WORDROW Korean Idioms Discover Korean idioms through pictures and meanings
Explore 3,886 idioms from the Standard Korean Language Dictionary. Start with an illustration, then read the definitions and examples to learn how an idiom is used.
For a bribe to cease being effective
Lose a bribe’s effect
Linked dictionary word: “약효”
View meanings and examples-
Suffer heartache -
Find not a soul -
Kill someone -
Begin understanding spoken language -
Become established -
Stay up all night for no purpose -
Roll one’s eyes upward -
have lucky timing for a meal -
Lose the thread -
have a very hard time -
Seem mentally off -
Work as a hired laborer -
Come and go constantly -
stop visiting
-
Be driven to the brink -
lavishly flatter or inflict suspension torture -
Buy shares at the peak -
Feel nauseated or disgusted -
trim one’s nails -
At an unexpected time or place -
Be forced into something -
Lose heart and vigor -
Say aloud -
The phone rings off the hook -
Be utterly insignificant or tiny -
Be struck by a blade -
Show off -
Be overwhelmed or doubled over
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Eye (눈): related idioms
137 idioms · Hangul order
Shared · 2 Turn one's attention elsewhere Show interest elsewhere instead of attending to what requires attention. 
2 meanings give a sidelong signal To convey something to someone with a sidelong glance without others noticing. 
Shared · 2 Let one’s attention wander Show interest elsewhere instead of attending to what requires attention 
Discover infidelity Become aware of and interested in extramarital affairs 
In the blink of an eye An extremely brief moment 
Not know where to look Be bewildered or awkward and not know where to direct one’s gaze 
2 meanings Take the plunge; turn a blind eye Stop thinking about anything else. 
Shared · 2 Be unbearable to watch Be unable to bear looking because the scene is horrific or offensively embarrassing 
Shared · 2 be unbearable to watch To be unable to bear a scene because it is horrific or embarrassingly offensive. 
Shared · 2 fall out of favor To lose trust and become disliked. 
An intolerable person Figuratively, someone so hated that their sight is offensive 
Not bat an eye Act casually, showing no disturbance in manner or expression Hand (손): related idioms
126 idioms · Hangul order
Interlace one's fingers Firmly fit all ten fingers between one another. 
Shared · 2 Release the bowstring Release a taut bowstring with the thumb wearing a bow ring. 
be resourceful and commanding To have the means to command others and accomplish difficult tasks. 
give up or give wholehearted approval A coarse expression for giving up because something exceeds one’s ability, or for wholeheartedly welcoming or agreeing with something. 
Stand idly by Merely watch an affair as though one has nothing to do with it 
Bind someone's hands behind their back Pull both hands behind the back and tie them. 
2 meanings end up empty-handed or spend everything To have one’s invested money or effort come to nothing and gain nothing at all. 
Withdraw empty-handed Withdraw from what one was doing without gaining anything, one's efforts having come to nothing. 
start with nothing To have nothing when beginning something. 
Shared · 2 Be helplessly captivated Be unable to act freely because one is taken with or captivated by something 
Shared · 2 Be utterly captivated Be immobilized by being charmed or captivated by something. 
Shared · 3 relax without worries To feel at ease without anxiety or worry. Head (머리): related idioms
109 idioms · Hangul order
remain utterly unmoved To remain motionless without showing the slightest emotional wavering. 
Shared · 2 Feel moved to reverence Feel respect arise 
Shake one's head in refusal Move one's head left and right to express denial or refusal. 
2 meanings Shared · 2 tilt one’s head in hesitation or doubt To turn one’s head this way and that while hesitating and considering various possibilities. 
Nod in agreement Move one's head up and down to indicate correctness or approval. 
emerge For a force, emotion, or the like to appear or arise. 
Turn away from someone Ignore a person, affair, situation, or the like 
2 meanings Shared · 3 Hold one’s head up or revive Face others with dignity 
Lower one's head into the draw When drawing a bow, lower one's head slightly forward so the arrow's feathers brush the face. 
2 meanings bow one’s head or subside To lower one’s head in submission, flattery, or humility toward another. 
Gain strength or momentum Of strength or circumstances, become vigorous or active. 
Nod off Unconsciously nod one’s head while dozing from sleepiness, standing or sitting Mouth (입): related idioms
71 idioms · Hangul order
Suppress one's hunger Force oneself to endure hunger or the desire to eat. 
2 meanings snack or smack one’s lips To eat snacks outside regular meals. 
itch to speak To feel impatient because one wants to say something. 
Have a swollen uvula Have one’s uvula swell from a cold, overwork, or the like 
Shared · 2 Crave food intensely Want to eat something excessively. 
Shared · 2 Crave food intensely Want to eat something excessively. 
be tense with anxiety To be tense and anxious. 
Talk without doing; talk back Slang: be good only at chattering or answering back. 
Shared · 2 begin a story or task To begin or set one’s hand to a story or undertaking. 
Shared · 2 Start something Begin or undertake a conversation or task 
Waste one’s breath Speak unnecessarily at length without any benefit 
express dissatisfaction To regard something with dissatisfaction. Foot (발): related idioms
62 idioms · Hangul order
Shared · 2 Step forward eagerly Step forward actively. 
Shared · 2 Step forward eagerly Step forward actively. 
pitch in wholeheartedly To step forward and engage actively. 
Shared · 2 Sever all contact Stop visiting or sever a relationship. 
not show up at all To make no appearance whatsoever. 
2 meanings Be trampled on; be everywhere Be despised and trampled. 
Shared · 3 be reluctant to go To be unable to act readily because one feels reluctant or awkward. 
Shared · 3 Be unable to bring oneself to leave Be unable to leave readily because attachment, regret, concern, or worry keeps one uneasy 
Visit less often Visit each other less frequently. 
Shared · 3 be reluctant to visit To be unable to act readily because one feels reluctant or awkward. 
Shared · 2 Harm one's benefactor Harm someone who has shown one kindness. 
Shared · 2 be hurt by someone one helped To suffer unexpected harm from someone to whom one has shown kindness. Neck (목): related idioms
54 idioms · Hangul order
have one’s crime exposed For one’s wrongdoing to be revealed. 
Probe someone’s intentions Sound out another’s inner thoughts 
Pressure relentlessly Urge or corner someone severely. 
keep someone pinned down To seize another person’s weakness and prevent them from moving. 
Hold someone fast Make someone unable to move or escape 
be caught red-handed To be discovered while plotting or carrying out wrongdoing. 
2 meanings Grab by the scruff or press hard Seize someone by the nape and lead them away 
Strike a vulnerable point Attack or hit a weak point or the most important place. 
Be caught helplessly Be caught unable to move. 
Grab by the collar Seize and lift someone's collar. 
2 meanings Shared · 4 Be killed or fired A vulgar expression for being killed 
2 meanings Shared · 4 Be killed; lose one's position A vulgar expression for being killed. Ear (귀): related idioms
51 idioms · Hangul order
2 meanings Listen inattentively or pretend not to hear Listen halfheartedly rather than sincerely 
Deduct this and that Figuratively, subtract various things. 
Feel someone is talking about oneself Feel that someone else is talking about oneself 
2 meanings Be painfully loud or repetitive For a sound to be so sharp and loud that listening is painful Begin understanding spoken language Become able to understand speech. 
have one’s ears perk up To have one’s interest readily attracted by something heard. 
Be tired of hearing something Dislike hearing something because one has heard it too many times. 
Shared · 3 Be easily swayed Accept other people’s words easily 
be gullible To readily believe what others say without realizing one is being deceived. 
Become worldly-wise Come to understand how the world works. 
2 meanings Be slow to understand or stubborn Be dull and fail to understand others’ words well 
An insolent youngster A disparaging expression for a young person Breath (숨): related idioms
51 idioms · Hangul order
Bear down with all one's strength Push one's straining strength down into the lower abdomen. 
Have no room to breathe Be in circumstances that leave one unable to move or act freely 
2 meanings Keep oneself alive Sustain one’s life 
Barely stay alive Barely maintain life by relying on something. 
Depend on something for survival Rely on or cling to something to live or sustain one’s life 
Hold someone's life in one's hands Have the power to decide the fate of someone's life as one pleases. 
pass away To stop breathing and die. 
Shared · 2 Take a life Kill oneself or another person 
Seek a way to survive Try to find a way to live when close to death 
Dedicate one's life Work for something with one's life at stake. 
2 meanings Take one's own life; work regardless of death Take one's own life. 
lose one’s life A euphemistic expression for to die. 
Explore idioms through 8 illustrated maps
Explore a body map and seven themed scene maps. Select a marker to find idioms linked to a body part or an object in the scene.
Body map 1,250 related idioms
Kitchen and dining 173 related idioms
Home and courtyard 131 related idioms
Market and alleyways 391 related idioms
Traditional school and games 263 related idioms
Sky and fields 343 related idioms
Animals 152 related idioms
Thoughts and feelings 327 related idioms
Position and direction 26 position and direction words · 88 idioms