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.
.
to kick off (something)
What does to kick off (something) mean? | begin/launch/start something | The department store kicked off their summer sale early Saturday morning.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
pot luck
What does "pot luck" mean? | meal in which each participant contributes food |
|
|
| |
cover one's back
What does "cover one's back" mean? | do something to protect yourself from criticism or future blame | I was very careful to cover my back when dealing with the lawyers.
|
on no account
What does "on no account" mean? | for no reason, absolutely not | On no account am I going to let my friend borrow my laptop computer.
|
a prelude to (something)
What does "a prelude to (something)" mean? | an event that comes and signals another event | The strong wind was a prelude to the large storm that would soon follow.
|
jockey for position
What does "jockey for position" mean? | try to put yourself in a better position at the expense of
others (as a jockey would do in a horse race) | try to put yourself in a better position at the expense of others (as a jockey would do in a horse race)The salesmen started to jockey for position as soon as they learned that the sales manager was leaving the company.
|
keep one's hands off (someone or something)
What does "keep one's hands off (someone or something)" mean? | refrain from touching or handling someone or something | My aunt asked her nephew to keep his hands off her furniture.
|
TA
What does "TA" mean? | Teaching Assistant | Teaching AssistantAfter leaving university he was able to get a job as a TA at the junior college.
|
|
| |
line
What does "line" mean? | story; argument; explanation |
|
conehead
What does "conehead" mean? | oaf; fool; stupid person |
|
live off the fat of the land
What does "live off the fat of the land" mean? | grow and live on one's own food | The early pioneers went to the mountain valley and were able to live off the fat of the land.
|
in cold blood
What does "in cold blood" mean? | without feeling | The family was murdered in cold blood by a group of criminals.
|
baldie
What does "baldie" mean? | bald man (used as a nickname at times) |
|
give (someone) a black eye
What does "give (someone) a black eye" mean? | to hit someone near the eye so it becomes dark, to harm someone's reputation | I bumped into the door and it gave me a black eye.
|