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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Break a leg
What does Break a leg mean? | A wish of good luck, do well. | Break a leg in your game today.
"Break a leg" is sourced in superstition. It is a wish of good luck, but the words wish just the opposite.
It was once common for people to believe in Sprites. Sprites are actually spirits or ghosts that were believed to enjoy wreaking havoc and causing trouble.
If the Sprites heard you ask for something, they were reputed to try to make the opposite happen. Telling someone to "break a leg" is an attempt to outsmart the Sprites and in fact make something good happen. Sort of a medieval reverse psychology. |
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Some Random Idioms
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have (someone's) hide
What does "have (someone's) hide" mean? | scold or punish someone | The mother promised to have her son's hide if he didn't behave.
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ER
What does "ER" mean? | Emergency Room - the place in a hospital which deals with
emergency situations | Emergency Room - the place in a hospital which deals with emergency situationsThe victims of the accident were quickly taken to the ER.
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line up
What does "line up" mean? | take places in a line or formation, stand one behind another | We were forced to line up in front of the movie theater for over one hour.
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on the edge of one`s seat
What does "on the edge of one`s seat" mean? | to be nervously and excitedly waiting for something | I have been on the edge of my seat all day while I wait for the contest to begin.
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rap
What does "rap" mean? | chat; talk; discuss something |
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curdle (someone's) blood
What does "curdle (someone's) blood" mean? | frighten someone | The sight of the accident scene curdled my blood.
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take a backseat to (someone or something)
What does "take a backseat to (someone or something)" mean? | to accept a poorer or lower position than someone, to be second to someone or something | I had to take a backseat to my boss when we went on the business trip.
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in high gear
What does "in high gear" mean? | very fast and active | The preparations for the party were in high gear when I arrived at the house.
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a split ticket
What does "a split ticket" mean? | a voting ticket with candidates from more than one political party | My friend always votes for a split ticket when he votes and never votes for only one political party.
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put the finger on (someone)
What does "put the finger on (someone)" mean? | to accuse someone, to identify someone as the one who did something | The woman put the finger on the young man as the person who took the CD player.
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follow up (something)
What does "follow up (something)" mean? | to make (one action) more successful by doing something more | The doctor followed up his phone call in the morning with a visit in the afternoon.
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have a hollow leg
What does "have a hollow leg" mean? | to be able to eat or drink a lot | I think that my friend has a hollow leg. He never stops eating.
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