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.
put one’s hand to the plough
to begin to do a big and important task; to undertake a major effort.
If John would only put his hand to the plough, he could do an excellent job of work.
put one’s house in order
to put one’s business or personal affairs into good order.
There was some trouble at work and the manager was told to put his house in order.
put one’s oar in and shove one’s oar in; stick one’s oar in
to interfere by giving unasked-for advice. (Informal.)
You don’t need to put your oar in. I don’t need your advice.
put one’s shoulder to the wheel
to take up a task; to get busy.
You won’t accomplish anything unless you put your shoulder to the wheel.
put out (some) feelers
to attempt to find out something without being too obvious.
I wanted to get a new position, so I put out some feelers.
put paid to something
to put an end to something; to prevent someone from doing something; to prevent something from happening. (From the practice of book-keepers of writing “paid” in the account book when a bill has been settled.)
Jean’s father’s objections put paid to John’s thoughts of marrying her.
put someone in mind of someone or something
to remind someone of someone or something.
Mary puts me in mind of her mother when she was that age.
put someone in the picture
to give someone all the necessary facts about something. (Informal.)
They put the police in the picture about how the accident happened.
put someone on a pedestal
to respect or admire someone too much; to worship someone.
He has put her on a pedestal and thinks she can do no wrong.
put someone on the spot
to ask someone embarrassing questions; to put someone in an uncomfortable or difficult position.
Don’t put me on the spot. I can’t give you an answer.
put someone or something out to pasture
to retire someone or something. (Informal. Originally said of a horse which was too old to work.)
Please don’t put me out to pasture. I have lots of good years left.
put someone through the wringer
to give someone a difficult or exhausting time. (Informal.)
They are really putting me through the wringer at school.
put someone to shame
to show someone up; to embarrass someone; to make someone ashamed.
Your excellent efforts put us all to shame.
put someone to the test
to test someone; to see what someone can achieve.
I think I can jump that far, but no one has ever put me to the test.
put someone up to something
to cause someone to do something; to bribe someone to do something; to give someone the idea of doing something.
Who put you up to it?
put someone wise to someone or something
to inform someone about someone or something. (Informal.)
I put her wise to the way we do things around here.
put someone’s nose out of joint
to cause someone to feel slighted or insulted. (Informal.)
I’m afraid I put his nose out of joint by not inviting him to the picnic.
put something on ice and put something on the back burner
to delay or postpone something; to put something on hold. (Informal.)
I’m afraid that we’ll have to put your project on ice for a while.
put something on paper
to write something down.
You have a great idea for a novel. Now put it on paper.
put something over
to accomplish something; to put something across.
This is a very hard thing to explain to a large audience. I hope I can put it over.
put something plainly
to state something firmly and explicitly.
To put it plainly, I want you out of this house immediately.
put something right and set something right
to correct something; to alter a situation to make it more fair.
This is a very unfortunate situation. I’ll ask the people responsible to set this matter right.
put the cart before the horse
to have things in the wrong order; to have things confused and mixed up.
You’re eating your dessert! You’ve put the cart before the horse.
put the cat among the pigeons and set the cat among the pigeons
to cause trouble or a disturbance, especially by doing or saying something suddenly or unexpectedly.
Meg put the cat among the pigeons by announcing that she was leaving home.
put two and two together
to find the answer to something from the information available; to reach an understanding of something.
Well, I put two and two together and came up with an idea of who did it.
put up a (brave) front
to appear to be brave (even if one is not).
Mary is frightened, but she’s putting up a brave front.
put upon someone
to make use of someone to an unreasonable degree; to take advantage of someone for one’s own benefit. (Typically passive.)
My mother was always put upon by her neighbours. She was too nice to refuse their requests for help.
put words into someone’s mouth
to speak for another person without permission.
Stop putting words into my mouth. I can speak for myself.
Put your money where your mouth is!
a command to stop talking or boasting and make a bet, or to stop talking and provide money for something which one claims to support.
I’m tired of your bragging about your skill at betting. Put your money where your mouth is!
putty in someone’s hands
[someone who is] easily influenced by someone else; [someone who is] excessively willing to do what someone else wishes.
Bob’s wife is putty in his hands. She never thinks for herself.
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.
