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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hold up
What does hold up mean? | lift, raise | The students usually hold up their hands when they have a question.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | support, carry | The main beams in the house hold up the total weight of the house.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | stop, delay | The accident held up traffic for over three hours at the border crossing.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | rob at gunpoint | The criminal was able to hold up three people before he was caught.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | keep up one`s courage or spirits | Her spirits are holding up quite well even though she does not have a job now.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | remain good, not get worse | Sales during the first six months of the year are holding up very well compared to last year.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | prove true | Her story held up during the questioning by the police.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | to remain good, to not become worse |
Sales during the first six months of the year are holding up very well compared to last year.
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hold up
What does hold up mean? | to prove to be true |
The woman's story held up during the questioning by the police.
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Some Random Idioms
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too big for one`s britches/boots
What does "too big for one`s britches/boots" mean? | to feel more important than one really is | Our new boss is too big for his britches and needs to change his behavior.
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Dirty dog
What does "Dirty dog" mean? | A dirty dog is an untrustworthy person. |
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narrow-minded
What does "narrow-minded" mean? | to be unwilling to accept or understand new ideas | My uncle is very narrow-minded and he is not flexible at all about anything.
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fuck around
What does "fuck around" mean? | spend time doing minor, irrelevant things. | Don't fuck around anymore.
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head over heels
What does "head over heels" mean? | upside down, head first | The little boy fell head over heels down the steep hill.
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get (something) for a steal
What does "get (something) for a steal" mean? | to buy something for a very low price |
I was able to get our television set for a steal.
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Don't hold your breath.
What does "Don't hold your breath." mean? | Don't stop breathing to wait for something (because it will never happen). |
"Don't hold your breath," I said when my friend asked when he would be able to borrow our friend's car.
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lay away (something)
What does "lay away (something)" mean? | save something | The couple are trying to lay away some money for their holiday next year.
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a little knowledge is a dangerous thing
What does "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" mean? | knowing a little about something may make someone believe that they know too much and therefore make bad choices or choices that some people dislike | knowing a little about something may make someone believe that they know too much and therefore make bad choices or choices that some people dislikeA little knowledge is a dangerous thing and when the citizens became better educated, they began to make choices that the gove
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Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
What does "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" mean? | Do not be critical of a gift. | Okay, so the '72 Gremlin grandma gave you is not your idea of a babe magnet, but it was free - so don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Horses have gum lines that recede with age. Hence older horses have longer teeth than young horses.
To "look a horse in the mouth" is to examine the horse's mouth closely to determine its age (and therefore its usefulness and/or worth). To immediately judge a gift based on its worth or usefulness rather than the "thought" behind it considered rude, and ungrateful (it is a gift after all, and didn't cost the receiver anything).
The phrase is apparently quite old, a Latin version of it appeared in a work by St. Jerome in 420 AD, and it also exists in many languages. An Early english version (1510 AD) appears in John Standbridge's "Vulgari Standbrigi": "A gyuen hors may not (be) loked in the tethe." |
diddly-squat
What does "diddly-squat" mean? | nothing; nothing at all. | You don't know diddly-squat about this.
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play one's ace
What does "play one's ace" mean? | use one's best resources (like an ace in cards) | use one's best resources (like an ace in cards)The lawyer played his ace when he showed the judge the new information.
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