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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Down to the wire
What does Down to the wire mean? | Undecided until the end, at the last minute | We almost missed our flight, it came right down to the wire. The traffic on the way to the airport was horrible and we had to run to our gate.
This phrase refers to races where the winner is determined by whoever crosses the finish line first. Think of horse racing and foot races. A string is stretched across the finish to help the judges see clearly who crosses first in a close race. That string is called the wire or tape, the winner is the one who breaks the wire first.
The "wire" is actually string, tape, or paper and not a metal wire at all. No need to be concerned about those horses tripping and getting themselves caught in the wire. |
down to the wire
What does down to the wire mean? | to be nearing a deadline, to be running out of time | We went down to the wire but we were able to finish the job on time.
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down to the wire
What does down to the wire mean? | near a deadline, with little time remaining | They were down to the wire but the two sides finally agreed to a new contract.
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down to the wire
What does down to the wire mean? | at the very last minute (from the wire at the end of a horse
race) | at the very last minute (from the wire at the end of a horse race)The election went down to the wire but in the end the President was re-elected to another term in office.
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down to the wire
What does down to the wire mean? | at the very last moment, very close to the time when something is due (from the wire at the end of a horse race) |
The election went down to the wire but the candidate was re-elected to another term in office.
We went down to the wire but we were able to finish the project on time.
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down to the wire
What does down to the wire mean? | near a deadline, with little time remaining |
They went down to the wire but the two sides finally agreed to a new contract.
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down to the wire
What does down to the wire mean? | at the very last moment, very close to the time when something is due (from the wire at the end of a horse race) |
The election went down to the wire but the candidate was re-elected to another term in office.
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Some Random Idioms
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look (someone) in the eye/face
What does "look (someone) in the eye/face" mean? | face someone directly | I looked the man in the eye when I asked him to move his car out of my way.
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by a whisker
What does "by a whisker" mean? | just barely, by a very small amount |
The marathon runner won the race by a whisker.
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Scraping the barrel
What does "Scraping the barrel" mean? | When all the best people, things or ideas and so on are used up and people try to make do with what they have left, they are scraping the barrel. |
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How long is a piece of string
What does "How long is a piece of string" mean? | If someone has no idea of the answer to a question, they can ask 'How long is a piece of string?' as a way of indicating their ignorance. |
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Fair crack of the whip
What does "Fair crack of the whip" mean? | (UK) If everybody has a fair crack of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something. |
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take a new turn
What does "take a new turn" mean? | to begin a new course or direction | The campaign to clean up the river took a new turn when the large electricity company joined in the campaign.
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learn (something) by rote
What does "learn (something) by rote" mean? | to learn or memorize something without thinking about it |
We learned many verbs by rote in the foreign language class.
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draw a blank
What does "draw a blank" mean? | get no response from someone when you ask them a question | The teacher drew a blank when she asked about the boy's plans for the weekend.
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trash
What does "trash" mean? | discard; throw away; get rid of |
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down the drain
What does "down the drain" mean? | to be wasted or lost | My uncle is throwing money down the drain when he goes to the horse races.
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better safe than sorry
What does "better safe than sorry" mean? | it is better to be careful than to take risks |
Better safe than sorry so I always leave early when I go to the airport.
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deadbeat
What does "deadbeat" mean? | a person who never pays his debts |
There is a new government policy to penalize deadbeat fathers.
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