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 near future
in the time immediately ahead.
I don’t plan to go to Florida in the near future.
in the nick of time
just in time; at the last possible instant; just before it is too late.
The doctor arrived in the nick of time. The patient’s life was saved.
in the same boat
in the same situation; having the same problem.
“I’m broke. Can you lend me twenty pounds?” “Sorry. I’m in the same boat.”
instrumental in doing something
playing an important part in doing something.
John was instrumental in getting the contract to build the new building.
jockey for position
to try to push or manoeuvre one’s way into an advantageous position at the expense of others.
All the staff in that firm are jockeying for position. They all want the manager’s job.
jump at the chance (to do something) and leap at the chance (to do something); jump at the opportunity (to do some-thing); leap at the opportunity (to do something)
to take advantage of a chance to do something. ( To do something can be replaced with of doing something.)
John jumped at the chance to go to England.
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 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 a string
to keep someone waiting for a decision.
Sally kept John on a string for weeks while she made up her mind.
keep something under wraps
to keep something concealed (until some future time).
We kept the plan under wraps until after the election.
last-ditch effort
a final effort; the last possible attempt.
I made one last-ditch effort to get her to stay.
leave no stone unturned
to search in all possible places. (As if one might find something under a rock.)
Don’t worry. We’ll find your stolen car. We’ll leave no stone unturned.
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 something ride
to allow something to continue or remain as it is. (Informal.)
It isn’t the best plan, but we’ll let it ride.
let the chance slip by
to lose the opportunity (to do something).
When I was younger, I wanted to become a doctor, but I let the chance slip by.
let well alone and leave well alone
to leave things as they are (and not try to improve them).
There isn’t much more you can accomplish here. Why don’t you just let well alone?
look the other way
to ignore (something) on purpose.
John could have prevented the problem, but he looked the other way.
loom large
to be of great importance, especially when referring to a possible problem, danger, or threat.
The exams were looming large.
lucky dip
a situation in which one is given no choice in what one is given, what happens, etc. (From the name of a fairground sideshow in which children choose a parcel at random from a tub of bran.)
The allocation of jobs is a lucky dip. You can’t choose.
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 do (with someone or something)
to do as well as possible with someone or something.
You’ll have to make do with less money next year. The economy is very weak.
matter of life and death
a matter of great urgency; an issue that will decide between living and dying. (Usually an exaggeration; sometimes humorous.)
We must find a doctor. It’s a matter of life and death.
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.
matter-of-fact
businesslike; unfeeling.
Don’t expect a lot of sympathy from Ann. She’s very matter-of-fact.
money is no object and expense is no object
it does not matter how much something costs.
Please show me your finest car. Money is no object.
nail one’s colours to the mast
to commit oneself to a particular course of action or to a particular point of view. (A ship’s flag—its colours—could not be lowered to indicate surrender when it was nailed to the mast.)
Fred nailed his colours to the mast by publicly declaring for strike action.
no two ways about it
no choice about it; no other interpretation of it. (Informal.)
You have to go to the doctor whether you like it or not. There’s no two ways about it.
nobody’s fool
a sensible and wise person who is not easily deceived.
Mary’s nobody’s fool. She knows Jack would try to cheat her.
not able to see the wood for the trees
allowing many details of a problem to obscure the problem as a whole. ( Not able to is often expressed as can’t.)
The solution is obvious. You missed it because you can’t see the wood for the trees.
not for the world and not for anything in the world; not for love nor money
not for anything (no matter what its value).
I won’t do it for love nor money.
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.
