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.
hand-me-down
something, such as an article of used clothing, which has been “handed down,” or given, to someone because another person no longer needs it. (Informal.)
Why do I always have to wear my brother’s hand-me-downs? I want some new clothes.
haul someone over the coals
to give someone a severe scolding.
My mother hauled me over the coals for coming in late last night.
have a heart-to-heart (talk)
to have a sincere and intimate talk.
I had a heart-to-heart talk with my father before I went off to college.
have someone on a string
to have someone waiting for one’s decision or actions. (Informal.)
Sally has John on a string. He has asked her to marry him, but she hasn’t replied yet.
have someone under one’s thumb
to have control over someone; to dominate someone.
His wife has him under her thumb.
hit (someone) below the belt
to do something unfair or unsporting to someone. (Informal. From boxing, where a blow below the belt line is not permitted. Also used literally.)
You really hit me below the belt when you told my sister about my health problems.
hit it off (with someone)
to quickly become good friends with someone. (Informal.)
Look how John hit it off with Mary.
hole-and-corner and hole-in-the-corner
secretive; secret and dishonourable.
Jane is tired of the hole-and-corner affair with Tom. She wants him to marry her.
hush-money
money paid as a bribe to persuade someone to remain silent and not reveal certain information. (Informal.)
Bob gave his younger sister hush-money so that she wouldn’t tell Jane that he had gone to the cinema with Sue.
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.
