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.
leave someone in the lurch
to leave someone waiting on or anticipating your actions.
Where were you, John? You really left me in the lurch.
leave word (with someone)
to leave a message with someone (who will pass the message on to someone else).
If you decide to go to the convention, please leave word with my secretary.
left, right, and centre
everywhere; to an excessive extent. (Informal.)
John lent money left, right, and centre.
lend (someone) a hand
to give someone some help, not necessarily with the hands.
Could you lend me a hand with this piano? I need to move it across the room.
less than pleased
displeased.
We were less than pleased to learn of your comments.
let off steam and blow off steam
to release excess energy or anger. (Informal.)
Whenever John gets a little angry, he blows off steam by jogging.
let one’s hair down and let down one’s hair
to become less formal and more intimate, and to begin to speak frankly. (Informal.)
Come on, Jane, let your hair down and tell me all about it.
let someone have it
to strike someone or attack someone verbally. (Informal.)
I really let Tom have it. I told him he had better not do that again if he knows what’s good for him.
let someone off (the hook)
to release someone from a responsibility. (Informal.)
Please let me off the hook for Saturday. I have other plans.
let something ride
to allow something to continue or remain as it is. (Informal.)
It isn’t the best plan, but we’ll let it ride.
let something slide
to neglect something. (Informal.)
John let his lessons slide.
let something slip (out)
to tell a secret by accident.
I didn’t let it slip out on purpose. It was an accident.
let the cat out of the bag and spill the beans
to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident. (Informal.)
When Bill glanced at the door, he let the cat out of the bag. We knew then that he was expecting someone to arrive.
let the chance slip by
to lose the opportunity (to do something).
When I was younger, I wanted to become a doctor, but I let the chance slip by.
let the grass grow under one’s feet
to do nothing; to stand still.
Mary doesn’t let the grass grow under her feet. She’s always busy.
let well alone and leave well alone
to leave things as they are (and not try to improve them).
There isn’t much more you can accomplish here. Why don’t you just let well alone?
lick one’s lips
to show eagerness or pleasure about a future event. (Informal. From the habit of people licking their lips when they are about to enjoy eating something.)
The children licked their lips at the sight of the cake.
lick something into shape and whip something into shape
to put something into good condition, usually with difficulty. (Informal.)
I have to lick this report into shape this morning.
lie down on the job
to do one’s job poorly or not at all. (Informal.)
Tom was sacked because he was lying down on the job.
lie through one’s teeth
to lie boldly. (Informal.)
I knew she was lying through her teeth, but I didn’t want to say so just then.
life (and soul) of the party
the type of person who is lively and helps make a party fun and exciting.
Bill is always the life and soul of the party. Be sure to invite him.
like a bolt out of the blue
suddenly and without warning. (Refers to a bolt of lightning coming out of a clear blue sky.)
The news came to us like a bolt out of the blue.
like a fish out of water
awkward; in a foreign or unaccustomed environment.
At a formal dance, John is like a fish out of water.
like a sitting duck and like sitting ducks
unguarded; unsuspecting and unaware.
He was waiting there like a sitting duck—a perfect target for a mugger.
like looking for a needle in a haystack
engaged in a hopeless search.
Trying to find a white dog in the snow is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
like one of the family
as if someone (or a pet) were a member of one’s family. (Informal.)
We treat our dog like one of the family.
like water off a duck’s back
without any apparent effect.
Insults rolled off John like water off a duck’s back.
likes of someone
the type of person that someone is; anyone like someone. (Informal. Almost always in a negative sense.)
I don’t like Bob. I wouldn’t do anything for the likes of him.
lion’s share (of something)
the larger share of something.
The elder boy always takes the lion’s share of the food.
listen to reason
to yield to a reasonable argument; to take the reasonable course.
Please listen to reason, and don’t do something you’ll regret.
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.
