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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thick-skinned
What does thick-skinned mean? | to be not easily upset or hurt, to be insensitive | The salesman is thick-skinned and is never bothered when he loses a sale or receives criticism.
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thick-skinned
What does thick-skinned mean? | insensitive, not easily upset or hurt | You really must be thick-skinned if you decide to get involved in politics.
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thick-skinned
What does thick-skinned mean? | insensitive, not easily upset or hurt |
You must be thick-skinned if you decide to get involved in politics.
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thick-skinned
What does thick-skinned mean? | to be not easily upset or hurt, to be insensitive |
The salesman is thick-skinned and is never bothered when he loses a sale or receives criticism.
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Some Random Idioms
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last will and testament
What does "last will and testament" mean? | one's will (especially its latest version) | After my grandfather's funeral my uncle read out his last will and testament.
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with a vengeance
What does "with a vengeance" mean? | with determination and eagerness | The basketball team came out with a vengeance after the break and won the game easily.
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knock (some) heads together
What does "knock (some) heads together" mean? | scold some people | The coach decided that he would have to knock some heads together if he wanted to get the team into the playoffs.
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prick up one's ears
What does "prick up one's ears" mean? | to listen more closely (like an animal moving its ears to hear better) | I pricked up my ears and listened to what the speaker was saying.
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as crooked as a dog's hind leg
What does "as crooked as a dog's hind leg" mean? | dishonest |
The politician is as crooked as a dog's hind leg and nobody trusts him.
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doll (oneself) up
What does "doll (oneself) up" mean? | to dress in fancy clothes | She was all dolled up for the party at the downtown hotel.
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a lost cause
What does "a lost cause" mean? | a hopeless matter | Trying to change the work habits of our secretary is a lost cause. She will never change.
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quick buck
What does "quick buck" mean? | profit rapidly and readily earned |
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base one's opinion on (something)
What does "base one's opinion on (something)" mean? | to form an opinion from something |
I based my opinion on the man's previous work and decided not to give him a job.
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space out
What does "space out" mean? | be befuddled; become disoriented or disorganized |
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One Red Cent
What does "One Red Cent" mean? | A single symbolic penny. | I refuse to pay even one red cent for the work until you complete the whole job.
The "Red" refers to both the color of a penny (one cent) and the image that used to be on the penny, an American Indian head. Redskin is a slang term used for American Indians.
Before today's Lincoln penny was the Indian Head penny.
The Indian Head penny was first issued in 1859 and looks just like that as issued in 1908 (before the Lincoln Cent). The only difference was that those from 1859-1864 were of a different copper-nickel alloy while 1864 started the common bronze, which was used until 1982. (You didn't know it changed then, did you?)
The copper-nickel alloy has a reddish tint, which turns redder with time and skin oil.
Before the Indian Head penny was the "Buzzard Cent", as the One Cent coins in 1856-1858 were called. The flying eagle on the coin was damned as an ugly bird and it wasn't popular.
However, it was the first "small cent" using about the same size as our penny today. In the half century before this, One Cent coins were about the size of today's Half Dollar! |