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1 of 10


deal with

Categories: business verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10
[deal with]  {v. phr.}
1. To conduct negotiations or business dealings with.
John refuses to deal with the firm of Brown and Miller.
2. To handle a problem.
Ted is a very strong person and dealt with the fact that his wife had left him much better than anyone else I know.
Categories: business verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10


decked out

A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
[decked out]  {adj. phr.},  {informal}
Dressed in fancy clothes; specially decorated for some festive occasion.
The school band was decked out in bright red uniforms with brass buttons.
Main Street was decked with flags for the Fourth of July.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10


devil to pay

Categories: devil noun trouble
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
[devil to pay]  {n. phr.}
Great trouble. — Used after "the".
There'll be the devil to pay when the teacher finds out who broke the window.
When Jim wrecked his father's car, there was the devil to pay.
Categories: devil noun trouble
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10


Achilles' heel

Categories: literary noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
[Achilles' heel]  {n. phr.},  {literary}
A physical or psychological weakness named after the Greek hero Achilles who was invulnerable except for a spot on his heel.
John's Achilles' heel is his lack of talent with numbers and math.
Categories: literary noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10


make a racket

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
[make a racket]  {v. phr.}
To cause a lot of noisy disturbance.
I wish the kids playing in the street wouldn't make such a racket while I'm trying to take a nap.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10


make ends meet

Categories: money verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms, "Lady Madonna" lyrics video by "The Beatles"
6 of 10
[make ends meet]  {v. phr.}
To have enough money to pay one's bills; earn what it costs to live.
Both husband and wife had to work to make ends meet.
Categories: money verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms, "Lady Madonna" lyrics video by "The Beatles"
7 of 10


parting of the ways

Categories: noun time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
[parting of the ways]  {n. phr.}
1. The point where a road or path divides; a fork.
They stood undecided at a parting of the ways, where a forest path forked.
2. A time or place where a choice must be made; a deciding point.
He had come to a parting of the ways: he had to choose the high school courses that would prepare him for college, or the courses that would prepare him for business.
Categories: noun time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10


party line

Categories: noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
[party line]  {n. phr.}
Ideas, policies, and goals set forth by the leadership of a group or organization.
Dan seldom has an original idea but he keeps faithfully repeating his company's party line.
Categories: noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10


patch up

Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
[patch up]  {v.}
1. To mend a hole or break; repair; fix.
He patched up a couple of old tires.
The lovers patched up their quarrel.
2. To put together in a hurried or shaky way.
They patched up a hasty peace.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10


pay through the nose

Categories: informal money nose verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
[pay through the nose]  {v. phr.},  {informal}
To pay at a very high rate; pay too much.
He had wanted experience, but this job seemed like paying through the nose for it.
There was a shortage of cars; if you found one for sale, you had to pay through the nose.
Categories: informal money nose verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms