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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Can't hold a candle to
What does Can't hold a candle to mean? | To be far less competent or have far less skills than
someone else. | When it comes to performance, Corvette can't hold a candle to Porsche.
Before electric lights, someone performing a task in the dark needed a helper to hold a candle to provide light while the task was performed. Much as a helper might hold a flashlight today.
Holding the candle is of course the less challenging role. Someone who is not even qualified to hold the candle is much less competent than the person performing the actual task. |
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Some Random Idioms
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Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves
What does "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves" mean? | (UK) If you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves, meaning that if someone takes care not to waste small amounts of money, they will accumulate capital.
('Look after the pence and the pounds will look after themselves' is an alternative form of this idiom.) |
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on occasion
What does "on occasion" mean? | occasionally | We go to my favorite restaurant on occasion.
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blow (someone) away
What does "blow (someone) away" mean? | to overcome someone emotionally | The performance was so wonderful that it blew me away.
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Believe in the hereafter
What does "Believe in the hereafter" mean? | A belief in the hereafter is a belief in the afterlife, or life after death. It is, therefore, associated with religions and the soul's journey to heaven or to hell, whichever way being just deserts for the person based on how they led their life. |
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poop
What does "poop" mean? | information or knowledge about something |
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all eyes
What does "all eyes" mean? | watching very closely, wide-eyed with surprise |
My friend is all eyes when he goes to a basketball game.
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rough-and-ready
What does "rough-and-ready" mean? | to be rough or crude but to be ready for something | The boat was rough-and-ready so we decided to take it for a ride.
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All over the show
What does "All over the show" mean? | If something is all over the show, it's in a complete mess.An alternative to 'All over the shop'. |
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play cat and mouse with (someone)
What does "play cat and mouse with (someone)" mean? | to tease or fool someone, to change between different types of behavior when dealing with someone |
The man is playing cat and mouse with his company about his plans to quit or not.
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