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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silly season
What does silly season mean? | the time of the year (late summer) when there is no important news and news reporters focus on unimportant things | It was the end of summer and the silly season for the news media.
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silly season
What does silly season mean? | the time of the year (late summer) when there is no important news and news reporters focus on unimportant things |
It was the end of summer and it was now the silly season for the news media.
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Some Random Idioms
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as scared as a rabbit
What does "as scared as a rabbit" mean? | very scared |
I was as scared as a rabbit when I entered the empty room.
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see the light of day
What does "see the light of day" mean? | to be born, to begin | I do not believe that his plans to build a new house will ever see the light of day.
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first-rate
What does "first-rate" mean? | excellent, superior, of the best quality |
The movie that we saw yesterday was first-rate.
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so soon
What does "so soon" mean? | early, before the regular time | I did not expect the dinner to end so soon after the presentations were finished.
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bouncer
What does "bouncer" mean? | an individual who throws out patrons, usually unruly ones, from a bar of similar establishment |
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cough up (something) or cough (something) up
What does "cough up (something) or cough (something) up" mean? | to give something unwillingly |
The man coughed up enough money to pay for the bicycle.
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get to somebody
What does "get to somebody" mean? | irritate, annoy, or bother somebody. | He really got to you, didn't he?
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iron fist in a velvet glove
What does "iron fist in a velvet glove" mean? | kind and gentle on the outside (the velvet glove) but determined and ruthless on the inside (the iron fist) |
The government committee used an iron fist in a velvet glove to get the information that they wanted.
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face-off
What does "face-off" mean? | confrontation (from sports) |
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a shark
What does "a shark" mean? | a ruthless or dishonest person | "The salesman is a shark. Don't do business with him."
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Ants in your pants
What does "Ants in your pants" mean? | If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can't keep still. |
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barbie
What does "barbie" mean? | barbeque grill; grill. | Let's fire up the barbie and grill some burgers.
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in lieu of (something)
What does "in lieu of (something)" mean? | in place of something | We received a free movie pass in lieu of a refund of our movie ticket.
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