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.
ripe old age
a very old age.
Mr. Smith died last night, but he was a ripe old age—ninety-nine.
roll on something
[for something, such as a time or a day] to approach rapidly. (Said by someone who wants the time or the day to arrive sooner than is possible. Usually a command.)
Roll on Saturday! I get the day off.
round on someone
to attack someone verbally.
Jane suddenly rounded on Tom for arriving late.
run against the clock
to be in a race with time; to be in a great hurry to get something done before a particular time.
This morning, Bill set a new track record running against the clock. He lost the actual race this afternoon, however.
run to seed and go to seed
to become worn-out and uncared for.
The estate has gone to seed since the old man’s death.
same old story
something that occurs or has occurred in the same way often.
Jim’s got no money. It’s the same old story. He’s spent it all on clothing.
save someone’s skin
to save someone from injury, embarrassment, or punishment. (Informal.)
I saved my skin by getting the job done on time.
save something for a rainy day
to reserve something—usually money—for some future need. ( Save something can be replaced with put something aside, hold something back, keep something, etc.)
I’ve saved a little money for a rainy day.
saved by the bell
rescued from a difficult or dangerous situation just in time by something which brings the situation to a sudden end. (From the sounding of a bell marking the end of a round in a boxing match.)
James didn’t know the answer to the question, but he was saved by the bell when the teacher was called away from the room.
scrape the bottom of the barrel
to select from among the worst; to choose from what is left over.
You’ve bought a dreadful old car. You really scraped the bottom of the barrel to get that one.
see the light at the end of the tunnel
to foresee an end to one’s problems after a long period of time.
I had been horribly ill for two months before I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
see the light of day
[for something] to be finished or produced. (Often negative.)
The product will never see the light of day.
set the record straight
to put right a mistake or misunderstanding; to make sure that an account, etc., is correct.
The manager thought Jean was to blame, but she soon set the record straight.
ships that pass in the night
people who meet each other briefly by chance and are unlikely to meet again.
Mary would have liked to see Jim again, but to him, they were ships that passed in the night.
show someone the ropes
to tell or show someone how something is to be done.
Since this was my first day on the job, the manager spent a lot of time showing me the ropes. L
shut up shop
to stop working or operating, for the day or forever. (Informal.)
It’s five o’clock. Time to shut up shop.
silly season
the time of year, usually in the summer, when there is a lack of important news, and newspapers contain articles about unimportant or trivial things instead.
It must be the silly season. There’s a story here about peculiarly shaped potatoes.
sitting on a powder keg
in a risky or explosive situation; in a situation where something serious or dangerous may happen at any time.
Things are very tense at work. The whole office is sitting on a powder keg.
small hours
the hours immediately after midnight.
The dance went on to the small hours.
speak out of turn
to say something unwise or imprudent; to say something at the wrong time.
Excuse me if I’m speaking out of turn, but what you are proposing is quite wrong.
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.
stand someone in good stead
to be useful or beneficial to someone.
This is a fine overcoat. I’m sure it’ll stand you in good stead for many years.
standing joke
a subject that regularly and over a period of time causes amusement whenever it is mentioned.
Uncle Jim’s driving was a standing joke. He used to drive incredibly slowly.
stretch one’s legs
to walk around after sitting down or lying down for a time. (Informal.)
We wanted to stretch our legs during the theatre interval.
strike while the iron is hot
to do something at the best possible time; to do something when the time is ripe.
He was in a good mood, so I asked for a loan of £200. I thought I’d better strike while the iron was hot.
swallow something hook, line, and sinker
to believe something completely. (Informal. These terms refer to fishing and fooling a fish into being caught.)
I made up a story about why I was so late. They all swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.
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.
through hell and high water
through all sorts of severe difficulties. (Informal.)
I came through hell and high water to get to this meeting. Why don’t you start on time?
till the cows come home
for a very long time. (Cows are returned to the barn at the end of the day. Informal.)
We could discuss this until the cows come home and still reach no decisions.
time out of mind
for a very long time; longer than anyone can remember.
There has been a church in the village time out of mind.
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.
