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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let (someone) off (easy)
What does let (someone) off (easy) mean? | release someone with little or no punishment | The judge let the man off easy because he seemed to be sincere in his apology for his crime.
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let (someone) off (easy)
What does let (someone) off (easy) mean? | release someone without punishment | The judge let the man off easy in spite of the strong case against him.
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Some Random Idioms
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Full of the joys of spring
What does "Full of the joys of spring" mean? | If you are full of the joys of spring, you are very happy and full of energy. |
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back down
What does "back down" mean? | to yield in one's position during negotiations, to not follow up on a threat | The government backed down on their threat to stop giving money to the school district.
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lay off (someone)
What does "lay off (someone)" mean? | stop bothering someone, leave someone alone | The coach told the players to lay off the new player so that he could relax before the game.
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Lie through your teeth
What does "Lie through your teeth" mean? | Someone who is always lying, regardless of what people know, lies through their teeth. |
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blow up (at someone)
What does "blow up (at someone)" mean? | to get angry, to lose one's temper | The passenger who was waiting in the line blew up at the ticket agent.
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get in (someone's) hair
What does "get in (someone's) hair" mean? | to bother or irritate someone |
The woman complained that her young child was always getting in her hair.
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difficult to stomach (someone or something)
What does "difficult to stomach (someone or something)" mean? | to be unable to accept someone, to be unable to accept something that you think is unpleasant or wrong |
It is difficult to stomach my friend when she begins to complain about things.
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in safe hands
What does "in safe hands" mean? | under the care of someone or an organization that you can trust and who will help you | The little girl is in safe hands now that she has arrived at her grandmother's house.
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take exception to (something)
What does "take exception to (something)" mean? | to speak against something, to find fault with something, to be angered by something | The man took exception to the fact that everyone was able to play golf except him.
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(one's) hair stands on end
What does "(one's) hair stands on end" mean? | become frightened or afraid of something | My hair stood on end when I saw the scene after the automobile accident.
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nose into (something)
What does "nose into (something)" mean? | to move into something, to go front end first | We stopped our car and nosed into the parking space.
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wedgie
What does "wedgie" mean? | the act of pulling the underwear of a boy up from behind so that it creates discomfort around the genitals |
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