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 pay-off
What does a pay-off mean? | the results of one`s work, a bribe | The young man expects to get a big pay-off from his university education when he begins to look for a job.
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a pay-off
What does a pay-off mean? | the results of one`s work, a bribe |
The young man expects to get a big pay-off from his university education when he begins to look for a job.
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Some Random Idioms
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below average
What does "below average" mean? | worse or lower than average |
Most members of the class were below average in the math test.
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go by the book
What does "go by the book" mean? | to follow the rules exactly | Most police officers go by the book when they arrest a criminal.
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look at/see the world through rose-colored glasses
What does "look at/see the world through rose-colored glasses" mean? | to see only the good things about something, to be too optimistic | My friend always looks at the world through rose-colored glasses and he does not believe that some people are dishonest.
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deal in (something)
What does "deal in (something)" mean? | to buy and sell something | The man has been dealing in antiques for many years.
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when it comes to (something)
What does "when it comes to (something)" mean? | speaking about something | When it comes to sports, my friend is a very knowledgeable person.
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have (something) coming out of one's ears
What does "have (something) coming out of one's ears" mean? | to have much of something | We have towels coming out of our ears and we do not need any more.
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go out with someone
What does "go out with someone" mean? | go on a date or be dating someone | go on a date or be dating someoneI have been going out with a woman from my hiking club for several months now.
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keep an eye out for
What does "keep an eye out for" mean? | watch for. | "I'll keep an eye out for John. If I see him,I'll tell him you want to talk to him."
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One Red Cent
What does "One Red Cent" mean? | A single symbolic penny. | I refuse to pay even one red cent for the work until you complete the whole job.
The "Red" refers to both the color of a penny (one cent) and the image that used to be on the penny, an American Indian head. Redskin is a slang term used for American Indians.
Before today's Lincoln penny was the Indian Head penny.
The Indian Head penny was first issued in 1859 and looks just like that as issued in 1908 (before the Lincoln Cent). The only difference was that those from 1859-1864 were of a different copper-nickel alloy while 1864 started the common bronze, which was used until 1982. (You didn't know it changed then, did you?)
The copper-nickel alloy has a reddish tint, which turns redder with time and skin oil.
Before the Indian Head penny was the "Buzzard Cent", as the One Cent coins in 1856-1858 were called. The flying eagle on the coin was damned as an ugly bird and it wasn't popular.
However, it was the first "small cent" using about the same size as our penny today. In the half century before this, One Cent coins were about the size of today's Half Dollar! |
hightail it out of (somewhere)
What does "hightail it out of (somewhere)" mean? | run away from or leave a place quickly | We decided to hightail it out of the restaurant and go home.
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set one`s heart on (something)
What does "set one`s heart on (something)" mean? | to want something very much | I set my heart on a nice holiday this winter but I will not be able to go because I have no money.
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