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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you can't make an omelette without breaking the eggs
What does you can't make an omelette without breaking the eggs mean? | you cannot do something without causing some problems or having some effects | "You can't make an omelette without breaking the eggs and if you want to change the work schedules, then you are going to cause problems."
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Some Random Idioms
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come home to haunt (someone)
What does "come home to haunt (someone)" mean? | result in undesirable effects eventually |
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cock tease
What does "cock tease" mean? | a woman who makes sexual advances but does not follow through |
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bound for (somewhere)
What does "bound for (somewhere)" mean? | to be on the way somewhere or planning to go somewhere |
My friend was bound for college when I last met him.
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Step on someone's toes
What does "Step on someone's toes" mean? | If you step on someone's toes, you upset them, especially if you do something that they should be in charge of. |
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keep (someone or something) in check
What does "keep (someone or something) in check" mean? | keep under control, restrain | The economic policy was designed to keep inflation in check.
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line up
What does "line up" mean? | take places in a line or formation, stand one behind another | We were forced to line up in front of the movie theater for over one hour.
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all thumbs
What does "all thumbs" mean? | to be awkward and clumsy, a difficulty in fixing things or working with one's hands |
The man is all thumbs and he can never fix something without making it worse.
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a crick in one's back/neck
What does "a crick in one's back/neck" mean? | a painful cramp in one's back or neck |
I woke up this morning with a crick in my neck.
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Rule of thumb
What does "Rule of thumb" mean? | A basic rule that is usually but not always correct. | As a rule of thumb, plant tomato seeds three inches deep.
Based on the use of ones thumb as a rough measurement tool. Generally correct for course measures.
Most old English measures of distance were based on the body measurements of the king -- the length of the foot, inch (thumb tip to first knuckle), cubit (elbow-to-fingertip), and yard (nose-to-fingertip). |