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.
mealy-mouthed
not frank or direct. (Informal.)
Jane’s too mealymouthed to tell Frank she dislikes him. She just avoids him.
melt in one’s mouth
to taste very good. (Informal.)
This cake is so good it’ll melt in your mouth.
mum’s the word
don’t spread the secret. (Informal.)
Don’t tell anyone what I told you. Remember, mum’s the word.
nail in someone’s or something’s coffin
something which will harm or destroy someone or something.
Every word of criticism that Bob said about the firm was a nail in his coffin. I knew the boss would sack him.
never mind
forget it; pay no more attention (to something).
I wanted to talk to you, but never mind. It wasn’t important.
not able to call one’s time one’s own
too busy; so busy as not to be in charge of one’s own schedule. (Informal. Not able to is often expressed as can’t.)
It’s been so busy around here that I haven’t been able to call my time my own.
not breathe a word (about someone or something)
to keep a secret about someone or something.
Don’t worry. I won’t breathe a word about it.
not breathe a word (of something)
not to tell something (to anyone).
Don’t worry. I won’t breathe a word of it.
not give someone the time of day
to ignore someone (usually out of dislike). (Informal.)
Mary won’t speak to Sally. She won’t give her the time of day.
not half bad
okay; pretty good. (Informal.)
Say, this roast beef isn’t half bad.
not open one’s mouth and not utter a word
not to say anything at all; not to tell something (to anyone).
Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret. I won’t even open my mouth.
not take no for an answer
not to accept someone’s refusal. (A polite way of being insistent.)
Now, you must drop over and see us tomorrow. We won’t take no for an answer.
not to darken someone’s door and never darken my door again
to go away and not come back.
The heroine of the drama told the villain not to darken her door again.
on the tip of one’s tongue
about to be said; almost remembered.
I have his name right on the tip of my tongue. I’ll think of it in a second.
one’s words stick in one’s throat
one finds it difficult to speak because of emotion.
My words stick in my throat whenever I try to say something kind or tender.
out of kilter
out of working order; malfunctioning. (Informal.)
My furnace is out of kilter. I have to call someone to fix it.
out of line
improper; inappropriate.
I’m afraid that your behaviour was quite out of line. I do not wish to speak further about this matter.
out of the blue
suddenly; without warning.
Then, out of the blue, he told me he was leaving.
out of the question
not possible; not permitted.
I’m sorry, but leaving early is out of the question.
pass the time of day (with someone)
to chat or talk informally with someone. (Informal.)
I saw Mr. Brown in town yesterday. I stopped and passed the time of day with him.
pay the piper
to provide the money for something and so have some control over how the money is spent. (From the expression “He who pays the piper calls the tune.”)
The parents at a fee-paying school pay the piper and so should have a say in how the school is run.
play both ends (against the middle)
[for one] to scheme in a way that pits two sides against each other (for one’s own gain). (Informal.)
I told my brother that Mary doesn’t like him. Then I told Mary that my brother doesn’t like her. They broke up, so now I can have the car this week-end. I succeeded in playing both ends against the middle.
play devil’s advocate
to put forward arguments against or objections to a proposition—which one may actually agree with—purely to test the validity of the proposition. (The devil’s advocate was given the role of opposing the canonization of a saint in the mediaeval Church to prove that the grounds for canonization were sound.)
I agree with your plan. I’m just playing devil’s advocate so you’ll know what the opposition will say.
play hard to get
to be coy and excessively shy; to make it difficult for someone to talk to one or be friendly.
Why can’t we go out? Why do you play hard to get?
play the fool
to act in a silly manner play safe to amuse other people.
The teacher told Tom to stop playing the fool and sit down.
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!
pour oil on troubled waters
to calm things down. (If oil is poured on to rough seas during a storm, the water will become more calm.)
That was a good thing to say to John. It helped to pour oil on troubled waters. Now he looks happy.
prick up one’s ears
to listen more closely.
At the sound of my voice, my dog pricked up her ears.
pull the rug out from under someone(’s feet)
to do something suddenly which leaves someone in a weak position; to make someone ineffective.
The news that his wife had left him pulled the rug out from under him.
put in a good word for someone
to say something to someone in support of someone.
I hope you get the job. I’ll put in a good word for you.
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.
