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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High on the hog
What does High on the hog mean? | Extravagantly. | If you choose to live high on the hog, you will be low in the wallet.
The best meat is on the upper portion of the pig. Rich people have always been afforded this luxury while the servants, slaves and poor have always had to eat pig's feet, chitterlings, cracklings, etc. - low on the hog. |
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Some Random Idioms
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bite the hand that feeds one
What does "bite the hand that feeds one" mean? | to harm someone who does good things for you | I do not want to make my company angry because I do not want to bite the hand that feeds me.
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pop
What does "pop" mean? | popular. | Pop music sucks these days.
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banana
What does "banana" mean? | Asian person who adopts the lifestyle, attitudes, and such of White people |
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under the weather
What does "under the weather" mean? | feel ill (but not seriously ill) | He is feeling under the weather so he is going to bed early tonight.
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bracelets
What does "bracelets" mean? | handcuffs. | The cop slapped bracelets on the drunk driver.
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Cooking with gas
What does "Cooking with gas" mean? | To be working fast, proceeding rapidly. | After working with those old hand tools, power tools will make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.
Although common place today, gas stoves have not always been the norm. Gas stoves started to be available in the 1800's, and until that time wood stoves were the standard.
Now you're "cooking with gas" comes from an old advertisement for gas stoves. The phrase suggests that gas is faster, easier, cleaner, better than cooking with wood. |
start out as (something)
What does "start out as (something)" mean? | to start one's career as something | The president of our company started out as a mailroom clerk when he was quite young.
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buff
What does "buff" mean? | prepare a patient and details of care so discharge or transfer to another service will go smoothly. | Just buff the patient's chart and get him out of here already.
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hold up (as an example)
What does "hold up (as an example)" mean? | point to someone or something as a good example | The student was held up as an example of an honest and good person.
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within spitting distance
What does "within spitting distance" mean? | very close |
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lay in (something)
What does "lay in (something)" mean? | store up a supply of something, get and store something for future use | They are trying to lay in as much food as possible before winter comes.
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pins and needles
What does "pins and needles" mean? | a tingling feeling in one's arms and legs, feeling excitement | I was on pins and needles all day as I waited to hear the results of the exam.
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