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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fish in troubled waters
What does fish in troubled waters mean? | to involve oneself in a difficult or dangerous situation in order to gain an advantage | The politician was fishing in troubled waters in order to gather information related to the scandal.
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fish in troubled waters
What does fish in troubled waters mean? | to involve oneself in a difficult/confused or dangerous situation in order to get something | The woman was fishing in troubled waters when she began to ask questions about the crime.
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fish in troubled waters
What does fish in troubled waters mean? | to involve oneself in a difficult or confused or dangerous situation in order to get something |
The woman was fishing in troubled waters when she began to ask questions about the crime.
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fish in troubled waters
What does fish in troubled waters mean? | to involve oneself in a difficult or dangerous situation in order to gain an advantage |
The politician was fishing in troubled waters in order to gather information about the scandal.
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Some Random Idioms
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Hangdog expression
What does "Hangdog expression" mean? | A hangdog expression is one where the person's showing their emotions very clearly, maybe a little too clearly for your liking. It's that mixture of misery and self-pity that is similar to a dog when it's trying to get something it wants but daren't take without permission. |
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Discerning eye
What does "Discerning eye" mean? | If a person has a discerning eye, they are particularly good at judging the quality of something. |
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pull one's punches
What does "pull one's punches" mean? | to hold back in one's criticism, for a boxer to hit with light punches | The manager was not pulling his punches when he began to criticize his workers.
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homey
What does "homey" mean? | good friend. | My homies all think I look good in black.
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bore (someone) stiff/to death
What does "bore (someone) stiff/to death" mean? | to bore someone very much | Most of the guests at the wedding were bored stiff with the long speeches.
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set one's sights on (something)
What does "set one's sights on (something)" mean? | to select something as one's goal | The local politician has set his sights on being elected to a higher office.
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hustler
What does "hustler" mean? | swindler; someone who deceives people out of money |
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with flying colors
What does "with flying colors" mean? | with great or total success | My friend passed the course with flying colors and she now wants to go out and celebrate.
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all thumbs
What does "all thumbs" mean? | to be awkward and clumsy, a difficulty in fixing things or working with one's hands |
The man is all thumbs and he can never fix something without making it worse.
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prima facie
What does "prima facie" mean? | "at first view" (from Latin), someting is assumed to be true in the absence of evidence to the contrary | Prima facie it appeared that the man had enough evidence to take legal action against his employer.
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a play-by-play description
What does "a play-by-play description" mean? | a description of an event as it is taking place | The announcer gave a play-by-play description of the championship game.
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