Mess Around/about Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

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. .

mess around/about What does mess around/about mean?	to play around or engage in idle activity	The children were messing around in the school yard before the class began.
	Some Random Idioms
lend color to (something) What does "lend color to (something)" mean?	to provide something extra to accompany something	The music in the play helped to lend color to the performance of the actors.

cristal What does "cristal" mean?	methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (from Spanish)
rip (someone) limb from limb What does "rip (someone) limb from limb" mean?	to attack someone in a violent way	The cat ripped the stuffed toy limb from limb.
up to it/the job What does "up to it/the job" mean?	capable or fit for something	If he is up to it we can let him drive the truck to the new office.
banker's hours What does "banker's hours" mean?	short work hours (similar to when a bank is open)	My sister's husband owns his own company and works banker's hours most days.
get to the bottom of (something) What does "get to the bottom of (something)" mean?	to find out the real cause/answer of something	The government wants to get to the bottom of the financial problems in the company.
break down (something) or break (something) down What does "break down (something) or break (something) down" mean?	to explain something to someone in simple terms	My teacher broke down the scientific theory so that the class could understand it easily.
scare the pants off (someone) What does "scare the pants off (someone)" mean?	to frighten someone very badly	The big dog scared the pants off the little boy.
as phony as a three-dollar bill What does "as phony as a three-dollar bill" mean?	phony, not genuine	The woman's excuses are as phony as a three-dollar bill and I do not believe any of them.
give (someone) an earful What does "give (someone) an earful" mean?	to scold someone, to tell someone much information (usually in an angry way)	I gave my sister an earful when she phoned me.

American Idioms and Expressions

Mess Around/about Idiom