American Idioms

#Idioms #English #esl out of one's wits See: SCARE OUT OF ONE'S WITS .

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_o/5898-out-of-ones-wits

#adjective #adverb #Idioms #English #esl out of breath  {ADJ.} or  {ADV. PHR.} Not breathing easily or regularly; gasping; panting. The fat man was out of breath after climbing the stair...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_o/5866-out-of-breath

#noun #Idioms #English #esl stage whisper  {N. PHR.} A loud whisper intended to reach other ears than those of the person(s) addressed. Some jokes should be told in a stage whisper. Cate...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7526-stage-whisper

#slang #verb #Idioms #English #esl liquor up  {V. PHR.},  {SLANG} To drink an excessive amount of liquor before engaging in some activity as if comparing oneself to a car that needs to ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_l/4807-liquor-up

#slang #noun #Idioms #English #esl knockout  {N.},  {SLANG} 1. Strikingly beautiful woman. Sue is a regular knockout. 2. A straight punch in boxing that causes one's opponent to fall an...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_k/4462-knockout

#Idioms #English #esl skin See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH , GET UNDER ONE'S SKIN , JUMP OUT OF ONE'S SKIN , KEEP ONE'S EYES PEELED or KEEP ONE'S EYES SKINNED , SAVE ONE'S NECK or SAVE ONE'S...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7263-skin

#verb #Idioms #English #esl show around  {V. PHR.} To act as a host or guide to someone; to show newly arrived people or strangers what's what and where. When Gordon and Rose arrived in ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7155-show-around

#formal #verb #Idioms #English #esl set forth  {V.},  {FORMAL} 1. To explain exactly or clearly. The President set forth his plans in a television talk. 2. To start to go somewhere; be...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7020-set-forth

#noun #Idioms #English #esl rule of thumb  {N. PHR.} A simple and practical method that has proven successful or useful in the past. It is a very good rule of thumb to look up all unfam...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_r/6751-rule-of-thumb

#slang #noun #Idioms #English #esl light housekeeping  {N.},  {SLANG} An arrangement in which an unmarried couple live together. Are Joe and Sue married? — Oh, no, — it's just a case...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_l/4761-light-housekeeping

#noun #Idioms #English #esl cross fire  {N.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more places at once so that the lines of fire cross. The soldiers on the bridge were caught in ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_c/1602-cross-fire

#verb #Idioms #English #esl face up to  {V. PHR.} 1. To bravely confront a person or a challenge; admit. Jack doesn't want to face up to the fact that Helen doesn't love him anymore. J...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_f/2170-face-up-to

#conjunction #Idioms #English #esl such as  {CONJ.} 1. Of a kind or amount shown or named; of a kind like. The explorer took only such men and things as he really needed into the jungle ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7740-such-as

#informal #noun #Idioms #English #esl get-up-and-go also get-up-and-get  {N. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. Joe has a lot of get-up-a...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2882-get-up-and-go

#adjective #Idioms #English #esl out of fashion  {ADJ. PHR.} Having passed from vogue; out of the current mode. The miniskirt is now out of fashion in most quarters, but it may very we...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_o/5872-out-of-fashion

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl couldn't care less  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To be indifferent; not care at all. The students couldn't care less about the band; they talk all through...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_c/1529-couldnt-care-less

#verb #Idioms #English #esl make ends meet  {V. PHR.} To have enough money to pay one's bills; earn what it costs to live. Both husband and wife had to work to make ends meet. Categor...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_m/5027-make-ends-meet

#noun #Idioms #English #esl leg to stand on  {N. PHR.} A firm foundation of facts; facts to support your claim. — Usually used in the negative. Jerry's answering speech left his oppon...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_l/4674-leg-to-stand-on

#noun #Idioms #English #esl all-out war  {N.} Total war including civilian casualties as opposed to a war that is limited only to armies. Hitler was waging an all-out war when he invade...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_a/112-all-out-war

#Idioms #English #esl let's don't also don't let's  {SUBSTANDARD} Let's not; let us not; I suggest that we don't. "'Let's go out and play," said Fred. "Let's don't until the rain stops," ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_l/4721-lets-dont

#informal #noun #Idioms #English #esl girl friend  {N.},  {INFORMAL} 1. A female friend or companion. Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend's house. 2. A boy's steady girl; the�...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2902-girl-friend

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl talk shop  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To talk about things in your work or trade. Two chemists were talking shop, and I hardly understood a word they s...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_t/8012-talk-shop

#slang #noun #Idioms #English #esl fancy pants  {N.},  {SLANG} A man or boy who wears clothes that are too nice or acts like a woman or girl; sissy. The first time they saw him in his ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_f/2228-fancy-pants

#noun #Idioms #English #esl canned music  {N.} Recorded music, as opposed to music played live. "Let us go to a real concert, honey," Mike said. "I am tired of all this canned music we've...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_c/1089-canned-music

#noun #Idioms #English #esl seventh heaven  {N. PHR.},  {LITERARY} The pinnacle of happiness. We were in seventh heaven when the helicopter flew us over the magnificent Grand Canyon. C...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7062-seventh-heaven

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl stick to one's knitting or tend to one's knitting  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To do your own job and not bother other people. The trouble with Henry is...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7625-stick-to-ones-knitting

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl put one's foot down  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To take a decided stand; be stubborn in decision. John didn't want to practice his piano lesson, but h...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_p/6429-put-ones-foot-down

#verb #Idioms #English #esl gloss over  {V.} To try to make what is wrong or bad seem right or not important; try to make a thing look easy; pretend about; hide. Billy broke a window an...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2999-gloss-over

#verb #Idioms #English #esl reckon with  {V.} To consider as one of the things which may change a situation; consider (something) that will make a difference in the results. The coach sa...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_r/6578-reckon-with

#noun #Idioms #English #esl man in the moon  {N. PHR.} An imaginary or nonexistent person (often used to indicate a person of ignorance). Stop asking me such difficult questions about nu...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_m/5101-man-in-the-moon

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl sing a different tune or whistle a different tune also sing a new tune  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To talk or act in the opposite way; contradict some...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7215-sing-a-different-tune

#slang #informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl clean out  {V.} 1.  {SLANG} To take everything from; empty; strip. George's friends cleaned him out when they were playing cards last night. Th...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_c/1307-clean-out

#adjective #Idioms #English #esl in deep  {ADJ. PHR.} Seriously mixed up in something, especially trouble. George began borrowing small sums of money to bet on horses, and before he kne...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_i/3949-in-deep

#verb #Idioms #English #esl get out of  {V. PHR.} 1. To be excused from; avoid. He got out of jury duty because of his illness. 2. To gain from; extract from. Tom complained that he di...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2822-get-out-of

#informal #adverb #Idioms #English #esl on all fours  {ADV. PHR.} 1. On all four legs; on hands and knees. Fido sat up to "beg" but dropped down on all fours to eat the dog biscuit Sa...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_o/5610-on-all-fours

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl hold one's end up or hold up one's end or keep one's end up or keep up one's end  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To do your share of work; do your part. Ma...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_h/3712-hold-ones-end-up

#informal #adjective #Idioms #English #esl afraid of one's shadow  {ADJ. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} Scared of small or imaginary things; very easily frightened; jumpy; nervous. Mrs. Smith won't s...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_a/49-afraid-of-ones-shadow

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl give a hang or care a hang  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To have any interest or liking; care. — Used also with other words in the place of "hang", su...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_g/2907-give-a-hang

#verb #Idioms #English #esl keep one's chin up  {V. PHR.} To be brave; be determined; face trouble with courage. He didn't think that he would ever get out of the jungle alive, but he ke...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_k/4357-keep-ones-chin-up

#noun #Idioms #English #esl slave driver  {N.} A cruel, merciless boss or employer who makes the people under him work extremely hard for little compensation. Mr. Catwallender is such a ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_s/7284-slave-driver

#adverb #Idioms #English #esl for all that  {ADV. PHR.} In spite of what has been said, alleged, or rumored. Well, for all that, we think that she is still the most deserving candidate fo...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_f/2495-for-all-that

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl play one's cards right or play one's cards well  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful; act cleverly; make...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_p/6217-play-ones-cards-right

#informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl joking aside or joking apart  {V. PHR.},  {INFORMAL} No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously. Joking aside, although the conditions were not ver...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_j/4283-joking-aside

#verb #Idioms #English #esl put to sea  {V. PHR.} To start a voyage. The captain said the ship would put to sea at six in the morning. In the days of sailing ships, putting to sea d...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_p/6460-put-to-sea

#informal #noun #Idioms #English #esl bad blood  {N.},  {INFORMAL} Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. There's a lot of bad blood between...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_b/400-bad-blood

#verb #Idioms #English #esl talk down  {V.} 1. To make (someone) silent by talking louder or longer. Sue tried to give her ideas, but the other girls talked her down. Compare: SHOUT DOW...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_t/8001-talk-down

#slang #noun #Idioms #English #esl flower power  {N.},  {SLANG} The supposed power of love and nonviolence as intended to be used by members of the anti-culture to change American societ...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_f/2434-flower-power

#verb #Idioms #English #esl be my guest  {V. PHR.} Feel free to use what I have; help yourself. When Suzie asked if she could borrow John's bicycle, John said, "Be my guest." Categories:...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_b/570-be-my-guest

#Idioms #English #esl tongue See: AT THE TIP OF ONE'S TONGUE , CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE , HOLD ONE'S TONGUE , KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD , SLIP OF THE TONGUE . Categories: tongue

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_t/8321-tongue

#adjective #Idioms #English #esl one and the same  {ADJ. PHR.} The same; identical. Erle Stanley Gardner and A.A. Fair are one and the same person. The spider lily and the Peruvian Daffo...

https://www.english-slang.com/eng/american/i_o/5638-one-and-the-same