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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get off the ground
What does "get off the ground" mean? | to make a successful beginning | We were unable to get the new product off the ground but we will try again next year.
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leak out (something)
What does "leak out (something)" mean? | disclose special/secret information to the press | The information about the illegal donations were leaked out to the press.
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rep
What does "rep" mean? | reputation. | Don't mess with my rep. I worked hard for it.
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give (someone) the third degree
What does "give (someone) the third degree" mean? | to question someone in great detail | The woman gave her son the third degree when he returned home.
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catch (someone) off balance
What does "catch (someone) off balance" mean? | to surprise someone who is not prepared | We were caught off balance when we discovered that our business license was no good.
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take effect
What does "take effect" mean? | to become legally operative, to begin | The new traffic laws took effect early last month.
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get your ass in gear
What does "get your ass in gear" mean? | get moving; get going; get started. | Get your ass in gear. It's time for school.
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zap
What does "zap" mean? | shock somebody | Don't zap me, bro!
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Derring-do
What does "Derring-do" mean? | If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage. |
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steamed up
What does "steamed up" mean? | to be angry | I was steamed up over the fact that my friend lost the spare keys to my apartment.
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Ivy League
What does "Ivy League" mean? | a small group of older and famous eastern United States colleges and universities such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton | Several of the company executives had gone to an Ivy League school.
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shake hands with (someone)
What does "shake hands with (someone)" mean? | to shake the hand of someone to greet them | I shook hands with my neighbor when I first met him.
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