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.
.
true to form
What does true to form mean? | exactly as expected, following the usual pattern | True to form our teacher refused to accept any of our papers late.
|
true to form
What does true to form mean? | exactly as expected, following the usual pattern |
True to form, our teacher refused to accept our papers late.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
Prodigal son
What does "Prodigal son" mean? | A prodigal son is a young man who wastes a lot on money on a lavish lifestyle. If the prodigal son returns, they return to a better way of living. |
|
|
| |
as white as the driven snow
What does "as white as the driven snow" mean? | very white | The fur on the dog was as white as the driven snow.
|
Tied to your mother's apron strings
What does "Tied to your mother's apron strings" mean? | Describes a child (often a boy) who is so used to his mother's care that he (or she) cannot do anything on his (or her) own. |
|
give oneself away
What does "give oneself away" mean? | to show guilt, to show that you have done wrong | The girl gave herself away when she said that she had not been downtown although her boyfriend had seen her there.
|
Rudderless ship
What does "Rudderless ship" mean? | If an organisation, company, government, etc, is like a rudderless ship, it has no clear direction and drifts about without reaching its goals. |
|
cut two ways
What does "cut two ways" mean? | to be capable of having two opposite effects, to produce advantages and disadvantages | My decision to complain to our boss could cut two ways and cause him to be happy or angry with me.
|
|
| |
the jury is still out on (someone or something)
What does "the jury is still out on (someone or something)" mean? | a decision has not been reached on someone or something (used often and in a casual manner when one has not made a decision about something) |
The jury is still out on whether or not we will move or not.
|
frikking
What does "frikking" mean? | annoying; irritating; damned (from "fucking") |
|
the hair of the dog that bit one
What does "the hair of the dog that bit one" mean? | a drink of alcohol that one takes when recovering from a hangover |
The man had the hair of the dog that bit him before he ate breakfast.
|
Knock something on the head
What does "Knock something on the head" mean? | If you knock something on the head, you stop it or stop doing it. |
|
keep one's eyes open
What does "keep one's eyes open" mean? | to remain alert and watchful, to notice what is happening around you | I always try to keep my eyes open when I am walking downtown at night.
|