On The Defensive Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

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 the defensive What does on the defensive mean?	to be trying to defend oneself	I always feel that I am on the defensive when I talk to my friend about money.
on the defensive What does on the defensive mean?	trying to defend oneself	I always feel that I am on the defensive when I talk to my friend about money.
	Some Random Idioms
fill the bill What does "fill the bill" mean?	to be just what is needed	The new machine should fill the bill for what we need to finish the job.

cat gets one`s tongue What does "cat gets one`s tongue" mean?	the inability to say something	I think that the cat got our supervisor's tongue. She has not said anything since the meeting started.
go to the trouble (of doing something) What does "go to the trouble (of doing something)" mean?	to make an extra effort to do something	My aunt went to the trouble of buying a new sofa bed for her guests.
a flight of fancy What does "a flight of fancy" mean?	an idea that is out of touch with reality or possibility	It was a flight of fancy that we would think of trying to climb Mt. Everest.
take (something/it) to the bank What does "take (something/it) to the bank" mean?	to have/do something that is a sure thing, to do/have something that you can count on no matter what happens	The business proposal is a sure thing and you can take it to the bank.
keep up an act What does "keep up an act" mean?	act in a way that is different from one's natural behavior	I think that the woman is trying to keep up an act even though she has almost no money.
field a call What does "field a call" mean?	to pick up a telephone call	The salesman fielded many calls when the new product appeared.

pouring rain What does "pouring rain" mean?	very heavy rain	I went outside in the pouring rain and became very wet.
for keeps What does "for keeps" mean?	always, forever	I told the boy that he could have the baseball bat for keeps.
for certain What does "for certain" mean?	without doubt, certainly, surely	He will not be playing in the game tonight for certain.
Armed to the teeth What does "Armed to the teeth" mean?	To be heavily armed.	Don't even think about going into Chicago's housing projects unless you are armed to the teeth. This is a pirate phrase originating in Port Royal Jamaica in the 1600's. Having only single shot black powder weapons and cutlesses, they would carry many of these weapons at once to keep up the fight. In addition they carried a knife in their teeth for maximum arms capability.
ruffle (someone's) feathers What does "ruffle (someone's) feathers" mean?	to upset or annoy someone	I am usually very careful not to ruffle my supervisor's feathers.

American Idioms and Expressions

On The Defensive Idiom