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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make a long story short
What does make a long story short mean? | bring a story to an end by omitting some details | I had to make a long story short in order to finish my story and leave to catch my train home.
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Some Random Idioms
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have a go at (something)
What does "have a go at (something)" mean? | try to do something | I decided to have a go at applying for the job after my boss told me about it.
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hush money
What does "hush money" mean? | money paid to persuade someone to be silent about certain information | The politician was arrested for trying to pay hush money to a victim of the scandal.
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beef up (something)
What does "beef up (something)" mean? | to make something stronger | The police beefed up the security around the convention site.
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have one too many
What does "have one too many" mean? | have too much alcohol to drink | The man had one too many so his friends would not let him drive home.
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land of Nod
What does "land of Nod" mean? | sleep | I entered the land of Nod as soon as my head hit the pillow.
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bark up the wrong tree
What does "bark up the wrong tree" mean? | to choose the wrong course of action, to ask the wrong person (a hunting dog may make a mistake when chasing an animal and bark up the wrong tree) | My boss is barking up the wrong tree. I did not cause the computer problem because I was away at the time.
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fall apart at the seams
What does "fall apart at the seams" mean? | to break into pieces, to fall apart | My backpack was falling apart at the seams so I bought a new one.
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miss the boat
What does "miss the boat " mean? | lose an opportunity | You had better hurry and get your application in or you will miss the boat and not get the job that you want.
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straight from the horse's mouth
What does "straight from the horse's mouth" mean? | direct from a source that has authority and is dependable | I heard about the party straight from the horse's mouth.
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to hem and haw
What does "to hem and haw" mean? | to avoid giving a clear answer, to be evasive in speech | He hemmed and hawed when I asked him if he knew where the missing money was.
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pipe down
What does "pipe down" mean? | to be quiet, to get quiet | The teacher asked the children to pipe down in the classroom.
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have the right-of-way
What does "have the right-of-way" mean? | have the right to drive in one lane while driving | The small car had the right-of-way but was hit by the large truck anyway.
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lady`s man
What does "lady`s man" mean? | a man who is popular with women | He is a lady`s man and always seems to have a woman interested in him.
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