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.
have something out (with someone)
to clear the air; to settle a disagreement or a complaint. (Informal.)
John has been angry with Mary for a week. He finally had it out with her today.
head over heels in love (with someone)
very much in love with someone.
John is head over heels in love with Mary.
here’s to someone or something
an expression used as a toast, wishing the best to someone or something.
Here’s to Jim and Mary! May they be very happy!
hide one’s face in shame
to cover one’s face because of shame or embarrassment.
Mary was so embarrassed. She could only hide her face in shame.
high and mighty
proud and powerful. (Informal. Especially with be or act.)
Why does the doctor always have to act so high and mighty?
hit someone (right) between the eyes
to become completely apparent; to surprise or impress someone. (Informal. Also with right, as in the examples. Also used literally.)
Suddenly, it hit me right between the eyes. John and Mary were in love.
hot under the collar
very angry. (Informal.)
The solicitor was really hot under the collar when you told him you lost the contract.
house-proud
extremely or excessively concerned about the appearance of one’s house.
Mrs. Smith is so house-proud that she makes her guests take their shoes off at the front door.
hue and cry
a loud public protest or opposition.
There was a hue and cry when the council wanted to build houses in the playingfield.
in a bad mood
sad; depressed; cross; with low spirits.
He’s in a bad mood. He may shout at you.
in a huff
in an angry or offended manner or state. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
He heard what we had to say, then left in a huff.
in a stew (about someone or something)
upset or bothered about someone or something. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
I’m in such a stew about my dog. She ran away last night.
in all one’s born days
ever; in all one’s life.
I’ve never been so angry in all my born days.
in fear and trembling
with anxiety or fear; with dread.
In fear and trembling, I went into the room to take the exam.
in seventh heaven
in a very happy state.
Ann was really in seventh heaven when she got a car of her own.
in the air
everywhere; all about. (Also used literally.)
There is such a feeling of joy in the air.
jolly someone along
to keep someone happy and satisfied in order to obtain compliance with one’s wishes.
If you jolly Jim along, he will help you with the garden.
keep house
to manage a household.
I hate to keep house. I’d rather live in a tent than keep house.
know something by heart
to know something perfectly; to have memorized something perfectly.
I know my speech by heart.
labour of love
a task which is either unpaid or poorly paid and which one does simply for one’s own satisfaction or pleasure or to please someone whom one likes or loves.
Jane made no money out of the biography she wrote. She was writing about the life of a friend, and the book was a labour of love.
lady-killer
a man who likes to flirt and make love to women, and who is popular with them.
Fred used to be a real lady-killer, but now women laugh at him.
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 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.
less than pleased
displeased.
We were less than pleased to learn of your comments.
let off steam and blow off steam
to release excess energy or anger. (Informal.)
Whenever John gets a little angry, he blows off steam by jogging.
look daggers at someone
to give someone an unpleasant or nasty look.
Tom must have been angry with Ann from the way he was looking daggers at her.
lose face
to lose status; to become less respectable.
John is more afraid of losing face than losing money.
lose heart
to lose one’s courage or confidence.
Now, don’t lose heart. Keep trying.
lose one’s temper
to become angry.
Please don’t lose your temper. It’s not good 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.
