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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a leading question
What does a leading question mean? | a question that suggests the kind of answer that you want to hear | The lawyer asked the man a leading question when he asked him why he had lied about the money. He had never lied about money.
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a leading question
What does a leading question mean? | a question to a witness that is designed to suggest or produce the reply that is wanted by the questioner | The judge reprimanded the lawyer for continuing to ask leading questions during the trial.
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a leading question
What does a leading question mean? | a question to a witness designed to suggest or produce the reply desired by the questioner | The lawyer asked the witness a leading question but she didn't answer it in the way that the lawyer had expected.
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a leading question
What does a leading question mean? | a question to a witness that is designed to suggest or produce the reply that is wanted by the questioner |
The judge criticized the lawyer for asking leading questions during the trial.
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a leading question
What does a leading question mean? | a question to a witness designed to suggest or produce the reply desired by the questioner |
The lawyer asked the witness a leading question but was told to stop by the judge.
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Some Random Idioms
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bring (someone) to heel
What does "bring (someone) to heel" mean? | to make someone obey you or pay attention to you again after they have stopped doing this | The new supervisor quickly brought her employees to heel.
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Throw someone a line
What does "Throw someone a line" mean? | If someone throws you a line, they give you help when you are in serious difficulties. |
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risk one's neck (to do something)
What does "risk one's neck (to do something)" mean? | to risk harm in order to do something |
The fireman risked his neck to save the young child.
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nothing to choose from
What does "nothing to choose from" mean? | no choice | There was nothing to choose from when we went to the shoe sale in the late afternoon.
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a left-handed compliment
What does "a left-handed compliment" mean? | an ambiguous compliment interpreted as offensive | He gave her a left-handed compliment when he said that her dyed hair looked nice.
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half-baked
What does "half-baked" mean? | foolish | I don't really like his half-baked idea about the new delivery system.
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stink to high heaven
What does "stink to high heaven" mean? | to smell very bad | The kitchen garbage was stinking to high heaven in the hot sun.
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get one's foot in the door
What does "get one's foot in the door" mean? | to take the first step in doing something | I hope that I can get my foot in the door and join the new company.
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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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break camp
What does "break camp" mean? | to close down a campsite and move on | We decided to break camp and begin on our journey.
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