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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Rings a Bell
What does Rings a Bell mean? | To sound familiar, to spark a memory. | I don't remember meeting him, but the name John Smith rings a bell.
Bells such as the type used in churches are large and loud. Their sound can be heard from a great distance. Bells sound a single, clear note so their sound is distinctive and not easily confused.
Before electric sirens and amplification systems, bells were a valuable means of signaling people and alerting of important events.
Further, accurate timepieces were not always as available as they are today. Bells were used to signal people of the start of events such as a church session, the start of school, or a celebration. The bells acted as a reminder of the start of the event for people who had an out of synch timepiece or no timepiece.
Someone would literally ring a bell as a reminder.
As an aside bells were later used on clocks to mark the hour. A large clock usually in the town square could be heard throughout the town. This clock acted as a master time reference for the town. The hourly bell ringing gave people an opportunity to synchronize their respective timepieces, and early watches required frequent adjustment. |
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Some Random Idioms
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coat and tie
What does "coat and tie" mean? | a jacket or a sports coat and a necktie |
The company asked everyone to wear a coat and tie to the company dinner.
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when it comes right down to it
What does "when it comes right down to it" mean? | when one really thinks about something | When it comes right down to it, I don't think that you should quit your job.
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say (something) right to (someone's) face
What does "say (something) right to (someone's) face" mean? | to say something unpleasant or important directly to someone | I said that the man was not telling the truth right to his face.
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pitch camp
What does "pitch camp" mean? | to set up or arrange a campsite | We stopped for the night next to a small river and pitched camp.
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(not) have anything to do with someone
What does "(not) have anything to do with someone" mean? | (not) want to be a friend/work/do business with someone | My father will not have anything to do with the salesman because he sold him the faulty car.
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nobody`s fool
What does "nobody`s fool" mean? | a smart person, a person who can take care of himself or herself | She is nobody`s fool. You will not have to worry about her at all when she starts her new job.
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like crazy
What does "like crazy" mean? | very fast, with great energy | They were running like crazy but still they couldn`t catch their friend.
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All bets are off
What does "All bets are off" mean? | If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply. |
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have (someone's) hide
What does "have (someone's) hide" mean? | scold or punish someone | The mother promised to have her son's hide if he didn't behave.
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