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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say (something) under one's breath
What does say (something) under one's breath mean? | to say something so softly that almost nobody can hear it | The woman said something under her breath but I could not understand it.
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Some Random Idioms
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get one's sea legs
What does "get one's sea legs" mean? | to become accustomed to something (like you would become accustomed to the movement of a ship) | After we got our sea legs we were able to get up and walk around the boat.
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like a bat out of hell
What does "like a bat out of hell" mean? | with great speed and force | The boy left the theater like a bat out of hell.
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eke out (a living)
What does "eke out (a living)" mean? | to earn one's living with difficulty | My uncle was unable to eke out a living on the farm so he sold it.
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follow one's nose
What does "follow one's nose" mean? | to go straight ahead, to follow a smell to its source | I followed my nose to the place where they were baking the bread.
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run the gauntlet
What does "run the gauntlet" mean? | to face a hard test or painful experience | I had to run the gauntlet of many interviews before I got the job.
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take the words out of (someone`s) mouth
What does "take the words out of (someone`s) mouth" mean? | to say something that someone else was going to say | The man took the words out of my mouth when he answered the question.
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thou
What does "thou" mean? | one-thousand |
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dog meat
What does "dog meat" mean? | dead person (usually made in threat form) |
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think inside the box
What does "think inside the box" mean? | to think in a traditional way using old ideas/rules/practices | Most people in our company think inside the box and there are few new ideas.
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GJ
What does "GJ" mean? | grapefruit juice |
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go home in a box
What does "go home in a box" mean? | be transported back home in a coffin (i.e.: dead) |
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go stir-crazy
What does "go stir-crazy" mean? | to become anxious because one is confined to a small space | After many days of rain I began to go stir-crazy because I could not leave the house.
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Be up the spout
What does "Be up the spout" mean? | (UK) If a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant. |
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