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.
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 name for oneself
to make oneself famous; to become famous.
Sally wants to work hard and make a name for herself.
make good money
to earn a large amount of money. (Informal.)
Ann makes good money at her job.
make something to order
to put something together only when someone requests it. (Usually said about clothing.)
This shop only makes suits to order.
make the grade
to be satisfactory; to be what is expected. (Informal.)
I’m sorry, but your work doesn’t exactly make the grade.
matter of opinion
the question of how good or bad someone or something is.
It’s a matter of opinion how good the company is. John thinks it’s great and Fred thinks it’s poor.
mind one’s own business
to attend only to the things that personally concern one.
Leave me alone, Bill. Mind your own business.
monkey business
peculiar or out of the ordinary activities, especially mischievous or illegal ones.
There’s been some monkey business in connection with the firm’s accounts.
nail in someone’s or something’s coffin
something which will harm or destroy someone or something.
Every word of criticism that Bob said about the firm was a nail in his coffin. I knew the boss would sack him.
nine-to-five job
a job with regular and normal hours.
I wouldn’t want a nine-to-five job. I like the freedom I have as my own employer.
none the wiser
not knowing any more.
I was none the wiser about the project after the lecture. It was a complete waste of time.
null and void
cancelled; worthless.
I tore the contract up, and the entire agreement became null and void.
on a fool’s errand
involved in a useless journey or task.
Bill went for an interview, but he was on a fool’s errand. The job had already been filled.
on behalf of someone and on someone’s behalf
[doing something] as someone’s agent; [doing something] in place of someone; for the benefit of someone.
I’m writing on behalf of Mr. Smith, who has applied for a position with your company.
on one’s toes
alert. (Informal.)
You have to be on your toes if you want to be in this business.
on sale and for sale
offered for sale; able to be bought.
There are antiques on sale at the market.
one-up (on someone)
ahead of someone; with an advantage over someone. (Informal.)
Tom is one-up on Sally because he got a job and she didn’t.
one’s days are numbered
[for someone] to face death, dismissal, or ruin. (Informal.)
If I don’t get this contract, my days are numbered at this firm.
one’s work is cut out (for one)
one’s task is prepared for one; one has a lot of work to do.
This is a big job. My work is certainly cut out for me.
open a can of worms
to uncover a set of problems or complications; to create unnecessary complications. (Informal.)
If you start asking questions about the firm’s accounts, you’ll open a can of worms.
out of stock
not immediately available in a shop; [for goods] to be temporarily unavailable.
Those items are out of stock, but a new supply will be delivered on Thursday.
out of work
unemployed, temporarily or permanently.
How long have you been out of work?
over the hump
over the difficult part. (Informal.)
This is a difficult project, but we’re over the hump now.
pass the hat round
to attempt to collect money for some (charitable) project.
Bob is passing the hat round to collect money to buy flowers for Ann.
pie in the sky
a supposed future reward which one is not likely to get. (From “You’ll get pie in the sky when you die,” a line from a song by U.S. radical labour organizer Joe Hill.)
The firm have promised him a large reward, but I think it’s just pie in the sky.
play fair
to do something by the rules or in a fair and just manner.
John won’t do business with Bill any more because Bill doesn’t play fair.
play on something
to make use of something for one’s own ends; to exploit something; to manage something for a desired effect. (The on can be replaced by upon. )
The shop assistant played on my sense of responsibility in trying to get me to buy the book.
play one’s cards close to one’s chest and keep one’s cards close to one’s chest
to work or negotiate in a careful and private manner.
It’s hard to figure out what John is up to because he plays his cards close to his chest.
play one’s cards right
to work or negotiate correctly and skilfully. (Informal.)
If you play your cards right, you can get whatever you want.
play the market
to invest in the shares market. (As if it were a game or as if it were gambling.)
Would you rather put your money in the bank or play the market?
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.
