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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under control
What does under control mean? | not out of control, manageable | The fire was under control after the fire department arrived.
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under control
What does under control mean? | not out of control, manageable |
The fire was under control after the fire department arrived.
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Some Random Idioms
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Reading the riot act
What does "Reading the riot act" mean? | To complain or lecture loudly and with angry emotion.
| Upset about his neighbors load music at 3:00 am, Davis knocked on the door and proceeded to read the riot act.
"Reading the riot act" used to be a literal event. Bobbies in Britain used to read a prescribed proclamation, known as the Riot Act, before they could break up or arrest a crowd. The Riot Act is used in a fashion similar to the Miranda Rights in the US.
The Bobbies would approach the crowd, read the Riot Act aloud, and then disperse or arrest them. |
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on top of the world
What does "on top of the world" mean? | to feel very good | I was on top of the world after I received news of the scholarship that I had won.
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on the nose
What does "on the nose" mean? | in exactly the right place or amount, at exactly the right time |
I arrived at 3:00 on the nose.
The amount of money that I received from my friend was right on the nose.
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make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
What does "make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" mean? | to create something of value out of something of no value |
The girl will never be a good singer. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
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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 likes him.
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get off on the wrong foot
What does "get off on the wrong foot" mean? | to make a bad start to a relationship or something else | Unfortunately my relationship with my new teacher got off on the wrong foot.
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mark my word(s)
What does "mark my word(s)" mean? | remember what I'm telling you | "Mark my words, if you do not finish your homework project you are not going to go out this weekend."
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at the expense of (someone or something)
What does "at the expense of (someone or something)" mean? | to be to the harm of (someone or something) |
The man was very successful but it was at the expense of his family and health.
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world is one`s oyster
What does "world is one`s oyster" mean? | someone can get anything that he or she wants, someone will have great opportunities |
"When you graduate from university the world will be your oyster so don`t worry about the future."
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catch forty winks
What does "catch forty winks" mean? | to get some sleep | I was very tired so I stopped my car in order to catch forty winks.
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go all out
What does "go all out" mean? | to use all of one's energy/resources | We plan to go all out for my sister's wedding.
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to some extent
What does "to some extent" mean? | to some degree, partly | My answer to the professor's question was correct to some extent but in general it was not what the professor wanted.
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