Stem The Tide Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

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. .

Stem the tide What does Stem the tide mean?	If people try to stem the tide, they are trying to stop something unpleasant from getting worse, usually when they don't succeed.
	Some Random Idioms
Spinning a yarn What does "Spinning a yarn" mean?	When someone spins you a yarn, they are trying to deceive you by lying.
wishy-washy What does "wishy-washy" mean?	uncommitted; without an opinion of one's own.	"Don't be so wishy-washy. Tell us how you really feel."
break fresh/new ground What does "break fresh/new ground" mean?	to deal with something in a new way	The researchers were able to break fresh ground in their search for a cancer cure.
for the most part What does "for the most part" mean?	mostly, in general	I was finished my work for the most part so I decided to go home.
cat gets one`s tongue What does "cat gets one`s tongue" mean?	the inability to say something	I think that the cat got our supervisor's tongue. She has not said anything since the meeting started.

with every (other) breath What does "with every (other) breath" mean?	repeatedly or continually saying something	My friend tells me with every other breath that she does not like my boyfriend.
play chicken What does "play chicken" mean?	to do something dangerous in order to see who becomes frightened first and stops	The two boys were playing chicken in the schoolyard.
Dead man walking What does "Dead man walking" mean?	A dead man walking is someone who is in great trouble and will certainly get punished, lose their job or position, etc, soon.
eat high on/off the hog What does "eat high on/off the hog" mean?	to eat expensive and high quality food	My uncle has been eating high on the hog since he got his new job.
lay off (workers/staff) What does "lay off (workers/staff) " mean?	reduce the number of workers when business is bad	Six hundred workers at the automobile factory were recently laid off.

American Idioms and Expressions

Stem The Tide Idiom