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.
go to the toilet and go to the loo
to eliminate bodily wastes through defecation or urination. ( Loo is an informal word meaning “toilet.”)
The child needed to go to the toilet.
good-for-nothing
a worthless person.
Tell that good-for-nothing to go home at once.
hang on someone’s every word
to listen carefully and obsequiously to everything someone says.
He gave a great lecture. We hung on his every word.
hark(en) back to something
( Harken is an old form of hark, which is an old word meaning “listen.”) 1. to have originated as something; to have started out as something.
The word icebox harks back to the old-fashioned refrigerators which were cooled by ice.
have a big mouth
to be a gossiper; to be a person who tells secrets. (Informal.)
Mary has a big mouth. She told Bob what I was getting him for his birthday.
have a heart-to-heart (talk)
to have a sincere and intimate talk.
I had a heart-to-heart talk with my father before I went off to college.
have a say (in something) and have a voice (in something)
to have a part in making a decision.
I’d like to have a say in choosing the carpet.
have a word with someone
to speak to someone, usually privately.
The manager asked to have a word with me when I was not busy.
have an axe to grind
to have something to complain about or discuss with someone. (Informal.)
Tom, I need to talk to you. I have an axe to grind.
have none of something
to tolerate or endure no amount of something.
I’ll have none of your talk about leaving school.
have something on file
to have a written record of something in storage.
I’m certain I have your letter on file. I’ll check again.
hem and haw and hum and haw
to be uncertain about something; to be evasive; to say “ah” and “eh” when speaking—avoiding saying something meaningful.
Stop hemming and hawing. I want an answer.
hide one’s light under a bushel
to conceal one’s good ideas or talents. (A biblical theme.)
Jane has some good ideas, but she doesn’t speak very often. She hides her light under a bushel.
hit (someone) below the belt
to do something unfair or unsporting to someone. (Informal. From boxing, where a blow below the belt line is not permitted. Also used literally.)
You really hit me below the belt when you told my sister about my health problems.
hold forth
to speak, usually at length. (Informal.)
The guide held forth about the city.
hold one’s fire
to refrain from shooting (a gun, etc.).
The sergeant told the soldiers to hold their fire.
hold one’s tongue
to refrain from speaking; to refrain from saying something unpleasant.
I felt like scolding her, but I held my tongue.
holier-than-thou
excessively pious; acting as though one is more virtuous than other people.
Jack always adopts a holier-than-thou attitude to other people, but people say he has been in prison.
hot under the collar
very angry. (Informal.)
The solicitor was really hot under the collar when you told him you lost the contract.
hush-money
money paid as a bribe to persuade someone to remain silent and not reveal certain information. (Informal.)
Bob gave his younger sister hush-money so that she wouldn’t tell Jane that he had gone to the cinema with Sue.
in a bad mood
sad; depressed; cross; with low spirits.
He’s in a bad mood. He may shout at you.
in a huff
in an angry or offended manner or state. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
He heard what we had to say, then left in a huff.
in a nutshell
in a few words; briefly; concisely.
I don’t have time for the whole explanation. Please give it to me in a nutshell.
in a stage whisper
in a loud whisper which everyone can hear.
John said in a stage whisper, “This play is boring.”
in lieu of something
in place of something; instead of something. (The word lieu occurs only in this phrase.)
They gave me roast beef in lieu of steak.
in one ear and out the other
[for something to be] ignored; [for something to be] unheard or unheeded. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See the explanation at in a jam and the examples below.)
Everything I say to you goes into one ear and out the other!
in other words
said in another, simpler way.
Cease! Desist! In other words, stop!
in plain English
in simple, clear, and straightforward language. ( In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
That’s too confusing. Please say it again in plain English.
in the family
restricted to one’s own family, as with private or embarrassing information. (Especially with keep. )
Don’t tell anyone else about the bankruptcy. Please keep it in the family.
in the light of something
because of certain knowledge; considering something. (As if knowledge or information shed light on something.)
In the light of what you have told us, I think we must abandon the project.
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.
