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 one’s heart in one’s boots
to be very depressed; to have little or no hope.
My heart’s in my boots when I think of going back to work.
have one’s nose in a book
to be reading a book; to read books all the time. (Informal.)
Bob has his nose in a book every time I see him.
have one’s nose in the air and keep one’s nose in the air
to be conceited or aloof.
Mary always seems to have her nose in the air.
have something hanging over one’s head
to have something bothering or worrying one; to have a deadline worrying one. (Informal. Also used literally.)
I keep worrying about being declared redundant. I hate to have something like that hanging over my head.
have something in hand
to be prepared to take action on something.
I have the matter in hand.
have something on one’s hands
to be burdened with something.
I run a record shop. I sometimes have a large number of unwanted records on my hands.
have something on the brain
to be obsessed with something. (Informal.)
They have good manners on the brain.
have to live with something
to have to endure something.
I have a slight limp in the leg that I broke last year. The doctor says I’ll have to live with it.
head and shoulders above someone or something
clearly superior to someone. (Often with stand, as in the example.)
This wine is head and shoulders above that one.
head over heels in love (with someone)
very much in love with someone.
John is head over heels in love with Mary.
hide one’s face in shame
to cover one’s face because of shame or embarrassment.
Mary was so embarrassed. She could only hide her face in shame.
hit someone (right) between the eyes
to become completely apparent; to surprise or impress someone. (Informal. Also with right, as in the examples. Also used literally.)
Suddenly, it hit me right between the eyes. John and Mary were in love.
hit the bull’s-eye
to hit the centre area of a circular target.
The archer hit the bull’s-eye three times in a row.
hold one’s tongue
to refrain from speaking; to refrain from saying something unpleasant.
I felt like scolding her, but I held my tongue.
ill at ease
uneasy; anxious.
I feel ill at ease about the interview.
ill-gotten gains
money or other possessions acquired in a dishonest or illegal fashion.
Fred cheated at cards and is now living on his ill-gotten gains.
in a dead heat
[finishing a race] at exactly the same time; tied.
The two horses finished the race in a dead heat.
in at the kill
present at the end of some activity, usually an activity with negative results. (Literally, present when a hunted animal is put to death. Informal when used about any other activity.)
I went to the final hearing on the proposed ring-road. I knew it would be shouted down strongly, and I wanted to be in at the kill.
in deep water
in a dangerous or vulnerable situation; in a serious situation; in trouble. (As if one were swimming in or had fallen into water which is over one’s head. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
John is having trouble with his wife. He’s in deep water.
in name only
nominally; not actual, only by terminology.
The president is head of the country in name only.
in one ear and out the other
[for something to be] ignored; [for something to be] unheard or unheeded. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See the explanation at in a jam and the examples below.)
Everything I say to you goes into one ear and out the other!
in one’s mind’s eye
in one’s mind. (Refers to visualizing something in one’s mind.)
In my mind’s eye, I can see trouble ahead.
in over one’s head
with more difficulties than one can manage. (Informal.)
Calculus is very hard for me. I’m in over my head.
in the best of health
very healthy.
Bill is in the best of health. He eats well and exercises.
in the blood and in one’s blood
built into one’s personality or character.
John’s a great runner. It’s in his blood.
in the public eye
publicly; visible to all; conspicuous. ( In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
Elected officials find themselves constantly in the public eye.
in the swim (of things)
fully involved in or participating in events or happenings. (The in can be replaced with into. See the explanation at in a jam and the examples below.)
I’ve been ill, but soon I’ll be back in the swim of things.
iron hand in a velvet glove
a strong, ruthless type of control that gives the appearance of being gentle and liberal.
In that family, it is a case of the iron hand in a velvet glove. The father looks gentle and loving, but he is a tyrant.
jump down someone’s throat and jump on someone
to scold someone severely. (Informal.)
If I disagree with them, my parents will jump down my throat.
jump out of one’s skin
to react strongly to shock or surprise. (Informal. Usually with nearly, almost, etc.)
Oh! You really scared me. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
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.
