VDU 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. .

VDU What does VDU mean?	Video Display Unit	Video Display UnitThe VDU at work was beginning to cause problems with my eyes so I went to an eye doctor.
	Some Random Idioms
hold forth What does "hold forth" mean?	offer, propose	The company held forth a proposal to give all of the employees a bonus in the summer.
a long shot What does "a long shot" mean?	a bet or other risk taken though not likely to succeed	It was a long shot that he would get the job so he was very happy when he did get it.
risk one's neck (to do something) What does "risk one's neck (to do something)" mean?	risk harm in order to do something	The fireman risked his neck to save the young child.
lower oneself to (some level) What does "lower oneself to (some level)" mean?	bring oneself down to a lower level of behavior	I do not want to lower myself to the same level as my very incompetent supervisor.
get gray hair What does "get gray hair" mean?	to have your hair turn gray because of stress	The father said that he was getting gray hairs from his son.
do or die What does "do or die" mean?	to make a great effort	It was do or die for the man when he started his new job.

lose one`s marbles What does "lose one`s marbles" mean?	go crazy or act irrationally	The man seems to have lost his marbles and doesn`t make any sense at all.
come to a pretty pass What does "come to a pretty pass" mean?	to develop into a bad or difficult situation	Things have come to a pretty pass and nobody knows what to do about the problem.
owing to (someone or something) What does "owing to (someone or something)" mean?	because of someone or something	Owing to the bad weather many airplane flights were recently canceled.
Brass neck What does "Brass neck" mean?	(UK) Someone who has the brass neck to do something has no sense of shame about what they do.
run a tight ship What does "run a tight ship" mean?	to run an organization/one's life/a ship in an orderly and disciplined manner	My friend runs a tight ship and makes few mistakes in his life.

American Idioms and Expressions

VDU Idiom