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.
get a lucky break
to have good fortune; to receive a bit of luck. (Informal. Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
Mary really got a lucky break when she got that job.
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 credit (for something)
to receive praise or recognition for one’s role in something. (Especially with a lot of, much, etc., as in the examples.)
Mary should get a lot of credit for the team’s success.
get off to a flying start
to have a very successful beginning to something.
The new business got off to a flying start with those export orders.
get one’s fingers burned
to have a bad experience. (Also used literally.)
I tried that once before and got my fingers burned. I won’t try it again.
get one’s money’s worth
to get everything that has been paid for; to get the best quality for the money paid.
Weigh that pack of meat before you buy it. Be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
get the last laugh
to laugh at or ridicule someone who has laughed at or ridiculed you; to put someone in the same bad position that you were once in. (Also with have. See the note at get a black eye. )
John laughed when I got a D on the final exam. I got the last laugh, though. He failed the course.
give something one’s best shot
to give a task one’s best effort. (Informal. Often with it.)
I gave the project my best shot.
go back on one’s word
to break a promise which one has made.
I hate to go back on my word, but I won’t pay you £100 after all.
go by the board
to get ruined or lost. (This is a nautical expression meaning to fall or be washed overboard.)
I hate to see good food go by the board. Please eat up so we won’t have to throw it out.
go down fighting
to continue the struggle until one is completely defeated.
I won’t give up easily. I’ll go down fighting.
go down like a lead balloon
to fail, especially to fail to be funny.
Your joke went down like a lead balloon.
go downhill
[for something] to decline and grow worse and worse. (Also used literally.)
This industry is going downhill. We lose money every year.
go from bad to worse
to progress from a bad state to a worse state.
This is a terrible day. Things are going from bad to worse.
go off the deep end
to become angry or hysterical; to lose one’s temper. (Informal. Refers to going into a swimming-pool at the deep end—rather than the shallow end.)
Her father went off the deep end when she came in late.
go over something with a fine-tooth comb and go through something with a fine-tooth comb; search something with a fine-tooth comb
to search through something very carefully. (As if one were searching for something very tiny which is lost in some kind of fibre.)
I can’t find my calculus book. I went over the whole place with a fine-tooth comb.
go through the motions
to make a feeble effort to do something; to pretend to do something.
Jane isn’t doing her best. She’s just going through the motions.
go to the wall
to be defeated; to fail in business. (Informal.)
During the recession, many small companies went to the wall.
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.
