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.
safe and sound
safe and whole or healthy.
It was a rough trip, but we got there safe and sound.
save someone’s skin
to save someone from injury, embarrassment, or punishment. (Informal.)
I saved my skin by getting the job done on time.
see double
to see two of everything instead of one.
When I was driving, I saw two people on the road instead of one. I’m seeing double. There’s something wrong with my eyes.
see eye to eye (about something) and see eye to eye (on something)
to view something in the same way (as someone else). (Usually negative.)
John and Ann never see eye to eye about anything. They always disagree.
see something with half an eye
to see or understand very easily.
You could see with half an eye that the children were very tired.
see stars
to see flashing lights after receiving a blow to the head.
I saw stars when I bumped my head on the attic ceiling.
see the light at the end of the tunnel
to foresee an end to one’s problems after a long period of time.
I had been horribly ill for two months before I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
set foot somewhere
to go or enter somewhere. (Often in the negative.)
If I were you, I wouldn’t set foot in that town.
set someone’s teeth on edge
[for a sour or bitter taste] to irritate one’s mouth.
Have you ever eaten a lemon? It’ll set your teeth on edge.
shot in the arm
a boost; something that gives someone energy. (Informal.)
Thank you for cheering me up. Your visit was a real shot in the arm.
show of hands
a vote expressed by people raising their hands.
We were asked to vote for the candidates for captain by a show of hands.
show one’s hand
to reveal one’s intentions to someone. (From card-games.)
I don’t know whether Jim’s intending to marry Jane or not. He’s not one to show his hand.
show one’s teeth
to act in an angry or threatening manner.
We thought Bob was meek and mild, but he really showed his teeth when Jack insulted his girlfriend.
sign one’s own death-warrant
to do something that will lead to one’s ruin, downfall, or death. (As if one were signing a paper which called for one’s own death.)
I wouldn’t ever gamble a large sum of money. That would be signing my own death-warrant.
sit at someone’s feet
to admire someone greatly; to be influenced by someone’s teaching; to be taught by someone.
Jack sat at the feet of Picasso when he was studying in Europe.
sit on one’s hands
to do nothing; to fail to help.
When we needed help from Mary, she just sat on her hands.
slip of the tongue
an error in speaking where a word is pronounced incorrectly, or where something is said which the speaker did not mean to say.
I didn’t mean to tell her that. It was a slip of the tongue.
step into dead men’s shoes and fill dead men’s shoes
to take over the job or position of someone who has died; to gain an advantage by someone’s death.
The only hope of promotion in that firm is to step into dead men’s shoes.
stick one’s neck out
to take a risk. (Informal.)
Why should I stick my neck out to do something for her? What’s she ever done for me?
straight from the shoulder
sincerely; frankly; holding nothing back.
Sally always speaks straight from the shoulder. You never have to guess what she really means.
survival of the fittest
the idea that the most able or fit will survive (while the less able and less fit will perish). (This is used literally as a part of the theory of evolution.)
In college, it’s the survival of the fittest. You have to keep working in order to survive and graduate.
swan-song
the last work or performance of a playwright, musician, actor, etc., before death or retirement.
His portrayal of Lear was the actor’s swan-song.
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.
