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.
.
Clear as a bell
What does Clear as a bell mean? | Clearly understood. | You don't have to repeat yourself. Your message is clear as a bell.
Bells such as the type used in churches are large and loud. Their sound can be heard from a great distance. Bells sound a single, clear note so their sound is distinctive and not easily confused.
Before electric sirens and amplification systems, bells were a valuable means of signaling people and alerting of important events like an impending attack. The bell and the message intended could be heard clearly over a large area.
Back in the 1910's, many companies were trying to get into the manufacturing and selling one the hottest items around, the phonograph. One of those companies was the Sonora Chime Company.
This company started the Sonora Phonograph Company and used "Clear as a Bell" as their slogan, touting the fidelity of their machine's sound reproduction. |
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
have a change of heart
What does "have a change of heart" mean? | to change the way one feels/thinks about something | I had a change of heart and I decided to go to the movie with my friend.
|
|
| |
Fair shake of the whip
What does "Fair shake of the whip" mean? | If everybody has a fair shake of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something. |
|
Dry spell
What does "Dry spell" mean? | If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren't being as successful as they normally are. |
|
Thin blue line
What does "Thin blue line" mean? | (UK) The thin blue line is a term for the police, suggesting that they stand between an ordered society and potential chaos. (Police uniforms are blue.) |
|
black eye
What does "black eye" mean? | espresso with brewed coffee mixed in |
|
blood, sweat, and tears
What does "blood, sweat, and tears" mean? | great personal effort | We put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into fixing our old house.
|
F2F
What does "F2F" mean? | face to face |
|
Give as good as you get
What does "Give as good as you get" mean? | If you give as good as you get, you are prepared to treat people as badly as they treat you and to fight for what you believe. |
|
full of it
What does "full of it" mean? | to be full of nonsense | I thought that the woman was full of it when she told me that the business was closed.
|
give (someone) pause to think
What does "give (someone) pause to think" mean? | to cause someone to stop and think | The accident on the highway gave everyone pause to think.
|
black sheep (of a family)
What does "black sheep (of a family)" mean? | a person who is a disgrace to a family or group | The man is the black sheep in his family and has not made a success of his life.
|
rally
What does "rally" mean? | party; gathering; event |
|
by a long shot
What does "by a long shot" mean? | by a big difference | The soap company beat out the bids of the other companies by a long shot.
|