Close Call/shave Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

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. .

close call/shave What does close call/shave mean?	an accident that almost happens but does not happen	I had a close call this morning when the truck almost hit me.
	Some Random Idioms
Wheels fall off What does "Wheels fall off" mean?	When the wheels fall off something, it goes wrong or fails. ('Wheels come off' is an alternative.)
slap (someone or something) down What does "slap (someone or something) down" mean?	to rebuke/reject someone or something	My boss slapped my proposal down soon after the meeting started.
spin (something) off What does "spin (something) off" mean?	to create something as a by-product of something else	The computer company plans to spin off some new products from their original invention.
in earnest What does "in earnest" mean?	sincerely	The young woman has been looking for a job in earnest since she graduated.

shake a leg What does "shake a leg" mean?	to go fast, to hurry	"Please try and shake a leg. We are already late for the concert."
asleep at the switch What does "asleep at the switch" mean?	to not be alert to an opportunity	I think I was asleep at the switch. I did not know that the job was available so I never applied for it.
provided that (something is so) What does "provided that (something is so)" mean?	on the condition that something is so	We plan to go hiking this weekend provided that the weather is nice.
Robert's Rules of Order What does "Robert's Rules of Order" mean?	the official book of guidelines and rules about how to conduct a meeting.	We always use Robert's Rules of Order when we have a meeting.

American Idioms and Expressions

Close Call/shave Idiom