An idiom is a phrase where the words

together have a meaning that is different

from the dictionary definitions of the
individual words, which can make
idioms hard for ESL students and
learners to understand. Here, we provide
a dictionary of 3,434 English idiomatic
expressions with definitions.

My
20
Idiom
Words
A bit much
If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link
This means that processes, organisations, etc, are vulnerable
because the weakest person or part can always damage or
break them.
A day late and a dollar short
(USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too
little, too late.
A fool and his money are soon parted
This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their
money spend it quickly. 'A fool and his money are easily
parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.
A fool at 40 is a fool forever
If someone hasn't matured by the time they reach forty, they
never will.
Babe in arms
A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very
young to be holding a position.
Babe in the woods
A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person.
Baby boomer
(USA) A baby boomer is someone born in the years after the
end of the Second World War, a period when the population
was growing very fast.
Back burner
If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low
priority.
Back foot
 (UK) If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage
and forced to be defensive of your position.
Babe in arms
A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very
young to be holding a position.

Babe in the woods

A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person.
Baby boomer
(USA) A baby boomer is someone born in the years after the
end of the Second World War, a period when the population
was growing very fast.
Back burner
If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low
priority.
Back foot
(UK) If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage
and forced to be defensive of your position.
Daft as a brush
(UK) Someone who is daft as a brush is rather stupid.
Damp squib
(UK) If something is expected to have a great effect or
impact but doesn't, it is a damp squib.
Dancing on someone's grave
If you will dance on someone's grave, you will outlive or
outlast them and will celebrate their demise.
Dark horse
If someone is a dark horse, they are a bit of a mystery.
Davey Jones' locker
Davey Jones' locker is the bottom of the sea or resting place
of drowned sailors.('Davy Jones' locker' is an alternative
spelling.)
Day in the sun
If you have your day in the sun, you get attention and are
appreciated.
Daylight robbery
If you are overcharged or underpaid, it is a daylight robbery;
open, unfair and hard to prevent. Rip-off has a similar
meaning.
Days are numbered
When someone’s days are numbered, they are expected to die
soon.
Dead air
When there is a period of total silence, there is dead air.
Dead and buried
If something is dead and buried, it has all long been settled
and is not going to be reconsidered.
Dead as a dodo
If something's dead as a dodo, it is lifeless and dull. The dodo
was a bird that lived the island of Mauritius. It couldn't fly
and was hunted to extinction.
Each to their own
Different people have different preferences. In American
English, 'Each to his own' is more common.
Eager beaver
A person who is extremely keen is an eager beaver.
Eagle eyes
Someone who has eagle eyes sees everything; no detail is too
small.
Early bath
(UK) If someone has or goes for an early bath, they quit or
lose their job or position earlier than expected because things
have gone wrong.
Early bird catches the worm
The early bird catches the worm means that if you start
something early, you stand a better chance of success.
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and
wise
It means that sleeping well and not staying up late will help
you out physically and financially.
Earn a living
To make money Ex: We need to get a good job to earn a
decent living.
Easier said than done
If something is easier said than done, it is much more
difficult than it sounds. It is often used when someone
advises you to do something difficult and tries to make it
sound easy.
Eat someone alive
If you eat someone alive, you defeat or beat them
comprehensively.
Eat your heart out
If someone tells you to eat your heart out, they are saying
they are better than you at something.
Eat your words
If you eat your words, you accept publicly that you were
wrong about something you said.
Economical with the truth
(UK) If someone, especially a politician, is economical with
the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false
picture of a situation, without actually lying.
Egg on your face
If someone has egg on their face, they are made to look
foolish or embarrassed.
Elbow grease
If something requires elbow grease, it involves a lot of hard
physical work.
 Vocuvolary
Here is a list of practical vocabulary words that will enable you to read with
better understanding and write with greater accuracy. Unlike lists that
emphasize strange and impressive words that few people actually use, this
list emphasizes words that are useful for your functional vocabulary. For
your convenience, each word has been linked to definitions at
Dictionary.com. At the end of the list are some tips for building your
vocabulary.

• abase s altruism
abate accolade advocate amalgamat
abdicate accrue aesthetic e
aberration acculturati affable amass
abet on affectation ambiguous
abeyance acerbic
abhor acquiesce affidavit ambivalent
abhorrent acquisitive affinity
abjure affliction ameliorate
abominatio acquit affront
n acrimonio aftermath amenable
aboriginal us aggrandize amiable
abound acronym amid
abrade acumen aggrieve amnesty
abridge acute aghast amoral
abrogate adage alacrity amorphous
abscond adduce alchemy
absolve adherent alienate anachronis
abstemious adjunct allege m
admonish allegiance anagram
abstinent adulation alleviate analogy
abstruse adulterate allocate anarchy
abysmal adumbrate allot anathema
accede alloy ancillary
accentuate adventitiou allusion anecdote
anhydrous assimilate capitulate
animosity assuage capricious comply
anomaly astringent captivate comprise
antecedent astute carcinogen compuncti
atomistic ic on
antedate atrophy cardinal concave
anterior attenuation careen concede
antipathy cartel concentric
antiquity attest cartograph conceptual
antithesis attribute y
apathy attrition cascade concerted
aperture audacious castigate conciliator
aphorism augment catalyst y
apocryphal auspices caulk concise
auspicious caustic concoct
apostasy celibacy concomita
apotheosis austere censure nt
autonomy charlatan concur
auxiliary chaste concurrent
appalling chasten
appendage avarice
aversion chastise
chimera condescen
apportion avid d
axiom chronic
apposite circumscri condone
appraise banal confederat
bane be
apprise circumspe e
approbatio barrage confer
belated ct
n circumvent configurati
appurtenan benevolent on
ce confluence
benign clandestine
apropos
aptitude bequeath confound
arbitrary bestow clemency congeal
arcane bilateral coagulate congruent
archetype bipolar coalesce conjecture
archives bland coda conjoin
arduous blandishm codicil connotatio
arid ent coercion n
aristocratic blasphemy cogent consternati
cogitate on
blatant cognizant construe
armistice cohesive
arraign blueprint contentiou
brandish cohort s
arsenal commensu
articulate brazen contiguous
brevity rate
artifact commisera
artifice brink contingent
bureaucrac te
ascendanc commodio
y y contrite
burnish us
ascertain commodit contumaci
ascetic cajole ous
callous y
ascribe compendiu contumely
askance calumny
canard m
aspersion compleme conundru
assail candid
candor nt m
assert complicity convention
assiduous capacious
 al demystify disinclinati efficacious
converge denotation on
conversant disinforma efficacy
denoueme tion effluvia
convex nt disingenuo effrontery
convoluted deplete us effulgent
deploy disinterest effusion
copious depravity ed egalitarian
corollary deprecate dismal
corporeal derelict dismay egregious
correlation derision disparage elaborate
derivative disparate elation
derogatory disparity elicit
corroborat dispassion
e elocution
desecrate ate eloquence
corrosive disperse
corrugated desiccate elucidate
desist dispirit elusive
desponden disproporti emaciate
countenan onate
ce t emanate
despotic disquiet emancipat
covert dissemble
credulous destitute e
desultory disseminat embellish
criterion e
critique deter embody
detrimenta dissent embroil
cryptic disservice
cull l embryonic
diaphanou dissident
culminate dissipate
culpable s eminence
diatribe dissolution
cupidity emollient
cursory dichotomy empathy
dissonance empirical
daunt
dearth didactic emulate
debacle diffidence dissuade encroach
debase diffuse distend endemic
debilitate dilate divergence endemic
debunk dilatory enervate
decimate dilemma divest enfranchis
decorum diminution divulge e
deduce dogmatic engender
deem disabuse dormant enigma
deference disambigu dross enmity
defunct ate dubious ennui
degenerate disarray ductility ensue
discernme duplicity entail
delectable nt duress entity
deleterious disclaimer ebb entreat
disconcerti ebullience enumerate
ng eccentric enunciate
delineate echelon envision
delusion discordant
discrepanc eclectic ephemeral
delve edification epilogue
demeanor y
discrete epistemolo
demise gy
demograph discriminat edifice
e effectual epitome
ics equanimity
demur disdain effervesce
disgruntle nt
equipoise fastidious heterodox inaugurate
equivocate fatuous heterogene
fecund ous incandesce
erratic felicitous hiatus nt
erudite fervent hindrance incarcerate
eschew fester homage
esoteric fiat homogene incarnation
estrange flagrant ous
ethereal fledgling hubris
florid hyperbole incendiary
eulogy
euphemis flourish hypocritica
m flout l incensed
euphoria flux hypothetic inception
evanescent foment al incessant
foray iconoclast incidental
forebode ideology incipient
evince incisive
eviscerate forensic idiom
forestall idiosyncra incite
evoke incoherent
exacerbate fortuitous sy
frenetic ignominio
frivolous us incongruo
excise frugal imbroglio us
excoriate fruition imbue incontrove
exculpate fulminate imminent rtible
exemplary fulsome immolate incorrigibl
furtive immutable e
exemplify futile increment
exhume gainsay impeccabl inculcate
exigent gambit e incursion
exonerate gamut impecunio indefatigab
exorbitant garble us le
expedient garrulous impedimen indelible
expiate genre t indict
explicate germane impervious indigenous
explicit germinate
exposition gratis indolent
expostulat impetuous
gratuitous implacable indomitabl
e grave e
expunge gregarious induce
extant implicate
implicit ineffable
extenuate grovel ineluctable
extirpate implore
guile importunat
extol guise
extort e inert
gullible imprecatio inexorable
extraneous hackneyed n
extrapolate impromptu infamous
haphazard infer
hapless impugn infested
extricate harbinger infiltrate
extrinsic impunity
haughty inadvertent infrastruct
façade hedonistic ure
facet hegemony infringe
facetious heinous inalienable
ingenuous
fallacy heresy ingratiate
fanatic hermetic inane inherent
 innate latent y m
innocuous latitude miserly opulent
innuendo laudatory misinform orthodox
insatiable lavish ation oscillate
inscrutable legacy misogyny osmosis
legitimate mitigate ossify
insidious lethargic mnemonic ostensibly
insipid levity ostentatiou
insolvent liaison monolithic s
insouciant libel overwroug
instigate licentious moratoriu ht
insular lionize m mordant oxymoron
insurgent litany pacify
integral litigate paean
livid morose palatable
intelligible motility
loath palliate
loquacious multifariou palpable
intemperat s
e pandemic
multiplicit panegyric
interim lucid y
interloper ludicrous paradigm
mundane paradox
interlude lugubrious munificenc
intermitten paragon
e parameter
t luminous nadir
intersperse luster paranoia
narcissist pariah
magnanim nebulous
ous parody
interstices nefarious parsimony
intervene malapropis nemesis
intractable m neophyte
malevolent nexus partisan
noisome pathology
intransigen pathos
t malice notorious
malignant noxious paucity
intrepid pedagogy
intrinsic malleable nullify
marginal obdurate pedantic
introspecti pedestrian
ve meager obfuscate
meander oblique pejorative
inundate pellucid
inured mediocrity obliterate
obscure penchant
invective penury
inveigh melee obsequiou
s perfidious
inveterate mellifluou perfunctor
invidious s obstinate
obstrepero y
invincible menagerie peripheral
irascible mendicant us
obtrusive permeate
iridescent mentor pernicious
ironic meretricio obtuse
obviate perpetrator
irresolute us
irreverence metamorp occlude
hosis officious perpetuate
metaphor ominous perplex
juxtapose perquisite
kindle metaphysi omniscient
cal persevere
kinetic perspicaci
labyrinth meticulous onerous
ontology ous
laconic pertinent
lascivious minion opaque
opprobriu perturbatio
lassitude misanthrop
 n prevail
peruse prevaricate
pervade
pervasive proactive
petulant probity
philanthro proclivity
pist procrustea
phlegmatic n
procure
piety prodigal
pillory prodigious
piquant
pique profligate
placate profuse
placebo proliferate
platitude prolific
plausible prolix
plethora promulgat
pliable e
pluralism propagate
polarize propensity
polemic
ponderous propinquit
porous y
posthumou propitiate
s propitious
postulate propound
pragmatic prosaic
precarious proscribe
precede protean
precedent protocol
precept protrude
precipitous provincial
prowess
preclude proximity
precocious prudent
pundit
precursor pungent
predecesso punitive
r purported
predilectio putative
n qualm
predomina quandary
nt quasi
preemptive quell
querulous
prepondera
nce
prescience

presumptu
ous
presuppos
e
pretense