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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yellow-bellied
What does "yellow-bellied" mean? | extremely timid, cowardly | Everyone thinks that the new boss handled the matter in a yellow-bellied manner.
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play one's cards close to one's chest
What does "play one's cards close to one's chest" mean? | to be secretive and cautious about something | My colleague was playing his cards close to his chest when he began to talk to our competitor.
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cook (something) up
What does "cook (something) up" mean? | to cook something, to make some kind of plan | I do not know what my girlfriend is cooking up for the weekend but we will probably do something interesting.
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fast-track
What does "fast-track" mean? | move something or somebody quicky through an organization or situation |
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slip through (someone's) fingers
What does "slip through (someone's) fingers" mean? | to get away from someone | My friend had a very good opportunity but it slipped through his fingers because of his lack of action.
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deem it to be necessary
What does "deem it to be necessary" mean? | to believe that something is necessary | The judge deemed it to be necessary to postpone the trial for a week.
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wind down
What does "wind down" mean? | decrease or diminish | At the end of the summer all of the shops at the beach resort began to wind down their business.
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razz
What does "razz" mean? | tease; taunt |
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as well as
What does "as well as" mean? | in addition to | "Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towel."
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bent out of shape
What does "bent out of shape" mean? | needlessly worried about something. | "I know you're worried about your job interview, butdon't get bent out of shape. You'll do just fine."
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turnover
What does "turnover" mean? | the rate at which a product is sold and replaced | The turnover of drinks is very high in the store.
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