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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Smack in the face
What does Smack in the face mean? | If something is a smack in the face, it is a shock, usually one that impedes progress. |
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Some Random Idioms
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dike
What does "dike" mean? | lesbian |
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take great pains to do (something)
What does "take great pains to do (something)" mean? | to make a great effort to do something | The painters took great pains not to spill any paint on the carpet.
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off the top of one`s head
What does "off the top of one`s head" mean? | to be from memory, to be spontaneous | He knew all of the team members off the top of his head.
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come full circle
What does "come full circle" mean? | to be completely opposite from one`s starting point |
The university has come full circle with its policy on new students.
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like one of the family
What does "like one of the family" mean? | as if someone were a member of one's family | My sister's friend is like one of the family and we invite her to come with us wherever we go.
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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. |
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make no bones about (something)
What does "make no bones about (something)" mean? | make no secret of something, have no doubts about something | I made no bones about the fact that I am not interested in applying for the supervisor`s job.
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Hell's half acre
What does "Hell's half acre" mean? | A long and frustrating trip. | I looked all over hell's half acre trying to find a left handed monkey wrench.
Hell's half acre is a lava flow about 15 miles west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is 4.5 miles of rough, irregular terrain that is very difficult to navigate. It is so named because its cracks, holes, and crags give the area an otherworldly, surreal, and perhaps hellish appearance. A search of Hell's half acre would indeed be a long and difficult task.
Many of the scenes in the 1997 film "Starship Troopers" (based on Robert Heinlein's novel of the same name) in which the characters were on an alien planet, were filmed at Hell's half acre. |
Cheat death
What does "Cheat death" mean? | If someone cheats death, they narrowly avoid a major problem or accident. |
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hold down a job
What does "hold down a job" mean? | keep a job | He has a serious drinking problem and is unable to hold down a job.
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