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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Hell's half acre
What does Hell's half acre mean? | A long and frustrating trip. | I looked all over hell's half acre trying to find a left handed monkey wrench.
Hell's half acre is a lava flow about 15 miles west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is 4.5 miles of rough, irregular terrain that is very difficult to navigate. It is so named because its cracks, holes, and crags give the area an otherworldly, surreal, and perhaps hellish appearance. A search of Hell's half acre would indeed be a long and difficult task.
Many of the scenes in the 1997 film "Starship Troopers" (based on Robert Heinlein's novel of the same name) in which the characters were on an alien planet, were filmed at Hell's half acre. |
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Some Random Idioms
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piss
What does "piss" mean? | urinate; pee |
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Will-o'-the-wisp
What does "Will-o'-the-wisp" mean? | Something that deceives by its appearance is a will-o’-the-wisp; it looks good, but turns out to be a disappointment. |
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put (something) together
What does "put (something) together" mean? | to consider some facts and arrive at a conclusion | The police were able to put the boy's story together after they interviewed him for several hours.
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Heart misses a beat
What does "Heart misses a beat" mean? | If your heart misses a beat, you are suddenly shocked or surprised.
('Heart skips a beat' is an alternative) |
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Knock on wood
What does "Knock on wood" mean? | Tap on a wooden surface for gook luck or to keep
from putting a jinx on yourself for having mentioned some hope or dream aloud. | If good luck is willing. I am sure that your tax returns will not be audited, knock on wood.
One theory is that it originated in the middle ages when there were in circulation, pieces of the Holy Rood or Cross on which Jesus was crucified. To touch one of these was supposed to bring good luck hence touch wood for good luck. |
keep (someone or something) still/quiet
What does "keep (someone or something) still/quiet" mean? | make someone or something silent or less noisy | The mother had a hard time keeping her child still in the airplane.
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stand in for (someone)
What does "stand in for (someone)" mean? | to be a substitute for someone | The other actor stood in for the famous actor when he was sick.
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take up with (someone)
What does "take up with (someone)" mean? | to become a friend or companion to someone | My cousin has taken up with a very strange group of people.
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studhammer
What does "studhammer" mean? | male who is sexually successful with women |
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as silly as a goose
What does "as silly as a goose" mean? | very foolish, very silly | My aunt acted as silly as a goose last evening.
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fork money out (for something)
What does "fork money out (for something)" mean? | to pay for something | I had to fork much money out to get my car fixed.
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cap
What does "cap" mean? | kill; murder. | Shut up or I'll cap you.
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play into (someone's) hands
What does "play into (someone's) hands" mean? | to do something that another person can use against you | Our manager played into the hands of the other side during the meeting when he became angry.
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kicky
What does "kicky" mean? | appealing; fun; exciting |
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