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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back the wrong horse
What does back the wrong horse mean? | to support someone or something that cannot win or succeed | We backed the wrong horse in the election and our candidate lost badly.
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back the wrong horse
What does back the wrong horse mean? | to support someone or something that cannot or does not win or succeed | We backed the wrong horse when we supported the new candidate for mayor.
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back the wrong horse
What does back the wrong horse mean? | make the wrong choice, support the wrong thing (from horse
racing) | make the wrong choice, support the wrong thing (from horse racing)The students backed the wrong horse in the election for school president and were very surprised at the winner.
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back the wrong horse
What does back the wrong horse mean? | to support someone or something that cannot or does not win or succeed |
We backed the wrong horse when we supported the candidate for mayor.
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back the wrong horse
What does back the wrong horse mean? | to support someone or something that cannot win or succeed |
We backed the wrong horse in the election and our candidate lost badly.
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back the wrong horse
What does back the wrong horse mean? | to make the wrong choice, to support the wrong thing (from horse
racing) | We backed the wrong horse in the school election and we were very surprised at the winner.
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Some Random Idioms
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judge (someone or something) on its/their own merit(s)
What does "judge (someone or something) on its/their own merit(s)" mean? | judge or evaluate someone or something on their own achievements and virtues | We judged the man on his own merits and not by what other people were saying about him.
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as free as a bird
What does "as free as a bird" mean? | carefree, completely free | I was as free as a bird after I finished my last school exam.
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have a stroke
What does "have a stroke" mean? | to suddenly become (partially or totally) paralyzed because of an interruption in the blood supply to the brain | The truck driver had a stroke just before the accident on the highway.
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from the heart
What does "from the heart" mean? | sincerely, honestly | The speech by the politician was right from the heart.
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bend (someone's) ear
What does "bend (someone's) ear" mean? | to talk to someone (maybe annoyingly) | I did not want to go into my supervisor's office and have him bend my ear for a long time.
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sleep on (something)
What does "sleep on (something)" mean? | to think about something, to consider something, to decide something later | "I will sleep on the proposal tonight and I will give you an answer tomorrow."
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let sleeping dogs lie
What does "let sleeping dogs lie" mean? | do not make trouble if you do not have to |
You should let sleeping dogs lie and not ask our boss about the dispute.
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budget crunch/squeeze
What does "budget crunch/squeeze" mean? | a situation where there is not enough money in the budget | There is a severe budget squeeze at our company and we must stop wasting money.
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on second thought
What does "on second thought" mean? | after having reconsidered something | On second thought I do not think that I will go to a movie tomorrow.
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make a scene
What does "make a scene" mean? | make a public display or disturbance | The woman made a scene in the supermarket when she saw the liquid soap on the floor.
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leave (someone) for dead
What does "leave (someone) for dead" mean? | abandon someone as being dead | The hiker was left for dead when the rescue group could find no indication of where he was.
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live and let live
What does "live and let live" mean? | not interfere with other people's business or preferences | Our neighbor believes that one should live and let live and she never complains or criticizes other people who live around her.
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