American Idioms

Idiom of the day :- Backhanded compliment (n.)

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Something that is supposed to sound like a compliment, but is really an insult. ex: “She has a nice smile for someone who’s so ugly.” 

Idiom of the day :- Sour grapes

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Bitter comments about something which one wants but cannot have A : That’s a beautiful salmon you’ve caught. It must weigh over five kilos ! Are you going to have it for dinner ? B : Well I was, but when I showed it to Mr. Surly he told me it was diseased and that it would be dangerous to eat. A : Don’t listen to him — it’s just sour grapes. He’s fished in that river for years and he’s never caught anything larger than an old boot ! Aesop, the ancient Greek author wrote one of his many fables about a fox. The fox tries to reach a bunch of delicious grapes which is just out of his reach. After trying for many hours he eventually gives up. As he walks away he says to himself that the grapes are not worth having because they are probably sour. Of course the fox only has this opinion because he cannot have them — his opinion is just sour grapes. Remember that the expression is never used in the singular ( sour grape ).

Idiom of the day :- Fishy

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

When the security guard saw a light in the store after closing hours, it seemed to him that there was something fishy going on. He called the central office and explained to his superior that he thought something strange and suspicious was occurring.

Idiom of the day :- Just about

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Almost. ex. “I’m just about finished.” 

Idiom of the day :- crash / (To) crash

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To sleep. To go to bed. ex. “Do you think I can crash here tonight?” 

Idiom of the day :- Marry above oneself

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

For a long, long time Manfred has been afraid to express his love for May. ‘After all,’ he said, ‘May is in what some people call ‘the upper class’, and people in low positions ( like me ) don’t usually marry above themselves.’ To marry above oneselfis to marry someone in a higher social class than one’s own.

Idiom of the day :- All thumbs

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Awkward. Clumsy. 

Idiom of the day :- Know the ropes

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

A good sailor knows all about ropes and how to tie them into knots. From that we have this idiom, and it means to know all there is about a job, a hobby, a business or a method. ‘You’ll never get to know the ropes if you continue to daydream,’ Lynx said.

Idiom of the day :- downer / (A) downer

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

An event that causes one to be sad. ex. “Your girlfriend broke up with you? What a downer!” 

Idiom of the day :- make oneself at home / (To) make oneself at home

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To feel as comfortable as one would being at home. ex. “During your visit, just make yourself at home.”