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.
.
might as well
What does might as well mean? | be somewhat preferable to do something | "We might as well go home now. I don`t think he will come."
|
might as well
What does might as well mean? | would prefer to do something, should maybe do something |
"We might as well go home now. I don`t think our friend will come."
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
Gone fishing
What does "Gone fishing" mean? | If someone has gone fishing, they are not very aware of what is happening around them. |
|
|
| |
fold one's hands
What does "fold one's hands" mean? | to bring one's hands together so that they are palm to palm with the fingers interlocking | The students folded their hands and sat quietly on their chairs.
|
Eagle eyes
What does "Eagle eyes" mean? | Someone who has eagle eyes sees everything; no detail is too small. |
|
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
What does "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" mean? | to be eager and cheerful |
Everybody was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when we started out on the trip.
|
set the pace
What does "set the pace" mean? | to decide on a rate of speed to do something that others will follow | The manager of the factory sets the pace for the employees under him.
|
get dressed up
What does "get dressed up" mean? | to put on one's best clothes |
I like to get dressed up when I go to a nice restaurant.
|
Let the cat out of the bag
What does "Let the cat out of the bag" mean? | To divulge a secret. | Don't let the cat out of the bag about Susan's Christmas present.
At medieval markets, unscrupulous traders would display a pig for sale. However, the pig was always given to the customer in a bag, with strict instructions not to open the bag until they were some way away. The trader would hand the customer a bag containing something that wriggled, and it was only later that the buyer would find he'd been conned when he opened the bag to reveal that it contained a cat, not a pig. Therefore, "letting the cat out of the bag" revealed the secret of the con trick. |
draw the line (at something)
What does "draw the line (at something)" mean? | to set a limit for something | We have to draw the line somewhere to limit the costs of the party.
|
|
| |
cramp one`s style
What does "cramp one`s style" mean? | to limit one`s talk or action | Working in the new department is beginning to cramp my style.
|
laugh up one's sleeve
What does "laugh up one's sleeve" mean? | to laugh quietly to oneself |
I was laughing up my sleeve when I learned that my friend would have to clean the bathroom at work.
|
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.
|
break (something) to (someone)
What does "break (something) to (someone)" mean? | to tell bad news to someone |
The man broke the bad news to his sister.
|
for all the world
What does "for all the world" mean? | for anything, for any price | For all the world I do not know what my friend is trying to tell me.
|