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.
.
get a slap on the wrist
What does get a slap on the wrist mean? | to receive a light punishment for doing something wrong | The judge gave the boy a slap on the wrist and decided not to punish him severely for his crime.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
come to light
What does "come to light" mean? | to be discovered, to become known | It has come to light that the company recently lost millions of dollars.
|
|
| |
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. |
|
curly
What does "curly" mean? | a bald man (used as a nickname at times) |
|
con man
What does "con man" mean? | swindler; someone who deceives people out of money |
|
out of hand
What does "out of hand" mean? | to be uncontrollable/wild | The party got out of hand and we had to call the police to quiet things.
|
not have a pot to piss in
What does "not have a pot to piss in" mean? |
idiom. be very poor; have no money or resources. | He hasn't got a pot to piss in, so don't ask him for money.
|
(have) what it takes
What does "(have) what it takes" mean? | (have) ability for a job, (have) courage | He really has what it takes to be a success at his job.
|
|
| |
No ifs or buts
What does "No ifs or buts" mean? | Ifs and Buts is a term used to describe the reasons people give for not wanting to do something. To show that you don't wish to accept any excuses, you can tell somebody that you wish to hear no ifs or buts Here IF & BUT have become nouns |
|
bun in the oven
What does "bun in the oven" mean? |
idiom. pregnant. | She's got another bun in the over, you know.
|
sob story
What does "sob story" mean? | a story that makes one feel pity or sorrow | My sister told me a sob story about how she had lost her job.
|
spill one's guts
What does "spill one's guts" mean? | confess; reveal everything |
|
save (someone`s) neck/skin
What does "save (someone`s) neck/skin" mean? | save someone from danger/trouble/embarrassment | The worker tried to save his own neck without thinking of any other people.
|
catch up to (someone or something)
What does "catch up to (someone or something)" mean? | move fast or work hard to reach someone or something that is ahead of you | After my illness I had to study very hard to catch up to the rest of the class.
|