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