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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Jet-black
What does Jet-black mean? | To emphasise just how black something is, such as someone's hair, we can call it jet-black. |
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Some Random Idioms
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with respect to (something)
What does "with respect to (something)" mean? | referring to something, concerning something | I do not know what the company will do with respect to the old computer system.
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partake of (something)
What does "partake of (something)" mean? | to eat or drink something | I decided not to partake of the large dinner before the golf tournament.
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Tell them where the dog died
What does "Tell them where the dog died" mean? | If you tell them where the dog died, you strongly and sharply correct someone. |
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on one`s heels
What does "on one`s heels" mean? | close behind, as a constant follower or companion | The dog was on the heels of the small rabbit.
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A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire
What does "A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire" mean? | One does not repeat a painful lesson twice. | I've tried to get little Johnny to quit running and jumping on the furniture before he hurts himself, but only a burnt child dreads the fire.
Very similar in meaning to another proverb, "Once bitten, twice shy," today's proverb is an old one. It appeared in English literature as early as 1320, in "The Proverbs of Hendyng." Another proverb, which is similar, comes from the French: "A scalded dog fears cold water" carries an even stronger message; that those who have experienced a great deal of difficulty or pain will not only avoid it in the future, but will be afraid even where there is no cause.
Other languages also have like proverbs, such as, "One bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope's end" (Jewish), "A man who has received a beating with a firebrand runs away at the sight of a firefly" (Singhalese), and "A dog which has been beaten with a stick fears its own shadow" (Italian). |
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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putz
What does "putz" mean? | dumb, clumsy person |
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Devil finds work for idle hands
What does "Devil finds work for idle hands" mean? | When people say that the devil finds work for idle hands, they mean that if people don't have anything to do with their time, they are more likely to get involved in trouble and criminality. |
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by the handful
What does "by the handful" mean? | by the amount that one can measure in one handful | We were able to pick strawberries by the handful in the small field.
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strike a match
What does "strike a match" mean? | to light a match | I struck a match and tried to start the fire.
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chicken (adjective or noun)
What does "chicken (adjective or noun)" mean? | (adjective or noun): cowardly. | "Fred will never ask Lucy for a date. He'schicken / a chicken.
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