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.
down in the mouth
sad-faced; depressed and unsmiling.
Ever since the party was cancelled, Barbara has been looking down in the mouth.
drag one’s feet
to act very slowly, often deliberately.
The government are dragging their feet on this bill because it will lose votes.
draw blood
to hit or bite (a person or an animal) and make a wound that bleeds.
The dog chased me and bit me hard, but it didn’t draw blood.
eagle eye
careful attention; an intently watchful eye. (From the sharp eyesight of the eagle.)
The pupils wrote their essays under the eagle eye of the headmaster.
eat one’s heart out
to be very sad (about someone or something).
Bill spent a lot of time eating his heart out after his divorce.
eat out of someone’s hands
to do what someone else wants; to obey someone eagerly. (Often with have.)
Just wait! I’ll have everyone eating out of my hands. They’ll do whatever I ask.
extend one’s sympathy (to someone)
to express sympathy to someone. (A very polite and formal way to tell someone that you are sorry about a death in the family.)
Please permit me to extend my sympathy to you and your children. I’m very sorry to hear of the death of your husband.
eyeball to eyeball
person to person; face to face. (Informal.)
The discussions will have to be eyeball to eyeball to be effective.
face the music
to receive punishment; to accept the unpleasant results of one’s actions. (Informal.)
Mary broke a dining-room window and had to face the music when her father got home.
face value
outward appearance; what something first appears to be. (From the value printed on the “face” of a coin or banknote.)
Don’t just accept her offer at face value. Think of the implications.
fall by the wayside
to give up and quit before the end (of something); not to succeed. (As if one became exhausted and couldn’t finish a foot-race.)
John fell by the wayside and didn’t finish college.
feast one’s eyes (on someone or something)
to look at someone or something with pleasure, envy, or admiration.
Just feast your eyes on that beautiful juicy steak!
feel fit
to feel well and healthy.
If you want to feel fit, you must eat the proper food and get enough rest.
feel like a million dollars
to feel well and healthy, both physically and mentally.
A quick swim in the morning makes me feel like a million dollars.
find it in one’s heart to do something
to have the courage or compassion to do something; to persuade oneself to do something.
She couldn’t find it in her heart to refuse to come home to him.
find one’s feet
to become used to a new situation or experience.
She was lonely at first when she left home, but she is finding her feet now.
find one’s tongue
to be able to talk. (Informal.)
Tom was speechless for a moment. Then he found his tongue.
fit for a king
splendid; of a very high standard.
What a delicious meal. It was fit for a king.
fit someone in(to something)
to succeed with difficulty in putting someone into a schedule.
The doctor is busy, but I can try to fit you into the appointment book.
flea in one’s ear
a severe scolding. (Informal.)
I got a flea in my ear when I tried to give Pat some advice.
flesh and blood
a living human body, especially with reference to its natural limitations; a human being.
This cold weather is more than flesh and blood can stand.
flog a dead horse
to try to continue discussing or arousing interest in something that already has been fully discussed or that is no longer of interest.
Stop arguing! You have won your point. You are just flogging a dead horse.
fly in the face of someone or something
to disregard, defy, or show disrespect for someone or something.
John loves to fly in the face of tradition.
foam at the mouth
to be very angry. (Informal. Related to a “mad dog”—a dog with rabies—which foams at the mouth.)
Bob was furious—foaming at the mouth. I’ve never seen anyone so angry.
follow one’s heart
to act according to one’s feelings; to obey one’s sympathetic or compassionate inclinations.
I couldn’t decide what to do, so I just followed my heart.
follow one’s nose
to go straight ahead, the direction in which one’s nose is pointing. (Informal.)
The town that you want is straight ahead on this motorway. Just follow your nose.
follow suit
to follow in the same pattern; to follow someone else’s example. (From card-games.)
Mary went to work for a bank, and Jane followed suit. Now they are both head cashiers.
foot the bill
to pay the bill; to pay (for something).
Let’s go out and eat. I’ll foot the bill.
force someone’s hand
to force one to do something that one is unwilling to do or sooner than one wants to do it. (Refers to a handful of cards in card-playing.)
We didn’t know what she was doing until Tom forced her hand.
foul play
illegal activity; a criminal act.
The police investigating the death suspect foul play.
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.
