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.
save someone’s skin
to save someone from injury, embarrassment, or punishment. (Informal.)
I saved my skin by getting the job done on time.
scratch the surface
just to begin to find out about something; to examine only the superficial aspects of something.
The investigation of the firm’s books showed some inaccuracies. It is thought that the investigators have just scratched the surface.
serve notice
to announce something.
John served notice that he was leaving the company.
set great store by someone or something
to have positive expectations for someone or something; to have high hopes for someone or something.
I set great store by my computer and its ability to help me in my work.
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.
set up shop somewhere
to establish one’s place of work somewhere. (Informal.)
Mary set up shop in a small office building in Oak Street.
shake in one’s shoes and quake in one’s shoes
to be afraid; to shake from fear.
I was shaking in my shoes because I had to go and see the manager.
sharp practice
dishonest or illegal methods or behaviour.
I’m sure that Jim’s firm was guilty of sharp practice in getting that export order.
shirk one’s duty
to neglect one’s job or task.
The guard was sacked for shirking his duty.
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
show the flag
to be present at a gathering just so that the organization to which one belongs will be represented, or just to show others that one has attended. (From a ship flying its country’s flag.)
The firm wants all the salesmen to attend the international conference in order to show the flag.
shut up shop
to stop working or operating, for the day or forever. (Informal.)
It’s five o’clock. Time to shut up shop.
sing someone’s praises
to praise someone highly and enthusiastically.
The boss is singing the praises of his new secretary.
sit (idly) by
to remain inactive when other people are doing something; to ignore a situation which calls for help.
Bob sat idly by even though everyone else was hard at work.
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.
skate over something
to pass lightly over something, trying to avoid drawing attention or avoid taking something into consideration.
Sally prefers to skate over her reasons for leaving her job.
slice of the cake
a share of something.
There’s not much work around and so everyone must get a slice of the cake.
spike someone’s guns
to spoil someone’s plans; to make it impossible for someone to carry out a course of action. (From driving a metal spike into the touch-hole of an enemy gun to render it useless.)
The boss was going to sack Sally publicly, but she spiked his guns by resigning.
spot on
exactly right or accurate. (Informal.)
Jack’s assessment of the state of the firm was spot on.
square deal
a fair and honest transaction; fair treatment. (Informal.)
All the workers want is a square deal, but their boss underpays them.
stack the cards (against someone or something)
to arrange things against someone or something; to make it difficult for someone to succeed. (Informal. Originally from card-playing. Usually in the passive.)
I can’t make any progress at my office. The cards are stacked against me.
steal a march on someone
to get some sort of an advantage over someone without being noticed.
I got the contract because I was able to steal a march on my competitor.
step into dead men’s shoes and fill dead men’s shoes
to take over the job or position of someone who has died; to gain an advantage by someone’s death.
The only hope of promotion in that firm is to step into dead men’s shoes.
step on someone’s toes and tread on someone’s toes
to interfere with or offend someone. (Also used literally. Note example with anyone. )
When you’re in public office, you have to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes.
stick it out
to put up with or endure a situation, however difficult. (Informal.)
This job’s boring, but we’re sticking it out until we find something more interesting.
stick to one’s guns
to remain firm in one’s opinions and convictions; to stand up for one’s rights. (Informal.)
I’ll stick to my guns on this matter. I’m sure I’m right.
swan-song
the last work or performance of a playwright, musician, actor, etc., before death or retirement.
His portrayal of Lear was the actor’s swan-song.
sweep something under the carpet and brush something under the carpet
to try to hide something unpleasant, shameful, etc., from the attention of others.
The boss said he couldn’t sweep the theft under the carpet, that he’d have to call in the police.
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.
