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 a bee in one’s bonnet
to have an idea or a thought remain in one’s mind; to have an obsession.
She has a bee in her bonnet about table manners.
have a sweet tooth
to have the desire to eat many sweet foods— especially candy and pastries.
I have a sweet tooth, and if I don’t watch it, I’ll really get fat.
have a thin time (of it)
to experience a difficult or unfortunate time, especially because of a shortage of money.
Jack had a thin time of it when he was a student. He didn’t have enough to eat.
have egg on one’s face
to be embarrassed because of an error which is obvious to everyone. (Informal.)
Bob has egg on his face because he wore jeans to the affair and everyone else wore formal clothing.
have eyes bigger than one’s stomach
to have a desire for more food than one could possibly eat.
I know I have eyes bigger than my stomach, so I won’t take a lot of food.
have one’s finger in the pie
to be involved in something.
I like to have my finger in the pie so I can make sure things go my way.
in the middle of nowhere
in a very remote place. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
We found a nice place to eat, but it’s out in the middle of nowhere.
in the soup
in a bad situation. (Informal.)
Now I’m really in the soup. I broke Mrs. Franklin’s window.
in thing (to do)
the fashionable thing to do. (Informal. In this phrase, the word in is always stressed.)
Eating low-fat food is the in thing to do.
just what the doctor ordered
exactly what is required, especially for health or comfort.
That meal was delicious, Bob. Just what the doctor ordered.
kick up a fuss and kick up a row
to become a nuisance; to misbehave and disturb (someone). (Informal. Row rhymes with cow. )
The customer kicked up such a fuss about the food that the manager came to apologize.
let the cat out of the bag and spill the beans
to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident. (Informal.)
When Bill glanced at the door, he let the cat out of the bag. We knew then that he was expecting someone to arrive.
lick one’s lips
to show eagerness or pleasure about a future event. (Informal. From the habit of people licking their lips when they are about to enjoy eating something.)
The children licked their lips at the sight of the cake.
lion’s share (of something)
the larger share of something.
The elder boy always takes the lion’s share of the food.
look as if butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth
to appear to be very innocent, respectable, honest, etc.
Sally looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but she is going out with a married man.
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.
make someone’s mouth water
to make someone hungry (for something); to make someone desirous of something. (Informal.)
That beautiful salad makes my mouth water.
make something from scratch
to make something by starting with the basic ingredients. (Informal.)
We made the cake from scratch, not using a cake mix.
melt in one’s mouth
to taste very good. (Informal.)
This cake is so good it’ll melt in your mouth.
milk of human kindness
natural kindness and sympathy shown to others. (From Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. )
Mary is completely hard and selfish—she has no milk of human kindness in her.
not someone’s cup of tea
not something one likes or prefers. (Informal.)
Playing cards isn’t her cup of tea.
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.
out of place
not in the usual or proper place.
The salt was out of place in the cupboard, so I couldn’t find it.
out of this world
wonderful; extraordinary.
This pie is just out of this world.
pie in the sky
a supposed future reward which one is not likely to get. (From “You’ll get pie in the sky when you die,” a line from a song by U.S. radical labour organizer Joe Hill.)
The firm have promised him a large reward, but I think it’s just pie in the sky.
piece of cake
something very easy. (Informal.)
No, it won’t be any trouble. It’s a piece of cake.
pride oneself on something
to take special pride in something.
Ann prides herself on her apple pies.
rub salt in the wound
deliberately to make someone’s unhappiness, shame, or misfortune worse.
Don’t rub salt in the wound by telling me how enjoyable the party was.
salt of the earth
the most worthy of people; a very good or worthy person. (A biblical reference.)
Mrs. Jones is the salt of the earth. She is the first to help anyone in trouble.
set the table and lay the table
to place plates, glasses, napkins, etc., on the table before a meal.
Jane, would you please lay the table?
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.
