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.
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.
talk nineteen to the dozen
to talk a lot, usually quickly. (Informal.)
The old friends talk nineteen to the dozen when they meet once a year.
talking-shop
a place or meeting where things are discussed, but action may or may not be taken. (Informal.)
Many people think the City Chambers is just a talking-shop.
throw a party (for someone)
to give or hold a party for someone.
Mary was leaving town, so we threw a party for her.
turn the tables (on someone)
to cause a reversal in someone’s plans; to reverse a situation and put someone in a different position, especially in a less advantageous position.
I went to Jane’s house to help get ready for a surprise party for Bob. It turned out that the surprise party was for me! Jane really turned the tables on me!
turn the tide
to cause a reversal in the direction of events; to cause a reversal in public opinion.
It looked as though the team was going to lose, but near the end of the game, our star player turned the tide by scoring a goal.
two a penny and ten a penny
very common; easily obtained and therefore cheap.
People with qualifications like yours are two a penny. You should take another training course.
two can play at that game
two people can compete, using the same strategy.
I’m sorry you’re being so hard to deal with. Two can play at that game.
upset the applecart
to spoil or ruin something.
Tom really upset the applecart by telling Mary the truth about Jane. Now the two women are no longer friends.
wear out one’s welcome
to stay too long (at an event to which one has been invited); to visit somewhere too often.
Tom visited the Smiths so often that he wore out his welcome.
weigh one’s words
to consider one’s own words carefully when speaking.
I always weigh my words when I speak in public.
wrongfoot someone
to take someone by surprise, placing the person in a difficult situation.
The chairman of the committee wrongfooted his opponents by calling a meeting when most of them were on holiday and had no time to prepare for it.
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.
