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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hammer out (something)
What does hammer out (something) mean? | work something out by discussion and debate | The union and managers were able to hammer out an agreement before midnight last night.
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Some Random Idioms
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like one of the family
What does "like one of the family" mean? | as if someone were a member of one's family | My sister's friend is like one of the family and we invite her to come with us wherever we go.
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clean slate
What does "clean slate" mean? | a record that shows no bad behavior or other problems or past bad acts | The man started off with a clean slate after he lost his previous job.
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do the trick
What does "do the trick" mean? | to work well, to achieve a good or desired result | I think that the new piece of equipment should do the trick and solve our problem.
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far from it
What does "far from it" mean? | not at all | "Far from it," I answered when the supervisor asked me if I was finished my work.
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absence makes the heart grow fonder
What does "absence makes the heart grow fonder" mean? | being away from someone makes you like him or her even more | being away from someone makes you like him or her even moreAbsence makes the heart grow fonder and when the young man went away to university he missed his girlfriend even more.
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know better (than to do something)
What does "know better (than to do something)" mean? | be smart enough not to do something | I told my friend that she should know better than to phone me at 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning.
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out of one's league
What does "out of one's league" mean? | not equal to or in the same class as someone (a league is a
group of sports teams that compete against each other) | not equal to or in the same class as someone (a league is a group of sports teams that compete against each other)The artist was totally out of his league when he went to Paris and tried to enter the art world.
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hold water
What does "hold water" mean? | be a sound idea | His proposal for a new work scheduling system doesn`t hold water.
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Back handed compliment
What does "Back handed compliment" mean? | A compliment that also insults or puts down at the
same time. | They gave me a backhanded compliment when they said I was smart for a girl.
Back-handed is synonymous with left-handed. For example in tennis, a backhand stroke is a strike by a right-handed player from the left side of the body.
The left side of the body has always been deemed sinister. The Latin word for left is sinister. Hence, back-handed means round-about, indirect, or devious. |
crap
What does "crap" mean? | dung; feces; shit. | Damn, there's bird crap on my car again.
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have (something) in mind
What does "have (something) in mind" mean? | to be thinking of something in particular, to have an idea in your mind | "What do you have in mind for the meeting next week?"
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after hours
What does "after hours" mean? | after the regular closing or finishing time | The library has a place to leave books after hours.
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keep one's place
What does "keep one's place" mean? | exhibit behavior suitable to one's position/place in life | I was told to keep my place when I began to complain about the food in the school cafeteria.
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trials and tribulations
What does "trials and tribulations" mean? | problems and tests of one's courage and perseverance | My aunt has gone through many trials and tribulations in her life.
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