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 the air
What does on the air mean? | being broadcast on radio or TV | That television program has been on the air for three years now.
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on the air
What does on the air mean? | being broadcast on radio or TV |
The television program has been on the air for three years now.
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Some Random Idioms
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freeload
What does "freeload" mean? | to accept food and housing at someone else`s expense | The boy was angry at his brother for freeloading and never trying to find a job.
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keep good time
What does "keep good time " mean? | work accurately (used for a clock or watch) | My watch has not been keeping good time lately.
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MC
What does "MC" mean? | Master of Ceremonies | Master of CeremoniesMy cousin was the MC for my sister's wedding.
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make a meal of (something)
What does "make a meal of (something)" mean? | eat one main dish/food as an entire meal | We were able to make a meal of the chicken that my mother gave us last night.
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dope
What does "dope" mean? | dumb person |
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ill-gotten gains
What does "ill-gotten gains" mean? | money acquired in a dishonest or illegal manner | The ill-gotten gains of the politician were the subject of a large government inquiry.
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One Red Cent
What does "One Red Cent" mean? | A single symbolic penny. | I refuse to pay even one red cent for the work until you complete the whole job.
The "Red" refers to both the color of a penny (one cent) and the image that used to be on the penny, an American Indian head. Redskin is a slang term used for American Indians.
Before today's Lincoln penny was the Indian Head penny.
The Indian Head penny was first issued in 1859 and looks just like that as issued in 1908 (before the Lincoln Cent). The only difference was that those from 1859-1864 were of a different copper-nickel alloy while 1864 started the common bronze, which was used until 1982. (You didn't know it changed then, did you?)
The copper-nickel alloy has a reddish tint, which turns redder with time and skin oil.
Before the Indian Head penny was the "Buzzard Cent", as the One Cent coins in 1856-1858 were called. The flying eagle on the coin was damned as an ugly bird and it wasn't popular.
However, it was the first "small cent" using about the same size as our penny today. In the half century before this, One Cent coins were about the size of today's Half Dollar! |
egg (someone) on
What does "egg (someone) on" mean? | to encourage someone to do something (often something bad/wrong/dangerous) | The boys egged their friend on to jump into the water.
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carry the day
What does " carry the day" mean? | to win or be successful |
The sales manager's fine performance carried the day for us.
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slowly but surely
What does "slowly but surely" mean? | slowly and deliberately | Slowly but surely we are preparing for our holiday next month.
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breathe one's last
What does "breathe one's last" mean? | to die | The man breathed his last after a long illness.
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blow smoke
What does "blow smoke" mean? | say something so as to avoid telling the truth. | Stop blowing smoke and say something useful.
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