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.
(come) rain or shine
no matter whether it rains or the sun shines. (Informal.)
Don’t worry. I’ll be there come rain or shine.
call a spade a spade
to call something by its right name; to speak frankly about something, even if it is unpleasant.
Well, I believe it’s time to call a spade a spade. We are just avoiding the issue.
call it a day
to leave work and go home; to say that a day’s work has been completed; to bring something to an end; to stop doing something. (Informal.)
I’m tired. Let’s call it a day even though it’s only three o’clock.
call of nature
the need to go to the lavatory. (Humorous.)
Stop the car here! I have to answer the call of nature.
can’t hold a candle to someone
not equal to someone; unable to measure up to someone. (Also with cannot. )
Mary can’t hold a candle to Ann when it comes to playing the piano.
can’t make head nor tail of someone or something
unable to understand someone or something. (Also with cannot. )
John is so strange. I can’t make head nor tail of him.
can’t see beyond the end of one’s nose
unaware of and uncaring for the things which might happen in the future; not far-sighted. (Also with cannot. )
John is a very poor planner. He can’t see beyond the end of his nose.
can’t see one’s hand in front of one’s face
unable to see very far, usually owing to darkness or fog. (Also with cannot. )
It was so dark that I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
carry a torch for someone
to be in love with someone who does not return love; to brood over a hopeless love affair.
John is carrying a torch for Jane.
carry all before one
to be exceptionally successful.
He carried all before him on school prize day.
carry the weight of the world on one’s shoulders
to appear to be burdened by many problems.
Look at Tom. He seems to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
carte blanche
complete freedom to act or proceed as one pleases. (Literally, a white or blank card.)
We were given carte blanche to choose the colour scheme.
cast in the same mould
very similar.
The two sisters are cast in the same mould—equally mean.
Cat got your tongue?
Why don’t you speak?; Speak up and answer my question! (Informal.)
Answer me! What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?
catch one’s breath
to resume one’s normal breathing after exertion; to return to normal after being busy or very active.
I ran so fast that it took me ten minutes to catch my breath.
catch someone on the hop
to find someone unprepared or defenceless. (Informal.)
The unexpected exam caught some of the pupils on the hop.
catch someone’s eye
to establish eye contact with someone; to attract someone’s attention.
Try and catch the barman’s eye.
catch the sun
to become sunburnt. (Informal.)
The baby’s face is red—she’s caught the sun.
caught over a barrel
at the mercy of someone; under the control of someone. (Informal.)
I’m caught over a barrel, and I have to do what he says.
cause tongues to wag
to cause people to gossip; to give people something to gossip about.
The way John was looking at Mary will surely cause tongues to wag.
champ at the bit
to be ready and anxious to do something; to be impatient. (Originally said about horses.)
The children were champing at the bit to get into the swimming-pool.
chance one’s arm
to do something risky or dangerous.
He certainly chanced his arm when he was rude to the boss’s wife.
change hands
[for something] to be sold. (Refers to the changing of owners.)
How many times has this house changed hands in the last ten years?
change horses in mid-stream
to make major changes in an activity which has already begun; to choose someone or something else after it is too late.
I’m already baking a cherry pie. I can’t bake an apple pie. It’s too late to change horses in mid-stream.
change someone’s tune
to change the manner, attitude, or behaviour of a person, usually from bad to good, or from rude to pleasant.
The cashier was most unpleasant until she learned that I’m a bank director. Then she changed her tune.
chapter and verse
detailed sources of information. (A reference to the method of referring to biblical texts.)
He gave chapter and verse for his reasons for disputing that Shakespeare had written the play.
chapter of accidents
a series of misfortunes.
Yesterday was just a chapter of accidents—nothing went right.
cheek by jowl
side by side; close together.
The walkers had to walk cheek by jowl along the narrow streets.
cheese-paring
mean; niggardly.
He was too cheese-paring to eat properly.
cheesed off
bored; depressed; annoyed.
He was cheesed off with his job.
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.
