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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keep a stiff upper lip
What does keep a stiff upper lip mean? | be brave, face trouble bravely | The storm victims tried hard to keep a stiff upper lip in spite of the hardships of their situation.
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keep a stiff upper lip
What does keep a stiff upper lip mean? | to be brave, to face trouble bravely | We tried to keep a stiff upper lip when the company announced that they would close our office.
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keep a stiff upper lip
What does keep a stiff upper lip mean? | to be brave, to face trouble bravely |
The storm victims tried hard to keep a stiff upper lip in the difficult situation.
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keep a stiff upper lip
What does keep a stiff upper lip mean? | to be brave, to face trouble bravely |
We tried to keep a stiff upper lip when the company announced that they would close our office.
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Some Random Idioms
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Cuckoo in the nest
What does "Cuckoo in the nest" mean? | Is an issue or a problem, etc, is a cuckoo in the nest, it grows quickly and crowds out everything else. |
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down-and-out
What does "down-and-out" mean? | having no money | My friend was down-and-out for many years before he got a job and began to make money.
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get out of bed on the wrong side or get out on the wrong side of bed
What does "get out of bed on the wrong side or get out on the wrong side of bed" mean? | to be in a bad mood |
I think that the girl got out of bed on the wrong side as she is not talking to anyone today.
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ragtop
What does "ragtop" mean? | convertible (car) |
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breathe down (someone`s) neck
What does "breathe down (someone`s) neck" mean? | to watch someone closely (often by standing right behind them), to pressure someone to do something |
My boss has been breathing down my neck all day to pressure me to finish the report.
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gain the upper hand (on someone or something)
What does "gain the upper hand (on someone or something)" mean? | to gain a position that is superior or more advantageous than someone else or something |
The firefighters finally gained the upper hand on the forest fire.
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under fire
What does "under fire" mean? | being shot at or attacked, under (verbal) attack | The owner of the company is under fire for not paying his employees a fair salary.
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a hassle
What does "a hassle" mean? | a bothersome thing | It is a hassle to have to report to my boss two times a day.
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No sweat!
What does "No sweat!" mean? | No problem! No difficulty! | It was no sweat for me to finish work early and then drive my friend to the airport.
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caveat emptor
What does "caveat emptor" mean? | "let the buyer beware" (from Latin), a buyer of something is responsible to examine the goods that he or she has purchased | Caveat emptor is a good concept to remember when you are buying a used car.
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Let the cat out of the bag
What does "Let the cat out of the bag" mean? | To divulge a secret. | Don't let the cat out of the bag about Susan's Christmas present.
At medieval markets, unscrupulous traders would display a pig for sale. However, the pig was always given to the customer in a bag, with strict instructions not to open the bag until they were some way away. The trader would hand the customer a bag containing something that wriggled, and it was only later that the buyer would find he'd been conned when he opened the bag to reveal that it contained a cat, not a pig. Therefore, "letting the cat out of the bag" revealed the secret of the con trick. |