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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settle (someone's) affairs
What does settle (someone's) affairs mean? | to deal with one's business matters, to manage the affairs of someone who cannot manage them | It was very difficult for my friend to settle his father's affairs after he passed away.
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Some Random Idioms
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come out in the wash
What does "come out in the wash" mean? | to work out all right, to turn out well in the end, to become understood eventually |
Everything came out in the wash as the students discussed their problems.
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according to (someone or something)
What does "according to (someone or something)" mean? | as said or told by someone, in agreement with something, in the order of something, in proportion to something |
According to our teacher, there will be no class next week.
We did everything according to the terms of the agreement.
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the last straw
What does "the last straw" mean? | the last insult or mistake that one can endure and which then causes some reaction | The fourth time that the girl came to work late was the last straw and we finally fired her.
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Jump the shark
What does "Jump the shark" mean? | Said of a salient point in a television show or other activity at which the popularity thereof begins to wane: The Flintstones jumped the shark when a man from outer space came to visit them. The expression derives from an episode of the television sitcom 'Happy Days' in which Fonzie, clad in leather jacket and on water skis, jumps over a shark. That episode was widely seen as the beginning of the end for the formerly popular series. |
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sink one's teeth into (something)
What does "sink one's teeth into (something)" mean? | to take a bite of some kind of food, to get really involved in something |
I am trying hard to sink my teeth into the project at work.
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not hurt a flea
What does "not hurt a flea" mean? | to not hurt anything or anyone (not even a small insect like a flea) |
Our dog is very gentle and he will not hurt a flea.
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shake in one's boots
What does "shake in one's boots" mean? | to be afraid, to shake from fear |
The little boy was shaking in his boots when the large dog approached him.
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at the mercy of (the court/someone)
What does "at the mercy of (the court/someone)" mean? | having no defense against the court or someone |
My friend was at the mercy of the court when he went before the judge.
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Rings a Bell
What does "Rings a Bell" mean? | To sound familiar, to spark a memory. | I don't remember meeting him, but the name John Smith rings a bell.
Bells such as the type used in churches are large and loud. Their sound can be heard from a great distance. Bells sound a single, clear note so their sound is distinctive and not easily confused.
Before electric sirens and amplification systems, bells were a valuable means of signaling people and alerting of important events.
Further, accurate timepieces were not always as available as they are today. Bells were used to signal people of the start of events such as a church session, the start of school, or a celebration. The bells acted as a reminder of the start of the event for people who had an out of synch timepiece or no timepiece.
Someone would literally ring a bell as a reminder.
As an aside bells were later used on clocks to mark the hour. A large clock usually in the town square could be heard throughout the town. This clock acted as a master time reference for the town. The hourly bell ringing gave people an opportunity to synchronize their respective timepieces, and early watches required frequent adjustment. |