A guide to common U.S. slang and idioms

American English is full of slang and idioms that are almost incomprehensible—even to us—and yet slang is a vital part of language, one that’s practically unavoidable whether you’re chatting at the office or reading on the Internet. In American English as in other languages, slang is insider understanding, a sign that you’re truly in the know. Slang is constantly evolving and continually expanding.

With our non-U.S. readers in mind, we’ve compiled a list of some common terms and phrases you might be likely to bump into, along with explanations of what they mean.