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 the eleventh hour
What does At the eleventh hour mean? | At the very last moment. | The union negotiator went right down to the eleventh hour before accepting the company's final offer.
On a 12-hour clock (rather than the 24-hour clock used by scientists, the military, et al) the hours of 12 noon and 12 midnight seem to hold special significance. De-marking the transition from morning to afternoon and the end of the day, they are often used as deadlines (high noon, the stroke of midnight).
To come at "the eleventh hour" implies that it comes in the last hour before the deadline. The choice of "the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" as the time to end W.W.I was quite apt. |
at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last minute; almost too late. | "Yes, I got the work done in time. I finished it at the eleventh hour, but I wasn't late.
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at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment | The company and union settled the strike at the eleventh hour.
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at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment | At the eleventh hour the city and the garbage collectors settled their contract dispute.
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at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment |
The company and the union settled the strike at the eleventh hour.
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at the eleventh hour
What does at the eleventh hour mean? | at the last possible moment |
At the eleventh hour the city and the garbage collectors settled their contract dispute.
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Some Random Idioms
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make (something) out of nothing
What does "make (something) out of nothing" mean? | make an issue out of something of little importance | My friend always wants to make something out of nothing and fights with everyone.
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Politically correct
What does "Politically correct" mean? | Things or people that are politically correct use language that will not cause offence. |
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in the absence of (someone or something)
What does "in the absence of (someone or something)" mean? | without someone or something | In the absence of any concrete plans for the building we decided to try and sell it.
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up
What does "up" mean? | pleased; happy; excited |
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shape up or ship out
What does "shape up or ship out" mean? | behave properly or leave | The employee was told to shape up or ship out because of her bad attitude.
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true love
What does "true love" mean? | a genuine feeling of romantic love | a genuine feeling of romantic loveIt seemed like true love until we began to fight all of the time.
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JP
What does "JP" mean? | Justice of the Peace | Justice of the PeaceThey went to a JP when they decided to get married.
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out
What does "out" mean? | reveal somebody as a homosexual |
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gone with the wind
What does "gone with the wind" mean? | to be gone | The woman is gone with the wind and we will probably never see her again.
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