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.
feather one’s (own) nest
to use power and prestige selfishly to provide for oneself, often immorally or illegally.
The mayor seemed to be helping people, but was really feathering her own nest.
fly a kite
to spread rumours or suggestions about something, such as a new project, in order to find out people’s attitudes to it.
The government is flying a kite with these stories of a new airport.
flying visit
a very short, often unexpected visit.
She paid us a flying visit before leaving town.
fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)
people with little experience or knowledge often get involved in difficult or delicate situations which wiser people would avoid.
I wouldn’t ask Jean about her divorce, but Kate did. Fools rush in, as they say.
get a word in (edgeways)
to succeed in saying something when other people are talking and one is being ignored. (Often in the negative.)
It was such an exciting conversation that I could hardly get a word in edgeways.
get cold feet
to become timid or frightened. (Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
I usually get cold feet when I have to speak in public.
get one’s come-uppance
to get a reprimand; to get the punishment one deserves.
Tom is always insulting people, but he finally got his come-uppance. Bill hit him.
get one’s foot in the door
to achieve a favourable position (for further action); to take the first step in a process. (People selling things from door to door used to block the door with a foot, so it could not be closed on them. Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
I think I could get the position if I could only get my foot in the door.
have a foot in both camps
to have an interest in or to support each of two opposing groups of people.
The shop steward had been promised promotion and so had a foot in both camps during the strike—workers and management.
have the right of way
to possess the legal right to occupy a particular space or proceed before others on a public roadway.
I had a traffic accident yesterday, but it wasn’t my fault. I had the right of way.
have the time of one’s life
to have a very good or entertaining time; to have the most exciting time in one’s life. (Informal.)
What a great party! I had the time of my life.
heads will roll
some people will get into trouble. (Informal. From the use of the guillotine to execute people.)
When company’s endof-year results are known, heads will roll.
hit it off (with someone)
to quickly become good friends with someone. (Informal.)
Look how John hit it off with Mary.
hold no brief for someone or something
not to care about someone or something; not to support someone or something; to dislike someone or something.
I hold no brief for people who cheat the company.
holier-than-thou
excessively pious; acting as though one is more virtuous than other people.
Jack always adopts a holier-than-thou attitude to other people, but people say he has been in prison.
house-proud
extremely or excessively concerned about the appearance of one’s house.
Mrs. Smith is so house-proud that she makes her guests take their shoes off at the front door.
hue and cry
a loud public protest or opposition.
There was a hue and cry when the council wanted to build houses in the playingfield.
in a (pretty) pickle
in a mess; in trouble. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
John has got himself into a pickle. He has two dates for the party.
in black and white
official, in writing or printing. (Said of something, such as an agreement or a statement, which has been recorded in writing. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
I have it in black and white that I’m entitled to three weeks’ holiday each year.
in force
in a very large group.
The entire group arrived in force.
in full swing
in progress; operating or running without restraint. (Informal. In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
We can’t leave now! The party is in full swing.
in league (with someone)
in co-operation with someone; in a conspiracy with someone.
The mayor is in league with the Council Treasurer. They are misusing public money.
in one’s second childhood
being interested in things or people which normally interest children.
My father bought himself a toy train, and my mother said he was in his second childhood.
in the family
restricted to one’s own family, as with private or embarrassing information. (Especially with keep. )
Don’t tell anyone else about the bankruptcy. Please keep it in the family.
in the family way
pregnant. (Informal.)
I’ve heard that Mrs. Smith is in the family way.
in the lap of luxury
in luxurious surroundings.
John lives in the lap of luxury because his family is very wealthy.
in the line of duty
as part of one’s expected (military, police, or other) duties.
When soldiers fight people in a war, it’s in the line of duty.
in the public eye
publicly; visible to all; conspicuous. ( In can be replaced with into. See comment at in a jam and the examples below.)
Elected officials find themselves constantly in the public eye.
in this day and age
presently; currently; nowadays.
You don’t expect people to be polite in this day and age.
jam tomorrow
good things in the future. (It is suggested that the future never comes. From Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, in which the White Queen offers Alice “jam every other day... jam tomorrow and jam yesterday but never jam today.”)
The politicians promised the people jam tomorrow during the hard times.
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.
