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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White Elephant
What does White Elephant mean? | Something that is costly to obtain or maintain and
provides little benefit or value. | The London Bridge became a white elephant. The bridge was relocated to Havasu City Arizona, where it now remains as a tourist attraction.
From the Burmese belief that albino elephants are sacred. They can't be used for work and they must be lavished with the ultimate amount of care.
Giving a gift of a white elephant would be done to someone considered an enemy. The idea being that you would eventually wipe out your enemy's wealth with the care of the sacred elephant. |
white elephant
What does white elephant mean? | a useless possession that is a nuisance or expensive to keep | They are having a white elephant sale at the school next week.
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white elephant
What does white elephant mean? | a waste of money | The new airport was a white elephant which nobody liked to use.
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white elephant
What does white elephant mean? | a useless possession (that often costs money to maintain) | The new airport is a white elephant and nobody wants to use it.
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white elephant
What does white elephant mean? | a useless possession (that often costs money to maintain) |
The new airport is a white elephant and nobody wants to use it.
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white elephant
What does white elephant mean? | a useless possession that is a nuisance and often very expensive to keep |
They are having a white elephant sale at the school next week.
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white elephant
What does white elephant mean? | a waste of money |
The new airport was a white elephant which nobody wanted to use.
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Some Random Idioms
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for one's (own) sake
What does "for one's (own) sake" mean? | for one's benefit |
I told my aunt that for her own sake she must stop smoking.
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In the red
What does "In the red" mean? | To be losing money. | Putting kids through college is sure to put you in the red.
Standard practice for accounting is to record positive numbers in black ink and negative numbers in red ink. Operating "in the red" is to record negative numbers, that is to say losses.
No doubt red ink was chosen because it is a clear contrast for black and is not easily mistaken. However there is a bit more history to the red ink.
In medieval times the church, being the only center of literacy and learning in the west, maintained meticulous accounting records. Ink was rare and expensive. When monasteries and far-flung churches had little money and they could not afford ink, domesticated animals were bled to provide a substitute in the dipping wells. As a result, poor financial records were usually written "in the red. |
plea bargain
What does "plea bargain" mean? | plead guilty to a crime or decide not to fight against a charge in order to try and receive a light punishment (usually done in a negotiation between the defendant and his or her lawyer and the prosecutor) | The man decided to plea bargain in order not to have to endure a long trial with an uncertain result.
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invasion of (someone's) privacy
What does "invasion of (someone's) privacy" mean? | intrude and cause someone to lose their privacy | It was an invasion of our privacy when the supervisor asked us to open the mail that we received in the company.
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No quarter
What does "No quarter" mean? | This means without mercy. We can say no quarter given or asked. |
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hustler
What does "hustler" mean? | swindler; someone who deceives people out of money |
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nothing to sneeze at
What does "nothing to sneeze at" mean? | to be something that you should take seriously and respect | His new salary is nothing to sneeze at.
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bring up
What does "bring up" mean? | to introduce a subject into a discussion | They brought up the subject at the meeting but nobody wanted to talk about it.
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know (someone) by sight
What does "know (someone) by sight" mean? | know the name and recognize the face of someone | I know the professor's name but I do not know him by sight.
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cool one`s heels
What does "cool one`s heels" mean? | to be kept waiting | The man was forced to cool his heels in the waiting room before his boss would talk to him.
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Drop like flies
What does "Drop like flies" mean? | This means that something is disappearing very quickly. For example, if you said people were dropping like flies, it would mean that they were dying off, quitting or giving up something rapidly. |
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on the defensive
What does "on the defensive" mean? | to be trying to defend oneself | I always feel that I am on the defensive when I talk to my friend about money.
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