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.
.
few and far between
What does few and far between mean? | not many, rare | The gas stations were few and far between on the highway through the mountains.
|
few and far between
What does few and far between mean? | not many, rare, unusual |
The gas stations were few and far between on the mountain highway.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
Not the only pebble on the beach
What does "Not the only pebble on the beach" mean? | If something is not the only pebble on the beach, there are other possibilities or alternatives. |
|
|
| |
sleaze
What does "sleaze" mean? | be promiscuous (sexually); be a slut |
|
first daddy
What does "first daddy" mean? | first sergeant |
|
take (something) with a grain of salt
What does "take (something) with a grain of salt" mean? | to accept or believe something with much doubt, to not give much credit or importance to something that was said | "You should take everything that the supervisor says with a grain of salt because he likes to exaggerate things."
|
open to (something)
What does "open to (something)" mean? | to be agreeable to learn or hear about new ideas or suggestions | Our principal is open to new ideas about how to better meet the needs of students and teachers.
|
a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
What does "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" mean? | what is important is what something or somebody is and not what they are called | "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," is from Romeo and Juliet when Juliet said that although their families had different names and they could not marry, Romeo was still wonderful.
|
|
| |
get out of hand
What does "get out of hand" mean? | become out of control; become badly
managed. | "Your absences are getting out of hand, Bob.You'd better do something quickly to improve the situation if youwant to keep your job."
|
off season
What does "off season" mean? | to be not in the busy time of the year, to be restricted (the hunting of an animal) | It was off season so we got a very cheap rate for the hotel room.
|
not sleep a wink
What does "not sleep a wink" mean? | to not sleep at all | I am tired today because I could not sleep a wink last night.
|
not hold a candle to (someone or something)
What does "not hold a candle to (someone or something)" mean? | to not be nearly as good as someone or something | The new secretary does not hold a candle to the one who just quit.
|
take (someone) by surprise
What does "take (someone) by surprise" mean? | to startle someone, to surprise someone | The sudden resignation of the mayor took everyone by surprise.
|
go wrong
What does "go wrong" mean? | to fail | Things began to go wrong as soon as our camping trip began.
|