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.
.
unrequited love
What does unrequited love mean? | love that is not returned, one-way love | love that is not returned, one-way loveThe woman was in love with the president of her company but from the beginning it was a case of unrequited love.
|
|
Some Random Idioms
| |
take one's eye off the ball
What does "take one's eye off the ball" mean? | fail to keep one's attention focused on the ball or the matter
at hand | fail to keep one's attention focused on the ball or the matter at handHe took his eye off the ball for only a second and the other team quickly scored a goal.
|
flog/beat a dead horse
What does "flog/beat a dead horse" mean? | to continue fighting a battle that has been won, to continue to argue a point that has been settled | My friend was flogging a dead horse when she would not stop arguing about the mistake on her paycheck.
|
go through the roof
What does "go through the roof" mean? | to go very high | The price of oil is going through the roof.
|
A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire
What does "A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire" mean? | One does not repeat a painful lesson twice. | I've tried to get little Johnny to quit running and jumping on the furniture before he hurts himself, but only a burnt child dreads the fire.
Very similar in meaning to another proverb, "Once bitten, twice shy," today's proverb is an old one. It appeared in English literature as early as 1320, in "The Proverbs of Hendyng." Another proverb, which is similar, comes from the French: "A scalded dog fears cold water" carries an even stronger message; that those who have experienced a great deal of difficulty or pain will not only avoid it in the future, but will be afraid even where there is no cause.
Other languages also have like proverbs, such as, "One bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope's end" (Jewish), "A man who has received a beating with a firebrand runs away at the sight of a firefly" (Singhalese), and "A dog which has been beaten with a stick fears its own shadow" (Italian). |
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.
|
close call/shave
What does "close call/shave" mean? | an accident that almost happens but does not happen | I had a close call this morning when the truck almost hit me.
|
be curtains for (someone or something)
What does "be curtains for (someone or something)" mean? | to be the end or death for someone or something | It was curtains for my old car when it finally broke down last week.
|
jump the gun
What does "jump the gun" mean? | start before the starting signal or before you should start
(as in a race) | start before the starting signal or before you should start (as in a race)My friend jumped the gun and applied for the job before applications were being accepted.
|