Most Popular English Idioms And Their Meanings With Example Sentences
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Teacher Mei
LIST OF 35 MOST COMMON ENGLISH IDIOMS AND THEIR MEANINGS THAT ALL ENGLISH LEARNERS SHOULD KNOW
Good conversations frequently include idioms! To communicate successfully in English, you should understand common idioms and what they mean. I’ll give you a list of 35 popular sayings and examples, but first, let’s answer: What are English idioms, and why do they matter? Here’s what you should know:
What are English idioms?
English idioms are sayings or expressions that have meaning beyond their words. These phrases convey a message that’s not just what they seem on the surface, or, in other words, a message that is not immediately obvious.
They convey meanings beyond the interpretation of their words, often carrying a figurative message rather than a straightforward or literal one. When a group of words means more or something different than what they say, we call it an idiom. If you’re new to them, idioms can throw you for a loop (it can be tricky or pose a challenge).
Let’s look at “to kill two birds with one stone.” Don’t worry, no birds get hurt here. It just means you get two things done in one go. Here’s another one: “It’s raining cats and dogs.” This doesn’t mean pets are falling from the sky. It’s just a way to say it’s pouring with rain!
Why do we use English Idioms?
English idioms are often used when we talk and write. We use idioms for several reasons. They help us say more with fewer words and add humor and style to our speech. Sometimes, idioms let us express ourselves more.
In some cases, an idiom can replace a more direct phrase. For example, you could say “I’m hitting the hay” instead of “I’m going to bed.” This gives the same meaning in fewer words. Idioms can also make a point stronger. If someone wants to stress how cold it is outside, they might say, “It’s freezing out there!”
The History of English Idioms
English idioms have an interesting history. Many of them come from other languages like Latin, French, and German. Furthermore, people have used many of these idioms for generations, handing them down from one person to the next from generation to generation.
The Origin of English Idioms
English idioms have a fascinating background. Take “To Kill Two Birds with One Stone,” for example. People think it came from hunters using slingshots many years ago. This saying shows how smart it is to catch two birds with one shot!
Another interesting phrase is “the apple of my eye.” This one goes way back to the Bible. In Deuteronomy, it says, “Keep me as the apple of your eye.” This means to protect someone as you would protect your own eye.
The Importance of knowing commonly used English Idioms for Non-Native English Learners
For people who don’t speak English as their first language, understanding idiomatic expressions has a big impact on their language fluency skills. It doesn’t just make them more fluent; it also helps their general understanding of the language. To communicate effectively with native speakers, it’s essential to know and understand common English idioms.
While you don’t need to learn every single one, getting familiar with the most used ones will help you avoid mix-ups (misunderstandings) in conversations. Still, it can be tough for non-native speakers to understand idioms used in everyday conversations. To help with this, I’ve put some ideas and tips in this post on how to learn and understand these idioms.
35 popular English idioms and phrases - meanings and examples of how we can use them correctly:
- “Once in a blue moon” – Something that does not happen often.
Example sentence – I read a book once in a blue moon.
- “The best of both worlds” – A situation where one can enjoy the benefit of two different opportunities.
Example sentence – If you relocate to this area, you get the beauty of the countryside and the amenities of urban life. It’s the best of both worlds.
- “Speak of the devil” – When the person you are talking about suddenly appears.
Example sentence – Do you know what Sally did yesterday? Oh, speak of the devil; here she comes!
- “A piece of cake” – When something is very easy.
Example sentence – I got 100% on my test yesterday; I’m not surprised as the test was a piece of cake!
- “To feel under the weather” – When you are ill or feel ill (sick).
Example sentence – I feel somewhat under the weather today, so I decided to stay home and not go to work. I hope I don’t have COVID!
- “Cost an arm and a leg” – When something is very expensive (costs a lot of money).
Example sentence – I would love to have the new iPhone, but it costs an arm and a leg! I just cannot afford it right now.
- “When pigs fly” – Something that will never happen (it’s impossible).
Example sentence – I asked my parents if I could go to the party tonight; they said yes, when pigs fly!
“See eye to eye” – When you agree with someone.
Example sentence – Tom and Stacey finally saw eye to eye on the building plans for the new supermarket. Now they can finally start the building process.
“No pain, no gain” – You cannot achieve something without some difficulty.
Example sentence – I know that studying is hard, but you must do it if you want to pass the test tomorrow. No pain, no gain!
- “Let the cat out of the bag” – To reveal a secret.
Example sentence – He let the cat out of the bag and finally told his parents about his plans to leave the country.
“Kill two birds with one stone” – When you achieve two things with one single action.
Example sentence – If I go to the supermarket and pick up the kids from school on my way back, I can kill two birds with one stone.
“Break a leg” – To wish someone good luck.
Example Sentence – You have your first acting performance tonight, break a leg!
“It’s raining cats and dogs” – This idiom is used to describe heavy rain.
Example Sentence – Itʻs raining cats and dogs outside! The whole house is almost underwater!
TIP ON HOW TO LEARN ENGLISH IDIOMS:
Start by looking for real-life examples of the idiom being used. This will help you understand its meaning and how people use it. Next, try using the idiom yourself when you talk to others. This will make it stick in your mind and give you a sense of how it works in conversation. Don't hesitate to ask people who speak the language for help. They can explain the meaning of the idiom and show you the right way to use it.
“Cut corners” – Not doing something properly (leaving steps out and doing something cheaply and in an easy way).
Example sentence – We cannot afford to cut corners on this project, it must be perfect!
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” – You should not judge (have an opinion) of someone or something based on appearance.
Example sentence – I thought that the lady behind the counter was incompetent by the way she looked, but she was very good at her job, I guess you cannot judge a book by its cover!
“Call it a day” – To stop doing something.
Example sentence – I have worked very hard today and am exhausted, It is time to call it a day and go home.
“Hit the nail on the head” – To have the exact answer to something (to be accurately right).
Example sentence – My friend said that to gain more followers on social media, I must create more engaging posts, seems like he hit the nail on the head!
“Let someone off the hook” – To not punish someone who has been caught.
Example sentence – I still think he is guilty, but I need to let him off the hook as I do not have any evidence of him committing the crime.
“A blessing in disguise” – A good outcome from a bad situation.
Example sentence – It was a blessing in disguise when John missed his flight to London as he never would have met his wife at the party he decided to go to that night after missing his flight.
“Bite the bullet” – To go through a painful or unpleasant situation.
Example sentence – I will just have to bite the bullet and get over my fear of heights.
“Taste of own medicine” – To do the same bad thing to someone who has been doing it to you.
Example sentence – He has been rude to the people he works with, now they are being rude to him, I guess he deserves a taste of his own medicine.
“The elephant in the room” – There is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.
Example sentence – The fact that Suzy fell pregnant at 16 years of age was a big elephant in the room at each family reunion.
- “Give someone the cold shoulder” – To ignore someone.
Example sentence – He is not replying to any of my messages; he is obviously giving me the cold shoulder.
- “The last straw” – The final unpleasant thing before taking action.
Example sentence – My best friend stole from me again, this is the last straw, I am going to end this relationship.
- “To steal someone’s thunder” – To take credit for someone else’s work.
Example sentence – Suzy stole my thunder when she presented my ideas as her own to the board.
- “Break the ice” – This idiom is an expression that essentially means to get rid of any tension.
Example sentence – I tried to break the ice at the meeting by starting the conversation with a joke I heard over the weekend.
- “Cut to the chase“ – This figurative phrase means to avoid wasting any time by getting right to the point.
Example sentence – When the doctor started talking in circles, I asked him to get straight to the point about my diagnosis.
- “Beat around the bush“ – An idiomatic phrase used when someone tries to avoid stating something clearly.
Example sentence – My boyfriend was beating around the bush, so I asked him if he was breaking up with me.
- “Barking up the wrong tree“ – This non-literal statement describes a mistaken assumption or a wrong course of action.
Example sentence – If you are trying to accuse me of stealing your phone, you are barking up the wrong tree.
- “A dime a dozen“ – An idiomatic phrase that expresses something super familiar.
Example sentence – A good surfer is a dime a dozen in San Diego.
- “Actions speak louder than words“ – An expression used figuratively to describe what someone does is more important than what they say.
Example sentence – Even though he is a sweet talker, actions speak louder than words, and I do not think he is as committed to this relationship as he makes it seem.
- “Burning the midnight oil“ – This is an idiom used as a technique to explain that an individual is staying up late to complete a task.
Example sentence – I was burning the midnight oil to finish my thesis paper due the next day.
- “Every cloud has a silver lining“ – This overused phrase implies that every bad situation has a positive outcome.
Example sentence – When my son came home upset about not making the team, I told him that every cloud has a silver lining.
- “Get cold feet“ – This phrase does not literally mean that a person’s food is cold; instead, this statement expresses that someone is getting nervous about a situation.
Example sentence – When the soon-to-be bride complained about her soon-to-be husband, her mother asked her if she was getting cold feet.
- “On the ball“ – A symbolic statement meaning that a person is on top of a situation, alert, and competent.
Example sentence – The manager was always on the ball when a ton of customers came into the store at the same time.
FAQs:
Q: Do idioms directly translate into other languages?
A: The quick answer is no. Idioms are figurative expressions unique to the culture, making them easier to learn in context.
Q: How can I start to remember these English idioms?
A: Try practicing using some of these popular idioms in your daily conversations. It will be easier to see how figurative language can be used to communicate with others.
Q: What should I do if I hear a phrase in English that I believe is an idiom but am unsure of its meaning?
A: Ask the speaker! It is good that you could spot that it’s non-literal. Now, that person can introduce you to another common idiomatic phrase to add to your collection.
This was just my short list of 35 most commonly used idioms and their meanings in everyday conversation. I will be adding more soon! I hope my explanations and examples have helped to clear up any confusion you may have had about these idioms. Keep learning and improving!
What is your favorite English idiom? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
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