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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Always a bridesmaid, never a bride
What does Always a bridesmaid, never a bride mean? | If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave. |
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Some Random Idioms
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bag of tricks
What does "bag of tricks" mean? | a collection of special techniques or methods | The teacher has a bag of tricks to keep her students occupied.
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come to know (someone or something)
What does "come to know (someone or something)" mean? | to begin to know something |
Since I have come to know the girl, I really like her.
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pretty state of affairs
What does "pretty state of affairs" mean? | an unpleasant state of affairs | The mess in the kitchen was a pretty state of affairs which the woman had to return to.
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End in smoke
What does "End in smoke" mean? | If something ends in smoke, it produces no concrete or positive result. This expression refers to the boasting by a person, of having put in a lot of efforts by him, for a particular cause or to attain a result which is very difficult to be done by any person. (This mainly refers to an investigation of a crime or solving a serious offence or a mystery). But at the end, when the desired result is not obtained, his claims are found to be false and not worth mentioning. So, he looses his credibili |
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pay in advance
What does "pay in advance" mean? | to pay for something before you get/use it | I must pay in advance for the bus company to deliver my boxes.
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come to blows
What does "come to blows" mean? | to begin to fight |
The two men came to blows when they were trying to fix the car.
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not a dry eye in the house
What does "not a dry eye in the house" mean? | everybody in an audience feels sad and begins to cry |
There was not a dry eye in the house when the manager gave the farewell speech.
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yellow journalism
What does "yellow journalism" mean? | cheap and overly sensational newspaper writing | The article in the paper about the scandal was a good example of yellow journalism.
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well-heeled
What does "well-heeled" mean? | rich | He seems rather well-heeled and is always wearing expensive clothes and driving a nice car.
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hit the books
What does "hit the books" mean? | study or prepare for class | He stayed home all weekend and hit the books.
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cool down
What does "cool down" mean? | to let one's anger become less strong |
When the basketball player began to cool down he was allowed to play again.
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