Let’s learn idioms + examples of how they are used!
Here are 100 common English idioms with meanings and example sentences:
1. A blessing in disguise
- Meaning: Something that seems bad or unlucky at first but turns out to be good.
- Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to start my own business.
2. A dime a dozen
- Meaning: Very common and easy to find.
- Example: Those souvenir keychains are a dime a dozen at the tourist shops.
3. All ears
- Meaning: Fully listening and paying attention.
- Example: Go ahead, I’m all ears. Tell me what’s been on your mind.
4. All in the same boat
- Meaning: In the same situation or predicament.
- Example: Everybody on staff got a pay cut – we’re all in the same boat.
5. Barking up the wrong tree
- Meaning: Accusing or blaming the wrong person.
- Example: If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I haven’t seen it.
6. Beat around the bush
- Meaning: Avoiding the main topic or being indirect.
- Example: Stop beating around the bush and tell me why you didn’t show up to my birthday party.
7. Bite the bullet
- Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely.
- Example: I have to bite the bullet and tell him the truth, even though it might hurt him.
8.Bury the hatchet
- Meaning: To reconcile or make peace after a conflict.
- Example: After years of not speaking to each other, they finally decided to bury the hatchet and become friends again.
9. By the skin of your teeth
- Meaning: Just barely or narrowly escaping a difficult situation.
- Example: I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth; I got the minimum required score.
10. Call it a day
- Meaning: To stop working or to end an activity.
- Example: We’ve been painting all afternoon; let’s call it a day and continue tomorrow.
11. Cold feet
- Meaning: Feeling nervous or hesitant about doing something.
- Example: I was going to ask her out, but I got cold feet at the last moment.
12. Cost an arm and a leg
- Meaning: To be very expensive.
- Example: That luxury car must have cost him an arm and a leg.
13. Cry over spilled milk
- Meaning: To worry or complain about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
- Example: Yes, we made a mistake, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk. Let’s focus on finding a solution.
14. Cut corners
- Meaning: To do something quickly or take shortcuts, often sacrificing quality.
- Example: Don’t cut corners on this project; it needs to be excellent to impress the new client.
15. Drive someone up the wall
- Meaning: To irritate or annoy someone greatly.
- Example: Her constant humming drives me up the wall; I can’t concentrate with that noise.
16. Silver lining
- Meaning: something positive in a difficult situation.
- Example: Losing my job was tough, but the silver lining was that I found a new career opportunity.
17. Face the music
- Meaning: To confront the consequences of one’s actions.
- Example: You made a mistake, and now you have to face the music and accept the criticism.
18. Get a taste of your own medicine
- Meaning: Experience the same negative treatment you have given to others.
- Example: After constantly making fun of others, he finally got a taste of his own medicine when they started teasing him.
19. Get the ball rolling
- Meaning: To start a process or activity.
- Example: Let’s get the ball rolling on this project and assign tasks to the team members.
20. Give someone the benefit of the doubt
- Meaning: To believe someone’s statement or excuse without being too suspicious.
- Example: I don’t have any evidence, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and trust his explanation.
21. Go the extra mile
- Meaning: To put in extra effort or do more than what is expected.
- Example: If you want to succeed in this competitive industry, you need to go the extra mile.
22. Hit the nail on the head
- Meaning: To identify or describe something accurately.
- Example: She hit the nail on the head when she said that our team needs better communication.
23. In the heat of the moment
- Meaning: In a moment of intense emotion, when we act or speak impulsively without thinking.
- Example: I didn’t mean to say those hurtful words; I said them in the heat of the moment.
24. It’s a piece of cake
- Meaning: Something is very easy or simple to do.
- Example: Don’t worry about the test; it’s a piece of cake. You’ll do fine.
25. Keep your chin up
- Meaning: To remain positive and optimistic during difficult times.
- Example: Even though he faced many rejections, he kept his chin up and continued to pursue his dream.
26. Kill two birds with one stone
- Meaning: Accomplish two things at the same time with a single action.
- Example: By taking the train instead of driving, she kills two birds with one stone – saves money and helps the environment.
27. Let the cat out of the bag
- Meaning: To reveal a secret or confidential information.
- Example: She accidentally let the cat out of the bag and spoiled the surprise party.
28. Like a fish out of water
- Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation.
- Example: As a city person, I feel like a fish out of water when I visit rural areas.
29. Make a long story short
- Meaning: To give a brief summary or conclusion.
- Example: He rambled on about his trip, but to make a long story short, he had an amazing time.
30. Miss the boat
- Meaning: To miss an opportunity or chance.
- Example: I didn’t apply for the scholarship on time, so I missed the boat.
31. Not my cup of tea
- Meaning: Something that is not to your liking or preference.
- Example: I tried skiing, but it’s not my cup of tea – I don’t enjoy the cold.
32. On cloud nine
- Meaning: Feeling extremely happy or joyful.
- Example: When she got the job offer, she was on cloud nine; it was her dream job.
33. Once in a blue moon
- Meaning: Happens very rarely.
- Example: We eat at home most of the time; we go to restaurants once in a blue moon – for special occasions.
34. Out of the blue
- Meaning: Unexpectedly or without any warning.
- Example: I hadn’t spoken to her in years, and then out of the blue, she called me yesterday.
35. Over the moon
- Meaning: Delighted or extremely happy.
- Example: She was over the moon when she received her acceptance letter from the university.
36. Pull someone’s leg
- Meaning: To tease or joke with someone.
- Example: He’s just pulling your leg; he doesn’t really mean what he said.
37. Put the cart before the horse
- Meaning: Doing things in the wrong order.
- Example: You’re putting the cart before the horse by buying furniture before finding a place to live.
38. Raining cats and dogs
- Meaning: Raining heavily.
- Example: We can’t go outside; it’s raining cats and dogs.
39. Not ring a bell
- Meaning: Not sound familiar or trigger a vague memory.
- Example: I don’t think I know him – his name doesn’t ring a bell.
40. Rule of thumb
- Meaning: A general principle or guideline.
- Example: As a rule of thumb, it’s better to arrive early for meetings.
41. Shoot yourself in the foot
- Meaning: To do something that harms oneself unintentionally.
- Example: He shot himself in the foot by quitting his job without having another one lined up.
42. On the fence
- Meaning: To remain neutral or undecided in a dispute or issue.
- Example: I can’t decide which car to buy, so I’m on the fence for now.
43. Skeletons in the closet
- Meaning: Hidden or embarrassing secrets from the past.
- Example: The journalist investigated the famous singer, trying to find some skeletons in the closet.
44. Take a rain check
- Meaning: To postpone or reschedule a plan or invitation.
- Example: I’m sorry, I can’t make it to the concert tonight. Can I take a rain check?
45. The ball is in your court
- Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
- Example: I’ve given you all the information; now the ball is in your court.
46. The best of both worlds
- Meaning: Enjoying the benefits of two different things at the same time.
- Example: Working part-time allows me to have a career and spend time with my family. It’s the best of both worlds.
47. Show someone the ropes
- Meaning: teach someone the details of a task or procedure
- During my first week on the job, my co-workers showed me the ropes.
48. The whole nine yards
- Meaning: Everything, or the full extent of something.
- Example: I’ll make sure you have everything you need—equipment, resources, the whole nine yards.
49. Through thick and thin
- Meaning: Supporting or being loyal to someone during good times and bad times.
- Example: We’ve been friends for over 20 years, through thick and thin.
50. Throw in the towel
- Meaning: To give up or surrender.
- Example: After struggling with the homework for hours, he finally threw in the towel.
51. Turn a blind eye
- Meaning: To ignore or pretend not to notice something.
- Example: The teacher turned a blind eye to the students whispering during the exam.
52. Under the weather
- Meaning: Feeling sick.
- Example: I won’t be able to come to work today; I’m feeling under the weather.
53. Off The Hook
- Meaning: Freed from an obligation
- Example: I was going to give a class on Saturday, but they found another teacher to do it, so I’m off the hook.
54. Up in the air
- Meaning: Uncertain or not confirmed.
- Example: The date for the meeting is still up in the air; we need to schedule it.
55. When it rains, it pours
- Meaning: Bad things often happen in clusters or all at once.
- Example: First, my car broke down, then I lost my wallet. When it rains, it pours!
56. Wrap your head around something
- Meaning: To understand or comprehend something complex or difficult.
- Example: It took me a while to wrap my head around the new software, but now I understand how to use it.
57. Throw someone for a loop
- Meaning: Distract, confuse, or surprise someone suddenly.
- Example: I think I answered all the questions in the job interview pretty well – except for the random one about my personal life. I wasn’t expecting it, so it threw me for a loop.
58. At the drop of a hat
- Meaning: Immediately or without hesitation.
- Example: He’s always ready to help at the drop of a hat.
59. At the end of your rope
- Meaning: Completely annoyed, exhausted, or desperate, with no more patience or energy.
- Example: After dealing with two disobedient kids all day, I was at the end of my rope.
60. Pipe down!
- Meaning: Be quiet!
- Example: Hey kids, pipe down! This is a library and people are trying to study.
61. Cross that bridge when you come to it
- Meaning: To deal with a problem or worry about something when it actually happens.
- Example: I’m not sure what to do if I fail the test, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
62. Drop the ball
- Meaning: To make a mistake or fail to do something properly.
- Example: He dropped the ball by forgetting to send the important email on time.
63. Elephant in the room
- Meaning: An obvious problem or issue that no one wants to address.
- Example: We need to talk about the budget cuts; it’s the elephant in the room.
64. Get off on the wrong foot
- Meaning: To start a relationship or situation poorly or with a misunderstanding.
- Example: We got off on the wrong foot, but we can still work things out and improve our communication.
65. Go down in flames
- Meaning: To fail spectacularly or experience a significant defeat or failure.
- Example: Their new product launch went down in flames, and they lost a lot of money.
66. Go with the flow
- Meaning: To adapt to a situation or accept things as they come.
- Example: I don’t have a specific plan for the weekend; I’ll just go with the flow and see what happens.
67. Hang in there
- Meaning: To persevere or keep going despite difficulties or challenges.
- Example: I know it’s tough, but hang in there; things will get better.
68. In hot water
- Meaning: In trouble or facing difficulties due to a mistake or wrongdoing.
- Example: He found himself in hot water after missing an important deadline.
69. Jump on the bandwagon
- Meaning: To join or support something that is currently popular or successful.
- Example: Everyone is using that new social media platform, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon.
70. Kick the bucket
- Meaning: Die (very informal)
- Example: I’d love to visit Jamaica someday before I kick the bucket.
71. Swallow something hook, line, and sinker
- Meaning: To believe something completely – usually something that is not true.
- Example: When I got back late from the party, I told my mom I had been studying for a final exam at a friend’s house. She swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.
72. Show your true colors
- Meaning: Reveal the true nature of your character
- Example: When things get stressful, that’s when people start to show their true colors
73. On thin ice
- Meaning: In a dangerous situation.
- Example: He’s on thin ice with his boss after making multiple mistakes.
74. Play it by ear
- Meaning: To decide or act based on the situation as it develops, rather than having a fixed plan.
- Example: We don’t have a specific itinerary; we’ll just play it by ear and see what we feel like doing.
75. Save your breath
- Meaning: To stop wasting your time and effort saying things that won’t have any effect.
- Example: Trying to convince him to change his mind is pointless; save your breath.
76. Steal the show
- Meaning: To attract the most attention or praise.
- Example: Her performance was incredible; she stole the show with her singing and dancing.
77. Take it with a grain of salt
- Meaning: To receive/consider information with skepticism or doubt.
- Example: I heard a rumor, but I took it with a grain of salt until I had more information.
78. clear as mud
- Meaning: information or communication is NOT clear at all.
- Example: My friend tried to explain how to get to his house, but his directions were as clear as mud and we got lost.
79. jump the gun
- Meaning: Do something too early, before the appropriate time
- Example: She jumped the gun and announced the winner before the final results were officially declared.
80. get your wires crossed
- Meaning: Have a miscommunication
- Example: We must have gotten our wires crossed – I wanted you to come at 7 PM, not 7 AM.
81. Throw caution to the wind
- Meaning: To take a risk or act without considering the potential consequences.
- Example: Despite her friends’ warnings, she decided to throw caution to the wind and quit her job to pursue her passion.
82. Lose your touch
- Meaning: To lose the skill or ability that one once had.
- Example: After years of not playing the piano, he realized he had lost his touch and struggled to play a simple melody.
83. Off the chain
- Meaning: Refers to something that is exciting, exceptional, or out of control.
- Example: The concert last night was off the chain! The energy in the crowd was unbelievable.
84. Eyeball it
- Meaning: To estimate or measure something by using one’s judgment or visual assessment.
- Example: We didn’t have a ruler, so we had to eyeball the length of the table and hope it would fit in the room.
85. Spice things up
- Meaning: To add excitement or variety to a situation or relationship.
- Example: Let’s try a new restaurant tonight to spice things up.
86. Bring home the bacon
- Meaning: To earn a living or provide financial support for one’s family.
- Example: She works two jobs to bring home the bacon and support her children.
87. Nip something in the bud
- Meaning: To stop or prevent a problem or situation from developing further.
- Example: My 5-year-old started telling lies; we had to discipline her to nip that habit in the bud.
88. The last straw
- Meaning: The final event or action that makes a situation unbearable or prompts a strong reaction.
- Example: When he forgot their anniversary, it was the last straw for her, and she decided to end the relationship.
89. A whole new ballgame
- Meaning: A completely different situation or set of circumstances.
- Example: We had to change our lifestyle after we had kids – it was a whole new ballgame.
90. Burn the midnight oil
- Meaning: To work or study late into the night.
- Example: I’m exhausted because I was burning the midnight oil yesterday.
91. Between a rock and a hard place
- Meaning: Trapped in a difficult or impossible situation, having to choose between two unfavorable options.
- Example: She was between a rock and a hard place when both job offers required her to relocate.
92. Play devil’s advocate
- Meaning: Argue an opposing perspective in order to generate critical thinking or debate.
- Example: I know everyone’s in favor of this plan, but let me play devil’s advocate – what will we do if it all goes wrong?
93. Put your foot in your mouth
- Meaning: To say something embarrassing, inappropriate, or offensive by accident.
- Example: I put my foot in my mouth when I asked her if she was pregnant, but she wasn’t.
94. Get a grip
- Meaning: To regain control over one’s emotions or behavior.
- Example: He needs to get a grip and stop letting his anger affect his relationships.
95. Piece of work
- Meaning: Used to describe someone who is difficult, eccentric, or challenging to deal with.
- Example: I love my cousin, but she’s a real piece of work – she gets offended over the slightest things.
96. Put someone on the spot
- Meaning: To ask someone a difficult question or request an immediate response, often in a public or challenging situation.
- Example: During the meeting, the boss put him on the spot by asking him to present his idea without any preparation.
97. a night owl
- Meaning: Someone who likes to stay up late.
- Example: My son’s a night owl – he never goes to bed before 2 AM.
98. has seen better days
- Meaning: Something is old and in not-so-great condition.
- Example: I’ve had this car for over fifteen years… it’s seen better days.
99. get bent out of shape
- Meaning: Become angry, upset or offended, especially about something which in your opinion doesn’t justify such a reaction.
- Example: My roommate is a neat freak, and he gets bent out of shape if I leave a single spoon on the kitchen counter.
100. Play your cards right
- Meaning: Use your resources in a way that leads to success.
- Example: Your supervisor really likes you. If you play your cards right, you could get promoted soon.
Now you know 100 common idiomatic expressions and their meanings. I hope these idioms + examples are helpful!
- Learn more: List of idioms with their definitions
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