This
database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available.
American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time.
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A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire
What does A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire mean? | One does not repeat a painful lesson twice. | I've tried to get little Johnny to quit running and jumping on the furniture before he hurts himself, but only a burnt child dreads the fire.
Very similar in meaning to another proverb, "Once bitten, twice shy," today's proverb is an old one. It appeared in English literature as early as 1320, in "The Proverbs of Hendyng." Another proverb, which is similar, comes from the French: "A scalded dog fears cold water" carries an even stronger message; that those who have experienced a great deal of difficulty or pain will not only avoid it in the future, but will be afraid even where there is no cause.
Other languages also have like proverbs, such as, "One bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope's end" (Jewish), "A man who has received a beating with a firebrand runs away at the sight of a firefly" (Singhalese), and "A dog which has been beaten with a stick fears its own shadow" (Italian). |
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Some Random Idioms
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(go/be) belly up
What does "(go/be) belly up" mean? | (a company) fails or goes bankrupt | The small video store near my house went belly-up last month.
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in receipt of (something)
What does "in receipt of (something)" mean? | having received something | My lawyer was already in receipt of the documents when he phoned me.
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to the bitter end
What does "to the bitter end" mean? | to the very end | We stayed to the bitter end and watched our team lose very badly to the other team.
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Collect dust
What does "Collect dust" mean? | If something is collecting dust, it isn't being used any more. |
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shirk one's duty
What does "shirk one's duty" mean? | to neglect one's job or task | The guard was shirking his duty when he spent much of the evening playing cards.
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come on the scene
What does "come on the scene" mean? | to appear in a certain area or place |
When the new DVD player came on the scene everybody wanted one.
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play (someone) off against (someone)
What does "play (someone) off against (someone)" mean? | to scheme in a manner that pits two of your opponents against each other | Our supervisor is always trying to play one group of employees off against another group.
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have (something) going for one
What does "have (something) going for one" mean? | have ability/talent/good looks | She has a lot going for her and I am sure that she will get the new job.
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sell like hotcakes
What does "sell like hotcakes" mean? | to sell very quickly |
The children's toys were selling like hotcakes at the end of the year.
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