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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bail out (of something)
What does bail out (of something) mean? | to abandon a situation, to jump out of an airplane | The plan to buy a summer home with our friends was becoming too expensive so we decided to bail out.
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Some Random Idioms
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smell a rat
What does "smell a rat" mean? | to be suspicious, to feel that something is wrong | I smell a rat. There is something wrong with the offer of a free credit card.
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wack off
What does "wack off" mean? | masturbate (said of men) |
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well-heeled
What does "well-heeled" mean? | rich | He seems rather well-heeled and is always wearing expensive clothes and driving a nice car.
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keep the wolf from the door
What does "keep the wolf from the door" mean? | to earn enough money to maintain oneself at a minimal level of existence | The job does not pay very well but it is enough to keep the wolf from the door.
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a sight for sore eyes
What does "a sight for sore eyes" mean? | a welcome sight | The man was a sight for sore eyes when he came home from his trip.
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a snap
What does "a snap" mean? | something that's very easy to do. | A: "Is your job difficult?"B: "No, actually it's a snap. In fact, it's so easy that it'sa little bit boring."
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have a brush with (the law or something)
What does "have a brush with (the law or something)" mean? | have a brief experience with the law or something | I had a brush with the law when my car was stopped for speeding.
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see things
What does "see things" mean? | to imagine sights that are not real, to think that one sees something that is not there | He is always daydreaming and imagining that he is seeing things.
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meat and potatoes
What does "meat and potatoes" mean? | basic simple and good food, simple tastes | The man is a meat-and-potatoes person who enjoys the simple pleasures of life.
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get back to (someone)
What does "get back to (someone)" mean? | to communicate something to someone at a later time, to contact someone later | We were very careful that our complaints did not get back to the school principal.
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carrot and stick
What does "carrot and stick" mean? | the reward for someone if they do what you want or the punishment if they do not do what you want | The government took a carrot-and-stick approach to remove the people who were protesting against the construction of the dam.
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chilled to the bone
What does "chilled to the bone" mean? | very cold | I was chilled to the bone when I came in out of the rain.
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small-time
What does "small-time" mean? | small, on a small scale | The man is a small-time criminal and is always involved in some kind of trouble.
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goofus
What does "goofus" mean? | dumb, oafish person |
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