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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elbow grease
What does elbow grease mean? | hard work; effort. | "Yes, the car is pretty dirty, but it'll looknice again with a little elbow grease."
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Some Random Idioms
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take out a loan
What does "take out a loan" mean? | to get a loan of money | I had to take out a loan to buy the car.
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born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
What does "born with a silver spoon in one's mouth" mean? | to be born to a wealthy family with many advantages | The boy was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and he never has to work very hard.
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Honest truth
What does "Honest truth" mean? | If someone claims that something is the honest truth, they wish to sound extra-sincere about something. |
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kick in (some money or something)
What does "kick in (some money or something)" mean? | contribute some money for something | Everybody kicked in to collect some money for a present for our teacher.
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Over-egg the pudding
What does "Over-egg the pudding" mean? | (UK) If you over-egg the pudding, you spoil something by trying to improve it excessively. It is also used nowadays with the meaning of making something look bigger or more important than it really is. ('Over-egg' alone is often used in this sense.) |
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have a keen interest in (someone or something)
What does "have a keen interest in (someone or something)" mean? | be very interested in someone or something | I have always had a keen interest in hiking and camping.
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run a meeting
What does "run a meeting" mean? | to conduct a meeting | My boss is not able to run a meeting very well.
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come clean (with someone/about something)
What does "come clean (with someone/about something)" mean? | be completely honest with someone or confess something to someone | The man decided to come clean with the police and he confessed everything about the crime.
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play into (someone's) hands
What does "play into (someone's) hands" mean? | to do something that another person can use against you | Our manager played into the hands of the other side during the meeting when he became angry.
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make one`s bed and lie in it
What does "make one`s bed and lie in it" mean? | be responsible for what you have done and accept the results of your actions | "You quit your job and now you have no money. You made your bed and now you must lie in it."
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not for hire
What does "not for hire" mean? | (a taxi is) not available to take new passengers | The first taxi was not for hire so we had to wait for another one.
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smoke (someone or something) out
What does "smoke (someone or something) out" mean? | to force someone or something out with smoke | We smoked the rats out of their nests with the black smoke.
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number two
What does "number two" mean? | defacation (used mostly by and about children).
2. Dad, I did a number two by myself. |
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