American Idioms and Expressions

What's Keeping You? Idiom

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. .

What's keeping you? What does What's keeping you? mean?	What is taking you so long?	"What's keeping you?", the man asked his wife as he waited to go out.
	Some Random Idioms
easy to come by What does "easy to come by" mean?	easy to find	Money is not easy to come by for many people with no education. eat Idioms
if the cap fits wear it What does "if the cap fits wear it" mean?	if you criticize another person and you also deserve criticism then you should accept the criticism and try and change	The girl criticized her friend for borrowing money. However, she herself always borrowed money so she should remember that if the cap fits wear it.
Boot is on the other foot What does "Boot is on the other foot" mean?	When the boot's on the other foot, a person who was in a position of weakness is now in a position of strength.
Memory like a sieve What does "Memory like a sieve" mean?	If somebody can't retain things for long in his or her memory and quickly forgets, he or she has a memory like a sieve. A sieve has lots of tiny holes in it to let liquids out while keeping the solids inside.
pull oneself up by one's bootstraps What does "pull oneself up by one's bootstraps" mean?	to improve oneself or achieve something through one's own efforts	The boy pulled himself up by his bootstraps and went back and finished university.
fruit salad What does "fruit salad" mean?	rows of campaign ribbons on a uniform

have two left feet What does "have two left feet" mean?	to move in a very awkward way when you dance	The man has two left feet and he is a very bad dancer.
high man on the totem pole What does "high man on the totem pole" mean?	the top person of an organization	My father is the high man on the totem pole in his company and has a very good job.
Dutch treat What does "Dutch treat" mean?	a situation where each person pays his or her own share of the expenses	The movie was a Dutch treat so I did not have to pay for my date.

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