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.
call a spade a spade
to call something by its right name; to speak frankly about something, even if it is unpleasant.
Well, I believe it’s time to call a spade a spade. We are just avoiding the issue.
call it a day
to leave work and go home; to say that a day’s work has been completed; to bring something to an end; to stop doing something. (Informal.)
I’m tired. Let’s call it a day even though it’s only three o’clock.
carry all before one
to be exceptionally successful.
He carried all before him on school prize day.
change hands
[for something] to be sold. (Refers to the changing of owners.)
How many times has this house changed hands in the last ten years?
change horses in mid-stream
to make major changes in an activity which has already begun; to choose someone or something else after it is too late.
I’m already baking a cherry pie. I can’t bake an apple pie. It’s too late to change horses in mid-stream.
chip off the old block
a person (usually a male) who behaves in the same way as his father or resembles his father. (Usually informal.)
John looks like his father—a real chip off the old block.
clap eyes on someone or something
to see someone or something, perhaps for the first time; to set eyes on someone or something. (Informal.)
I wish she had never clapped eyes on her fiancé.
clip someone’s wings
to restrain someone; to reduce or put an end to someone’s privileges or freedom.
You had better learn to get home on time, or your father will clip your wings.
come down to earth
to become realistic or practical, especially after a period of day-dreaming; to become alert to what is going on around one. (Informal.)
You have very good ideas, John, but you must come down to earth. We can’t possibly afford any of your suggestions.
come of age
to reach an age when one is old enough to own property, get married, and sign legal contracts.
When Jane comes of age, she will buy her own car.
come out of one’s shell
to become more friendly; to be more sociable.
Ann, you should come out of your shell and spend more time with your friends.
come to a head
to come to a crucial point; to come to a point when a problem must be solved.
Remember my problem with my neighbours? Well, last night the whole thing came to a head.
come to an untimely end
to come to an early death.
Poor Mr. Jones came to an untimely end in a car accident.
conspicuous by one’s absence
having one’s absence noticed (at an event).
We missed you last night. You were conspicuous by your absence.
cook someone’s goose
to damage or ruin someone. (Informal.)
I cooked my own goose by not showing up on time.
cut it (too) fine
to allow scarcely enough time, money, etc., in order to accomplish something.
You’re cutting it too fine if you want to catch the bus. It leaves in five minutes.
cut one’s teeth on something
to gain one’s early experiences on something.
You can cut your teeth on this project before getting involved in a more major one.
daily dozen
physical exercises done every day. (Informal.)
My brother always feels better after his daily dozen.
daily grind
the everyday work routine. (Informal.)
I’m getting very tired of the daily grind.
Darby and Joan
an old married couple living happily together. (From a couple so-called in eighteenth-century ballads.)
Her parents are divorced, but her grandparents are like Darby and Joan.
die of boredom
to suffer from boredom; to be very bored.
I shall die of boredom if I stay here alone all day.
donkey’s ages and donkey’s years
a very long time. (Informal.)
The woman hasn’t been seen for donkey’s ages.
dressing down
a scolding.
After that dressing down I won’t be late again.
early bird
someone who gets up or arrives early or starts something very promptly, especially someone who gains an advantage of some kind by so doing.
The Smith family are early birds. They caught the first ferry.
eat one’s heart out
to be very sad (about someone or something).
Bill spent a lot of time eating his heart out after his divorce.
either feast or famine
either too much (of something) or not enough (of something). (Also without either. )
This month is very dry, and last month it rained almost every day. Our weather is either feast or famine.
eleventh-hour decision
a decision made at the last possible minute.
Eleventh-hour decisions are seldom satisfactory.
enter the lists
to begin to take part in a contest or argument.
He had decided not to stand for Parliament, but entered the lists at the last minute.
every time one turns around
frequently; at every turn; with annoying frequency.
Somebody asks me for money every time I turn around.
fall apart at the seams
to break into pieces; to fall apart.
This old car is about ready to fall apart at the seams.
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.
