English Idiom, Phrase, and Saying Dictionary

IdiomMeaningLanguage
101(Canada,US,alone orpostpositive,chieflyhumorous)Of afact,subject, etc.:basic,beginner-level,elementary.Geology101tells us that you can’t build a reservoir on sandstone.My dog flunked out of Crate Training101.1964March (date...en
110 proof(idiomatic)Stronger thanstrong.1941February 9, "The 'Hated Hun'—Then and Now",The New York Times,In those days a Hollywood hero had to be110 proof....2002February...en
11 Downing Street(UK politics)The address of theresidenceinLondonof theChancellorof theExchequerof theUnited Kingdom.; (UK politics,by extension,idiomatic)The title or office of theChancellor of the Exchequer.;...en
11th commandment(idiomatic)A well-knownconvention(often the most well-known of a certain field) which supposedly can not or should not be broken.2016September 29, Cathy...en
12-ounce curls(idiomatic)The activity ofdrinkingbeer.2006June, Scott Quill, “Muscle Bulletin: Pass the Bar”, inMen's Health‎[1],→ISSN:Don't burn out your biceps with12-ounce curls.en
13th reason why(idiomatic)Alternative form ofthirteenth reason why.en
15 minutes of fame(idiomatic)A very short time in thespotlightor briefflurrywith fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten.2007,Nigel Hamilton,Bill Clinton:...en
23 skidoo(idiomatic,archaic,chieflyUS)Toleave, particularly quickly or at anadvantageoustime.[ca. 1908—1923]1908, George Washington University student publication,The Cherry tree: published by the students at George...en
23 Skidoo Street(idiomatic,dated,rare,chieflyUS)[c. 1900]Afictitiousplace or agenericplace that could refer to any location.1908,The New music review and church music review, volume 8, page395:"Apply...en
3-on-the-treeAlternative spelling ofthree-on-the-tree.; (idiomatic)On an automobile (especially those produced from 1939 through the late - 1970s), a three-speed manualtransmissionwhosegearshiftlever ismountedon...en
800-pound gorilla(idiomatic)An entity that dominates its environment.2008February 6, “Who’s the 800-Pound Gorilla?”, inThe New York Times‎[1],→ISSN, archived fromthe originalon9 June 2021:When...en
Abbot's Priory(obsolete,Britishslang,idiomatic)King's Bench Prison, a former prison in the south ofLondon.1822,Benchiana; or, Sketches of Life and Character in St. George’s Fields[…],page18:[…]after...en
abound in one's own sense(idiomatic,dated)Tofollowone’s owninclinationsandopinions.1856,Ralph Waldo Emerson, “[journal entry]”, inThe Journals and Miscellaneous Notebooks of Ralph Waldo Emerson, volume14, published1978,→ISBN,page45:But for that very...en
about time(idiomatic,oftensarcastic)Far past the desired time.Our food has finally arrived. ―(And) about time(too), if you ask me! We've been waiting about...en
about to(idiomatic,withinfinitiveverb)Indicates something that will happen verysoon; indicates action that isimminent; ready to;went toHe's standing at the edge, and I think...en
above board(idiomatic)Openly, without deceit.2001, Michael Inne,A Family Affair, page82:'[…]And he explained this business of confidential commissions?' / 'Yes, he did. And...en
above one's bend(idiomatic,US,dated)Beyond one's power or ability.Synonym:above one's huckleberry1835,Davy Crockett,An account of Col. Crockett's tour to the North and down East:I shall...en
above one's huckleberry(idiomatic,US,dated)Synonym ofabove one's bend(“beyond one's power or ability”).en
acquired tasteA taste which is notnaturalorinnate, but which has developed throughhabitorlearning.Antonym:natural taste1939July 24, “Italy: Home Again”, inTime:Like many another Italian War...en
above par(idiomatic)Better than theaverageornormalstandard.Coordinate terms:up to par,below par1782, Daniel Taylor,Frances Burney,Cecilia:"Certainly, sir, that will be an excellent method of trial.""Ay, ay,...en
above the curve(idiomatic)With above average innovative performance or quality, especially a trailblazer developing advances before competitors.en
above the frayUninvolvedin a difficultargumentorstruggle.Antonym:in the thick of it; (by extension)having anaffectedlynonchalantormatureattitude about adisputeseen aspetty.Near-synonym:aloofen
above the lawExemptfrom thelawsthatapplyto everyone else.Coordinate term:below the lawThe emperor isabove the law.You may think you'reabove the law, but you're not.1886October –1887January,H[enry]...en
above the salt(idiomatic)Of high standing or honor.en
above water(idiomatic)Out of difficulty, especiallyfinancially.Antonyms:under water,underwater;insolventHyponym:solventen
a bridge too far(idiomatic)A step or action that is tooambitious; an act ofoverreaching.2006, Adair Broughton,Crossing the Bridge of Infinity, page40:Cloning was an interesting...en
absence makes the heart grow fonder(idiomatic)Onefeelsmoreloveoraffectionfor those oneloveswhenpartedfrom them.en
abuse of distress(idiomatic,historical,law)awrongfulusing of an animal orchatteldistrained, by thedistraineren
accident of birth(idiomatic)Afact,situation, orpersonalcharacteristic, which may bedesirableorundesirable, resulting from thecircumstancesinto which a person was born, and which is therefore entirely beyond theircontrol.1899,Charles...en
a cold day in July(idiomatic,colloquial)The time of occurrence of an event that will never happen.It'll bea cold day in Julywhen that happens.en
accident waiting to happen(idiomatic)A thing or situation which is almost certain to eventually lead to anaccident.Someone needs to repair that worn-out old bridge....en
according to Cocker(dated,colloquial,British,idiomatic)Doneproperly,correctlyandreliably; inaccordancewith properprocedureand establishedrules.1859–1861, [Thomas Hughes], “A Crisis”, inTom Brown at Oxford:[…], part 2nd, Boston, Mass.:Ticknor and Fields, published1861,→OCLC,page140:“Well, so...en
according to Gunter(dated,colloquial,British,idiomatic)Synonym ofaccording to Cocker.en
according to Hoyle(idiomatic)Instrictaccordancewith therules, especially ofcardgames; in theproperorexpectedmanner.1902,Gilbert Parker, chapter 11, inDonovan Pasha and Some People of Egypt:This isn't a country where...en
ace in the hole(US,idiomatic,informal)Synonym oface up one's sleeve.Ourace in the holeleft our opponents stupefied; it isn't every day that an NBA star plays...en
ace up one's sleeve(idiomatic)Asurpriseadvantageof which others are notaware.2023October 14, “Exploring the SCP Foundation: SCP-7450 - L is for Lamentations” (0:49 from the start),...en
a cigar is just a cigar(idiomatic)Thematterissimpleandstraightforward.1998March, Ellen Tien, “Love Q&A”, inElizabeth Crow, editor,Mademoiselle, New York, N.Y.:Condé Nast Publications,→ISSN,→OCLC,page81, column 3:There's plenty of time for dating...en
acknowledge the corn(idiomatic)To admit to the truth of the point at issue or to a mistake; tocop a plea; or perhaps to...en
across the board(idiomatic)Pertaining to allcategoriesorthings.1949, United States Congress Committee on Post Office and Civil Service,Hearings:[…]in favor of a straightacross-the-boardsalary increase[…]1983, A. Premchard,Government...en
activist judge(US,derogatory,chiefly in right-wing discourse)Ajudgeorjusticewho makes rulings based on personal political views or considerations rather than on the law, or who...en
activist justice(US,derogatory,chiefly in right-wing discourse)Ajustice(usually referring to a member of a Supreme, High or Appellate court) who makes rulings based on...en
act of Congress(literally,US politics)Astatuteenacted by theUnited States Congress.; (idiomatic,US,chieflycolloquial)Anauthorizationthat isextremelydifficulttoobtain, especially in atimelyfashion.Does it take anact of Congressjust to get a stop...en
act one's age(idiomatic)To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.Synonym:behave one's age; (imperative,originallyUS)To behave in amaturemanner; to avoid beingchildish.Act your ageand...en
act one's age, not one's shoe size(idiomatic,usuallyimperative)Synonym ofact one's age(“to behave in amaturemanner; to avoid beingchildish”).You shouldact your age, not your shoe size!en
act out(transitive)To perform something specific.1987, Allan Bloom,The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the...en
act the hypocrite(idiomatic,dated)To behavedeceitfullyorhypocritically; todissemble.en
against the clock(idiomatic)In a time-restricted manner, to meet adeadline, hurriedly, timed.en
act up(intransitive,idiomatic)Tomisbehave; to causetrouble.Synonyms:carry on,act out,play upCoordinate term:kick upMy allergiesact upduring hay fever season.Children mayact upin class in an effort to...en
Adam's ale(humorous,idiomatic)Water.Synonym:Adam's wine1643,William Prynne, “The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments & Kingdomes.[…]”, inThe Soveraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes:[…], London:[…]Michael Sparke Senior,→OCLC,page32:[T]hey...en
Adam Tiler(idiomatic,archaic,thieves' cantandslang)Apickpocket's accomplice; the person who takes the goods a pickpocket steals and leaves with them.1823,Tales of my Father, and...en