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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take a hard line (with someone)
What does take a hard line (with someone) mean? | to be firm with someone, to have a firm policy for dealing with someone | The company takes a hard line with people who come to work late.
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Some Random Idioms
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take the liberty of (doing something)
What does "take the liberty of (doing something)" mean? | to assume the right to do something | I took the liberty of eating the food that was in my friend's refridgerator.
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Money laundering
What does "Money laundering" mean? | If people launder money, they get money made illegally into the mainstream so that it is believed to be legitimate and clean. |
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Lose your lunch
What does "Lose your lunch" mean? | (UK) If you lose your lunch, you vomit. |
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by the day
What does "by the day" mean? | one day at a time | My father was very sick but now he is getting better by the day.
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Where the rubber meets the road
What does "Where the rubber meets the road" mean? | Where the rubber meets the road is the most important point for something, the moment of truth. An athlete can train all day, but the race is where the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they really are. |
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hyper
What does "hyper" mean? | person who is easily or frequently very excited or active |
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feel dragged out
What does "feel dragged out" mean? | to feel exhausted | I was feeling dragged out so I went home and went to bed.
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burst onto the scene
What does "burst onto the scene" mean? | to appear suddenly in some location |
The young singer burst onto the scene when she was a teenager.
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an opening gambit
What does "an opening gambit" mean? | an opening statement or something to help give one an advantage in bargaining or something similar | The union made several concessions as their opening gambit in their negotiations with the company.
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get one`s rear in gear
What does "get one`s rear in gear" mean? | to hurry up, to get going |
"Let`s get our rear in gear before it is too late to go to a movie."
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Toe the line
What does "Toe the line" mean? | Follow the group, don't disagree, do what others are
doing. | Your lifestyle has gone on for too long. It is time for you to toe the line - get a wife, a job, some kids, and be miserable just like everyone else.
Many mistakenly think the phrase is "tow the line", thus obscuring the meaning.
This term comes from military line-ups for inspection. Soldiers are expected to line up, that is put their toes on a line, and submit to the inspection. |