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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at one sitting
What does at one sitting mean? | at one time, during one period | We ate most of the cake at one sitting.
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at one sitting
What does at one sitting mean? | at one time |
We finished the food at one sitting.
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at one sitting
What does at one sitting mean? | at one time, during one period |
We ate most of the cake at one sitting.
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Some Random Idioms
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make an offer
What does "make an offer" mean? | to make a financial proposal for a product or service | We want to buy the house and we plan to make an offer on Saturday.
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Room to swing a cat
What does "Room to swing a cat" mean? | A confined space. | This bedroom doesn't even have enough room to swing a cat.
This colorful phrase evokes strange images of feline cruelty. In fact it has nothing to do with cats, but the real story is at least as cruel.
The "cat" is a cat-of-nine-tails, a type of whip used to discipline sailors on old sailing ships. The cat-of-nine-tails has one handle to which is attached nine thin strips of leather, each perhaps three feet long. The cat-of-nine-tails would be used to administer lashings that would sting and leave welts on the recipient.
The whippings would take place on the deck, because below deck there was not enough ceiling height to swing a cat-of-nine-tails. |
words stick in one's throat
What does "words stick in one's throat" mean? | one can hardly speak because he or she is so overcome by emotion |
I tried to ask the girl for a date but the words stuck in my throat and I could not say anything.
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toy with (someone or something)
What does "toy with (someone or something)" mean? | to tease someone, to play or fiddle with something | The woman in the bank was toying with me when she began to ask me many questions.
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jump to conclusions
What does "jump to conclusions" mean? | make a quick conclusion without thinking about it | "Please don`t jump to conclusions over who broke the computer."
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break a leg
What does "break a leg" mean? | good luck; hope all goes well (from theatrical slang, where "good luck" is a jinx) |
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hit the jackpot
What does "hit the jackpot" mean? | to make a lot of money suddenly (usually from gambling) | We hit the jackpot at the casino and came home with a lot of money.
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Dead and buried
What does "Dead and buried" mean? | If something is dead and buried, it has all long been settled and is not going to be reconsidered. |
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put one's hand to the plow
What does "put one's hand to the plow" mean? | to begin to do a big and important task | I put my hands to the plow in order to get my essay finished before the weekend.
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shitty
What does "shitty" mean? | coated with feces |
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dance to a different tune
What does "dance to a different tune" mean? | to change one's behavior or attitude |
Our boss began dancing to a different tune when the head salesman decided to quit.
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subscribe to (something)
What does "subscribe to (something)" mean? | to have a standing order for a magazine or something similar, to give support or consent to something | I subscribe to several magazines but I do not have time to read them.
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put (someone or something) at (someone's) disposal
What does "put (someone or something) at (someone's) disposal" mean? | to make someone or something available to someone | I put myself at my friend's disposal when he visited me last summer.
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green-eyed monster
What does "green-eyed monster" mean? | jealousy |
The woman was consumed by the green-eyed monster and it was affecting her life.
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