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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Worth its salt
What does Worth its salt mean? | To be competent, reasonably skilled. | Not to worry about your new suit, any detergent worth its salt can remove blood stains.
Today salt is inexpensive and universally available, but that wasn't always the case. Salt has been a valuable commodity in many cultures throughout history.
Salt is sodium chloride. It can be obtained from mines or the oceans. Today salt is commonly mined from large deposits left by dried salt lakes. Modern mining and transportation methods have made salt an inexpensive commodity.
Salt is an effective food preservative and before refrigeration was widely available, the demand for salt as a preservative was much greater. The human body requires salt for the regulation of fluid balance. Salt used as a seasoning adds to the taste of many foods.
Because of salt's high value, it was used as a method of exchange. Roman soldiers received a salt allowance as part of their pay. In fact the word "salary" is derived from the Latin "salarium" meaning "of salt".
To say that someone is "worth his salt" is to say they have earned their pay. |
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Some Random Idioms
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off one`s rocker
What does "off one`s rocker" mean? | to be crazy | He must be off his rocker if he thinks that he can spend much money and not have financial problems.
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change of heart
What does "change of heart" mean? | a change in the way one feels about something | The woman had a change of heart and decided to let her child go to the circus.
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in the mainstream
What does "in the mainstream" mean? | following current trends/styles that are popular or common | My brother has never been in the mainstream when it comes to working and raising a family.
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polish off
What does "polish off" mean? | finish up; complete; remove the last of (said of food or work). | He polished off the rest of the cake.
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play along with (someone or something)
What does "play along with (someone or something)" mean? | to agree to cooperate with someone's plan | I decided to play along with my friend and his crazy plan to buy a horse.
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pass the time
What does "pass the time" mean? | to fill up time by doing something | My grandfather usually passes the time reading and working in his garden.
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throw oneself at (someone)
What does "throw oneself at (someone)" mean? | to give oneself willingly to someone else for romance | The woman in the movie threw herself at the hero of the story.
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gnash one's teeth
What does "gnash one's teeth" mean? | to grind one's teeth | I often gnash my teeth when I am sleeping.
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Indian file
What does "Indian file" mean? | If people walk in Indian file, they walk in a line one behind the other. |
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bounce
What does "bounce" mean? | energy; verve |
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Tall order
What does "Tall order" mean? | Something that is likely to be hard to achieve or fulfil is a tall order. |
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rub elbows/shoulders with (someone)
What does "rub elbows/shoulders with (someone)" mean? | to be in the same place as other people, to meet and mix with other people | At the party we were able to rub shoulders with many important people.
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