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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Chase your tail
What does Chase your tail mean? | If you are chasing your tail, you are very busy but not being very productive. |
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Some Random Idioms
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blind leading the blind
What does "blind leading the blind" mean? | someone who does not know how to do something themselves tries to explain it to other people | It was like the blind leading the blind when I tried to help my friend fix his car. I do not know anything about cars.
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bellyaching
What does "bellyaching" mean? | act of complaining, griping, or criticizing something or somebody |
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wind up
What does "wind up" mean? | tighten the spring of a machine to make it work | Every night before he goes to bed my grandfather winds up his alarm clock.
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Till you're blue in the face
What does "Till you're blue in the face" mean? | If you do something till you're blue in the face, you do it repeatedly without achieving the desired result until you're incredibly frustrated. |
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(to be) hale and hearty
What does "(to be) hale and hearty" mean? | to be in very good health, to be well and strong | My uncle is a hale and hearty fellow who never gets sick.
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be game
What does "be game" mean? | to be ready for action or agreeable to participate in something | All of the students were game to go to the science exhibition.
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enough to go around
What does "enough to go around" mean? | to be enough of something to serve everybody |
There was enough cake to go around so everybody had a piece.
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Take a dive
What does "Take a dive" mean? | To intentionally fail in competition, to throw a
game. | All good salesmen learn to take a dive when playing golf with customers.
Boxers (e.g. prize fighters) who have been bribed to throw a bout but wishing to make it look as if the opponent won legitimately would dive to the mat after being hit. This was to create the illusion of a legitimate knock out. |
Step on someone's toes
What does "Step on someone's toes" mean? | If you step on someone's toes, you upset them, especially if you do something that they should be in charge of. |
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Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise
What does "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise" mean? | It means that sleeping well and not staying up late will help you out physically and financially. |
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come in high
What does "come in high" mean? | to charge too much for your services, to ask for a price that is too high |
The salesman came in high during the negotiations and could not sell his product.
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