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.
salt of the earth
the most worthy of people; a very good or worthy person. (A biblical reference.)
Mrs. Jones is the salt of the earth. She is the first to help anyone in trouble.
set upon someone or something
to attack someone or something violently.
The dogs set upon the bear and chased it up a tree.
show the white feather
to reveal fear or cowardice. (From the fact that a white tail-feather was a sign of inferior breeding in a fighting cock.)
Jim showed the white feather by refusing to fight with Jack.
spike someone’s guns
to spoil someone’s plans; to make it impossible for someone to carry out a course of action. (From driving a metal spike into the touch-hole of an enemy gun to render it useless.)
The boss was going to sack Sally publicly, but she spiked his guns by resigning.
stir up a hornets’ nest
to create trouble or difficulties.
By finding pupils copying from each other, you’ve really stirred up a hornets’ nest.
storm in a teacup
an uproar about something trivial or unimportant.
This isn’t a serious problem—just a storm in a teacup.
straw in the wind
an indication or sign of what might happen in the future.
The student’s argument with the lecturer was a straw in the wind in terms of student-teacher relations. The students are planning a strike.
take something in one’s stride
to accept something as natural or expected.
The argument surprised him, but he took it in his stride.
take something lying down
to endure something unpleasant without fighting back.
He insulted me publicly. You don’t expect me to take that lying down, do you?
talk of the town
the subject of gossip; someone or something that everyone is talking about.
Joan’s argument with the town council is the talk of the town.
thick and fast
in large numbers or amounts and at a rapid rate.
The enemy soldiers came thick and fast.
throw down the gauntlet
to challenge (someone) to an argument or (figurative) combat.
When Bob challenged my conclusions, he threw down the gauntlet. I was ready for an argument.
touch wood
a phrase said to cancel out imaginary bad luck.
My stereo has never given me any trouble—touch wood.
turn something to one’s advantage
to make an advantage for oneself out of something (which might otherwise be a disadvantage).
Sally found a way to turn the problem to her advantage.
weigh on someone’s mind
[for a worrying matter] to be constantly in a person’s thoughts; [for something] to be bothering someone’s thinking.
This problem has been weighing on my mind for many days now.
win the day and carry the day
to be successful; to win a competition, argument, etc. (Originally meaning to win a battle.)
Our team didn’t play well at first, but we won the day in the end.
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.
