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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Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched
What does Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched mean? | Don't be overconfident and assume success before
you know the outcome of a venture. | In the midst of this daydream, she did toss her curls, sending the pail of milk spilling. The moral of the fable is: Such are the disappointments of those who count their chickens before they are hatched.
This proverb's use in English began in the second half of the sixteenth century, but its origins are in Aesop's Fables, written in the sixth century B.C. "The Milkmaid and the Pail" is a fable about a young girl on her way home, carrying her pail of milk on top of her head.
She was daydreaming about what she would do with the milk, starting with making cream and butter to sell. Then, she could buy eggs with that money, and the eggs would hatch into chickens. They would lay more eggs, and the process would continue, growing more and more profitable. Later on, she could sell some of the birds and buy herself a dress, drawing attention of the young men in the town. When they took notice, her plan was to ignore their advances wit a toss of her curls. |
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Some Random Idioms
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of two minds
What does "of two minds" mean? | to be unable to decide what to do or what you think about something | I am of two minds about going to the movie tonight. I am very busy but I also want to see the movie very much.
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Walls have ears
What does "Walls have ears" mean? | Someone may hear us. | "Walls have ears and you should think carefully about what you say when you are talking about your co-workers."
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In the pipeline
What does "In the pipeline" mean? | If something's in the pipeline, it hasn't arrived yet but its arrival is expected. |
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no heroic measures
What does "no heroic measures" mean? |
idiom. no performing CPR or other drastic procedures to resuscitate a patient |
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get even (with someone)
What does "get even (with someone)" mean? | to get revenge on someone | My sister wants to get even with her friend for being late for the concert.
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make a fast/quick buck
What does "make a fast/quick buck" mean? | to make money with little effort | The young man is very lazy and he is always trying to make a fast buck.
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strike it rich
What does "strike it rich" mean? | to suddenly become rich or successful | My grandfather struck it rich when he was young but when he died he had no money.
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put on one`s thinking cap
What does "put on one`s thinking cap" mean? | to think hard and long about something | I will put on my thinking cap and try to find a solution to the problem by next week.
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loose ends
What does "loose ends" mean? | details that are not settled, things that are not finished | I have many loose ends to deal with before I go on my holidays.
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in one's mind's eye
What does "in one's mind's eye" mean? | in one's mind | In my mind's eye I cannot imagine what happened to my friend in the accident.
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devil-may-care attitude
What does "devil-may-care attitude" mean? | an unworried attitude, an attitude where one does not care what happens | The man has a devil-may-care attitude to his job and nothing bothers him.
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look out
What does "look out" mean? | take care, be careful, be on guard | "Look out! There is a large truck coming down the highway."
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honcho
What does "honcho" mean? | boss; leader |
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