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 tabs on (someone or something)
What does keep tabs on (someone or something) mean? | watch/check/observe someone or something | We have been keeping tabs on the spending of the sales department.
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Some Random Idioms
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on foot
What does "on foot" mean? | by walking | We decided to go downtown on foot.
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have a mind like a steel trap
What does "have a mind like a steel trap" mean? | to have a very sharp and quick mind | The man has a mind like a steel trap and he never forgets a thing.
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a white elephant
What does "a white elephant" mean? | something that is not useful and costs a lot of money to maintain | The airport was a white elephant and nobody liked to use it.
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Old wive's tale
What does "Old wive's tale" mean? | A proverb or piece of advice that is commonly accepted as truth and is handed down the generations, but is normally false. |
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Fifth columnist
What does "Fifth columnist" mean? | (UK) A fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organisation who tries to help an enemy invade. |
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on (someone's) shoulders
What does "on (someone's) shoulders" mean? | on someone's own self (used often with responsibility) | The responsibility for organizing the office is always on my shoulders.
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bitch
What does "bitch" mean? | unpleasant, rude, or irritating woman. | She is such a bitch, always whining and insulting my friends.
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bed-hop
What does "bed-hop" mean? | have sexual relations with many people; sleep around |
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Reading the riot act
What does "Reading the riot act" mean? | To complain or lecture loudly and with angry emotion.
| Upset about his neighbors load music at 3:00 am, Davis knocked on the door and proceeded to read the riot act.
"Reading the riot act" used to be a literal event. Bobbies in Britain used to read a prescribed proclamation, known as the Riot Act, before they could break up or arrest a crowd. The Riot Act is used in a fashion similar to the Miranda Rights in the US.
The Bobbies would approach the crowd, read the Riot Act aloud, and then disperse or arrest them. |
a honky-tonk
What does "a honky-tonk" mean? | a cheap night-club or dance hall | We went to a honky-tonk in the small town where we stopped last night.
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bring home the bacon
What does "bring home the bacon" mean? | to earn the family living, to earn a salary | I have been working hard all month bringing home the bacon for my family.
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talk out (a problem)
What does "talk out (a problem)" mean? | to discuss something until everything is agreed upon, to settle something | We stayed up late last night and talked out the problem.
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