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.
.
fit (someone) out with (something)
What does fit (someone) out with (something) mean? | to provide someone with something | The store helped to fit us out with camping equipment for our holiday.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
turn a blind eye to (someone or something)
What does "turn a blind eye to (someone or something)" mean? | pretend not to see someone or something that may be troublesome | The police often turn a blind eye to people when they cross the street on a red light.
|
|
| |
a bad workman blames his tools
What does "a bad workman blames his tools" mean? | someone blames his tools or the material that he is working with for his own bad work | The carpenter was angry that his saw did not cut well. As often happens, a bad workman blames his tools.
|
Walk a fine line
What does "Walk a fine line" mean? | If you have to walk a fine line, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people or groups that are competing.
('Walk a thin line' is an alternative.) |
|
cash in one's chips
What does "cash in one's chips" mean? | to die, to pass away |
After an honorable and fruitful career the judge cashed in his chips at the age of ninety years old.
|
amount to the same thing
What does "amount to the same thing" mean? | to be the same or have the same effect as something | Going by taxi or bus amounts to the same thing. We are still going to be late for the concert.
|
French
What does "French" mean? | kiss using the tongue |
|
change the subject
What does "change the subject" mean? | to begin talking about something different | I tried to change the subject when my friend began to talk about the money that I owed him.
|
bear (something) out or bear (out) something
What does "bear (something) out or bear (out) something" mean? | to prove that something is right |
Always being late bore out the fact that the man could never continue with one job for a long time.
|
|
| |
Clean as a whistle
What does "Clean as a whistle" mean? | If something is as clean as a whistle, it is extremely clean, spotless. It can also be used to mean 'completely', though this meaning is less common nowadays. If somebody is clean as a whistle, they are not involved in anything illegal. |
|
back the wrong horse
What does "back the wrong horse" mean? | make the wrong choice, support the wrong thing (from horse
racing) | make the wrong choice, support the wrong thing (from horse racing)The students backed the wrong horse in the election for school president and were very surprised at the winner.
|
give (someone) a hand with (something)
What does "give (someone) a hand with (something)" mean? | to help someone with something |
I gave my friend a hand when he moved into his new apartment.
|
get out of (somewhere)
What does "get out of (somewhere)" mean? | to leave somewhere, to escape | I want to hurry and get out of my house so I will not be late for work.
|