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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hang back
What does hang back mean? | stay some distance behind or away, hesitate or be unwilling to do something | He lacks self-confidence and always hangs back when his boss asks for volunteers.
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hang back
What does hang back mean? | to stay some distance behind someone or away from someone, to hesitate or be unwilling to do something |
The man always hangs back when his boss asks for volunteers.
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Some Random Idioms
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ready, willing, and able
What does "ready, willing, and able" mean? | to be eager or willing to do something | Everybody in the small village is ready, willing, and able to help the family who lost their house in the fire.
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a whale of (something)
What does "a whale of (something)" mean? | an exceptionally good or large something |
Everybody had a whale of a time at the birthday party.
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have/has ('ve/'s) got
What does "have/has ('ve/'s) got" mean? | have/has. | "John's got a son whose name is Benjamin and adaughter whose name is Shannon."
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Crossing the Rubicon
What does "Crossing the Rubicon" mean? | When a decisive and irrevocable step has been taken.
To commit to a given course of action that permits no return is to cross the Rubicon. | Paul knew he had passed the Rubicon when he wrote the deposit check for the hall for the wedding reception.
The actual Rubicon is a river in Northern Italy that flows into the Adriatic Sea. It is 15 miles (24 kilometers) long. The river is renowned because Julius Caesar prompted a three year civil war when he crossed this river in 49 B.C. to march against Pompey. Julius knew that "crossing the Rubicon" with his army in tact would be considered an act of aggression.
Using the word Rubicon as a figurative boundary, limiting action was first seen in the 1600s. |
off-the-cuff
What does "off-the-cuff" mean? | without preparation | Our boss made a great off-the-cuff speech at the party last night.
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good old days
What does "good old days" mean? | earlier times which everyone remembers as being better than the present | In the good old days people could buy a house easier than today.
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get busy
What does "get busy" mean? | to become busy |
My friend is getting busy recently and I have no time to meet him.
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creature comforts
What does "creature comforts" mean? | things that make people comfortable | We had no creature comforts during our trip to South America.
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bring home the bacon
What does "bring home the bacon" mean? | to work and earn money for your family | My friend is bringing home the bacon for his family and is very busy.
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Twenty-four seven
What does "Twenty-four seven" mean? | Twenty-four seven or 24/7 means all the time, coming from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
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cook (someone's) goose
What does "cook (someone's) goose" mean? | to damage or ruin someone | I think that I cooked my goose when I made a mistake at work today.
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early bird
What does "early bird" mean? | a person who gets up early or arrives early for something | My sister is an early bird and gets up very early every morning.
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