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 out (somewhere/with someone)
What does hang out (somewhere/with someone) mean? | spend one`s time with no great purpose, spend leisure time with friends | Recently my friend has been hanging out with a group of people who are not a good influence on him.
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Some Random Idioms
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to wit
What does "to wit" mean? | namely, that is to say | There were several important people at the dinner, to wit the mayor, the city manager, and the chief financial officer of the city.
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with open arms
What does "with open arms" mean? | warmly, eagerly, glad to see someone | The author was welcomed with open arms when he came to visit the city.
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snake oil salesman
What does "snake oil salesman" mean? | someone who tries to sell you something that does not work | The carpet seller is like a snake oil salesman. His carpets are no good at all.
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yellow-bellied
What does "yellow-bellied" mean? | extremely timid, cowardly | He is a yellow-bellied person who is not good to have as a friend.
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kike
What does "kike" mean? | Jew; Jewish person |
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upset the applecart
What does "upset the applecart" mean? | to ruin a plan or event by a surprise or accident |
Everything was going well at the company picnic until our boss arrived and upset the applecart.
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play by ear
What does "play by ear" mean? | to play a musical instrument by remembering the tune and not by reading the music |
My sister learned to play the piano by ear when she was a child.
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Twist someone's arm
What does "Twist someone's arm" mean? | If you twist someone's arm, you put pressure on them to try to make them do what you want them to do. |
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gray area
What does "gray area" mean? | something difficult to define or put into a particular category, something that is not clear | Some of the legal issues were in a gray area.
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a head start
What does "a head start" mean? | an early start to something | They left early in order to get a head start on the trip.
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so far, so good
What does "so far, so good" mean? | until now things have gone well | "So far, so good," she replied when we asked her how her new job was going.
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