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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scratch the surface
What does scratch the surface mean? | to only begin to do or learn something | My friend is interested in classical music but she has only begun to scratch the surface of what is available.
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Some Random Idioms
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Couldn't give two hoots
What does "Couldn't give two hoots" mean? | If you couldn't give two hoots about something, you don't care at all about it. |
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come out of the closet
What does "come out of the closet" mean? | to reveal one's secret interests, to reveal that one is gay | Nobody was surprised when my cousin came out of the closet.
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enforcer
What does "enforcer" mean? | bodyguard; thug; tough guy |
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have a way with (someone or something)
What does "have a way with (someone or something)" mean? | be able to lead/persuade/influence others | The little girl has a way with horses. They are very gentle when she is around.
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a square deal
What does "a square deal" mean? | a fair and honest transaction | I always receive a square deal when I do business with the local shops in my area.
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streets are paved with gold
What does "streets are paved with gold" mean? | a place (usually a city) where you can make much money | Many people believed that the streets were paved with gold when they moved to the city to try to have a better life.
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red in the face
What does "red in the face" mean? | to be embarrassed | The woman was red in the face after she dropped her keys down the elevator shaft.
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sell out (someone or something)
What does "sell out (someone or something)" mean? | to be disloyal, to betray someone or something | The man does not want to sell out his moral values when he begins work for the new company.
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set the pace
What does "set the pace" mean? | to decide on a rate of speed to do something that others will follow | The manager of the factory sets the pace for the employees under him.
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go bananas
What does "go bananas" mean? | to go crazy or become silly, to become angry | The father went bananas after he discovered that his son had taken the family car.
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take sick/ill
What does "take sick/ill" mean? | to become ill | The little boy took sick early last night.
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Nice as pie
What does "Nice as pie" mean? | If a person is nice as pie, they are surprisingly very kind and friendly. "After our argument, she was nice as pie!" |
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get away with murder
What does "get away with murder" mean? | to do something very bad without being caught or punished | The students were able to get away with murder while the substitute teacher was in the school.
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a leading question
What does "a leading question" mean? | a question to a witness designed to suggest or produce the reply desired by the questioner | The lawyer asked the witness a leading question but she didn't answer it in the way that the lawyer had expected.
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