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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big gun
What does big gun mean? | a powerful or important person. | This isn't working. It's time to bring in the big guns.
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Some Random Idioms
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to be psyched out
What does "to be psyched out" mean? | to be confused and disoriented | The young man was totally psyched out when the robber entered his apartment.
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fill the bill
What does "fill the bill" mean? | to be just what is needed | The new machine should fill the bill for what we need to finish the job.
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ream out
What does "ream out" mean? | scold or berate somebody |
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Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched
What does "Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched" mean? | Don't be overconfident and assume success before
you know the outcome of a venture. | In the midst of this daydream, she did toss her curls, sending the pail of milk spilling. The moral of the fable is: Such are the disappointments of those who count their chickens before they are hatched.
This proverb's use in English began in the second half of the sixteenth century, but its origins are in Aesop's Fables, written in the sixth century B.C. "The Milkmaid and the Pail" is a fable about a young girl on her way home, carrying her pail of milk on top of her head.
She was daydreaming about what she would do with the milk, starting with making cream and butter to sell. Then, she could buy eggs with that money, and the eggs would hatch into chickens. They would lay more eggs, and the process would continue, growing more and more profitable. Later on, she could sell some of the birds and buy herself a dress, drawing attention of the young men in the town. When they took notice, her plan was to ignore their advances wit a toss of her curls. |
as usual
What does "as usual" mean? | most of the time, following the usual pattern | As usual, the girl forgot to bring her book to class.
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conk out
What does "conk out" mean? | to fall asleep quickly and with great fatigue |
After we returned from the hike, I immediately conked out in front of the TV.
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gangsta
What does "gangsta" mean? | member of a gang |
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lid
What does "lid" mean? | eyelid |
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bet one's bottom dollar
What does "bet one's bottom dollar" mean? | to be very certain about something | I would bet my bottom dollar that my friend will be late for the movie.
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scruffy
What does "scruffy" mean? | dirty; unkempt. | Who you calling scruffy looking?
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smile from ear to ear
What does "smile from ear to ear" mean? | to have a big smile on one's face |
The little boy was smiling from ear to ear after he scored the goal.
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