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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quick as a flash
What does quick as a flash mean? | very quickly | I was able to get out of the house as quick as a flash and go to work.
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Some Random Idioms
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none of (someone's) business/beeswax
What does "none of (someone's) business/beeswax" mean? | to be not of someone's concern | My personal financial situation is none of my friend's business.
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spook factory
What does "spook factory" mean? | CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) |
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not much of (something)
What does "not much of (something)" mean? | to be rather bad, to be not so good | It is not much of a hotel but I think that it will be okay for one night.
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catch-22
What does " catch-22" mean? | a situation which contradicts itself, a paradoxical situation | It was a catch-22 situation and if I went to work there would be problems but if I did not go to work there would also be problems.
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shot to the curb
What does "shot to the curb" mean? | having no money or place to live; in the gutter |
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know better (than to do something)
What does "know better (than to do something)" mean? | be smart enough not to do something | I told my friend that she should know better than to phone me at 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning.
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not make head nor tail of (something)
What does "not make head nor tail of (something)" mean? | not be able to understand something | We could not make head nor tail of what he was trying to say during his speech.
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have (something) hanging over one's head
What does "have (something) hanging over one's head" mean? | have something worrying one | I want to finish my final essay so I don't have it hanging over my head.
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steam
What does "steam" mean? | anger; upset |
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in one's mind's eye
What does "in one's mind's eye" mean? | in one's mind | In my mind's eye I cannot imagine what happened to my friend in the accident.
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mess hall
What does "mess hall" mean? | dining hall; dining area; cafeteria |
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go into hiding
What does "go into hiding" mean? | to conceal oneself in a hiding place for a period of time | The bank robbers went into hiding after the bank robbery.
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early bird catches the worm
What does "early bird catches the worm" mean? | arriving early gives one an advantage | My boss always comes to work early because he believes that the early bird catches the worm.
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every other
What does "every other" mean? | every second one | I have to work every other Saturday evening.
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