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.
throw in one’s hand
to give up or abandon a course of action. (From a player giving up in a card-game.)
I got tired of the tennis competition and threw in my hand.
throw the book at someone
to charge someone with, or convict someone of, as many crimes as possible; to reprimand or punish someone severely.
I made the police officer angry, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me.
thumb a lift and hitch a lift
to get a lift from a passing motorist; to make a sign with one’s thumb that indicates to passing drivers that one is asking for a lift.
My car broke down on the motorway, and I had to thumb a lift to get back to town.
thumb one’s nose at someone or something
to make a rude gesture of disgust—touching the end of one’s nose with one’s thumb— at someone or something. (Both literal and figurative uses.)
The tramp thumbed his nose at the lady and walked away.
tick over
to move along at a quiet, even pace, without either stopping or going quickly. (Informal. From an engine ticking over.)
The firm didn’t make large profits, but it’s ticking over.
tickle someone’s fancy
to interest someone; to attract someone. (Informal.)
I have an interesting proposal here which I think will tickle your fancy.
tie someone in knots
to make someone confused or upset. (Informal.)
The speaker tied herself in knots trying to explain her difficult subject in simple language.
tie the knot
to get married. (Informal.)
Well, I hear that you and John are going to tie the knot.
tied to one’s mother’s apron-strings
dominated by one’s mother; dependent on one’s mother.
Tom is still tied to his mother’s apronstrings.
tighten one’s belt
to manage to spend less money. (Informal.)
Things are beginning to cost more and more. It looks as though we’ll all have to tighten our belts.
till the cows come home
for a very long time. (Cows are returned to the barn at the end of the day. Informal.)
We could discuss this until the cows come home and still reach no decisions.
time out of mind
for a very long time; longer than anyone can remember.
There has been a church in the village time out of mind.
tip someone the wink
to give someone privileged or useful information in a secret or private manner. (Informal.)
John tipped Mary the wink that there was a vacancy in his department.
tip the scales at something
to weigh some amount.
Tom tips the scales at nearly 14 stone.
to the bitter end
to the very end. (Originally nautical. This originally had nothing to do with bitterness.)
I kept trying to the bitter end.
to the letter
exactly as instructed; exactly as written.
I didn’t make an error. I followed your instructions to the letter.
toe the line
to do what one is expected or required to do; to follow the rules. (Informal.)
You’ll get ahead, Sally. Don’t worry. Just toe the line, and everything will be okay.
tongue-in-cheek
insincere; joking.
Ann made a tongue-in-cheek remark to John, and he got angry because he thought she was serious.
touch a sore spot and touch a sore point
to refer to a sensitive matter which will upset someone. (Also used literally.)
I seem to have touched a sore spot. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.
touch wood
a phrase said to cancel out imaginary bad luck.
My stereo has never given me any trouble—touch wood.
touch-and-go
very uncertain or critical.
Things were touch-andgo at the office until a new manager was employed.
trade on something
to use a fact or a situation to one’s advantage.
Tom was able to trade on the fact that he had once been in the army.
true to one’s word
keeping one’s promise.
True to his word, Tom appeared at exactly eight o’clock.
try it on
to behave in a bold, disobedient, or unlawful manner to discover whether such behaviour will be allowed. (Informal.)
Tony knew he wouldn’t get away with working only four days a week. He was just trying it on by asking the boss.
try one’s wings
to try to do something one has recently become qualified to do. (Like a young bird uses its wings to try to fly.)
John just got his driver’s licence and wants to borrow the car to try his wings.
try someone’s patience
to do something annoying which may cause someone to lose patience; to cause someone to be annoyed.
Stop whistling. You’re trying my patience. Very soon I’m going to lose my temper.
tuck into something
to eat something with hunger and enjoyment. (Informal.)
The children really tucked into the icecream.
tumble to something
suddenly to understand or realize something. (Informal.)
I suddenly tumbled to the reason for his behaviour.
turn a blind eye to someone or something
to ignore something and pretend you do not see it.
The usherette turned a blind eye to the little boy who sneaked into the theatre.
turn someone’s head
to make someone conceited.
John’s compliments really turned Sally’s head.
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.
