25 phrases Americans say that leave foreigners completely stumped
- Americans often use idioms that can easily confuse foreigners.
- Phrases like “spill the beans,” “piece of cake,” “cold turkey,” and “table an item” actually have nothing to do with food.
- Similarly, expressions like “cat’s out of the bag” and “for the birds” have nothing to do with animals when Americans say them.
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Whether they’re related to food, football, or feline friends, American idioms can be colorful — and confusing to people visiting from abroad.
While phrases like “shoot the breeze” (to talk about unimportant things for a long time) and “cold turkey” (to abruptly withdraw from an addictive substance or behavior) have origins in US slang from centuries past, others such as “put up your dukes” (to hold your hands up to prepare for a fight) and “throw under a bus” (to betray someone for your own gain) can be traced across the pond.
Here are 25 phrases Americans say that leave foreigners completely stumped.
