Free English phrase library

Find the right words — and learn how to use them.

Grammar Wisdom explains English idioms, similes, metaphors and everyday phrases in plain language, with real example sentences and practice exercises in every guide.

Idiom break the ice to ease the first awkward moment with someone new Simile as busy as a bee very busy — the comparison is spelled out with as Another way to say “thank you” much appreciated short, warm, and fine in a work email

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Heard “once in a blue moon” and not sure what it means? Each idiom guide gives the meaning and shows it in real sentences.

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Turn plain statements into pictures a reader remembers, with similes and metaphors for hundreds of subjects.

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Five libraries, each organised by subject.

Idioms

193 guides

Phrases whose meaning isn’t in the words — break the ice

All idioms

Similes

147 guides

Comparisons made with like or as — as busy as a bee

All similes

Metaphors

213 guides

Saying one thing is another — time is a thief

All metaphors

Other Ways to Say

295 guides

Fresh alternatives to overused phrases — much appreciated

All other ways to say

Words & Writing

31 guides

Synonyms, antonyms and precise wording — meticulous

All words & writing

Idiom, simile or metaphor?

All three mean more than their words say. Here is how to tell them apart.

Idiom

A fixed phrase whose meaning you can’t work out from the words.

“It’s raining cats and dogs.”

It’s raining very heavily. No animals involved.

Learn idioms

Simile

Compares two different things using like or as.

“She was as busy as a bee.”

She was very busy. The comparison is spelled out.

Learn similes

Metaphor

Says one thing is another, with no like or as.

“The classroom was a zoo.”

It was loud and chaotic. The comparison is implied.

Learn metaphors

Quick test: see like or as doing the comparing? It’s a simile. A fixed phrase that makes no sense word by word? An idiom. Anything else that calls one thing another is a metaphor.