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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to pony up
What does to pony up mean? | to pay | It is time for my friend to pony up and pay for the exercise equipment that he bought from me.
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Some Random Idioms
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born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
What does "born with a silver spoon in one's mouth" mean? | to be born to a wealthy family with many advantages | The boy was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and he never has to work very hard.
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piece of cake
What does "piece of cake" mean? |
idiom. simple; very easy. | That test was a piece of cake. I'm sure I'll get a good score.
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frag
What does "frag" mean? | wound or kill using a fragmentation grenade |
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Irons in the fire
What does "Irons in the fire" mean? | Having or pursuing multiple opportunities
simultaneously. | I have been out of work for 6 months, but I have a number of irons in the fire.
Blacksmiths traditionally worked iron into shape by hammering. The iron being worked would be heated in the fire until it was red-hot and malleable. The Smith removes the iron from the fire and shapes it with repeated blows from a hammer. They need to work quickly before the iron cools. Once the iron is cool, it becomes brittle and cannot be hammered.
Once removed from the fire, the iron cools quickly. It takes longer to heat the iron to red-hot than it takes for it to cool. Blacksmiths work more efficiently by having multiple pieces of iron in the fire heating simultaneously. In that way, the Smith can always have a piece of iron red-hot and ready for hammering. The cooled piece would be returned to the fire if it needed more hammering. |
kill the goose that lays the golden egg
What does "kill the goose that lays the golden egg" mean? | to spoil/destroy something that is beneficial or makes a lot of money | My friends sold part of their business but it is the most profitable part. I think that they have killed the goose that lays the golden egg.
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a force to be reckoned with
What does "a force to be reckoned with" mean? | someone or something that is important and should not be ignored |
The young man is a force to be reckoned with in the wrestling world.
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Salt in a wound
What does "Salt in a wound" mean? | If you rub salt in a wound, you make someone feel bad about something that is already a painful experience.
'Pour salt on a wound' is an alternative form of the idiom. |
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No way!
What does "No way!" mean? | Absolutely not! / Definitely not! | A: "You didn't open this letter addressed to me, didyou?"B: "No way! I'd never read look at else's mail!"
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FYI
What does "FYI" mean? | For Your Information | For Your InformationI wrote FYI on the information bulletin and sent it to the other members of the staff.
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