 301 They had instructions to put through the proposed ‘D’ list in its entirety. They refuse to lift the ‘export ban’. 1957 B. HIGGINS Indonesia's Econ. Stabilization & Devel. i. 3 Imports were divided into four categories: an ‘A’ list of free imports, a ‘B’ list requiring payment of 100 percent ‘inducement’, a ‘C’ list requiring payment of 200 percent inducement, and a prohibited ‘D’ list. 1987 in T. McCourt Conflicting Communication Interests in Amer. (1999) ii. 52 ‘What kind of cuts..are you considering for CPB?’ Stockman said, ‘Well, let's see. We have an A, a B, a C, and a D list. They're on our D list. That's a 50 percent cut.’

    2. Any (notional) list comprising only the least celebrated or important members of a particular group, esp. in the entertainment industry or the media.

1988 Orange County (Santa Ana, Calif.) Reg. 6 Mar. L20 The D list, which would encompass younger conductors on the way up, may be the most intriguing of all. 1997 Spy (N.Y.) Sept.-Oct. 49 He organized the very cream of Manhattan's D-list into a moveable prix fixe bruncheon salon that haunted a waning constellation of downscale eateries. 2001 USA Today (Electronic ed.) 30 Mar., America is shifting from a voyeuristic society to one in which everyone wants to be the object that's being viewed. Never mind Hollywood's A-list and B-list. The hotter action is on America's C-list and D-list.

    B. adj.    Of or belonging to a D-list; spec. designating or relating to a (notional) roster of the least celebrated or important individuals, esp. in the entertainment industry or the media. Usu. attrib.

1989 Chicago Tribune 25 Oct. (Style section) 28/5 Except for movie eminence Jack Valenti,..the guest list was pure D-list. 1997 Interzone Nov 37/3 The quality cast of B-list stars and D-list upcomers speak some very silly dialog with uncanny conviction. 2002 Evening Standard (Nexis) 1 Feb. 42 Or you could pop over to the Met Bar... I know it's very D-list these days, but they might be able to knock you up a cocktail, such as a Slow Comfortable Screw.

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    DERIVATIVES

    D-lister n. a person on a (notional) D-list.

1998 Guardian 30 Jan. (Friday Review section) 24/4 *D-listers proffer polite opinions on the questionable progress of Jack Docherty's nascent moustache. 2001 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 30 Nov. A1/1 Paparazzi started showing up at smaller events they previously would have ignored... All I saw this week were C-listers and D-listers.

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