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.
in the limelight
at the centre of attention. ( In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below. Limelight is an obsolete form of spotlight, and the word occurs only in this phrase.)
John will do almost anything to get himself into the limelight.
in the same breath
[stated or said] almost at the same time.
He told me I was lazy, but then in the same breath he said I was doing a good job of work.
in thing (to do)
the fashionable thing to do. (Informal. In this phrase, the word in is always stressed.)
Eating low-fat food is the in thing to do.
Job’s comforter
someone who makes matters worse when trying to comfort or console someone. (Biblical.)
Jane is a Job’s comforter. She told me how many other people were looking for jobs when I lost mine.
keep a civil tongue (in one’s head)
to speak decently and politely.
Please, John. Don’t talk like that. Keep a civil tongue in your head.
keep one’s mouth shut (about someone or something)
to keep quiet about someone or something; to keep a secret about someone or something. (Informal.)
They told me to keep my mouth shut about the problem or I’d be in big trouble.
keep one’s nose to the grindstone
to keep busy doing one’s work. (Also with have and get, as in the examples.)
The manager told me to keep my nose to the grindstone or be sacked.
keep one’s own counsel
to keep one’s thoughts and plans to oneself; not to tell other people about one’s thoughts and plans.
Jane is very quiet. She tends to keep her own counsel.
keep one’s word
to uphold one’s promise.
I told her I’d be there to collect her, and I intend to keep my word.
keep someone on tenterhooks
to keep someone anxious or in suspense. (Also with have. See the examples.)
Please tell me now. Don’t keep me on tenterhooks any longer!
know one’s place
to know and accept the behaviour appropriate to one’s position or status in life.
I know my place. I won’t speak unless spoken to.
last but not least
last in sequence, but not last in importance. (Often said in introductions.)
The speaker said, “And now, last but not least, I’d like to present Bill Smith, who will give us some final words.”
lay something on the line
to speak very firmly and directly about something.
She was very angry. She laid it on the line, and we had no doubt about what she meant.
learn something by heart
to learn something so well that it can be written or recited without thinking; to memorize something.
The director told me to learn my speech by heart.
leave a bad taste in someone’s mouth
[for something] to leave a bad feeling or memory with someone. (Informal.)
The whole business about the missing money left a bad taste in his mouth.
leave word (with someone)
to leave a message with someone (who will pass the message on to someone else).
If you decide to go to the convention, please leave word with my secretary.
let one’s hair down and let down one’s hair
to become less formal and more intimate, and to begin to speak frankly. (Informal.)
Come on, Jane, let your hair down and tell me all about it.
let someone have it
to strike someone or attack someone verbally. (Informal.)
I really let Tom have it. I told him he had better not do that again if he knows what’s good for him.
let something slip (out)
to tell a secret by accident.
I didn’t let it slip out on purpose. It was an accident.
lie through one’s teeth
to lie boldly. (Informal.)
I knew she was lying through her teeth, but I didn’t want to say so just then.
like a bolt out of the blue
suddenly and without warning. (Refers to a bolt of lightning coming out of a clear blue sky.)
The news came to us like a bolt out of the blue.
live and let live
not to interfere with other people’s business or preferences.
I don’t care what they do! Live and let live, I always say.
look as if butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth
to appear to be very innocent, respectable, honest, etc.
Sally looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but she is going out with a married man.
lower one’s voice
to speak more softly.
Please lower your voice, or you’ll disturb the people who are working.
make a clean breast of something
to confess something.
You’ll feel better if you make a clean breast of it. Now tell us what happened.
make a pitch for someone or something
to say something in support of someone or something; to attempt to promote or advance someone or something. (Informal.)
Bill is making a pitch for his friend’s new product again.
make a point of (doing) something
to make an effort to do something.
Please make a point of posting this letter. It’s very important.
make someone’s mouth water
to make someone hungry (for something); to make someone desirous of something. (Informal.)
That beautiful salad makes my mouth water.
mark my word(s)
remember what I’m telling you.
Mark my word, you’ll regret this.
matter of opinion
the question of how good or bad someone or something is.
It’s a matter of opinion how good the company is. John thinks it’s great and Fred thinks it’s poor.
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.
