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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squeal
What does squeal mean? | inform, snitch, or tell on somebody |
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Some Random Idioms
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look for trouble
What does "look for trouble" mean? | do something that may cause trouble | The young boys spend every Saturday evening walking around and looking for trouble.
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keep an eye out for (someone or something)
What does "keep an eye out for (someone or something)" mean? | to watch carefully for someone or something |
I am keeping my eye out for my grandparents this morning.
My friend is keeping his eye out for a new car.
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kinky
What does "kinky" mean? | weird; strange; unappealing |
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radical
What does "radical" mean? | excellent; good |
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cut no ice with (someone)
What does "cut no ice with (someone)" mean? | to have no influence on someone |
The girl's excuses cut no ice with her teacher or the principal.
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Quarrel with bread and butter
What does "Quarrel with bread and butter" mean? | Bread and butter, here, indicate the means of one’s living. (That is why we say ‘he is the bread winner of the family’). If a sub-ordinate in an organisation is quarrelsome or if he is not patient enough to bear the reprimand he deserves, gets angry and retorts or provokes the higher-up, the top man dismisses him from the job. So, he loses the job that gave him bread and butter. Hence we say, he quarrelled with bread and butter (manager or the top man) and lost his job. |
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make little of (someone or something)
What does "make little of (someone or something)" mean? | minimize someone or something, belittle someone or something | My friend often makes little of the fact that he borrows money and then does not pay it back quickly.
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a stitch in time saves nine
What does "a stitch in time saves nine" mean? | if you fix something or solve a problem immediately you will save time later | A stitch in time saves nine and it is better to spend some time becoming organized so that you will save time later.
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get a lump in one's throat
What does "get a lump in one's throat" mean? | to feel like there is something in your throat as if you are going to cry |
I got a lump in my throat as I listened to the tragic story of the woman's family.
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hard-nosed
What does "hard-nosed" mean? | not weak or soft, stubborn |
The union took a hard-nosed position in the contract negotiations.
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have a nose for (something)
What does "have a nose for (something)" mean? | to have the talent for finding something | My friend has a nose for finding cheap items at weekend flea markets.
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separate the men from the boys
What does "separate the men from the boys" mean? | to separate competent people from less competent people | Some people say that joining the military is a good way to separate the men from the boys.
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give (someone) the third degree
What does "give (someone) the third degree" mean? | to question someone in great detail | The woman gave her son the third degree when he returned home.
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play dumb/ignorant
What does "play dumb/ignorant" mean? | to pretend to be ignorant | I played dumb when my boss asked me if I knew about the problems with the telephone.
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