A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions (2023)

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What you will learn:
  • Quick intro
  • A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions
  • Practice exercises

Quick intro

An idiom is a phrase or group of words that, when taken together, has a meaning that is different from that of each individual word. To put it another way: idioms cannot be understood literally.

For example, ‘Once in a blue moon’ means ‘when something happens rarely’. So the example sentence: ‘I eat McDonalds once in a blue moon’ doesn’t make any sense when the words are taken literally (you only eat McDonalds when there is a blue moon?!). But when you understand the meaning of the idiom, the sentence makes perfect sense (you don’t often eat McDonalds).

Idioms are very important when learning English because they are used a lot in everyday communication and can help you sound more like a native. To speak and understand conversational English better, learning the correct use of idioms is essential. Idioms also help give character to the language; making it more colourful and interesting.

In this study guide, we’re going to walk you through the most common 150 English idioms used today, with their meanings and example sentences. We will also highlight a few outdated idioms that you should avoid, and give you some exercises to practise your understanding.

A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions

1. A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

Something that appears bad at first but ends up having good results
Missing that plane turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I got to spend more time with my family.

2. A SANDWICH SHORT OF A PICNIC

A humorous way of saying someone is stupid or is a bit mad
He brought only shorts and t-shirts when he went to Sweden in the winter – I think he might be a sandwich short of a picnic!

3. A STONE’S THROW

Something is very close or near
Luckily the wedding is just a stone’s throw from our hotel so we can walk there.

4. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

What you do is more important than what you say; someone’s words may not be trustworthy
Person A: “John keeps saying he wants to take me out for dinner, but then he never does!”
Person B: “Actions speak louder than words.

5. ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE

When someone does something to make a bad situation worse
When Sarah started laughing during the argument, it really added fuel to the fire!

6. ADD INSULT TO INJURY

To make a bad situation worse
As if breaking my arm isn’t bad enough, to add insult to injury I have to pay £1,000 in hospital fees as I didn’t have travel insurance!

7. ALL EARS

To be eagerly waiting to hear about something
Person A: “I have to tell you about what happened on our trip to Spain…”
Person B: “I’m all ears!”

8. AT A CROSSROADS

To be at a point in your life when you need to make an important decision
I was at a crossroads when I was offered a job in the US, but my boyfriend wanted to stay in London.

9. BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE

To be wrong or misguided about the reason for something
He thinks the company’s problems can be solved just by firing the sales team, but he’s barking up the wrong tree.

10. BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH

To talk about unimportant things because you’re avoiding a particular topic
Stop beating about the bush! Are you planning to quit university, or not?

11. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

It’s better to do something late than not at all
Person A: “Sorry I missed your birthday! There’s a card in the post.”
Person B: “Don’t worry. Better late than never!”

12. BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

To be in a difficult situation where both options are bad
Person A: “If I go to the wedding mum will be upset, but if I don’t go then I’ll be letting down the rest of the family!”
Person B: “Sounds like you’re caught between a rock and a hard place.”

13. BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW

To do too much or take something on that is too difficult
Person A: “I’m going to start that weekend job at the museum on top of my full-time job because I really need the money.”
Person B: “Sounds like a lot of work! Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”

14. BITE THE BULLET

To decide to do something that is difficult or unpleasant, but necessary
You’re going to have to bite the bullet and tell your ex-(girlfriend) that you need the apartment back.

15. BLOW OFF STEAM

To do something that helps you get rid of stress, energy or anger
After my meeting with the boss, I went for a run to blow off steam.

16. BOB’S YOUR UNCLE

To say that a set of instructions or task is simple or easy
To make the salad dressing, you just put oil, vinegar, honey and mustard into a bowl, mix them together and bob’s your uncle!

17. BOG-STANDARD

Something that is very ordinary or basic, nothing special
Despite the excellent reviews, we thought the restaurant was just bog-standard.

When learning idioms in English, you need to watch out for old-fashioned expressions. For example, you probably know the idiom ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’. However, most Brits would never use this expression now. It is outdated. Instead we say: ‘It’s bucketing it down!’, ‘It’s chucking it down!’ or ‘It’s pi*sing it down!’.

18. BOTCH/BODGE JOB

Work that has been done badly, in a clumsy, lazy way
The original builders did such a bodge job of our kitchen that we had to get it completely redone.

19. BUDGE UP

An informal way of asking someone to move to make room for you
Could you budge up a bit so I can sit down?

20. BUILDER’S TEA

Strongly-brewed English breakfast tea with milk
I’ll have a builder’s tea, please.

21.BURY ONE’S HEAD IN THE SAND

To refuse to think about or confront serious issues or situations
Martin just buries his head in the sand when it comes to his financial problems.

22. BUST ONE’S CHOPS

To work very hard on something, or to harass someone
I was busting my chops all night to get that report finished!
Stop busting my chops! I’ll mow the lawn later.

Note: In British English slang, the word ‘chops’ is used to mean ‘mouth’. So the idiom above literally means ‘punch in the mouth’.

(Video) A-Z of Advanced British English Slang | 59 Words, Phrases, Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

23. BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH

To narrowly succeed in doing something
The traffic was terrible so we only made the plane by the skin of our teeth!

24. CALL A SPADE A SPADE

To state the truth about something even if it’s unpopular or unpleasant
I know he’s your brother, but let’s call a spade a spade: he’s pretty lazy.

25. CALL IT A DAY

To stop working on something
It’s almost 9pm. I think we should call it a day and finish the report tomorrow.

26. CHEAP AS CHIPS

When something is inexpensive or good value for money
It doesn’t look it, but our new sofa was (as) cheap as chips!

27. CHINESE WHISPERS

Information or rumours that have been passed on by many people and are no longer reliable
John and Maggie from the office haven’t actually announced they’re getting a divorce. It’s probably just Chinese whispers.

28. CHIP ON ONE’S SHOULDER

To hold a grudge/be angry about something that happened in the past, or to be arrogant and think too highly of oneself
Whenever we mention his childhood, he gets really angry. He’s got a chip on his shoulder about it.
The new sales guy at the office has a real chip on his shoulder. He’s not even that good!

29. CLAM UP

To become silent or stop talking
When Bill came into the room, Jenny just seemed to clam up. I think she likes him!

30. COLD FEET

To get nervous or to have second thoughts about doing something
He’s getting cold feet about the wedding, but I told him that was perfectly normal.

31. (THE) COLD SHOULDER

To deliberately ignore someone
I got the cold shoulder from Anna at the party. I guess she’s still annoyed with me.

32. COST A BOMB

When something is very expensive
That Italian meal cost a bomb! We won’t be going back there, unless we win the lottery!

33. COST AN ARM AND A LEG

When something is very expensive
The new bar in town was really fancy, but my drink cost an arm and a leg!

34. COUCH POTATO

A lazy person who doesn’t do much exercise and spends a lot of time on the sofa watching television
My husband has turned into a couch potato since he lost his job.

A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions (3)

35. COULDN’T CARE LESS

To show indifference to something or a total lack of interest
I couldn’t care less if Harry comes out tonight or not! I don’t really like the guy.

36. CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT

A warning that being inquisitive or curious can get you into trouble
Person A: “Where are you going at this time of night?”
Person B: “Curiosity killed the cat!”

37. CUT A LONG STORY SHORT

To get to the point, to not include unnecessary detail
To cut a long story short, she has to move back to the US until her new visa comes through.

38. CUT CORNERS

To do something in the easiest way possible (usually not very well) in order to save time or money
We had to cut corners to get the project done within our budget and by January.

39. CUT SOMEONE SOME SLACK

To avoid being critical or judgmental of someone (even if they deserve it)
Person A: “Hannah’s late for the second time this week!”
Person B: “Cut her some slack! The traffic’s awful this morning.”

40. CUT TO THE CHASE

To get directly to the point when speaking, to not give unnecessary detail
I have to leave in a minute so can you cut to the chase? What exactly do you want me to do?

41. DIG ONE’S HEELS IN

To refuse to do something or change your mind, especially when people are trying to persuade you
I wanted to go on the earlier train, but Mary dug her heels in so we had to get the later one.

42. DOG EAT DOG (ALSO ‘CUT THROAT’)

A situation that is very competitive, where people are willing to harm each other’s interests to get ahead
The music industry is dog eat dog these days.
I’d stay out of the legal sector. It can be a cut throat business.

43. DON’T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB

Used in a humorous way to tell someone they’re not very good at something
Person A: “What do you think of the haircut I gave Hannah?”
Person B: “Don’t give up the day job, mate!”

44. DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

A warning not to put all your resources or efforts into just one thing
Although you’ve made an offer on this house, I would still visit some others. You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket.

45. DON’T RUN BEFORE YOU CAN WALK

A warning not to try something difficult before you understand the basics
If you’re not very good at swimming, I’d stay in the shallow end and keep close to the side. You don’t want to run before you can walk.

46. DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES

In a very challenging situation you need to take extreme actions
She moved to Australia after she found out about her husband’s affair. I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures!

47. EASY DOES IT

To slow down or do something slowly/carefully
Easy does it! Those boxes you’re holding are very fragile.

48.EAT A HORSE

To be extremely hungry
I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions (5)

49. (The) ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

An important and obvious topic that everyone knows needs to be discussed, but that isn’t brought up or mentioned
David leaving the company was the elephant in the room during that meeting – no one wanted to bring it up!

50. EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING (often just: EVERY CLOUD…)

Even a bad situation may have a positive aspect to it
I might have lost my job, but at least I don’t have that awful journey into work every day. Every cloud…!

51. FACE THE MUSIC

To accept responsibility for something bad you have done
I’m meeting Hannah tonight and it’s the first time I’ll have seen her since our argument. I guess I’ll finally have to face the music.

52. FIND ONE’S FEET

To adjust or settle into a new environment or situation
I’ve only been at the new company for a month so I’m still finding my feet.

53. FINGER IN EVERY PIE

To be involved or have influence in many things (often has a negative association)
Person A: “Steve offered to sell me some secondhand TVs and holiday to Spain!”
Person B: “That guy’s got a finger in every pie!”

54. (A) FISH OUT OF WATER

When someone is (or feels) out of place in a situation
Judy was like a fish out of water at the kids’ party. I don’t think she likes children at all!

(Video) 100 Common Idioms Frequently Used in Daily English Conversations

55. FIT AS A FIDDLE

To be in good physical health
He’s in his 90’s, but he’s fit as a fiddle!

56. FOLLOW IN SOMEONE’S FOOTSTEPS

To do the same as someone else did before you (often a family member)
All the men in my family are doctors so I’ll probably follow in their footsteps and go into medicine too.

57. FREAK OUT

To become very angry, scared or excited (can be negative or positive)
I freaked out when I saw The Rolling Stones perform. I’d wanted to see them my whole life!
That Goth at the club freaked me out a bit because he was dressed like a vampire!

58. FULL OF BEANS

Someone who is energetic, lively or enthusiastic
You’re full of beans this evening! You must have had a good day at work.

59. GET OFF ONE’S BACK

When someone won’t stop criticising, bothering or telling you what to do
I wish she would get off my back about the meeting! I know I have to send the agenda out, but I’ll do it in my own time.

60. GET OUT OF HAND

To become difficult to control
The protest got out of hand and the police had to intervene when some demonstrators broke down a fence.

61. GET OVER SOMETHING

To overcome or move on from a difficult situation
Moving out of the city for a while might help you get over Harry. (This could be the breakup of a personal relationship/marriage, or the person’s death)

62. GET SOMETHING OUT OF ONE’S SYSTEM

Do something you have wanted to do so that you can then move on from it
I don’t drink much anymore; I got it out of my system when I was at university!

63. GET UP/OUT ON THE WRONG SIDE OF BED

To wake up in a grumpy or bad mood for no obvious reason
You’re very argumentative today! Did you get up on the wrong side of bed, or something?

64. GET ONE’S ACT/SH*T TOGETHER

To take action in order to be more effective
I haven’t got any work done this morning – I really need to get my act together!

65. GIVE SOMEONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

To believe or trust what someone tells you (even though it might not be true)
Hannah said she missed the exam because her car broke down. I’m not sure that was the case, but let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.

66. GLAD TO SEE THE BACK OF

To be happy that you no longer have to deal with someone
I was very glad to see the back of John because he made the atmosphere in the office so uncomfortable.

67. GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Start planning something again because earlier attempts were unsuccessful
The client didn’t like our original concept so let’s go back to the drawing board!

68. GO COLD TURKEY

To suddenly and completely stop using an addictive substance
I gave up smoking by going cold turkey; it was difficult but it was also the only thing that worked for me.

69. GO DOWN THAT ROAD

To take a particular course of action, both literally and figuratively
Let’s not go down that road again! It always leads to an argument.

70. GO THE EXTRA MILE

To make more effort than is expected or necessary
Frank is a great asset to our team as he always goes the extra mile.

71. (The) GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER (ON THE OTHER SIDE)

To mean a person is never satisfied with their own situation, they always think others have it better
I always think the countryside looks nicer than the city, but I guess the grass is always greener…!

72. GREEN FINGERS

To be good at gardening, able to make plants grow
I’ve heard you have green fingers – we’ll have to get your advice about our garden!

73. HANG IN THERE

To persist with something, to not give up
Hang in there! I know it’s tough but you’re almost halfway through the course.

74. HAVE EYES IN THE BACK OF ONE’S HEAD

To be able to see or sense what’s going on all around you, when you can’t physically see everyhing
You need eyes in the back of your head when you have two small children!

75. HEAD OVER HEELS (IN LOVE)

To be extremely in love with someone
They’re head over heels in love with each other!

76. HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE

To hear news about something from someone else, not directly
I heard (it) on the grapevine that you and Alex are splitting up. Is that true?

77. HIT THE BOOKS

To start studying seriously
After dinner I’m really going to hit the books. Not much time left before my exams!

78.HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

To be completely right or correct about something
I think Lucy hit the nail on the head when she said there’s no such thing as an ideal school. There are pros and cons to all of them.

79. HIT THE ROAD

To leave somewhere or start a journey
It’s getting late so I’m going to hit the road.

80. HIT THE SACK

To go to bed in order to sleep
It’s been a long day so I’m going to hit the sack. Night night!

81. HOLD YOUR HORSES

Another way of saying ‘Wait a moment’ or ‘don’t rush’
Person A: ‘The train’s at 9. Grab the bags, find your shoes and call a taxi!’
Person B: ‘Hold your horses! We’ve got plenty of time.’

In English, there are many ways to say ‘Wait a moment’. Next time you want to express this idea, try one of the following expressions: ‘Wait a sec’ (second), ‘Hang on a tick’ (like of a clock), ‘Give us a mo’ (moment).

82. IGNORANCE IS BLISS

Sometimes it’s better not to know all the facts about something
Person A: “Did you know that cake you just ate was 600 calories?”
Person B: “I didn’t…ignorance is bliss!”

83. IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE

To say something isn’t very complicated
You just need to fill in the form and you’ll get an e-ticket. It’s not rocket science!

84. JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON

To join an activity, trend or opinion that has become popular
Everyone thinks Boris is going to win the election so they’ve jumped on the bandwagon.

85. JUMP SHIP

To leave or abandon a difficult situation
I don’t think the company is going to survive. We should probably jump ship!

86. KEEP ONE’S CHIN UP

To encourage someone to stay positive in a difficult situation
It’s been a difficult month for you but keep your chin up! It will get easier.

87. KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

To achieve two things at once
I could pick up the dry cleaning on my way the doctors. That way we’d be killing two birds with one stone.

88. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED

To do everything you can to achieve something
During firm’s the financial audit they left no stone unturned.

89. LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE (often just: LET IT LIE)

To leave a situation as it is, in order to not make it worse
Don’t bring up what happened at Alison’s party again. You should just let it lie.

(Video) Frequently used idioms in British English | EXPRESSIONS

90. LET SOMEONE OFF THE HOOK

To avoid being punished for something or to avoid doing something
It was my turn to do the washing-up, but mum let me off the hook because I wasn’t feeling well.

91. LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

To reveal a secret by accident
Their engagement was meant to be a secret, but Adam let the cat out of the bag!

92. LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS

To look very good, often due to what you’re wearing
You look like a million dollars in that black dress!

93. LOSE ONE’S TOUCH

No longer able to do something as well as you could before
I tried to chat a girl up at the bar the other night, but she just ignored me. I must be losing my touch!

94. MISS THE BOAT

To be slow and not take an opportunity when it’s offered to you
I would call the company back now about the job and not wait until the morning. You don’t want to miss the boat!

A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions (6)

95. NIP (SOMETHING) IN THE BUD

To stop something at an early stage, before it has a chance to develop
I’ve noticed that people are starting to arrive late for work. I think we need to have a meeting about it and nip this in the bud before it becomes a real problem.

96. NO PAIN, NO GAIN

You need to suffer or work hard to get what you want or deserve
Person A: “That gym class was so hard I thought I was going to pass out!”
Person B: “No pain, no gain!”

97. NO-BRAINER

An easy decision, something you don’t need to think too hard about
Person A: “Do you think I should get travel insurance before I go to Nigeria?” Person B: “That’s a no-brainer. Of course you should!”

98. NOT ONE’S CUP OF TEA

Something you don’t like or are not interested in
She’s a great cook, but the meal she made really wasn’t my cup of tea. It was far too spicy.

99. OFF ONE’S TROLLEY/ROCKER/NUT/HEAD

Someone who acts very strangely, seems crazy or insane
You must be off your trolley if you think I’m going to climb up there! It’s way too high!

100. OFF THE TOP OF ONE’S HEAD

From memory, without a lot of thought or consideration
Off the top of my head I think we’re expecting about 18 guests for the party, but I’ll check to make sure.

101. ON THE BALL

To be alert, quick to understand and react to things
You really need to be on the ball in this job because it’s fast-paced with lots happening all the time.

102. ON THE PULL

To go out with the intention of finding someone to have sex with
Those lads on the dance floor look like they’re on the pull tonight!

103. ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW

To live in a way that is honest and moral, to stay out of trouble
He was very wild for many years, but he seems to have grown up and he’s on the straight and narrow now.

104.ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Something that happens rarely
I eat McDonalds once in a blue moon, when I feel like a treat!

105. PIECE OF CAKE

Something that is very easy
My English exam was a piece of cake.

106. (AND) PIGS MIGHT FLY

Something that will never happen or is very unlikely
Person A: “I’m going to play tennis at Wimbledon one day!”
Person B: “And pigs might fly!”

107. PITCH IN

To join in, contribute or help with something
If we all pitch in we can get Charlie a really nice birthday present.

108. PLAY IT BY EAR

To plan something in an improvised way (instead of planning ahead), deciding what to do as the plan develops
Person A: “Shall we have dinner before or after the cinema on Friday?”
Person B: “Perhaps we should just play it by ear – we don’t know how hungry we’ll be.”

109. PULL SOMEONE’S LEG

Tease or joke with someone by saying something that’s not true
You’re pulling my leg! I don’t believe you met Elton John at the pub!

110. PULL ONESELF TOGETHER

To regain control of your emotions after you’ve been upset, to calm down
You need to pull yourself together! Stop worrying about work so much.

111. RAISE ONE’S GAME

To make an effort to improve at something or perform better
You’ll need to raise your game if you’re planning on beating Anna’s time in the half marathon.

112. RING A BELL

When something seems familiar or you’ve heard it before
Person A: “Do you know Hannah Stewart?”
Person B: “That name does ring a bell, but I can’t think why.”

113. ROCK THE BOAT

To do or say something that could cause a problem or disturbance
The kids are all getting along fine at the moment so let’s not rock the boat.

114. RULE OF THUMB

Judging a situation by experience rather than an exact assessment
As a rule of thumb, you should use two cups of water for one cup of rice.

115.SCRATCH SOMEONE’S BACK

To do someone a favour in the hope that it will be returned, can relate to corruption (commonly used as: You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours)
My boss got caught taking free holidays from a company client! I think it was a case of “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”.

116. SEE EYE TO EYE

To agree with someone
We don’t see eye to eye when it comes to politics, but I do like her as a person.

117. SHED LIGHT ON (SOMETHING)

To reveal information about something or to clarify something
You were in the office on Tuesday when the incident took place so perhaps you could shed some light on it for us?

118. SHOOT FROM THE HIP

To speak honestly and directly or to react to a situation very quickly without thinking it through
Person A: “What do you think we should do about Harry’s poor sales this quarter?”
Person B: “If I can shoot from the hip, I’d say he probably needs to leave.”

119. SIT ON THE FENCE

To adopt a position of compromise, take neither stance on an issue, not yes or no
There are a lot of people still sitting on the fence over Brexit.

120. SIT TIGHT

To wait patiently
Sit tight! The nurse will be with you in just a moment.

121. SLEEP ON IT

To delay making a decision for a short period of time
You don’t have to decide straight away. Why don’t you sleep on it and let us know in the morning?

122. SMELL A RAT

To suspect someone is a traitor, behaving illegally or is up to no good
I thought I could smell a rat when john refused to give me a straight answer about his sales figures! Now we know he’s been stealing from the company.

123. SO FAR, SO GOOD

To express satisfaction with how a situation is progressing
Person A: “How is the building work going?”
Person B: “So far, so good…the house is still standing!”

(Video) 25 Phrases Every English Intermediate Learner Must-Know

124. (A) SPANNER IN THE WORKS

Something that prevents or disrupts an event from happening
We had invited everyone round for a BBQ today, but the rain has really thrown a spanner in the works!

125.SPEAK OF THE DEVIL

Said when the person you are talking about appears unexpectedly
Did you hear about what happened to Michael? …Oh speak of the devil, here he is!

126.SPILL THE BEANS

To reveal information that was secret
We are throwing David a surprise birthday party, but please don’t spill the beans!

127.SPLASH OUT

To spend a lot of money on something
We splashed out on new phones for the whole family.

128.STAB SOMEONE IN THE BACK

To betray or hurt someone who trusts you
This industry is so competitive; it’s easy to get stabbed in the back by your closest colleagues.

129.STEAL SOMEONE’S THUNDER

To take attention or praise away from someone else’s accomplishments by outdoing them with your own
My sister is always stealing my thunder – I announce I’m getting married and she tells everyone she’s pregnant!

130.STICK TO ONE’S GUNS

To refuse to change your mind or beliefs about something
I really respect Sarah. She always sticks to her guns, even if others disagree.

A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions (7)

131.STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

Information straight from the person who saw, heard or experienced the event
Person A: “Are you sure Andy is quitting his job?”
Person B: “Positive. I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth!”

132.TAKE THE MICKEY (or TAKE THE PI*S)

To make fun of someone, or to take liberties
Dave’s a laugh, but he always taking the mickey out of you down the pub.
£4 for a cup of coffee? They must be taking the pi*s!

133.TAKE (SOMETHING) WITH A PINCH OF SALT

To doubt the accuracy of what someone is telling you
I would take Sam’s motoring advice with a pinch of salt. He doesn’t actually know much about cars.

134. (A) TASTE OF ONE’S OWN MEDICINE

When someone does something unpleasant and the same is wished on him/her
My boss is a real bully. Someone should give her a taste of her own medicine!

135.THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT

It is up to you to take the initiative or make the next move
I’ve told you how I feel about the wedding so the ball’s in your court now.

136.THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Where you can enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time – an ideal situation
He lives in England during the summer and lives in Australia during the winter months so he gets the best of both worlds.

137.THE LAST/FINAL STRAW

The last in a series of bad things to happen, when your patience has run out
When the dog destroyed their antique furniture it really was the final straw. After that, they decided to give poor Rex away.

138.THROUGH THICK AND THIN

To continue to support someone even during difficult times
John and Chloe have stayed together through thick and thin.

139.TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN

When you’re enjoying something time seems to move faster and you don’t notice the passing of time
I can’t believe it’s 10pm already! Time flies when you’re having fun!

140.TWIST SOMEONE’S ARM

To convince someone to do what you want them to
I didn’t want to go out tonight, but Ruth twisted my arm!

141.UNDER THE WEATHER

Not feeling very well, a little sick
Sarah’s not going to come out tonight. She’s had a busy week and is feeling under the weather.

142.UP IN THE AIR

A decision or plan is uncertain or unsure
Person A: “Are they still getting married?”
Person B: “We don’t know as it’s all up in the air at the moment.”

143. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

If you use what you have to the full, then you won’t desire or need more
Person A: “Are you going to finish those carrots on your plate?”
Person B: “If not, I’ll have them. Waste not, want not!”

144.WE’LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE COME TO IT

To deal with something when it happens rather than worrying about it before
Person A: “What if there’s bad traffic on the motorway?”
Person B: “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it“.

145.WILD GOOSE CHASE

A hopeless pursuit, something that is unattainable
We were told that if we searched the library archives we might get some answers, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase.

146.WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD

Dislike or would never do something
I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing those shoes – they’re so ugly!

147.WRAP ONE’S HEAD AROUND SOMETHING

To understand something that is complicated or shocking
I can’t wrap my head around why Megan would leave London for Rotherham!

148.YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN

To agree with someone
Person A: “It’s absolutely boiling in here!”
Person B: “You can say that again!”

149.YOU CAN’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Warning not to judge someone or something just based on appearance
Person A: “I’ve only met Richard a couple of times, but he seems a bit shy.”
Person B: “You can’t always judge a book by its cover. He’s actually a really outgoing guy once you get to know him!”

150.YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE

To have no idea about something
Person A: “Do you think Ivan is going to remember all 150 idioms in this guide?!”
Person B: “Your guess is as good as mine!”

Practice exercises: A-Z of English Idioms

Task A

Choose the correct option that best expresses the meaning of the idioms below.
Watch out because in one of the exercises two answers are possible!

  1. Actions speak louder than words means that what someone does is more important than what they…
    1. Think
    2. Say
    3. Believe
  1. If you’re beating about the bush you’re…
    1. talking about unimportant things because you want to avoid talking about something important
    2. being aggressive when you’re speaking and not listening to the other person
    3. lying to someone or being dishonest
  1. If someone is let off the hook he/she
    1. gets into trouble for something
    2. is not punished for something
    3. avoids doing something
  1. If you sleep on it you…
    1. delay making a decision in order to think about it
    2. protect something important
    3. keep a secret
  1. If you cut corners you…
    1. remove unnecessary details from something
    2. are very fit and healthy
    3. take the easiest, quickest or cheapest route to something

Task B

  1. Fill in the blanks for these animal idioms from the options a-e below:
    1. Straight from the _______’s mouth
    2. Dog eat ______
    3. Curiosity killed the _______
    4. And _______s might fly
    5. The _______ in the room
    1. Dog
    2. Horse
    3. Elephant
    4. Cat
    5. Pig
  1. Match the animal idioms in (1) to their definitions:
    1. Something that will never happen or is very unlikely
    2. You hear information about something from the person who has direct knowledge of it
    3. A situation that is very competitive, where people are willing to harm each other’s interests
    4. An important and obvious topic that everyone knows needs to be discussed but which isn’t brought up or mentioned
    5. Being inquisitive can get you into trouble
Task C

Choose the appropriate idiomatic expression for the sentences below:

  1. She is very good friends with Martin so perhaps she can ____________ his behavior.
    1. Let the cat out of the bag
    2. Throw some light on
    3. Leave no stone unturned
    4. Heard it on the grapevine
    5. Hit the nail on the head
  1. I have a big exam next week so I’m going to ____________
    1. Eating a horse
    2. On the ball
    3. No-brainer
    4. Hitting the books
    5. Finding my feet
  1. I ________________ going to that club – It’s awful!
    1. Wouldn’t be caught dead
    2. Stab someone in the back
    3. Sit tight
    4. Pitch in
    5. Miss the boat
  1. I’m sure I’ve met you somewhere before, your face really _________
    1. See eye to eye
    2. Clam up
    3. Rings a bell
    4. Bob’s your uncle
    5. Barking up the wrong tree
  1. I’d love to __________ and buy the whole family a really nice holiday somewhere!
    1. Cost a bomb
    2. Piece of cake
    3. Cheap as chips
    4. Splash out
    5. Cut to the chase

Answers

Task A
  1. b
  2. a
  3. b and c
  4. a
  5. c
Task B. I
  1. b
  2. a
  3. d
  4. e
  5. c
Task B. II
  1. b
  2. c
  3. e
  4. a
  5. d
Task C
  1. b
  2. d
  3. a
  4. c
  5. d

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(Video) Daily Use English Sentences, Phrases & Words | English Speaking Practice For Conversation #150

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FAQs

What is the idiom of A to Z? ›

Idiom: From A to Z

completely, to include everything and every detail. all the facts or information about something.

Can you give me a list of idioms? ›

Here are 20 English idioms that everyone should know:
  • Under the weather. What does it mean? ...
  • The ball is in your court. What does it mean? ...
  • Spill the beans. What does it mean? ...
  • Break a leg. What does it mean? ...
  • Pull someone's leg. What does it mean? ...
  • Sat on the fence. What does it mean? ...
  • Through thick and thin. ...
  • Once in a blue moon.
Feb 23, 2022

What are the 100 idioms? ›

100 Common English Idioms
  • Break the ice. Meaning: To get the conversation going. ...
  • A dime a dozen. Meaning: Very common: quite ordinary. ...
  • Beat around the bush. Meaning: To avoid saying something. ...
  • Back against the wall. ...
  • Bite the bullet. ...
  • Wrap one's head around something. ...
  • Under the weather. ...
  • Better late than never.
Jul 15, 2022

What are the 50 idiomatic expressions? ›

50 popular idioms to sound like a native speaker
IDIOMMEANING
Be a good catchBe someone worth marrying/having
Beat around the bushAvoid the main topic or not speak directly about the issue
Bend over backwardsDo whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything
Bite off more than you can chewTake on a task that is too big
46 more rows
Mar 20, 2017

What are the 25 idiomatic expressions? ›

Let us now learn about the 25 most common and useful Idioms in the English language:
  • Under the weather. Meaning - To feel sick. ...
  • The ball is in your court. ...
  • Spill the beans. ...
  • Pull someone's leg. ...
  • Sit on the fence. ...
  • Through thick and thin. ...
  • Once in a blue moon. ...
  • The best of both worlds.
Jun 26, 2021

How many English idioms are there? ›

There are estimated to be over 25,000 idioms in the English language.

What are 20 examples of idioms and their meanings? ›

20 Idioms With Their Meanings and Sentences
  • Adding insult to injury – Make things worse. ...
  • Beat around the bush – Avoid saying something. ...
  • Blessing in disguise – An unexpectedly good thing. ...
  • Birds of a feather flock together – People with a lot in common become good friends. ...
  • Biting off more than you can chew - Be overwhelmed.
Oct 15, 2020

What is an idiom 7th grade? ›

Idioms are expressions that have a meaning that isn't immediately obvious from the words themselves. Every language has them, and fluent speakers use them casually without even thinking about them.

How do I find English idioms? ›

6 Websites for Learning English Idioms
  1. The Phrase Finder. This website has a large number of American idiomatic expressions not only with their meanings but also with their origins. ...
  2. Vocabulary.co.il: Idioms and Slang. ...
  3. The Free Dictionary: Idioms and Phrases. ...
  4. Open English World. ...
  5. The Idiom Connection. ...
  6. Learn English Today.
Mar 20, 2015

How can I learn all idioms? ›

Hear it - First, you need to hear or read a new expression or come into contact with it in any other way. In order to spice your vocabulary up with idioms and phrases, you first have to constantly be on the prowl for them. Write it - Next up is writing the new phrases or idioms down, lest you forget them.

What is an idiom Grade 6? ›

An idiom is a group of words with a figurative, non-literal meaning which can't be deciphered by looking at its individual words.

How many idioms are there in English PDF? ›

Here you can download our free PDF document that includes hundreds of popular expressions to take your English to the next level. There are an estimated 25,000 idiomatic expressions in English so it's vital to learn idioms if you want to understand native English speakers and reach a high level of English.

What are some common English idioms? ›

Common English idioms & expressions
IdiomMeaning
Get a taste of your own medicineGet treated the way you've been treating others (negative)
Give someone the cold shoulderIgnore someone
Go on a wild goose chaseTo do something pointless
Good things come to those who waitBe patient
55 more rows

What is an idiom 5th grade? ›

An idiom is a group of words with a figurative, non-literal meaning which can't be deciphered by looking at its individual words. In many cases, idioms started off with literal meanings, but lost them as they moved away from their origins. A common example of an idiom is 'give up'.

What are 10 examples of idioms and their meanings? ›

Common English idioms & expressions
IdiomMeaningUsage
It's a piece of cakeIt's easyby itself
It's raining cats and dogsIt's raining hardby itself
Kill two birds with one stoneGet two things done with a single actionby itself
Let the cat out of the bagGive away a secretas part of a sentence
55 more rows

What are some old idioms? ›

Here are the origins of some of the most interesting idioms!
  • Bite the bullet. Meaning: To accept something difficult or unpleasant. ...
  • Break the ice. Meaning: To break off a conflict or commence a friendship. ...
  • Butter someone up. ...
  • Mad as a hatter. ...
  • Cat got your tongue? ...
  • Barking up the wrong tree. ...
  • Turn a blind eye. ...
  • Bury the hatchet.
Sep 16, 2022

Are English idioms hard? ›

Idioms are not easy to understand - especially for non-native speakers, because their meanings are usually metaphorical.

Are there one word idioms? ›

An idiom cannot be one word. A word with many meanings means a word with many meanings. The word "hot" for example has many meanings.

Is English full of idioms? ›

In English, idioms are used frequently. This can make learning English much more difficult because you can't always rely on a word's definition to tell you what a phrase means. To understand idioms, you have to hear them used in context.

What are idioms Grade 8? ›

Idioms: An idiom (also known as an idiomatic expression) is an expression, word, or phrase with a figurative meaning that native speakers understand. This meaning differs from the literal meaning of the idiom's individual elements. In other words, idioms do not always mean what they say.

What are the 3 types of idioms? ›

In general, idioms can be classified into phrasal verb, prepositional phrase and partial idiom.

What is an idiom Class 10? ›

An idiom is a group of words, or in other words, a phrase that has a meaning different from the literal meaning of the words in it.

What is the idiom of fun? ›

from: 'more fun than a barrel of monkeys' to: 'the world is your oyster' If something is very amusing or enjoyable, you can say that it is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. "The TV quiz was more fun than a barrel of monkeys!"

Is when pigs fly an idiom? ›

Definition: It's impossible for pigs to fly, so when someone says this, they are saying that something will (most likely) never happen. Examples: “I might wake up early to clean my room…” “Yeah right, you'll do that when pigs fly.”

What are the top idioms? ›

Top 20 English Idioms That Will Make You Sound Like a Native
  1. Actions speak louder than words. ...
  2. To go the extra mile. ...
  3. To see eye to eye. ...
  4. To blow smoke. ...
  5. Once in a blue moon. ...
  6. It takes two to tango. ...
  7. To pull a rabbit out of the hat. ...
  8. To blow someone away.
Oct 26, 2017

What are pure idioms? ›

A pure idiom a type of conventionalized, non-literal multiword expression whose meaning cannot be understood by adding up the meanings of the words that make up the phrase. For example the expression spill the beans is a pure idiom, because its real meaning has nothing to do with beans.

Is break a leg an idiomatic expression? ›

"Break a leg" is a typical English idiom used in the context of theatre or other performing arts to wish a performer "good luck".

How do you use idioms correctly? ›

4 Tips for Incorporating Idioms into Your Writing
  1. Avoid clichés: The overuse of idioms can lead to them becoming a cliché, like the phrase “there are other fish in the sea.” Overreliance on common idioms can cause the reader to become bored with your writing.
  2. Create idiolects for characters.
Sep 27, 2022

What is a good idiom example? ›

For example, if you say someone has “cold feet,” it doesn't mean their toes are actually cold. Rather, it means they're nervous about something. Idioms can't be deduced merely by studying the words in the phrase. If taken literally, you would think that someone with cold feet has feet that feel chilly.

What break a leg means? ›

If you were to tell the actor to “break a leg,” you were wishing them the opportunity to perform and get paid. The sentiment remains the same today; the term means “good luck, give a good performance.”

How can I be better at idioms? ›

Tips And Tricks And Shortcuts For Idioms and Phrases
  1. Tip 1: – Understand the Idioms and Phrase and don't limit yourself to meaning alone.
  2. Tip 2: – Try to Relate the Idiom and Phrase with visual and real image.
  3. Tip 3: – Don't try to merge it at once or learn many idioms and phrases.
Dec 1, 2022

Is one day at a time an idiom? ›

idiom. Take one day at a time and don't expect things to change overnight.

What is a good idiom for kids? ›

Idiom Examples for Kids
  • Piece of Cake: Something is very easy.
  • When Pigs Fly: Something is impossible.
  • Cost an Arm and a Leg: Something is very expensive.
  • Cool as a Cucumber: Someone is calm under stress.
  • Icing on the Cake: Something good turns great.
  • Hold your Horses: Someone needs to slow down or wait a minute.
Jun 16, 2021

What is the idiom of happy? ›

Over the moon

This is another great idiom that means the same thing as the expression “on cloud nine.” In other words, you are ecstatically happy about something. You simply feel wonderful.

What are the 10 phrases? ›

10 Phrases You Should Start Saying More Often at Work
  • "That was my fault." ...
  • "I can't tell you how much [something performance-related] meant to all of us." ...
  • "I loved the way you handled that." ...
  • "Can I get your advice on this?" ...
  • "I'm happy to see you!" ...
  • "I trust your judgment." ...
  • "What was the highlight of your day (or week)?"
Nov 29, 2017

How many total idioms are there? ›

How many idioms are there? Wikipedia suggests that there are over 25,000 idiomatic expressions in the English language.

What is the best idiom in the world? ›

The best idioms from around the world, ranked
  • To fart higher than your bottom. ...
  • To vomit the sound of weakness. ...
  • “Stop climbing on my head.” ...
  • To look like the Mona Lisa after a spanking. ...
  • To make the kittens. ...
  • “May a pine tree grow out of your bottom.” ...
  • To bang your butt on the ground. ...
  • “I'm not hanging noodles on your ears.”
May 15, 2015

What is the most used idiom? ›

The most common English idioms
IdiomMeaning
Beat around the bushAvoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable
Better late than neverBetter to arrive late than not to come at all
Bite the bulletTo get something over with because it is inevitable
Break a legGood luck
33 more rows

What is idiom of all in all? ›

all in all

phrase. considering all the different parts of the situation together: All in all, I think you've done very well. The cruise wasn't perfect, but all in all it was pretty good.

How do I find an idiom? ›

6 Websites for Learning English Idioms
  1. The Phrase Finder. This website has a large number of American idiomatic expressions not only with their meanings but also with their origins. ...
  2. Vocabulary.co.il: Idioms and Slang. ...
  3. The Free Dictionary: Idioms and Phrases. ...
  4. Open English World. ...
  5. The Idiom Connection. ...
  6. Learn English Today.
Mar 20, 2015

What is the rarest idiom? ›

1. Once in a blue moon: This poetic phrase refers to something extremely rare in occurrence.

What is the idiom for very difficult? ›

It's quite tough at times.. It's (quite / a bit) hard going.. It's nigh on impossible.. The course is quite demanding.

Videos

1. 60 Incredibly Useful Phrases for Fluent English Conversation (Binomials)
(LetThemTalkTV)
2. PRONOUNCING 150+ WORDS with SILENT LETTERS (A-Z) | In English, please!
(IN ENGLISH PLEASE)
3. A - 1000 MOST COMMON ENGLISH PHRASES - Common Expressions
(ENGLISH MOST COMMON)
4. Most Common Idioms in English | Learn English through Hindi, Urdu
(fizz pibk)
5. Daily Use Idioms: How To Express DANGER and SAFETY using English Idioms and Expressions!
(Club James Studios - English Speaking Videos)
6. || ENGLISH || IDIOMS and PHRASES CLASS 24
(ENGLISH with AK MALIK)

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