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.
only have eyes for someone
to be loyal to only one person, in the context of romance; to be interested in only one person.
Oh, Jane! I only have eyes for you!
open one’s heart (to someone)
to reveal one’s most private thoughts to someone.
I always open my heart to my wife when I have a problem.
other way round
the reverse; the opposite.
No, it won’t fit that way. Try it the other way round.
out of the corner of one’s eye
[seeing something] at a glance; glimpsing (something).
I saw someone do it out of the corner of my eye. It might have been Jane who did it.
over my dead body
not if I can stop you; you’ll have to kill me first (so that I won’t stop you).
You’ll sell this house over my dead body!
pain in the neck
a bother; an annoyance. (Informal.)
This assignment is a pain in the neck.
pale around the gills and green around the gills; green about the gills
looking sick. (Informal.)
John is looking a little pale around the gills. What’s wrong?
parrot-fashion
without understanding the meaning of what one has learnt, is saying, etc.
The child learnt the poem by heart and repeated it parrot-fashion.
pay an arm and a leg (for something) and pay through the nose (for something)
to pay too much money for something. (Informal.)
I hate to have to pay an arm and a leg for a tank of petrol.
pins and needles
a tingling feeling in some part of one’s body.
I’ve got pins and needles in my legs.
play into someone’s hands
to do exactly what an opponent wants one to do, without one realizing it; to assist someone in a scheme without realizing it.
John is doing exactly what I hoped he would. He’s playing into my hands.
play possum
to pretend to be inactive, unobserved, asleep, or dead. (Informal. The possum is an opossum. )
I knew that Bob wasn’t asleep. He was just playing possum.
play tricks (on someone)
to trick or confuse someone.
I thought I saw a camel over there. I think that my eyes are playing tricks on me.
play up
to cause trouble; to be a nuisance. (Informal.)
My leg is playing up. It really aches.
point the finger at someone
to blame someone; to identify someone as the guilty person.
Don’t point the finger at me! I didn’t take the money.
prick up one’s ears
to listen more closely.
At the sound of my voice, my dog pricked up her ears.
pull a face and make a face
to twist one’s face into a strange expression, typically to show one’s dislike, to express ridicule, or to make someone laugh. (Also plural: pull faces, make faces.)
The comedian pulled faces to amuse the children.
pull someone’s leg
to kid, fool, or trick someone. (Informal.)
You don’t mean that. You’re just pulling my leg.
pull the rug out from under someone(’s feet)
to do something suddenly which leaves someone in a weak position; to make someone ineffective.
The news that his wife had left him pulled the rug out from under him.
pull the wool over someone’s eyes
to deceive someone.
You can’t pull the wool over my eyes. I know what’s going on.
put a brave face on it
to try to appear happy or satisfied when faced with misfortune or danger.
We’ve lost all our money, but we must put a brave face on it for the sake of the children.
put ideas into someone’s head
to suggest something—usually something that is bad or unfortunate for someone—to someone (who would not have thought of it otherwise).
Jack can’t afford a holiday abroad. Please don’t put ideas into his head.
put one’s best foot forward
to prepare to do one’s best; to make the best attempt possible to make a good impression.
When you apply for a position, you should always put your best foot forward.
put one’s foot down (about something)
to be adamant about something.
Ann put her foot down about what kind of car she wanted.
put one’s foot in it
to say something which one regrets; to say something tactless, insulting, or hurtful. (Informal.)
When I told Ann that her hair was more beautiful than I had ever seen it, I really put my foot in it. It was a wig.
put one’s hand to the plough
to begin to do a big and important task; to undertake a major effort.
If John would only put his hand to the plough, he could do an excellent job of work.
put one’s shoulder to the wheel
to take up a task; to get busy.
You won’t accomplish anything unless you put your shoulder to the wheel.
put someone’s nose out of joint
to cause someone to feel slighted or insulted. (Informal.)
I’m afraid I put his nose out of joint by not inviting him to the picnic.
put words into someone’s mouth
to speak for another person without permission.
Stop putting words into my mouth. I can speak for myself.
Put your money where your mouth is!
a command to stop talking or boasting and make a bet, or to stop talking and provide money for something which one claims to support.
I’m tired of your bragging about your skill at betting. Put your money where your mouth is!
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.
