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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Dressed to a tea
What does Dressed to a tea mean? | Well dressed with attention to detail. | Beware any salesman that is dressed to a tea, smiles too much, and talks fast.
A short way of saying "dressed for a tea" or "dressed to go to a tea". In the Victorian era, high tea was a formal affair. All proper people dressed in appropriate attire. |
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Some Random Idioms
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catch a cold
What does "catch a cold" mean? | to become sick with a cold | I caught a cold because of the rain and the cold weather.
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keep a secret
What does "keep a secret " mean? | to not tell a secret to others | I have been trying to keep a secret about my friend's boyfriend for a long time now.
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hard on (someone or something)
What does "hard on (someone or something)" mean? | treat someone or something roughly | His son is very hard on shoes.
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come from nowhere
What does "come from nowhere" mean? | to come as a surprise and with no warning | The truck came from nowhere as we were driving along the road.
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PITA
What does "PITA" mean? | pain in the ass |
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in a flash
What does "in a flash" mean? | quickly | I was finished with the job interview in a flash.
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Right royal
What does "Right royal" mean? | (UK) A right royal night out would be an extremely exciting, memorable and fun one. |
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good fuck
What does "good fuck" mean? | a person who performs well sexually (usually used to describe a woman). | She's a good fuck, but otherwise a pain.
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out of the corner of one's eye
What does "out of the corner of one's eye" mean? | at a glance, a glimpse of someone or something | I saw the car coming out of the corner of my eye and quickly moved off the street.
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rear its ugly head
What does "rear its ugly head" mean? | to appear after being hidden (usually something unpleasant) | The problem between the two sisters rears its ugly head at the beginning of every year.
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on land
What does "on land" mean? | on the land, on the soil, not at sea | The old sailor was never very comfortable when he was on land.
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start over/off with a clean slate
What does "start over/off with a clean slate" mean? | to ignore the past and start over again | The young man broke the law several times but he was able to start over with a clean slate when the judge decided that he would probably not do anything wrong in the future.
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get one`s own way
What does "get one`s own way" mean? | to be able to do what you want | The boy always gets his own way with his younger brothers.
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bone up (on something)
What does "bone up (on something)" mean? | to study or review (something) | I decided to take a course at night to bone up on my Spanish.
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