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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shut the door on (someone)
What does shut the door on (someone) mean? | to close the door to keep someone out | The teacher always shuts the door on students who come late for her class.
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Some Random Idioms
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straight-shooter
What does "straight-shooter" mean? | person who speaks directly and frankly |
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go into hock
What does "go into hock" mean? | to go into debt | I do not want to go into hock in order to buy a new stereo system.
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do one's duty
What does "do one's duty" mean? | to do one's job or what is expected of one | The guard was only doing his duty when he began to ask the customer questions.
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wild about (someone or something)
What does "wild about (someone or something)" mean? | enthusiastic about someone or something | The boys were wild about the new movie.
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Dressed to the nines
What does "Dressed to the nines" mean? | Dressed flamboyantly, dressed well. | New years eve is the one day of the year when people like to go out dressed to the nines.
Common lore has it that a tailor making a high quality suit uses more fabric. The best suits are made from nine yards of fabric. This may seem like a lot but a proper suit does indeed take nine yards of fabric. This is because a good suit has all the fabric cut in the same direction with the warp, or long strands of thread, parallel with the vertical line of the suit. This causes a great amount of waste in suit making, but if you want to go "dressed to the nines", you must pay for such waste. |
eat crow
What does "eat crow" mean? | to admit that one is mistaken or defeated | Our boss was forced to eat crow when the figures that he presented at the meeting were wrong.
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at all costs
What does "at all costs" mean? | regardless of the cost or difficulty, no matter what |
The company wants to protect their product design at all costs.
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A chain is no stronger than its weakest link
What does "A chain is no stronger than its weakest link" mean? | This means that processes, organisations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them. |
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for all (something)
What does "for all (something)" mean? | in spite of something, even with something | For all the time that the boy spends studying his marks are very low.
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sob story
What does "sob story" mean? | a story that makes one feel pity or sorrow | My sister told me a sob story about how she had lost her job.
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smooth sailing
What does "smooth sailing" mean? | something is working out well and has no problems | something is working out well and has no problemsAfter we left the city it was smooth sailing on the highway until we got to our destination.
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