American Idioms and Expressions

On Approval Idiom

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. .

on approval What does on approval mean?	to buy something with the right to return it	We carefuly looked at the chair which we had bought on approval.
on approval What does on approval mean?	buying something with the right to return it	We carefuly looked at the chair which we had bought on approval.
	Some Random Idioms
on top of (something) What does "on top of (something)" mean?	in addition to something, along with something	On top of everything else he wants me to work on Sunday.

defeat a motion What does "defeat a motion" mean?	to defeat an idea or proposal in a meeting	Our opponents easily defeated the motion to change the hours for next year's convention.
by the seat of one's pants What does "by the seat of one's pants" mean?	by luck and with very little skill	I was able to complete the course by the seat of my pants.
heart is set against (something) What does "heart is set against (something)" mean?	to be totally against something	Our principal is set against expanding the music program in our school.
cock-and-bull story What does "cock-and-bull story" mean?	a story that is not true	The boys gave us a cock-and-bull story about the tire marks in front of our house.
Beat about the bush What does "Beat about the bush" mean?	If someone doesn't say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating about (around) the bush.
do one's duty What does "do one's duty" mean?	to do one's job or what is expected of one	The guard was doing his duty when he began to ask the customer questions. do one`s part - to make one's expected contribution to a gro
run counter to (something) What does "run counter to (something)" mean?	to be in opposition to something	The actions of the manager run counter to what he has always said that he believes.

throw the baby out with the bathwater What does "throw the baby out with the bathwater" mean?	to reject all of something including the good because part of it is bad	When they discarded all of the computers because one was broken it was like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. They only needed one new computer.
by a long shot What does "by a long shot" mean?	by a big difference	The soap company beat out the bids of the other companies by a long shot.
wear the pants in one`s family What does "wear the pants in one`s family" mean?	to be the boss of a family or household	The woman wears the pants in her family and she is always telling her husband what to do.
know (something) backwards and forwards What does "know (something) backwards and forwards" mean?	know something very well	I know the names of the people in my history class backwards and forwards.
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.

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