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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chown down
What does chown down mean? | eat; have a meal |
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Some Random Idioms
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wicked
What does "wicked" mean? | impressive; good; excellent |
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Pup's chance
What does "Pup's chance" mean? | A pup's chance is no chance. |
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have rocks in one`s head
What does "have rocks in one`s head" mean? | be stupid, not have good judgement | She has rocks in her head. She should never have bought that old car.
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he who laughs last, laughs longest
What does "he who laughs last, laughs longest" mean? | the person who is successful in doing something last will have the most enjoyment or success | the person who is successful in doing something last will have the most enjoyment or successEverybody thought that the boy would not get the job because he was too young. However, he who laughs last laughs longest and in fact he got the job easily.
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Walk on eggshells
What does "Walk on eggshells" mean? | If you have to walk on eggshells when with someone, you have to be very careful because they get angry or offended very easily.('Walk on eggs' is also used.) |
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Many a True Word is spoken in Jest.
What does "Many a True Word is spoken in Jest." mean? | A humorous, joking remark may hide a profound
insight or a serious criticism. An unintended comment may turn out to be true. | "You know Shirley, you might as well rub those cinnamon rolls directly on to your hips. That is where they're going to end up anyway." "Well Fred, many a true word is spoken in jest, but my hips are really none of your business."
In trying to be funny many people will relay on sarcasm. The most poignant (and often cutting, or hurtful) sarcasm is founded in truth. It is often determental to a relationship to pick on someone in front of others even if you are basically telling the truth. Conversely, if you are being picked on in jest, you can often get a true picture of how others view you and know then what to work on. The meaning behind this saying was used as early as in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," in which the cook says, "A man may seye full soothe in game and pley." Later, at the end of the sixteenth century, a Scottish saying was, "There are many sooth words spoken in bourding," and both French and Italian have equivalent sayings. |
Third rail
What does "Third rail" mean? | The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train. |
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make the cut
What does "make the cut" mean? | meet or come up to a required standard (from golf where a
player must do equal or better than a certain score to continue) | meet or come up to a required standard (from golf where a player must do equal or better than a certain score to continue)The young player did not make the cut and was unable to join the team that year.
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It takes a village to raise a child
What does "It takes a village to raise a child" mean? | It takes many people to teach a child all that he or she should know. |
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strike a happy medium
What does "strike a happy medium" mean? | to find a compromise position | The manager always tries to strike a happy medium between being professional and being friendly to the staff.
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