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1 of 10


no great shakes

Categories: adjective informal
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10
[no great shakes]  {adj.},  {informal}
Mediocre; unimportant.
Joe Wilson is no great shakes.
Categories: adjective informal
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10


no longer

Categories: adverb time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
[no longer]  {adv.}
Not any more; not at the present time.
He could no longer be trusted and they had to let him go.
The shore was no longer in sight.
Categories: adverb time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10


no matter

Categories: time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
[no matter]
1. Not anything important.
I wanted to see him before he left but it's no matter.
2. It makes no difference; regardless of.
She was going to be a singer no matter what difficulties she met.
He had to get the car fixed no matter how much it cost.
No matter what you try to do, it is important to be able to speak well.
You can't go in no matter who you are.
Mary wanted to get to school on time, no matter if she went without breakfast.
Categories: time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10


keep one's shirt on

Categories: slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
[keep one's shirt on]  {v. phr.},  {slang}
To calm down; keep from losing your temper or getting impatient or excited.
Bob got very angry when John accidentally bumped into him, but John told him to keep his shirt on.
- Usually used as a command; may be considered impolite.
John said to Bob, "Keep your shirt on."
Contrast: [GET ONE'S DANDER UP].
Categories: slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10


knee-deep

Categories: adjective adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
[knee-deep] or [neck-deep]  {adv.} or  {adj. phr.}
1. Very much; deeply; having a big part in.
Johnny was knee-deep in trouble.
2. Very busy; working hard at.
We were neck-deep in homework before the exams.
3. Getting or having many or much.
The television station was knee-deep in phone calls.
Compare: [UP TO THE CHIN IN].
Categories: adjective adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10


knock about

Categories: business travel verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
[knock about] or [knock around]  {v.}
To travel without a plan; go where you please.
After he graduated from college, Joe knocked about for a year seeing the country before he went to work in his father's business.
Compare: [KICK AROUND].
Categories: business travel verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10


latch on

Categories: informal slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
[latch on] or [hitch onto]  {v.},  {informal}
1. To get hold of; grasp or grab; catch.
He looked for something to latch onto and keep from falling.
The football player latched onto a pass.
2.  {slang} To get into your possession.
The banker latched onto a thousand shares of stock.
3.  {slang} To understand.
The teacher explained the idea of jet engines until the students latched onto it.
Syn.: [CATCH ON].
4.  {informal} To keep; to hold.
The poor woman latched onto the little money she had left.
5.  {slang} To stay with; not leave.
Marie and Dick wanted to go to the movies by themselves, but Mane's little brother latched onto them.
Categories: informal slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10


law unto oneself

Categories: literary noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
[law unto oneself]  {n. phr.},  {literary}
A person who does only what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn't like it.
Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law unto himself.
Mr. Brown told Johnny that he must stop trying to be a law unto himself.
Compare: [TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS].
Categories: literary noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10


of necessity

Categories: adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
[of necessity]  {adv. phr.}
Because there is no other way; because it must be; necessarily.
Being a professional actor of necessity means working nights and Sundays.
Categories: adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10


off the top of one's head

A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
[off the top of one's head]  {adv.} or  {adj. phr.},  {informal}
Without thinking hard; quickly.
Vin answered the teacher's question off the top of his head.
When Lorraine was asked to recite, she talked off the top of her head.
A Dictionary of American Idioms