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1 of 10


at odds

Categories: adjective
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10
[at odds]  {adj. phr.}
In conflict or disagreement; opposed.
The boy and girl were married a week after they met and soon found themselves at odds about religion.
Compare: [AT LOGGERHEADS].
Categories: adjective
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10


burn up the road

Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
[burn up the road]  {v. phr.},  {informal}
To drive a car very fast.
In his eagerness to see his girl again, he burned up the road on his way to see her.
Speed demons burning up the road often cause accidents.
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10


pound of flesh

Categories: literary noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
[pound of flesh]  {n. phr.},  {literary}
The maximum payment authorized by law.
He had hoped that Peter would be lenient regarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter demanded his full pound of flesh.
Categories: literary noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10


slow burn

A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
[slow burn]  {n.},  {informal}
A slowly increasing feeling of anger.
The boys kept teasing John, and watched him do a slow burn.
Barbara's slow burn ended only when Mary explained the misunderstanding.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10


paint the town red

Categories: slang time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
[paint the town red] or [paint the town]  {v. phr.},  {slang}
To go out to drink and have a good time; celebrate wildly; carouse.
It was the sailors' first night ashore; they painted the town red.
Compare: [ON THE TOWN] (2).
Categories: slang time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10


pig out

Categories: time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
[pig out]  {v. phr.}
1. To eat a tremendous amount of food.
"I always pig out on my birthday," she confessed.
2. To peruse; have great fun with; indulge in for a longer period of time.
"Go to bed and pig out on a good mystery story," the doctor recommended.
Categories: time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10


follow one's nose

Categories: informal nose verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
[follow one's nose]  {v. phr.},  {informal}
1. To go straight ahead; continue in the same direction.
Just follow your nose and you'll get there.
2. To go any way you happen to think of.
Oh, I don't know just where I want to go. I'll just follow my nose and see what happens.
Categories: informal nose verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10


fall by the wayside

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
[fall by the wayside] also [drop by the wayside]  {v. phr.}
To give up or fail before the finish.
The boys tried to make a 50-mile hike, but most of them fell by the wayside.
George, Harry, and John entered college to become teachers, but Harry and John fell by the wayside, and only George graduated.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
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pay one's way

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
[pay one's way]  {v. phr.}
1. To pay in cash or labor for your expenses.
He paid his way by acting as a guide.
2. To be profitable; earn as much as you cost someone; be valuable to an employer; to yield a return above expenses.
The bigger truck paid its way from the start.
We had to offer our new manager a large salary, but he was a capable man, and paid his way.
Compare: [WORTH ONE'S SALT].
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10


shudder to think

Categories: hate verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
[shudder to think]  {v. phr.}
To be afraid; hate to think about something.
The professor is so strict I shudder to think what his final exam questions will be like.
Categories: hate verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms