Idioms and phrases, explained plainly
What a phrase means, where it probably comes from, and how people really use it, written in plain English for students, writers and English learners.
Most looked-up idioms
- Red herring
- Out of pocket
- Catch-22
- Good riddance
- Hair of the dog
- Tongue in cheek
- Devil's advocate
- Under the weather
- Break a leg
- Down to earth
- Bob's your uncle
- Touch base
- Sea change
- Heads up
- Bite the bullet
- Black sheep
- Head over heels
- Dark horse
Idioms by topic
- Animal idioms29 idioms
- Body idioms12 idioms
- Food idioms17 idioms
- Weather idioms5 idioms
- Money idioms29 idioms
- Time idioms27 idioms
- Work idioms39 idioms
- Idioms about feelings32 idioms
- Love and friendship idioms12 idioms