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.
(every) Tom, Dick, and Harry
everyone without discrimination; ordinary people. (Not necessarily males.)
The golf club is very exclusive. They don’t let any Tom, Dick, or Harry join.
eager beaver
someone who is very enthusiastic; someone who works very hard.
New volunteers are always eager beavers.
eagle eye
careful attention; an intently watchful eye. (From the sharp eyesight of the eagle.)
The pupils wrote their essays under the eagle eye of the headmaster.
early bird
someone who gets up or arrives early or starts something very promptly, especially someone who gains an advantage of some kind by so doing.
The Smith family are early birds. They caught the first ferry.
eat humble pie
to act very humbly, especially when one has been shown to be wrong; to accept humiliation.
I think I’m right, but if I’m wrong, I’ll eat humble pie.
eat like a bird
to eat only small amounts of food; to peck at one’s food.
Jane is very slim because she eats like a bird.
eat like a horse
to eat large amounts of food. (Informal.)
No wonder he’s so fat. He eats like a horse.
eat one’s hat
a phrase telling the kind of thing that one would do if a very unlikely event were actually to happen.
I’ll eat my hat if you get a rise.
eat one’s heart out
to be very sad (about someone or something).
Bill spent a lot of time eating his heart out after his divorce.
eat one’s words
to have to take back one’s statements; to confess that one’s predictions were wrong.
You shouldn’t say that to me. I’ll make you eat your words.
eat out of someone’s hands
to do what someone else wants; to obey someone eagerly. (Often with have.)
Just wait! I’ll have everyone eating out of my hands. They’ll do whatever I ask.
eat someone out of house and home
to eat a lot of food (in someone’s home); to bring someone to the point of financial ruin by eating all the food in the person’s house. (Informal.)
Billy has a huge appetite. He almost eats us out of house and home.
either feast or famine
either too much (of something) or not enough (of something). (Also without either. )
This month is very dry, and last month it rained almost every day. Our weather is either feast or famine.
elbow-grease
physical exertion; hard work. (The “grease” may be the sweat that exertion produces.)
It’ll take some elbow-grease to clean this car.
eleventh-hour decision
a decision made at the last possible minute.
Eleventh-hour decisions are seldom satisfactory.
enough is as good as a feast
a saying that means one should be satisfied if one has enough of something to meet one’s needs, and one should not seek more than one needs.
We have enough money to live on, and enough is as good as a feast.
enter the lists
to begin to take part in a contest or argument.
He had decided not to stand for Parliament, but entered the lists at the last minute.
escape someone’s notice
to go unnoticed; not to have been noticed. (Usually a way to point out that someone has failed to see or respond to something.)
I suppose my earlier request escaped your notice, so I’m writing again.
every time one turns around
frequently; at every turn; with annoying frequency.
Somebody asks me for money every time I turn around.
everything but the kitchen sink
almost everything one can think of.
When Sally went off to college, she took everything but the kitchen sink.
everything from A to Z
almost everything one can think of.
She knows everything from A to Z about decorating.
expecting (a child)
pregnant. (A euphemism.)
Tommy’s mother is expecting a child.
extend one’s sympathy (to someone)
to express sympathy to someone. (A very polite and formal way to tell someone that you are sorry about a death in the family.)
Please permit me to extend my sympathy to you and your children. I’m very sorry to hear of the death of your husband.
eyeball to eyeball
person to person; face to face. (Informal.)
The discussions will have to be eyeball to eyeball to be effective.
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.
