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.
make an example of someone
to punish someone as a public warning to others.
The judge decided to make an example of John, so he fined him the full amount.
make someone look good
to cause someone to appear successful or competent (especially when this is not the case).
John arranges all his affairs to make himself look good.
much ado about nothing
a lot of excitement about nothing. (This is the title of a play by Shakespeare.)
All the commotion about the new law turned out to be much ado about nothing.
near the bone and near the knuckle
(Informal.) 1. coming too close to mentioning something which should not be mentioned, for example because it might hurt or offend someone.
Jack’s remark about prisons was a bit near the bone. Jane’s father is on trial just now.
nothing short of something
more or less the same as something bad; as bad as something.
His behaviour was nothing short of criminal.
on the off-chance
because of a slight possibility that something may happen, might be the case, etc.; just in case.
I went to the theatre on the off-chance that there were tickets for the show left.
on the strength of something
because of the support of something, such as a promise or evidence; owing to something.
On the strength of your comment, I decided to give John another chance.
open-and-shut case
something, usually a law-case or problem, that is simple and straightforward without complications.
The murder trial was an open-and-shut case. The defendant was caught with the murder weapon.
out of the frying-pan into the fire
from a bad situation to a worse situation.
When I tried to argue about my fine for a traffic violation, the judge charged me with contempt of court. I really went out of the frying-pan into the fire.
out on parole
out of jail but still under police supervision.
Bob got out on parole after serving only a few years of his sentence.
pay one’s debt to society
to serve a sentence for a crime, usually in prison.
The judge said that Mr. Simpson had to pay his debt to society.
pick holes in something
to criticize something severely; to find all the flaws or fallacies in an argument. (Informal.)
The solicitor picked holes in the witness’s story.
play cat and mouse (with someone)
to capture and release someone over and over; to treat a person in one’s control in such a way that the person does not know what is going to happen next.
The police played cat and mouse with the suspect until they had sufficient evidence to make an arrest.
play politics
to allow political concerns to dominate in matters where principles should prevail.
Look, I came here to discuss this trial, not play politics.
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.
presence of mind
calmness and the ability to act sensibly in an emergency or difficult situation.
Jane had the presence of mind to phone the police when the child disappeared.
put someone in the picture
to give someone all the necessary facts about something. (Informal.)
They put the police in the picture about how the accident happened.
sharp practice
dishonest or illegal methods or behaviour.
I’m sure that Jim’s firm was guilty of sharp practice in getting that export order.
sweep something under the carpet and brush something under the carpet
to try to hide something unpleasant, shameful, etc., from the attention of others.
The boss said he couldn’t sweep the theft under the carpet, that he’d have to call in the police.
tail wagging the dog
a situation where a small or minor part is controlling the whole thing.
John was just employed yesterday, and today he’s bossing everyone around. It’s a case of the tail wagging the dog.
throw a spanner in the works
to cause problems for someone’s plans. (Informal.)
I don’t want to throw a spanner in the works, but have you checked your plans with a solicitor?
throw the book at someone
to charge someone with, or convict someone of, as many crimes as possible; to reprimand or punish someone severely.
I made the police officer angry, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me.
up to no good
doing something bad or criminal. (Informal.)
I could tell from the look on Tom’s face that he was up to no good.
wear more than one hat
to have more than one set of responsibilities; to hold more than one office.
The mayor is also the police chief. She wears more than one hat.
wheels within wheels
circumstances, often secret or personal, which all have an effect on each other and lead to a complicated, confusing situation.
This is not a staightforward matter of choosing the best person for the job. There are wheels within wheels and one of the applicants is the boss’s son-in-law.
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.
