Real McCoy Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

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. .

real McCoy What does real McCoy mean?	the genuine thing	My new camera is the real McCoy and it will let me take any kind of picture that I want.
real McCoy What does real McCoy mean?	the genuine thing	My new camera is the real McCoy and it will let me take any kind of picture that I want.
	Some Random Idioms
pad What does "pad" mean?	home; dwelling; room where one lives
Throw the book at someone What does "Throw the book at someone" mean?	If you throw the book at someone, you punish them as severely as possible.
bracelets What does "bracelets" mean?	handcuffs.	The cop slapped bracelets on the drunk driver.
crack a joke What does "crack a joke" mean?	to tell a joke	The man was a lot of fun at the party because he was always cracking jokes.
learn by rote What does "learn by rote" mean?	learn or memorize something without thinking about it	We learned many verbs by rote in the foreign language class.
let down one`s hair What does "let down one`s hair" mean?	relax, act freely and naturally	Everybody at the party let down their hair and had a good time.
Hear on the grapevine What does "Hear on the grapevine" mean?	To receive information indirectly through a series of third parties, similar to a rumour.

believe in (something) What does "believe in (something)" mean?	to favor something, to support something, to think that something is true	The man does not believe in flying saucers.
catch up with (someone or something) What does "catch up with (someone or something)" mean?	to become even with someone (in a race or in schoolwork etc.)	I think that it is too late to catch up with the rest of the class now.
put (someone's) eye out What does "put (someone's) eye out" mean?	to puncture or harm someone's eye causing blindness	The man put his eye out when he had the accident with the metal rod.
Till the pips squeak What does "Till the pips squeak" mean?	If someone will do something till the pips squeak, they will do it to the limit, even though it will make other people suffer.
NATO What does "NATO" mean?	North Atlantic Treaty Organization	North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationThe members of NATO are gathering for an important meeting next month in Brussels.
what's good/sauce for the goose is good/sauce for the gander What does "what's good/sauce for the goose is good/sauce for the gander" mean?	what is good for one person should be good for another person as well	"What's good for the goose is good for the gander and you should not ask your child to do something if you will not do it yourself."

American Idioms and Expressions

Real McCoy Idiom