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 the trust of (someone)
What does in the trust of (someone) mean? | under the responsibility or care of someone | My grandmother's money was placed in the trust of my mother.
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Some Random Idioms
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for good
What does "for good" mean? | permanently |
We have decided to move to Los Angeles for good.
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cut one's (own) throat
What does "cut one's (own) throat" mean? | to experience certain failure | The man cut his own throat when he suddenly quit his job.
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take (someone) up on (something)
What does "take (someone) up on (something)" mean? | to take advantage of someone's offer of something | I took my friend up on his offer to let me borrow his new car.
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put (someone) down for (something)
What does "put (someone) down for (something)" mean? | to put someone's name on a list of people who volunteer to do something/give money for something/wait for something | The salesman put me down for one of the new cars that will soon arrive at the car dealership.
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like/love to hear oneself talk
What does "like/love to hear oneself talk" mean? | enjoy talking rather than listening to other people | My friend likes to hear herself talk and it is very tiring to be around her.
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Words fail me
What does "Words fail me" mean? | If words fail you, you can't find the words to express what you are trying to say. |
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palm off (something) or palm (something) off
What does "palm off (something) or palm (something) off" mean? | to sell or give something away by pretending that it is more valuable than it is |
The man palmed off a television set that does not work.
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Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched
What does "Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched" mean? | Don't be overconfident and assume success before
you know the outcome of a venture. | In the midst of this daydream, she did toss her curls, sending the pail of milk spilling. The moral of the fable is: Such are the disappointments of those who count their chickens before they are hatched.
This proverb's use in English began in the second half of the sixteenth century, but its origins are in Aesop's Fables, written in the sixth century B.C. "The Milkmaid and the Pail" is a fable about a young girl on her way home, carrying her pail of milk on top of her head.
She was daydreaming about what she would do with the milk, starting with making cream and butter to sell. Then, she could buy eggs with that money, and the eggs would hatch into chickens. They would lay more eggs, and the process would continue, growing more and more profitable. Later on, she could sell some of the birds and buy herself a dress, drawing attention of the young men in the town. When they took notice, her plan was to ignore their advances wit a toss of her curls. |