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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beat one's brains out
What does beat one's brains out mean? | try very hard to understand or do
something. | "Can you help me with this problem? I've beenbeating my brains out with it,but I just can't solve it."
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Some Random Idioms
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turn belly-up
What does "turn belly-up" mean? | die |
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work one's ass off
What does "work one's ass off" mean? | work very diligently |
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get the eye from (someone)
What does "get the eye from (someone)" mean? | to be looked at by someone in a hostile/unfriendly way | We got the eye from the manager of the restaurant when we entered in our old clothes.
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dog and pony show
What does "dog and pony show" mean? | something that you disapprove of because you think that it has only been organized to impress you (like a dog and pony show in a circus) | We had serious questions about the project but we only got a dog and pony show when we asked for answers from our business partners.
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line of least resistance
What does "line of least resistance" mean? | a course of action that will cause the least trouble or effort | It was the line of least resistance so we moved out of our apartment quickly rather than have problems with the manager that we could never resolve.
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by all appearances
What does "by all appearances" mean? | apparently, according to what one sees | By all appearances the small car was the cause of the accident that killed two people.
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up front
What does "up front" mean? | honest, correct | He was very up front when giving me the information about the new office.
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off balance
What does "off balance" mean? | to be not prepared for something, to be unable to meet the unexpected | I was off balance when my boss asked me to deliver the speech instead of him.
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best bud
What does "best bud" mean? | a close friend |
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a white elephant
What does "a white elephant" mean? | something that is not useful and costs a lot of money to maintain | The airport was a white elephant and nobody liked to use it.
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squeak by (someone or something)
What does "squeak by (someone or something)" mean? | to just barely get by someone or something | I was able to squeak by the deadline and submit my scholarship application on time.
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in the act of (doing something)
What does "in the act of (doing something)" mean? | while doing something | The man was arrested in the act of stealing money from the cash register in the store.
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fit as a fiddle
What does "fit as a fiddle" mean? | to be in good athletic condition or health | My grandfather is 92 years old but he is as fit as a fiddle.
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