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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Clean bill of health
What does Clean bill of health mean? | To be found healthy. | I visited the doctor today and was given a clean bill of health.
This widely used term has its origins in the "Bill of Health", a document issued to a ship showing that the port it sailed from suffered from no epidemic or infection at the time of departure. |
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Some Random Idioms
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In the country of the BLIND, the ONE-EYED man is KING
What does "In the country of the BLIND, the ONE-EYED man is KING" mean? | A man of even limited ability is at a great advantage in
the company of those less able. | It doesn't matter if you don't completely understand how the Internet works! You know more than anyone else here. So, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
An English proverb cited by John Ray in 1678 tells us that "a man were better be half blind than have both eyes out." Not only would he be able to avoid the ditch (fallen into by the blind leading the blind), he might find himself in a position if leadership. "In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" is quoted in Erasmus' "Adagia," in 1536. We also see it in John Palsgrave's translation of the "Comedy of Acolastus." In 1522, in his "Why Come Yet Not to Court?" John Skelton tells us that: "an one eyed man is Well sighted when is is amonge blynde men." |
in heaven
What does "in heaven" mean? | in a state of absolute happiness, dead and in heaven | I felt that I was in heaven when I learned that I would get the job that I wanted.
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lead (someone) down the garden path
What does "lead (someone) down the garden path" mean? | deceive someone | The woman was leading her boyfriend down the garden path when she promised to marry him.
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the time is ripe
What does "the time is ripe" mean? | exactly the right time has come | The time is ripe to start teaching our child how to brush his teeth.
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tarred with the same brush
What does "tarred with the same brush" mean? | to have the same good or bad points (usually used for bad points) as someone else | The boy was tarred with the same brush because his friends were some of the worst students in the school.
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generous to a fault
What does "generous to a fault" mean? | to be too generous | My friend is generous to a fault and he sometimes gives too much to his friends.
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get your ass in gear
What does "get your ass in gear" mean? |
idiom. get moving; start doing what you are supposed to be doing |
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cuppa
What does "cuppa" mean? | cup of (usually tea) |
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wipe the floor with (someone)
What does "wipe the floor with (someone)" mean? | physically beat someone | The ex-boxer wiped the floor with the man who insulted him.
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to whom it may concern
What does "to whom it may concern" mean? | to the person to whom something applies | I do not know the name of the sales manager so I will address the letter, "to whom it may concern."
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spruce (something) up
What does "spruce (something) up" mean? | to clean/redecorate something | We spruced up the community center for the summer holidays.
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draw blood
What does "draw blood" mean? | make a wound that bleeds | The older boxer was the first to draw blood during the boxing match.
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