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.
(as) calm as a millpond
[for water to be] exceptionally calm. (Referring to the still water in a pond around a mill in contrast to the fast-flowing stream which supplies it.)
The English channel was calm as a millpond that day.
(as) happy as a lark
visibly happy and cheerful. (Note the variations in the examples.)
Sally walked along whistling, as happy as a lark.
(as) happy as a sandboy and (as) happy as Larry; (as) happy as the day is long
very happy; carefree.
Mary’s as happy as a sandboy now that she is at home all day with her children.
(as) pleased as Punch
very pleased or happy. (From the puppetshow character, who is depicted as smiling gleefully.)
The little girl was pleased as Punch with her new dress.
(as) sound as a bell
in perfect condition or health; undamaged.
The doctor says the old man’s heart is as sound as a bell.
(come) rain or shine
no matter whether it rains or the sun shines. (Informal.)
Don’t worry. I’ll be there come rain or shine.
afraid of one’s own shadow
easily frightened; always frightened, timid, or suspicious.
After Tom was robbed, he was afraid of his own shadow.
airs and graces
proud behaviour adopted by one who is trying to impress others by appearing more important than one actually is.
She is only a junior secretary, but from her airs and graces you would think she was managing director.
bed of roses
a situation or way of life that is always happy and comfortable.
Living with Pat can’t be a bed of roses, but her husband is always smiling.
break someone’s heart
to cause someone emotional pain.
It just broke my heart when Tom ran away from home.
breathe down someone’s neck
to keep close watch on someone, causing worry and irritation; to watch someone’s activities, especially to try to hurry something along. (Informal. Refers to standing very close behind a person.)
I can’t work with you breathing down my neck all the time. Go away.
bury the hatchet
to stop fighting or arguing; to end old resentments.
All right, you two. Calm down and bury the hatchet.
by no means
absolutely not; certainly not.
I’m by no means angry with you.
carry a torch for someone
to be in love with someone who does not return love; to brood over a hopeless love affair.
John is carrying a torch for Jane.
chink in one’s armour
a weakness or vulnerable point that provides an opportunity for attacking or impressing someone who is otherwise invulnerable.
His love for his child is the chink in his armour.
come down with something
to become ill with some disease.
I’m afraid I’m coming down with a cold.
come out in the wash
to work out all right. (Informal. This means that problems or difficulties will go away as dirt goes away in the process of washing.)
Don’t worry about their accusation. It’ll all come out in the wash.
come to grief
to fail or be unsuccessful; to have trouble or grief.
The artist wept when her canvas came to grief.
cross a bridge before one comes to it
to worry excessively about something before it happens.
There is no sense in crossing that bridge before you come to it.
cross one’s heart (and hope to die)
to pledge or vow that the truth is being told.
It’s true, cross my heart and hope to die.
cry one’s eyes out
to cry very hard.
When we heard the news, we cried our eyes out with joy.
cry over spilled milk
to be unhappy about having done something which cannot be undone. ( Spilled can also be spelled spilt. )
I’m sorry that you broke your bicycle, Tom. But there is nothing that can be done now. Don’t cry over spilled milk.
cry wolf
to cry out for help or to complain about something when nothing is really wrong.
Pay no attention. She’s just crying wolf again.
cupboard love
affection shown to someone just because of the things, such as food or clothes, they supply.
She doesn’t love her husband. It’s just cupboard love.
die of a broken heart
to die of emotional distress, especially grief over a lost love.
I was not surprised to hear of her death. They say she died of a broken heart.
do someone proud
to treat someone generously. (Informal.)
What a good hotel. The conference has done us proud.
do someone’s heart good
to make someone feel good emotionally. (Informal.)
It does my heart good to hear you talk that way.
down in the mouth
sad-faced; depressed and unsmiling.
Ever since the party was cancelled, Barbara has been looking down in the mouth.
eat one’s heart out
to be very sad (about someone or something).
Bill spent a lot of time eating his heart out after his divorce.
far cry from something
a thing which is very different from something else.
What you did was a far cry from what you said you were going to do.
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.
