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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cash in on (something)
What does "cash in on (something)" mean? | to make money from an opportunity | The former basketball player cashed in on his popularity to open a very successful restaurant.
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in a nutshell
What does "in a nutshell" mean? | briefly | I tried to explain the problem to him in a nutshell but there still wasn`t enough time.
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Hell for leather
What does "Hell for leather" mean? | If you do something hell for leather, especially running, you do it as fast as you can. |
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PS
What does "PS" mean? | Postscript - written at the end of a letter when you want to
add some extra information | Postscript - written at the end of a letter when you want to add some extra informationAfter finishing the main part of the letter I wrote PS to include something very important that I had forgotten.
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roit
What does "roit" mean? | an amusing, entertaining person or thing |
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boogie
What does "boogie" mean? | leave; go; depart. | Time to boogie.
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Those who live by the sword die by the sword
What does "Those who live by the sword die by the sword" mean? | This means that violent people will be treated violently themselves. |
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under wraps
What does "under wraps" mean? | not allowed to be seen until the right time, in secrecy | The new car was still under wraps when the car show started.
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Back handed compliment
What does "Back handed compliment" mean? | A compliment that also insults or puts down at the
same time. | They gave me a backhanded compliment when they said I was smart for a girl.
Back-handed is synonymous with left-handed. For example in tennis, a backhand stroke is a strike by a right-handed player from the left side of the body.
The left side of the body has always been deemed sinister. The Latin word for left is sinister. Hence, back-handed means round-about, indirect, or devious. |
knew it was coming
What does "knew it was coming" mean? | aware in advance that something was going to happen | I knew it was coming when my boss asked me into her office and told me that the store would soon close.
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have an edge on/over (someone or something)
What does "have an edge on/over (someone or something)" mean? | have an advantage over someone or something | Our team has an edge over the other teams to win the high school football championship.
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stall off (someone or something)
What does "stall off (someone or something)" mean? | to put off or delay someone or something | I believe that I will be able to stall off the start of the meeting for several hours.
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