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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Roll with the punches
What does Roll with the punches mean? | Weather through tough times, try to minimize the
trouble. | Sometimes in life you just have to roll with the punches, even when the punches feel like they are coming from Mike Tyson.
Rolling with the punches is a technique used in boxing. The objective is to avoid receiving a direct hit with solid contact.
The technique is to move away from the punch in an attempt to avoid the blow or at least create a glancing blow. A glancing blow being preferable to a direct hit. |
roll with the punches
What does roll with the punches mean? | adapt to difficult circumstances (from boxing where a boxer
moves away or rolls from a punch to lessen its impact) | adapt to difficult circumstances (from boxing where a boxer moves away or rolls from a punch to lessen its impact)My sister is able to roll with the punches and can handle the many problems in her work very well.
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roll with the punches
What does roll with the punches mean? | to adapt to difficult circumstances (from boxing where a boxer
moves away or rolls from a punch to lessen its impact) |
The woman can roll with the punches and handle her problems at work very well.
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Some Random Idioms
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Slip through one's fingers
What does "Slip through one's fingers" mean? | If something slips through one’s fingers it escapes or is lost through carelessness. |
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put one's head in the lion's mouth
What does "put one's head in the lion's mouth" mean? | to put oneself in a dangerous or difficult situation | I put my head in the lion's mouth when I went to the meeting with my boss.
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Cook up a storm
What does "Cook up a storm" mean? | If someone cooks up a storm, they cause a big fuss or generate a lot of talk about something. |
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armpit
What does "armpit" mean? | an undesirable place or location, often a city or state.. | New Jersey was once called the armpit of America.
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black and white
What does "black and white" mean? | either good or bad, either one way or the other way, oversimplified |
Our boss sees everything in black and white.
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stay put
What does "stay put" mean? | to stay in one place, to not leave | We decided to stay put for our holidays rather than go away.
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make up
What does "make up" mean? | when two people forgive each other after an argument or begin
to see each other again after ending a relationship | when two people forgive each other after an argument or begin to see each other again after ending a relationshipThe couple had a big fight at the restaurant but they quickly made up and things quickly got back to normal.
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(not) bat an eye/eyelid
What does "(not) bat an eye/eyelid" mean? | to show no surprise or reaction even when something bad happens |
My boss did not bat an eye when I told him that I was going home early today.
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carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders
What does "carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders" mean? | to appear to be burdened by all the problems of the world |
My aunt feels that she is working too hard and that she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
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rat race
What does "rat race" mean? | a rushed and confusing way of living that does not seem to have a purpose |
My uncle is tired of being in the rat race every day. He plans to quit his job soon and do something else.
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hard on (someone's) heels
What does "hard on (someone's) heels" mean? | to be following someone very closely | The dog was hard on the young boy's heels.
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