You Don`t Say! 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. .

You don`t say! What does You don`t say! mean?	used to show surprise at what is said	"You don`t say", he said when he heard about the accident on the highway.
	Some Random Idioms
Crossing the Rubicon What does "Crossing the Rubicon" mean?	When a decisive and irrevocable step has been taken. To commit to a given course of action that permits no return is to cross the Rubicon.	Paul knew he had passed the Rubicon when he wrote the deposit check for the hall for the wedding reception. The actual Rubicon is a river in Northern Italy that flows into the Adriatic Sea. It is 15 miles (24 kilometers) long. The river is renowned because Julius Caesar prompted a three year civil war when he crossed this river in 49 B.C. to march against Pompey. Julius knew that "crossing the Rubicon" with his army in tact would be considered an act of aggression. Using the word Rubicon as a figurative boundary, limiting action was first seen in the 1600s.

a show of hands What does "a show of hands" mean?	a vote for something which is done by people raising their hands	The students voted by a show of hands to go to the park after school.
stay away from (something) What does "stay away from (something)" mean?	to avoid something	My uncle has been staying away from salty foods for several months now.
carry a tune What does "carry a tune" mean?	to be able to sing accurately, to have musical ability	The girl in the music class cannot carry a tune.
in the bag What does "in the bag" mean?	certain, sure	The new contract will be in the bag if we put in a good proposal.
a credit to (someone or something) What does "a credit to (someone or something)" mean?	to be invaluable or beneficial to someone or something	The doctor was a credit to the hospital where he worked.
sticky fingers What does "sticky fingers" mean?	the habit of stealing things	Everyone thinks that the new woman at work has sticky fingers because many things have been stolen recently.
cheek-to-cheek What does "cheek-to-cheek" mean?	with one person's cheek pressed up against another person's cheek	The couple was dancing cheek-to-cheek.
power behind the throne What does "power behind the throne" mean?	the person who controls the person who seems to be in charge of something	The general is the power behind the throne in the small country and he has much influence.
a credit to (someone or something) What does "a credit to (someone or something)" mean?	to be invaluable or beneficial to someone or something	The doctor was a credit to the hospital where he had trained.

American Idioms and Expressions

You Don`t Say! Idiom