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 thumbs
What does all thumbs mean? | to have difficulty fixing things or working with one`s hands, to be clumsy | My friend is all thumbs when fixing things around his house.
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all thumbs
What does all thumbs mean? | to be awkward and clumsy, a difficulty in fixing things or working with one's hands | The janitor is all thumbs and he can never fix something without making it worse.
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all thumbs
What does all thumbs mean? | to have difficulty fixing things or working with one`s hands, to be clumsy |
My friend is all thumbs when he fixes things around his house.
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all thumbs
What does all thumbs mean? | to be awkward and clumsy, a difficulty in fixing things or working with one's hands |
The man is all thumbs and he can never fix something without making it worse.
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Some Random Idioms
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be into (something)
What does "be into (something)" mean? | to be interested or involved in something | My friend is very much into music and writing songs.
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for that matter
What does "for that matter" mean? | about something, with regard to something |
"I do not want to go shopping with you, and for that matter, I do not want to go anywhere with you."
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turn (something) over in one's mind
What does "turn (something) over in one's mind" mean? | to think about something continuously | I could not sleep last night because I was turning my situation at work over in my mind.
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Irons in the fire
What does "Irons in the fire" mean? | Having or pursuing multiple opportunities
simultaneously. | I have been out of work for 6 months, but I have a number of irons in the fire.
Blacksmiths traditionally worked iron into shape by hammering. The iron being worked would be heated in the fire until it was red-hot and malleable. The Smith removes the iron from the fire and shapes it with repeated blows from a hammer. They need to work quickly before the iron cools. Once the iron is cool, it becomes brittle and cannot be hammered.
Once removed from the fire, the iron cools quickly. It takes longer to heat the iron to red-hot than it takes for it to cool. Blacksmiths work more efficiently by having multiple pieces of iron in the fire heating simultaneously. In that way, the Smith can always have a piece of iron red-hot and ready for hammering. The cooled piece would be returned to the fire if it needed more hammering. |
bust one's balls
What does "bust one's balls
" mean? | work very hard; make an extreme effort. | He busted his balls to get that paper done on time.
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cut a deal
What does "cut a deal" mean? | to make a business arrangement or contract with someone |
I was able to cut a deal with the contractor and we paid very little for our new kitchen.
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Oldest trick in the book
What does "Oldest trick in the book" mean? | The oldest trick in the book is a well-known way of deceiving someone, though still effective. |
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pop off
What does "pop off" mean? | interrupt; talk back |
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