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1 of 10


great guns

Categories: adverb informal
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10
[great guns]  {adv. phr.},  {informal}
1. Very fast or very hard. — Usually used in the phrases "blow great guns", "go great guns".
The wind was blowing great guns, and big waves beat the shore.
The men were going great guns to finish the job.
Compare: [FAST AND FURIOUS].
2. Very well; successfully.
Smith's new store opened last week and it's going great guns.
Categories: adverb informal
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10


grace period

Categories: noun time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
[grace period] or [period of grace]  {n.}
The time or extra time allowed in which to do something.
Most insurance companies have a grace period of one month for payments.
The teacher gave the class a week's period of grace to finish workbooks.
Categories: noun time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10


goose bumps

Categories: informal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
[goose bumps] or [goose pimples]  {n. plural},  {informal}
Small bumps that come on a person's skin when he gets cold or afraid.
Nancy gets goose bumps when she sees a snake.
Ann, put on your sweater; you're so cold you have goose pimples on your arms.
Categories: informal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10


good-for-nothing

Categories: adjective
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
[good-for-nothing]  {adj. phr.}
Worthless.
While Janice works hard each day, her good-for-nothing husband hangs around in the bars.
Categories: adjective
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10


had rather

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
[had rather] or [had sooner]  {v.}
To choose to (do one thing instead of another thing); like better to; would prefer to. — Used with an infinitive without "to".
My aunt invited me to the movies, but I said I had rather go on a picnic with the girls.
I had sooner live in the city than on a farm.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10


hand-me-down

Categories: clothes hand informal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
[hand-me-down]  {n.},  {informal}
Something given away after another person has no more use for it; especially, used clothing.
Alice had four older sisters, so all her clothes were hand-me-downs.
Categories: clothes hand informal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10


hardly any

A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
[hardly any] or [scarcely any]
Almost no or almost none; very few.
Hardly any of the students did well on the test, so the teacher explained the lesson again.
Charles and his friends each had three cookies, and when they went out, hardly any cookies were left.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10


more often than not

Categories: adverb time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
[more often than not]  {adv. phr.}
More than half the time; fifty-one or more times out of a hundred; not quite usually, but fairly regularly.
Nancy comes over on Saturday more often than not.
Ben is a fairly good runner. He wins more often than not.
Categories: adverb time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10


money is no object

Categories: informal money
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
[money is no object]  {informal sentence}
The price of something is irrelevant.
Please show me your most beautiful mink coat; money is no object.
Categories: informal money
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10


zonk out

Categories: slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
[zonk out]  {v. phr.},  {slang}
1. To fall asleep very quickly.
Can I talk to Joe? — Call back tomorrow, he zonked out.
2. To pass out from fatigue, or alcohol.
You won't get a coherent word out of Joe, he has zonked out.
Categories: slang verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms