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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wear thin
What does wear thin mean? | become thin from use or the passing of time | The silver dollar began to wear thin after it was in use for many years.
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wear thin
What does wear thin mean? | grow less interesting or believable | His excuses began to wear thin after he kept using them again and again.
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wear thin
What does wear thin mean? | to become thin from use or the passing of time |
The silver dollar began to wear thin after it was in use for many years.
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wear thin
What does wear thin mean? | to grow less interesting or believable |
The woman's excuses began to wear thin after she kept using them again and again.
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Some Random Idioms
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partial to (someone or something)
What does "partial to (someone or something)" mean? | favoring or preferring someone or something | Our boss is partial to the new person who recently began to work in our company.
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Room to swing a cat
What does "Room to swing a cat" mean? | A confined space. | This bedroom doesn't even have enough room to swing a cat.
This colorful phrase evokes strange images of feline cruelty. In fact it has nothing to do with cats, but the real story is at least as cruel.
The "cat" is a cat-of-nine-tails, a type of whip used to discipline sailors on old sailing ships. The cat-of-nine-tails has one handle to which is attached nine thin strips of leather, each perhaps three feet long. The cat-of-nine-tails would be used to administer lashings that would sting and leave welts on the recipient.
The whippings would take place on the deck, because below deck there was not enough ceiling height to swing a cat-of-nine-tails. |
funny bone
What does "funny bone" mean? | the place at the back of the elbow that tingles when hit | I hit my funny bone today and it still hurts a little.
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raw
What does "raw" mean? | lacking experience; new. | You're totally raw. You've never done this, have you?
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Slow but sure
What does "Slow but sure" mean? | If something or someone is slow but sure, they may take their time to do something, but they are reliable. |
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phooey
What does "phooey" mean? | nonsense; rubbish; foolish talk or ideas |
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take (something) personally
What does "take (something) personally" mean? | to interpret a remark as if it were meant for or critical of oneself | I wish that my colleague would not take everything that I say personally.
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under pressure
What does "under pressure" mean? | experiencing something that causes stress or anxiety | The boy's father is always under pressure at work.
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piddle around
What does "piddle around" mean? | work slowly and without focus |
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too many cooks spoil the broth
What does "too many cooks spoil the broth" mean? | too many people trying to do something will cause problems |
Too many cooks spoil the broth and having too many people work on the project was making it difficult to do anything.
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