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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engage in (something)
What does engage in (something) mean? | to be busy with something, to be occupied with something |
The man is engaged in a new project.
The woman was engaged in a long conversation.
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Some Random Idioms
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Cash in your chips
What does "Cash in your chips" mean? | If you cash in your chips, you sell something to get what profit you can because you think its value is going to fall. It can also mean 'to die'. |
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Red light district
What does "Red light district" mean? | The red light district is the area of a town or city where there is prostitution, sex shops, etc. |
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hold all the cards
What does "hold all the cards" mean? | to be in a strong or advantageous position (like a winning hand of cards in a card game) |
The company held all the cards when the union members decided to go on strike to achieve their goals.
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break down (something) or break (something) down
What does "break down (something) or break (something) down" mean? | to explain something to someone in simple terms |
My teacher broke down the scientific theory so that the class could understand it easily.
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know (something) in one's bones
What does "know (something) in one's bones" mean? | to know and sense something, to have an intuition about something |
I know it in my bones that I am not going to pass my English exam.
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common ground
What does "common ground" mean? | shared beliefs or interests | There was no common ground between the two sides and the negotiations did not go well.
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back out (of something)
What does "back out (of something)" mean? | to get out of an agreement, to fail to keep a promise | The property developer backed out of the plan to build the new city hall.
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Open old sores
What does "Open old sores" mean? | When a sore is almost healed, and if a person rips or tears it open, it is way of preventing the healing process and further aggravating the pain. This phrase, metaphorically suggests, to revive or reopen a quarrel or enmity which was almost forgotten. |
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do in (someone)
What does "do in (someone)" mean? | to make someone tired, to exhaust someone | I was done in by the time that I finished the marathon.
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best part of (something)
What does "best part of (something)" mean? | to be almost all of something |
We spent the best part of a day trying to fix the lamp.
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Breathe down your neck
What does "Breathe down your neck" mean? | If someone follows you or examines what you're doing very closely, they are breathing down your neck. |
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bend (someone's) ear
What does "bend (someone's) ear" mean? | to talk to someone (maybe annoyingly) | I did not want to go into my supervisor's office and have him bend my ear for a long time.
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