In Retrospect Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

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 retrospect What does in retrospect mean?	thinking about the past with the knowledge one now has	In retrospect, I would have handled the conflict with my friend very differently.
in retrospect What does in retrospect mean?	thinking about the past with the knowledge that one now has	In retrospect, I would have handled the conflict with my friend very differently.
	Some Random Idioms
late in life What does "late in life" mean?	when one is older	Some very great painters never started painting until rather late in life.

in black and white What does "in black and white" mean?	in writing, officially	I put down my complaint in black and white.
ears are ringing What does "ears are ringing" mean?	one hears a ringing sound because of a very loud sound	My ears were ringing after the three fire trucks passed me.
loony What does "loony" mean?	mentally unstable person
the thought that counts What does "the thought that counts" mean?	the good intentions behind an action or a gift are more important than the action or the gift itself	Although the present that the man bought for his wife was not very expensive, it was the thought that counts and his wife was very happy.
Can't see the forest for its trees What does "Can't see the forest for its trees" mean?	If someone can't see the forest for its trees, they are too focused on specific details to see the picture as a whole.
card up one`s sleeve What does "card up one`s sleeve" mean?	a plan or argument that is kept back to be used later if needed	I think that our boss has a card up his sleeve and he will help us later.
pin (someone) down What does "pin (someone) down" mean?	to keep someone from moving, to make someone stay in a place or position	The wrestler won the match after he pinned his opponent down for almost a minute.
ugly duckling What does "ugly duckling" mean?	an ugly or plain child (who grows up to be pretty)	The girl was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is very beautiful.
Pot to piss in What does "Pot to piss in" mean?	To have money or wealth.	You want to have children! We can't afford them, we don't have a pot to piss in. In medieval London, people did not have indoor plumbing. It was common to use a chamber pot as an indoor toilet. The chamber pot could then be dumped out a window into the street gutter below. A person who did not have a "pot to piss in" was poor indeed. In medieval times the word "piss" was not considered at all vulgar. It was not until Victorian England that words such as piss were deemed vulgar. Even today phrases like "pot to piss in" and "Full of Piss and Vinegar" are somehow considered to be generally acceptable and only moderately crude.
kiss ass What does "kiss ass" mean?	flatter or toady up to someone for personal gain

American Idioms and Expressions

In Retrospect Idiom