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.
rally round someone or something
to come together to support someone or something.
The family rallied round Jack when he lost his job.
rarin’ to go
extremely keen to act or do something. (Informal.)
Jane can’t wait to start her job. She’s rarin’ to go.
red herring
a piece of information or suggestion introduced to draw attention away from the truth or real facts of a situation. (A red herring is a type of strong-smelling smoked fish that was once drawn across the trail of scent to mislead hunting dogs and put them off the scent. See also draw a red herring.)
The detectives were following a red herring, but they’re on the right track now.
return ticket
a ticket (for a plane, train, bus, etc.) which allows one to go to a destination and return.
A return ticket will usually save you some money.
ride roughshod over someone or something
to treat someone or something with disdain or scorn.
Tom seems to ride roughshod over his friends.
right up someone’s street
ideally suited to one’s interests or abilities. (Informal.)
Skiing is right up my street. I love it.
rise and shine
to get out of bed and be lively and energetic. (Informal. Often a command.)
Come on, children! Rise and shine! We’re going to the seaside.
risk one’s neck (to do something)
to risk physical harm play safe to accomplish something. (Informal.)
Look at that traffic! I refuse to risk my neck just to cross the street to buy a paper.
road-hog
someone who drives carelessly and selfishly. (Informal.)
Look at that road-hog driving in the middle of the road and stopping other drivers getting past him.
rock the boat
to cause trouble; to disturb a situation which is otherwise stable and satisfactory. (Often negative.)
Look, Tom, everything is going fine here. Don’t rock the boat!
romp home
to win a race or competition easily. (Informal.)
Our team romped home in the relay race.
rooted to the spot
unable to move because of fear or surprise.
Joan stood rooted to the spot when she saw the ghostly figure.
rule the roost
to be the boss or manager, especially at home. (Informal.)
Who rules the roost at your house?
run a fever and run a temperature
to have a body temperature higher than normal; to have a fever.
I ran a fever when I had the flu.
run a tight ship
to run a ship or an organization in an orderly, efficient, and disciplined manner.
The new office manager really runs a tight ship.
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 for it
to try and escape by running. (Informal.)
The guard’s not looking. Let’s run for it!
run for one’s life
to run away to save one’s life.
The dam has burst! Run for your life!
run high
[for feelings] to be in a state of excitement or anger.
Feelings were running high as the general election approached.
run in the family
for a characteristic to appear in all (or most) members of a family.
My grandparents lived well into their nineties, and longevity runs in the family.
run of the mill
common or average; typical.
The restaurant we went to was nothing special—just run of the mill.
run riot and run wild
to get out of control.
The dandelions have run riot on our lawn.
run someone or something to earth
to find something after a search. (From a fox-hunt chasing a fox into its hole.)
Jean finally ran her long-lost cousin to earth in Paris.
run someone ragged
to keep someone very busy. (Informal.)
This busy season is running us all ragged at the shop.
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.
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.
