American Idioms and Expressions

Get One's Start Idiom

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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get one's start
What does get one's start mean?
to receive the first major opportunity of one's careerThe newspaper owner got his start by selling papers when he was a child.

Some Random Idioms
put our/your heads together
What does "put our/your heads together" mean?
to confer about something, to discuss somethingWe put our heads together to think of a new name for the football team.
force someone's hand
What does "force someone's hand" mean?
make someone do something that they don't want to do at that time make someone do something that they don't want to do at that timeThe man threatened to quit his job so the company decided to force his hand and make him either continue or quit.
drop a hint
What does "drop a hint" mean?
to casually make a hint or suggestion about something The clerk dropped a hint that he wanted to transfer to a new department.

come to
What does "come to" mean?
to regain consciousnessThe woman came to a few hours after the accident.
cheek by jowl
What does "cheek by jowl" mean?
side by side, close togetherThe boxes were placed in the room cheek by jowl and nothing else could fit in.
go to the dogs
What does "go to the dogs" mean?
to deteriorate, to become bad Many things in our city have gone to the dogs during the last ten years.

catch (someone) napping
What does "catch (someone) napping" mean?
to find someone asleep, to find someone unprepared for somethingThe boss caught the employee napping and became very angry.
leap to conclusions
What does "leap to conclusions" mean?
decide something without having all the factsOur teacher leaped to conclusions when she accused the boy of breaking the window.
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.

also-ran
What does "also-ran" mean?
somebody or something that performs poorly in a race or other competition. He's just another also-ran in this election. No chance of winning.
right and left
What does "right and left" mean?
on both sides, on all sides, everywhereThe child looked right and left before he crossed the road.

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