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American English Idioms

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A day late and a dollar short: If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
All bets are off: If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.
All hat, no cattle: When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.('Big hat, no cattle' is also used.)
All over Hell's half acre: If you have been all over Hell's half acre, you have been traveling and visiting many more places than originally intended, usually because you were unsuccessful in finding what you were looking for. It can also be used to mean everywhere.
All over the map: If something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn't stick to the main topic and goes off on tangents.
Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades: Used in response to someone saying "almost" in a win/lose situation. The full expression is "Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades." An alternate form puts "and flinging shit from a shovel" at the end.
Armchair quarterback: An armchair quarterback is someone who offers advice, especially about football, but never shows that they could actually do any better.
As mad as a wrongly shot hog: If someone is as mad as a wrongly shot hog, they are very angry. (Same as, Angry as a bear or Angry as a bull).
As rare as hen's teeth: Something that is rare as hen's teeth is very rare or non-existent.
At a drop of a dime: If someone will do something at the drop of a dime, they will do it instantly, without hesitation.
At loose ends: If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
At the bottom of the totem pole: If someone is at the bottom of the totem pole, they are unimportant. Opposite is at the top of the totem pole.
At the end of your rope: If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
Baby boomer: A baby boomer is someone born in the years after the end of the Second World War, a period when the population was growing very fast.
Balls to the walls: If you do something balls to the wall, you apply full acceleration or exertion.
Batting a thousand: (from baseball) It means to do something perfectly.
Be out in left field: To be out in left field is not to know what's going on. Taken from baseball, when youngsters assign less capable players to the outfield where the ball is less likely to be hit by a young player. In business, one might say, 'Don't ask the new manager; he's out in left field and doesn't know any answers yet.'
Beat someone to the draw: If you beat someone to the draw, you do something before they do.
Beating a dead horse: If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're beating a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
Bells on: To be somewhere with bells on means to arrive there happy and delighted to attend.
Belt and suspenders: Someone who wears belt and suspenders is very cautious and takes no risks.
Bet the ranch: If you bet the ranch, you risk everything on something you think will succeed.
Bet your bottom dollar: If you can bet your bottom dollar on something, you can be absolutely sure about it.
Big Apple: The Big Apple is New York.
Big Easy: The Big Easy is New Orleans, Louisiana
Bird-dog: If you bird-dog, you follow someone or something very closely, monitoring them.
Blow off steam: If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.
Blow smoke: If people blow smoke, they exaggerate or say things that are not true, usually to make themselves look better.
Can't dance and it's too wet to plow: When you can't dance and it's too wet to plow, you may as well do something because you can't or don't have the opportunity to do anything else.
Cat fur and kitty britches: When I used to ask my grandma what was for dinner, she would say 'cat fur and kitty britches'. This was her Ozark way of telling me that I would get what she cooked. (Ozark is a region in the center of the United States)
Cat's pajamas: Something that is the cat's pajamas is excellent.
Caught with your hand in the cookie jar: If someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing something wrong.
Charley horse: A charley horse is a stiff leg or a cramp, especially in the leg.
Circle the wagons: If you circle the wagons, you stop communicating with people who don't think the same way as you to avoid their ideas. It can also mean to bring everyone together to defend a group against an attack.
Close but no cigar: If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success or the truth, but have not got there.
Cooking with gas: If you're cooking with gas, you're working very efficiently.
Coon's age: A very long time, as in 'I haven't seen her in a coon's age!'
Country mile: A country mile is used to describe a long distance.
Crepe hanger: One who always looks at the bad side of things and is morbid or gloomy. In olden days crepe was hung on the door of a deceased person's home.
Curve ball: If something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.
Cute as a bug: If something is as cute as a bug, it is sweet and endearing.
Decorate the mahogany: When someone buys a round a pub or bar, they decorate the mahogany; putting cash on the bar.
Different ropes for different folks: This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Different strokes for different folks: This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Dime a dozen: If something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.
Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?: (US Southern) This is a response given to an unnecessary question for which the obvious answer is yes. Example: If you were to ask an Olympic archer whether she could put an arrow in an apple at ten yards, she could answer: "Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?"('Do one-legged ducks swim in circles?' is also used.)
Dog and pony show: A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.
Dollars for doughnuts: If something is dollars for doughnuts, it is a sure bet or certainty.
Don't stop and kick at every dog that barks at you: If we stop to kick at every dog that barks at us we will never arrive at our destination in life, because we are obsessed with righting insignifigant wrongs that should have no more effect on us then a dog that barks as we walk by.
Don't sweat the small stuff: This is used to tell people not to worry about trivial or unimportant issues.
Don't take any wooden nickels: This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped off.
Down to the wire: If something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last moment before it is clear who has won.
Drawing card: A famous person who attracts people to attend an event is a drawing card.
Drop a dime: If you drop a dime, you inform the police about someone's illegal activities.
Drop in the bucket: A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won't make any noticeable difference.
Drunker than a peach orchard boar: Southern US expression - Very drunk, as when a boar would eat fermented peaches that have fallen from the tree.
Duck soup: If something is duck soup, it is very easy.
Ducks in a row: If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.
Eat crow: If you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something.
Fair shake of the whip: If everybody has a fair shake of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
Fall off the turnip truck: If someone has just fallen off the turnip truck, they are uninformed, naive and gullible. (Often used in the negative)
Fifth wheel: A fifth wheel is something unnecessary or useless.
Fine as frog's hair: If something is as fine as frog's hair, it is very delicate and fine. The phrase is facetious as frogs do not possess hair.
Fish or cut bait: This idiom is used when you want to tell someone that it is time to take action.
Forest for the trees: If someone can't see the forest for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
From Missouri: If someone is from Missouri, then they require clear proof before they will believe something.
From the get-go: If something happens from the get-go, it happens from the very beginning.
Get on my last nerve: If something is getting on your last nerve, you are completely fed up, ready to lose your temper. (Southern USA)
Give away the store: If someone gives away the store, they say or do something that makes their position in negotiations, debates, etc, much weaker.
Go fly a kite: This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone.
Go fry an egg: This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone.
Go over like a lead balloon: If something goes over like a lead balloon, it will not work well, or go over well.
Go pound salt: This means 'Get lost' or 'Go away'('Go pound sand' is also used.)
Go to the mat: If people go to the mat, they continue to struggle or fight to the end, until they have either won or have finally been defeated.
Going Jesse: If something is a going Jesse, it's a viable, successful project or enterprise.
Green thumb: Someone with a talent for gardening has a green thumb.
Hold the bag: If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the bag.
Horse of a different color: If something is a horse of a different color, it's a different matter or separate issue altogether.
Hot button: A hot button is a topic or issue that people feel very strongly about.
Hot ticket: A hot ticket is something that is very much in demand at the moment.
How do you like them apples: This idiomatic expression is used to express surprise or shock at something that has happened. It can also be used to boast about something you have done.
How the hog ate the cabbage: If you tell someone how the hog ate the cabbage, it means you tell it like it is- tell someone the truth that they probably don't want to hear.
If I had a nickel for every time: When someone uses this expression, they mean that the specific thing happens a lot. It is an abbreviation of the statement 'If I had a nickel for every time that happened, I would be rich'
In high gear: If something is in high gear, it is in a quick-paced mode. If someone is in high gear, they are feverishly on the fast track.
In the catbird seat: If someone is in the catbird seat, they are in an advantageous or superior position.
It's been a slice: When someone leaves and you have said your goodbyes it is usually the last thing you may say..........It's been a slice. I use it after a visit where we have had a good time.
John Hancock: John Hancock means a signature- his signature on the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence is very prominent.
John Q Public: John Q Public is the typical, average person.
Kick up your heels: If you kick up your heels, you go to parties or celebrate something.
Like green corn through the new maid: If something is very fast, it is like green corn through the new maid.
Like nailing jello to the wall: Describes a task that is very difficult because the parameters keep changing or because someone is being evasive.
Like taking candy from a baby: If something is like taking candy from a baby, it is very easy to do.
Like white on rice: If you do something like white on rice, you do it very closely: When Bob found out I had front row tickets for the concert, he stuck to me like white on rice.
Little pitchers have big ears: This means that children hear more and understand the world around them better than many adults realize.
Lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut: If someone or something is lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut, they are of low moral standing because a snake's belly is low and if the snake is in a wagon rut, it is really low.
Mad as a hornet: If someone is as mad as a hornet, they are very angry indeed.
Make bets in a burning house: If people are making bets in a burning house, they are engaged in futile activity while serious problems around them are getting worse.
Make out like a bandit: If someone is extremely successful in a venture, they make out like a bandit.
Mind your own beeswax: This idiom means that people should mind their own business and not interfere in other people's affairs.
Mom and pop: A mom and pop business is a small business, especially if it is run by members of a family. It can used in a wider sense to mean that something is small scale.
Monday morning quarterback: A Monday morning quarterback is someone who, with the benefit of hindsight, knows what should have been done in a situation.
More bang for your buck: Something that will give you more bang for your buck will deliver more value than any other option.
Move the chains: Derived from the act of moving the chains in an American football game when a team gets a first down, this expression describes taking a project to the next step, especially one that has lost its momentum for one reason or another. Example: Frustrated with our lack of progress, our boss finally shouted, "Make a decision today about which one to use, and let's move the chains on this."
My dogs are barking: When someone says this, they mean that their feet are hurting.
New York minute: If something happens in a New York minute, it happens very fast.
Nickel tour: If someone gives you a nickel tour, they show you around a place. ('Fifty-cent tour' is also used.)
Not have two nickels to rub together: If a person doesn't have two nickels to rub together, they are very poor.
Not know beans about: If someone doesn't know beans about something, they know nothing about it.
Not worth a red cent: If something is not worth a red cent, it has no value.
On the mound: If you're on the mound, you're on the mound back at your game, back in control.
Out of the left field: If something comes out of the left field, it is beside the point and has nothing to do with the matter being discussed.
Paddle your own canoe: If you paddle your own canoe, you do things for yourself without outside help.
Paint yourself into a corner: If someone paints themselves into a corner, they get themselves into a mess.
Pennies on the dollar: If something is pennies on the dollar, it's much cheaper than it cost originally.
Penny ante: Something that is very unimportant is penny ante.
Pick-up game: A pick-up game is something unplanned where people respond to events as they happen.
Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered: This idiom is used to express being satisfied with enough, that being greedy or too ambitious will be your ruin.
Polish the apples: Someone who polishes the apples with someone, tries to get into that person's favor.
Pull numbers out of your ass: If sopmeone pulls numbers out of their ass, they give unreliable or unsubstantiated figures to back their argument.
Pull out of the fire: If you pull something out of the fire, you save or rescue it.
Pull your chain: If someone pulls your chain, they take advantage of you in an unfair way or do something to annoy you.
Put more green into something: To put more green into something is to spend more or to increase investment in it.
Put some mustard on it!: It's used to encourage someone to throw a ball like a baseball hard or fast.
Ragged blue line: This term was used to signify the Union forces (who wore blue uniforms) in the American Civil war .
Raise Cain: If someone raises Cain, they make a big fuss publicly, causing a disturbance.
Rake someone over the coals: If you rake someone over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely.
Rest is gravy: If the rest is gravy, it is easy and straightforward once you have reached that stage.
Root hog or die poor: It's a expression used in the Southern USA that means that you must look out for yourself as no one's going to do it for you. (It can be shortened to 'root hog'. A hog is a pig.)
Run around the bush: If you run around the bush, it means that you're taking a long time to get to the point.
Saigon moment: A Saigon moment is when people realise that something has gone wrong and that they will lose or fail.
Say uncle: If you say uncle, you admit defeat. ('Cry uncle' is an alternative form.)
Sharp as a tack: If someone is as sharp as a tack, they are very clever indeed.
Sharpen your pencil: If someone says this when negotiating, they want the other person to make a better offer, a lower price.
Slap leather: This is used as an instruction to tell people when to draw their guns.
Slower than molasses going uphill in January: To move extremely slowly. Molasses drips slowly anyway but add January cold and gravity, dripping uphill would be an impossibility, thereby making the molasses move very slowly indeed!
Squeaky wheel gets the grease: When people say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, they mean that the person who complains or protests the loudest attracts attention and service.
Squeeze blood out of a turnip: When people say that you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, it means that you cannot get something from a person, especially money, that they don't have.
Stool pigeon: A stool pigeon is a police informer.
Stop on a dime: If something like a vehicle stops on a dime, it stops very quickly and accurately.
Sweat bullets: If someone is sweating bullets, they're very worried or frightened.
Take the fifth: If you do not want to answer a question you can take the fifth, meaning you are choosing not to answer. ('Plead the fifth' is also used.)
Talk a blue streak: If someone talks a blue streak, they speak quickly and at length. ('Talk up a blue streak' is also used.)
Tall enough to hunt geese with a rake: A person who's much taller than a person of average height.
Tell them where the dog died: If you tell them where the dog died, you strongly and sharply correct someone.
That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee: This is used to describe something that is deemed worthless. "He's got a Ph.D. in Philosophy." "So? That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee."
That dog won't hunt: Very common Southern US expression meaning: What you say makes no sense.
That's all she wrote: This idiom is used to show that something has ended and there is nothing more to say about something.
Throw a curve: If you throw someone a curve, you surprise them with something they find difficult to deal with. ('Throw' a curveball' is also used.)
Throw a monkey wrench into the works: If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails.
Tough row to hoe: A tough row to hoe is a situation that is difficult to handle. ('A hard row to hoe' is an alternative form.)
Ugly as a stick: If someone is as ugly as a stick, they are very ugly indeed.
Uncle Sam: Uncle Sam is the government of the USA.
Under the wire: If a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.
Until the last dog is shot: It means until the very last possible moment or until every possibility is exausted: You boys always stay until the last dog is shotI will stay until the last dog is shot to complete this project by deadline (Expression my mom who was born in 1917 in Wisconson always used.)
Wallflower: A shy person who is not asked to dance is a wallflower.
Watch your six: This idiom means that you should look behind you for dangers coming that you can't see.
Water over the dam: If something has happened and cannot be changed, it is water over the dam.
Wedge politics: In wedge politics, one party uses an issue that they hope will divide members of a different party to create conflict and weaken it.
What can you expect from a hog but a grunt?: This means that you can't expect people to behave in a way that is not in their character- a 'hog' is a 'pig', so an unrefined person can't be expected to behave in a refined way.
Where the rubber meets the road: Where the rubber meets the road is the most important point for something, the moment of truth. An athlete can train all day, but the race is where the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they really are.
Whistling Dixie: If someone is whistling Dixie, they talk about things in a more positive way than the reality.
Whistling past the graveyard: If someone is whistling past the graveyard, they are trying to remain cheerful in difficult circumstances. ('Whistling past the cemetery' is also used.)
Who wears the pants?: The person who wears the pants in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.
Whole ball of wax: The whole ball of wax is everything.
Whole cloth: If something is made out of whole cloth, it is a fabrication and not true.
Wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole: If you wouldn't touch something with a ten-foot pole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances. (In British English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a bargepole)
Wrench in the works: If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan. In British English, 'spanner' is used instead of 'wrench'.
Yell bloody murder: If someone yells bloody murder, they protest angrily and loudly, or scream in fear.
You can't get there from here: US expression used in the New England area (most frequently in Maine) by persons being asked for directions to a far distant location that cannot be accessed without extensive, complicated directions.
You can't have cake and the topping, too: This idiom means that you can't have everything the way you want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.
You've got rocks in your head: Someone who has acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head.

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American English Idioms

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