English Idioms
What are idioms? Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. (wik)
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Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that cannot be translated literally. For example, the idiom "Get the ball rolling" means "get a process started", but that meaning is not obvious from the individual words. English language has many idioms, and they are challenging for esl students to learn. The best way to understand an idiom is to see it in context. Here is a small dictionary of 100 English idioms and phrases with their meaning.
A blessing in disguise| something good that isn't recognized at first
A hot potato| controversial or sensitive issue
A penny for your thoughts| asking someone what they are thinking about
A piece of cake| very easy
A slap on the wrist| a very mild punishment
A Toss-Up| a result that is still unclear and can go either way
Add insult to injury| make a bad situation even worse
Against the clock| rushed and short on time
All Greek to me| meaningless and incomprehensible either due to complexity or imprecision
All in the same boat| when everyone is facing the same challenges
All of a sudden| something that happens very quickly and unexpectedly
An arm and a leg| very expensive; a large amount of money
An ax to grind| to have a dispute with someone
At the drop of a hat| willing to do something immediately, on the slightest signal or urging
Back to square one| having to start all over again
Back to the drawing board| when an attempt fails and it's time to start all over
Be sick and tired of| to be angry, bored or annoyed with something
Beat a dead horse| to force an issue that has already ended
Beat around the bush| avoiding the main topic
Bend over backwards| do whatever it takes to help
Break the ice| to break social formality and to initiate conversation
Buy a lemon| to buy a car that constantly gives problems
Call it a night| to stop an activity for the rest of the night
Catch 22| a situation in which a desired outcome is impossible no matter what choice is made
Caught between two stools| when it is difficult to choose between two alternatives
Come a long way| make a lot of progress and improvemen
Costs an arm and a leg| to be very expensive
Cut corners| to do something in the fastest or cheapest way
Cut it out!| stop doing something bad
Cut to the chase| leave out unnecessary details and just get to the point
Devil's advocate| one who takes a position just for the sake of argument
Down to the wire| something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds
Draw a line in the sand| establish a limit beyond which things will not accepted
Feeling a bit under the weather| feeling slightly ill
For crying out loud!| expresses frustration or annoyance with somebody or something
From the horse's mouth| to hear something from the authoritative or dependable source
Get over it| to move beyond something that is bothering you
Get the ball rolling| get a process started
Go the extra mile| going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand
Good Samaritan| one who helps others when they are in need, with no thought of a reward
Gut feeling| a personal, intuitive feeling or response, especially when something may not be right
Head over heels| very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love
Hear it on the grapevine| receive information indirectly, similar to a rumor
High five| slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture
Hit the books| to study; prepare for class
Hit the nail on the head| do something or say something exactly right
Hocus pocus| in general, a term used in magic or trickery
In ages| for a very long time
In hot water| in trouble; in difficulties
In the blink of an eye| in an extremely short time
It's a small world| something you say when seeing the same people, events or situations in different places.
Jaywalk| crossing the street without using the crosswalk
Kick the bucket| to die
Kill two birds with one stone| accomplish two tasks with only one effort
Learn the ropes| to learn the basics
Lend a hand| to help; to give assistance
Let sleeping dogs lie| to avoid restarting a conflict
Let the cat out of the bag| to share a secret that wasn't suppose to be shared
Long time, no see!| an expression used to greet someone who you have not seen for a long time
Long shot| highly unlikely
Look like a million dollars| to be very well dressed; to look great
Loose cannon| someone whose actions are unpredictable and uncontrollable
Lose your head| to become upset, confused or overly emotional about something
Lose your short| to lose all of or most of your money
Miss the boat| to be too late; lose the opportunity; fail to take action
Money talks| money has influence and power
Mumbo jumbo| nonsense or meaningless speech or writing
Nest egg| savings set aside for future use
Off the hook| freed from a blame or obligation; having avoided a difficult situation
On the ball| to understand the situation well
Once in a blue moon| something that happens very rarely
Once in a while| sometimes, not very often
Out of the blue| something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs
Over my dead body| when you absolutely will not accept or allow something to happen
Over the top| very excessive; outrageously overdone
Poker face| a face with no expression
Pull the plug| to stop something; to bring something to an end
Pulling your leg| tricking someone as a joke
Rule of thumb| a useful principle, basic rule that is usually but not always correct
Run out of steam| to be completely out of energy
Saved by the bell| rescued from a danger at the last possible moment
Scapegoat| someone else who takes the blame
See eye to eye| be in agreement
Sit on the fence| undecided about an issue; not able to make a decision
Sleep on it| wait until the next day before making an important decision
Speak of the devil!| reference to a person who appears unexpectedly while being talked about
Start from scratch| to do it all over again from the beginning
Take it easy| good-bye; calm down; relax
Take with a pinch of salt| do not completely believe it
The ball is in your court| your turn to speak or act next
The best of both worlds| get the benefits and advantages of two different things
The last straw| the last little burden or problem that causes everything to collapse
The whole nine yards| everything, all of it
Time out| stop; take a break; calm down
Turn a blind eye| to ignore something you know is real and pretend you do not see it
Twenty-four/seven| all the time; continuous operation
Up to the minute| the most recent
When pigs fly| something that will never ever happen
You bet!| sure, yes, of course
Zero Tolerance| no crime or law breaking to be overlooked
A hot potato| controversial or sensitive issue
A penny for your thoughts| asking someone what they are thinking about
A piece of cake| very easy
A slap on the wrist| a very mild punishment
A Toss-Up| a result that is still unclear and can go either way
Add insult to injury| make a bad situation even worse
Against the clock| rushed and short on time
All Greek to me| meaningless and incomprehensible either due to complexity or imprecision
All in the same boat| when everyone is facing the same challenges
All of a sudden| something that happens very quickly and unexpectedly
An arm and a leg| very expensive; a large amount of money
An ax to grind| to have a dispute with someone
At the drop of a hat| willing to do something immediately, on the slightest signal or urging
Back to square one| having to start all over again
Back to the drawing board| when an attempt fails and it's time to start all over
Be sick and tired of| to be angry, bored or annoyed with something
Beat a dead horse| to force an issue that has already ended
Beat around the bush| avoiding the main topic
Bend over backwards| do whatever it takes to help
Break the ice| to break social formality and to initiate conversation
Buy a lemon| to buy a car that constantly gives problems
Call it a night| to stop an activity for the rest of the night
Catch 22| a situation in which a desired outcome is impossible no matter what choice is made
Caught between two stools| when it is difficult to choose between two alternatives
Come a long way| make a lot of progress and improvemen
Costs an arm and a leg| to be very expensive
Cut corners| to do something in the fastest or cheapest way
Cut it out!| stop doing something bad
Cut to the chase| leave out unnecessary details and just get to the point
Devil's advocate| one who takes a position just for the sake of argument
Down to the wire| something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds
Draw a line in the sand| establish a limit beyond which things will not accepted
Feeling a bit under the weather| feeling slightly ill
For crying out loud!| expresses frustration or annoyance with somebody or something
From the horse's mouth| to hear something from the authoritative or dependable source
Get over it| to move beyond something that is bothering you
Get the ball rolling| get a process started
Go the extra mile| going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand
Good Samaritan| one who helps others when they are in need, with no thought of a reward
Gut feeling| a personal, intuitive feeling or response, especially when something may not be right
Head over heels| very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love
Hear it on the grapevine| receive information indirectly, similar to a rumor
High five| slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture
Hit the books| to study; prepare for class
Hit the nail on the head| do something or say something exactly right
Hocus pocus| in general, a term used in magic or trickery
In ages| for a very long time
In hot water| in trouble; in difficulties
In the blink of an eye| in an extremely short time
It's a small world| something you say when seeing the same people, events or situations in different places.
Jaywalk| crossing the street without using the crosswalk
Kick the bucket| to die
Kill two birds with one stone| accomplish two tasks with only one effort
Learn the ropes| to learn the basics
Lend a hand| to help; to give assistance
Let sleeping dogs lie| to avoid restarting a conflict
Let the cat out of the bag| to share a secret that wasn't suppose to be shared
Long time, no see!| an expression used to greet someone who you have not seen for a long time
Long shot| highly unlikely
Look like a million dollars| to be very well dressed; to look great
Loose cannon| someone whose actions are unpredictable and uncontrollable
Lose your head| to become upset, confused or overly emotional about something
Lose your short| to lose all of or most of your money
Miss the boat| to be too late; lose the opportunity; fail to take action
Money talks| money has influence and power
Mumbo jumbo| nonsense or meaningless speech or writing
Nest egg| savings set aside for future use
Off the hook| freed from a blame or obligation; having avoided a difficult situation
On the ball| to understand the situation well
Once in a blue moon| something that happens very rarely
Once in a while| sometimes, not very often
Out of the blue| something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs
Over my dead body| when you absolutely will not accept or allow something to happen
Over the top| very excessive; outrageously overdone
Poker face| a face with no expression
Pull the plug| to stop something; to bring something to an end
Pulling your leg| tricking someone as a joke
Rule of thumb| a useful principle, basic rule that is usually but not always correct
Run out of steam| to be completely out of energy
Saved by the bell| rescued from a danger at the last possible moment
Scapegoat| someone else who takes the blame
See eye to eye| be in agreement
Sit on the fence| undecided about an issue; not able to make a decision
Sleep on it| wait until the next day before making an important decision
Speak of the devil!| reference to a person who appears unexpectedly while being talked about
Start from scratch| to do it all over again from the beginning
Take it easy| good-bye; calm down; relax
Take with a pinch of salt| do not completely believe it
The ball is in your court| your turn to speak or act next
The best of both worlds| get the benefits and advantages of two different things
The last straw| the last little burden or problem that causes everything to collapse
The whole nine yards| everything, all of it
Time out| stop; take a break; calm down
Turn a blind eye| to ignore something you know is real and pretend you do not see it
Twenty-four/seven| all the time; continuous operation
Up to the minute| the most recent
When pigs fly| something that will never ever happen
You bet!| sure, yes, of course
Zero Tolerance| no crime or law breaking to be overlooked