Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun plural A choice or preference.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun US, informal Wishes, preferences, or ways.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the right or chance to choose

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration of the phrase 'd rather, from would rather.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

A blend of would or 'd and rather in a dialect pronunciation

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Examples

  • I like to say that I've never met a cookie I didn't like, but like most people, I do have my 'druthers'.

    Archive 2006-09-01 Jess 2006

  • I like to say that I've never met a cookie I didn't like, but like most people, I do have my 'druthers'.

    A Cookie is Never Just a Cookie Jess 2006

  • More than a third of American voters were denied having their "druthers" even mentioned or brought to "the table", and watched as single payer advocates were forcefully removed from the hearing room.

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local Sue3275 2010

  • My views therefore have strengthened, but I recognize that the ability to act on my "druthers" is limited.

    10,000 Birds 2009

  • At the least, it might behoove us to accept and make the best of it, rather than whine about our "druthers" and cast about for someone, or something, to blame.

    Adirondack Daily Enterprise 2009

  • At the least, it might behoove us to accept and make the best of it, rather than whine about our "druthers" and cast about for someone, or something, to blame.

    Adirondack Daily Enterprise 2009

  • If I had my druthers, NATO would send in warplanes to take out every one of these knuckleheads.

    Three Tips for Surviving the Art Museum Joe Queenan 2011

  • If I had my druthers, the new movie would feature - an outright conflict with the Mirror, Mirror universe; rip in the space-time continuum, BAD Federation meanies decide that it's great for their individual and multiple ambitions, and someone invents a giant, planet-sized agonizer.

    What Would You Like to See From The New Star Trek? 2009

  • Whom would I out, if I had my druthers and a sudden absence of judgement?

    Archive 2009-06-01 2009

  • Huffed he, “When fitness nuts have their druthers we die of exhaustion to encourage the others to get in shape and not take their health for granted.”

    The Volokh Conspiracy » “Pour encourager les autres” 2010

Comments

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  • I love that this word is always plural, like just desserts. Doesn't somebody have a list of these somewhere?

    July 25, 2007

  • I know I have one, and "druthers" is on it. Someone else may have gotten the same idea. :-)

    July 25, 2007

  • J, see just deserts.

    July 25, 2007

  • Oh my. (blushing)

    July 25, 2007

  • That one gets me every time!

    July 25, 2007