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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wait-and-see attitude
What does wait-and-see attitude mean? | an uncertain attitude where you wait and see what will happen | We decided to take a wait-and-see attitude regarding what our new boss was going to do.
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wait-and-see attitude
What does wait-and-see attitude mean? | an uncertain attitude where you wait and see what will happen |
We decided to take a wait-and-see attitude regarding what our new boss was going to do.
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Some Random Idioms
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take the stand
What does "take the stand" mean? | to go and sit in the witness chair in a courtroom | The star witness will take the stand in the trial tomorrow.
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Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched
What does "Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched" mean? | Don't be overconfident and assume success before
you know the outcome of a venture. | In the midst of this daydream, she did toss her curls, sending the pail of milk spilling. The moral of the fable is: Such are the disappointments of those who count their chickens before they are hatched.
This proverb's use in English began in the second half of the sixteenth century, but its origins are in Aesop's Fables, written in the sixth century B.C. "The Milkmaid and the Pail" is a fable about a young girl on her way home, carrying her pail of milk on top of her head.
She was daydreaming about what she would do with the milk, starting with making cream and butter to sell. Then, she could buy eggs with that money, and the eggs would hatch into chickens. They would lay more eggs, and the process would continue, growing more and more profitable. Later on, she could sell some of the birds and buy herself a dress, drawing attention of the young men in the town. When they took notice, her plan was to ignore their advances wit a toss of her curls. |
short and sweet
What does "short and sweet" mean? | brief and pleasant | My visit with my parents was short and sweet.
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get butterflies in one`s stomach
What does "get butterflies in one`s stomach" mean? | to get a feeling of fear or anxiety in one's stomach |
I got butterflies in my stomach just before I took the test.
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fruity
What does "fruity" mean? | of or pertaining to silly behavior |
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damage
What does "damage" mean? | cost; amount of a bill |
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with a jaundiced eye
What does "with a jaundiced eye" mean? | with a prejudiced or distorted way of seeing something |
My friend is very smart although he always looks at things with a jaundiced eye.
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run (something) by (someone) again
What does "run (something) by (someone) again" mean? | to say something again | I asked my colleague to run his ideas by me again.
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open one`s heart to (someone)
What does "open one`s heart to (someone)" mean? | to talk about one`s feelings honestly, to confide in someone | I opened my heart to my friend when I saw her at the restaurant last night.
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