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English Idioms: 500+ Common Expressions with Meanings and Examples
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English Idioms: 500+ Common Expressions with Meanings and Examples

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Every language has expressions that make no sense if you translate them literally. English has thousands. “It’s raining cats and dogs” has nothing to do with animals. “Break a leg” is not a threat — it means “good luck.” “Spill the beans” is not about food — it means to reveal a secret.

These expressions are called idioms, and they are everywhere in English — in conversation, movies, music, news, business, and literature. Native speakers use idioms so naturally that they rarely notice them. But for learners, idioms are one of the biggest obstacles to fluency. You can have perfect grammar, a large vocabulary, and clear pronunciation — and still miss the meaning of half the sentences you hear because of idioms.

This guide covers 500+ of the most common English idioms, organized by topic so you can learn them in meaningful groups. Each idiom includes a clear meaning and a natural example sentence. Whether you are preparing for IELTS, studying for a university degree, or simply want to understand English the way native speakers actually speak it — this is the reference you need.

  • Total idioms: 500+
  • Organized by: 20 topic categories
  • Level: A2–C2 (beginner to advanced)
  • Best for: General fluency, IELTS/TOEFL prep, understanding native speakers, everyday conversation

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words. The key feature: the whole phrase means something different from its parts.

Expression Literal Meaning Actual (Idiomatic) Meaning
break the ice to crack frozen water to start a conversation in an awkward situation
hit the nail on the head to strike a nail with a hammer to be exactly right about something
under the weather below the climate feeling slightly ill
piece of cake a portion of cake something very easy

Idioms vs. Phrasal Verbs vs. Collocations

These three categories overlap, which causes confusion. Here is the difference:

Category Definition Example
Idiom Fixed expression with non-literal meaning kick the bucket (= die)
Phrasal verb Verb + particle with a new meaning give up (= quit)
Collocation Words that naturally go together make a decision (not “do a decision”)

Some phrasal verbs are idiomatic (“come across” = to find by chance), and some idioms contain phrasal verbs (“give someone the cold shoulder”). The boundaries are blurry — what matters is learning the expressions themselves.

For a complete guide to phrasal verbs, see English Phrasal Verbs: The Complete Guide.

Categories of English idioms organized by topic — body, animals, food, weather, money, time, colors, emotions, work, sports

Body Parts

Body idioms are among the oldest and most universal in English. Many exist in similar forms across languages.

# Idiom Meaning Example
1 keep an eye on to watch carefully Keep an eye on the soup — don’t let it boil over.
2 turn a blind eye to deliberately ignore The manager turned a blind eye to the late arrivals.
3 see eye to eye to agree completely We don’t always see eye to eye, but we respect each other.
4 in the blink of an eye very quickly The accident happened in the blink of an eye.
5 catch someone’s eye to attract attention The red dress in the window caught my eye.
6 play it by ear to improvise; decide as you go I don’t have a plan — let’s just play it by ear.
7 turn a deaf ear to refuse to listen He turned a deaf ear to all our warnings.
8 keep your chin up to stay positive I know things are tough, but keep your chin up.
9 bite your tongue to stop yourself from saying something I wanted to argue, but I bit my tongue.
10 on the tip of my tongue almost able to remember His name is on the tip of my tongue — give me a second.
11 by the skin of your teeth just barely We passed the exam by the skin of our teeth.
12 give someone the cold shoulder to ignore someone deliberately After the argument, she gave me the cold shoulder for a week.
13 cost an arm and a leg to be very expensive That car repair cost an arm and a leg.
14 get something off your chest to talk about something that has been bothering you I need to get this off my chest — I lied about the deadline.
15 have a heart of gold to be very kind and generous She has a heart of gold — she’d help anyone.
16 stab someone in the back to betray someone He stabbed me in the back by telling the boss about my mistake.
17 break someone’s heart to make someone very sad, usually romantically Leaving the country broke his mother’s heart.
18 get cold feet to become nervous and hesitant She got cold feet the night before the wedding.
19 put your foot in your mouth to say something embarrassing accidentally I put my foot in my mouth when I asked about her ex.
20 have butterflies in your stomach to feel nervous I always have butterflies in my stomach before presentations.
21 a pain in the neck an annoying person or thing This paperwork is a real pain in the neck.
22 keep your fingers crossed to hope for good luck Keep your fingers crossed — the results come out tomorrow.
23 point the finger at to blame someone Don’t point the finger at me — it wasn’t my fault.
24 pull someone’s leg to joke with someone Are you serious, or are you pulling my leg?
25 give a hand to help Could you give me a hand with these boxes?
26 an old hand an experienced person She’s an old hand at negotiations — she’s been doing it for 20 years.
27 wash your hands of to refuse to be responsible After years of trying, he washed his hands of the project.
28 the apple of someone’s eye someone’s favorite person Their youngest daughter is the apple of their eye.
29 a head start an advantage at the beginning Being bilingual gave her a head start in her career.
30 head over heels deeply in love He fell head over heels for her on the first date.

Animals

Animal idioms are colorful and easy to remember because the images are vivid.

# Idiom Meaning Example
31 let the cat out of the bag to reveal a secret accidentally I was planning a surprise party, but Tom let the cat out of the bag.
32 raining cats and dogs raining very heavily Take an umbrella — it’s raining cats and dogs outside.
33 the elephant in the room an obvious problem nobody wants to discuss Nobody mentioned the budget cut — it was the elephant in the room.
34 kill two birds with one stone to achieve two things with one action By cycling to work, I kill two birds with one stone — exercise and transportation.
35 a little bird told me someone told me (but I won’t say who) A little bird told me you’re getting promoted.
36 the early bird catches the worm success comes to those who start early I always arrive at the office at 7 AM — the early bird catches the worm.
37 when pigs fly never (something impossible) He’ll clean his room when pigs fly.
38 hold your horses wait; be patient Hold your horses — we haven’t even started yet.
39 straight from the horse’s mouth directly from the original source I heard the news straight from the horse’s mouth — the CEO told me herself.
40 a wild goose chase a pointless search Looking for that document was a wild goose chase — it never existed.
41 monkey around to behave foolishly Stop monkeying around and finish your homework.
42 have a whale of a time to enjoy yourself enormously We had a whale of a time at the festival.
43 the black sheep the odd one out in a family or group He’s the black sheep of the family — the only one who didn’t go to university.
44 a fish out of water someone uncomfortable in their environment At the fashion show, I felt like a fish out of water.
45 open a can of worms to create new problems If you bring up the budget, you’ll open a whole can of worms.
46 take the bull by the horns to face a difficult situation bravely Instead of avoiding the problem, she took the bull by the horns.
47 have ants in your pants to be unable to sit still The kids have ants in their pants today — they can’t focus at all.
48 the lion’s share the largest portion The lion’s share of the budget goes to marketing.
49 a wolf in sheep’s clothing someone who appears harmless but is dangerous Be careful with that salesman — he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
50 every dog has its day everyone gets a chance eventually Don’t worry about losing today — every dog has its day.

Food and Drink

# Idiom Meaning Example
51 a piece of cake something very easy The exam was a piece of cake — I finished in 30 minutes.
52 spill the beans to reveal a secret Come on, spill the beans — what did she say?
53 have your cake and eat it too to want two incompatible things You can’t work part-time and earn a full salary — you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
54 go bananas to become crazy or very excited The crowd went bananas when the band came on stage.
55 bring home the bacon to earn the household income Both parents bring home the bacon in most families today.
56 butter someone up to flatter someone to get something He’s just buttering up the boss to get a promotion.
57 cry over spilled milk to waste time regretting something that’s done The project failed, but there’s no point crying over spilled milk.
58 in a nutshell in summary; briefly In a nutshell, we need more funding and fewer deadlines.
59 take something with a grain of salt to not fully believe something Take his promises with a grain of salt — he never follows through.
60 the cream of the crop the best of a group These students are the cream of the crop — all straight-A scholars.
61 egg someone on to encourage someone to do something (usually risky) His friends egged him on to jump off the bridge.
62 walk on eggshells to be very careful not to offend someone I walk on eggshells around my boss — she gets angry about everything.
63 a tough cookie a strong, resilient person She’s a tough cookie — nothing gets her down.
64 a hot potato a controversial topic nobody wants to handle Immigration is a hot potato in most Western democracies.
65 full of beans full of energy and enthusiasm The kids are full of beans today after their nap.
66 cool as a cucumber very calm, especially under pressure She was cool as a cucumber during the interview.
67 use your noodle to think; to use your brain Come on, use your noodle — the answer is obvious.
68 in hot water in trouble He’s in hot water for missing the deadline again.
69 a recipe for disaster a situation likely to go wrong Mixing inexperienced drivers with icy roads is a recipe for disaster.
70 bite off more than you can chew to take on more than you can handle I bit off more than I could chew with four courses this semester.

Weather and Nature

# Idiom Meaning Example
71 under the weather feeling slightly ill I’m a bit under the weather today — I think it’s a cold.
72 a storm in a teacup a big fuss about a trivial matter The controversy over the new logo was just a storm in a teacup.
73 break the ice to start a conversation in an awkward situation He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
74 tip of the iceberg a small visible part of a much bigger problem The cases we see are just the tip of the iceberg.
75 on cloud nine extremely happy She’s been on cloud nine since she got the job offer.
76 every cloud has a silver lining something positive comes from every bad situation I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining — I found a better one.
77 save it for a rainy day to save money for a time when you need it Don’t spend everything — save some for a rainy day.
78 take a rain check to politely decline but suggest doing it later I can’t make dinner tonight — can I take a rain check?
79 a breath of fresh air something refreshingly new The new teacher was a breath of fresh air after years of boring lectures.
80 weather the storm to survive a difficult period The company weathered the storm of the recession and came back stronger.
81 lightning never strikes twice the same unlikely event won’t happen again I’m not worried about another earthquake — lightning never strikes twice.
82 steal someone’s thunder to take credit for someone else’s achievement She stole my thunder by announcing the results before I could.
83 chase rainbows to pursue unrealistic goals You can’t chase rainbows forever — you need a practical plan.
84 come rain or shine no matter what happens I go running every morning, come rain or shine.
85 the calm before the storm a peaceful period before trouble Everything seems quiet now, but this could be the calm before the storm.

Money and Business

# Idiom Meaning Example
86 break the bank to be very expensive The new phone is nice, but it won’t break the bank — it’s quite affordable.
87 make ends meet to earn just enough to cover expenses Many families struggle to make ends meet in this economy.
88 go broke to lose all your money The restaurant went broke after only six months.
89 penny-wise, pound-foolish careful with small amounts but wasteful with large ones Buying cheap shoes that wear out in a month is penny-wise, pound-foolish.
90 worth every penny fully justifying the price That cooking class was worth every penny.
91 a dime a dozen very common and not valuable MBAs are a dime a dozen — you need real experience.
92 money doesn’t grow on trees money is limited and must be earned I can’t buy you a new phone every year — money doesn’t grow on trees.
93 from rags to riches from poverty to wealth Her story is a classic rags-to-riches tale.
94 cut corners to do something cheaply by skipping steps The builder cut corners and now the roof leaks.
95 the bottom line the most important fact; the profit/loss The bottom line is that we need to increase revenue by 20%.
96 ballpark figure an approximate number Can you give me a ballpark figure for the renovation costs?
97 get the ball rolling to start a process Let’s get the ball rolling on this project today.
98 think outside the box to think creatively We need to think outside the box to solve this problem.
99 back to the drawing board to start again from scratch The plan was rejected, so it’s back to the drawing board.
100 on the same page in agreement; understanding the same thing Let’s have a meeting to make sure we’re all on the same page.
101 in the red / in the black losing money / making a profit The company has been in the red for three quarters.
102 burn the midnight oil to work late into the night We burned the midnight oil to finish the proposal.
103 a golden opportunity a perfect chance This job offer is a golden opportunity you shouldn’t miss.
104 throw money down the drain to waste money Buying that cheap laptop was throwing money down the drain.
105 strike while the iron is hot to act quickly when the opportunity arises Interest rates are low — strike while the iron is hot.

Time

# Idiom Meaning Example
106 in the nick of time just in time; at the last possible moment The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
107 once in a blue moon very rarely I eat fast food once in a blue moon — maybe twice a year.
108 around the clock 24 hours a day The hospital operates around the clock.
109 time flies time passes quickly Time flies when you’re having fun.
110 better late than never doing something late is better than not doing it You finally apologized — better late than never.
111 kill time to do something to pass time while waiting I killed time at the airport by reading a book.
112 against the clock in a great hurry to finish before a deadline We’re working against the clock to launch by Friday.
113 at the drop of a hat immediately; without hesitation She’ll help you at the drop of a hat.
114 a matter of time something that will inevitably happen It’s only a matter of time before they find out the truth.
115 the moment of truth the time when something is tested or revealed The moment of truth came when the grades were posted.
116 live on borrowed time to continue existing beyond the expected time That old computer is living on borrowed time.
117 make up for lost time to do something extra to compensate for missed time After being away for a year, she made up for lost time with her family.
118 on the spur of the moment spontaneously We decided on the spur of the moment to go to Paris.
119 ahead of time earlier than expected She always finishes her work ahead of time.
120 behind the times outdated His teaching methods are behind the times.

Success and Failure

# Idiom Meaning Example
121 hit the nail on the head to be exactly right You hit the nail on the head — that’s exactly the problem.
122 miss the boat to miss an opportunity I missed the boat on buying Bitcoin in 2015.
123 back to square one to start again from the beginning The experiment failed, so we’re back to square one.
124 go the extra mile to do more than expected Good employees always go the extra mile.
125 learn the ropes to learn how to do a new job It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at the new company.
126 pass with flying colors to succeed brilliantly She passed the final exam with flying colors.
127 a blessing in disguise something bad that turns out to be good Losing that job was a blessing in disguise — it led me to my dream career.
128 from scratch from the very beginning He built the website from scratch without any templates.
129 the last straw the final thing that causes a reaction Arriving late again was the last straw — they fired him.
130 burn bridges to ruin a relationship permanently Don’t burn bridges when you leave a job — you might need a reference.
131 fall flat to completely fail His joke fell flat — nobody laughed.
132 up in the air undecided; uncertain Our vacation plans are still up in the air.
133 nip it in the bud to stop a problem before it gets bigger If you notice bullying, nip it in the bud immediately.
134 at the end of the day ultimately; when everything is considered At the end of the day, family is what matters most.
135 pull it off to succeed in something difficult Nobody thought she could run a marathon, but she pulled it off.

Emotions and Feelings

# Idiom Meaning Example
136 over the moon extremely happy She was over the moon when she got accepted to Harvard.
137 down in the dumps feeling sad and depressed He’s been down in the dumps since his girlfriend left.
138 on edge nervous and tense Everyone’s been on edge since the layoffs were announced.
139 lose your cool to become angry He lost his cool when the waiter spilled wine on his suit.
140 have mixed feelings to feel both positive and negative I have mixed feelings about moving abroad.
141 blow off steam to release stress or frustration I go to the gym to blow off steam after a long day.
142 get on someone’s nerves to annoy someone His constant humming gets on my nerves.
143 be over the hill to be past one’s prime (about age) At 40, she proved she was far from over the hill by running a marathon.
144 wear your heart on your sleeve to show emotions openly She wears her heart on her sleeve — you always know how she feels.
145 have a change of heart to change your opinion or decision He was going to reject the offer, but he had a change of heart.
146 sick and tired extremely annoyed I’m sick and tired of repeating myself.
147 a gut feeling an instinctive feeling I had a gut feeling that something was wrong.
148 drive someone up the wall to make someone very annoyed That dripping tap is driving me up the wall.
149 lose sleep over to worry excessively about Don’t lose sleep over it — the problem will sort itself out.
150 feel blue to feel sad She’s been feeling blue since the holidays ended.

Relationships and People

# Idiom Meaning Example
151 get along like a house on fire to become friends quickly We met at a conference and got along like a house on fire.
152 birds of a feather flock together similar people spend time together They both love hiking and cooking — birds of a feather flock together.
153 keep someone at arm’s length to avoid getting close to someone She keeps her colleagues at arm’s length — she never socializes outside work.
154 be in someone’s shoes to imagine being in someone else’s situation If I were in your shoes, I’d accept the job offer.
155 blood is thicker than water family relationships are the most important He always sides with his brother — blood is thicker than water.
156 speak your mind to say exactly what you think I admire people who speak their mind respectfully.
157 bury the hatchet to make peace; to end a conflict After years of fighting, the two families buried the hatchet.
158 hit it off to immediately get along well We hit it off at the party and have been friends ever since.
159 see through someone to recognize someone’s dishonesty She saw through his lies immediately.
160 tie the knot to get married They tied the knot in a small ceremony last June.
161 two-faced dishonest; saying different things to different people Be careful — she’s two-faced and will talk about you behind your back.
162 give someone the benefit of the doubt to trust someone despite doubts I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt — maybe he really was stuck in traffic.
163 down to earth practical and friendly; not arrogant Despite her fame, she’s very down to earth.
164 a shoulder to cry on someone who listens to your problems She’s always been a shoulder to cry on when things get tough.
165 people person someone who enjoys social interaction He’s a real people person — he can talk to anyone.

Work and Effort

# Idiom Meaning Example
166 pull your weight to do your fair share Everyone needs to pull their weight on this project.
167 a dead-end job a job with no prospects She quit her dead-end job and went back to school.
168 climb the career ladder to advance professionally She climbed the career ladder faster than anyone in the company.
169 call it a day to stop working for the day We’ve done enough — let’s call it a day.
170 throw in the towel to give up After three failed attempts, he threw in the towel.
171 keep your nose to the grindstone to work very hard continuously She kept her nose to the grindstone and graduated top of her class.
172 the daily grind the routine of everyday work The daily grind of commuting and working 9-to-5 can wear you down.
173 bite the bullet to face a difficult situation bravely I bit the bullet and told my boss I was leaving.
174 jack of all trades someone who can do many things He’s a jack of all trades — he can fix anything.
175 put all your eggs in one basket to risk everything on a single plan Don’t put all your eggs in one basket — apply to several companies.
176 a steep learning curve a situation where you must learn fast The first month was a steep learning curve.
177 work around the clock to work all day and night Nurses work around the clock during emergencies.
178 cut to the chase to get to the main point Let’s cut to the chase — how much will it cost?
179 in a rut stuck in a boring routine I feel like I’m in a rut — every day is the same.
180 run the show to be in charge She basically runs the show around here.

Knowledge and Learning

# Idiom Meaning Example
181 learn the hard way to learn from painful experience I learned the hard way not to skip backups.
182 hit the books to study hard Finals are next week — time to hit the books.
183 pick someone’s brain to ask someone for their expert opinion Can I pick your brain about the marketing strategy?
184 ring a bell to sound vaguely familiar That name rings a bell, but I can’t remember where I heard it.
185 know something inside out to know something extremely well She knows the tax code inside out.
186 it’s not rocket science it’s not complicated Making pasta isn’t rocket science — anyone can do it.
187 wrap your head around to understand something complicated I can’t wrap my head around quantum physics.
188 a bookworm someone who reads a lot My sister is a bookworm — she reads two novels a week.
189 food for thought something worth thinking about The documentary gave me a lot of food for thought.
190 read between the lines to understand a hidden meaning If you read between the lines, the email is clearly a rejection.
191 the bigger picture the overall situation Don’t focus on small details — look at the bigger picture.
192 back to basics returning to fundamental principles After the failed launch, we went back to basics.
193 a wake-up call an event that makes you realize something Failing the exam was a wake-up call to study harder.
194 a no-brainer a decision that requires no thought Taking the higher-paying job was a no-brainer.
195 trial and error learning by experimenting and making mistakes I learned to cook by trial and error.

Communication and Speech

# Idiom Meaning Example
196 beat around the bush to avoid saying something directly Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
197 get to the point to say the most important thing Could you please get to the point?
198 a word of mouth information passed by people talking The restaurant became popular through word of mouth.
199 actions speak louder than words what you do matters more than what you say He promised to change, but actions speak louder than words.
200 easier said than done difficult to actually do Losing weight is easier said than done.
201 go without saying to be obvious It goes without saying that hard work is essential.
202 on the tip of my tongue almost able to remember a word The answer is on the tip of my tongue.
203 have the last word to make the final statement in an argument She always has to have the last word.
204 keep someone in the loop to keep someone informed Please keep me in the loop about any changes.
205 off the record not for public knowledge Off the record, I think the CEO is going to resign.
206 a slip of the tongue something said by accident I called my teacher “Mom” — it was a slip of the tongue.
207 speak volumes to express a lot without words Her silence spoke volumes about how she felt.
208 put it mildly to describe something as less than it really is The project was a disaster, to put it mildly.
209 take someone’s word for it to believe someone without proof You don’t need to check — take my word for it.
210 long story short to summarize Long story short, we missed the flight and had to stay overnight.

Colors

# Idiom Meaning Example
211 once in a blue moon very rarely He visits his parents once in a blue moon.
212 out of the blue unexpectedly She called me out of the blue after 10 years.
213 see red to become very angry I saw red when I found out they’d lied.
214 a red flag a warning sign His lack of references was a major red flag.
215 red tape excessive bureaucracy The project was delayed by government red tape.
216 caught red-handed caught in the act of doing something wrong The thief was caught red-handed.
217 green with envy very jealous She was green with envy when her colleague got promoted.
218 give the green light to give permission The council gave the green light for the new building.
219 grey area an unclear or ambiguous situation The law on this issue is a grey area.
220 paint the town red to go out and celebrate It’s your birthday — let’s paint the town red!
221 black and white very clear; with no ambiguity The rules are black and white — there’s no room for interpretation.
222 a white lie a harmless lie told to avoid hurting someone I told her the dress looked nice — it was just a white lie.
223 in the pink in good health After the surgery, she was back in the pink within weeks.
224 tickled pink very pleased She was tickled pink by the surprise party.
225 golden rule the most important principle The golden rule of cooking: taste as you go.

Travel and Movement

# Idiom Meaning Example
226 hit the road to leave; to start a journey It’s getting late — time to hit the road.
227 off the beaten track away from popular tourist areas We found an amazing restaurant off the beaten track.
228 at a crossroads facing a major decision I’m at a crossroads in my career — stay or change fields.
229 go the distance to complete something fully She trained hard and went the distance in the marathon.
230 jump on the bandwagon to follow a popular trend Everyone’s jumping on the AI bandwagon.
231 off to a flying start starting very well The new business is off to a flying start.
232 on the right track progressing correctly Your essay is on the right track — just needs more examples.
233 go around in circles to discuss without making progress We’ve been going around in circles — let’s make a decision.
234 a bumpy ride a difficult experience The first year of marriage can be a bumpy ride.
235 pave the way to create conditions for something to happen Her research paved the way for modern vaccines.
236 bridge the gap to reduce a difference Education can bridge the gap between rich and poor.
237 in the fast lane living an exciting, high-pressure life Working on Wall Street is life in the fast lane.
238 a dead end a situation with no further progress possible The investigation reached a dead end.
239 take a detour to go a different route; to do something unexpected My career took a detour when I moved to Japan.
240 the road to recovery the process of getting better After the accident, it was a long road to recovery.

Sports and Competition

# Idiom Meaning Example
241 a level playing field equal conditions for everyone We need a level playing field so small businesses can compete.
242 drop the ball to make a mistake or fail to do something The marketing team really dropped the ball on this campaign.
243 move the goalposts to change the rules after someone has started Every time I meet their requirements, they move the goalposts.
244 a whole new ball game a completely different situation Working from home is a whole new ball game compared to the office.
245 the ball is in your court it’s your turn to take action I’ve made my offer — the ball is in your court now.
246 keep the ball rolling to maintain momentum Good — now let’s keep the ball rolling with the next phase.
247 throw a curveball to surprise someone with something unexpected The interview threw me a curveball with a question about coding.
248 step up your game to improve your performance If you want the promotion, you need to step up your game.
249 neck and neck very close in competition The two candidates are neck and neck in the polls.
250 take the lead to move ahead Our team took the lead in the third quarter.

Home and Comfort

# Idiom Meaning Example
251 make yourself at home to feel comfortable Come in and make yourself at home.
252 hit home to have a strong emotional effect The documentary about poverty really hit home.
253 nothing to write home about not impressive or special The food was nothing to write home about.
254 close to home personally relevant or painful Her comments about bad parenting were a bit close to home.
255 bring the house down to make an audience laugh or cheer wildly The comedian brought the house down with his final joke.
256 on the house free of charge Your drinks tonight are on the house.
257 a homebody someone who prefers staying at home I’m a real homebody — I’d rather watch a movie than go out.
258 set the table to prepare for a meeting or situation (figurative) This research sets the table for future clinical trials.
259 a couch potato a lazy person who sits and watches TV He turned into a couch potato after he retired.
260 skeleton in the closet a secret from the past Every family has a few skeletons in the closet.

Health and Well-being

# Idiom Meaning Example
261 fit as a fiddle in very good health My grandfather is 85 and fit as a fiddle.
262 alive and kicking still active and doing well The rumor that the company is failing? It’s alive and kicking.
263 on its last legs about to break down or fail My laptop is on its last legs — I need a new one.
264 go under the knife to have surgery She went under the knife to repair a torn ligament.
265 a clean bill of health confirmation that you are healthy The doctor gave me a clean bill of health.
266 run down exhausted and in poor health I’ve been so run down from working double shifts.
267 keep in shape to maintain fitness I try to keep in shape by swimming three times a week.
268 take it easy to relax; to not overwork The doctor told him to take it easy for a week.
269 an ounce of prevention a small effort now prevents bigger problems later An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — get vaccinated.
270 in the long run over a long period of time Exercise seems boring now, but in the long run it adds years to your life.

Honesty and Deception

# Idiom Meaning Example
271 let the cat out of the bag to reveal a secret She accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
272 pull the wool over someone’s eyes to deceive someone He tried to pull the wool over my eyes, but I wasn’t fooled.
273 take at face value to accept something as it appears You can’t take everything politicians say at face value.
274 come clean to admit the truth She came clean about her mistake and apologized.
275 keep a straight face to not laugh when something is funny I tried to keep a straight face during his ridiculous excuse.
276 through the grapevine heard as a rumor I heard through the grapevine that the company is being sold.
277 bend the truth to say something misleading without fully lying He didn’t lie exactly — he just bent the truth a little.
278 an open book someone with no secrets; transparent She’s an open book — what you see is what you get.
279 the naked truth the complete, unpleasant truth The naked truth is that we can’t afford the project.
280 honest to a fault so honest that it sometimes causes problems He’s honest to a fault — he told the client the product wasn’t ready.

Risk and Danger

# Idiom Meaning Example
281 play with fire to do something dangerous Investing all your savings in one stock is playing with fire.
282 a double-edged sword something with both advantages and disadvantages Social media is a double-edged sword for businesses.
283 walk on thin ice to be in a risky situation You’re walking on thin ice by ignoring the safety rules.
284 jump in at the deep end to start something difficult without preparation My first day as a teacher was jumping in at the deep end — I had no training.
285 out of the frying pan into the fire from one bad situation to a worse one He left his stressful job for an even more stressful one — out of the frying pan into the fire.
286 take a gamble to take a risk She took a gamble and quit her job to start a business.
287 on the line at risk His reputation is on the line with this decision.
288 touch and go uncertain; could go either way After the operation, it was touch and go for a few hours.
289 skating on thin ice in a dangerous situation You’re skating on thin ice if you keep missing deadlines.
290 in deep water in serious trouble The company is in deep water after the data breach.

Attitude and Character

# Idiom Meaning Example
291 take it with a grain of salt to not fully believe I take celebrity health advice with a grain of salt.
292 the best of both worlds the advantages of two things at once Remote work gives me the best of both worlds — flexibility and income.
293 a chip on your shoulder resentment about past treatment He’s had a chip on his shoulder ever since he was passed over for the promotion.
294 keep your cool to stay calm She kept her cool even when the customer was shouting.
295 go with the flow to accept things as they happen I don’t plan too much — I just go with the flow.
296 set in your ways unwilling to change habits My father is set in his ways — he won’t try anything new.
297 look on the bright side to focus on the positive Look on the bright side — at least you have your health.
298 a tough nut to crack a difficult person to deal with or understand The new client is a tough nut to crack.
299 the glass is half full / half empty optimistic vs. pessimistic outlook I try to see the glass as half full, even in tough situations.
300 turn over a new leaf to start behaving better He turned over a new leaf and stopped smoking.

Everyday Situations

# Idiom Meaning Example
301 24/7 all the time; without stopping The convenience store is open 24/7.
302 a change of pace a welcome break from routine Hiking after months of desk work was a nice change of pace.
303 a creature of habit someone who likes routine I’m a creature of habit — same coffee, same time, same café.
304 burn the candle at both ends to work too hard and not rest She’s burning the candle at both ends with two jobs and night school.
305 the last resort the final option when everything else fails Surgery is the last resort — let’s try physical therapy first.
306 sleep on it to delay a decision until the next day It’s a big decision — why don’t you sleep on it?
307 a blessing in disguise something bad that turns out well Getting fired was a blessing in disguise — I started a much better career.
308 once in a lifetime extremely rare A solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
309 leave no stone unturned to search thoroughly The police left no stone unturned in the investigation.
310 the time of my life a period of extreme enjoyment I had the time of my life at that music festival.
311 a far cry from very different from This luxury hotel is a far cry from the hostel I stayed in last year.
312 the whole nine yards everything; the entire amount She decorated the house for Christmas — lights, tree, stockings, the whole nine yards.
313 add insult to injury to make a bad situation even worse To add insult to injury, they charged me for the damaged product.
314 read the room to sense the mood of a group He told a joke at the funeral — he clearly couldn’t read the room.
315 the writing on the wall clear signs that something bad will happen The writing was on the wall — the company was going to close.

Technology and Modern Life

# Idiom Meaning Example
316 at your fingertips easily accessible All the information is at your fingertips with a smartphone.
317 go viral to spread rapidly online The video went viral and reached 50 million views.
318 pull the plug to end something; to disconnect They pulled the plug on the project after the budget was cut.
319 get the hang of to learn how to do something It took me a week to get the hang of the new software.
320 keep up with to stay current with It’s hard to keep up with all the changes in technology.
321 the cutting edge the most advanced stage Their research is on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.
322 reinvent the wheel to waste time doing something that’s already been done We don’t need to reinvent the wheel — let’s use the existing template.
323 bells and whistles extra features that are nice but not necessary The basic model works fine — I don’t need all the bells and whistles.
324 back to the drawing board to start again after a failure The prototype broke, so it’s back to the drawing board.
325 a game changer something that significantly alters a situation AI has been a game changer for the medical industry.

Power and Control

# Idiom Meaning Example
326 call the shots to make the decisions; to be in charge In this company, the CEO calls the shots.
327 have the upper hand to have an advantage In negotiations, the buyer usually has the upper hand.
328 turn the tables to reverse the situation The underdog team turned the tables in the second half.
329 wrap someone around your finger to have complete influence over someone The baby has her father wrapped around her finger.
330 pull strings to use influence to get something done She pulled some strings to get her son into the school.
331 rule of thumb a general guideline As a rule of thumb, save 20% of your income.
332 the powers that be the people in authority The powers that be decided to close the department.
333 throw your weight around to use your authority aggressively He loves throwing his weight around in meetings.
334 give someone free rein to allow complete freedom The manager gave the team free rein to redesign the app.
335 hold all the cards to have all the advantages In this negotiation, the landlord holds all the cards.

Quantity and Degree

# Idiom Meaning Example
336 the tip of the iceberg a small visible part of a much larger issue What we discovered is just the tip of the iceberg.
337 a drop in the ocean a tiny amount compared to what’s needed A $100 donation is just a drop in the ocean for this charity.
338 through the roof extremely high House prices have gone through the roof.
339 over the top excessive; too much The wedding decorations were a bit over the top.
340 few and far between rare; not common Opportunities like this are few and far between.
341 the whole shebang everything; the entire thing She organized the entire event — decorations, catering, music, the whole shebang.
342 in droves in large numbers Tourists come in droves during the summer.
343 a handful a small number; also: someone difficult to manage The children are a real handful when they’re tired.
344 scratch the surface to deal with only a small part This article only scratches the surface of the problem.
345 in leaps and bounds very quickly; making great progress Her English has improved in leaps and bounds this year.

Decisions and Choices

# Idiom Meaning Example
346 on the fence undecided I’m still on the fence about which university to choose.
347 the lesser of two evils the less bad option Neither candidate was great — I voted for the lesser of two evils.
348 take the plunge to make a bold decision After years of thinking about it, she took the plunge and moved abroad.
349 sit on the fence to avoid making a decision You can’t sit on the fence forever — make a choice.
350 cross that bridge when you come to it to deal with a problem when it arises I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
351 play it safe to avoid taking risks He played it safe and chose the stable job.
352 weigh the pros and cons to consider advantages and disadvantages I need to weigh the pros and cons before deciding.
353 burn your boats to commit to a course of action with no return She burned her boats by resigning before finding a new job.
354 think twice to reconsider carefully Think twice before posting personal information online.
355 a tough call a difficult decision Choosing between the two job offers was a tough call.

Beginnings and Endings

# Idiom Meaning Example
356 from the get-go from the very beginning I knew from the get-go that this project would be challenging.
357 start from scratch to begin from nothing We lost all our data and had to start from scratch.
358 at the end of the day when everything is considered At the end of the day, your health is what matters most.
359 turn a new page to make a fresh start After the divorce, she turned a new page in her life.
360 the light at the end of the tunnel hope after a long difficult period After months of treatment, she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
361 come full circle to return to the original position or situation His career has come full circle — he started and ended in the same company.
362 wrap up to finish or conclude Let’s wrap up this meeting — we’ve covered everything.
363 back to the drawing board to start over after failure The app crashed on launch day — back to the drawing board.
364 the end of an era the conclusion of a significant period Her retirement marked the end of an era for the company.
365 kick off to start (an event or project) The conference kicks off at 9 AM on Monday.

Secrets and Privacy

# Idiom Meaning Example
366 keep it under wraps to keep something secret The product launch was kept under wraps until the announcement.
367 behind closed doors in private; secretly Negotiations took place behind closed doors.
368 sweep it under the rug to hide a problem instead of dealing with it The company tried to sweep the scandal under the rug.
369 mum’s the word keep it a secret I’ll tell you, but mum’s the word — don’t tell anyone.
370 an inside job done by someone within the organization The robbery was an inside job — an employee gave them the code.

Patience and Waiting

# Idiom Meaning Example
371 hold your horses be patient; wait Hold your horses — we’re not ready yet.
372 keep your shirt on to calm down; be patient Keep your shirt on — your order will be ready in five minutes.
373 cool your heels to wait, especially reluctantly The doctor made us cool our heels in the waiting room for an hour.
374 Rome wasn’t built in a day important things take time Learning a language is slow — Rome wasn’t built in a day.
375 good things come to those who wait patience is rewarded Don’t rush the process — good things come to those who wait.

Nature and Environment

# Idiom Meaning Example
376 can’t see the forest for the trees too focused on details to see the whole picture You’re so worried about formatting that you can’t see the forest for the trees.
377 barking up the wrong tree looking in the wrong place If you think I stole it, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
378 make hay while the sun shines to take advantage of a good situation Interest rates are low — make hay while the sun shines.
379 beat around the bush to avoid the main topic Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.
380 turn over a new leaf to start fresh; to change behavior He turned over a new leaf and started exercising daily.
381 nip it in the bud to stop a problem early If you see signs of bullying, nip it in the bud.
382 come up roses to turn out well Despite the setbacks, everything came up roses in the end.
383 dig your own grave to create your own downfall By lying to the board, he was digging his own grave.
384 the grass is always greener other situations always seem better than yours She quit to join a startup but realized the grass isn’t always greener.
385 go out on a limb to take a risk by stating an opinion I’ll go out on a limb and say this product will fail.

Miscellaneous Common Idioms

These idioms are used across many contexts and are among the most frequently heard in everyday English.

# Idiom Meaning Example
386 break a leg good luck (used before a performance) You’re on stage in five minutes — break a leg!
387 the ball is in your court it’s your decision now I’ve said my piece — the ball is in your court.
388 a breath of fresh air something refreshingly new The new employee is a breath of fresh air.
389 hang in there don’t give up; stay strong I know it’s hard, but hang in there — it will get better.
390 get the show on the road to start doing something Enough talking — let’s get the show on the road.
391 take a back seat to take a less active role After 30 years of leading the company, she took a back seat.
392 a shot in the dark a guess with little chance of success Asking him was a shot in the dark, but it worked.
393 leave someone high and dry to abandon someone in a difficult situation He left the team high and dry by quitting the day before the presentation.
394 one in a million extremely rare or special A friendship like ours is one in a million.
395 you can’t judge a book by its cover appearances can be deceiving She looks shy, but she’s actually hilarious — you can’t judge a book by its cover.
396 sit tight to wait patiently Sit tight — I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
397 the whole package having everything desirable She’s the whole package — smart, hardworking, and creative.
398 in someone else’s shoes imagining another person’s experience Before you criticize, try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
399 not all it’s cracked up to be not as good as expected The job sounded amazing, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
400 have a lot on your plate to be very busy I can’t help right now — I have a lot on my plate.
401 make a mountain out of a molehill to exaggerate a minor problem You lost one mark on the test — don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
402 two sides of the same coin two aspects of the same thing Fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin.
403 cut someone some slack to be less critical of someone She’s new to the job — cut her some slack.
404 go back to the drawing board to start again with a new plan The design was rejected, so we went back to the drawing board.
405 read someone like a book to understand someone’s feelings easily She can read me like a book — I can never hide anything from her.
406 let sleeping dogs lie to not disturb a situation that could cause trouble Don’t bring up the old argument — let sleeping dogs lie.
407 at the end of your rope at the limit of your patience After months of problems, I was at the end of my rope.
408 hit the ground running to start something with great energy and speed She hit the ground running on her first day and finished three tasks.
409 water under the bridge past events no longer important We argued years ago, but that’s water under the bridge now.
410 keep your eye on the ball to stay focused on your goal Don’t get distracted by side projects — keep your eye on the ball.
411 cut to the chase to get to the main point I don’t have much time — let’s cut to the chase.
412 the best thing since sliced bread something excellent and innovative My new coffee machine is the best thing since sliced bread.
413 when push comes to shove when a situation becomes critical When push comes to shove, you’ll find out who your real friends are.
414 a taste of your own medicine the same bad treatment you gave others He was rude to everyone — and finally got a taste of his own medicine.
415 leave a lasting impression to have a strong, memorable effect Her kindness left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
416 take with a pinch of salt to not fully believe something Health advice on TikTok should be taken with a pinch of salt.
417 a penny for your thoughts what are you thinking about? You look worried — a penny for your thoughts?
418 there’s no such thing as a free lunch everything has a cost The “free” app sells your data — there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
419 the bigger they are, the harder they fall powerful people fail more dramatically The scandal destroyed his career — the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
420 Rome wasn’t built in a day great things take time Don’t expect results immediately — Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Idioms by Difficulty Level

If you are building your idiom knowledge step by step, here is how to prioritize:

Beginner-Friendly (A2–B1)

Start with these — they are the most commonly used and easiest to understand:

a piece of cake, break the ice, in a nutshell, hit the road, once in a blue moon, under the weather, 24/7, keep your fingers crossed, the bigger picture, time flies, better late than never, a no-brainer, from scratch, call it a day, the last straw, on cloud nine, go viral, get the hang of, the ball is in your court, hang in there

Intermediate (B1–B2)

These require more context to use correctly:

a blessing in disguise, the elephant in the room, hit the nail on the head, kill two birds with one stone, bite the bullet, burn the midnight oil, on the same page, cut corners, think outside the box, a double-edged sword, back to square one, cost an arm and a leg, go the extra mile, spill the beans, the tip of the iceberg, a red flag, make ends meet, on the fence, the early bird catches the worm, actions speak louder than words

Advanced (B2–C1)

These are less frequent but demonstrate sophisticated English:

a wolf in sheep’s clothing, penny-wise pound-foolish, out of the frying pan into the fire, live on borrowed time, can’t see the forest for the trees, pull the wool over someone’s eyes, have your cake and eat it too, barking up the wrong tree, throw someone under the bus, move the goalposts, burn your boats, leave no stone unturned, come full circle, a paradigm shift, go out on a limb

Vocabulary to Practice

Add these 25 words commonly associated with idiomatic language to your Linglify dictionary for spaced repetition.

affordable

adjective

Add to dictionary

Able to be bought or reached at a reasonable price.

Examples

- The government is working to provide affordable housing for low-income families.

- This restaurant offers delicious and affordable meals for college students.

commute

verb

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To travel regularly between two places, especially to work.

Examples

- Public transportation helps people commute efficiently reducing traffic congestion.

- Workers commute daily between suburban homes and downtown offices.

conservation

noun

Add to dictionary

The protection and preservation of natural resources or the environment.

Examples

- Water conservation becomes increasingly important during periods of severe drought.

- Wildlife conservation is essential for protecting endangered species from extinction.

demanding

adjective

Add to dictionary

Requiring a lot of effort, patience, or skill; often demanding more than expected.

Examples

- Medical school is very demanding and requires years of intensive study.

- She has a demanding boss who expects perfection in all tasks.

DJ

noun

Add to dictionary

A person who plays and mixes recorded music, A person who plays music or mixes sounds on a radio or at events.

Examples

- The DJ played my favorite song.

- The DJ took song requests all night.

heritage

noun

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The traditions, achievements, and qualities of a particular group or nation.

Examples

- She inherited a rich heritage of family traditions from her grandparents.

- The ancient castle is an important part of our cultural heritage.

leisure

noun

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Free time when someone can relax or do leisure activities.

Examples

- People enjoy various leisure activities during weekends and holidays.

- Reading books is popular leisure pursuit for many educated people.

luxurious

adjective

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Extremely comfortable, elegant, or opulent; very fancy.

Examples

- She dreams of owning luxurious car with leather seats and sunroof.

- The luxurious hotel suite includes marble bathroom and ocean view.

memorable

adjective

Add to dictionary

Causing a strong impression or worth remembering.

Examples

- Graduation day was memorable occasion for entire family.

- The memorable speech inspired students to pursue their dreams.

nutritious

adjective

Add to dictionary

Providing good health benefits and nutrition.

Examples

- Fresh vegetables are nutritious and support overall health.

- Nutritious breakfast provides energy for productive school day.

passionate

adjective

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Having or showing strong feelings or enthusiasm.

Examples

- Passionate speech moves audience to take action.

- Passionate teacher inspires students to learn more.

pollution

noun

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The introduction of harmful substances into the environment.

Examples

- Air pollution affects public health in cities.

- Ocean pollution threatens marine life worldwide.

privacy

noun

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The right or ability to keep personal matters or information secret.

Examples

- Hotel guests expect privacy during their stay.

- Internet privacy becomes increasingly important issue nowadays.

scenic

adjective

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Related to beautiful natural views or landscapes.

Examples

- Scenic overlook provides perfect spot for photographs.

- Scenic route takes longer but offers beautiful.

traditional

adjective

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Following the customs or ways of the past; not new or different.

Examples

- Traditional cooking methods preserve authentic flavors perfectly.

- Traditional music reflects cultural history and values.

uneven

adjective

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Not level or smooth; uneven.

Examples

- Uneven ground makes walking difficult and dangerous.

- Uneven performance shows inconsistent skill level development.

volunteer

verb

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To offer to do a service or task willingly, often without being asked.

Examples

- Citizens volunteer time for community improvement projects.

- Students volunteer at local charity organizations regularly.

substantially

adverb

Add to dictionary

To a large extent or degree; significantly.

Examples

- Her performance substantially improved after additional training and practice.

- Prices have increased substantially over the past few months.

liaison

noun

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A close working relationship or communication link between people or organizations.

Examples

- Military liaison officers coordinate operations between allied forces.

- She serves as liaison between different departments.

sustainable

adjective

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This adjective describes something that can be maintained or continued without depleting resources.

Examples

- Company implements sustainable business model for long-term success.

- Sustainable farming practices protect soil and water resources.

acclaimed

adjective

Add to dictionary

Describing someone or something that has been publicly praised or recognized.

Examples

- His performance was acclaimed by critics.

- The acclaimed author received many awards for her novel.

cancellation

noun

Add to dictionary

The act of stopping or calling off an event, activity, or arrangement.

Examples

- Due to weather, the flight cancellation was inevitable.

- The concert's cancellation disappointed many fans.

discretion

noun

Add to dictionary

The ability to judge what is appropriate or prudent in a particular situation.

Examples

- He exercised discretion in his decisions.

- Use your discretion when sharing information.

indication

noun

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A sign or signal that points to or suggests something.

Examples

- The indication of his illness was clear after the tests.

- There was no indication that she was unhappy.

serenity

noun

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A state of calm, peacefulness, and mental clarity.

Examples

- She maintained her serenity despite the chaos.

- The serenity of the lake was calming.

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How to Learn Idioms Effectively

1. Learn in topic groups, not random lists

The 20 topic categories above exist for a reason. When you learn “spill the beans,” “in a nutshell,” and “a recipe for disaster” together (all food idioms), your brain creates stronger connections than if you memorize random idioms alphabetically.

2. Learn actively: use them in sentences about your life

For each idiom you learn, write a sentence about a real situation from your own life. “I had butterflies in my stomach before my driving test” is far more memorable than a generic textbook example.

3. Start with 50, not 500

Do not try to memorize this entire list. Pick 50 idioms that feel natural for topics you actually discuss. If you never talk about sports, skip the sports idioms. If you work in business, prioritize money and work idioms.

4. Watch for idioms in media

English movies, TV series, podcasts, and songs are full of idioms. When you hear one, pause and check its meaning. Hearing an idiom in a real context teaches you more about usage than any definition.

5. Use spaced repetition

Add your target idioms to Linglify or any spaced repetition system. Research shows you need 8–12 exposures before a word or expression enters your active vocabulary. Daily 5-minute review sessions beat weekly 30-minute cramming sessions.

For a science-backed approach to vocabulary memorization, see How to Memorize Vocabulary.

6. Do not force idioms

The biggest mistake learners make is overusing idioms. One or two per conversation is natural. Five in a paragraph sounds rehearsed. Native speakers use idioms sparingly — so should you.

Study approach: learn idioms by topic, practice with real sentences, review with spaced repetition

What to Read Next

This pillar guide gives you the complete idiom reference. Here are deep-dive guides for specific needs:

By number:

For exams:

Related vocabulary:

FAQ

How many idioms are there in English?

Estimates range from 10,000 to 25,000 depending on how you count. Many are regional (used only in British or American English), archaic (no longer common), or domain-specific (used only in law, medicine, or finance). For general fluency, knowing 200–300 common idioms covers the vast majority of what you will encounter in everyday English.

What is the difference between an idiom and a proverb?

A proverb is a short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth or advice: “The early bird catches the worm.” An idiom is a fixed expression with a non-literal meaning: “kick the bucket” (= die). Some proverbs are also idioms (their meaning is figurative), but many proverbs are literal advice. The key test: if the expression gives advice or states a universal truth, it is likely a proverb. If it is a phrase you use within a sentence to describe a specific situation, it is more likely an idiom.

Can I use idioms in formal writing?

Use idioms very sparingly in formal writing. In academic essays, business reports, and official correspondence, idioms can seem unprofessional or too casual. However, in semi-formal contexts — blog posts, opinion columns, presentation slides — one or two well-placed idioms can add personality. The rule: the more formal the context, the fewer idioms you should use.

Do idioms translate between languages?

Some idioms have equivalents in other languages (“break the ice” exists in many European languages), but most do not translate literally. “It’s raining cats and dogs” makes no sense in most languages. This is precisely why idioms are difficult for learners — you cannot use your native language as a shortcut. Learn each English idiom as a complete, fixed expression.

Which idioms should I learn first?

Start with the 20 beginner-friendly idioms listed in the “Idioms by Difficulty Level” section above. These are the most frequently used and most universally understood. Then move to the intermediate list. Prioritize idioms that match topics you actually discuss — there is no point memorizing business idioms if you never talk about work.

Are British and American idioms different?

Most common idioms are shared between British and American English. However, some are regional: “Bob’s your uncle” (British), “knock on wood” vs. “touch wood” (American vs. British), “a home run” (American, from baseball). All 420 idioms in this guide are widely understood in both varieties. For region-specific lists, see our guides on British Idioms and American Idioms.

How many idioms do I need for IELTS?

For IELTS Band 7, you need to use some idiomatic language “naturally and appropriately” in Speaking. In practice, 10–15 well-practiced idioms are sufficient. For Band 8–9, idioms should flow naturally throughout your speech. See our Idioms for IELTS Speaking guide for the 50 best idioms for the exam.

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