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.
go to rack and ruin
to become ruined or destroyed, especially due to neglect.
That lovely old house on the corner is going to go to rack and ruin.
go to town
to make a great effort; to work with energy or enthusiasm. (Informal.)
They really went to town on cleaning the house. It’s spotless.
good riddance (to bad rubbish)
[it is] good to be rid (of worthless persons or things).
She slammed the door behind me and said, “Good riddance to bad rubbish!”
good-for-nothing
a worthless person.
Tell that good-for-nothing to go home at once.
hard-and-fast rule
a strict rule.
It’s a hard-and-fast rule that you must be home by midnight.
haul someone over the coals
to give someone a severe scolding.
My mother hauled me over the coals for coming in late last night.
have green fingers
to have the ability to grow plants well.
Just look at Mr. Simpson’s garden. He has green fingers.
have someone under one’s thumb
to have control over someone; to dominate someone.
His wife has him under her thumb.
Hobson’s choice
the choice between taking what is offered and getting nothing at all. (From the name of a stable owner in the seventeenth century who offered customers the hire of the horse nearest the door.)
We didn’t really want that holiday cottage, but it was a case of Hobson’s choice. We booked very late and there was nothing else left.
home and dry
having been successful in one’s aims.
There is the cottage we are looking for. We are home and dry.
house-proud
extremely or excessively concerned about the appearance of one’s house.
Mrs. Smith is so house-proud that she makes her guests take their shoes off at the front door.
in a split second
in an instant.
The lightning struck, and in a split second the house burst into flames.
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 fear and trembling
with anxiety or fear; with dread.
In fear and trembling, I went into the room to take the exam.
in one’s second childhood
being interested in things or people which normally interest children.
My father bought himself a toy train, and my mother said he was in his second childhood.
in progress
happening now; taking place at this time.
You can’t go into that room. There is a meeting in progress.
in the family
restricted to one’s own family, as with private or embarrassing information. (Especially with keep. )
Don’t tell anyone else about the bankruptcy. Please keep it in the family.
in the family way
pregnant. (Informal.)
I’ve heard that Mrs. Smith is in the family way.
in the lap of luxury
in luxurious surroundings.
John lives in the lap of luxury because his family is very wealthy.
in the pink (of condition) and in the peak of condition
in very good health; in very good condition, physically and emotionally. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
The garden is lovely. All the flowers are in the pink of condition.
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.
jolly someone along
to keep someone happy and satisfied in order to obtain compliance with one’s wishes.
If you jolly Jim along, he will help you with the garden.
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.
keep body and soul together
to feed, clothe, and house oneself.
I hardly have enough money to keep body and soul together.
keep house
to manage a household.
I hate to keep house. I’d rather live in a tent than keep house.
keep the home fires burning
to keep things going at one’s home or other central location.
My uncle kept the home fires burning when my sister and I went to school.
keep the wolf from the door
to maintain oneself at a minimal level; to keep from starving, freezing, etc.
I don’t make a lot of money, just enough to keep the wolf from the door.
kick oneself (for doing something)
to regret doing something. (Informal.)
I could just kick myself for going off and not locking the car door. Now the car’s been stolen.
kill the fatted calf
to prepare an elaborate banquet (in someone’s honour). (From the biblical story recounting the return of the prodigal son.)
When Bob got back from college, his parents killed the fatted calf and threw a great party.
knock people’s heads together
to scold some people; to get some people to do what they are supposed to be doing. (Informal.)
If you children don’t quieten down and go to sleep, I’m going to come up there and knock your heads together.
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.
