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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pass through (someone's) mind
What does pass through (someone's) mind mean? | to think about something briefly, to remember something briefly | It passed through my mind that I would need to go to the bank and get more money before my holiday.
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pass through (someone's) mind
What does pass through (someone's) mind mean? | to occur to someone, to think about something briefly | The idea passed through my mind briefly but then it was gone.
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Some Random Idioms
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die with one`s boots on
What does "die with one`s boots on" mean? | to die while still active in one`s work or while doing a job |
The man worked hard all his life and died with his boots on when he had a heart attack at the factory.
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beef up (something) or beef (something) up
What does "beef up (something) or beef (something) up" mean? | to make something stronger |
The police beefed up the security around the convention site.
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company town
What does "company town" mean? | a town dominated by one industry or company | When the coal mine closed, the company town faced severe economic times.
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for openers
What does "for openers" mean? | to start with | For openers we decided to start the weekend with a nice meal.
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risk one's neck (to do something)
What does "risk one's neck (to do something)" mean? | risk harm in order to do something | The fireman risked his neck to save the young child.
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bang
What does "bang" mean? | the act of sexual intercourse |
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whistle in the dark
What does "whistle in the dark" mean? | try to stay brave and forget one`s fear | Although he felt very frightened he began to whistle in the dark which helped to calm him down.
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on the lookout for (someone or something)
What does "on the lookout for (someone or something)" mean? | to be watchful for someone or something | I am always on the lookout for older original movie posters.
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have one`s nose to the grindstone
What does "have one`s nose to the grindstone" mean? | to work hard or keep busy at something |
My friend has his nose to the grindstone and he is studying hard at school.
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Rings a Bell
What does "Rings a Bell" mean? | To sound familiar, to spark a memory. | I don't remember meeting him, but the name John Smith rings a bell.
Bells such as the type used in churches are large and loud. Their sound can be heard from a great distance. Bells sound a single, clear note so their sound is distinctive and not easily confused.
Before electric sirens and amplification systems, bells were a valuable means of signaling people and alerting of important events.
Further, accurate timepieces were not always as available as they are today. Bells were used to signal people of the start of events such as a church session, the start of school, or a celebration. The bells acted as a reminder of the start of the event for people who had an out of synch timepiece or no timepiece.
Someone would literally ring a bell as a reminder.
As an aside bells were later used on clocks to mark the hour. A large clock usually in the town square could be heard throughout the town. This clock acted as a master time reference for the town. The hourly bell ringing gave people an opportunity to synchronize their respective timepieces, and early watches required frequent adjustment. |
book
What does "book" mean? | charge a person with a crime. | We got our man, let's book him.
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