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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Toe the line
What does Toe the line mean? | Follow the group, don't disagree, do what others are
doing. | Your lifestyle has gone on for too long. It is time for you to toe the line - get a wife, a job, some kids, and be miserable just like everyone else.
Many mistakenly think the phrase is "tow the line", thus obscuring the meaning.
This term comes from military line-ups for inspection. Soldiers are expected to line up, that is put their toes on a line, and submit to the inspection. |
toe the line
What does toe the line mean? | accept the authority or policies of a particular group
(competitors in a race line up with their toes on the starting
line) | accept the authority or policies of a particular group (competitors in a race line up with their toes on the starting line)The worker refused to toe the line and was fired from his job.
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toe the line
What does toe the line mean? | to accept the authority or policies of a particular group
(competitors in a race line up with their toes on the starting
line) | The worker refused to toe the line and was fired from his job.
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toe the line
What does toe the line mean? | to obey the rules and do what one is expected to do |
The children were forced to toe the line when the new teacher arrived.
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Some Random Idioms
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go halves
What does "go halves" mean? | to share equally | We decided to go halves on buying a new computer.
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let sleeping dogs lie
What does "let sleeping dogs lie" mean? | do not make trouble if you do not have to |
You should let sleeping dogs lie and not ask our boss about the dispute.
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fragged
What does "fragged" mean? | damaged, destroyed, ruined |
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on the hot seat
What does "on the hot seat" mean? | to be subject to much criticism/questioning | I was on the hot seat when my supervisor began to ask what had happened to the broken computer.
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cut one's losses
What does "cut one's losses" mean? | to do something in order to stop losing additional money or time etc. |
We should sell the old machinery soon and try to cut our losses.
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break through
What does "break through" mean? | to be successful after overcoming a difficulty | We were able to break through in our efforts to find a solution to the problem.
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black sheep of the family
What does "black sheep of the family" mean? | the worst member of a family | The boy was the black sheep of the family and nobody liked him.
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on a shoestring
What does "on a shoestring" mean? | to do something with very little money | He started the new company on a shoestring.
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