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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after hours
What does after hours mean? | after the regular closing or finishing time | The library has a place to leave books after hours.
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Some Random Idioms
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play chicken
What does "play chicken" mean? | to do something dangerous in order to see who becomes frightened first and stops | The two boys were playing chicken in the schoolyard.
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at one's fingertips
What does "at one's fingertips" mean? | something is within one's reach | I always have my address book at my fingertips.
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laid-back
What does "laid-back" mean? | relaxed, not worried by things | Our teacher has a very laid-back attitude about how long we should spend preparing for our class.
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far into the night
What does "far into the night" mean? | late into the night | I studied far into the night because I had a big test the next day.
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in one's Sunday best
What does "in one's Sunday best" mean? | in one's best clothes that you would wear to worship (in the days when people dressed in a formal way) | I was dressed in my Sunday best when I went for the job interview.
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feel it beneath oneself to do (something)
What does "feel it beneath oneself to do (something)" mean? | feel that one would be lowering oneself to do something | The young girl feels it beneath her to help clean the classroom.
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off the hook
What does "off the hook" mean? | not at risk anymore; not obligated or required to do something anymore |
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Get my drift
What does "Get my drift" mean? | If you get someone's drift, you understand what they are trying to say.
('Catch their drift' is an alternative form.) |
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fast talker
What does "fast talker" mean? | a con artist, a clever talker who convinces others easily | The man is a fast talker and you should be careful not to believe everything that he says.
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sight unseen
What does "sight unseen" mean? | before seeing a thing or a person | My friend bought the car sight unseen and now he is having trouble with it.
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drive at (something)
What does "drive at (something)" mean? | to try/want to say something | I do not know what the man was driving at in his speech.
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call shotgun
What does "call shotgun" mean? | claim the seat next to the driver in a car |
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lay out (money)
What does "lay out (money)" mean? | spend or pay some money | My friend will have to lay out a lot of money for his new apartment.
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lose one`s shirt
What does "lose one`s shirt" mean? | to lose all or most of one`s money | The man lost his shirt gambling and now he is in serious financial difficulty.
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