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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up the ante
What does up the ante mean? | to increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or conflict | The union upped the ante in their dispute with the company.
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up the ante
What does up the ante mean? | increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or
conflict (an ante is the amount of money that you put on the table before
beginning a card game) | increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or conflict (an ante is the amount of money that you put on the table before beginning a card game)The actor upped the ante in his dispute with the movie studio when he refused to appear for the movie preparatio
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up the ante
What does up the ante mean? | to increase your demands or the amount that you spend for something (the ante is the amount of money each player puts on the table before starting a game of cards or poker) |
The company upped the ante in their bid to buy the other company.
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up the ante
What does up the ante mean? | to increase what is at stake or under discussion in a dispute or conflict |
The union upped the ante in their dispute with the company.
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Some Random Idioms
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pork out
What does "pork out" mean? | eat greedily and quickly |
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a miscarriage of justice
What does "a miscarriage of justice" mean? | a wrong or mistaken decision made in a court of law | The trial was a miscarriage of justice and nobody was happy with the result.
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change hands
What does "change hands" mean? | to be transferred from one person to another |
The pizza restaurant changed hands many times during the last several years.
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number one
What does "number one" mean? | best; top |
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go for the jugular
What does "go for the jugular" mean? | to attack someone in a way that you know will harm him or her most (the jugular is a large vein in the neck) |
When the political candidate began to have problems the other candidates decided to go for the jugular and attack.
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Blood from a turnip
What does "Blood from a turnip" mean? | It is impossible to get something from someone if they don't have it, just as you cannot get blood from a turnip. |
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a great deal of (something)
What does "a great deal of (something)" mean? | much or a lot of something | There was a great deal of water in our house after the flood.
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as sick as a dog
What does "as sick as a dog" mean? | very sick |
My friend was as sick as a dog when he left the restaurant last night.
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nip and tuck
What does "nip and tuck" mean? | almost even or tied | almost even or tiedThe two horses were running nip and tuck for most of the race but finally the younger horse won the race.
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Not know you are born
What does "Not know you are born" mean? | This indicates that the person described is unaware of his or her good fortune or is unaware of how difficult day to day life was before he/she was born. Typical usage: 'Kids today don't know they are born'. |
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