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.
.
Cold turkey
What does Cold turkey mean? | To quit something abruptly. | You will not lose weight until you give up chocolate, and I suggest you go cold turkey.
The expression originates from the goose bumps and palor which accompany withdrawal from narcotics or tobacco. One's skin resembles that of a plucked, cold turkey.... |
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
lox
What does "lox" mean? | liquid oxygen |
|
|
| |
got/have a thing going (with someone)
What does "got/have a thing going (with someone)" mean? | engaged in an activity with someone (in romance or business) | The man has got a thing going with his neighbor.
|
have one foot in the grave
What does "have one foot in the grave" mean? | be near death | My uncle is very sick and has one foot in the grave.
|
goober
What does "goober" mean? | pimple |
|
macho
What does "macho" mean? | super masculine / masculine to an extreme (in
appearance and behavior). | "Her husband would never agree to help with thehousework;he's too macho to do that."
|
Beyond our ken
What does "Beyond our ken" mean? | If something's beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding. |
|
nine-to-five job
What does "nine-to-five job" mean? | a routine job in an office that involves standard office hours (usually 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM) | My father always worked at a nine-to-five job.
|
fool around
What does "fool around" mean? | to spend time playing rather than working, to waste time | If the man would spend less time fooling around he would be able to get more work done.
|
|
| |
a pep talk
What does "a pep talk" mean? | a speech to encourage people to try harder and not give up | The coach gave his team a pep talk after they lost three games last month.
|
the thought that counts
What does "the thought that counts" mean? | the good intentions behind an action or a gift are more important than the action or the gift itself | Although the present that the man bought for his wife was not very expensive, it was the thought that counts and his wife was very happy.
|
a pillar of strength/support
What does "a pillar of strength/support" mean? | someone who provides strong support for someone, a strong/powerful person | The man is a pillar of strength in the community.
|
elbow room
What does "elbow room" mean? | enough space to be comfortable | The couple moved to the country in order to have more elbow room.
|
from now on
What does "from now on" mean? | from this moment forward | From now on I will study Italian every day.
|
slap (someone or something) down
What does "slap (someone or something) down" mean? | to rebuke/reject someone or something | My boss slapped my proposal down soon after the meeting started.
|