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.
all thumbs
very awkward and clumsy, especially with one’s hands. (Informal.)
Poor Bob can’t play the piano at all. He’s all thumbs.
armed to the teeth
heavily armed with weapons.
The bank robber was armed to the teeth when he was caught.
at the bottom of the ladder
at the lowest level of pay and status.
Most people start work at the bottom of the ladder.
at the expense of someone or something
to the detriment of someone or something; to the harm or disadvantage of someone or something.
He had a good laugh at the expense of his brother.
be thankful for small mercies
to be grateful for any small benefits or advantages one has, especially in a generally difficult situation.
We have very little money, but we must be grateful for small mercies. At least we have enough food.
blank cheque
freedom or permission to act as one wishes or thinks necessary. (From a signed bank cheque with the amount left blank.)
He’s been given a blank cheque with regard to reorganizing the workforce.
born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
born with many advantages; born to a wealthy family; born to have good fortune.
Sally was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
bring home the bacon
to earn a salary. (Informal.)
I’ve got to get to work if I’m going to bring home the bacon.
buy a pig in a poke
to purchase or accept something without having seen or examined it. ( Poke means “bag.”)
Buying a car without test driving it is like buying a pig in a poke.
buy something for a song
to buy something cheaply.
No one else wanted it, so I bought it for a song.
by return post
by a subsequent immediate posting (back to the sender). (A phrase indicating that an answer is expected soon, by mail.)
Since this bill is overdue, would you kindly send us your cheque by return post?
can’t see beyond the end of one’s nose
unaware of and uncaring for the things which might happen in the future; not far-sighted. (Also with cannot. )
John is a very poor planner. He can’t see beyond the end of his nose.
change someone’s tune
to change the manner, attitude, or behaviour of a person, usually from bad to good, or from rude to pleasant.
The cashier was most unpleasant until she learned that I’m a bank director. Then she changed her tune.
cloud-cuckoo-land
an imaginary perfect world.
He thinks that he will be able to buy a house easily, but he is living in cloud-cuckooland.
come a cropper
to have a misfortune; to fail. (Literally, to fall off one’s horse.)
Bob invested all his money in the shares market just before it fell. Did he come a cropper!
come in for something
to receive something; to acquire something.
Mary came in for a tremendous amount of money when her aunt died.
come into something
to inherit something.
Jane came into a small fortune when her aunt died.
come of age
to reach an age when one is old enough to own property, get married, and sign legal contracts.
When Jane comes of age, she will buy her own car.
come to an untimely end
to come to an early death.
Poor Mr. Jones came to an untimely end in a car accident.
come to the fore
to become obvious or prominent; to become important.
The question of salary has now come to the fore.
cost a pretty penny
to cost a lot of money.
I’ll bet that diamond cost a pretty penny.
cost an arm and a leg
to cost too much.
It cost an arm and a leg, so I didn’t buy it.
cost the earth
to cost an enormous sum of money. (Compare with pay the earth.)
That huge car must have cost the earth!
cry wolf
to cry out for help or to complain about something when nothing is really wrong.
Pay no attention. She’s just crying wolf again.
cut a long story short
to bring a story to an end. (A formula which introduces a summary of a story or a joke.)
And—to cut a long story short—I never got back the money that I lent him.
cut both ways
to affect both sides of an issue equally.
Remember your suggestion that costs should be shared cuts both ways. You will have to pay as well.
cut it (too) fine
to allow scarcely enough time, money, etc., in order to accomplish something.
You’re cutting it too fine if you want to catch the bus. It leaves in five minutes.
daylight robbery
[an instance of] the practice of blatantly or grossly overcharging. (Informal.)
It’s daylight robbery to charge that amount of money for a hotel room!
dirt cheap
extremely cheap. (Informal.)
Buy some more of those plums. They’re dirt cheap.
down on one’s luck
without any money; unlucky. (Euphemistic for poor or penniless. )
Can you lend me twenty pounds? I’ve been down on my luck lately.
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.
