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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run up
What does run up mean? | to add to the amount of something | We ran up a large bill at the department store before we went home.
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run up
What does run up mean? | to add to the amount of something |
We ran up a large bill at the department store before we went home.
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Some Random Idioms
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a feather in one`s cap
What does "a feather in one`s cap" mean? | something that you achieve and are proud of | Winning the spelling contest was a feather in the boy's cap.
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sit on one's hands
What does "sit on one's hands" mean? | to do nothing, to fail to help | The manager sat on her hands and refused to do anything about the complaints that she had received.
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apple of (someone`s) eye
What does "apple of (someone`s) eye" mean? | someone or something that one likes a lot or likes more than others |
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather`s eye.
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rush
What does "rush" mean? | time when sororities and fraternities attempt to find new members, usually in the fall |
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blood, sweat, and tears
What does "blood, sweat, and tears" mean? | great personal effort |
We put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into fixing our old house.
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have a finger in the pie
What does "have a finger in the pie" mean? | to be involved in something, to have a role in something |
The waitress has a finger in the pie of the new restaurant.
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have (something) on the brain
What does "have (something) on the brain" mean? | be obsessed with something | My sister has tennis on the brain and is always talking about it.
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at (someone's) service
What does "at (someone's) service" mean? | to be ready to help someone in any way possible | A member of the hotel staff was at our service during our stay.
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fall off
What does "fall off" mean? | to decrease | The number of tourists to the island is falling off.
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driving force behind (someone or something)
What does "driving force behind (someone or something)" mean? | the motivating force behind someone or something |
The potato farmers were the driving force behind the efforts to get people to eat more potatoes.
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caveat emptor
What does "caveat emptor" mean? | "let the buyer beware" (from Latin), a buyer of something is responsible to examine the goods that he or she has purchased | Caveat emptor is a good concept to remember when you are buying a used car.
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nice and (some quality)
What does "nice and (some quality)" mean? | lots of some quality | The bed was nice and warm and I fell asleep immediately.
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p-mail
What does "p-mail" mean? | physical mail |
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