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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call it a day/night
What does call it a day/night mean? | to quit work and go home | I called it a day and decided to go home early.
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Some Random Idioms
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Do their dirty work
What does "Do their dirty work" mean? | Someone who does someone's dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn't want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a 'henchman'. |
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tie up (someone)
What does "tie up (someone)" mean? | to take all the time of someone | The meeting tied up the manager so she was unable to answer the phone.
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stand up (someone)
What does "stand up (someone)" mean? | to fail to keep an appointment or date with someone (usually used for a date with a boyfriend or girlfriend) | The boy stood the girl up on a date last Saturday and now she will not talk to him.
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swear on a stack of bibles
What does "swear on a stack of bibles" mean? | pledge to tell the truth about something (in a court of law someone may swear to tell the truth by placing his or her hand on a bible or other religious text) | The man swore on a stack of bibles that he had never seen the accused criminal before.
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Clean sheet
What does "Clean sheet" mean? | When someone has a clean sheet, they have got no criminal record or problems affecting their reputation.
In football and other sports, a goalkeeper has a clean sheet when let no goals in. |
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Go south
What does "Go south" mean? | If things go south, they get worse or go wrong. |
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Mad as a badger
What does "Mad as a badger" mean? | If someone is as mad as a badger, they are crazy. |
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early to bed, early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise
What does "early to bed, early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise" mean? | going to bed early is good for you | going to bed early is good for youEarly to bed, early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise was the advice that my grandmother gave me.
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gofer
What does "gofer" mean? | somebody whose job is to fetch or bring trivial items to more important people |
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on location
What does "on location" mean? | a movie being filmed in a location away from the movie studio | The movie was filmed on location in the mountains.
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F-ing
What does "F-ing" mean? | fucking |
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