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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Cooking with gas
What does Cooking with gas mean? | To be working fast, proceeding rapidly. | After working with those old hand tools, power tools will make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.
Although common place today, gas stoves have not always been the norm. Gas stoves started to be available in the 1800's, and until that time wood stoves were the standard.
Now you're "cooking with gas" comes from an old advertisement for gas stoves. The phrase suggests that gas is faster, easier, cleaner, better than cooking with wood. |
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Some Random Idioms
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add fuel to the fire
What does "add fuel to the fire" mean? | to make a problem worse, to make an angry person angrier | The company added fuel to the fire when they criticized the angry workers.
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keep one's fingers crossed
What does "keep one's fingers crossed" mean? | hope for the best. | A: "How did you do on the test?"
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Turn water into wine
What does "Turn water into wine" mean? | If someone turns water into wine, they transform something bad into something excellent. |
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keep (someone) in stitches
What does "keep (someone) in stitches" mean? | cause someone to laugh continuously | The man kept me in stitches with his funny stories.
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put (something) straight
What does "put (something) straight" mean? | to clarify something | I tried to put our communication problems straight when I met my friend last evening.
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in a pig`s eye
What does "in a pig`s eye" mean? | hardly, unlikely, never | In a pig`s eye will I let him borrow my car next weekend.
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by the way
What does "by the way" mean? | incidentally | "By the way, could you please bring your computer tomorrow."
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at peace
What does "at peace" mean? | to be peaceful, to be happy | The woman was relaxed and at peace after her friend's funeral.
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back down
What does "back down" mean? | to yield in one's position during negotiations, to not follow up on a threat | The government backed down on their threat to stop giving money to the school district.
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cut a fine figure
What does "cut a fine figure" mean? | to look good | I plan to cut a fine figure when I go to the job interview next week.
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straight from the horse`s mouth
What does "straight from the horse`s mouth" mean? | to hear something directly from the person involved | I heard about my friend`s wedding straight from the horse`s mouth.
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skank
What does "skank" mean? | ugly woman (usually young) |
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crib
What does "crib" mean? | a dwelling or home. | Come on and check out my crib. It's just around the corner.
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