American Idioms and Expressions

Scratch The Surface Idiom

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 somethingMy friend is interested in classical music but she has only begun to scratch the surface of what is available.

Some Random Idioms
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.
come out of the closet
What does "come out of the closet" mean?
to reveal one's secret interests, to reveal that one is gayNobody was surprised when my cousin came out of the closet.
enforcer
What does "enforcer" mean?
bodyguard; thug; tough guy
have a way with (someone or something)
What does "have a way with (someone or something)" mean?
be able to lead/persuade/influence othersThe little girl has a way with horses. They are very gentle when she is around.
a square deal
What does "a square deal" mean?
a fair and honest transactionI always receive a square deal when I do business with the local shops in my area.
streets are paved with gold
What does "streets are paved with gold" mean?
a place (usually a city) where you can make much moneyMany people believed that the streets were paved with gold when they moved to the city to try to have a better life.
red in the face
What does "red in the face" mean?
to be embarrassedThe woman was red in the face after she dropped her keys down the elevator shaft.
sell out (someone or something)
What does "sell out (someone or something)" mean?
to be disloyal, to betray someone or somethingThe man does not want to sell out his moral values when he begins work for the new company.
set the pace
What does "set the pace" mean?
to decide on a rate of speed to do something that others will followThe manager of the factory sets the pace for the employees under him.
go bananas
What does "go bananas" mean?
to go crazy or become silly, to become angryThe father went bananas after he discovered that his son had taken the family car.
take sick/ill
What does "take sick/ill" mean?
to become illThe little boy took sick early last night.
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!"
get away with murder
What does "get away with murder" mean?
to do something very bad without being caught or punishedThe students were able to get away with murder while the substitute teacher was in the school.
a leading question
What does "a leading question" mean?
a question to a witness designed to suggest or produce the reply desired by the questionerThe 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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