plumb/rot on the dole/with tentative strides/pulled himself clear

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?

I had plumb forgotten.
plumb (adv) = utterly,completely
plumb (adj) = utter, absolute

To pay the bills, the rent especially; to get some good tucker and clothes; to get the sewing machine back.
tucker = food

Just to be satisfied to rot on the dole.
rot on the dole = to live (vegetate) on the alms basket, live on charity
(rot (v) = If you say that someone is being left to rot in a particular place, especially in a prison, you mean that they are being left there and their physical and mental condition is being allowed to get worse and worse).

Outsides, he stood as though undecided in which direction to turn, then crossed the road and walked down the opposite footpath with tentative strides.
with tentative strides = hesitantly, undecided

Collins joined them for a moment; then suddenly pulled himself clear.
pulled himself clear = freed himself from a temporary feeling of uncertainty, doubt, confusion

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

[Anglika]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?

I had plumb forgotten.
plumb (adv) = utterly,completely
plumb (adj) = utter, absolute
in UsE but not in BrE, which is more likely to be : I had clean forgotten

To pay the bills, the rent especially; to get some good tucker and clothes; to get the sewing machine back.
tucker = food

but more likely to be an Australian usage.

Just to be satisfied to rot on the dole.
rot on the dole = to live (vegetate) on the alms basket, live on charity or, in the modern world, on State Benefits.
(rot (v) = If you say that someone is being left to rot in a particular place, especially in a prison, you mean that they are being left there and their physical and mental condition is being allowed to get worse and worse).

Outside, he stood as though undecided in which direction to turn, then crossed the road and walked down the opposite footpath with tentative strides.
with tentative strides = hesitantly, undecided

Collins joined them for a moment; then suddenly pulled himself clear.
pulled himself clear = freed himself from a temporary feeling of uncertainty, doubt, confusion

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

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