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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split the difference
What does split the difference mean? | to settle a money or other disagreement by dividing the difference | We had to pay extra money for the rental car so we decided to split the difference and each pay half.
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split the difference
What does split the difference mean? | to settle a money disagreement by dividing the difference into two amounts |
We had to pay extra money for the rental car so we decided to split the difference and each pay half.
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Some Random Idioms
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in (someone's) name
What does "in (someone's) name" mean? | in someone's ownership, as someone's property | We put the property in my name so that it would be easier to get a loan on it.
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one's name is mud
What does "one's name is mud" mean? | a person`s reputation is bad | His name is mud now that he has been charged by the police with stealing money from his company.
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chicken feed
What does "chicken feed" mean? | a small amount of money |
The man sold his car for chicken feed.
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Carpetbagger
What does "Carpetbagger" mean? | A carpetbagger is an opportunist without any scruples or ethics, or a politican who wants to represent a place they have no connection with. |
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cast around/about for (someone or something)
What does "cast around/about for (someone or something)" mean? | to look for someone or something | We have been casting around for a new file clerk in our company.
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Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing
What does "Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" mean? | If the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, then communication within a company, organisation, group, etc, is so bad that people don't know what the others are doing. |
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gazoo
What does "gazoo" mean? | buttocks |
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sort (something) out
What does "sort (something) out" mean? | to clear up confusion, to straighten out something disorderly | Our accountant is working hard to sort the money problems out.
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to hound (someone)
What does "to hound (someone)" mean? | to pursue/chase someone, to harass someone | The manager is always hounding the younger members of her staff to make sure that they work hard.
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lay down the law
What does "lay down the law" mean? | state firmly what the rules or laws are for something | We decided to lay down the law regarding time off from work without pay for our employees.
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Gloves are off
What does "Gloves are off" mean? | When the gloves are off, people start to argue or fight in a more serious way.
('The gloves come off' and 'take the gloves off' are also used. It comes from boxing, where fighters normally wear gloves so that they don't do too much damage to each other.) |
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get behind
What does "get behind" mean? | to fail to maintain a desired pace or level of progress, to become late | If you get behind with your homework you will never pass many courses.
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