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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cut corners
What does cut corners mean? | to economize | We will have to cut corners in order to save money for our holiday.
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cut corners
What does cut corners mean? | to economize, to try to spend less money | We have been forced to economize on expenses during these severe economic times.
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cut corners
What does cut corners mean? | to economize, to try to spend less money |
We have been forced to economize on expenses during these severe economic times.
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cut corners
What does cut corners mean? | to economize, to not spend money |
We will have to cut corners in order to save money for our holiday.
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Some Random Idioms
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waltz off with (something)
What does "waltz off with (something)" mean? | to take, get or win easily | My favorite team waltzed off with the championship last night.
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boys will be boys
What does "boys will be boys" mean? | you should not criticize boys or men for being adventurous or mischievous or noisy because that is how you should expect them to behave | Boys will be boys and the two brothers always come home very dirty.
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Quiet before the Storm
What does "Quiet before the Storm" mean? | When you know that something is about to go horribly wrong, but hasn't just yet, then you are in the quiet before the storm. |
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dead in one's tracks
What does "dead in one's tracks" mean? | to be stopped exactly where someone or something is at the moment |
The police stopped the robber dead in his tracks.
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In over your head
What does "In over your head" mean? | If someone is in over their head, they are out of the depth in something they are involved in, and may end up in a mess. |
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put the heat/squeeze on (someone)
What does "put the heat/squeeze on (someone)" mean? | to put pressure on someone | The hospital is putting the heat on the insurance company to pay them the money.
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four eyes
What does "four eyes" mean? | an expression (often used by children) for someone who is wearing glasses |
The children called their friend with the glasses four eyes.
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Rings a Bell
What does "Rings a Bell" mean? | To sound familiar, to spark a memory. | I don't remember meeting him, but the name John Smith rings a bell.
Bells such as the type used in churches are large and loud. Their sound can be heard from a great distance. Bells sound a single, clear note so their sound is distinctive and not easily confused.
Before electric sirens and amplification systems, bells were a valuable means of signaling people and alerting of important events.
Further, accurate timepieces were not always as available as they are today. Bells were used to signal people of the start of events such as a church session, the start of school, or a celebration. The bells acted as a reminder of the start of the event for people who had an out of synch timepiece or no timepiece.
Someone would literally ring a bell as a reminder.
As an aside bells were later used on clocks to mark the hour. A large clock usually in the town square could be heard throughout the town. This clock acted as a master time reference for the town. The hourly bell ringing gave people an opportunity to synchronize their respective timepieces, and early watches required frequent adjustment. |
drag one`s feet/heels
What does "drag one`s feet/heels" mean? | to act slowly or reluctantly | Our company is dragging their feet in making a decision to hire new workers.
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cut off (something) or cut (something) off
What does "cut off (something) or cut (something) off" mean? | to shorten something by cutting the ends |
The string was too long so I cut off the end.
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owing to (someone or something)
What does "owing to (someone or something)" mean? | because of someone or something | Owing to the bad weather many airplane flights were recently canceled.
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