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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cast one's lot in with (someone)
What does cast one's lot in with (someone) mean? | to join with someone and accept whatever happens - good or bad |
The woman cast her lot in with the new company and worked hard to make it a success.
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Some Random Idioms
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Get the axe
What does "Get the axe" mean? | If you get the axe, you lose your job. ('Get the ax' is the American spelling.) |
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from the bottom of one`s heart
What does "from the bottom of one`s heart" mean? | with great feeling, sincerely |
I thanked the doctor from the bottom of my heart for helping my daughter when she was sick.
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cash on the barrelhead
What does " cash on the barrelhead" mean? | to pay cash to buy something |
We were forced to pay cash on the barrelhead for everything at the store.
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Cooking with gas
What does "Cooking with gas" mean? | To be working fast, proceeding rapidly. | After working with those old hand tools, power tools will make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.
Although common place today, gas stoves have not always been the norm. Gas stoves started to be available in the 1800's, and until that time wood stoves were the standard.
Now you're "cooking with gas" comes from an old advertisement for gas stoves. The phrase suggests that gas is faster, easier, cleaner, better than cooking with wood. |
lower the boom on (someone)
What does "lower the boom on (someone)" mean? | scold or punish someone severely | Our teacher lowered the boom on the students who were late with their homework.
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a bad workman blames his tools
What does "a bad workman blames his tools" mean? | someone blames his tools or the material that he is working with for his own bad work | The carpenter was angry that his saw did not cut well. As often happens, a bad workman blames his tools.
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head over heels
What does "head over heels" mean? | upside down, head first | The little boy fell head over heels down the steep hill.
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From pillar to post
What does "From pillar to post" mean? | If something is going from pillar to post, it is moving around in a meaningless way, from one disaster to another. |
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make it as far as
What does "make it as far as" mean? | travel as far as somewhere, endure something until you must stop | We made it as far as the city limits before our car began to have problems.
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armed and dangerous
What does "armed and dangerous" mean? | to have a weapon that may be used (usually used for a criminal) |
The criminal was armed and dangerous when the police arrested him.
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have a one-track mind
What does "have a one-track mind" mean? | think only about one thing | My friend has a one-track mind and he is only interested in making money.
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