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.
.
night owl
What does night owl mean? | a person who likes to stay up late at night | My friend is a night owl and stays up late every night.
|
night owl
What does night owl mean? | someone who likes to stay up very late at night | My friend is a night owl and he loves to stay up late at night.
|
night owl
What does night owl mean? | someone who likes to stay up very late at night |
My friend is a night owl and he loves to stay up late at night.
|
night owl
What does night owl mean? | someone who likes to stay up very late at night |
My friend is a night owl and he loves to stay up late at night.
|
night owl
What does night owl mean? | a person who likes to stay up late at night |
My friend is a night owl and stays up late every night.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
back and forth
What does "back and forth" mean? | backwards and forwards, first one way and then the other way |
The argument went back and forth before the judge made a decision.
|
|
| |
beef
What does "beef" mean? | agrument; disagreement. | I've got a beef with him about the rent.
|
plow into (something)
What does "plow into (something)" mean? | to attack/eat/do something vigorously | We plowed into the food as soon as the waiter brought it to our table.
|
Up to snuff
What does "Up to snuff" mean? | If something isn't up to snuff, it doesn't meet the standard expected. |
|
do (something) in a heartbeat
What does "do (something) in a heartbeat" mean? | to do something almost immediately if you have the chance | I would change jobs in a heartbeat if I had the chance.
|
twiddle one`s thumbs
What does "twiddle one`s thumbs" mean? | to not be busy, to not be working | We twiddled our thumbs all morning and did not get any work done.
|
get a dirty look from (someone)
What does "get a dirty look from (someone)" mean? | to receive a frown from someone |
I got a dirty look from the man who was sitting next to my crying child.
|
trust me
What does "trust me" mean? | believe me; really; honestly; for real |
|
|
| |
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
What does "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" mean? | Do not be critical of a gift. | Okay, so the '72 Gremlin grandma gave you is not your idea of a babe magnet, but it was free - so don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Horses have gum lines that recede with age. Hence older horses have longer teeth than young horses.
To "look a horse in the mouth" is to examine the horse's mouth closely to determine its age (and therefore its usefulness and/or worth). To immediately judge a gift based on its worth or usefulness rather than the "thought" behind it considered rude, and ungrateful (it is a gift after all, and didn't cost the receiver anything).
The phrase is apparently quite old, a Latin version of it appeared in a work by St. Jerome in 420 AD, and it also exists in many languages. An Early english version (1510 AD) appears in John Standbridge's "Vulgari Standbrigi": "A gyuen hors may not (be) loked in the tethe." |
out of circulation
What does "out of circulation" mean? | to be not active, to not join in what others are doing | He has a new girlfriend so he will be out of circulation for awhile.
|
tie up (something)
What does "tie up (something)" mean? | to limit or prevent the use of something | All of my uncle's money is tied up in real estate investments.
|
loose ends
What does "loose ends" mean? | details that are not settled, things that are not finished | I have many loose ends to deal with before I go on my holidays.
|