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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red herring
What does red herring mean? | something that draws attention away from the matter that is under consideration | The issue of salary is a red herring and is not related to the main issues of the negotiations.
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red herring
What does red herring mean? | an unimportant matter that draws attention away from the main subject | Talking about the other issue was a red herring and did not do anything to deal with today's problem.
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red herring
What does red herring mean? | some information or a suggestion that is used to draw attention away from the real facts of a situation (orginally used as a strong fish smell from a smoked fish that was used to confuse hunting dogs when they were hunting and following something) | The tax issue is a red herring and it is not what the news reporters wanted to talk about.
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red herring
What does red herring mean? | an unimportant matter that draws attention away from the main subject |
Talking about the other issue was a red herring that did not do anything to deal with today's problem.
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red herring
What does red herring mean? | some information or a suggestion that is used to draw attention away from the real facts of a situation (orginally used as a strong fish smell from a smoked fish that was used to confuse hunting dogs |
The tax issue was a red herring and it is not what the news reporters wanted the government to talk about.
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red herring
What does red herring mean? | something that draws attention away from the matter that is under consideration |
The issue of salary is a red herring and is not related to the main issues of the negotiations.
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Some Random Idioms
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shotgun wedding
What does "shotgun wedding" mean? | a forced wedding | The young couple were forced into a shotgun wedding by the girl's father.
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out of the woods
What does "out of the woods" mean? | to be out of danger, to be in the clear | His injury is very serious and I do not think that he is out of the woods yet.
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get it up
What does "get it up" mean? | achieve erection |
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a kink in one's neck
What does "a kink in one's neck" mean? | a cramp in one's neck that causes pain | I have a kink in my neck and it hurts every time that I turn my head.
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clean up
What does "clean up" mean? | to make a lot of money, to make a big profit | I cleaned up at the horse races last year and I still have some of the money left.
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Made in the shade
What does "Made in the shade" mean? | One has an easy time in life or in a given situation. Finding things working to one's benefit. |
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pay a king's ransom (for something)
What does "pay a king's ransom (for something)" mean? | to pay a great deal for something | I had to pay a king's ransom for a ticket to the final basketball game.
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in and of itself
What does "in and of itself" mean? | considering one thing alone | In and of itself there is no problem having a large number of people at the dinner. However, the fire regulations do not allow so many people to be in the building
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single file
What does "single file" mean? | a line with one person standing behind another person |
The students lined up single file before they entered the auditorium.
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miss the point
What does "miss the point" mean? | fail to understand the important part of something | My friend was missing the point when we tried to explain why he shouldn't do what he was doing.
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at the hands of (someone or something)
What does "at the hands of (someone or something)" mean? | because of someone or something else |
We were at the hands of nature as we waited for the storm to end.
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