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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From stem to stern
What does From stem to stern mean? | Thorough, complete. | I searched the house from stem to stern for that cat, then found him sleeping on a shelf right in front of me.
The very front of a ship is called the stem, the rear is called the stern. From stem to stern includes the entire ship. |
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Some Random Idioms
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call (someone's) bluff
What does "call (someone's) bluff" mean? | to try to make someone prove that they can actually do what they say they can | The government called the union's bluff when the union threatened to go on strike.
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in the nick of time
What does "in the nick of time" mean? | just in time, just before it is too late | I was able to answer the telephone just in the nick of time.
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Get it in the neck
What does "Get it in the neck" mean? | (UK) If you get it in the neck, you are punished or criticised for something. |
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Fat head
What does "Fat head" mean? | A fat head is a dull, stupid person. |
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deep-six (someone or something)
What does "deep-six (someone or something)" mean? | to get rid of or dispose of someone or something | I decided to deep-six some of the old comics that I had collected.
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fit (someone) to a T
What does "fit (someone) to a T" mean? | to fit a person very well | My cousin's new job fits her to a T.
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make eyes at someone
What does "make eyes at someone" mean? | look at someone in a way that makes it clear that you like
that person and find them attractive | look at someone in a way that makes it clear that you like that person and find them attractiveThe man became angry when he thought that his girlfriend was making eyes at someone else at the party.
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In the black
What does "In the black" mean? | To be making money. | Live below your means and you will always be running in the black.
Standard practice for accounting is to record positive numbers in black ink and negative numbers in red ink. Operating "in the black" is to record positive numbers, that is to say earnings. |
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hold up
What does "hold up" mean? | support, carry | The main beams in the house hold up the total weight of the house.
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call the dogs off
What does "call the dogs off" mean? | to stop threatening/chasing/hounding someone | The police decided to call the dogs off and stop hunting for the man.
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send (someone) up the river
What does "send (someone) up the river" mean? | send someone to prison | The judge sent the man up the river for three years.
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get one's just deserts
What does "get one's just deserts" mean? | to get what one deserves | The apartment manager got her just deserts when she was fired for bothering the tenants.
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start off on the wrong foot
What does "start off on the wrong foot" mean? | to begin something by doing something wrong | I started off on the wrong foot and I have been unable to do my job well since.
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whole new ball game
What does "whole new ball game" mean? | a new set of circumstances | The situation became a whole new ball game when the owners decided to sell the team.
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