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.
.
in flux
What does in flux mean? | in constant change, changing | The school administration has been in flux for several months now.
|
in flux
What does in flux mean? | in constant change, changing |
The school administration has been in flux for several months now.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
want for nothing
What does "want for nothing" mean? | have everything one needs or wishes | My sister and her husband both have good jobs and they want for nothing.
|
|
| |
Irons in the fire
What does "Irons in the fire" mean? | Having or pursuing multiple opportunities
simultaneously. | I have been out of work for 6 months, but I have a number of irons in the fire.
Blacksmiths traditionally worked iron into shape by hammering. The iron being worked would be heated in the fire until it was red-hot and malleable. The Smith removes the iron from the fire and shapes it with repeated blows from a hammer. They need to work quickly before the iron cools. Once the iron is cool, it becomes brittle and cannot be hammered.
Once removed from the fire, the iron cools quickly. It takes longer to heat the iron to red-hot than it takes for it to cool. Blacksmiths work more efficiently by having multiple pieces of iron in the fire heating simultaneously. In that way, the Smith can always have a piece of iron red-hot and ready for hammering. The cooled piece would be returned to the fire if it needed more hammering. |
get a black eye
What does "get a black eye" mean? | to get a bruise near one's eye from being hit, to have one's reputation harmed |
The little boy got a black eye when he bumped into the door.
The company got a black eye because of the scandal.
|
VCR
What does "VCR" mean? | Video Cassette Recorder | Video Cassette RecorderWe bought a new VCR after our old one began to have problems.
|
Status quo
What does "Status quo" mean? | Someone who wants to preserve the status quo wants a particular situation to remain unchanged. |
|
stick up (someone or something)
What does "stick up (someone or something)" mean? | to rob someone or something with a gun or other weapon | A man with a gun tried to stick up my mother when I was a child.
|
|
| |
stress
What does "stress" mean? | become anxious or agitated; make somebody anxious or agitated |
|
not show one's face
What does "not show one's face" mean? | to not appear somewhere | The hero of the movie did not show his face for most of the movie.
|
eyes are bigger than one`s stomach
What does "eyes are bigger than one`s stomach" mean? | one takes more food than one can eat |
My eyes were bigger than my stomach when I went to the restaurant and ordered too much food.
|
shoot out (something)
What does "shoot out (something)" mean? | to stick or throw something outward | The man shot out his foot from under the table and made his friend fall down.
|
sit right
What does "sit right" mean? | to be unacceptable (usually used in the negative or interrogative) | His idea seemed good at first but now it does not sit right with the other members of the staff.
|