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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all right (3)
What does all right (3) mean? | (3): unharmed; in satisfactory condition. | A: "You don't look normal. Are you allright?"B: "Yes, but I have a headache."
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Some Random Idioms
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chicken and egg situation
What does "chicken and egg situation" mean? | two things happen together and it is difficult to see which one of them caused the other | It was a chicken and egg situation and it was difficult to know who caused the problems with the computer.
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go to one's head
What does "go to one's head" mean? | to make one dizzy | The drink quickly went to the man's head and he had to sit down and rest.
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Pot to piss in
What does "Pot to piss in" mean? | To have money or wealth. | You want to have children! We can't afford them, we don't have a pot to piss in.
In medieval London, people did not have indoor plumbing. It was common to use a chamber pot as an indoor toilet. The chamber pot could then be dumped out a window into the street gutter below. A person who did not have a "pot to piss in" was poor indeed.
In medieval times the word "piss" was not considered at all vulgar. It was not until Victorian England that words such as piss were deemed vulgar. Even today phrases like "pot to piss in" and "Full of Piss and Vinegar" are somehow considered to be generally acceptable and only moderately crude. |
cross one`s fingers
What does "cross one`s fingers" mean? | to cross two fingers of one hand to hope or wish for good luck |
I crossed my fingers that I would get the job that I had applied for.
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Throw the book at someone
What does "Throw the book at someone" mean? | If you throw the book at someone, you punish them as severely as possible. |
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children should be seen and not heard
What does "children should be seen and not heard" mean? | children should be quiet | The woman believed that children should be seen and not heard. And her children were always very quiet.
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In the making
What does "In the making" mean? | When something is in the making, it means it is in the process of being made. |
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in (someone`s) shoes
What does "in (someone`s) shoes" mean? | in another person's place or position |
I would hate to be in my cousin's shoes now that he has lost his job.
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bug (someone)
What does "bug (someone)" mean? | to annoy or irritate someone | My friend is beginning to bug me with his endless questions.
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flush with (something)
What does "flush with (something)" mean? | to be even with something | The two pieces of wood were flush with each other so we glued them together.
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break up with (someone)
What does "break up with (someone)" mean? | to end a relationship with someone | My niece broke up with her boyfriend last June.
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Down to the wire
What does "Down to the wire" mean? | Undecided until the end, at the last minute | We almost missed our flight, it came right down to the wire. The traffic on the way to the airport was horrible and we had to run to our gate.
This phrase refers to races where the winner is determined by whoever crosses the finish line first. Think of horse racing and foot races. A string is stretched across the finish to help the judges see clearly who crosses first in a close race. That string is called the wire or tape, the winner is the one who breaks the wire first.
The "wire" is actually string, tape, or paper and not a metal wire at all. No need to be concerned about those horses tripping and getting themselves caught in the wire. |