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.
.
Horse sense
What does Horse sense mean? | Common sense, able to stand the test of
reasonableness. | If your going to spend your time working anyway, it only makes horse sense to get a high paying job.
Horses are intelligent animals. They demonstrate the ability to act sensibly and to avoid situations that might cause them harm such as taking a fall, hence good common sense. |
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
feed the kitty
What does "feed the kitty" mean? | to contribute money to a special collection | Everybody had to feed the kitty in order to collect money for the party.
|
|
| |
Do their dirty work
What does "Do their dirty work" mean? | Someone who does someone's dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn't want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a 'henchman'. |
|
Greek to me
What does "Greek to me" mean? | If you don't understand something, it's all Greek to you. |
|
Banana skin
What does "Banana skin" mean? | (UK) A banana skin is something that is an embarrassment or causes problems. |
|
dog
What does "dog" mean? | ugly woman |
|
can
What does "can" mean? | buttocks |
|
take kindly to (someone or something)
What does "take kindly to (someone or something)" mean? | to be pleased by someone or something, to be agreeable to someone or something | The man does not take kindly to people telling him how to run his business.
|
Hiding to nothing
What does "Hiding to nothing" mean? | If people are on a hiding to nothing, their schemes and plans have no chance of succeeding.
'Hiding to nowhere' is an alternative. |
|
|
| |
take (someone's) breath away
What does "take (someone's) breath away" mean? | to overwhelm someone with beauty or grandeur | The beauty of the mountains took my breath away.
|
payoff
What does "payoff" mean? | a bribe | The mayor received a payoff and was forced to resign from his position.
|
One man's meat is another man's poison.
What does "One man's meat is another man's poison." mean? | something that one person likes may not be liked by another person | One man's meat is another man's poison and everybody dislikes the food that my friend likes.
|
honcho
What does "honcho" mean? | boss; leader |
|
vent one's spleen
What does "vent one's spleen" mean? | get rid of one's feelings of anger by attacking someone or something | I went for a coffee with one of my coworkers and she spent the whole time venting her spleen about her job.
|