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.
.
At the eleventh hour
What does At the eleventh hour mean? | At the very last moment. | The union negotiator went right down to the eleventh hour before accepting the company's final offer.
On a 12-hour clock (rather than the 24-hour clock used by scientists, the military, et al) the hours of 12 noon and 12 midnight seem to hold special significance. De-marking the transition from morning to afternoon and the end of the day, they are often used as deadlines (high noon, the stroke of midnight).
To come at "the eleventh hour" implies that it comes in the last hour before the deadline. The choice of "the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" as the time to end W.W.I was quite apt. |
at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last minute; almost too late. | "Yes, I got the work done in time. I finished it at the eleventh hour, but I wasn't late.
|
at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment | The company and union settled the strike at the eleventh hour.
|
at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment | At the eleventh hour the city and the garbage collectors settled their contract dispute.
|
at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment |
The company and the union settled the strike at the eleventh hour.
|
at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment |
At the eleventh hour the city and the garbage collectors settled their contract dispute.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
a fool and his money are soon parted
What does "a fool and his money are soon parted" mean? | someone who acts unwisely with money will soon lose it | someone who acts unwisely with money will soon lose itA fool and his money are soon parted and the man quickly spent the money that he had won in the lottery.
|
raise a white flag
What does "raise a white flag" mean? | to indicate that you have been defeated and that you want to give up |
The soldiers raised a white flag and surrendered to the enemy.
|
Never darken my door again
What does "Never darken my door again" mean? | This is a way of telling someone never to visit you again. |
|
|
| |
a kickback
What does "a kickback" mean? | an amount of money that is paid illegally for favorable treatment | The construction company was giving kickbacks to the local politicians.
|
run interference
What does "run interference" mean? | intervene on behalf of someone to protect them from something
(from American football) | intervene on behalf of someone to protect them from something (from American football)They ran interference on their top salesman to protect him from the scandal.
|
go over with a bang
What does "go over with a bang" mean? | to succeed in a spectacular way | The opening ceremony went over with a bang and everybody was very happy.
|
lesser of two evils
What does "lesser of two evils" mean? | the less bad thing of two bad things | I did not want to take the job but it was the lesser of two evils because having no job was even worse.
|
fit like a glove
What does "fit like a glove" mean? | to fit perfectly | The woman's new dress fit like a glove so she was very happy.
|
lips are sealed
What does "lips are sealed" mean? | one will not tell a secret | My lips are sealed and I will not tell anybody the secret.
|