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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For the love of Pete
What does For the love of Pete mean? | I am frustrated with this situation. | For the love of Pete, can we just pick a restaurant and stop searching? I am hungry.
This phrase and phrases like "for Pete's sake" are euphemisms for the phrases "for the love of God/Christ" or "for God's/Christ's sake" and hail from a time when those phases were considered blasphemous. Nowadays phrases like "for the love of God" are commonly used, but the euphemisms are still used.
Why Pete? Most likely it is a reference to the catholic Saint Peter. |
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Some Random Idioms
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chaser
What does "chaser" mean? | strong liquor drunk quickly after a weak drink such as beer |
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bring around (someone)
What does "bring around (someone)" mean? | to bring someone for a visit | I asked my friend to bring his new girlfriend around for a visit.
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zebra
What does "zebra" mean? | improbable or ridiculous diagnosis | The doctor gave us a total zebra. It's just ridiculous
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ass-licker
What does "ass-licker" mean? | someone who flatters for personal gain; a toady |
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batten down the hatches
What does "batten down the hatches" mean? | to prepare for difficult times, to close the hatches in a boat before a storm | A big storm was coming so we decided to batten down the hatches and stay home.
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out of practice
What does "out of practice" mean? | to be performing poorly due to a lack of practice | I am out of practice and I cannot play the trumpet very well at all.
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play cat and mouse with (someone)
What does "play cat and mouse with (someone)" mean? | to tease or fool someone, to change between different types of behavior when dealing with someone | The man is playing cat and mouse with his company about his plans to quit or not.
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by leaps and bounds
What does "by leaps and bounds" mean? | rapidly, by large movements forward | The construction of the new airport is progressing by leaps and bounds.
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zapper
What does "zapper" mean? | microwave oven. | Stick it in the zapper and warm it up.
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bite one's nails
What does "bite one's nails" mean? | to bite one's fingernails because you are nervous or anxious | The girl was biting her nails as she waited for the speech contest to begin.
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go down to the wire
What does "go down to the wire" mean? | to near a deadline, to have little time remaining | The negotiations went down to the wire last night.
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put one's nose to the grindstone
What does "put one's nose to the grindstone" mean? | to work diligently/hard | I put my nose to the grindstone and finished the job before the weekend.
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Revenge is sweet
What does "Revenge is sweet" mean? | When you are happy to be proved right, then you know that revenge is sweet. |
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one for the road
What does "one for the road" mean? | one last drink (usually of alcohol) before one leaves for home | We decided to stay at the party and have one for the road before taking a taxi home.
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