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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Take your hat off to somebody What does Take your hat off to somebody mean? | If you take your hat off to someone, you acknowledge that they have done something exceptional or otherwise deserve your respect. |
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| Some Random Idioms
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take sides What does "take sides" mean? | to support one side or the other side | "You should not take sides in some arguments or both sides will be angry at you."
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white lie What does "white lie" mean? | a harmless or small lie told to be polite or to avoid hurting someone's feelings |
I told my supervisor a white lie yesterday and said that I was sick when actually I was not.
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ahead of schedule What does "ahead of schedule" mean? | before the time on a schedule that has been decided |
We finished our work ahead of schedule.
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holy cats What does "holy cats" mean? | used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger | "Holy cats, the water is rising over the river bank."
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kludgy What does "kludgy" mean? | inefficient, low-quality software |
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fix What does "fix" mean? | bribe; money paid to effect an outcome. | The fix is in. We're sure to win.
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pardon me for breathing What does "pardon me for breathing" mean? |
idiom. no; no way (a strong, sarcastic rebuke) |
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pick holes in (something) What does "pick holes in (something)" mean? | to find all the flaws and falsehoods in an argument, criticize something severely | My supervisor picked holes in my argument to buy a new computer for the office.
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live in an ivory tower What does "live in an ivory tower" mean? | not be aware of the realities of everyday life | The university professors lived in an ivory tower and had no idea what was going on around them.
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You can't have cake and the topping, too What does "You can't have cake and the topping, too" mean? | This idiom means that you can't have everything the way you want it, especially if your desires are contradictory. |
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Dog eat dog What does "Dog eat dog" mean? | In a dog eat dog world, there is intense competition and rivalry, where everybody thinks only of himself or herself. |
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