Tell A White Lie Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

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. .

tell a white lie What does tell a white lie mean?	say something that isn't true in order not to hurt or offend someone.	"The cake that Susan made tasted terrible, but I knew that she made it because she wanted to please me, so when she asked if I liked it, I told a white lie and said it was good."
	Some Random Idioms
Step up to the plate What does "Step up to the plate" mean?	If someone steps up to the plate, they take on or accept a challenge or a responsibility.

as sour as vinegar What does "as sour as vinegar" mean?	sour and disagreeable	The old man next door is as sour as vinegar.
run a tight ship What does "run a tight ship" mean?	to run an organization/one's life/a ship in an orderly and disciplined manner	My friend runs a tight ship and makes few mistakes in his life.
slip through (someone's) fingers What does "slip through (someone's) fingers" mean?	to get away from someone, to lose track of someone or something	The job opportunity slipped through my fingers which was very disappointing. The sales receipts slipped through my fingers and I could not find them.
look like the cat that swallowed the canary What does "look like the cat that swallowed the canary" mean?	to look very self-satisfied, to look as if you have just had a great success	The boy looked like the cat that swallowed the canary after he won the relay race.
bring down the house What does "bring down the house" mean?	to cause much laughter in the audience	The comedian brought down the house with his jokes about the lost dog.
smoke What does "smoke" mean?	act of smoking any substance

go in one ear and out the other What does "go in one ear and out the other" mean?	to hear something but then quickly forget it	Everything that the teacher says goes in one ear and out the other for my friend.
make arrangements for (someone or something) What does "make arrangements for (someone or something)" mean?	make plans for someone or something	We made arrangements for a small wedding for my cousin.
fit in with (someone or something) What does "fit in with (someone or something)" mean?	to be comfortable or in harmony with someone or something	The new boy fits in with the other children very well.
pull (something) out of a hat What does "pull (something) out of a hat" mean?	to produce something as if by magic, to invent something	At first the lawyer said that she did not have the information but then she suddenly pulled it out of a hat.
gum up What does "gum up" mean?	to cause something not to work, to make something go wrong	The computer printer became gummed up as I was trying to print my resume.
hunt high and low for (someone or something) What does "hunt high and low for (someone or something)" mean?	carefully look everywhere for something	I have been hunting high and low for my house keys but I can't find them.

American Idioms and Expressions

Tell A White Lie Idiom