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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bring (someone) to
What does bring (someone) to mean? | to wake someone up, to bring someone to consciousness | The medical doctor tried to bring the small boy to after he fell into the swimming pool.
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bring (someone) to
What does bring (someone) to mean? | to restore someone to consciousness from sleep/anesthesia/hypnosis/fainting | We tried hard to bring the woman to after the car accident.
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Some Random Idioms
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Get lost!
What does "Get lost!" mean? | Go away! | The girl told her brother to get lost so she could finish doing her homework.
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feel the pinch
What does "feel the pinch" mean? | to have problems caused by having too little money |
The family is beginning to feel the pinch since the husband lost his job.
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Toe the line
What does "Toe the line" mean? | Follow the group, don't disagree, do what others are
doing. | Your lifestyle has gone on for too long. It is time for you to toe the line - get a wife, a job, some kids, and be miserable just like everyone else.
Many mistakenly think the phrase is "tow the line", thus obscuring the meaning.
This term comes from military line-ups for inspection. Soldiers are expected to line up, that is put their toes on a line, and submit to the inspection. |
wacked out
What does "wacked out" mean? | drunk; intoxicated |
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risk one's neck to (do something)
What does "risk one's neck to (do something)" mean? | to risk physical harm in order to do something | I risked my neck in order to rescue the cat that was on the roof.
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draw up (something)
What does "draw up (something)" mean? | to put something in writing | They were able to draw up the contract while we were waiting.
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Grasp the nettle
What does "Grasp the nettle" mean? | (UK) If you grasp the nettle, you deal bravely with a problem. |
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read (someone's) mind
What does "read (someone's) mind" mean? | to guess what someone is thinking | It is very difficult to read the mind of my boss and know what she wants me to do.
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set (someone) back
What does "set (someone) back" mean? | to cost someone | "How much did your new suit set you back?"
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take place
What does "take place" mean? | to happen, to occur | The soccer game took place on the coldest day of the year.
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