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.
.
Down the hatch
What does Down the hatch mean? | Drink or eat. | Enough talk, let's put some food down the hatch.
Here's a drinking expression that seems to have its origins in sea freight, where cargoes are lowered into the hatch for transport below deck. The freight appears to be consumed by the ship. |
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
breakthrough
What does "breakthrough" mean? | a success that comes after overcoming a difficulty | There was a breakthrough in the talks aimed at ending the teacher's strike.
|
|
| |
in a jam
What does "in a jam" mean? | in trouble, in a difficult situation | He is in a jam now that his car is not working properly.
|
put a sock in it
What does "put a sock in it" mean? | be quiet; stop talking |
|
chicken
What does "chicken" mean? | game in which two drivers drive toward each other head-on and the first driver to veer off is the loser (hence chicken, as in coward) |
|
all set
What does "all set" mean? | to be ready to begin, to be okay | Everything was all set when the meeting began.
|
Like giving a donkey strawberries
What does "Like giving a donkey strawberries" mean? | (UK) If something is like giving a donkey strawberries, people fail to appreciate its value. |
|
ready, willing, and able
What does "ready, willing, and able" mean? | to be eager or willing to do something | Everybody in the small village is ready, willing, and able to help the family who lost their house in the fire.
|
whole new ball game
What does "whole new ball game" mean? | a new set of circumstances (from a new game of
baseball) | a new set of circumstances (from a new game of baseball)The election had become a whole new ball game when the main candidate quit because of a scandal.
|
|
| |
dry run
What does "dry run" mean? | an attempt or rehearsal for something | The marriage ceremony was on Saturday so we had a dry run on Thursday night.
|
in
What does "in" mean? | fashionable, trendy |
|
on guard
What does "on guard" mean? | to be careful/wary | He has been on guard since he was robbed last month.
|
dead president
What does "dead president" mean? | paper money (U.S.) |
|
bong
What does "bong" mean? | pipe used to smoke marijuana |
|
take (someone) up on (something)
What does "take (someone) up on (something)" mean? | to take advantage of someone's offer of something | I took my friend up on his offer to let me borrow his new car.
|