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.
.
Drop a dime
What does Drop a dime mean? | Make a phone call. | Don't be such a stranger. Drop a dime some time.
This is a good phrase to discuss with anyone born after 1970. Pay phones cost 35, 50, or even 75 cents today, but they really did cost 10 cents at one time. The dime was dropped into the slot of the pay phone. |
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
money is the root of all evil
What does "money is the root of all evil" mean? | money is the main cause of most wrongdoing and problems | money is the main cause of most wrongdoing and problemsThe woman stole some money from her company. It seems that money is the root of all evil, and can cause many problems.
|
|
| |
ciao
What does "ciao" mean? |
idiom. good-bye (from Italian). | I'm off now, ciao.
|
In perfect form
What does "In perfect form" mean? | When something is as it ought to be. Or, when used cynically, it may refer to someone whose excesses are on display; a caricature. |
|
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.) |
|
in cold blood
What does "in cold blood" mean? | without feeling or pity, cooly and deliberately | The family was murdered in cold blood by the criminal gang.
|
come to mind
What does "come to mind" mean? | to enter into one's consciousness (used for an idea) | It came to mind last night that I had only two more weeks to work before my holiday.
|
get/have a frog in one's throat
What does "get/have a frog in one's throat" mean? | get soreness in your throat that prevents you from talking well | I got a frog in my throat just as I answered the phone to talk to my professor.
|
on shaky ground
What does "on shaky ground" mean? | to be unstable, to be not secure | His position at the company has been on shaky ground for a long time.
|
|
| |
force (someone`s) hand
What does "force (someone`s) hand" mean? | to make someone do something sooner than planned | I forced the manager's hand and made him tell me about his plans for our company.
|
soul kiss
What does "soul kiss" mean? | French kiss |
|
make oneself at home
What does "make oneself at home" mean? | relax and act as if you were at home | She always makes herself at home when she goes to visit her friends.
|
too rich for (someone's) blood
What does "too rich for (someone's) blood" mean? | be too expensive for someone | The holiday in the very expensive resort was too rich for our blood so we didn't go.
|
go over (someone's) head
What does "go over (someone's) head" mean? | to be too difficult for someone to understand | The reasons for the decision went over my head. I could not understand why.
|
quick on the uptake
What does "quick on the uptake" mean? | to be quick to understand something | The student is quick on the uptake and understands most scientific theories very quickly.
|