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.
draw a red herring
to introduce information which diverts attention from the main issue. (See also red herring. )
The accountant drew several red herrings to prevent people from discovering that he had embezzled the money.
drive a hard bargain
to work hard to negotiate prices or agreements in one’s own favour.
All right, sir, you drive a hard bargain. I’ll sell you this car for £12,450.
enough is as good as a feast
a saying that means one should be satisfied if one has enough of something to meet one’s needs, and one should not seek more than one needs.
We have enough money to live on, and enough is as good as a feast.
every time one turns around
frequently; at every turn; with annoying frequency.
Somebody asks me for money every time I turn around.
fight shy of something
to avoid something; to keep from doing something.
She fought shy of borrowing money from her father, but had to in the end.
fish for compliments
to try to get someone to pay you a compliment. (Informal.)
When she showed me her new dress, I could tell that she was fishing for a compliment.
flight of fancy
an idea or suggestion that is out of touch with reality or possibility.
What is the point in indulging in flights of fancy about foreign holidays when you cannot even afford the rent?
flying visit
a very short, often unexpected visit.
She paid us a flying visit before leaving town.
follow suit
to follow in the same pattern; to follow someone else’s example. (From card-games.)
Mary went to work for a bank, and Jane followed suit. Now they are both head cashiers.
foot the bill
to pay the bill; to pay (for something).
Let’s go out and eat. I’ll foot the bill.
from rags to riches
from poverty to wealth.
The princess used to be quite poor. She certainly moved from rags to riches when she married.
get a good run for one’s money
to receive what one deserves, expects, or wants; to be well compensated for effort, money, etc., spent. (Informal. Also with have.)
If Bill gets a good run for his money, he will be satisfied.
get a lucky break
to have good fortune; to receive a bit of luck. (Informal. Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
Mary really got a lucky break when she got that job.
get by (on a shoe-string)
to manage to live (on very little money).
For the last two years, we have had to get by on a shoe-string.
get one’s money’s worth
to get everything that has been paid for; to get the best quality for the money paid.
Weigh that pack of meat before you buy it. Be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
glutton for punishment
someone who seems to like doing or seeking out difficult, unpleasant, or badly paid tasks.
If you work for this charity, you’ll have to be a glutton for punishment and work long hours for nothing.
go back on one’s word
to break a promise which one has made.
I hate to go back on my word, but I won’t pay you £100 after all.
go broke
to run out of money and other assets.
This company is going to go broke if you don’t stop spending money foolishly.
go downhill
[for something] to decline and grow worse and worse. (Also used literally.)
This industry is going downhill. We lose money every year.
go Dutch
to share the cost of a meal or some other event with someone.
I’ll go out and eat with you if we can go Dutch.
go in one ear and out the other
[for something] to be heard and then forgotten. (Informal.)
Everything I say to you seems to go in one ear and out the other. Why don’t you pay attention?
grist to the mill
something which can be put to good use or which can bring advantage or profit. (Grist was corn brought to a mill to be ground and so kept the mill operating.)
Some of the jobs that we are offered are more interesting than others, but all is grist to the mill.
hand over fist
[for money and merchandise to be exchanged] very rapidly.
What a busy day. We took in money hand over fist.
hang on to someone’s coat-tails
to gain good fortune or success through another person’s success, rather than through one’s own efforts.
Bill isn’t very creative, so he hangs on to John’s coat-tails.
hang one’s hat up somewhere
to take up residence somewhere. (Informal.)
George loves London. He’s decided to buy a flat and hang his hat up there.
hard cash
cash, not cheques or credit. (Informal.)
I want to be paid in hard cash, and I want to be paid now!
have a bone to pick (with someone)
to have a matter to discuss with someone; to have something to argue about with someone.
Look, Bill. I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Where is the money you owe me?
have a heart of gold
to be generous, sincere, and friendly.
Mary is such a lovely person. She has a heart of gold.
have a price on one’s head
to be wanted by the authorities, who have offered a reward for one’s capture. (Informal.)
We captured a thief who had a price on his head, and the police gave us the reward.
have a thin time (of it)
to experience a difficult or unfortunate time, especially because of a shortage of money.
Jack had a thin time of it when he was a student. He didn’t have enough to eat.
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.
