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 the beaten track
What does off the beaten track mean? | to be not well known or often used, to be unusual | Last night we went to a small restaurant that was off the beaten track.
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Some Random Idioms
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lean over backwards (to do something or to help someone)
What does "lean over backwards (to do something or to help someone)" mean? | do everything possible to please someone | My cousin leaned over backwards to help my father when he was sick.
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sort of (something)
What does "sort of (something)" mean? | to be almost something, to be similar to something, to be not quite something | "Did you finish cleaning the kitchen?"
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in two minds about (something)
What does "in two minds about (something)" mean? | to be undecided about something | I am in two minds about going to a movie tonight.
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soft spot for (someone or something)
What does "soft spot for (someone or something)" mean? | a feeling of affection toward a person or thing | My mother has a soft spot for the elderly lady in her apartment building.
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better safe than sorry
What does "better safe than sorry" mean? | it is better to be careful than to take a chance and risk an accident or illness or a failure which you may regret | It is better to be safe than sorry and I always bring my umbrella to work when it is a cloudy day.
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make a clean breast of (something)
What does "make a clean breast of (something)" mean? | confess something bad that you have done in order not to feel guilty/bad | The woman made a clean breast of things and worked hard to start over.
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shell out money
What does "shell out money" mean? | to pay money | I shelled out much money for the new stereo.
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cake hole
What does "cake hole" mean? | mouth. | Shut your cake hole or I'll smack you.
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shag
What does "shag" mean? | have sexual intercourse with |
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Katie bar the door
What does "Katie bar the door " mean? | get ready for trouble, a desperate situation is at hand | The gang arrived at the hotel and were ready to come in and fight. "Katie bar the door."
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burn (something) to a crisp
What does "burn (something) to a crisp" mean? | to burn something very badly | I burned the eggs to a crisp when I left the stove on while I was talking on the telephone.
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mark up (a price)
What does "mark up (a price)" mean? | raise the price of something | The store marked up the price of the camping equipment at the beginning of the summer.
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the plot thickens
What does "the plot thickens" mean? | things are becoming more complicated or interesting | "The plot thickens," I thought as the situation at my company became more and more complicated.
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