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.
give someone the runaround
to give someone a series of excuses, delays, and referrals.
If you ask to see the manager, they’ll give you the runaround.
give someone the shirt off one’s back
to be very generous or solicitous towards someone.
Tom really likes Bill. He’d give Bill the shirt off his back.
give someone tit for tat
to give someone something equal to what one has received; to exchange a series of things, one by one, with someone. (Informal.)
They took my car after I took theirs. It was tit for tat.
give something a lick and a promise
to do something poorly— quickly and carelessly. (Informal.)
John! You didn’t clean your room! You just gave it a lick and a promise.
give something a miss
not to go to something; not to bother with something; to leave something alone. (Informal.)
Betty decided to give the fair a miss this year.
give something one’s best shot
to give a task one’s best effort. (Informal. Often with it.)
I gave the project my best shot.
give the devil his due and give the devil her due
to give your foe proper credit (for something). (This usually refers to a person who has acted in an evil way—like the devil.)
She’s generally impossible, but I have to give the devil her due. She’s always honest.
give the game away
to reveal a plan or strategy. (Informal.)
Now, all of you have to keep quiet. Please don’t give the game away.
give up the ghost
to die; to release one’s spirit. (Considered formal or humorous.)
The old man sighed, rolled over, and gave up the ghost.
give voice to something
to express a feeling or an opinion in words; to speak out about something.
The bird gave voice to its joy in the golden sunshine.
glut on the market
something on the market in great abundance.
Right now, small computers are a glut on the market.
glutton for punishment
someone who seems to like doing or seeking out difficult, unpleasant, or badly paid tasks.
If you work for this charity, you’ll have to be a glutton for punishment and work long hours for nothing.
go against the grain
to go against the natural direction or inclination.
You can’t expect me to help you cheat. That goes against the grain.
go back on one’s word
to break a promise which one has made.
I hate to go back on my word, but I won’t pay you £100 after all.
go begging
to be unwanted or unused. (As if a thing were begging for an owner or a user.)
There is still food left. A whole lobster is going begging. Please eat some more.
go broke
to run out of money and other assets.
This company is going to go broke if you don’t stop spending money foolishly.
go by the board
to get ruined or lost. (This is a nautical expression meaning to fall or be washed overboard.)
I hate to see good food go by the board. Please eat up so we won’t have to throw it out.
go down fighting
to continue the struggle until one is completely defeated.
I won’t give up easily. I’ll go down fighting.
go down in history
to be remembered as historically important.
Wellington went down in history as a famous general.
go down like a lead balloon
to fail, especially to fail to be funny.
Your joke went down like a lead balloon.
go downhill
[for something] to decline and grow worse and worse. (Also used literally.)
This industry is going downhill. We lose money every year.
go Dutch
to share the cost of a meal or some other event with someone.
I’ll go out and eat with you if we can go Dutch.
go for someone or something
to attack someone or something; to move or lunge towards someone or something.
The dog went for the visitor and almost bit him.
go from bad to worse
to progress from a bad state to a worse state.
This is a terrible day. Things are going from bad to worse.
go haywire
to go wrong; to malfunction; to break down. (Informal.)
We were all organized, but our plans suddenly went haywire.
go in for something
to take part in something; to enjoy (doing) something.
John doesn’t go in for sports.
go in one ear and out the other
[for something] to be heard and then forgotten. (Informal.)
Everything I say to you seems to go in one ear and out the other. Why don’t you pay attention?
go it alone
to do something by oneself. (Informal.)
Do you need help, or will you go it alone?
go like clockwork
to progress with regularity and dependability.
The building project is progressing nicely. Everything is going like clockwork.
go off at half cock
to proceed without proper preparation; to speak (about something) without adequate knowledge. (Informal.)
Their plans are always going off at half cock.
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.
