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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One Red Cent
What does One Red Cent mean? | A single symbolic penny. | I refuse to pay even one red cent for the work until you complete the whole job.
The "Red" refers to both the color of a penny (one cent) and the image that used to be on the penny, an American Indian head. Redskin is a slang term used for American Indians.
Before today's Lincoln penny was the Indian Head penny.
The Indian Head penny was first issued in 1859 and looks just like that as issued in 1908 (before the Lincoln Cent). The only difference was that those from 1859-1864 were of a different copper-nickel alloy while 1864 started the common bronze, which was used until 1982. (You didn't know it changed then, did you?)
The copper-nickel alloy has a reddish tint, which turns redder with time and skin oil.
Before the Indian Head penny was the "Buzzard Cent", as the One Cent coins in 1856-1858 were called. The flying eagle on the coin was damned as an ugly bird and it wasn't popular.
However, it was the first "small cent" using about the same size as our penny today. In the half century before this, One Cent coins were about the size of today's Half Dollar! |
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Some Random Idioms
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Blow off some steam
What does "Blow off some steam" mean? | To enjoy oneself by relaxing normal formalities. | He is a true workaholic who has misguided priorities, when he wants to blow off some steam he comes to work on Saturday wearing blue jeans.
Boilers are commonly used in steam heating systems and steam engines such as those used in a steam locomotive. The boilers contain water that is heated by burning some fuel such as oil. The heated water turns to steam, which is then sent through a system of radiators (in the case of heating systems) or harnessed by a steam engine.
The steam creates considerable pressure in the boiler. If the pressure becomes too great, there is a danger of the boiler exploding. Hence boilers are equipped with safety valves called blow off valves that open if the pressure becomes to great.
"Blowing off steam" prevents explosions by relieving the pressure in a boiler by venting excess steam and pressure. |
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mellow
What does "mellow" mean? | at ease; calm; relaxed |
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Meet someone halfway
What does "Meet someone halfway" mean? | If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their ideas and make concessions. |
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wear sackcloth and ashes
What does "wear sackcloth and ashes" mean? | to behave in a way that shows that you are very sorry for something that you have done wrong - in ancient Biblical times people wore very uncomfortable sackcloth (cloth for sacks) for mourning and al |
The politician was forced to wear sackcloth and ashes as an apology for his wrongdoing.
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Kick in the teeth
What does "Kick in the teeth" mean? | Bad news or a sudden disappointment are a kick in the teeth. |
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steal a base
What does "steal a base" mean? | sneak from one base to another in baseball | sneak from one base to another in baseballThe young baseball player won an award for stealing the most bases in one year.
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bring (someone) around
What does "bring (someone) around" mean? | to restore someone to health or consciousness, to cure someone | The medical workers were able to bring the man around after the accident.
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take (someone's) breath away
What does "take (someone's) breath away" mean? | overwhelm someone with beauty or grandeur, cause someone to be out of breath | The beauty of the mountain lake took my breath away.
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