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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off-color
What does off-color mean? | to be in bad taste, to be not polite, to be not the exact color | He likes to tell off-color jokes which most people do not like.
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off-color
What does off-color mean? | in bad taste, rude | The man told an off-color joke at the party which made his wife very angry.
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off-color
What does off-color mean? | not the exact color | We painted our kitchen in an off-color of white.
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off-color
What does off-color mean? | in bad taste, rude |
The man told an off-color joke at the party which made his wife angry.
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off-color
What does off-color mean? | not the exact color |
We painted our kitchen in an off-color of white.
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off-color
What does off-color mean? | to be in bad taste, to not be polite, to be not the exact color |
The man likes to tell off-color jokes which most people do not like.
We painted the walls an off-color of white.
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Some Random Idioms
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Swim with the tide
What does "Swim with the tide" mean? | If you swim with the tide, you do the same as people around you and accept the general consensus.
('Go with the tide' is an alternative form.) |
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in shambles
What does "in shambles" mean? | in a messy state | The house was in shambles after the two little boys played in it all day.
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give (someone) an inch and they will take a mile
What does "give (someone) an inch and they will take a mile" mean? | if you give a little to someone then they will then ask for more | The teacher was always strict in his classroom. He knew that if he gave the pupils an inch they would take a mile and he would lose all control.
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bend (someone's) ear
What does "bend (someone's) ear" mean? | to talk to someone (maybe annoyingly) | I did not want to go into my supervisor's office and have him bend my ear for a long time.
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as fit as a fiddle
What does "as fit as a fiddle" mean? | to be healthy and physically fit |
My grandfather is ninety years old but he is as fit as a fiddle.
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A poor man's something
What does "A poor man's something" mean? | Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde. |
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fix up (something) or fix (something) up
What does "fix up (something) or fix (something) up" mean? | to repair something, to put something back in good condition |
We want to fix up our house this summer.
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grasp at straws
What does "grasp at straws" mean? | to try something with little hope of success | The man is grasping at straws with his weak excuse for his bad behavior.
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mark my word(s)
What does "mark my word(s)" mean? | remember what I'm telling you | "Mark my words, if you do not finish your homework project you are not going to go out this weekend."
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