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.
play on something
to make use of something for one’s own ends; to exploit something; to manage something for a desired effect. (The on can be replaced by upon. )
The shop assistant played on my sense of responsibility in trying to get me to buy the book.
play the market
to invest in the shares market. (As if it were a game or as if it were gambling.)
Would you rather put your money in the bank or play the market?
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.
pound for pound
considering the amount of money involved; considering the cost. (Often seen in advertising.)
Pound for pound, you cannot buy a better car.
pound the streets
to walk through the streets looking for a job. (Informal.)
I spent two months pounding the streets after the factory I worked for closed.
pour money down the drain
to waste money; to throw money away.
What a waste! You’re just pouring money down the drain.
push one’s luck
to expect continued good fortune; to expect to continue to escape bad luck. (Informal.)
You’re okay so far, but don’t push your luck.
put a brave face on it
to try to appear happy or satisfied when faced with misfortune or danger.
We’ve lost all our money, but we must put a brave face on it for the sake of the children.
put all one’s eggs in one basket
to risk everything at once; to depend entirely on one plan, venture, etc. (Often negative.)
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You shouldn’t invest all your money in one business.
put paid to something
to put an end to something; to prevent someone from doing something; to prevent something from happening. (From the practice of book-keepers of writing “paid” in the account book when a bill has been settled.)
Jean’s father’s objections put paid to John’s thoughts of marrying her.
Put your money where your mouth is!
a command to stop talking or boasting and make a bet, or to stop talking and provide money for something which one claims to support.
I’m tired of your bragging about your skill at betting. Put your money where your mouth is!
return ticket
a ticket (for a plane, train, bus, etc.) which allows one to go to a destination and return.
A return ticket will usually save you some money.
ring someone or something up and ring up someone or some-thing
[with something ] to record the cost of an item on a cash register.
The cashier rang up each item and told me how much money I owed.
risk one’s neck (to do something)
to risk physical harm play safe to accomplish something. (Informal.)
Look at that traffic! I refuse to risk my neck just to cross the street to buy a paper.
rob Peter to pay Paul
to take from one person in order to give to another.
Why borrow money to pay your bills? That’s just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
same old story
something that occurs or has occurred in the same way often.
Jim’s got no money. It’s the same old story. He’s spent it all on clothing.
save something for a rainy day
to reserve something—usually money—for some future need. ( Save something can be replaced with put something aside, hold something back, keep something, etc.)
I’ve saved a little money for a rainy day.
scrimp and save
to be very thrifty; to live on very little money, often to save up for something.
We had to scrimp and save to send the children to college.
sell someone a pup
to cheat someone by selling the person something that is inferior or worthless. (Informal.)
Jack sold me a pup when I bought a bike from him. It broke down in two days.
sell someone or something short
to underestimate someone or something; to fail to see the good qualities of someone or something.
This is a very good restaurant. Don’t sell it short.
sign one’s own death-warrant
to do something that will lead to one’s ruin, downfall, or death. (As if one were signing a paper which called for one’s own death.)
I wouldn’t ever gamble a large sum of money. That would be signing my own death-warrant.
sitting pretty
living in comfort or luxury; in a good situation. (Informal.)
My uncle died and left enough money for me to be sitting pretty for the rest of my life.
spend a penny
to urinate. (Informal. From the former cost of admission to the cubicles in public lavatories.)
Stop the car. The little girl needs to spend a penny.
splash out on something
to spend a lot of money on something in an extravagant way. (Informal.)
Jack splashed out on a new car that he couldn’t afford.
split the difference
to divide the difference (with someone else).
You want to sell for £120, and I want to buy for £100. Let’s split the difference and close the deal at £110.
spoil the ship for a ha’porth of tar
to risk ruining something valuable by not buying something relatively inexpensive but essential for it. ( Ha’porth is a halfpenny’s worth. From the use of tar to make boats watertight.)
Meg spent a lot of money on a new dress but refused to buy shoes. She certainly spoilt the ship for a ha’porth of tar.
strike a bargain
to reach an agreement on a price (for something).
They argued for a while and finally struck a bargain.
stumbling-block
something that prevents or obstructs progress.
We’d like to buy that house, but the high price is the stumbling-block.
take one’s medicine
to accept the punishment or the bad fortune which one deserves.
I know I did wrong, and I know I have to take my medicine.
take the wind out of someone’s sails
to put an end to someone’s boasting or arrogance and make the person feel embarrassed; to take an advantage away from someone. (Informal.)
John was bragging about how much money he earned until he learned that most of us make more. That took the wind out of his sails.
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.
