American Idioms and Expressions

Size Up (someone Or Something) 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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size up (someone or something)
What does size up (someone or something) mean?		 to try to form an opinion of someone, to assess a situationIt took me some time to size up the candidate before deciding to give him a job.

Some Random Idioms
Plain Jane
What does "Plain Jane" mean?		 A plain Jane is a woman who isn't particularly attractive.
get it
What does "get it" mean?		 understand something (often negative). "I don't get it. What do you mean?"
cut back
What does "cut back" mean?		 to use fewer or less of something The company has been cutting back on entertainment expenses recently.

short for (something)
What does "short for (something)" mean?		 something that is a shortened form of a word or phraseThe woman's nickname is short for her name which is very difficult to pronounce.
junk
What does "junk" mean?		drugs (heroin in particular)
lemon law
What does "lemon law" mean?		legal requirements giving buyers of a lemon a means to resolve any problems
refill a prescription
What does "refill a prescription" mean?		 to sell a second set of medicine on a doctor's ordersI went to the pharmacy to refill a prescription for my mother.
son of a gun/bitch
What does "son of a gun/bitch" mean?		 a horrible person, a difficult taskI wish that that son of a bitch would stop using my camera without asking me.
strike up a conversation with (someone)
What does "strike up a conversation with (someone)" mean?		 to start a conversation with someoneI decided not to strike up a conversation with the man at the bus station.
None so blind as those who will not see
What does "None so blind as those who will not see" mean?		 This idiom is used when people refuse to accept facts presented to them. ('None so deaf as those who will not hear' is an alternative.)
go to the expense (of doing something)
What does "go to the expense (of doing something)" mean?		 to pay the cost of doing somethingI did not want to go to the expense of buying a new sofa for our apartment.

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