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.
chew the cud
to think deeply. (Informal. From the cow’s habit of bringing food back from the first stomach into the mouth to chew it, called chewing the cud.)
I can’t decide where to go on holiday. I’ll have to chew the cud.
chilled to the marrow and chilled to the bone
very cold.
I was chilled to the marrow in that snowstorm.
chink in one’s armour
a weakness or vulnerable point that provides an opportunity for attacking or impressing someone who is otherwise invulnerable.
His love for his child is the chink in his armour.
chip off the old block
a person (usually a male) who behaves in the same way as his father or resembles his father. (Usually informal.)
John looks like his father—a real chip off the old block.
chop and change
to keep changing or altering something.
The shop is always chopping and changing staff.
clap eyes on someone or something
to see someone or something, perhaps for the first time; to set eyes on someone or something. (Informal.)
I wish she had never clapped eyes on her fiancé.
clear the air
to get rid of doubts or hostile feelings. (Sometimes this is said about an argument or other unpleasantness. The literal meaning is also used.)
All right, let’s discuss this frankly. It’ll be better if we clear the air.
climb down
to admit that one is wrong; to admit defeat.
They were sure they were in the right, but they climbed down when we proved them wrong.
clip someone’s wings
to restrain someone; to reduce or put an end to someone’s privileges or freedom.
You had better learn to get home on time, or your father will clip your wings.
cloak-and-dagger
involving secrecy and plotting.
A great deal of cloak-and-dagger stuff goes on in political circles.
close one’s eyes to something
to ignore something; to pretend that something is not really happening.
You can’t close your eyes to the hunger in the world.
cloud-cuckoo-land
an imaginary perfect world.
He thinks that he will be able to buy a house easily, but he is living in cloud-cuckooland.
clutch at straws
to seek something which is useless or unattainable; to make a futile attempt at something.
I really didn’t think that I would get the job. I was clutching at straws.
cock a snook at someone
to show or express defiance or scorn at someone.
He cocked a snook at the traffic warden and tore up the ticket.
cock of the walk
someone who acts in a more important manner than others in a group.
The deputy manager was cock of the walk until the new manager arrived.
cock-and-bull story
a silly, made-up story; a story which is untrue.
Don’t give me that cock-and-bull story.
cold comfort
no comfort or consolation at all.
She knows there are others worse off than her, but that’s cold comfort.
come a cropper
to have a misfortune; to fail. (Literally, to fall off one’s horse.)
Bob invested all his money in the shares market just before it fell. Did he come a cropper!
come away empty-handed
to return without anything.
All right, go gambling if you must. Don’t come away empty-handed, though.
come down in the world
to lose one’s social position or financial standing.
Mr. Jones has really come down in the world since he lost his job.
come down to earth
to become realistic or practical, especially after a period of day-dreaming; to become alert to what is going on around one. (Informal.)
You have very good ideas, John, but you must come down to earth. We can’t possibly afford any of your suggestions.
come down with something
to become ill with some disease.
I’m afraid I’m coming down with a cold.
come from far and wide
to come from many different places.
Everyone was there. They came from far and wide.
come full circle
to return to the original position or state of affairs.
The family sold the house generations ago, but the wheel has come full circle and one of their descendants lives there now.
come home to roost
to return to cause trouble (for someone).
As I feared, all my problems came home to roost.
come in for something
to receive something; to acquire something.
Mary came in for a tremendous amount of money when her aunt died.
come into something
to inherit something.
Jane came into a small fortune when her aunt died.
come of age
to reach an age when one is old enough to own property, get married, and sign legal contracts.
When Jane comes of age, she will buy her own car.
come off second-best
to be in second place or worse; to be the loser.
You can fight with your brother if you like, but you’ll come off second-best.
come out in the wash
to work out all right. (Informal. This means that problems or difficulties will go away as dirt goes away in the process of washing.)
Don’t worry about their accusation. It’ll all come out in the wash.
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.
