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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state of the art
What does state of the art mean? | using the latest technology. | "The company is very proud of the equipment in its computer room. It's state of the art."
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Some Random Idioms
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run/go to seed
What does "run/go to seed" mean? | to become worn-out and uncared for | The small store has run to seed and few people like to go there now.
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circling the drain
What does "circling the drain" mean? | expected to die shortly. | He's circling the drain and won't last much longer.
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cheeky
What does "cheeky" mean? | irreverent; impudent |
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lose one's train of thought
What does "lose one's train of thought" mean? | forget what one was talking or thinking about | I lost my train of thought when I was talking on the telephone to my friend.
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to the bone
What does "to the bone" mean? | entirely, to the core | He was wet to the bone after staying out in the rain for two hours.
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In the black
What does "In the black" mean? | To be making money. | Live below your means and you will always be running in the black.
Standard practice for accounting is to record positive numbers in black ink and negative numbers in red ink. Operating "in the black" is to record positive numbers, that is to say earnings. |
give some sugar
What does "give some sugar" mean? | kiss affectionately (used by older people toward children; not common) |
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wipe-out
What does "wipe-out" mean? | a disaster, a calamity | My exams were a total wipe-out. I think that I failed all of them.
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Packed like sardines
What does "Packed like sardines" mean? | If a place is extremely crowded, people are packed like sardines, or packed in like sardines. |
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rocks
What does "rocks" mean? | ice cubes |
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get the worst of (something)
What does "get the worst of (something)" mean? | to be defeated, to receive less benefit than someone else | The man got the worst of the deal when the salesman sold him the used car.
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a flight of fancy
What does "a flight of fancy" mean? | an idea that is out of touch with reality or possibility | It was a flight of fancy for us to think of trying to climb Mt. Everest.
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in contempt of court
What does "in contempt of court" mean? | disrespect for a judge or for courtroom procedures | The woman was in contempt of court when she refused to sit down quietly during the trial.
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