Famous Idioms | Meaning

Commonly used Idioms

Idiom: a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language

Every language has its own collection of wise sayings. They offer advice about how to live and also transmit some underlying ideas, principles and values of a given culture / society. These sayings are called "idioms" - or proverbs if they are longer. These combinations of words have (rarely complete sentences) a "figurative" meaning - they basically work with "pictures".

This list of commonly used idioms and sayings (in everyday conversational English) can help you to speak English by learning English idiomatic expressions. This is a list, which contains exactly 66 of the most commonly used idioms and their meaning.

Smart Idioms

A hot potato Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed A penny for your thoughts A way of asking what someone is thinking Actions speak louder than words People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say. Add insult to injury To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation. At the drop of a hat Meaning: without any hesitation; instantly. Back to the drawing board When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over. Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next decision or step Barking up the wrong tree Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person Be glad to see the back of Be happy when a person leaves. Beat around the bush Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue. Best of both worlds Meaning: All the advantages. Best thing since sliced bread A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan. Bite off more than you can chew To take on a task that is way to big. Blessing in disguise Something good that isn't recognized at first. Burn the midnight oil To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting. Can't judge a book by its cover Cannot judge something primarily on appearance. Caught between two stools When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives. Costs an arm and a leg This idiom is used when something is very expensive. Cross that bridge when you come to it Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before. Cry over spilt milk When you complain about a loss from the past. Curiosity killed the cat Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation. Cut corners When something is done badly to save money. Cut the mustard [possibly derived from "cut the muster"] To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate Devil's Advocate To present a counter argument Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched This idiom is used to express "Don't make plans for something that might not happen". Don't give up the day job You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally. Don't put all your eggs in one basket Do not put all your resources in one possibility. Drastic times call for drastic measures When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions. Elvis has left the building The show has come to an end. It's all over. Every cloud has a silver lining Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days. Far cry from Very different from. Feel a bit under the weather Meaning: Feeling slightly ill. Give the benefit of the doubt Believe someone's statement, without proof. Hear it on the grapevine This idiom means 'to hear rumors' about something or someone. Hit the nail on the head Do or say something exactly right Hit the sack / sheets / hay To go to bed. In the heat of the moment Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment. It takes two to tango Actions or communications need more than one person Jump on the bandwagon Join a popular trend or activity. Keep something at bay Keep something away. Kill two birds with one stone This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the same time. Last straw The final problem in a series of problems. Let sleeping dogs lie Meaning - do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications. Let the cat out of the bag To share information that was previously concealed Make a long story short Come to the point - leave out details Method to my madness An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it. Miss the boat This idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her chance Not a spark of decency Meaning: No manners Not playing with a full deck Someone who lacks intelligence. Off one's rocker Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile. On the ball When someone understands the situation well. Once in a blue moon Meaning: Happens very rarely. Picture paints a thousand words A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words. Piece of cake A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple. Put wool over other people's eyes This means to deceive someone into thinking well of them. See eye to eye This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something. Sit on the fence This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision. Speak of the devil! This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives. Steal someone's thunder To take the credit for something someone else did. Take with a grain of salt This means not to take what someone says too seriously. Taste of your own medicine Means that something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else To hear something straight from the horse's mouth To hear something from the authoritative source. Whole nine yards Everything. All of it. Wouldn't be caught dead Would never like to do something Your guess is as good as mine To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question

Although it is difficult to draw a clear line, "an 'idiom' can not be defined as a synonym for aphorism. It is more than that. To be an idiom, a word or phrase must be distinctive to a specific language and have a meaning that is not obvious from the common meaning of the words employed. For example: "raining cats and dogs", "hangover", "jonesing" [drug withdrawal symptoms]. "You're pulling my leg" is an English idiom for "teasing", while "You're winding my clock" is an English translation of a German idiom that means the same thing. Note that in both cases, the meaning is transferred by the culture, not the words themselves." [Author:Robert Hard]

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