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.
give as good as one gets
to give as much as one receives.
John can hold his own in a fight. He can give as good as he gets.
give credit where credit is due
to give credit to someone who deserves it; to acknowledge or thank someone who deserves it.
We must give credit where credit is due. Thank you very much, Sally.
give ground
to retreat (literally or figuratively).
When I argue with Mary, she never gives ground.
give it to someone straight
to tell something to someone clearly and directly. (Informal.)
Come on, give it to me straight. I want to know exactly what happened.
give of oneself
to be generous with one’s time and concern.
Tom is very good with children because he gives of himself.
give one butterflies in one’s stomach
to cause someone to have a nervous stomach.
Exams give me butterflies in my stomach.
give one one’s marching orders
to sack someone; to dismiss someone from employment. (Informal.)
Tom has proved unsatisfactory. I decided to give him his marching orders.
give one what is coming to one
to give one what one deserves.
Jim gave Bill what was coming to him.
give one’s right arm (for someone or something)
to be willing to give something of great value for someone or something.
I’d give my right arm for a nice cool drink.
give oneself airs
to act in a conceited or superior way.
Sally is always giving herself airs. You’d think she had royal blood.
give some-one a start
to give one training or a big opportunity in beginning one’s career.
My career began when my father gave me a start in his act.
give some-one credit (for something)
to praise or recognize someone for doing something.
The coach gave Mary a lot of credit.
give someone a black eye
to hit someone near the eye so that a dark bruise appears.
John became angry and gave me a black eye.
give someone a clean bill of health
[for a doctor] to pronounce someone well and healthy.
The doctor gave Sally a clean bill of health.
give someone a piece of one’s mind
to reprimand or scold someone; to tell someone off.
I’ve had enough from John. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.
give someone a tongue-lashing
to give someone a severe scolding.
I gave Bill a real tongue-lashing when he got home late.
give someone or something a wide berth
to keep a reasonable distance from someone or something. (Originally referred to sailing ships.)
The dog we are approaching is very bad-tempered. Better give it a wide berth.
give someone pause for thought
to cause someone to stop and think.
When I see a golden sunrise, it gives me pause for thought.
give someone the runaround
to give someone a series of excuses, delays, and referrals.
If you ask to see the manager, they’ll give you the runaround.
give someone the shirt off one’s back
to be very generous or solicitous towards someone.
Tom really likes Bill. He’d give Bill the shirt off his back.
give someone tit for tat
to give someone something equal to what one has received; to exchange a series of things, one by one, with someone. (Informal.)
They took my car after I took theirs. It was tit for tat.
give something a lick and a promise
to do something poorly— quickly and carelessly. (Informal.)
John! You didn’t clean your room! You just gave it a lick and a promise.
give something a miss
not to go to something; not to bother with something; to leave something alone. (Informal.)
Betty decided to give the fair a miss this year.
give something one’s best shot
to give a task one’s best effort. (Informal. Often with it.)
I gave the project my best shot.
give the devil his due and give the devil her due
to give your foe proper credit (for something). (This usually refers to a person who has acted in an evil way—like the devil.)
She’s generally impossible, but I have to give the devil her due. She’s always honest.
give the game away
to reveal a plan or strategy. (Informal.)
Now, all of you have to keep quiet. Please don’t give the game away.
give up the ghost
to die; to release one’s spirit. (Considered formal or humorous.)
The old man sighed, rolled over, and gave up the ghost.
give voice to something
to express a feeling or an opinion in words; to speak out about something.
The bird gave voice to its joy in the golden sunshine.
glut on the market
something on the market in great abundance.
Right now, small computers are a glut on the market.
glutton for punishment
someone who seems to like doing or seeking out difficult, unpleasant, or badly paid tasks.
If you work for this charity, you’ll have to be a glutton for punishment and work long hours for nothing.
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.
