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.
waiting in the wings
ready or prepared to do something, especially to take over someone else’s job or position. (From waiting at the side of the stage to go on.)
Mr. Smith retires as manager next year, and Mr. Jones is just waiting in the wings.
walk a tightrope
to be in a situation where one must be very cautious.
I’ve been walking a tightrope all day trying to please both bosses. I need to relax.
walk on air
to be very happy; to be euphoric.
Ann was walking on air when she got the job.
walk on eggs
to be very cautious. (Informal. Never used literally.)
The manager is very hard to deal with. You really have to walk on eggs.
walls have ears
we may be overheard.
Let’s not discuss this matter here. Walls have ears, you know.
want it both ways
to want to have both of two seemingly incompatible things; to want to have it both ways.
John wants it both ways. He can’t have it both ways.
warm the cockles of someone’s heart
to make someone feel pleased and happy.
It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you say that.
warts and all
including all the faults and disadvantages.
Jim has many faults, but Jean loves him, warts and all.
water under the bridge
[something] past and forgotten.
Please don’t worry about it any more. It’s all water under the bridge.
wear more than one hat
to have more than one set of responsibilities; to hold more than one office.
The mayor is also the police chief. She wears more than one hat.
wear out one’s welcome
to stay too long (at an event to which one has been invited); to visit somewhere too often.
Tom visited the Smiths so often that he wore out his welcome.
weep buckets
to weep a great many tears. (Informal.)
The girls wept buckets at the sad film.
weigh on someone’s mind
[for a worrying matter] to be constantly in a person’s thoughts; [for something] to be bothering someone’s thinking.
This problem has been weighing on my mind for many days now.
weigh one’s words
to consider one’s own words carefully when speaking.
I always weigh my words when I speak in public.
well up in something
having a great deal of knowledge about something.
Jane’s husband is well up in computers.
wheeling and dealing
taking part in clever but sometimes dishonest or immoral business deals.
John loves wheeling and dealing in the money markets.
wheels within wheels
circumstances, often secret or personal, which all have an effect on each other and lead to a complicated, confusing situation.
This is not a staightforward matter of choosing the best person for the job. There are wheels within wheels and one of the applicants is the boss’s son-in-law.
when the time is ripe
at exactly the right time.
I’ll tell her the good news when the time is ripe.
whistle for something
to expect or look for something with no hope of getting it. (Informal.)
I’m afraid you’ll have to whistle for it if you want to borrow money. I don’t have any.
white elephant
something which is useless and which is either a nuisance or expensive to keep up. (From the gift of a white elephant by the Kings of Siam to courtiers who displeased them, knowing the cost of the upkeep would ruin them.)
Bob’s father-in-law has given him an old Rolls-Royce, but it’s a real white elephant. He has no place to park it and can’t afford the petrol for it.
whole (bang) shooting match
the whole lot. (Informal.)
They didn’t even sort through the books. They just threw out the whole shooting match.
win the day and carry the day
to be successful; to win a competition, argument, etc. (Originally meaning to win a battle.)
Our team didn’t play well at first, but we won the day in the end.
win through
to succeed.
After many setbacks, we won through in the end.
wise after the event
knowledgeable of how a situation should have been dealt with only after it has passed.
I know now I should have agreed to help him, but that’s being wise after the event. At the time I thought he was just being lazy.
wish someone joy of something
to express the hope that someone will enjoy having or doing something, usually while being glad that one does not have to have it or do it.
I wish you joy of that old car. I had one just like it and spent a fortune on repairs for it.
with all one’s heart and soul
very sincerely.
Oh Bill, I love you with all my heart and soul, and I always will!
with every other breath
[saying something] repeatedly or continually.
Bob was out in the garden raking leaves and cursing with every other breath.
with flying colours
easily and excellently.
John passed his geometry test with flying colours.
with the best will in the world
however much one wishes to do something, or however hard one tries to do something.
With the best will in the world, Jack won’t be able to help Mary get the job.
wither on the vine
[for something] to decline or fade away at an early stage of development. (Also used literally in reference to grapes or other fruit.)
You have a great plan, Tom. Let’s keep it alive. Don’t let it wither on the vine.
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.
