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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raise the ante
What does raise the ante mean? | to increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or conflict | The small country raised the ante in the trade dispute with the other countries.
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raise the ante
What does raise the ante mean? | increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or
conflict (an ante is the amount of money that you put on the table before
beginning a card game) | increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or conflict (an ante is the amount of money that you put on the table before beginning a card game)The government raised the ante when they decided to cancel the contract of the health care workers.
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raise the ante
What does raise the ante mean? | to increase your demands or the amount that you spend for something (the ante is the amount of money each player puts on the table before starting a game of cards or poker) |
The union raised the ante with the company when they said that they were going to go on strike.
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raise the ante
What does raise the ante mean? | to increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or conflict |
The small country raised the ante in the trade dispute with the other countries.
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Some Random Idioms
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dyed-in-the-wool
What does "dyed-in-the-wool" mean? | permanent, stubborn |
The man is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative and will never change.
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knuckle down (to something)
What does "knuckle down (to something)" mean? | begin to work earnestly | I think it is time that we knuckle down and finish this project.
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in bad faith
What does "in bad faith" mean? | insincerity, with bad or dishonest intentions, the intention to deceive someone | The manager was acting in bad faith when she refused to give the documents to the other department.
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come alive
What does "come alive" mean? | to brighten up and become active |
The girl suddenly came alive and began to enjoy the party.
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ways and means
What does "ways and means" mean? | the raising of money to pay for something | The woman doesn't have the ways and means to give her children a good education.
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hit the roof
What does "hit the roof" mean? | become very angry, go into a rage | He hit the roof when he found out that his son had wrecked the family car.
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get used to (someone or something)
What does "get used to (someone or something)" mean? | to become accustomed to someone or something | I am slowly getting used to my new job.
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gray area
What does "gray area" mean? | something difficult to define or put into a particular category, something that is not clear | Some of the legal issues were in a gray area.
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Good spell
What does "Good spell" mean? | A spell can mean a fairly or relatively short period of time; you'll hear weather forecasts predict a dry spell. Sports commentators will say that a sportsperson is going through a good spell when they're performing consistently better than they normally do. |
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guber
What does "guber" mean? | pimple |
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Sweep things under the carpet
What does "Sweep things under the carpet" mean? | If people try to ignore unpleasant things and forget about them, they sweep them under the carpet. |
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