American Idioms

Idiom of the day :- Give someone short shrift

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Give someone very little of one’s time due to impatience or annoyance A : When Mrs. Tomlin takes her cat to the vet he spends ages with her, but when I go he gives me short shrift. B : Perhaps he likes Mrs. Tomlin’s cat better than yours. A : But I haven’t got a cat, I’ve got a poisonous snake ! In the Middle Ages a prisoner who had been condemned to death was allowed a short time to confess to a priest before the execution. The Old English word for confession was shrift and so short shrift was the short confession that the prisoner made in order to receive forgiveness from God.

Idiom of the day :- carry a tune / (To) carry a tune

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To be able to sing on key (accurately). ex. “She has an awful voice! She can’t carry a tune.” 

Idiom of the day :- Come clean

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

‘We have ways to make you talk,’ Officer Mutt grinned. ‘If you don’t tell us the truth, I will find a way to make you come clean.’ Officer Mutt’s dog ground his teeth together and agreed. To come clean is to confess or reveal all the facts about something – expecially after telling lies or hiding the truth. ‘I’ll come clean if you keep your dog away from me,’ the criminal cried out.

Idiom of the day :- Fools’ Gold

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Iron pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold. 

Idiom of the day :- Put someone in their place

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

George made the mistake of criticizing his boss. His boss responded by putting him in his place. When we put someone in their place we punish them, often by telling them in an angry way that their thoughts or opinions are of little importance. ‘Having been put in his place, I doubt that George will ever criticize the boss again.’

Idiom of the day :- Draw the longbow

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

‘I have played my violin in Paris in front of thousands of people,’ Buddy smiled. Personally, I think Buddy is drawing the longbow. To draw the longbow means tomake an exaggerated remark or to tell an elaborate story in order to impress someone. A longbow is a large bow used to shoot arrows great distances. This is a British expression.

Idiom of the day :- pass the time / (To) pass the time

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To do something to keep busy. ex. “What do you do to pass the time around here?” 

Idiom of the day :- Hands down

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Easily; by far. ex. “She is hands down the most beautiful girl in class.” 

Idiom of the day :- A clean bill of health

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Long ago ships leaving a port had to have a certificate ( called a bill of health ) stating that they were free of infectious disease. Today a clean bill of health is a way of saying a person or thing is healthy or satisfactory. ‘The doctor gave Mr. Lee a clean bill of health and is sending him home today,’ Nurse Rose smiled.

Idiom of the day :- Dog Days of Summer

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

The hottest days of the summer season.