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.
hand it to someone
give credit to someone, often with some reluctance. (Informal. Often with have to or must. )
I must hand it to you. You did a fine job.
have a foot in both camps
to have an interest in or to support each of two opposing groups of people.
The shop steward had been promised promotion and so had a foot in both camps during the strike—workers and management.
have a word with someone
to speak to someone, usually privately.
The manager asked to have a word with me when I was not busy.
have no business doing something
to be wrong to do something; to be extremely unwise to do something.
You have no business bursting in on me like that!
have one’s hand in the till
to be stealing money from a company or an organization. (Informal. The till is a cash box or drawer.)
Mr. Jones had his hand in the till for years before he was caught.
have one’s heart in one’s boots
to be very depressed; to have little or no hope.
My heart’s in my boots when I think of going back to work.
have one’s work cut out (for one)
to have a large and difficult task prepared for one.
They sure have their work cut out for them, and it’s going to be hard.
have something on one’s hands
to be burdened with something.
I run a record shop. I sometimes have a large number of unwanted records on my hands.
heads will roll
some people will get into trouble. (Informal. From the use of the guillotine to execute people.)
When company’s endof-year results are known, heads will roll.
high-flyer
a person who is ambitious or who is very likely to be successful. (Informal.)
Jack was one of the high-flyers of our university year and he is now in the Foreign Office.
hit a snag
to run into a problem. (Informal.)
We’ve hit a snag with the building project.
hold no brief for someone or something
not to care about someone or something; not to support someone or something; to dislike someone or something.
I hold no brief for people who cheat the company.
horse-play
physically active and frivolous play. (Informal.)
Stop that horse-play and get to work.
hot under the collar
very angry. (Informal.)
The solicitor was really hot under the collar when you told him you lost the contract.
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.
