An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning. Idioms are often used in everyday speech and writing, and they can add color and interest to language. They can also be a source of confusion for non-native speakers of a language, as their meanings are not always immediately apparent!
We’ve included the meaning of each idiom, as well as a sentence in context to help you understand how it is used. We hope this will help you better understand and use this colorful aspect of the English language.
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Break a leg: A way of wishing someone good luck, often said to actors before a performance.
Bite the bullet: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely.
Cost an arm and a leg: To be very expensive.
Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night.
Cut to the chase: To get to the most important part of something quickly.
Get cold feet: To become nervous or hesitate before doing something.
Hit the hay: To go to bed.
In the same boat: To be in the same situation as someone else.
Keep your chin up: To remain hopeful or optimistic.
Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret accidentally.
Make a mountain out of a molehill: To make a small problem seem bigger than it is.
On cloud nine: To be extremely happy.
Pull someone’s leg: To tease or trick someone.
Rain on someone’s parade: To spoil someone’s plans or fun.
Seeing eye to eye: To agree with someone.
Take with a grain of salt: To not believe something fully or to be skeptical of it.
The ball is in your court: It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.
The best of both worlds: To have the benefits of two different things.
The cherry on top: An extra or special thing that makes something even better.
The elephant in the room: A problem or difficult situation that is not being talked about.
The whole nine yards: Everything that is needed or possible.
Through thick and thin: Through good times and bad times.
Turn over a new leaf: To start behaving in a better or different way.
Under the weather: Not feeling well.
Up in the air: Uncertain or undecided.
Wear your heart on your sleeve: To show your emotions openly.
Actions speak louder than words: What someone does is more important than what they say.
Add insult to injury: To make a bad situation worse.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away: Eating healthy can prevent illness.
Barking up the wrong tree: Looking for something in the wrong place or misunderstanding something.
Beating around the bush: Avoiding the main topic or issue.
Bite off more than you can chew: To take on more than you can handle.
Burn bridges: To damage or destroy a relationship, often permanently.
Butter someone up: To flatter or praise someone excessively, often with the intention of getting something in return.
Cry over spilt milk: To worry or complain about something that cannot be changed.
Don’t judge a book by its cover: Appearances can be deceiving and you should not judge something solely based on how it looks.
Easy as pie: Very easy.
Feeling under the weather: Feeling sick or not well.
Get a taste of your own medicine: To experience the same thing that you have inflicted on others.
Give the cold shoulder: To ignore or be rude to someone.
Go back to the drawing board: To start something again from the beginning.
Hang in there: To persevere or keep trying.
Hit the nail on the head: To do or say something that is exactly right or accurate.
Jump on the bandwagon: To join in or support something that has become popular or successful.
Keep your nose to the grindstone: To work hard and steadily.
Knock on wood: To superstitiously knock on a wooden object to prevent bad luck.
Let sleeping dogs lie: To not bring up or address a sensitive or controversial topic.
Lend a helping hand: To offer assistance or support to someone.
Miss the boat: To miss an opportunity.
On the ball: Alert, attentive, and able to think quickly.
Out of the blue: Unexpectedly or without warning.
Paint the town red: To have a wild and fun night out.
Pulling your leg: Teasing or joking with someone.
Reading between the lines: Understanding something that is not stated directly or explicitly.
Seeing is believing: You need to see something to believe it.
Shooting yourself in the foot: To do something that harms or hinders your own interests or progress.
Sitting on the fence: To be neutral or indecisive about something.
Stab someone in the back: To betray or deceive someone.
Take the bull by the horns: To face a problem or challenge directly and aggressively.
The bottom line: The most important or fundamental aspect of something.
The icing on the cake: An extra or special thing that makes something even better.
The last straw: The final event or problem that causes something to happen, often negative.
The tip of the iceberg: A small part or indication of a larger problem or issue.
Throwing caution to the wind: To act without considering the risks or consequences.
Time is money: Using time efficiently is important because it is valuable.
Toe the line: To conform to rules or expectations.
Two peas in a pod: Very similar or closely related.
Waiting with baited breath: Waiting anxiously or eagerly.
Walking on eggshells: Being very careful or cautious not to offend or upset someone.
Wrap your head around something: To understand or comprehend something.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too: You cannot have both options or benefits in a situation.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: Something that is certain is more valuable than something that is uncertain.
A dime a dozen: Very common or easy to find.
A leopard can’t change its spots: People cannot change their basic nature.
A snowball’s chance in hell: No chance at all.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: It is better to take precautions to prevent a problem than to try to solve it after it has occurred.
Beating a dead horse: To continue discussing or trying to solve a problem that has already been solved or is no longer relevant.
Biting off more than you can chew: To take on more than you can handle.
Break the ice: To start a conversation or begin to get to know someone.
Bring home the bacon: To provide for one’s family or earn a living.
Curiosity killed the cat: Being too curious can lead to trouble.
Every cloud has a silver lining: Every difficult or negative situation has a positive aspect.
Feeling blue: Feeling sad or depressed.
Give someone the benefit of the doubt: To assume that someone is telling the truth or acting in good faith.
Go back to square one: To start something again from the beginning.
Laughing all the way to the bank: To be very successful or profitable.
Out of left field: Unexpected or surprising.
Pouring cold water on something: To discourage or dampen enthusiasm for something.
Take with a grain of salt: To not believe something fully or to be sceptical of it.