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.
keen on someone or something
enthusiastic about someone or something.
I’m not too keen on going to London.
keep a civil tongue (in one’s head)
to speak decently and politely.
Please, John. Don’t talk like that. Keep a civil tongue in your head.
keep a stiff upper lip
to be cool and unmoved by unsettling events.
John always keeps a stiff upper lip.
keep a straight face
to make one’s face stay free from laughter or smiling.
It’s hard to keep a straight face when someone tells a funny joke.
keep a weather eye open
to watch for something (to happen); to be on the alert (for something); to be on guard.
Some trouble is brewing. Keep a weather eye open.
keep an eye out (for someone or something)
to watch for the arrival or appearance of someone or something. (The an can be replaced by one’s. )
Please keep an eye out for the bus.
keep body and soul together
to feed, clothe, and house oneself.
I hardly have enough money to keep body and soul together.
keep house
to manage a household.
I hate to keep house. I’d rather live in a tent than keep house.
keep in with someone
to remain friendly with a person, especially a person who might be useful. (Informal.)
Jack keeps in with Jane because he likes to borrow her car.
keep late hours
to stay up or stay out until very late.
I’m always tired because I keep late hours.
keep on the good side of someone
to stay in someone’s favour.
You have to work hard to keep on the good side of the manager.
keep one’s chin up
to keep one’s spirits high; to act brave and confident. (Informal.)
Keep your chin up, John. Things will get better.
keep one’s distance (from someone or something)
to maintain a respectful or cautious distance from someone or something. (The distance can be figurative or literal.)
Keep your distance from John. He’s in a bad mood.
keep one’s eye on the ball
to remain alert to the events occurring around one. (Informal.)
If you want to get along in this office, you’re going to have to keep your eye on the ball.
keep one’s hand in (something)
to retain one’s control of something.
I want to keep my hand in the business.
keep one’s head above water
to stay ahead of one’s problems; to keep up with one’s work or responsibilities. (Also used literally. Also with have.)
I can’t seem to keep my head above water. Work just keeps piling up.
keep one’s mouth shut (about someone or something)
to keep quiet about someone or something; to keep a secret about someone or something. (Informal.)
They told me to keep my mouth shut about the problem or I’d be in big trouble.
keep one’s nose out of someone’s business
to refrain from interfering in someone else’s business.
Let John have his privacy, and keep your nose out of my business, too!
keep one’s nose to the grindstone
to keep busy doing one’s work. (Also with have and get, as in the examples.)
The manager told me to keep my nose to the grindstone or be sacked.
keep one’s own counsel
to keep one’s thoughts and plans to oneself; not to tell other people about one’s thoughts and plans.
Jane is very quiet. She tends to keep her own counsel.
keep one’s side of the bargain
to do one’s part as agreed; to attend to one’s responsibilities as agreed.
Tom has to learn to cooperate. He must keep his side of the bargain.
keep one’s wits about one
to keep one’s mind operating, especially in a time of stress.
If Jane hadn’t kept her wits about her during the fire, things would have been much worse.
keep one’s word
to uphold one’s promise.
I told her I’d be there to collect her, and I intend to keep my word.
keep oneself to oneself
to remain private; not to mix with other people very much.
We never see our neighbours. They keep themselves to themselves.
keep someone in line
to make certain that someone behaves properly. (Informal.)
It’s very hard to keep Bill in line. He’s sort of rowdy.
keep someone in stitches
to cause someone to laugh loud and hard, over and over. (Informal. Also with have. See the examples.)
The comedian kept us in stitches for nearly an hour.
keep someone on a string
to keep someone waiting for a decision.
Sally kept John on a string for weeks while she made up her mind.
keep someone on tenterhooks
to keep someone anxious or in suspense. (Also with have. See the examples.)
Please tell me now. Don’t keep me on tenterhooks any longer!
keep someone posted
to keep someone informed (of what is happening); to keep someone up to date.
If the price of corn goes up, I need to know. Please keep me posted.
keep something under one’s hat
to keep something a secret; to keep something in one’s mind (only). (Informal. If the secret stays under your hat, it stays in your mind.)
Keep this under your hat, but I’m getting married.
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.
