Idioms help you sound more natural in English. They make your speaking clear, strong, and confident. This dictionary is made for idioms learners. You can search any idiom easily. You can also learn idioms from A to Z. Topics are simple too, such as daily life, work, money, time, emotions, relationships, health, travel, nature, and weather.
Each idiom has a simple meaning. It also has a clear definition. You will also see an easy sentence for real conversation. The goal is not to memorize everything at once. Learn a few idioms daily. Read the sentence. Understand the meaning. Then try to use the idiom when you speak.
This dictionary helps you build better vocabulary. It also helps you understand English expressions faster. Use it daily and improve your idioms step by step.
pluck up (one’s) courage
to increase one’s courage a bit; to become brave enough to do something.
Come on, Ann, make the dive. Pluck up your courage and do it.
pot calling the kettle black
[the instance of] someone with a fault accusing someone else of having the same fault.
Ann is always late, but she was rude enough to tell everyone when I was late. Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black!
pull one’s socks up
to make an effort to improve one’s behaviour or performance.
If you don’t want to be expelled from school, you’ll have to pull your socks up.
pull someone’s leg
to kid, fool, or trick someone. (Informal.)
You don’t mean that. You’re just pulling my leg.
put one’s foot down (about something)
to be adamant about something.
Ann put her foot down about what kind of car she wanted.
put up a (brave) front
to appear to be brave (even if one is not).
Mary is frightened, but she’s putting up a brave front.
quick on the uptake
quick to understand (something).
Just because I’m not quick on the uptake, it doesn’t mean I’m stupid.
rub someone up the wrong way
to irritate someone. (Informal.)
I’m sorry I rubbed you up the wrong way. I didn’t mean to upset you.
screw up one’s courage
to get one’s courage together; to force oneself to be brave.
I suppose I have to screw up my courage and go to the dentist.
second nature to someone
easy and natural for someone.
Being polite is second nature to Jane.
separate the men from the boys and sort the men from the boys
to separate the competent ones from those who are less competent; to separate the brave or strong ones from those who are less brave or strong.
This is the kind of task that sorts the men from the boys.
shaggy-dog story
a kind of funny story which relies for its humour on its length and its sudden ridiculous ending.
Don’t let John tell a shaggy-dog story. It’ll go on for hours.
sharp practice
dishonest or illegal methods or behaviour.
I’m sure that Jim’s firm was guilty of sharp practice in getting that export order.
silly season
the time of year, usually in the summer, when there is a lack of important news, and newspapers contain articles about unimportant or trivial things instead.
It must be the silly season. There’s a story here about peculiarly shaped potatoes.
slip of the tongue
an error in speaking where a word is pronounced incorrectly, or where something is said which the speaker did not mean to say.
I didn’t mean to tell her that. It was a slip of the tongue.
square deal
a fair and honest transaction; fair treatment. (Informal.)
All the workers want is a square deal, but their boss underpays them.
suit someone to a T and suit someone down to the ground
to be very appropriate for someone.
This kind of employment suits me to a T.
take someone to task
to scold or reprimand someone.
The teacher took John to task for his bad behaviour.
take something to heart
to take something very seriously.
John took the criticism to heart and made an honest effort to improve.
Tell it to the marines. and Tell that to the marines.
I do not believe you (maybe the marines will). (Informal.)
That’s silly. Tell it to the marines.
thumb one’s nose at someone or something
to make a rude gesture of disgust—touching the end of one’s nose with one’s thumb— at someone or something. (Both literal and figurative uses.)
The tramp thumbed his nose at the lady and walked away.
touch a sore spot and touch a sore point
to refer to a sensitive matter which will upset someone. (Also used literally.)
I seem to have touched a sore spot. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.
try it on
to behave in a bold, disobedient, or unlawful manner to discover whether such behaviour will be allowed. (Informal.)
Tony knew he wouldn’t get away with working only four days a week. He was just trying it on by asking the boss.
tumble to something
suddenly to understand or realize something. (Informal.)
I suddenly tumbled to the reason for his behaviour.
wheeling and dealing
taking part in clever but sometimes dishonest or immoral business deals.
John loves wheeling and dealing in the money markets.
wise after the event
knowledgeable of how a situation should have been dealt with only after it has passed.
I know now I should have agreed to help him, but that’s being wise after the event. At the time I thought he was just being lazy.
How To Use Idioms Dictionary
- You can use this dictionary in different ways. Start with the idioms you hear often in movies, conversations, or online posts. Search them here and understand their real meaning. Then read the example sentence and try to speak your own sentence.
- You can also learn idioms by topic. Choose daily life idioms for normal conversation. Choose work and business idioms for office English. Choose money, time, emotion, relationship, health, travel, nature, and weather idioms to improve your topic-based vocabulary.
- A good way to learn is to save your favorite idioms in a notebook. Write the idiom, its meaning, and your own sentence. Review them after a few days. This will help you remember them better.
- Do not use idioms everywhere. Use them only when they fit the situation. The goal is to sound natural, not forced.
- Keep learning slowly. A few useful idioms daily can improve your English speaking a lot.
Here’s a separate section for kids: 100 Common Idioms for Kids
FAQs about Idioms Dictionary
An idiom is a group of words with a special meaning. You cannot always understand it by translating each word.
Type the full idiom or any main word in the search box. The dictionary will show matching idioms with meaning and sentence.
Start with a few idioms daily. Read the meaning, understand the sentence, and try to make your own sentence.
Yes. You can learn idioms by topics like daily life, work, money, time, emotions, relationships, health, travel, nature, and weather.
Yes. The meanings and sentences are written in simple English, so beginners can understand and practice easily.
Idioms help you sound more natural in English. Use them in the right situation to make your speaking more confident.
No. Use idioms only when they fit the situation. The goal is to sound natural, not forced.
