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.
.
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.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
cover one's back
What does "cover one's back" mean? | do something to protect yourself from criticism or future blame | I was very careful to cover my back when dealing with the lawyers.
|
|
| |
skip bail
What does "skip bail" mean? | to run away and not come to trial and therefore give up any money that you may have paid the court to guarantee that you appear | The man skipped bail and went to another city before he was arrested again.
|
as soft as a baby's bottom
What does "as soft as a baby's bottom" mean? | very soft and smooth | My new silk pajamas are as soft as a baby's bottom.
|
in perpetuity
What does "in perpetuity" mean? | eternally, forever | The school was given the right to use the city park for sports in perpetuity.
|
bullshit
What does "bullshit" mean? | nonsense; rubbish; foolish talk or ideas. | That's such bullshit, I don't believe any of it.
|
flak
What does "flak" mean? | criticism; complaints |
|
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.
|
rub (someone's) nose in it
What does "rub (someone's) nose in it" mean? | to remind someone of something that he or she has done wrong | Our supervisor always likes to rub our nose in it if we make a mistake.
|
|
| |
fishy
What does "fishy" mean? | to be suspicious or unlikely | "Something is fishy with these numbers. There are too many people on this list."
|
do
What does "do" mean? | serve a particular purpose well |
|
on and off
What does "on and off" mean? | intermittently, now and then | It has been raining on and off since early this morning.
|
in the wrong
What does "in the wrong" mean? | on the illegal or wrong side of an issue, guilty | The man was in the wrong and was easily found guilty by the court.
|
for better or worse
What does "for better or worse" mean? | depending on how one looks at a matter, including both the good or bad effects of something | For better or worse I have decided to quit my job and move to Brazil.
|