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.
see double
to see two of everything instead of one.
When I was driving, I saw two people on the road instead of one. I’m seeing double. There’s something wrong with my eyes.
separate the sheep from the goats
to divide people into two groups in order to distinguish the good from the bad, etc.
Working in a place like this really separates the sheep from the goats.
ships that pass in the night
people who meet each other briefly by chance and are unlikely to meet again.
Mary would have liked to see Jim again, but to him, they were ships that passed in the night.
shot in the arm
a boost; something that gives someone energy. (Informal.)
Thank you for cheering me up. Your visit was a real shot in the arm.
shot-gun wedding
a forced wedding. (Informal. From the bride’s father having threatened the bridegroom with a shot-gun to force him to marry.)
Mary was six months pregnant when she married Bill. It was a real shot-gun wedding.
show of hands
a vote expressed by people raising their hands.
We were asked to vote for the candidates for captain by a show of hands.
sink our differences
to forget or to agree to set aside disagreements of opinion, attitude, etc. (Also with their or your, as in the examples.)
We decided to sink our differences and try to be friends for Mary’s sake.
sit (idly) by
to remain inactive when other people are doing something; to ignore a situation which calls for help.
Bob sat idly by even though everyone else was hard at work.
small hours
the hours immediately after midnight.
The dance went on to the small hours.
speak the same language
[for people] to have similar ideas, tastes, etc.
Jane and Jack get along very well. They really speak the same language about almost everything.
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.
spick and span
very clean. (Informal.)
I have to clean up the house and get it spick and span for the party on Friday night.
square peg in a round hole
a misfit; one who is poorly adapted to one’s surroundings.
John just can’t seem to get along with the people he works with. He’s just a square peg in a round hole.
stand down
to withdraw from a competition or a position.
John has stood down from the election for president of the club.
start the ball rolling and get the ball rolling; set the ball rolling
to start something; to get some process going; to get a discussion started.
If I could just get the ball rolling, then other people would help.
steal someone’s thunder
to prevent someone from receiving the public recognition expected upon the announcement of an achievement, by making the announcement in public before the intended receiver of the recognition can do so.
I stole Mary’s thunder by telling her friends about Mary’s engagement to Tom before she could do so herself.
step on someone’s toes and tread on someone’s toes
to interfere with or offend someone. (Also used literally. Note example with anyone. )
When you’re in public office, you have to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes.
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.
