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 nothing of (something)
What does make nothing of (something) mean? | ignore something as if it had not happened | The woman made nothing of the fact that she almost hit a woman in the parking lot.
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Some Random Idioms
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dead duck
What does "dead duck" mean? | someone in a hopeless situation or condition | The man is a dead duck. When the police catch him he will have to go to jail.
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a number of things or people
What does "a number of things or people" mean? | an indefinite number of things or people | There were a number of reasons why I did not want to study at my father's university.
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Room to swing a cat
What does "Room to swing a cat" mean? | A confined space. | This bedroom doesn't even have enough room to swing a cat.
This colorful phrase evokes strange images of feline cruelty. In fact it has nothing to do with cats, but the real story is at least as cruel.
The "cat" is a cat-of-nine-tails, a type of whip used to discipline sailors on old sailing ships. The cat-of-nine-tails has one handle to which is attached nine thin strips of leather, each perhaps three feet long. The cat-of-nine-tails would be used to administer lashings that would sting and leave welts on the recipient.
The whippings would take place on the deck, because below deck there was not enough ceiling height to swing a cat-of-nine-tails. |
don sackcloth and ashes
What does "don sackcloth and ashes" mean? | to behave in a way that shows that you are very sorry for something that you have done wrong - in ancient Biblical times people wore very uncomfortable sackcloth (cloth for sacks) for mourning and al |
The man was asked to don sackcloth and ashes to repent for his terrible mistake.
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pay off (someone)
What does "pay off (someone)" mean? | to pay someone a bribe for something | The owner of the store had to pay off the gang who were threatening him.
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