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.
race against time
to hurry to beat a deadline; to hurry to achieve something by a certain time.
We had to race against time to finish the work before the deadline.
rack one’s brains
to try very hard to think of something.
I racked my brains all afternoon, but couldn’t remember where I put the book.
rain cats and dogs
to rain very hard. (Informal.)
It’s raining cats and dogs. Look at it pour!
rained off
cancelled or postponed because of rain.
Oh, the weather looks awful. I hope the picnic isn’t rained off.
raise a few eyebrows
to shock or surprise people mildly by doing or saying something.
What you just said may raise a few eyebrows, but it shouldn’t make anyone really angry.
raise one’s sights
to set higher goals for oneself.
When you’re young, you tend to raise your sights too high.
rally round someone or something
to come together to support someone or something.
The family rallied round Jack when he lost his job.
rant and rave
to shout angrily and wildly.
Bob rants and raves when anything displeases him.
rap someone’s knuckles
to rebuke or punish someone.
She rapped his knuckles for whispering too much.
rarin’ to go
extremely keen to act or do something. (Informal.)
Jane can’t wait to start her job. She’s rarin’ to go.
rat race
a fierce struggle for success, especially in one’s career or business.
Bob’s got tired of the rat race. He’s retired and gone to live in the country.
read between the lines
to infer something (from something). (Usually figurative. Does not necessarily refer to written or printed information.)
After listening to what she said, if you read between the lines, you can begin to see what she really means.
read someone like a book
to understand someone very well.
I’ve got John figured out. I can read him like a book.
read someone the Riot Act
to give someone a severe scolding. (Under the Riot Act of 1715, an assembly of people could be dispersed by magistrates reading the act to them.)
The manager read me the Riot Act for coming in late.
read someone’s mind
to guess what someone is thinking.
You’ll have to tell me what you want. I can’t read your mind, you know.
read something into something
to attach or attribute a new or different meaning to something; to find a meaning that is not intended in something.
This statement means exactly what it says. Don’t try to read anything else into it.
rear its ugly head
[for something unpleasant] to appear or become obvious after lying hidden.
Jealousy reared its ugly head and destroyed their marriage.
receive someone with open arms and welcome someone with open arms
to welcome someone eagerly. (Used literally or figuratively.)
I’m certain they wanted us to stay for dinner. They received us with open arms.
red herring
a piece of information or suggestion introduced to draw attention away from the truth or real facts of a situation. (A red herring is a type of strong-smelling smoked fish that was once drawn across the trail of scent to mislead hunting dogs and put them off the scent. See also draw a red herring.)
The detectives were following a red herring, but they’re on the right track now.
red tape
over-strict attention to the wording and details of rules and regulations, especially by government or public departments. (From the colour of the tape used by government departments to tie up bundles of documents.)
Because of red tape, it took weeks for Frank to get a visa.
redbrick university
one of the universities built in England in the late nineteenth century, contrasted with Oxford and Cambridge Universities. (Derogatory.)
John’s tutor ridicules the redbrick universities.
regain one’s composure
to become calm and composed.
I found it difficult to regain my composure after the argument.
rest on one’s laurels
to enjoy one’s success and not try to achieve more.
Don’t rest on your laurels. Try to continue to do great things!
return ticket
a ticket (for a plane, train, bus, etc.) which allows one to go to a destination and return.
A return ticket will usually save you some money.
ride roughshod over someone or something
to treat someone or something with disdain or scorn.
Tom seems to ride roughshod over his friends.
riding for a fall
risking failure or an accident, usually owing to overconfidence.
Tom drives too fast, and he seems too sure of himself. He’s riding for a fall.
right up someone’s street
ideally suited to one’s interests or abilities. (Informal.)
Skiing is right up my street. I love it.
ring a bell
[for something] to cause someone to remember something or to seem familiar. (Informal.)
I’ve never met John Franklin, but his name rings a bell.
ring down the curtain (on something) and bring down the curtain (on something)
to bring something to an end; to declare something to be at an end.
It’s time to ring down the curtain on our relationship. We have nothing in common any more.
ring in the New Year
to celebrate the beginning of the New Year at midnight on December 31.
We are planning a big affair to ring in the New Year.
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.
