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.
love at first sight
love established when two people first see one another.
Bill was standing at the door when Ann opened it. It was love at first sight.
make someone’s blood boil
to make someone very angry. (Informal.)
It just makes my blood boil to think of the amount of food that gets wasted in this house.
miss the point
to fail to understand the point.
I’m afraid you missed the point. Let me explain it again.
money talks
money gives one power and influence to help get things done or get one’s own way. (Informal.)
Don’t worry, I have a way of getting things done. Money talks.
more’s the pity
it is a great pity or shame; it is sad.
Jack can’t come, more’s the pity.
never fear
do not worry; have confidence.
I’ll be there on time— never fear.
nine days’ wonder
something that is of interest to people only for a short time.
Don’t worry about the story about you in the newspaper. It’ll be a nine days’ wonder and then people will forget.
no love lost between someone and someone else and no love lost between people
no friendship wasted between someone and someone else (because they are enemies).
Ever since their big argument, there has been no love lost between Tom and Bill.
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 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.
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 set foot somewhere
not to go somewhere.
I wouldn’t set foot in John’s room. I’m very angry with him.
odour of sanctity and air of sanctity
an atmosphere of excessive holiness or piety. (Derogatory.)
I hate their house. There’s such an odour of sanctity, with Bibles and holy pictures everywhere.
on cloud nine
very happy. (Informal.)
When I got my promotion, I was on cloud nine.
one’s eyes are bigger than one’s stomach
[for one] to take more food than one can eat. (Informal.)
I can’t eat all this. I’m afraid that my eyes were bigger than my stomach when I ordered.
open one’s heart (to someone)
to reveal one’s most private thoughts to someone.
I always open my heart to my wife when I have a problem.
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.
parrot-fashion
without understanding the meaning of what one has learnt, is saying, etc.
The child learnt the poem by heart and repeated it parrot-fashion.
pay an arm and a leg (for something) and pay through the nose (for something)
to pay too much money for something. (Informal.)
I hate to have to pay an arm and a leg for a tank of petrol.
play gooseberry
to be with two lovers who wish to be alone. (Informal.)
I’m not going to the cinema with Tom and Jean. I hate playing gooseberry.
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.
pull oneself together
to become calm or steady; to become emotionally stabilized; to regain one’s composure.
Now, calm down. Pull yourself together.
put a brave face on it
to try to appear happy or satisfied when faced with misfortune or danger.
We’ve lost all our money, but we must put a brave face on it for the sake of the children.
put it on
to pretend; to act as if something were true. (Informal.)
Ann wasn’t really angry. She was just putting it on.
put someone to shame
to show someone up; to embarrass someone; to make someone ashamed.
Your excellent efforts put us all to shame.
put someone’s nose out of joint
to cause someone to feel slighted or insulted. (Informal.)
I’m afraid I put his nose out of joint by not inviting him to the picnic.
put something on ice and put something on the back burner
to delay or postpone something; to put something on hold. (Informal.)
I’m afraid that we’ll have to put your project on ice for a while.
raise a few eyebrows
to shock or surprise people mildly by doing or saying something.
What you just said may raise a few eyebrows, but it shouldn’t make anyone really angry.
regain one’s composure
to become calm and composed.
I found it difficult to regain my composure after the argument.
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.
