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 up for lost time
What does make up for lost time mean? | do something quickly (because you wasted time before) | We wasted several days before we started to prepare for our holiday so we had to work hard to make up for lost time.
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make up for lost time
What does make up for lost time mean? | to do something quickly (because you wasted time before) |
We had to make up for lost time after wasting several days before starting the project.
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Some Random Idioms
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The common weal
What does "The common weal" mean? | If something is done for the common weal, it is done in the interests and for the benefit of the majority or the general public. |
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hang by a hair/thread
What does "hang by a hair/thread" mean? | to be in an uncertain position and depend on something not substantial | The results of the election are still undecided and are hanging by a hair.
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jump the track
What does "jump the track" mean? | jump off the rails, change suddenly from one thing to another | The train jumped the track near the edge of the town.
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take a trip
What does "take a trip" mean? | to go for a journey | We plan to take a trip to Italy in November.
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Irons in the fire
What does "Irons in the fire" mean? | Having or pursuing multiple opportunities
simultaneously. | I have been out of work for 6 months, but I have a number of irons in the fire.
Blacksmiths traditionally worked iron into shape by hammering. The iron being worked would be heated in the fire until it was red-hot and malleable. The Smith removes the iron from the fire and shapes it with repeated blows from a hammer. They need to work quickly before the iron cools. Once the iron is cool, it becomes brittle and cannot be hammered.
Once removed from the fire, the iron cools quickly. It takes longer to heat the iron to red-hot than it takes for it to cool. Blacksmiths work more efficiently by having multiple pieces of iron in the fire heating simultaneously. In that way, the Smith can always have a piece of iron red-hot and ready for hammering. The cooled piece would be returned to the fire if it needed more hammering. |
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drive at (something)
What does "drive at (something)" mean? | to mean something, to want to say something | I could not understand what the other negotiators in the meeting were driving at.
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drive a hard bargain
What does "drive a hard bargain" mean? | to bargain hard and try to make an agreement to one's advantage | The sales manager drives a hard bargain and it is difficult to negotiate with him.
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dig one's own grave
What does "dig one's own grave" mean? | to be responsible for one's own problems | My sister dug her own grave when she fought with her boss. Now she is having many problems at work.
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with one hand/both hands tied behind one's back
What does "with one hand/both hands tied behind one's back" mean? | easily, even under a severe handicap | The job was very hard to do because I had to operate with one hand tied behind my back.
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Tread the boards
What does "Tread the boards" mean? | When someone treads the boards, they perform on stage in a theatre. |
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