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Idiom Examples: 200+ English Idioms with Meanings and Sentences
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Idiom Examples: 200+ English Idioms with Meanings and Sentences

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The fastest way to learn idioms is through examples. Definitions tell you what an idiom means, but examples show you how it actually works — in real sentences, with real context. That is what this article gives you: 200+ idiom examples, each with a clear meaning and a natural sentence showing exactly how native speakers use it.

These are not rare literary expressions. Every idiom here appears regularly in conversation, movies, news, business, and academic English. If you are preparing for IELTS, TOEFL, or TOEIC, you will encounter many of these on the exam. If you are learning English for work or travel, you will hear them every day.

  • Total: 200+ idiom examples
  • Format: Idiom → Meaning → Example sentence
  • Organized by: 10 topic categories
  • Level: A2–C1
  • For: exam prep, fluency, understanding native speakers

For the complete 500+ idiom reference, see our English Idioms: Complete Guide.

Everyday Life

These idioms appear in daily conversation more than any others.

# Idiom Meaning Example
1 a piece of cake something very easy The driving test was a piece of cake — I passed on the first try.
2 break the ice to start a conversation in an uncomfortable situation The team-building exercise helped break the ice on the first day.
3 hit the nail on the head to be exactly right You hit the nail on the head — that is exactly the problem.
4 under the weather feeling slightly ill I’m feeling a bit under the weather today, so I’ll work from home.
5 once in a blue moon very rarely We only eat out once in a blue moon — maybe twice a year.
6 call it a day to stop working for the day We’ve been at this for eight hours — let’s call it a day.
7 the last straw the final problem that causes a reaction Being late again was the last straw — they fired him.
8 get out of hand to become uncontrollable The party got out of hand after midnight.
9 in the long run over a long period of time Learning English is hard now, but it will pay off in the long run.
10 at the end of the day ultimately; when everything is considered At the end of the day, your health is more important than your job.
11 give it a shot to try something I’ve never tried skiing, but I’ll give it a shot.
12 a blessing in disguise something bad that turns out to be good Losing that job was a blessing in disguise — I found a much better one.
13 better late than never it is better to do something late than not at all You finally finished the report? Well, better late than never.
14 bite off more than you can chew to take on too much She bit off more than she could chew by signing up for five courses.
15 burn the midnight oil to work very late at night I’ve been burning the midnight oil to finish this project.
16 hit the road to leave; to start a journey It’s getting late — we should hit the road.
17 on the same page in agreement Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page before the meeting.
18 the tip of the iceberg a small visible part of a much bigger problem The complaints we received are just the tip of the iceberg.
19 go the extra mile to do more than what is expected She always goes the extra mile for her clients.
20 a no-brainer an easy decision Taking the promotion was a no-brainer — better pay, better hours.

Emotions and Feelings

Idioms are especially rich when describing how people feel.

# Idiom Meaning Example
21 on cloud nine extremely happy She’s been on cloud nine since she got the job offer.
22 over the moon delighted; ecstatic They were over the moon when they heard about the baby.
23 down in the dumps feeling sad or depressed He’s been down in the dumps since his girlfriend left.
24 have butterflies in your stomach to feel nervous I always have butterflies in my stomach before interviews.
25 get cold feet to become too nervous to do something He got cold feet and cancelled the presentation.
26 blow off steam to release stress or anger After a tough week, I blow off steam by going to the gym.
27 keep your chin up to stay positive in a difficult situation I know you didn’t get the job, but keep your chin up.
28 on edge nervous and anxious Everyone has been on edge since the layoff announcements.
29 sick and tired extremely annoyed; fed up I’m sick and tired of hearing excuses.
30 lose your temper to become angry She rarely loses her temper, but today was an exception.
31 have a change of heart to change your opinion or decision He was going to sell the house, but he had a change of heart.
32 get something off your chest to talk about something that has been bothering you I need to get this off my chest — I disagree with the plan.
33 bite your tongue to stop yourself from saying something I wanted to argue, but I bit my tongue.
34 cry over spilled milk to waste time regretting something that is done The deadline passed — there’s no point crying over spilled milk.
35 drive someone up the wall to greatly annoy someone That constant noise is driving me up the wall.
36 have a soft spot for to have a special fondness for She has a soft spot for stray animals.
37 wear your heart on your sleeve to show your emotions openly He wears his heart on his sleeve — you always know how he feels.
38 a weight off your shoulders a relief after removing a burden Finishing the thesis was a huge weight off my shoulders.
39 jump for joy to be extremely happy When she heard the news, she literally jumped for joy.
40 scared stiff extremely frightened I was scared stiff during the horror movie.

Work and Business

Essential for professional settings and business English exams like TOEIC.

# Idiom Meaning Example
41 back to square one to start over from the beginning The client rejected our proposal, so it’s back to square one.
42 think outside the box to think creatively We need to think outside the box to solve this problem.
43 get the ball rolling to start a process Let’s get the ball rolling on the new marketing campaign.
44 cut corners to do something the easy way, sacrificing quality The builder cut corners on materials, and the roof leaked within a year.
45 in the loop informed about something Please keep me in the loop about any changes to the schedule.
46 pull strings to use personal connections to get something done He pulled some strings to get his son the internship.
47 a game changer something that significantly changes a situation Remote work was a game changer for employee satisfaction.
48 bring to the table to contribute something of value What skills do you bring to the table?
49 up in the air uncertain; not yet decided The project timeline is still up in the air.
50 a win-win situation an outcome that benefits everyone The deal was a win-win — both companies increased their market share.
51 the bottom line the most important fact or consideration The bottom line is that we need to cut costs by 15%.
52 go back to the drawing board to start planning again from scratch That approach failed completely — time to go back to the drawing board.
53 ahead of the curve more advanced than others Their use of AI puts them ahead of the curve in the industry.
54 call the shots to make the decisions As team lead, you’ll be calling the shots on this project.
55 on the same wavelength thinking in the same way We finished each other’s sentences — we were on the same wavelength.
56 raise the bar to set higher standards The new CEO raised the bar for product quality.
57 a steep learning curve something difficult to learn at first The new software has a steep learning curve, but it’s worth it.
58 touch base to briefly make contact Let’s touch base next week to check progress.
59 play it by ear to improvise; to decide as you go We don’t have a fixed agenda — let’s just play it by ear.
60 burn bridges to destroy relationships or opportunities Don’t burn bridges when you leave a job — you may need those contacts later.

Time and Speed

# Idiom Meaning Example
61 in the nick of time just barely in time The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
62 time flies time passes quickly I can’t believe it’s December already — time flies.
63 around the clock 24 hours a day; constantly The team worked around the clock to meet the deadline.
64 in a heartbeat immediately; without hesitation I’d move to Japan in a heartbeat if I got the chance.
65 against the clock in a hurry; with limited time We’re working against the clock to finish before Friday.
66 behind the times outdated; old-fashioned Their marketing strategy is behind the times.
67 a matter of time something that will inevitably happen It’s only a matter of time before they find out.
68 from time to time occasionally I still think about my old school friends from time to time.
69 kill time to do something unimportant while waiting I was just killing time at the airport, browsing the shops.
70 at the eleventh hour at the very last moment The agreement was reached at the eleventh hour.

Ten categories of idiom examples — everyday life, emotions, work, time, money, success, relationships, knowledge, nature, health

Money and Value

# Idiom Meaning Example
71 cost an arm and a leg to be very expensive The car repair cost an arm and a leg.
72 break the bank to spend more than you can afford A weekend trip doesn’t have to break the bank.
73 a rip-off something unfairly overpriced $15 for a cup of coffee? That’s a rip-off.
74 make ends meet to earn just enough to cover expenses After losing her job, she struggled to make ends meet.
75 save for a rainy day to save money for future emergencies My grandmother always told me to save for a rainy day.
76 worth its weight in gold extremely valuable or useful A good mentor is worth their weight in gold.
77 penny for your thoughts asking what someone is thinking You’ve been quiet all evening — penny for your thoughts?
78 pay through the nose to pay far too much We paid through the nose for those concert tickets.
79 tighten your belt to spend less money After the pay cut, the whole family had to tighten their belts.
80 money talks wealth gives people power and influence He got the best lawyer — money talks.
81 foot the bill to pay for something The company will foot the bill for the team dinner.
82 bring home the bacon to earn the household income Both parents bring home the bacon in most families today.
83 go Dutch to split the bill equally We always go Dutch when we eat out together.
84 put your money where your mouth is to support your words with action If you really believe in the idea, put your money where your mouth is.
85 a dime a dozen very common and not valuable Business ideas are a dime a dozen — execution is what matters.

Success and Failure

# Idiom Meaning Example
86 hit the jackpot to have great unexpected success We hit the jackpot with our new hire — she’s brilliant.
87 back to the drawing board to start over after a failure The experiment failed, so it’s back to the drawing board.
88 miss the boat to miss an opportunity If you don’t apply this week, you’ll miss the boat.
89 a long shot something unlikely to succeed Getting into Harvard is a long shot, but worth trying.
90 break new ground to do something innovative The research team broke new ground in renewable energy.
91 on a roll experiencing a series of successes She’s won three games in a row — she’s on a roll.
92 the sky’s the limit there is no limit to what can be achieved With your talent, the sky’s the limit.
93 throw in the towel to give up After three failed attempts, he threw in the towel.
94 come up short to fail to reach a goal We came up short of our sales target by just 2%.
95 fall flat to fail completely The joke fell flat — nobody laughed.
96 have the upper hand to have an advantage With more experience, she has the upper hand in negotiations.
97 make or break something that determines success or failure This presentation is make or break for the entire project.
98 from rags to riches from poverty to wealth Her from-rags-to-riches story inspired millions.
99 a hard nut to crack a difficult problem or person Getting planning permission was a hard nut to crack.
100 learn the ropes to learn the basics of a new job or activity It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at the new office.

Relationships and People

# Idiom Meaning Example
101 see eye to eye to agree completely My sister and I rarely see eye to eye on politics.
102 stab someone in the back to betray someone I trusted him, and he stabbed me in the back.
103 give someone the cold shoulder to deliberately ignore someone After the argument, she gave me the cold shoulder for a week.
104 let someone off the hook to allow someone to escape responsibility The teacher let him off the hook for missing the deadline.
105 break the ice to ease the tension in a social situation A simple joke can break the ice at a networking event.
106 hit it off to get along well immediately We hit it off the moment we met at the conference.
107 go behind someone’s back to do something secretly without their knowledge He went behind my back and complained to the manager.
108 the apple of someone’s eye someone’s favorite person Their granddaughter is the apple of their eye.
109 be on thin ice to be in a risky situation You’re on thin ice with the boss after missing two deadlines.
110 bend over backwards to try very hard to help someone She bent over backwards to make the guests feel welcome.
111 birds of a feather people with similar interests They’re both data nerds — birds of a feather.
112 bury the hatchet to end a conflict; to make peace After years of rivalry, they finally buried the hatchet.
113 get on someone’s nerves to annoy someone His constant humming really gets on my nerves.
114 pull someone’s leg to joke with someone Relax, I’m just pulling your leg — of course you passed.
115 a shoulder to cry on someone who listens and offers comfort Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes.

Knowledge and Learning

Especially useful for academic contexts and exams.

# Idiom Meaning Example
116 know something inside out to know something extremely well She knows the company’s policies inside out.
117 pick someone’s brain to ask someone for their knowledge or advice Can I pick your brain about investing?
118 a steep learning curve a situation where you need to learn a lot quickly Starting a new programming language is always a steep learning curve.
119 ring a bell to sound familiar The name rings a bell, but I can’t remember where I heard it.
120 the penny dropped to suddenly understand something I stared at the puzzle for an hour, and then the penny dropped.
121 do your homework to research and prepare thoroughly Before the interview, do your homework on the company.
122 learn by heart to memorize completely She learned the entire poem by heart.
123 a quick study someone who learns things fast He’s a quick study — he picked up the software in one day.
124 have a lot on your plate to have many responsibilities She has a lot on her plate between work and evening classes.
125 food for thought something worth thinking about seriously The lecture was food for thought — I’m reconsidering my approach.
126 think on your feet to make quick decisions under pressure Good managers need to think on their feet.
127 know the ropes to understand how things work After six months, I finally know the ropes.
128 back to basics to return to fundamental principles The team needs to go back to basics and focus on quality.
129 read between the lines to understand the hidden meaning If you read between the lines, the email is actually a warning.
130 on the right track making progress in the correct direction Your essay is on the right track — just needs a stronger conclusion.

Nature and Weather

# Idiom Meaning Example
131 raining cats and dogs raining very heavily We can’t go out — it’s raining cats and dogs.
132 under the weather feeling slightly sick I’m a bit under the weather — I think I caught a cold.
133 a storm in a teacup a big fuss about something unimportant The argument at the meeting was a storm in a teacup.
134 every cloud has a silver lining something good comes from every bad situation I lost my job, but I found a better one — every cloud has a silver lining.
135 break the ice to ease the tension at the start of a conversation His joke broke the ice and everyone relaxed.
136 tip of the iceberg a small visible part of a much larger problem The accounting errors are just the tip of the iceberg.
137 when it rains, it pours problems tend to come all at once First the car broke down, then I lost my wallet — when it rains, it pours.
138 get wind of to hear about something, often a secret The press got wind of the merger before the official announcement.
139 a breath of fresh air something refreshingly new or different Her creative approach was a breath of fresh air for the team.
140 calm before the storm a peaceful period before something chaotic The office was quiet on Friday — it was the calm before the storm.
141 snowed under extremely busy; overwhelmed with work I’m completely snowed under this week — can we meet next Monday?
142 nip something in the bud to stop a problem before it grows We need to nip this issue in the bud before it affects other departments.
143 come rain or shine no matter what happens I walk to work every day, come rain or shine.
144 twist someone’s arm to persuade someone to do something they are reluctant to do I didn’t want to go, but she twisted my arm.
145 beat around the bush to avoid talking about the main topic Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.

Actions and Decisions

# Idiom Meaning Example
146 take the plunge to do something risky or decisive After years of planning, she finally took the plunge and started her own business.
147 go the extra mile to do more than what is required He always goes the extra mile to satisfy customers.
148 cross that bridge when you come to it to deal with a problem when it actually happens We might not get rejected — let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.
149 sleep on it to wait until the next day before making a decision That’s a big commitment — why don’t you sleep on it?
150 jump on the bandwagon to follow a popular trend Every company is jumping on the AI bandwagon right now.
151 turn over a new leaf to start behaving better After the warning, he promised to turn over a new leaf.
152 sit on the fence to avoid making a decision Stop sitting on the fence and choose a direction.
153 take it with a grain of salt to not fully believe something He exaggerates — take everything he says with a grain of salt.
154 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.
155 let the cat out of the bag to accidentally reveal a secret I was planning a surprise, but my brother let the cat out of the bag.
156 face the music to accept the consequences of your actions You made the mistake — now you have to face the music.
157 get your act together to organize yourself; to start behaving responsibly If you want to pass the exam, you need to get your act together.
158 take the bull by the horns to face a difficulty directly and bravely Instead of waiting, she took the bull by the horns and spoke to the director.
159 a taste of your own medicine experiencing the same bad treatment you gave others He’s always late, so we left without him — a taste of his own medicine.
160 cut to the chase to get to the main point without delay Let’s cut to the chase — how much will it cost?

Health and Body

# Idiom Meaning Example
161 in good shape in good physical condition; going well The economy is in good shape despite recent challenges.
162 a clean bill of health confirmation that someone is healthy The doctor gave her a clean bill of health.
163 feel on top of the world to feel extremely healthy and happy After the vacation, I feel on top of the world.
164 keep body and soul together to earn barely enough to survive During the recession, many families struggled to keep body and soul together.
165 back on your feet recovered from illness or difficulty After six months of treatment, she’s back on her feet.
166 an apple a day keeps the doctor away healthy habits prevent illness I eat fruit every morning — an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
167 burn the candle at both ends to work too hard with too little rest You’re burning the candle at both ends — you need to slow down.
168 alive and kicking in good health and active She’s 90 years old and still alive and kicking.
169 at death’s door extremely ill He looked like he was at death’s door, but he recovered completely.
170 break a leg good luck (used before a performance) You’re going on stage? Break a leg!

How to Learn Idioms Effectively

Memorizing 200 idioms at once is not realistic. Here is a practical approach:

Step 1: Learn in groups of 5–10

Choose one topic category from this list (emotions, work, money) and study 5–10 idioms from it. Learn the meaning, read the example, and write your own sentence.

Step 2: Use spaced repetition

Add idioms to your Linglify dictionary for automatic review. Idioms are easy to forget because they do not follow normal vocabulary patterns — spaced repetition is essential.

Step 3: Listen for them

Watch an English movie or TV show and try to catch idioms. When you hear one, pause and check if you know the meaning. This trains recognition in natural speech.

Step 4: Use them in conversation

Pick 2–3 idioms per week and deliberately use them in your speaking or writing. Using an idiom correctly in context is worth more than knowing the definition of 50 idioms you never use.

Common mistakes with idioms

  • Translating idioms literally. “Break a leg” does not translate into other languages word for word. Learn the expression as a unit.
  • Mixing up similar idioms. “Hit the road” (to leave) vs “hit the books” (to study hard). Small differences, very different meanings.
  • Overusing idioms. One or two per paragraph is natural. Five in one paragraph sounds forced. In IELTS Speaking, use 1–2 per answer at most.
  • Using the wrong register. Some idioms are casual (“no-brainer,” “rip-off”) and should not appear in formal academic writing. Others (“in the long run,” “the bottom line”) work in both formal and informal contexts.

For more on idioms in exams, see our guide to idioms for IELTS Speaking.

Words to Practice

These 25 words frequently appear alongside idioms in natural English. Add them to your Linglify dictionary for spaced repetition.

boom

noun

Add to dictionary

A loud, deep sound or a sudden increase in activity or popularity.

Examples

- The boom of thunder echoed across the valley.

- The technology boom created many new millionaires.

cooperate

verb

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To work together with others towards a common goal.

evaluate

verb

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To judge or measure the value, quality, or importance of something.

Examples

- Companies evaluate job candidates based on experience, skills, and personality.

- Teachers evaluate student progress through tests, projects, and classroom participation.

graduate

verb

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To complete a course of study at a school or university.

Examples

- She will graduate from university next year with a degree in engineering.

- Students must complete all requirements before they can graduate from high school.

horizon

noun

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The line where the earth or the sky appears to meet in the distance.

Examples

- The sun disappeared behind the horizon as evening approached.

- Traveling broadens your horizon and exposes you to new cultures.

indispensable

adjective

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Absolutely necessary; essential.

Examples

- Clean water is indispensable for human survival and good health.

- Her experience and skills make her indispensable to the research team.

jury

noun

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A group of people who listen to evidence in a court and decide if someone is guilty.

Examples

- The jury deliberated for several hours before reaching a verdict.

- The talent show jury consisted of professional musicians and entertainers.

lifelong

adjective

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Continuing for a very long time or for the whole life.

Examples

- Learning is a lifelong process that never truly ends.

- Their lifelong friendship began during elementary school years.

motivated

adjective

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Feeling driven or inspired to do something because of a reason or goal.

Examples

- Motivated employee seeks additional responsibilities and challenges at work.

- Success requires being motivated even when facing difficult obstacles.

normally

adverb

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Usually; under normal conditions.

Examples

- Heart normally beats between sixty and hundred times per minute.

- Students normally arrive at school before morning bell rings.

off

adjective

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Describes something that is not fresh or is no longer suitable for eating, often used for food and drinks.

Examples

- Please turn off the lights before leaving the room.

- The dog ran off into the forest chasing wild rabbits.

prejudice

noun

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Preconceived opinions or feelings, often negative, about a person or group.

Examples

- Education helps overcome prejudice and promotes understanding.

- Racial prejudice damages communities and individuals alike.

resolve

verb

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To find a solution or answer to a problem or question.

Examples

- Mediator helps parties resolve dispute through negotiation.

- Technical team will resolve software problems quickly.

stress

verb

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To feel mental or emotional pressure or worry; to emphasize or give importance to something.

Examples

- Heavy workload may stress employees beyond limits.

- Teacher will stress importance of homework completion.

total

adjective

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An adjective describing something that is complete or whole, not divided or broken.

Examples

- Total cost includes all fees and expenses.

- Total silence fills room during meditation session.

tragedy

noun

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An extremely sad or serious event that causes suffering or loss.

Examples

- Natural tragedy affects thousands of innocent people.

- Personal tragedy changes person's life perspective completely.

union

noun

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A group of people or things joined together for a purpose.

Examples

- Labor union protects worker rights and interests.

- Marriage union joins two people in partnership.

voyage

noun

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A long journey to a distant place, often by sea or air.

Examples

- Space exploration represents humanity's greatest voyage into the unknown.

- The ocean voyage from Europe to America took several weeks in the past.

candidate

noun

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A person who is competing in an election or contest.

Examples

- Each presidential candidate presented their policy plans to voters.

- The job candidate impressed the interview panel with her experience.

discourage

verb

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To try to make someone feel less confident or hopeful about something.

Examples

- Don't let one failure discourage you from pursuing your dreams.

- High prices discourage many people from buying organic food products.

donate

verb

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To give something, especially money or goods, to help a cause or person.

Examples

- Many people donate money to charities that help homeless individuals.

- She decided to donate blood to help patients in emergency situations.

firmly

adverb

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An adverb indicating a way of doing something with certainty or stability.

Examples

- Hold the rope firmly while climbing down the steep mountain slope.

- The manager firmly believed in treating all employees with respect.

guide

verb

Add to dictionary

To show or direct someone how to do something.

Examples

- Parents should guide their children to make responsible decisions.

- The experienced hiker will guide the group through the mountain trail safely.

humorous

adjective

Add to dictionary

Funny or amusing, often making people laugh.

Examples

- She writes humorous articles about everyday life and family experiences.

- The humorous speech made everyone laugh and lightened the serious mood.

admission

noun

Add to dictionary

The process or fact of being allowed to enter or join.

Examples

- Her admission to the prestigious medical school was the result of hard work.

- The museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month.

Go to library

What to Do Next

  1. Pick one category above and learn 10 idioms from it this week. Write your own example sentence for each one.

  2. Add your favorites to Linglify for spaced repetition. Tag them as “idioms” so you can review the category together.

  3. Read the full idiom reference — our English Idioms: 500+ Common Expressions covers every major category in depth.

  4. Practice with exam content — if you are preparing for IELTS, our IELTS Speaking idioms guide shows exactly how to use idioms for higher scores.

  5. Explore related vocabulary — idioms are one piece of natural English. See our guides to phrasal verbs, collocations, and synonyms and antonyms.

FAQ

What is an idiom with an example?

An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning cannot be understood from its individual words. For example, “break the ice” does not mean to physically break ice — it means to start a conversation in an uncomfortable situation. Example: “The host told a joke to break the ice at the party.” The key feature of idioms is that the whole phrase carries a meaning different from its literal parts.

What are the 10 most common idioms in English?

The most frequently used idioms in everyday English include: (1) a piece of cake (something easy), (2) break the ice (ease social tension), (3) hit the nail on the head (be exactly right), (4) under the weather (feeling ill), (5) once in a blue moon (very rarely), (6) call it a day (stop working), (7) in the long run (over time), (8) the last straw (the final problem), (9) on the same page (in agreement), (10) a no-brainer (an obvious decision).

How many idioms are there in English?

Estimates suggest English has over 25,000 idiomatic expressions. However, most native speakers actively use only 200–500 in daily life. For learners, knowing 100–200 common idioms is enough to understand most conversations and score well on exams. Our complete idioms guide covers 500+ of the most important ones.

How do I learn idioms quickly?

The fastest approach combines three techniques: (1) Learn idioms in topic groups (all money idioms together, all work idioms together) — this creates mental associations. (2) Use spaced repetition to review idioms at increasing intervals. (3) Practice using 2–3 idioms per week in your own speaking or writing. Context-based learning is 3–4 times more effective than just reading definitions.

Should I use idioms in IELTS Writing?

Use idioms sparingly in IELTS Writing — 1–2 per essay maximum, and only if they fit naturally. IELTS Writing rewards formal academic language, and many idioms are too informal (“a piece of cake,” “go bananas”). Safer choices include “in the long run,” “the tip of the iceberg,” and “a double-edged sword,” which work in academic contexts. In IELTS Speaking, idioms are more appropriate — use 1–2 per answer to demonstrate natural language.

What is the difference between idioms and phrasal verbs?

Idioms are fixed expressions with non-literal meanings (“kick the bucket” = die). Phrasal verbs are verb + particle combinations with new meanings (“give up” = quit). The categories overlap — some phrasal verbs are idiomatic (“come across” = find by chance), and some idioms contain phrasal verbs. The practical difference: phrasal verbs follow grammar rules (you can conjugate them: “gave up,” “giving up”), while idioms are usually fixed phrases that cannot be modified.

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