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.
lend (someone) a hand
to give someone some help, not necessarily with the hands.
Could you lend me a hand with this piano? I need to move it across the room.
let one’s hair down and let down one’s hair
to become less formal and more intimate, and to begin to speak frankly. (Informal.)
Come on, Jane, let your hair down and tell me all about it.
let something ride
to allow something to continue or remain as it is. (Informal.)
It isn’t the best plan, but we’ll let it ride.
lock, stock, and barrel
everything.
We had to move everything out of the house—lock, stock, and barrel.
lose one’s grip
to lose control (over something).
I can’t seem to run things like I used to. I’m losing my grip.
lose one’s train of thought
to forget what one was talking or thinking about.
Excuse me, I lost my train of thought. What was I talking about?
maiden voyage
the first voyage of a ship or boat.
The liner sank on its maiden voyage.
make a go of it
to make something work out all right. (Informal.)
It’s a tough situation, but Ann is trying to make a go of it.
make a mountain out of a molehill
to make a major issue out of a minor one; to exaggerate the importance of something.
Come on, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. It’s not that important.
make oneself at home
to make oneself comfortable as if one were in one’s own home.
Please come in and make yourself at home.
make someone’s blood run cold
to shock or horrify someone.
The terrible story in the newspaper made my blood run cold.
make someone’s head swim and make someone’s head spin
to make someone dizzy or disoriented.
Riding in your car so fast makes my head spin.
make the fur fly and make the feathers fly
to cause a fight or an argument. (Informal.)
When your mother gets home and sees what you’ve done, she’ll really make the fur fly.
meet one’s end
to die.
The dog met his end under the wheels of a car.
mend (one’s) fences
to restore good relations (with someone). (Also used literally.)
I think I had better get home and mend my fences. I had an argument with my daughter this morning.
middle-of-the-road
half-way between two extremes, especially political extremes.
Jane is very left-wing, but her husband is politically middle-of-the-road.
mind one’s P’s and Q’s
to mind one’s manners.
When we go to the mayor’s reception, please mind your P’s and Q’s.
mixed bag
a varied collection of people or things. (Refers to a bag of game brought home after a day’s hunting.)
The new pupils are a mixed bag—some bright, some positively stupid.
money is no object and expense is no object
it does not matter how much something costs.
Please show me your finest car. Money is no object.
more’s the pity
it is a great pity or shame; it is sad.
Jack can’t come, more’s the pity.
move heaven and earth to do something
to make a major effort to do something.
“I’ll move heaven and earth to be with you, Mary,” said Bill.
much of a muchness
very alike or similar; not much different.
I don’t mind whether we go to the restaurant in the high street or the one by the cinema. They’re much of a muchness.
nail one’s colours to the mast
to commit oneself to a particular course of action or to a particular point of view. (A ship’s flag—its colours—could not be lowered to indicate surrender when it was nailed to the mast.)
Fred nailed his colours to the mast by publicly declaring for strike action.
needs must
if it is absolutely necessary for something to be done, then it must be done.
I don’t want to sell the car, but needs must. I can’t afford to run it.
neither fish nor fowl
not any recognizable thing.
The car that they drove up in was neither fish nor fowl. It must have been made out of spare parts.
no trespassing
do not enter. (Usually seen on a sign. Not usually spoken.)
The sign on the tree said “No Trespassing.” So we didn’t go in.
no two ways about it
no choice about it; no other interpretation of it. (Informal.)
You have to go to the doctor whether you like it or not. There’s no two ways about it.
none the worse for wear
no worse because of use or effort.
I lent my car to John. When I got it back, it was none the worse for wear.
not move a muscle
to remain perfectly motionless.
Be quiet. Sit there and don’t move a muscle.
not set foot somewhere
not to go somewhere.
I wouldn’t set foot in John’s room. I’m very angry with him.
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.
