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.
put one’s foot in it
to say something which one regrets; to say something tactless, insulting, or hurtful. (Informal.)
When I told Ann that her hair was more beautiful than I had ever seen it, I really put my foot in it. It was a wig.
put one’s house in order
to put one’s business or personal affairs into good order.
There was some trouble at work and the manager was told to put his house in order.
put someone on the spot
to ask someone embarrassing questions; to put someone in an uncomfortable or difficult position.
Don’t put me on the spot. I can’t give you an answer.
put two and two together
to find the answer to something from the information available; to reach an understanding of something.
Well, I put two and two together and came up with an idea of who did it.
put words into someone’s mouth
to speak for another person without permission.
Stop putting words into my mouth. I can speak for myself.
Put your money where your mouth is!
a command to stop talking or boasting and make a bet, or to stop talking and provide money for something which one claims to support.
I’m tired of your bragging about your skill at betting. Put your money where your mouth is!
rant and rave
to shout angrily and wildly.
Bob rants and raves when anything displeases him.
read someone’s mind
to guess what someone is thinking.
You’ll have to tell me what you want. I can’t read your mind, you know.
ring off
to end a telephone call.
I must ring off now and get back to work.
ring someone or something up and ring up someone or some-thing
[with something ] to record the cost of an item on a cash register.
The cashier rang up each item and told me how much money I owed.
saved by the bell
rescued from a difficult or dangerous situation just in time by something which brings the situation to a sudden end. (From the sounding of a bell marking the end of a round in a boxing match.)
James didn’t know the answer to the question, but he was saved by the bell when the teacher was called away from the room.
say something under one’s breath
to say something so softly that hardly anyone can hear it.
John was saying something under his breath, and I don’t think it was very pleasant.
say the word
to give a signal to begin; to say yes or okay as a signal to begin. (Informal.)
I’m ready to start anytime you say the word.
send someone to Coventry
to refuse to speak to or associate with someone or a group of people as a punishment.
The other children sent Tom to Coventry for telling tales to the teacher.
set someone’s teeth on edge
[for a sour or bitter taste] to irritate one’s mouth.
Have you ever eaten a lemon? It’ll set your teeth on edge.
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.
shot across the bows
something acting as a warning. (A naval term.)
The student was sent a letter warning him to attend lectures, but he ignored the shot across the bows.
shot in the dark
a random or wild guess or try. (Informal.)
I don’t know how I guessed the right answer. It was just a shot in the dark.
show someone the ropes
to tell or show someone how something is to be done.
Since this was my first day on the job, the manager spent a lot of time showing me the ropes. L
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.
sixth sense
a supposed power to know or feel things that are not perceptible by the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
My sixth sense told me to avoid going home by my usual route. Later I discovered there had been a fatal accident on it.
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.
speak of the devil
said when someone whose name has just been mentioned appears or is heard from.
Well, speak of the devil! Hello, Tom. We were just talking about you.
speak one’s mind
to say frankly what one thinks (about something).
Please let me speak my mind, and then you can do whatever you wish.
speak out of turn
to say something unwise or imprudent; to say something at the wrong time.
Excuse me if I’m speaking out of turn, but what you are proposing is quite wrong.
speak the same language
[for people] to have similar ideas, tastes, etc.
Jane and Jack get along very well. They really speak the same language about almost everything.
sweep something under the carpet and brush something under the carpet
to try to hide something unpleasant, shameful, etc., from the attention of others.
The boss said he couldn’t sweep the theft under the carpet, that he’d have to call in the police.
take something on the chin
to experience and endure a blow stoically. (Informal.)
The bad news was a real shock, but John took it on the chin.
take the words (right) out of one’s mouth
[for someone else] to say what you were going to say.
John said exactly what I was going to say. He took the words out of my mouth.
talk nineteen to the dozen
to talk a lot, usually quickly. (Informal.)
The old friends talk nineteen to the dozen when they meet once a year.
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.
