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.
get credit (for something)
to receive praise or recognition for one’s role in something. (Especially with a lot of, much, etc., as in the examples.)
Mary should get a lot of credit for the team’s success.
get down to brass tacks
to begin to talk about important things. (Informal.)
Let’s get down to brass tacks. We’ve wasted too much time chatting.
get down to business
to begin to get serious; to begin to negotiate or conduct business.
All right, everyone. Let’s get down to business. There has been enough playing around.
get in someone’s hair
to bother or irritate someone. (Informal.)
Billy is always getting in his mother’s hair.
get into full swing
to move into the peak of activity; to start moving fast or efficiently. (Informal.)
In the summer months, things really get into full swing around here.
get into the swing of things
to join in the routine or the activities. (Informal.)
Come on, Bill. Try to get into the swing of things.
get nowhere fast
not to make progress; to get nowhere. (Informal.)
I can’t seem to make any progress. No matter what I do, I’m just getting nowhere fast.
get off lightly
to receive very little punishment (for doing something wrong).
It was a serious crime, but Mary got off lightly.
get off the hook
to get free from an obligation.
She did everything she could to get off the hook.
get off to a flying start
to have a very successful beginning to something.
The new business got off to a flying start with those export orders.
get on the good side of someone
to get into someone’s favour.
You had better behave properly if you want to get on the good side of Mary.
get one’s come-uppance
to get a reprimand; to get the punishment one deserves.
Tom is always insulting people, but he finally got his come-uppance. Bill hit him.
get one’s fill of someone or something
to receive enough of someone or something. (Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
You’ll soon get your fill of Tom. He can be quite a pest.
get one’s fingers burned
to have a bad experience. (Also used literally.)
I tried that once before and got my fingers burned. I won’t try it again.
get one’s foot in the door
to achieve a favourable position (for further action); to take the first step in a process. (People selling things from door to door used to block the door with a foot, so it could not be closed on them. Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
I think I could get the position if I could only get my foot in the door.
get one’s just deserts
to get what one deserves.
I feel better now that Jane got her just deserts. She really insulted me.
get one’s knuckles rapped; have one’s knuckles rapped
to receive punishment.
I got my knuckles rapped for whispering too much.
get one’s money’s worth
to get everything that has been paid for; to get the best quality for the money paid.
Weigh that pack of meat before you buy it. Be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
get one’s nose out of someone’s business
to stop interfering in someone else’s business; to mind one’s own business. (Informal.)
Go away! Get your nose out of my business!
get one’s second wind
(Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. ) 1. for one’s breathing to become stabilized after exerting oneself for a short time.
John was having a hard time running until he got his second wind.
get one’s teeth into something
to start on something seriously, especially a difficult task. (Informal.)
Come on, Bill. You have to get your teeth into your biology.
get out of the wrong side of the bed
to get up in the morning in a bad mood.
What’s wrong with you? Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed today?
get someone off the hook
to free someone from an obligation. (Informal.)
Thanks for getting me off the hook. I didn’t want to attend that meeting.
get someone’s number
to find out about a person; to learn the key to understanding a person. (Informal. Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
I’m going to get your number if I can. You’re a real puzzle.
get something off one’s chest
to tell something that has been bothering you. (Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
I have to get this off my chest. I broke your window with a stone.
get something out of one’s system
to be rid of the desire to do something; to do something that you have been wanting to do so that you are not bothered by wanting to do it any more.
I bought a new car. I’ve been wanting to for a long time. I’m glad I finally got that out of my system.
get something under one’s belt
(Informal. Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. ) 1. to eat or drink something.
I’d feel a lot better if I had a cool drink under my belt.
get the brush-off
to be ignored or sent away; to be rejected. (Informal.)
Don’t talk to Tom. You’ll just get the brush-off.
get the hang of something
to learn how to do something; to learn how something works. (Informal. Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
As soon as I get the hang of this computer, I’ll be able to work faster.
get the last laugh
to laugh at or ridicule someone who has laughed at or ridiculed you; to put someone in the same bad position that you were once in. (Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
John laughed when I got a D on the final exam. I got the last laugh, though. He failed the course.
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.
