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.
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 less than no time
very quickly.
I’ll be there in less than no time.
in one’s own time
not while one is at work.
My employer made me write the report in my own time. That’s not fair.
in one’s spare time
in one’s leisure time; in the time not reserved for doing something else.
I write novels in my spare time.
in progress
happening now; taking place at this time.
You can’t go into that room. There is a meeting in progress.
in the altogether and in the buff; in the raw; in one’s birth-day suit
naked; nude. (Informal.)
We often went swimming in the altogether down at the lake.
in the doghouse
in trouble; in (someone’s) disfavour. (Informal.)
I’m really in the doghouse. I was late for an appointment.
in the long run
over a long period of time; ultimately.
We’d be better off in the long run buying a car instead of hiring one.
in the near future
in the time immediately ahead.
I don’t plan to go to Florida in the near future.
in the nick of time
just in time; at the last possible instant; just before it is too late.
The doctor arrived in the nick of time. The patient’s life was saved.
in the offing
happening at some time in the future.
There is a big investigation in the offing, but I don’t know when.
in the same breath
[stated or said] almost at the same time.
He told me I was lazy, but then in the same breath he said I was doing a good job of work.
in the swim (of things)
fully involved in or participating in events or happenings. (The in can be replaced with into. See the explanation at in a jam and the examples below.)
I’ve been ill, but soon I’ll be back in the swim of things.
in the wind
about to happen. (Also used literally.)
There are some major changes in the wind. Expect these changes to happen soon.
in this day and age
presently; currently; nowadays.
You don’t expect people to be polite in this day and age.
in turn
one at a time in sequence.
Each of us can read the book in turn.
in two shakes of a lamb’s tail
in a very short time.
Jane returned in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
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.
keep late hours
to stay up or stay out until very late.
I’m always tired because I keep late hours.
keep one’s wits about one
to keep one’s mind operating, especially in a time of stress.
If Jane hadn’t kept her wits about her during the fire, things would have been much worse.
keep someone in stitches
to cause someone to laugh loud and hard, over and over. (Informal. Also with have. See the examples.)
The comedian kept us in stitches for nearly an hour.
keep something under wraps
to keep something concealed (until some future time).
We kept the plan under wraps until after the election.
kick up one’s heels
to act in a frisky way; to be lively and have fun. (Informal.)
I like to go to an old-fashioned dance and really kick up my heels.
kill time
to waste time. (Informal.)
Stop killing time. Get to work!
knock about (somewhere) and knock around (somewhere)
to travel around; to act as a vagabond. (Informal.)
I’d like to take off a year and knock about Europe.
land on one’s feet and land on both feet
to recover satisfactorily from a trying situation or a setback. (Informal.)
Her first year was terrible, but she landed on both feet.
late in life
when one is old.
She injured her hip running. She’s taken to exercising rather late in life.
late in the day
far on in a project or activity; too late in a project or activity for action, decisions, etc., to be taken.
It was a bit late in the day for him to apologize.
lead someone (on) a merry chase and lead someone (on) a merry dance
to lead someone in a purposeless pursuit.
What a waste of time. You really led me on a merry chase.
learn the ropes
to learn how to do something; to learn how to work something. (Informal.)
I’ll be able to do my job very well as soon as I learn the ropes.
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.
