# Idioms and Slang Dictionary — Phrase meanings and history

> Comprehensive dictionary of English idioms, slang, proverbs, and expressions with history. (iPhone/iPad app by Farlex, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idioms-and-slang-dictionary/id1024598358 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Farlex, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/379450386)
- Category: Reference, Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 1,106 App Store ratings · 105 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 96 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-11-01
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idioms-and-slang-dictionary/id1024598358/reviews.md

## What is Idioms and Slang Dictionary?

Idioms and Slang Dictionary by Farlex gives you definitions and examples from top sources like McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin for more than 61,000 terms, including: 
Idioms
Slang terms
Verbal phrases
Abbreviations
Proverbs
Clichés
Regionalisms
Colloquialisms
Expressions 
Sayings
and more!

Get clear, in-depth definitions of tens of thousands of idioms used in the US and throughout English-speaking world. You say them every day, but do you know where they come from? Get the history behind the phrase.

FEATURES

* Search by keyword or full phrase and always find what you're looking for. 

* View multiple example sentences to see how an idiom is used in everyday speech.

* Get the history behind the phrase. Find out when and where an idiom originated. 

* Use native voice search to look up a word or phrase just by saying it. (With supported devices)

* Play 13,000+ audio pronunciations of keywords for both American and British speakers in online mode.

* Learning English? To sound like a native speaker, you need to know idioms! Master conversational English with this free resource. 

* Add unlimited bookmarks and build your vocabulary. 

* View your recent searches.

* See search suggestions as you type.

* Perform advanced searches, including "Starts with," "Ends with," "Contains," and "Wildcard."

* Share your favorite phrases via social networks, email, and text. (With supported devices)

* This is NOT a preview or a trial version, and there is no "locked" content. Open the app and immediately access all content, no subscriptions required!

* User-friendly, comprehensive, and authoritative: the perfect free Idioms and Slang Dictionary for new English speakers or anyone curious about the English language!

Here's a sneak-peak of what you'll find inside:

let the cat out of the bag
Give away a secret, as in "Mom let the cat out of the bag and told us Karen was engaged." This expression alludes to the dishonest practice of a merchant substituting a worthless cat for a valuable pig, which is discovered only when the buyer gets home and opens the bag. [Mid-1700s]

silver lining
An element of hope or a redeeming quality in an otherwise bad situation, as in "The rally had a disappointing turnout, but the silver lining was that those who came pledged a great deal of money." This metaphoric term is a shortening of "Every cloud has a silver lining," in turn derived from John Milton's Comus (1634): "A sable cloud turns forth its silver lining on the night." 

a picture is worth a thousand words
A graphic illustration conveys a stronger message than words, as in "The book jacket is a big selling point—one picture is worth a thousand words." This saying was invented by an advertising executive, Fred R. Barnard. To promote his agency's ads he took out an ad in Printer's Ink in 1921 with the headline "One Look Is Worth a Thousand Words" and attributed it to an ancient Japanese philosopher. Six years later he changed it to "Chinese Proverb: One Picture Is Worth Ten Thousand Words," illustrated with some Chinese characters. The attribution in both was invented; Barnard simply believed an Asian origin would give it more credibility. 

Download now for free and get instant access to content you won't find anywhere else!

How do we do it?

TheFreeDictionary.com - Farlex apps have been downloaded tens of millions times across multiple platforms, with top ratings after hundreds of thousands of reviews. We work with the best publishers to bring together trusted content in the most comprehensive, authoritative dictionary apps on the market. Our flagship app is The Free Dictionary (TFD), powered by TheFreeDictionary.com. Find our other apps by searching "Dictionary by Farlex" in the App Store.

## Key features

- Definitions from top sources
- History and origin of phrases
- Example sentences
- Voice search
- Audio pronunciations
- Bookmark favorite phrases
- Advanced search options

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free upgrade | $4.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Idioms and Slang Dictionary?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Simple design, easy to use
- 🚀 Accurate results
- 👍 Useful for understanding idioms
- 👍 Helpful for non-native English speakers
- 👍 Great resource for teaching and learning English
- 👍 Fantastic for learning origins of phrases and idioms

**Cons**

- 🐛 Impossible to read text due to background issues
- 🐛 Ads still show up despite paid subscription
- 🔧 Needs more advanced features like translations, audio, and contextual information
- 🔧 User experience could be improved, such as better navigation

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Offline mode issues causing the app to go offline frequently
- Bookmarks/favorites not saving properly across device resets

**Most requested features**

- Provide translations of idiom definitions in other languages
- Add audio functionality to help with pronunciation
- Improve navigation and browsing experience
- Sync favorites across devices
- Categorize and list commonly used idioms and slang

## Recent user reviews (10 of 105)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idioms-and-slang-dictionary/id1024598358/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Needs fix

*2026-02-13*

Impossible to read text. No mechanism to correct background which text is written against.

**Developer response:** I'm sorry to hear that. Please send a screenshot to support[at]tfd[dot]com so our development team can take a look.

### 1/5 — Bad

*2026-01-03, version 6.0*

Bad

### 5/5 — Idiom & Slang

*2025-08-19*

It's just fantastic.

### 2/5 — Ads do not seem to go away

*2024-10-29*

To the developer of this application (or to whom it may concern): I paid for a subscription already and yet the ads still show up at the bottom of the screen. Then I made the same subscription purchase ,   and I got the info on screen:  "You already paid for a subscription of thi App. Would you like to have it again for free."
Is there any way to get this fixed.  Thanx !

**Developer response:** Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you just need to restore your ad-free upgrade. If you choose the option to "have it again for free," do the ads go away? If not, please email our Support Team at support[at]tfd[dot]com, so they can investigate further.

### 5/5 — Excelent application for those of us that speak English as a foreign language!

*2024-10-26*

Excelent application for those of us that speak English as a foreign language!

### 5/5 — By far the best idiom dictionary I've used so far

*2023-09-20*

Sometimes it disconnects itself but other than that, this app is truly a remarkable one. Cheers.

### 5/5 — THE PERFECT APP FOR UNDERSTANDING SLANG WORDS AND PHRASES!!!

*2023-08-04*

I’m so glad I ran across this idioms app and I totally love it! Now, I have the complete idioms dictionary right on my phone or tablet at my fingertips. I always refer to the idioms app whenever I need to know the meaning of a slang word or phrase. I love how the definitions are clearly defined and so easy to understand. I plan to use this app for many years to come. Thank you very much for creating this useful idioms app!

### 4/5 — Great app

*2023-06-13*

I volunteer with ELLs as a conversation partner and I think this app is an excellent tool to level up their English. As a friendly suggestion, maybe have translations of the definitions of the idioms in other languages. Other than that great resource for teaching and learning English.

### 5/5 — Simple easy to use.

*2022-09-23*

Simple design, easy to use.  accurate results.

### 5/5 — Southern lingo

*2022-09-11, version 3.2*

One of the best apps for southern lingo and sayings

## Frequently asked questions about Idioms and Slang Dictionary

### What does the Idioms and Slang Dictionary app do?

This app provides definitions and historical context for over 61,000 English idioms, slang terms, proverbs, and expressions. It helps users understand the origins and usage of common phrases, making conversational English easier to master.

### What are the key features of this dictionary app?

Key features include in-depth definitions from authoritative sources, historical origins of phrases, multiple example sentences, voice search, audio pronunciations, bookmarking, and advanced search functionalities like 'Starts with' and 'Wildcard'.

### Is the Idioms and Slang Dictionary app free to use?

Yes, the app is free to download and use, providing immediate access to all content without subscriptions or locked sections. There are in-app purchases available, and the app may display ads.

### Who is the target audience for this app?

The app is ideal for English language learners who want to sound like native speakers, as well as for anyone curious about the history and meaning behind English idioms and slang. It's also useful for native speakers looking to deepen their understanding of language.

### How can I find the meaning of an idiom or slang term?

You can find meanings by searching for a keyword or the full phrase directly within the app. For added convenience, the app also supports native voice search, allowing you to look up terms simply by speaking them.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.0 — 2025-11-20

Improvements and fixes

### 5.0 — 2024-07-12

The brand new version of the app! With faster start and smaller download size.

### 3.5 — 2023-05-31

* Bugfixes

### 3.2 — 2021-01-12

* New Idioms
* Optimization for iOS 14

### 2.0 — 2019-09-01

* Support for iPhone X 
* Bug fixes

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## More apps by Farlex, Inc.

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All apps by Farlex, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/379450386

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*
