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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sleazeball
What does "sleazeball" mean? | disgusting , repulsive person |
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motor mouth
What does "motor mouth" mean? | person who speaks quickly and excessively |
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keep (something) under wraps
What does "keep (something) under wraps" mean? | keep something concealed (until some future date) | We decided to keep our plans for the new project under wraps.
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Hot-blooded
What does "Hot-blooded" mean? | Someone who is hot-blooded is easily excitable or passionate. |
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neither hide nor hair (of someone or something)
What does "neither hide nor hair (of someone or something)" mean? | no sign or indication of someone or something | I have seen neither hide nor hair of the girl in my geography class.
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BSc
What does "BSc" mean? | Bachelor of Science - from a university | Bachelor of Science - from a universityMy cousin has just received a BSc in computer science from his university.
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straight
What does "straight" mean? | no longer using drugs or alcohol |
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rap
What does "rap" mean? | criminal charge or accusation; blame or responsibility |
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as warm as toast
What does "as warm as toast" mean? | very warm and cozy | Our house was as warm as toast when we went in from the rain.
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puppy love
What does "puppy love" mean? | feeling of affection or romantic attraction among pre-adolescents |
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let bygones be bygones
What does "let bygones be bygones" mean? | forget about problems that happened in the past | "We need to let bygones be bygones and forget about our past differences."
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glad hand (someone)
What does "glad hand (someone)" mean? | to give someone a friendly handshake, to give a warm greeting to someone | The politician spent all day glad handing the crowd at the shopping center.
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as scarce as hen's teeth
What does "as scarce as hen's teeth" mean? | very scarce or nonexistent | Cheap apartment rentals are as scarce as hen's teeth in this city.
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Teeny-weeny
What does "Teeny-weeny" mean? | If something is teensy-weensy, it is very small indeed.('Teeny-weeny' and 'teensie-weensie' are also used.) |
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