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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can't do anything with (someone or something)
What does can't do anything with (someone or something) mean? | to be unable to manage or control someone or something |
My sister is always complaining that she can't do anything with her hair.
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Some Random Idioms
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daft
What does "daft" mean? | foolish; silly |
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horse around
What does "horse around" mean? | to play around (in a rough way) |
The teacher told the children not to horse around while they were getting ready for class.
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make (someone's) head spin/swim
What does "make (someone's) head spin/swim" mean? | to confuse or overwhelm someone, to make someone dizzy | The speed of the day's events made my head spin.
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bumpee
What does "bumpee" mean? | person who has been removed from a commercial flight due to overbooking |
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a slice of the cake
What does "a slice of the cake" mean? | a share of something (money etc.) |
The government wants a slice of the cake from the new casinos.
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Cut your losses
What does "Cut your losses" mean? | If you cut your losses, you avoid losing any more money than you already have by getting out of a situation before matters worsen. |
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leak out (something)
What does "leak out (something)" mean? | disclose special/secret information to the press | The information about the illegal donations were leaked out to the press.
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LP
What does "LP" mean? | Long-Playing Record | Long-Playing RecordI recently decided to give all of my old LPs to a charity.
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One Red Cent
What does "One Red Cent" mean? | A single symbolic penny. | I refuse to pay even one red cent for the work until you complete the whole job.
The "Red" refers to both the color of a penny (one cent) and the image that used to be on the penny, an American Indian head. Redskin is a slang term used for American Indians.
Before today's Lincoln penny was the Indian Head penny.
The Indian Head penny was first issued in 1859 and looks just like that as issued in 1908 (before the Lincoln Cent). The only difference was that those from 1859-1864 were of a different copper-nickel alloy while 1864 started the common bronze, which was used until 1982. (You didn't know it changed then, did you?)
The copper-nickel alloy has a reddish tint, which turns redder with time and skin oil.
Before the Indian Head penny was the "Buzzard Cent", as the One Cent coins in 1856-1858 were called. The flying eagle on the coin was damned as an ugly bird and it wasn't popular.
However, it was the first "small cent" using about the same size as our penny today. In the half century before this, One Cent coins were about the size of today's Half Dollar! |
in black and white
What does "in black and white" mean? | in writing, officially | I put down my complaint in black and white.
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cheek by jowl
What does "cheek by jowl" mean? | side by side, in close intimacy | The fans entered the stadium cheek by jowl.
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