Idioms are phrases that have a figurative meaning that differs from the literal meaning of the words themselves. These idioms are used frequently in English conversation and writing, and it can be helpful to understand their meanings to better understand English language and culture. The following are the most common english idoms:
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- A penny for your thoughts - a way of asking someone what they're thinking about.
- A shot in the dark - a guess with very little information.
- A sight for sore eyes - a welcome or pleasant sight.
- A stone's throw - a short distance away.
- Actions speak louder than words - what a person does is more important than what they say.
- All ears - eager to listen and hear more.
- All hands on deck - everyone must help and work together.
- All in the same boat - sharing the same situation or problem.
- All thumbs - clumsy, awkward or uncoordinated.
- An arm and a leg - very expensive.
- Apple of my eye - a person or thing that is cherished above all others.
- At the drop of a hat - immediately, without hesitation.
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush - it's better to have something that is certain than to risk losing it by trying to get something better.
- A chip off the old block - someone who resembles one or both of their parents in character or appearance.
- A fool and his money are soon parted - someone who is foolish with their money will quickly lose it.
- A leopard can't change its spots - people can't change their fundamental nature.
- A little bird told me - a phrase used when the speaker knows something that they shouldn't reveal the source of.
- A picture paints a thousand words - a picture can convey a complex message more effectively than words can.
- A rolling stone gathers no moss - a person who is always on the move does not accumulate wealth or possessions.
- A stitch in time saves nine - taking care of a problem early can prevent it from becoming worse.
- A watched pot never boils - something seems to take a long time when you are waiting for it.
- Actions speak louder than words - what someone does is more important than what they say.
- Against the clock - to be rushed or under pressure to finish something before a deadline.
- All bets are off - anything can happen, especially in a situation where the outcome is uncertain.
- All dressed up and nowhere to go - to be ready for something, but have no place or reason to go.
- All is fair in love and war - anything goes in the pursuit of love or victory.
- All that glitters is not gold - appearances can be deceiving.
- Apple of my eye - someone who is cherished above all others.
- As busy as a bee - to be very busy and hardworking.
- As cool as a cucumber - to be calm and composed in a difficult situation.
- As easy as falling off a log - something that is very easy to do.
- As fit as a fiddle - to be in good physical condition.
- As good as gold - to be well-behaved and obedient.
- As mad as a hatter - to be crazy or insane.
- As old as the hills - something that is very old or ancient.
- As the crow flies - the shortest distance between two points.
- At the end of the day - ultimately; when everything is considered.
- A blessing in disguise - something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but turns out to be good in the end.
- A dime a dozen - something that is very common or easy to find.
- A piece of cake - something that is very easy to do.
- A picture is worth a thousand words - a picture can often convey an idea more effectively than words can.
- Actions speak louder than words - what a person does is more important than what they say.
- Add insult to injury - to make a bad situation worse.
- All ears - eager to listen.
- All thumbs - clumsy or awkward.
- At the drop of a hat - without hesitation or delay.
- Back to the drawing board - to start over again because the first attempt failed.
- Ball is in your court - it's your turn to make a decision or take action.
- Barking up the wrong tree - pursuing the wrong course of action or blaming the wrong person.
- Beat around the bush - to avoid speaking directly or to delay getting to the point.
- Bend over backwards - to make a great effort or sacrifice for someone.
- Bite the bullet - to accept something difficult or unpleasant.
- Bite off more than you can chew - to take on more than you can handle.
- Break a leg - a way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance or event.
- Burning the midnight oil - working late into the night.
- By the skin of your teeth - narrowly avoiding failure or disaster.
- Backseat driver - someone who gives unwanted advice to the person who is driving.
- Ball is in your court - it's your turn to take action or make a decision.
- Barking up the wrong tree - to pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.
- Beat around the bush - to avoid discussing something directly.
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - everyone has their own idea of what is beautiful.
- Bed of roses - a comfortable, easy situation.
- Better late than never - it's better to do something late than not at all.
- Bite off more than you can chew - to take on more than one can handle.
- Bite the bullet - to face a difficult situation with courage and determination.
- Blessing in disguise - something that seems bad at first, but turns out to be good in the end.
- Blood is thicker than water - family bonds are stronger than other relationships.
- Blow off steam - to release pent-up energy or anger.
- Break the ice - to make the first move in breaking down social barriers.
- Bury the hatchet - to make peace with someone after a disagreement.
- Back to the drawing board - to start over after a failure.
- Barking up the wrong tree - to pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.
- Beat around the bush - to avoid discussing something directly.
- Bite the bullet - to face a difficult situation with courage and determination.
- Break a leg - a phrase used to wish someone good luck.
- Butterflies in your stomach - feeling nervous or anxious.
- Can't make an omelet without breaking eggs - you can't achieve something great without making sacrifices or causing some harm.
- Can't see the forest for the trees - to be too focused on small details to see the big picture.
- Caught red-handed - caught in the act of doing something wrong.
- Cheap shot - a mean or unfair criticism or action.
- Chew the fat - to have a casual conversation with someone.
- Chink in your armor - a weakness that can be exploited by others.
- Close the book on - to finish or end something.
- Come hell or high water - to persevere despite any obstacles or difficulties.
- Cross that bridge when you come to it - to deal with a problem when it arises, rather than worrying about it beforehand.
- Cry wolf - to give a false alarm or warning.
- Cutting corners - to take shortcuts or avoid doing things properly.
- Call it a day - to stop working or doing something for the rest of the day.
- Can of worms - a complicated and unpleasant situation that should be avoided.
- Caught between two stools - to be unable to decide between two alternatives.
- Change of heart - a change in one's opinion or attitude.
- Chip on your shoulder - to be easily offended or prone to anger.
- Close but no cigar - to almost achieve something, but fall short.
- Cock and bull story - a far-fetched or unbelievable story.
- Cold turkey - to suddenly stop doing something, especially a habit.
- Come rain or shine - to persevere through any circumstances.
- Cost an arm and a leg - to be very expensive.
- Cross your fingers - to hope for good luck or success.
- Cry over spilled milk - to regret something that can't be changed.
- Curiosity killed the cat - being too curious can lead to trouble.
- Cut the mustard - to meet expectations or perform satisfactorily.
- Caught red-handed - to be caught in the act of doing something wrong.
- Cold feet - to feel nervous or hesitant about doing something.
- Cost an arm and a leg - to be very expensive.
- Cross your fingers - a gesture of hope or good luck.
- Cry over spilled milk - to be upset about something that can't be changed.
- Cut corners - to do something in a way that is cheaper or easier, but not as good.
- Cut the mustard - to perform well.
- Dead ringer - someone or something that looks exactly like another person or thing.
- Devil is in the details - the importance of paying attention to small details.
- Dig your heels in - to refuse to change your position or beliefs.
- Don't beat a dead horse - to continue discussing or arguing about something that is already resolved or irrelevant.
- Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today - to not procrastinate or delay completing a task or responsibility.
- Drop a bombshell - to reveal a shocking or surprising piece of news or information.
- Drop in the bucket - a very small and insignificant amount or effect.
- Dark horse - someone who has hidden talents or abilities.
- Dead as a doornail - to be completely and irreversibly dead.
- Devil's advocate - someone who argues the opposite of what they believe to stimulate debate.
- Don't count your chickens before they hatch - don't assume success before it's guaranteed.
- Don't judge a book by its cover - don't make assumptions about someone or something based on appearances.
- Don't put all your eggs in one basket - don't rely solely on one thing for success.
- Down in the dumps - to be sad or depressed.
- Drive someone up the wall - to irritate or frustrate someone to the point of anger.
- Dry run - a practice or trial run before the real thing.
- Dutch courage - false courage gained from drinking alcohol.
- Devil's advocate - someone who argues against a cause or position, not necessarily because they believe it, but to test its strength.
- Don't count your chickens before they hatch - don't assume something will happen before it actually does.
- Down to the wire - a situation that is very close to the end.
- Drop a bombshell - to reveal shocking news.
- Early bird catches the worm - to start work or action early leads to success.
- Elephant in the room - an obvious problem or issue that is being ignored or avoided.
- Every dog has its day - everyone has their moment of success or glory.
- Easy come, easy go - something that is easily obtained is easily lost.
- Every cloud has a silver lining - even in a negative situation, there is always a positive aspect.
- Easy as pie - something that is very easy to do.
- Every cloud has a silver lining - every bad situation has some good aspect to it.
- Face the music - to accept the consequences of one's actions.
- Feel blue - to feel sad or depressed
- Fit as a fiddle - to be in good physical condition.
- Flying off the handle - to lose one's temper suddenly and unexpectedly.
- Face value - the apparent worth or meaning of something, without considering its deeper implications.
- Falling for someone - to become romantically interested in someone.
- Face the music - to accept responsibility for one's actions and the consequences.
- Fair and square - to do something in an honest and just manner.
- Fall flat on your face - to fail miserably.
- Feather in your cap - an achievement to be proud of.
- Fight tooth and nail - to fight with all your effort and determination.
- First things first - to prioritize what is most important.
- Fish out of water - to feel uncomfortable or out of place in a situation.
- Flash in the pan - something that is initially successful but doesn't last long.
- Flog a dead horse - to waste time and effort on something that is already failed or hopeless.
- Fly off the handle - to become suddenly and uncontrollably angry.
- Fool's gold - something that appears valuable but is actually worthless.
- Foot in the door - to establish an initial contact or opportunity that can lead to further success.
- For crying out loud - an expression of frustration or exasperation.
- For the time being - temporarily; for now.
- From scratch - to start from the beginning, without any prior progress or work.
- Full of hot air - to talk excessively without backing up one's words with action.
- Get cold feet - to become nervous or hesitant about something.
- Get off the hook - to avoid punishment or responsibility for something.
- Get the ball rolling - to start something, especially a project or process.
- Get your act together - to organize
- Get a taste of your own medicine - to experience the same treatment that one has given to others.
- Get cold feet - to feel nervous or hesitant about doing something.
- Give someone the cold shoulder - to ignore or be unfriendly to someone.
- Go the extra mile - to put in more effort than is expected.
- Good things come to those who wait - patience will be rewarded.
- Green with envy - to be jealous.
- Have a chip on your shoulder - to be easily offended or provoked.
- Have your cake and eat it too - to want two things that are mutually exclusive.
- Hit the nail on the head - to be exactly right.
- In the doghouse - to be in trouble or out of favor.
- It's a piece of cake - something that is very easy to do.
- It's raining cats and dogs - it's raining very heavily.
- Jump the gun - to do something too soon or prematurely.
- Keep your chin up - to remain optimistic in the face of adversity.