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.
have someone on a string
to have someone waiting for one’s decision or actions. (Informal.)
Sally has John on a string. He has asked her to marry him, but she hasn’t replied yet.
have someone or something on
[with someone ] to kid or deceive someone. (Informal.)
You can’t be serious. You’re having me on!
have someone under one’s thumb
to have control over someone; to dominate someone.
His wife has him under her thumb.
have someone’s hide
to scold or punish someone. (Informal. Refers to skinning an animal.)
If you ever do that again, I’ll have your hide.
have something at one’s fingertips
to have all the knowledge or information one needs; to know something very well, so the knowledge is readily available and can be remembered quickly.
He has lots of gardening hints at his fingertips.
have something coming to one
to deserve punishment for something. (Informal. See also get what is coming to one.)
Bill broke a window, so he has a reprimand coming to him.
have something hanging over one’s head
to have something bothering or worrying one; to have a deadline worrying one. (Informal. Also used literally.)
I keep worrying about being declared redundant. I hate to have something like that hanging over my head.
have something in hand
to be prepared to take action on something.
I have the matter in hand.
have something in mind
to be thinking of something; to have an idea or image (of something) in one’s mind.
I have something in mind for dinner.
have something in stock
to have merchandise available and ready for sale.
Do you have extra-large sizes in stock?
have something in store (for someone)
to have something planned for one’s future.
Tom has a large inheritance in store for him when his uncle dies.
have something on file
to have a written record of something in storage.
I’m certain I have your letter on file. I’ll check again.
have something on one’s hands
to be burdened with something.
I run a record shop. I sometimes have a large number of unwanted records on my hands.
have something on the brain
to be obsessed with something. (Informal.)
They have good manners on the brain.
have something out (with someone)
to clear the air; to settle a disagreement or a complaint. (Informal.)
John has been angry with Mary for a week. He finally had it out with her today.
have something up one’s sleeve
to have a secret or surprise plan or solution (to a problem). (Refers to cheating at cards by having a card hidden up one’s sleeve.)
He hasn’t lost yet. He has something up his sleeve.
have the courage of one’s convictions
to have enough courage and determination to carry out one’s aims.
It’s fine to have noble goals in life and to believe in great things. If you don’t have the courage of your convictions, you’ll never succeed.
have the Midas touch
to have the ability to be successful, especially the ability to make money easily. (From the name of a legendary king whose touch turned everything to gold.)
Bob is a merchant banker and really has the Midas touch.
have the right of way
to possess the legal right to occupy a particular space or proceed before others on a public roadway.
I had a traffic accident yesterday, but it wasn’t my fault. I had the right of way.
have the time of one’s life
to have a very good or entertaining time; to have the most exciting time in one’s life. (Informal.)
What a great party! I had the time of my life.
have the wherewithal (to do something)
to have the means to do something, especially money.
He has good ideas, but he doesn’t have the wherewithal to carry them out.
have to live with something
to have to endure something.
I have a slight limp in the leg that I broke last year. The doctor says I’ll have to live with it.
have too many irons in the fire
to be doing too many things at once.
Tom had too many irons in the fire and missed some important deadlines.
have turned the corner
to have passed a critical point in a process.
The patient has turned the corner. She should begin to show improvement now.
have what it takes
to have the courage, stamina, or ability (to do something).
Bill has what it takes. He can swim for miles.
head and shoulders above someone or something
clearly superior to someone. (Often with stand, as in the example.)
This wine is head and shoulders above that one.
head over heels in love (with someone)
very much in love with someone.
John is head over heels in love with Mary.
heads will roll
some people will get into trouble. (Informal. From the use of the guillotine to execute people.)
When company’s endof-year results are known, heads will roll.
heavy going
difficult to do, understand, or make progress with. (Informal.)
Jim finds maths heavy going.
hell for leather
moving or behaving recklessly. (Informal.)
They took off after the horse thief, riding hell for leather.
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.
