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.
pride of place
the best or most important place or space.
Jack’s parents gave pride of place in their living-room to his sports trophy.
pride oneself on something
to take special pride in something.
Ann prides herself on her apple pies.
prime mover
the force that sets something going; someone or something that starts something off.
The assistant manager was the prime mover in getting the manager sacked.
pull a face and make a face
to twist one’s face into a strange expression, typically to show one’s dislike, to express ridicule, or to make someone laugh. (Also plural: pull faces, make faces.)
The comedian pulled faces to amuse the children.
pull a fast one
to succeed in an act of deception. (Informal.)
She was pulling a fast one when she said she had a headache and had to go home.
pull one’s punches
[for a boxer] to strike with light blows to enable the other boxer to win.
Bill has been barred from the boxing ring for pulling his punches.
pull one’s socks up
to make an effort to improve one’s behaviour or performance.
If you don’t want to be expelled from school, you’ll have to pull your socks up.
pull oneself together
to become calm or steady; to become emotionally stabilized; to regain one’s composure.
Now, calm down. Pull yourself together.
pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps
to achieve (something) through one’s own efforts. (Informal.)
He’s wealthy now, but he pulled himself up by his bootstraps.
pull out all the stops
to use all one’s energy and effort in order to achieve something. (From the stops of a pipe-organ. The more that are pulled out, the louder it gets.)
You’ll have to pull out all the stops if you’re going to pass the exam.
pull someone’s leg
to kid, fool, or trick someone. (Informal.)
You don’t mean that. You’re just pulling my leg.
pull something out of a hat and pull something out of thin air
to produce something as if by magic.
This is a serious problem, and we just can’t pull a solution out of a hat.
pull strings
to use influence (with someone to get something done or gain an advantage).
I can borrow the hall easily by pulling strings.
pull the rug out from under someone(’s feet)
to do something suddenly which leaves someone in a weak position; to make someone ineffective.
The news that his wife had left him pulled the rug out from under him.
pull the wool over someone’s eyes
to deceive someone.
You can’t pull the wool over my eyes. I know what’s going on.
push one’s luck
to expect continued good fortune; to expect to continue to escape bad luck. (Informal.)
You’re okay so far, but don’t push your luck.
put a brave face on it
to try to appear happy or satisfied when faced with misfortune or danger.
We’ve lost all our money, but we must put a brave face on it for the sake of the children.
put all one’s eggs in one basket
to risk everything at once; to depend entirely on one plan, venture, etc. (Often negative.)
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You shouldn’t invest all your money in one business.
put ideas into someone’s head
to suggest something—usually something that is bad or unfortunate for someone—to someone (who would not have thought of it otherwise).
Jack can’t afford a holiday abroad. Please don’t put ideas into his head.
put in a good word for someone
to say something to someone in support of someone.
I hope you get the job. I’ll put in a good word for you.
put it on
to pretend; to act as if something were true. (Informal.)
Ann wasn’t really angry. She was just putting it on.
put on airs
to act superior. (Informal.)
Stop putting on airs. You’re just human like the rest of us.
put on one’s thinking-cap
to start thinking in a serious manner.
Let’s put on our thinking-caps and decide where to go on holiday.
put on weight
to gain weight; to grow fatter.
I have to go on a diet because I’ve been putting on a little weight lately.
put one across someone
to deceive or trick someone. (Informal.)
He tried to put one across the old lady by pretending to be her longlost nephew.
put one in one’s place
to rebuke someone; to remind one of one’s (lower) rank or station.
My employer put me in my place for criticizing her.
put one through one’s paces
to make one demonstrate what one can do; to test someone’s abilities or capacity.
The teacher put the children through their paces before the exam.
put one’s best foot forward
to prepare to do one’s best; to make the best attempt possible to make a good impression.
When you apply for a position, you should always put your best foot forward.
put one’s foot down (about something)
to be adamant about something.
Ann put her foot down about what kind of car she wanted.
put one’s foot in it
to say something which one regrets; to say something tactless, insulting, or hurtful. (Informal.)
When I told Ann that her hair was more beautiful than I had ever seen it, I really put my foot in it. It was a wig.
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.
