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.
aid and abet someone
to help someone, especially in a crime or misdeed; to incite someone to do something which is wrong.
He was scolded for aiding and abetting the boys who were fighting.
at first glance
when first examined; at an early stage.
At first glance, the problem appeared quite simple. Later we learned just how complex it really was.
at loggerheads (with someone)
in opposition; at an impasse; in a quarrel.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been at loggerheads with each other for years.
at one’s wits’ end
at the limits of one’s mental resources.
I’m at my wits’ end trying to solve this problem.
be a thorn in someone’s side
to be a constant source of annoyance to someone.
This problem is a thorn in my side. I wish I had a solution to it.
bitter pill to swallow
an unpleasant fact that has to be accepted.
It was a bitter pill for her brother to swallow when she married his enemy.
bone of contention
the subject or point of an argument; an unsettled point of disagreement.
We’ve fought for so long that we’ve forgotten what the bone of contention is.
bring something to a head
to cause something to come to the point when a decision has to be made or action taken.
The latest disagreement between management and the union has brought matters to a head. There will be an all-out strike now.
bury the hatchet
to stop fighting or arguing; to end old resentments.
All right, you two. Calm down and bury the hatchet.
call a spade a spade
to call something by its right name; to speak frankly about something, even if it is unpleasant.
Well, I believe it’s time to call a spade a spade. We are just avoiding the issue.
clear the air
to get rid of doubts or hostile feelings. (Sometimes this is said about an argument or other unpleasantness. The literal meaning is also used.)
All right, let’s discuss this frankly. It’ll be better if we clear the air.
come home to roost
to return to cause trouble (for someone).
As I feared, all my problems came home to roost.
come off second-best
to be in second place or worse; to be the loser.
You can fight with your brother if you like, but you’ll come off second-best.
come to a head
to come to a crucial point; to come to a point when a problem must be solved.
Remember my problem with my neighbours? Well, last night the whole thing came to a head.
come to grief
to fail or be unsuccessful; to have trouble or grief.
The artist wept when her canvas came to grief.
cross swords (with someone)
to enter into an argument with someone.
I don’t want to cross swords with Tom.
cross the Rubicon
to do something which inevitably commits one to a following course of action. (The crossing of the River Rubicon by Julius Caesar inevitably involved him in a war with the Senate in 49 b.c. )
Jane crossed the Rubicon by signing the contract.
crux of the matter
the central issue of the matter. ( Crux is Latin for “cross.”)
All right, this is the crux of the matter.
cut and thrust
intense competition. (From sword-fighting.)
Peter tired of the cut and thrust of business.
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.
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 someone up the wall
to annoy or irritate someone. (Informal.)
Stop whistling that tune. You’re driving me up the wall.
enter the lists
to begin to take part in a contest or argument.
He had decided not to stand for Parliament, but entered the lists at the last minute.
fair game
someone or something that it is quite permissible to attack.
I don’t like seeing articles exposing people’s private lives, but politicians are fair game.
fiddle while Rome burns
to do nothing or something trivial while something disastrous happens. (From a legend that the emperor Nero played the lyre while Rome was burning.)
The Opposition doesn’t seem to be doing anything to stop this terrible parliamentary bill. It’s fiddling while Rome burns.
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.
fighting chance
a good possibility of success, especially if every effort is made.
They have at least a fighting chance of winning the race.
fit someone in(to something)
to succeed with difficulty in putting someone into a schedule.
The doctor is busy, but I can try to fit you into the appointment book.
from the word go
from the beginning. (Informal.)
I knew about the problem from the word go.
get to the bottom of something
to get an understanding of the causes of something.
We must get to the bottom of this problem immediately.
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.
