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.
tail wagging the dog
a situation where a small or minor part is controlling the whole thing.
John was just employed yesterday, and today he’s bossing everyone around. It’s a case of the tail wagging the dog.
take a leaf out of someone’s book
to behave or to do something in the way that someone else would; to use someone as an example.
Take a leaf out of your brother’s book and work hard.
take a stab at something
to make a try at something, sometimes without much hope of success. (Informal. Also with have. )
I don’t know if I can do it, but I’ll take a stab at it.
take leave of one’s senses
to become irrational.
What are you doing? Have you taken leave of your senses?
take one’s medicine
to accept the punishment or the bad fortune which one deserves.
I know I did wrong, and I know I have to take my medicine.
take someone down a peg (or two)
to reprimand someone who is acting in too arrogant a way. (Informal.)
The teacher’s scolding took Bob down a peg or two.
take someone to task
to scold or reprimand someone.
The teacher took John to task for his bad behaviour.
take someone under one’s wing
to take over and care for a person.
John wasn’t doing well at school until an older pupil took him under her wing.
take something as read
to assume something or regard something as being understood and accepted without reading it out, stating it, or checking it.
Can we take the minutes of the meeting as read, or should I read them?
take something in one’s stride
to accept something as natural or expected.
The argument surprised him, but he took it in his stride.
take something lying down
to endure something unpleasant without fighting back.
He insulted me publicly. You don’t expect me to take that lying down, do you?
take something on the chin
to experience and endure a blow stoically. (Informal.)
The bad news was a real shock, but John took it on the chin.
take something to heart
to take something very seriously.
John took the criticism to heart and made an honest effort to improve.
take the rough with the smooth
to accept the bad things along with the good things.
We all have disappointments. You have to learn to take the rough with the smooth.
take the wind out of someone’s sails
to put an end to someone’s boasting or arrogance and make the person feel embarrassed; to take an advantage away from someone. (Informal.)
John was bragging about how much money he earned until he learned that most of us make more. That took the wind out of his sails.
take the words (right) out of one’s mouth
[for someone else] to say what you were going to say.
John said exactly what I was going to say. He took the words out of my mouth.
take up the cudgels on behalf of someone or something
to support or defend someone or something.
We’ll have to take up the cudgels on behalf of Jim or he’ll lose the debate.
talk nineteen to the dozen
to talk a lot, usually quickly. (Informal.)
The old friends talk nineteen to the dozen when they meet once a year.
talk of the town
the subject of gossip; someone or something that everyone is talking about.
Joan’s argument with the town council is the talk of the town.
talk through one’s hat
to talk nonsense. (Informal.)
John doesn’t know anything about gardening. He’s just talking through his hat.
talk until one is blue in the face
to talk until one is exhausted. (Informal.)
I talked until I was blue in the face, but I couldn’t change her mind.
talking-shop
a place or meeting where things are discussed, but action may or may not be taken. (Informal.)
Many people think the City Chambers is just a talking-shop.
tarred with the same brush
having the same faults or bad points as someone else.
Jack and his brother are tarred with the same brush. They’re both crooks.
teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs
to try to tell or show someone more knowledgeable or experienced than oneself how to do something.
Don’t suggest showing Mary how to knit. It will be teaching your grandmother to suck eggs. She’s an expert.
Tell it to the marines. and Tell that to the marines.
I do not believe you (maybe the marines will). (Informal.)
That’s silly. Tell it to the marines.
tell tales out of school
to tell secrets or spread rumours. (Does not refer only to schoolchildren.)
I wish that John would keep quiet. He’s telling tales out of school again.
thank one’s lucky stars
to be thankful for one’s luck. (Informal.)
You can thank your lucky stars that I was there to help you.
thick and fast
in large numbers or amounts and at a rapid rate.
The enemy soldiers came thick and fast.
thick-skinned
not easily upset or hurt; insensitive.
Tom won’t worry about your insults. He’s completely thick-skinned.
thin end of the wedge
a minor or unimportant event or act that is the first stage in something more serious or unfortunate.
If you let Pam stay for a few days, it will be the thin end of the wedge. She’ll stay for ages.
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.
