Common Phrases/Idioms
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms
For non-Native English speakers, and even for those who have lived in the US all their lives, learning the meaning and definitions of all the different idioms in the English language can be daunting. Fortunately, The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms can provide you with a comprehensive guide. Written by Christine Ammer, it contains the definitions of over 10,000 idioms used in the English language. Each definition includes not only an explanation of the phrase, but also an example of how the phrase was used and, when possible, a history of how the idiomatic phrase came to be. The dictionary also includes popular figures of speech, as well as standard phrases, common proverbs, and slang.
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Idioms You Should Know
Eliminate confusion, dispel controversy or emotional tension, as in His letter has cleared the air; we now know where he stands. This idiom alludes to an atmosphere cleared of sultriness by a storm. [Late 1800s] …
Something easily accomplished, as in I had no trouble finding your house—a piece of cake. This expression originated in the Royal Air Force in the late 1930s for an easy mission, and the precise reference is as mysterious as that of the simile ea…
Suspect something is wrong, especially a betrayal of some kind. For example, When I didn't hear any more from my prospective employer, I began to smell a rat. This expression alludes to a cat sniffing out a rat. [c. 1550] …
Disclose a secret or reveal something prematurely, as in You can count on little Carol to spill the beans about the surprise. In this colloquial expression, first recorded in 1919, spill means “divulge,” a usage dating from the 1500s. …
Ailing, ill; also, suffering from a hangover. For example, She said she was under the weather and couldn't make it to the meeting. This expression presumably alludes to the influence of the weather on one's health. [Early 1800s] The same term is some…