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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in one's mind's eye
What does in one's mind's eye mean? | in one's mind | In my mind's eye I cannot imagine what happened to my friend in the accident.
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Some Random Idioms
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put (someone) on
What does "put (someone) on" mean? | to fool or joke with someone, to tease someone | I think that my friend is putting me on. I do not believe that he will move to Italy.
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MA
What does "MA" mean? | Master of Arts | Master of ArtsMy cousin's wife has recently decided to study for her MA in economics.
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by a whisker
What does "by a whisker" mean? | just barely, by a very small amount |
The marathon runner won the race by a whisker.
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Go blue
What does "Go blue" mean? | If you go blue, you are very cold indeed.
('Turn blue' is an alternative form.) |
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fork out money for (something)
What does "fork out money for (something)" mean? | to pay money for something | I had to fork out much money to have my car fixed.
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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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go whole hog
What does "go whole hog" mean? | to do everything possible | We plan to go whole hog to make the party successful.
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do the dishes
What does "do the dishes" mean? | to wash and dry dishes | We did the dishes soon after eating dinner.
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under one`s belt
What does "under one`s belt" mean? | in one`s experience, memory or possession | When he has more experience as a cook under his belt he will begin to look for a job.
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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 picnic until my former boyfriend arrived and upset the applecart.
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beat the tar out of (someone)
What does "beat the tar out of (someone)" mean? | to beat someone severely | The older boy beat the tar out of the young boy in the schoolyard.
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A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire
What does "A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire" mean? | One does not repeat a painful lesson twice. | I've tried to get little Johnny to quit running and jumping on the furniture before he hurts himself, but only a burnt child dreads the fire.
Very similar in meaning to another proverb, "Once bitten, twice shy," today's proverb is an old one. It appeared in English literature as early as 1320, in "The Proverbs of Hendyng." Another proverb, which is similar, comes from the French: "A scalded dog fears cold water" carries an even stronger message; that those who have experienced a great deal of difficulty or pain will not only avoid it in the future, but will be afraid even where there is no cause.
Other languages also have like proverbs, such as, "One bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope's end" (Jewish), "A man who has received a beating with a firebrand runs away at the sight of a firefly" (Singhalese), and "A dog which has been beaten with a stick fears its own shadow" (Italian). |