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.
live and let live
not to interfere with other people’s business or preferences.
I don’t care what they do! Live and let live, I always say.
live by one’s wits
to survive by being clever.
When you’re in the kind of business I’m in, you have to live by your wits.
live from hand to mouth
to live in poor circumstances; to be able to get only what one needs for the present and not save for the future. (Informal.)
When both my parents were out of work, we lived from hand to mouth.
live in an ivory tower
to be aloof or separated from the realities of living. ( Live can be replaced by certain other expressions meaning to dwell or spend time, as in the examples.)
If you didn’t spend so much time in your ivory tower, you’d know what people really think!
live off the fat of the land
to live in a very affluent or luxurious way. (Biblical.)
If I had a million pounds, I’d invest it and live off the fat of the land.
live on borrowed time
to live longer than circumstances warrant; to live longer than expected; to remain in a situation longer than circumstances warrant.
John has a terminal disease. He’s living on borrowed time.
load off one’s mind
relief from something which has been worrying one. (Informal.)
It will be a load off Jane’s mind when her mother leaves hospital.
lock horns (with someone)
to get into an argument with someone. (Informal.)
Let’s settle this peacefully. I don’t want to lock horns with your lawyer.
lock, stock, and barrel
everything.
We had to move everything out of the house—lock, stock, and barrel.
look as if butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth
to appear to be very innocent, respectable, honest, etc.
Sally looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but she is going out with a married man.
look daggers at someone
to give someone an unpleasant or nasty look.
Tom must have been angry with Ann from the way he was looking daggers at her.
look forward to something
to anticipate something with pleasure.
I’m really looking forward to your visit next week.
look like a million dollars
to look very good.
Oh, Sally, you look like a million dollars.
look like the cat that swallowed the canary and look like the cat that swallowed the cream
to appear self-satisfied, as if one had just had a great success.
After the meeting John looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. I knew he must have been a success.
look the other way
to ignore (something) on purpose.
John could have prevented the problem, but he looked the other way.
look to one’s laurels
to take care not to lower or diminish one’s reputation or position, especially in relation to that of someone else potentially better.
With the arrival of the new member of the football team, James will have to look to his laurels to remain the highest scorer.
look up to someone
to view someone with respect and admiration.
Bill really looks up to his father.
loom large
to be of great importance, especially when referring to a possible problem, danger, or threat.
The exams were looming large.
lord it over someone
to dominate someone; to direct and control someone.
Mr. Smith seems to lord it over his wife.
lose face
to lose status; to become less respectable.
John is more afraid of losing face than losing money.
lose heart
to lose one’s courage or confidence.
Now, don’t lose heart. Keep trying.
lose one’s grip
to lose control (over something).
I can’t seem to run things like I used to. I’m losing my grip.
lose one’s reason
to lose one’s power of reasoning, possibly in anger.
I was so confused that I almost lost my reason.
lose one’s temper
to become angry.
Please don’t lose your temper. It’s not good for you.
lose one’s train of thought
to forget what one was talking or thinking about.
Excuse me, I lost my train of thought. What was I talking about?
lost in thought
busy thinking.
I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said. I was lost in thought.
lost on someone
having no effect on someone; wasted on someone. (Informal.)
The joke was lost on Jean. She didn’t understand it.
love at first sight
love established when two people first see one another.
Bill was standing at the door when Ann opened it. It was love at first sight.
lovely weather for ducks
rainy weather.
It’s raining and it’s lovely weather for ducks.
lower one’s sights
to set one’s goals or aims lower.
Even though you get frustrated, don’t lower your sights.
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.
