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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have a vested interest in (something)
What does have a vested interest in (something) mean? | have a personal interest (often financial) in something | The mayor of the city has a vested interest in building the new stadium.
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Some Random Idioms
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bid adieu to (someone or something)
What does "bid adieu to (someone or something)" mean? | to say good-bye to someone or something | Everybody gathered to bid adieu to the popular supervisor.
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in stock
What does "in stock" mean? | to have something ready to sell or use | The store does not have any printer ribbons in stock.
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every Tom, Dick and Harry
What does "every Tom, Dick and Harry" mean? | the average person |
The man said that he is not the same as every Tom, Dick and Harry.
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smoking gun
What does "smoking gun" mean? | irrefutable evidence of guilt |
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get behind
What does "get behind" mean? | to fail to maintain a desired pace or level of progress, to become late |
If you get behind with your homework you will not pass your courses.
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Three sheets to the wind
What does "Three sheets to the wind" mean? | Very drunk, highly intoxicated. | The groom made it to the alter, but he was three sheets to the wind.
The phrase comes from 18th - 19th century English Naval terminology. The original phrase was "three Sheets in the wind" and referred to the erratic behavior of a ship that has lost control of all of its sails.
In nautical terminology sheets are the ropes that adjust the position of the sails relative to the wind.
The speed and direction of a sailing ship is controlled by the number of sails raised on each mast, the angle of the sails to the wind (trim of the sails), and the position of the rudder. If the sheets used to control the sails are to break or are have been released, the sheet is said to be "in the wind".
One can imagine a sail thrashing wildly in a strong wind with its sheet (the control ropes) blowing about. It would be very difficult to regain control of such a sail.
Prior to the 1810's it was common for ships to have three masts, (fore, main, and mizzen). If the sheets on all three masts are "in the wind", the ship loses all steering control.
The ship's lack of control is likened to that of a stumbling drunk. |
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tickled pink
What does "tickled pink" mean? | to be very happy | The man was tickled pink to receive a prize for growing the best flowers.
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spill the beans
What does "spill the beans" mean? | to tell a secret | My friend promised not to spill the beans about my plans to get married.
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(be) cricket
What does "(be) cricket" mean? | fair play, gentlemanly conduct (usually used in the
negative) | fair play, gentlemanly conduct (usually used in the negative)The way that the government treated the union leaders was not cricket.
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WB
What does "WB" mean? | welcome back |
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under the wire
What does "under the wire" mean? | at the very last moment | We finished the documents and sent them to the lawyer right under the wire.
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trip up (someone)
What does "trip up (someone)" mean? | to cause someone to fail, to cause someone to make a mistake | The news reporter tripped up the politician with his difficult question.
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