English Idiom, Phrase, and Saying Dictionary

Idiom	Meaning	Language
101	The numeral one hundred one; the integer following 100 and preceding 102. \| A numeric label or identifier used for...	en
110 proof	A measure of alcoholic strength in the U.S. proof system equal to 55% alcohol by volume (U.S. proof = twice...	en
11 Downing Street	The official London address of a government building adjacent to 10 Downing Street; a specific residence and office in the...	en
11th commandment	A figurative expression for an additional, unofficial rule or maxim treated as if it were an extra biblical commandment; a...	en
12-ounce curls	Literally, biceps curl exercises performed using a weight of twelve ounces. \| A figurative phrase denoting a feeble, token, or...	en
13th reason why	An additional reason beyond those already given, often implying a hidden, decisive, or unexpected motive.	en
15 minutes of fame	A brief period of public attention or notoriety, typically fleeting and of limited lasting significance. \| Pursuit of transient publicity...	en
23 skidoo	To depart quickly; to leave in haste. \| An interjection used to express dismissal, surprise, or a command to move...	en
23 Skidoo Street	A fictitious or whimsical street name used to indicate an imaginary, unspecified, or stereotypically quirky location. \| A proper name...	en
3-on-the-tree	A three-speed manual transmission with the gearshift lever mounted on the steering column rather than on the floor. \| A...	en
800-pound gorilla	A person, organization, or entity that is so large, powerful, or influential that it can act unilaterally or without regard...	en
Abbot's Priory	A priory associated with, governed by, or subordinate to an abbot or an abbey; a monastic house of religious residence...	en
abound in one's own sense	To exist or occur in great quantity as judged or interpreted by oneself; to be plentiful according to one's personal...	en
about time	At or near the appropriate or scheduled moment; nearly the time for something to happen or begin. \| An exclamation...	en
about to	On the point of doing something; imminently going to occur or begin.	en
above board	Open, honest, and straightforward in conduct or dealings; free from deceit or trickery. \| Done openly and publicly rather than...	en
above one's bend	Beyond a person's capacity, competence, or power to manage or understand.	en
above one's huckleberry	Beyond a person's ability, competence, or social standing to handle or accomplish.	en
acquired taste	Something (often a food or drink) that is not immediately liked but becomes enjoyable or acceptable after repeated exposure. \|...	en
above par	Better than average or better than expected; superior to a normal standard. \| Trading at a price higher than its...	en
above the curve	Performing better than the average or expected level; ahead of peers or benchmarks. \| Situated above a reference curve in...	en
above the fray	Not involved in a dispute, controversy, or conflict; maintaining neutrality or distance from quarrels or partisan disputes. \| Behaving as...	en
above the law	Acting outside or beyond the constraints of the law; not subject to legal accountability. \| A denunciatory assertion that a...	en
above the salt	Holding a position of social prominence or high status, originally referring to the place of honor at a dining table...	en
above water	Literally situated higher than the surface of a body of water; not submerged. \| Financially solvent or able to meet...	en
a bridge too far	An action, demand, or objective that is overly ambitious or beyond what is achievable; an attempt that exceeds reasonable limits...	en
absence makes the heart grow fonder	The idea that temporary separation from someone increases one's affection, longing, or appreciation for that person. \| An ironic or...	en
abuse of distress	The act of taking advantage of another person's emotional pain or vulnerability for personal gain or manipulation. \| Treatment that...	en
accident of birth	A circumstance or condition determined solely by the circumstances into which one was born, such as social class, nationality, family,...	en
a cold day in July	Used hyperbolically to indicate that something is extremely unlikely to happen or will never happen. \| A literal description of...	en
accident waiting to happen	A situation, condition, or arrangement that is highly likely to cause a physical accident unless changed or rectified. \| A...	en
according to Cocker	Used to attribute a statement, opinion, or piece of information to a person named Cocker, indicating that the following content...	en
according to Gunter	As reported, stated, or claimed by a person named Gunter; according to Gunter's account or opinion. \| In conformity with...	en
according to Hoyle	In strict accordance with accepted rules, conventions, or authoritative standards; by the book. \| In an exact or proper manner...	en
ace in the hole	A hidden playing card (originally an ace dealt face down) that gives an advantage in gambling or card games. \|...	en
ace up one's sleeve	A hidden advantage, plan, or resource kept secret until it can be used to gain an edge or achieve success....	en
a cigar is just a cigar	A remark that not every object, action, or detail has a deeper symbolic or psychological meaning; sometimes things are simply...	en
acknowledge the corn	To accept or acknowledge public praise, credit, or congratulations; to take recognition for something.	en
across the board	Applying to all categories, groups, or members without exception; universal or comprehensive in scope. \| In gambling (especially horse racing),...	en
activist judge	A judge perceived to decide cases on the basis of personal or political considerations rather than strict interpretation of law,...	en
activist justice	A style of judicial decision making in which judges are perceived to create, expand, or apply legal principles in ways...	en
act of Congress	A statute or law enacted by the United States Congress; a formal legislative enactment that has been passed by both...	en
act one's age	To behave in a manner considered appropriate for one's chronological age; to stop exhibiting immature, juvenile, or socially inappropriate behavior...	en
act one's age, not one's shoe size	A jocular or emphatic admonition to behave according to one's age rather than in a childish or immature way; implies...	en
act out	To perform, portray, or dramatize a scene, role, or situation, typically in a theatrical, educational, or recreational setting. \| To...	en
act the hypocrite	To behave in a way that contradicts one's expressed morals or principles; to pretend to have virtues, beliefs, or qualities...	en
against the clock	Working as fast as possible in order to finish something before a fixed deadline or before time runs out. \|...	en
act up	To behave badly or in a disruptive, unruly manner, especially of children or animals. \| To malfunction or fail to...	en
Adam's ale	Drinking water; plain water, especially as contrasted with alcoholic beverages.	en
Adam Tiler	A masculine personal name; a proper noun used to identify an individual. Not established as an idiomatic expression with a...	en

101
The numeral one hundred one; the integer following 100 and preceding 102.
en
110 proof
A measure of alcoholic strength in the U.S. proof system equal to 55% alcohol by volume (U.S. proof = twice...
en
11 Downing Street
The official London address of a government building adjacent to 10 Downing Street; a specific residence and office in the...
en
11th commandment
A figurative expression for an additional, unofficial rule or maxim treated as if it were an extra biblical commandment; a...
en
12-ounce curls
Literally, biceps curl exercises performed using a weight of twelve ounces.
en
13th reason why
An additional reason beyond those already given, often implying a hidden, decisive, or unexpected motive.
en
15 minutes of fame
A brief period of public attention or notoriety, typically fleeting and of limited lasting significance.
en
23 skidoo
To depart quickly; to leave in haste.
en
23 Skidoo Street
A fictitious or whimsical street name used to indicate an imaginary, unspecified, or stereotypically quirky location.
en
3-on-the-tree
A three-speed manual transmission with the gearshift lever mounted on the steering column rather than on the floor.
en
800-pound gorilla
A person, organization, or entity that is so large, powerful, or influential that it can act unilaterally or without regard...
en
Abbot's Priory
A priory associated with, governed by, or subordinate to an abbot or an abbey; a monastic house of religious residence...
en
abound in one's own sense
To exist or occur in great quantity as judged or interpreted by oneself; to be plentiful according to one's personal...
en
about time
At or near the appropriate or scheduled moment; nearly the time for something to happen or begin.
en
about to
On the point of doing something; imminently going to occur or begin.
en
above board
Open, honest, and straightforward in conduct or dealings; free from deceit or trickery.
en
above one's bend
Beyond a person's capacity, competence, or power to manage or understand.
en
above one's huckleberry
Beyond a person's ability, competence, or social standing to handle or accomplish.
en
acquired taste
Something (often a food or drink) that is not immediately liked but becomes enjoyable or acceptable after repeated exposure.
en
above par
Better than average or better than expected; superior to a normal standard.
en
above the curve
Performing better than the average or expected level; ahead of peers or benchmarks.
en
above the fray
Not involved in a dispute, controversy, or conflict; maintaining neutrality or distance from quarrels or partisan disputes.
en
above the law
Acting outside or beyond the constraints of the law; not subject to legal accountability.
en
above the salt
Holding a position of social prominence or high status, originally referring to the place of honor at a dining table...
en
above water
Literally situated higher than the surface of a body of water; not submerged.
en
a bridge too far
An action, demand, or objective that is overly ambitious or beyond what is achievable; an attempt that exceeds reasonable limits...
en
absence makes the heart grow fonder
The idea that temporary separation from someone increases one's affection, longing, or appreciation for that person.
en
abuse of distress
The act of taking advantage of another person's emotional pain or vulnerability for personal gain or manipulation.
en
accident of birth
A circumstance or condition determined solely by the circumstances into which one was born, such as social class, nationality, family,...
en
a cold day in July
Used hyperbolically to indicate that something is extremely unlikely to happen or will never happen.
en
accident waiting to happen
A situation, condition, or arrangement that is highly likely to cause a physical accident unless changed or rectified.
en
according to Cocker
Used to attribute a statement, opinion, or piece of information to a person named Cocker, indicating that the following content...
en
according to Gunter
As reported, stated, or claimed by a person named Gunter; according to Gunter's account or opinion.
en
according to Hoyle
In strict accordance with accepted rules, conventions, or authoritative standards; by the book.
en
ace in the hole
A hidden playing card (originally an ace dealt face down) that gives an advantage in gambling or card games.
en
ace up one's sleeve
A hidden advantage, plan, or resource kept secret until it can be used to gain an edge or achieve success.
en
a cigar is just a cigar
A remark that not every object, action, or detail has a deeper symbolic or psychological meaning; sometimes things are simply...
en
acknowledge the corn
To accept or acknowledge public praise, credit, or congratulations; to take recognition for something.
en
across the board
Applying to all categories, groups, or members without exception; universal or comprehensive in scope.
en
activist judge
A judge perceived to decide cases on the basis of personal or political considerations rather than strict interpretation of law,...
en
activist justice
A style of judicial decision making in which judges are perceived to create, expand, or apply legal principles in ways...
en
act of Congress
A statute or law enacted by the United States Congress; a formal legislative enactment that has been passed by both...
en
act one's age
To behave in a manner considered appropriate for one's chronological age; to stop exhibiting immature, juvenile, or socially inappropriate behavior...
en
act one's age, not one's shoe size
A jocular or emphatic admonition to behave according to one's age rather than in a childish or immature way; implies...
en
act out
To perform, portray, or dramatize a scene, role, or situation, typically in a theatrical, educational, or recreational setting.
en
act the hypocrite
To behave in a way that contradicts one's expressed morals or principles; to pretend to have virtues, beliefs, or qualities...
en
against the clock
Working as fast as possible in order to finish something before a fixed deadline or before time runs out.
en
act up
To behave badly or in a disruptive, unruly manner, especially of children or animals.
en
Adam's ale
Drinking water; plain water, especially as contrasted with alcoholic beverages.
en
Adam Tiler
A masculine personal name; a proper noun used to identify an individual. Not established as an idiomatic expression with a...
en