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AMERICAN ENGLISH and MAINLY AMERICAN EXPRESSIONS  
England and America are two countries separated by the same language (George Bernard Shaw)

Social Life
Talking
Doing Things
Working And Money
Social Types
American English - British English Dictionary

A  M  E  R  I  C  A  N     E  N  G  L  I  S  H

:: Use Ctrl+F to search for a specific idiom or scroll down for the complete listing ::

SOCIAL LIFE

Sedersi al bar a bere qualcosa

To pony up to the bar

Let's pony up to the bar and have a drink.

To be like a kid in a candy store

Bruce's so happy about his new car... he's just like a kid in a candy store.

Essere eleganti in modo vistoso

To look very trashy, To look dressed to kill, To be dressed up to the nine, To be piss elegant

I know she tried to do her best, dressing up for the party, but she looked very trashy... we couldn't stop laughing.

Ferire, mettere in difficoltà, danneggiare

To do a number on somebody

Harry did a number on his girlfriend: she had to swallow her pride and take back all her stuff.

Organizzarsi, riorganizzarsi, sistemare la propria vita

To have (to get) one's shit together

One of these days you will finally get your shit together... you're a disaster!

Intrattenersi, mescolarsi, prendere contatto

To rub elbows with someone

Charles likes going to the parties to rub elbows with American gals.

Scroccare, prendere in prestito sapendo di non restituire

To bum something

Excuse me... can I bum you a cigarette?

Verificare l'identità, controllare (ingresso di feste, club, liste invitati)

To card someone

The doorman wanted to make sure we were of age, so he carded us.

Intromettersi, anche se non graditi

To horn in

Nora has the bad habit of always trying to horn in our rap sessions.

Una presentazione esagerata, un evento per vendere

A dog and pony show

They put on a hell of a dog and pony show trying to build our enthusiasm for new products.

Tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum (characters in the novel Alice in Wonderland)

The two losers at the bingo parlor seemed like tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum, just standing and forgetting to punch the numbers!

Dire o pensare la stessa cosa

Ditto

Ted: "I think I'd like a hot dog..." - Brian: "Ditto! Let's go get one."

To be fired up about something

I'm so fired up about meeting her tomorrow... wow!

To keep someone on pins and needles, To keep somebody on edge

She kept me on pins and needles (on edge) all week, before confirming that we'll be staying together at the week-end.

Kitty-corner

Take a cab and explain that your hotel is just kitty-corner to the post office.

To take a rain check

Meg's too busy to accept Sam's invitation, so she'll take a rain check on it... maybe for next weekend.

Poi vediamo, decidiamo dopo...

On the fly

So, Melanie... we can go shopping and... after that it is on the fly, let's go without planning beforehand.!

Lasciare in sospeso qualcuno

To leave somebody hanging

Don't leave me hanging... I need to know your decision by tonight.

To be bummed, To feel bummed

Don't be bummed (don't feel bummed), my dear: things change!

Tough love

The group was led by psychologists, and patients were given tough love, in order to give up drinking liquor.

To hit on somebody, To pick up on somebody

Jason dug her... he wasn't embarrassed to hit on the chick he liked in front of everyone.

He was obviously picking up on Grace when he asked her for the astrological sign.

To carry a torch for somebody (American English)

Steve's still carrying the torch for an old squeeze... poor him!

John... Molly has been in love with you for years: she's carrying the torch and you doesn't see!

Essere completamente nudi

To be butt naked, To be stark naked

The wino was lying down on the sidewalk butt naked (stark naked), tightly holding a bottle of whiskey.

To hang tough

After he makes up his mind he hangs tough, never moving from his position.

Essere criticati pesantemente

To draw fire

They drew fire on Mandy for wearing fur to the party.

Don't get fire drawn on you for doing that!

Parlare con ipocrisia, dire cose in base alle situazioni

To talk out of one's ass, To talk out both sides of one's mouth

What do I make of him? He's a false person... he talks out of his ass (talks out of both sides of his mouth).

To be in (the) left field

Joe's so unreasonable: he never recognizes when he is in (the) left field.

You're way out in left field on that one... you've no clue, no idea!

To back stab, To do the dirt on somebody

He back stabbed me (he did the dirt on me) by telling Sheila I didn't like her.

To do a job on somebody

They did a job on Ted by filling his cas with water.

When I realized the stereo didn't work, I understood that the salesman had really done a job on me.

To blow a fuse

The policeman blew a fuse when the driver told him he forgot his driving licence at home.

To be stir-crazy, To go stir-crazy (nuts, bonkers), To bounce off the walls

I haven't been out of the house for so long that I'm going stir-crazy (nuts, bonkers, I'm bouncing off the walls).

To be dead meat, Your ass is mine, Your ass is grass

You can run away but, you'll be dead meat (your ass is mine, your ass is grass) when I get you!

To cut a deal

After negotiating for a couple of weeks, we cut a deal with the landlord on the selling price of the house.

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TALKING

Fare conversazione

To shoot the shit

Don and Sally were shooting the shit till the bar closed.

Avvalersi della facoltà di non rispondere

To plead (to take) the Fifth Amendment (humorous)

...you mean I made on Chuck's girlfriend? Oh, sorry... I take (I plead) the fifth on that!

Yadder-yadder, Yap, Yidder-yadder, Gab, Gabbing, Babbled, Babbelling

They are so gabby all the time with their noisy yadder-yadder (yap, gab, gabbin', babbellin')!

Dire o chiedere cose inopportune, fare una gaffe

To put a foot in it

I put a foot in it asking to Mandy about her private life... I had no idea she got divorced.

Salve!

Howdy!

Howdy Jane, what's up? Are you doing well?

Jesus! Gee! Geez!

Jesus! The last time I met them they looked completely strange and different!

Sì, buonanotte! Beato chi ci crede!

Tell it to the Marines!

...Belinda an intelligent girl? Please, Ned... tell it to the Marines!

Ottimo, ben fatto

Bang-up

Roy did a bang-up job fixing the muffler...

D'accordo

Positive!

"How about meeting tomorrow?" - "Positive! I'll be there."

E non tirarla troppo per le lunghe...

Quit stalling!

Hey Kim... quit stalling or you're gonna miss the train!

Girare intorno ad un concetto prima di esprimerlo

Hem and haw

After hemming and hawing I asked Marion to spend the weekend together.

Sbagliato, errato, completamente fuori strada

(to be) all wet

Terry I don't know where you got your ideas about who I am... they are all wet!

E come se non bastasse, dulcis in fundo (alla fine di fatti negativi)

And baby Jesus cried

My girlfriend is mad at me, they didn't admit me to the exams, I got a bad flu and... baby Jesus cried!

Tutto quanto, da capo a piedi, in ogni particolare

(the) whole ball of wax

Tom's fantastic: he restored the house from the roof to the cellar... the whole ball of wax!

Ed set up the party making sure everything was in order: food and drinks, invitations... the whole ball of wax.

Un sacco, un mucchio, molto

An awful lot

Sheila doesn't know an awful lot about classic but, she's a talking artist... she'll pass the exam.

Grande, molto grande, massivo

(to) choke a horse (American English)

Dana was preparing a roast big enough to choke a horse.

Zitto! Taci!

Zip it! Bag your face! Bag it! Shut your pie hole! Put a sock in it!

Janet, I'm tired of hearing your whining... Zip it (shut your pie hole, put a sock in it)!

Hey Mike, stop talking rubbish... bag yo' face (bag it,zip it)!

Move your ass! Hop to it! Get going!

Come on... you better move your ass (hop to it, get going)! You've to start packing your stuff.

Dare una mano, essere di aiuto, dare supporto

To go to bat for somebody

Ted, if you think Wendy's in trouble, you've to go to bat for her!

Ci sono cose che vanno fatte comunque, costi quel che costi

A man's got to do...

Steve, you're a man... there are things you can't walk away from: a man's got to do what a man's got to do!

Che schifo! Uno schifo...

Bummer (what a bummer!)

Jack's party was so boring... a real bummer (what a bummer)!

Oh bummer! The gas station is closed... we gonna gas up the car to the next service...

Fare un freddo cane, un freddo bestiale

To freeze one's butt off

The Midwest? I can't get over how cold it was... I was freezing my butt off there!

Outta here (blow this joint)

I'm leaving... I'm outta here (I'm blowin' this joint)!

Abbi cura di te, riguardati, fai attenzione (quando parte qualcuno)

Don't take any wooden nickels

"I'm leaving tomorrow..." - "Have a good trip and don't take any wooden nickels!"

Ci puoi scommetere, ti puoi giocare la camicia

You can bet your bottom dollar

You can bet your bottom dollar that I will get my own way... no doubt!

Proprio non va, fa incazzare

To suck, To blow, To bite

I've still heard nothing from you... that sucks (that bites, that blows)!

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DOING THINGS

Organizzare qualcosa per bene

To get one's ducks in a row (lined up)

She's so busy getting her ducks in a row (lined up) for the next meeting.

Andare a duemila, dare il massimo

To pour it on

Randy? Great performer! She's a pouring it on to get a raise.

The team is pouring it on to win the game!

Lavorare in team, fare gioco di squadra, collaborare

To play ball

Hey, Ron, you still have to learn how to play ball with the team...

La parte più importante di qualcosa

The meat and potato of something

The last days of the tour will be the meat and potato of our journey.

Aver diritto su qualcosa, avere la priorità

To have dibs on

The teacher has dibs on the best seat in the refectory.

Freshmen have first dibs on the front seats.

The landlord has first dibs on buying the rest of the building site.

Fare qualcosa senza pensar troppo alle conseguenze

To let the chips fall where they may

Don't think too much about it: let's do it, it's a chance thing... let the chips fall where they may.

Fare delle cavolate, perdere il controllo, andare a rotoli

To come unglued, to come unstuck

Nancy's really strong but after she failed the final test she seemed to come unglued.

If someone talked to me like that I would just come unstuck!

Our plan started showing to come unglued with new problems coming up at every moment.

When Dana's parents got divorced her life came completely unstuck.

Liberarsi delle cose inutili

To give the bum's rush

He was becoming a nuisance and we gave him the bum's rush and moved to the other side of the bar.

Qualcosa che non interessa

It's no skin off my back (teeth)

I didn't watch the match... if the Red Bulls won, it's no skin off my back (off my back teeth).

Sprecare, andar sprecato

To go down the tubes

Such a shame about your business going down the tubes.

A monkey on somebody's back

Drinking has always been a monkey on Ted's back.

The baby used to cry all the night long, like a monkey on his mother's back... they couldn't sleep a wink.

To ball somebody up; to ball something up

Too many one-ways has balled Tom up... the right direction is lost!

Sheila... don't use my pc! You'll ball it up!

Velocemente, di corsa

Likety split

Did you see the controller? ...better get out of here likety split!

Don't mind for the car: Sam'll get a fix available likety split.

Un bel pasticcio

A pretty kettle of fish

You crazy! See what pretty kettle of fish you've made: the house is all a mess!

Disorganizzato, confuso

All over the lot

The new manager? I've been so unimpressed: he's all mixed up... all over the lot!

Non aver capito nulla

(to be) all wet

In my opinion your ideas about foreign affairs are all wet.

If you think I like Maud you're really all wet!

Permettere qualcosa generalmente non è concessa

To cut sombody some slack

Even if women were not allowed to vote and speak in public, the local television cut them some slack, interviewing them in a short special.

To play possum

Don't trust Matt! He's pretending! He's playing possum just to get round working the night shift.

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WORKING AND MONEY

Essere il capo

To be the head honcho

Recently he has become the organization's head honcho, as a reward for his problem-solving capabilities.

The new kid on the block

Being the new kid on the block, he still has to get the hang of the situation.

To get one's feet wet

When he entered the new company he soon got his feet wet with the financial jargon

To be bound and determined

Greg's bound and determined to set up an import-export activity... he will be successful, let's bet on it!

Trattar male una persona perché ha sbagliato

To chew somebody's ass

The old manager chewed her ass for being not focused enough.

To Spin one's wheels

Ed, stop spinning your wheels by just talking about the problem and not doing something!

To light fire under somebody

The boss lit the fire under the workers of the branch he was in charge of.

To wrap one's brain

I've been wrapping my brain for new ideas and I can't think of any!

They asked Andy to wrap his brain around creating something unique for the new project.

To dumb down

You should rewrite your letter and dumb it down, otherwise no one will read it to the end.

To block out

Thank you for blocking out my c.v. for me, I'll send it to that company tomorrow.

Bush league

He's a lazy-bones: he normally does things in a bush league and slapdash fashion.

To be a brown-nose, To be brown-noser

He's so hypocritical: he says 'yes' all the time and is such a brown-nose (brown-noser)!

The ho-hum life (the hum drum life)

Today you gain in material satisfactions what you lose in freedom... that's the ho-hum life (hum drum life).

Bucks, greens, cash, bread, lucre, lettuce, cabbage, pelf, dough, moolah, shekels, cha-ching, wampum

You know, homey... Life is simply a matter of few bucks and buddies.

It's hard to make a buck today with the high cost of living.

Soldi sporchi, denaro fatto illegalmente

To make quick (fast) buck

Many of them made quick bucks by selling illegal whiskey... trading "moonshine", you know

So, Ted... what's the best way to make a fast buck, to earn money easily?

Un quarto di dollaro

A quarter

Hey man, help me, have you got even a quarter for me?

To get more bang for one's buck

Going shopping when it's sale-time means getting more bang for few bucks.

Un tirchio, uno attaccato ai soldi, un taccagno

A tightwad, A tight-ass, A tight-arse, A cheapskate

Al's a real tightwad (tight-ass, tight-arse, cheapskate), unwilling to spend money: you won't get a drink out of him!

Una persona onesta

A straight shooter

Bill's a good buddy and he's always been a straight shooter: he gave me some good advice when I was breaking up with my girlfriend.

Nip and tuck

The Government announced a series of nips and tucks in order to help the economy.

To put the bite on someone

The poor man was putting the bite on everyone, by entering the booths and not leaving them till they gave him some money.

 

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SOCIAL TYPES

Uno tipicamente americano

As American as apple pie

He's as American as apple pie: he looks so yankee, talks in slang and always dresses in jeans and boots!

A Joe Blow, An "average Joe"

Greg is really a self-made man: before scaling up the company, he was the Joe Blow (the "average Joe") of the group, that's why he's still so sincere and direct.

Uno capace di fare bene solo una cosa

A one trick pony

Albert studies over and over again, doin' anything else... he's a real one trick pony!

Un'immigrato

A "fresh off the boat", a F.O.B.

Chang is very different... so F.O.B., you think? I wonder what country he's from?

Uno che non vale due soldi, un imbroglione

A two-bit swindler

Pay attention when you go shopping in the inner city: it's full of two-bit swindlers.

Uno zozzone, un lercio

A litterbug

You litterbug! The room is a pigpen... when are you going to clean it?

Uno con la testa fra le nuvole

A space cadet

Joe's a real space cadet, always out of touch with reality... I don't think he even knows what he's doing!

Uno stupido

A ditzbag, A airhead, A jackass, A moron

What do I make of him? I think he's a ditzbag (an airhead, a moron), behaving like such jackass!

Two vouchers short of a pop-up toaster

He's so strange: I think he's two vouchers short of a pop-up toaster.

No ball of fire

It's a shame: he's so intelligent but, no ball of fire!

A wild card

It's impossible to arrange something with him: he's a wild card.

A hick, A hillbilly

Your buddy is a real hick (a hillbilly)... he sounds so rough and ignorant in city life

As mad as a hornet

When he's plastered he's as mad as a hornet.

Uno svitato, fuori di testa

Off-center, screwball

The group is getting boring... so, Dave's crazy and off-center attitude is welcome!

No, thanx... that screwball plan won't work.

Una persona con la testa per aria, uno che cade sempre dalle nuvole

A space cadet

Tricia's a space cadet: she forgets something everyday; she's out of touch with facts and reality!

Uno del centro-sud cattolico

One from the "Bible Belt"

Being brought up in the Bible Belt, she had a traditional Christian education.

A schmuck

I don't rely on him: he's such a schmuck!

La ragazza del momento

A squeeze

Betty? She’s not the girl of my life but I spend my weekends with her anyway… she’s just a squeeze.

Una ragazza a cui piace divertirsi, superficiale

A fly girl

Sharon's a pretty fashionable girl who loves amusing stuff and goin' to the parties... she's a real fly girl!

Una donna poco seria

A tramp

She's a tramp... she goes with a different man every night!

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Dictionary

American English - British English      (British English) 

AT HOME

Unit apartment (flat)

Roomer (lodger, tenant)

Elevator (lift)

Story, Floor (Storey, floor)

Living room (sitting room, living room, lounge)

Shade (blind)

Sheers (net curtains)

Drapes (curtains)

Yard (garden)

Green thumb (green fingers)

Texas gate (cattle grid)

Pantry (larder)

Closet (wardrobe)

Bureau, Dresser (chest of drawers)

Pacifier (dummy)

Stroller, Baby-buggy (pushchair)

Spool (cotton reel, spool)

Comforter (eiderdown, quilt, duvet)

Outlet, Socket (socket, point)

Tube (valve)

Vacuum cleaner (hoover, vacuum cleaner)

Wash (face flannel)

Wall to wall (fitted carpet)

Scratch pad (note pad)

Eraser (rubber)

Water heater (boiler)

Faucet (tap)

Antenna (aerial)

Housewares (hardware)

Duplex (semi-detached)

Garbage, Trash (rubbish)

Trashcan (dustbin)

Restroom (toilet)

Sewer pipe (drain)

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IN THE KITCHEN, EATING AND DRINKING

Stove (cooker, oven)

To do the dishes (to wash up, to do the dishes)

Roast (joint of meat)

Meat grinder (mincer)

Hamburger meat (mince)

Bacon Slice, Bacon (rasher)

Smoked herring (kipper)

Lima bean (broad bean)

Raisin (sultana, raisin)

Soda cracker, Cracker (cream cracker)

Sherbet (sorbet)

Eggplant (aubergine)

Endive (chicory)

Pit (stone)

Pitcher (jug)

Popsicle (ice lolly)

Powdered sugar (icing sugar)

Straight (neat)

Liquor (Spirits)

American and Irish: Whiskey (British: whisky)

 

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CLOTHES

Sweater (jumper)

Vest (waistcoat)

Derby (bowler, hard hat)

Pants (trousers, slacks)

Suspenders (braces)

Cuff (turn-up)

Undershirt (vest)

Underwear (smalls, underwear)

Boxer shorts, Underpants, Tightie whities (pants)

Snaps (press studs)

Shoestring (shoelace)

Overalls (dungarees, overalls)

Bathrobe (dressing gown/bath robe)

 

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MONEY

Account (bill)

Buck (dollar)

Bill, greenback (bank note, note)

Billfold (wallet)

Mutual fund (unit trust)

Time payment, instalment (hire purchase)

 

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DRIVING

Sedan (saloon car)

Station wagon (estate car)

Truck (lorry)

Mobile home (caravan, trailer)

Gas (petrol)

Gas station (petrol station)

Freeway, highway (motorway)

Divided highway (dual carriageway)

Stoplights (traffic lights)

Traffic circle (roundabout)

Pull-off (lay-by)

To pass (to overtake)

Gear shift (gear stick)

Hood (bonnet)

Muffler (silencer)

Oil pan (sump)

 

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AROUND THE TOWN, SHOPS AND PLACES

Down town (centre)

Subway (tube)

Trolley car (tram, tram-car)

Booth, Phone booth, Phone (payphone kiosk, telephone box)

Movie house (cinema, pictures)

Newsdealer (newsagent)

Jewelry (jewellery)

Liquor store (Off licence)

Public School (State School; in Britain a 'Public School' is a private school)

Front desk (reception)

Pharmacy, drugstore (chemist)

Drygoods store (draper)

Dump (tip, dump)

Hardware store (ironmonger, hardware shop)

Candy store (sweet shop)

Wharf, pier (quay, pier)

 

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STUDYING

Semester (term)

Faculty (staff)

Freshman (1st year undergraduate)

Sophomore (2nd year undergraduate)

Junior (3rd year undergraduate)

Senior (4th year undergraduate)

College, after 12 years of schooling (college, after the age of 16)

 

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SOCIAL LIFE AND PROFESSIONS

Howdy! (Hi!)

Vacation (holiday)

Legal holiday (bank holiday)

To make a reservation (to book)

One way ticket (single ticket)

Round trip ticket, two way ticket (return ticket)

Roller coaster (big dipper, roller coaster)

Movie (film)

Balcony (gallery, balcony)

Intermission (interval)

Homely (ugly)

Goose bumps (goose pimples, bumps)

To knock up (make pregnant)

Rubber (condom)

Shot (injection)

Line (queue)

Line up (queue)

Mail (post)

Mailman (postman)

Wire (telegram)

Package (parcel)

President (chairman, director)

Realtor (estate agent)

Tramp, slut, hooker (whore, tart)

Attorney, lawyer (solicitor, lawyer)

Cop (Copper, bobby, pig, silth)

Draft (conscription)