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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on (someone's) doorstep
What does on (someone's) doorstep mean? | in someone's care, as someone's responsibility | The responsibility for feeding the extra staff suddenly arrived on my doorstep.
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Some Random Idioms
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take liberties with (someone or something)
What does "take liberties with (someone or something)" mean? | to use or abuse someone or something | The girl is taking liberties with her friend by always borrowing her car.
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Where the rubber meets the road
What does "Where the rubber meets the road" mean? | Where the rubber meets the road is the most important point for something, the moment of truth. An athlete can train all day, but the race is where the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they really are. |
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Come rain or shine
What does "Come rain or shine" mean? | If I say I'll be at a place come rain or shine, I mean that I can be relied on to turn up; nothing, not even the vagaries of British weather, will deter me or stop me from being there. |
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Reinvent the wheel
What does "Reinvent the wheel" mean? | If someone reinvents the wheel, they waste their time doing something that has already been done by other people, when they could be doing something more worthwhile. |
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move on somebody
What does "move on somebody" mean? | try to seduce or pick up somebody |
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on medication
What does "on medication" mean? | taking medicine for a current medical problem | The woman has been on medication for many years.
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Cooking with gas
What does "Cooking with gas" mean? | To be working fast, proceeding rapidly. | After working with those old hand tools, power tools will make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.
Although common place today, gas stoves have not always been the norm. Gas stoves started to be available in the 1800's, and until that time wood stoves were the standard.
Now you're "cooking with gas" comes from an old advertisement for gas stoves. The phrase suggests that gas is faster, easier, cleaner, better than cooking with wood. |
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lost-and-found
What does "lost-and-found" mean? | a place that handles lost items that other people find | I went to the lost-and-found department at the train station to look for my umbrella.
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teething problems/troubles
What does "teething problems/troubles" mean? | difficulties and problems experienced in the early stages of a project/activity | Our new business is having many teething problems that we are trying to solve.
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lock horns with (someone)
What does "lock horns with (someone)" mean? | to get into an argument with someone | I locked horns with my neighbor yesterday morning.
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From a different angle
What does "From a different angle" mean? | If you look at something from a different angle, you look at it from a different point of view. |
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give (someone) enough rope and he or she will hang themself
What does "give (someone) enough rope and he or she will hang themself" mean? | give someone enough time and freedom to do what they want and they will make a mistake or get into trouble and be caught | "Don`t worry about trying to fight him. If you give him enough rope he will hang himself."
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