Dictionary of English Idioms & Phrases

Idioms and idiomatic expressions are used frequently in spoken and written English and so this is a useful area of the language to learn. Since idioms are phrases where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words, this can make idioms hard for ESL students and learners to understand. However, learning idioms can be fun and rewarding since their meanings are often surprising.

Our idiom dictionary contains clear definitions and examples of 7,231 English idioms and idiomatic expressions, categorised by topic and country of origin.

List of Idioms by Topic

377 Entries
25 Entries
119 Entries
75 Entries
54 Entries
9 Entries
203 Entries
22 Entries
8 Entries
6 Entries
22 Entries
49 Entries
110 Entries
28 Entries
66 Entries
46 Entries
48 Entries
21 Entries
71 Entries
27 Entries
19 Entries
67 Entries
18 Entries
99 Entries
96 Entries
60 Entries
55 Entries

List of Idioms by Country

191 Entries
19 Entries
206 Entries
1 Entries
3 Entries
5 Entries
4 Entries

Recently Added

Norse
Added on 9 Mar 2023
Go to the foot of our stairs
Added on 15 Dec 2022
Tankie
Added on 13 Mar 2022
Close to the vest
Added on 12 Feb 2022
Close to the chest
Added on 12 Feb 2022
Pound sand
Added on 14 Dec 2021
Read the runes
Added on 17 Nov 2021
Punch above your weight
Added on 8 Oct 2021
Off your oats
Added on 13 Sep 2021
Trials and tribulations
Added on 13 Sep 2021
Get your oats
Added on 13 Sep 2021
In fine fettle
Added on 7 Jun 2021
Lose track
Added on 9 Mar 2021
Run with the ball
Added on 17 Dec 2020
Whale
Added on 9 Nov 2020
Hairy eyeball
Added on 29 Oct 2020
Poke one's nose
Added on 13 Oct 2020
Throw in the sponge
Added on 1 Oct 2020
Feel your oats
Added on 28 Jun 2020
Ball of chalk
Added on 21 Jun 2020
Shake in your boots
Added on 8 Jun 2020
Fill your boots
Added on 8 Jun 2020
Queer as a three-dollar bill
Added on 2 Jun 2020
Up in arms
Added on 25 May 2020
Dish it out
Added on 15 May 2020
Rivers of
Added on 4 May 2020
Hill of beans
Added on 14 Apr 2020
Catch someone on the hop
Added on 9 Jan 2020
Height of folly
Added on 10 Dec 2019
In the grip
Added on 28 Oct 2019

Search Our Idioms

  

Trustpilot