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 greased lightning
What does quick as greased lightning mean? | very quickly, very fast | The cat climbed up the tree as quick as greased lightning.
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Some Random Idioms
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stone broke
What does "stone broke" mean? | to have no money, to be penniless | My friend is stone broke and will not be able to come to the movie with us.
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run scared
What does "run scared" mean? | to behave as if one were going to fail/lose | The politician has been running scared in his attempt to win re-election.
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sweet and sour
What does "sweet and sour" mean? | a combination of sweet and sour tastes (found in many Chinese dishes) | The dish had a sweet and sour taste that was very delicious.
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Quarrel with bread and butter
What does "Quarrel with bread and butter" mean? | Bread and butter, here, indicate the means of one’s living. (That is why we say ‘he is the bread winner of the family’). If a sub-ordinate in an organisation is quarrelsome or if he is not patient enough to bear the reprimand he deserves, gets angry and retorts or provokes the higher-up, the top man dismisses him from the job. So, he loses the job that gave him bread and butter. Hence we say, he quarrelled with bread and butter (manager or the top man) and lost his job. |
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meet one's Waterloo
What does "meet one's Waterloo" mean? | meet one's final and most insurmountable challenge (Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo) | The team met their Waterloo when they went to the tournament to meet the best teams in the country.
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ticked
What does "ticked" mean? | upset; angry |
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party animal
What does "party animal" mean? | person who loves parties |
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in a family way
What does "in a family way" mean? | pregnant, going to have a baby | Our new secretary is in a family way and plans to take a few months off from work soon.
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knickers
What does "knickers" mean? | underwear |
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Lose your shirt
What does "Lose your shirt" mean? | If someone loses their shirt, they lose all their money through a bad investment, gambling, etc. |
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junkie
What does "junkie" mean? | addict |
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close one's eyes to (something)
What does "close one's eyes to (something)" mean? | to ignore something | The teacher closed her eyes to the misbehavior of the students.
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Vicar of Bray
What does "Vicar of Bray" mean? | (UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray |
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stumble into (somewhere)
What does "stumble into (somewhere)" mean? | to enter a place by stumbling | I stumbled into my bedroom and went to bed.
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