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.
can’t make head nor tail of someone or something
unable to understand someone or something. (Also with cannot. )
John is so strange. I can’t make head nor tail of him.
can’t see beyond the end of one’s nose
unaware of and uncaring for the things which might happen in the future; not far-sighted. (Also with cannot. )
John is a very poor planner. He can’t see beyond the end of his nose.
can’t see one’s hand in front of one’s face
unable to see very far, usually owing to darkness or fog. (Also with cannot. )
It was so dark that I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
Cat got your tongue?
Why don’t you speak?; Speak up and answer my question! (Informal.)
Answer me! What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?
catch someone’s eye
to establish eye contact with someone; to attract someone’s attention.
Try and catch the barman’s eye.
catch the sun
to become sunburnt. (Informal.)
The baby’s face is red—she’s caught the sun.
chance one’s arm
to do something risky or dangerous.
He certainly chanced his arm when he was rude to the boss’s wife.
change hands
[for something] to be sold. (Refers to the changing of owners.)
How many times has this house changed hands in the last ten years?
chew the cud
to think deeply. (Informal. From the cow’s habit of bringing food back from the first stomach into the mouth to chew it, called chewing the cud.)
I can’t decide where to go on holiday. I’ll have to chew the cud.
chilled to the marrow and chilled to the bone
very cold.
I was chilled to the marrow in that snowstorm.
clap eyes on someone or something
to see someone or something, perhaps for the first time; to set eyes on someone or something. (Informal.)
I wish she had never clapped eyes on her fiancé.
close one’s eyes to something
to ignore something; to pretend that something is not really happening.
You can’t close your eyes to the hunger in the world.
come down with something
to become ill with some disease.
I’m afraid I’m coming down with a cold.
come to a bad end
to have a disaster, perhaps one which is deserved or expected; to die an unfortunate death.
I just know that the young man will come to a bad end.
come to a head
to come to a crucial point; to come to a point when a problem must be solved.
Remember my problem with my neighbours? Well, last night the whole thing came to a head.
come to an untimely end
to come to an early death.
Poor Mr. Jones came to an untimely end in a car accident.
cost an arm and a leg
to cost too much.
It cost an arm and a leg, so I didn’t buy it.
cross one’s heart (and hope to die)
to pledge or vow that the truth is being told.
It’s true, cross my heart and hope to die.
cry one’s eyes out
to cry very hard.
When we heard the news, we cried our eyes out with joy.
cut one’s eye-teeth on something
to have done something since one was very young; to have much experience at something.
Do I know about cars? I cut my eye-teeth on cars.
cut one’s teeth on something
to gain one’s early experiences on something.
You can cut your teeth on this project before getting involved in a more major one.
cut someone dead
to ignore someone totally.
Joan was just about to speak to James when he cut her dead.
cut teeth
[for a baby or young person] to grow teeth.
Billy is cross because he’s cutting teeth.
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.
