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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stack the deck
What does stack the deck mean? | unfairly arrange things for or against someone so that a
person has an unfair advantage or disadvantage | unfairly arrange things for or against someone so that a person has an unfair advantage or disadvantageThe league stacked the deck against the new team so that the older, more established teams could advance to the playoffs.
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Some Random Idioms
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buy (something) sight unseen
What does "buy (something) sight unseen" mean? | to buy something without seeing it first | My sister made a big mistake when she bought the used car sight unseen.
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brown bag it
What does "brown bag it" mean? | to take a lunch to work |
I must brown bag it this week because the company cafeteria is closed.
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twiddle one`s thumbs
What does "twiddle one`s thumbs" mean? | to do nothing, to be idle |
The girl twiddled her thumbs all week and is now unable to pass her exam.
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with the best of them
What does "with the best of them" mean? | as well as anyone | He can play soccer with the best of them when he makes the effort.
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feel out of place
What does "feel out of place" mean? | to feel that one does not belong in a place or situation |
I sometimes feel out of place when I go to an expensive restaurant.
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calm down
What does "calm down" mean? | to relax | The woman finally calmed down after the accident.
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stern
What does "stern" mean? | buttocks; posterior |
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In the country of the BLIND, the ONE-EYED man is KING
What does "In the country of the BLIND, the ONE-EYED man is KING" mean? | A man of even limited ability is at a great advantage in
the company of those less able. | It doesn't matter if you don't completely understand how the Internet works! You know more than anyone else here. So, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
An English proverb cited by John Ray in 1678 tells us that "a man were better be half blind than have both eyes out." Not only would he be able to avoid the ditch (fallen into by the blind leading the blind), he might find himself in a position if leadership. "In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" is quoted in Erasmus' "Adagia," in 1536. We also see it in John Palsgrave's translation of the "Comedy of Acolastus." In 1522, in his "Why Come Yet Not to Court?" John Skelton tells us that: "an one eyed man is Well sighted when is is amonge blynde men." |
call (someone) on the carpet
What does "call (someone) on the carpet" mean? | to call someone before an authority to be scolded or reprimanded |
The salesman was called on the carpet by his boss for losing the big sale.
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come to a pretty pass
What does "come to a pretty pass" mean? | to develop into a bad or difficult situation |
Things have come to a pretty pass and nobody knows what to do about the problem.
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break the bank
What does "break the bank " mean? | to win all the money at a casino gambling table |
The man did not break the bank but he did win a lot of money.
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