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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go to (someone`s) head
What does go to (someone`s) head mean? | to make someone too proud, to make a person think that he or she is too important | The man's new job has gone to his head and he thinks that he is better than everyone else.
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Some Random Idioms
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with open arms
What does "with open arms" mean? | warmly, eagerly, happily |
The author was welcomed with open arms when he came to visit the city.
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fuck (something) up
What does "fuck (something) up" mean? | damage or mangle something. | I totally fucked up the test.
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the best-laid plans of mice and men
What does "the best-laid plans of mice and men" mean? | the best thought-out plans that anyone can make |
The best-laid plans of mice and men could not prevent our travel problems.
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take effect
What does "take effect" mean? | to become legally operative, to begin | The new traffic laws took effect early last month.
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In the country of the BLIND, the ONE-EYED man is KING
What does "In the country of the BLIND, the ONE-EYED man is KING" mean? | A man of even limited ability is at a great advantage in
the company of those less able. | It doesn't matter if you don't completely understand how the Internet works! You know more than anyone else here. So, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
An English proverb cited by John Ray in 1678 tells us that "a man were better be half blind than have both eyes out." Not only would he be able to avoid the ditch (fallen into by the blind leading the blind), he might find himself in a position if leadership. "In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" is quoted in Erasmus' "Adagia," in 1536. We also see it in John Palsgrave's translation of the "Comedy of Acolastus." In 1522, in his "Why Come Yet Not to Court?" John Skelton tells us that: "an one eyed man is Well sighted when is is amonge blynde men." |
pay the piper
What does "pay the piper" mean? | to face the results of one's actions | The city government was forced to pay the piper after many years of bad management.
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spread oneself too thin
What does "spread oneself too thin" mean? | to try to do too many things at one time | My sister has been spreading herself too thin lately and is not accomplishing very much of anything.
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down for the count
What does "down for the count" mean? | to be finished for now |
The boxer was down for the count but everybody expected him to stand up and fight again.
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a law unto oneself
What does "a law unto oneself" mean? | someone who makes his or her own laws or rules | The manager was a law unto herself and thought that she could do whatever she liked.
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feed one's face
What does "feed one's face" mean? | to eat | I stopped at a small restaurant to feed my face.
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give (someone) a piece of one's mind
What does "give (someone) a piece of one's mind" mean? | to scold or become angry with someone | When I met my friend yesterday, I gave her a piece of my mind.
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from hand to hand
What does "from hand to hand" mean? | from one person to another person and then to another |
We passed the papers from hand to hand until they were all distributed.
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