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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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. |
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Some Random Idioms
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White feather
What does "White feather" mean? | If someone shows a white feather, they are cowards. |
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cat burglar
What does "cat burglar" mean? | a burglar who enters a building by climbing a wall etc. | Our stereo was stolen when a cat burglar entered our apartment.
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fine and dandy
What does "fine and dandy" mean? | all right, okay | It is fine and dandy for me that the sale will be held next Saturday.
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pull somebody's chain
What does "pull somebody's chain" mean? | annoy; harass; irritate |
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chicken shit
What does "chicken shit" mean? | almost nothing; worthless |
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whitewash (something)
What does "whitewash (something)" mean? | to cover up or gloss over faults/errors/wrongdoing | The government was accused of trying to whitewash the scandal about the illegal money.
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trip the light fantastic
What does "trip the light fantastic" mean? | to go dancing | "It`s Friday night so let`s go downtown and trip the light fantastic."
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have one's hand in the till
What does "have one's hand in the till" mean? | to be stealing money from a company or an organization | The clerk had her hand in the till so we decided to fire her.
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on the spur of the moment
What does "on the spur of the moment" mean? | on a sudden wish or decision, suddenly | On the spur of the moment I bought a new bicycle.
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wolf down
What does "wolf down" mean? | eat rapidly. | Don't wolf down your food. It's bad for your digestion.
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hit the fan
What does "hit the fan" mean? | become a scandal; become known to the public |
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not have a leg to stand on
What does "not have a leg to stand on" mean? | to have no good proof or excuse for something, to have no good evidence or defence to offer someone | "The company does not have a leg to stand on if they refuse to pay the money that they owe you."
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a man-about-town
What does "a man-about-town" mean? | a fashionable man who leads a sophisticated life | My friend is a man-about-town and goes out almost every evening.
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