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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press one`s luck
What does press one`s luck mean? | to depend too much on luck, to expect to continue to be lucky | My uncle is pressing his luck if he thinks that he will continue to make a lot of money on the stock market.
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Some Random Idioms
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Practise what you preach
What does "Practise what you preach" mean? | If you practise what you preach, you do what you say other people should do.(In American English, the verb is 'practice') |
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Many a True Word is spoken in Jest.
What does "Many a True Word is spoken in Jest." mean? | A humorous, joking remark may hide a profound
insight or a serious criticism. An unintended comment may turn out to be true. | "You know Shirley, you might as well rub those cinnamon rolls directly on to your hips. That is where they're going to end up anyway." "Well Fred, many a true word is spoken in jest, but my hips are really none of your business."
In trying to be funny many people will relay on sarcasm. The most poignant (and often cutting, or hurtful) sarcasm is founded in truth. It is often determental to a relationship to pick on someone in front of others even if you are basically telling the truth. Conversely, if you are being picked on in jest, you can often get a true picture of how others view you and know then what to work on. The meaning behind this saying was used as early as in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," in which the cook says, "A man may seye full soothe in game and pley." Later, at the end of the sixteenth century, a Scottish saying was, "There are many sooth words spoken in bourding," and both French and Italian have equivalent sayings. |
thick-skinned
What does "thick-skinned" mean? | insensitive, not easily upset or hurt |
You must be thick-skinned if you decide to get involved in politics.
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a slow-down
What does "a slow-down" mean? | a type of work strike where you do not come to a complete stop | The workers had a slow-down at the post office last year.
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piss around
What does "piss around" mean? | spend time doing minor, irrelevant things |
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catch (someone) red-handed
What does "catch (someone) red-handed" mean? | to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong | The teacher caught the boys red-handed when they wrote on the school wall.
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a jack-of-all-trades
What does "a jack-of-all-trades" mean? | a person who can do many things | We gave the man a job because we needed a jack-of-all-trades to look after the many repairs.
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brewsky
What does "brewsky" mean? | beer; a (bottle, can, glass) of beer |
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take it slow
What does "take it slow" mean? | to move or go slowly | I always take it slow when it is snowing.
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gut feeling/reaction
What does "gut feeling/reaction" mean? | a personal/intuitive feeling or response | I had a gut feeling that my friend would not get the job that he wanted.
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give (someone) the bum's rush
What does "give (someone) the bum's rush" mean? | to make someone leave a place quickly | The club owner gave us the bum's rush when we began to make too much noise.
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