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.
lead someone up the garden path
to deceive someone.
Now, be honest with me. Don’t lead me up the garden path.
leave someone holding the baby
to leave someone with the responsibility for something, especially something difficult or unpleasant, often when it was originally someone else’s responsibility. (Informal. Note passive use in the examples.)
We all promised to look after the house when the owner was away, but I was left holding the baby on my own.
lend (someone) a hand
to give someone some help, not necessarily with the hands.
Could you lend me a hand with this piano? I need to move it across the room.
let the cat out of the bag and spill the beans
to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident. (Informal.)
When Bill glanced at the door, he let the cat out of the bag. We knew then that he was expecting someone to arrive.
lick one’s lips
to show eagerness or pleasure about a future event. (Informal. From the habit of people licking their lips when they are about to enjoy eating something.)
The children licked their lips at the sight of the cake.
like one of the family
as if someone (or a pet) were a member of one’s family. (Informal.)
We treat our dog like one of the family.
load off one’s mind
relief from something which has been worrying one. (Informal.)
It will be a load off Jane’s mind when her mother leaves hospital.
lock, stock, and barrel
everything.
We had to move everything out of the house—lock, stock, and barrel.
look up to someone
to view someone with respect and admiration.
Bill really looks up to his father.
lord it over someone
to dominate someone; to direct and control someone.
Mr. Smith seems to lord it over his wife.
love at first sight
love established when two people first see one another.
Bill was standing at the door when Ann opened it. It was love at first sight.
lucky dip
a situation in which one is given no choice in what one is given, what happens, etc. (From the name of a fairground sideshow in which children choose a parcel at random from a tub of bran.)
The allocation of jobs is a lucky dip. You can’t choose.
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.
