70 English idioms that will help you be understood in no time
Review this list of idioms to improve your mastery and learn more about the English language.
Anyone who has already taken a look at the teaching of English as a second language is familiar with our many idioms. For native speakers, they seem easy, organic and informal. But to those who learn language , they can be anything but. If you think about it, the literal meaning surrounding the most English idioms is at best random and insane at worst. Take a blow, really? How? Anyway, as confusing as they are, these expressions are well integrated into the way we speak. To help you navigate your next conversation, we have drawn up a list of the most common idioms around. You can practice them at home or in person with whom you first meet!
Read this then: Tongue twisters are so good, your mouth may never be the same .
Why is it important to practice idioms when learning English?
The idioms are so intrinsically linked to the way we communicate, that the State Department has really set up a guide for Help new speakers Identify them and perform them effectively in daily conversation. Academics have also stressed the importance of including them in ESL teaching materials . Taking the time to sit down and learn some will help you understand the subtleties involved in any conversation with a native English speaker. This will also improve your speech skills, giving you access to new exciting ways to express yourself.
Common English idioms
By a thick and thin meaning
Meaning : Through good and bad times.
She was going through a difficult period, but she knew that her friends would be there for her through thick and thin.
Bite the ball
Meaning : To approach an intimidating situation quickly and with determination.
He was afraid to confront his brother, but he decided to bite the ball and speak to him.
Old block stroke
Meaning : A way to express that someone shares specific characteristics and features with their parents.
Given the way he managed Reunion, you could certainly say that he was a chip from the old block.
Bell a bell
Meaning : When something seems familiar, but you don't remember details.
I do not know where I know that the saying, but it definitely sounds a bell.
To play the devil's lawyer
Meaning : To argue against someone's point in order to trigger a debate, even if you do not believe in what you say.
I agree with what she said, but I wanted to play Devil's lawyer to see how she would react to certain criticisms.
A taste of your own medication
Meaning : To be treated in the same way as you treat others.
I didn't want to make her feel excluded, but it was time for her to experience a taste of her own medicine.
Draw the line
Meaning : To define a limit or a limit.
I didn't want to seem rigid, but I had to trace the line somewhere.
Hang
Meaning : Persevere; Stay optimistic about a challenge.
I know it's difficult but you just have to hang on; You will pass through this.
Sit on the fence
Meaning : To remain neutral and impartial. It can also be used to describe someone who tries to avoid conflicts by not taking a party.
I hoped more support during the debate, but she decided to sit instead on the fence.
Hunt
Meaning : Access the main point of the story without adding unnecessary details.
I don't need to hear all the details, just cut in pursuit.
Loss contact
Meaning : To no longer perform well in a region in which you have formerly excelled.
I was a big piano, but I lost my contact over the years.
Face music
Meaning : Accept or face the consequences of your actions.
He was tired of running, so he decided it was time to face the music and go.
Jump on the walking train
Meaning : To participate in a popular trend, regardless of your interest or your understanding.
I protested for a while, but I finally decided to jump on the train and get a pair of fangs.
Hit the books
Meaning : To study seriously and concentrated.
I haven't seen her for a few weeks, she really has to hit the books.
Fair and honest
Meaning : A situation that is fair, honest and simple.
There was no cheating involved, he won the race fair and square.
Down
Meaning : A way to describe a situation in which the person involved is not available or incapable.
I was hoping to see him at the party tonight, but it seems that he broke out for the count.
The nine whole meters
Meaning : Give or do everything possible to achieve the full extent of something.
The weather was horrible, but I wanted to go every nine meters every nine meters and finish the path.
Read between the lines
Meaning : To use the subtleties and the subtext of a given situation.
His message seemed friendly to the surface, but if you read between the lines, you can easily resume hostility.
Think before acting
Meaning : To be cautious before going ahead with a specific company.
I support the move, I just want to make sure you look before you jump and do a little more research in advance.
Get back in shape
Meaning : To improve your physical and global health.
I want to get in shape so I decided to start going to the gymnasium.
Action has more weight than words
Meaning : What you do makes more sense than you say.
She said that she was enthusiastic about our commitment, but the actions speak more than the words and that she decided not to attend the nuptial shower.
Hook, line and lead
Meaning : Believe something entirely and without hesitation.
She believed everything he had said that day, Hook, Line and Sinker.
To try
Meaning : To try something or try to do something for the first time.
I read on the many advantages for the health of yoga, so I decided to make him a whirlwind.
Not moving
Meaning : To stay patient and take no measure.
I understand that you are frustrated, but we just need to sit down until it is resolved.
Go back to the drawing board
Meaning : To review your idea or your initial plan.
I thought it was a good pitch, but clearly there are problems, so it is better to return to the drawing board.
It is not rocket science
Meaning : Referring to something obvious or apparent.
Of course, you should lock your doors at night, it's not rocket science.
English idioms on nature
Beat around the bush
Meaning : To avoid a certain subject or not solve the real problem at hand.
Please stop beating the bush and tell me exactly what happened.
It is always darker before dawn
Meaning : Things always seem to be at their worst just before they start improving.
Do not worry, you will start to feel better soon and to realize that it is always the darkest before dawn.
Take caution in the wind
Meaning : To abandon all expectations to pursue something, even if you can fail.
She decided to put all caution in the wind and continue her dream job, even if the market is difficult.
Once in a blue moon
Meaning : Do something rarely or rarely.
I will sometimes have a cigarette, but only once in a blue moon.
Bad the bad tree
Meaning : To waste your energy on something or someone who does not intend to meet your request.
He thought she was going to give her her number, but he barked the bad tree.
Each cloud has a silver line
Meaning : There is something positive to take from each obstacle.
She was going through a difficult period, so I wanted to remind her that each cloud has a silver lining.
I can't see the forest for trees
Meaning : To be so taken in minor details that you cannot see the full situation.
He was so focused on the project that he could not see the forest for trees and began to neglect the global mission of the company.
Come rain or beautiful
Meaning : To follow a plan, whatever the disturbances that the weather presents.
Come rain or good weather, this birthday party will occur.
Put something on the ice
Meaning : To delay do something or put something on hold.
The wedding planning process has become so overwhelming that they decided to put things on the ice for a while.
Under time
Meaning : Feel sick or slowed down.
I feel a little in time, so I will work at home today.
Let offdem
Meaning : To get rid of the energy or the repressed aggression.
Do you want to have a drink tonight? I need to explode steam after this meeting.
Walking on thin ice
Meaning : To find yourself in a precarious or risky position, ignoring the potential consequences.
Be careful with what you say to your sister, you are already walking on thin ice with her.
Read this then: 60 words that people say differently in the United States.
Common idiome involving body parts
Break a leg
Meaning : A way to wish someone good luck. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
Break a leg with your performance tonight.
Port your heart on your sleeve
Meaning : Be openly emotional.
It's hard for me to hide what I feel, you know that I always wear my heart on my sleeve.
To wrap your head
Meaning : To understand or accept a complex and confusing situation.
Give me a minute to wrap my head what's going on here.
Keep an ear to the ground
Meaning : To remain well informed in certain areas or events.
We do not know how it will affect sales, so keep an ear to the ground on the way other companies sail in this change.
Bite more than you can chew
Meaning : Engage in more responsibilities or tasks that you cannot manage.
I think I bit more than I can chew with all these parascolia.
Look in the eyes
Meaning : To suit or share an opinion with someone else.
We do not always see the eyes, but we respect everyone's opinions.
Fall into the ears of a deaf
Meaning : Be ignored or ignored in one way or another.
She had good suggestions, but they all fell into the ears of a deaf and none was accepted by the board of directors.
Someone
Meaning : To persuade or put pressure on someone to do something that he does not want to do.
I had to twist my arm so that he agrees to come to the party.
Make a joke to someone
Meaning : To deceive someone with play; To tease or joke in a humorous way.
I'm just pulling your leg, I wouldn't send him a message from your phone.
English idioms on food
Revers
Meaning : To say to someone you know about someone or something.
Very well, overthrow the beans - How did the date go last night?
The best thing since the sliced bread
Meaning : A good and useful innovation.
I love the new espresso machine! I think it's the best thing since the sliced bread.
Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning : To accept that an anecdote or a story may not be completely exact.
I know it's overwhelming, but it is important to take everything he says with a grain of salt.
Do not put all your eggs in a single basket
Meaning : So as not to concentrate all your efforts in an area.
I think the job interview went well, but I don't want to put all my eggs in a single basket, so I always apply.
Go to the cold turkey
Meaning : To leave entirely and at the same time.
She did not even try to wean smoking, she just left the cold turkey.
A piece of cake
Meaning : Something that can be executed or finished easily.
I was worried about the final exam but it was really a piece of cake.
Sell like hot cakes
Meaning : A popular article that sells quickly and better than expected.
You better get these concert tickets soon; They sell like hotcakes!
Familiar animal idioms
Whining wolf
Meaning : To ask for help when you don't really need it.
Don't pay attention to her, she always cries Wolf.
To bigger fish to fry
Meaning : To have more substantial problems to solve.
I do not get involved in this argument, I have much bigger fish to fry.
A fish out of the water
Meaning : A way to describe someone who is new in a situation and who works uncomfortably.
Coming from the suburbs, she was walking in New York City like a fish out of the water.
Directly from the horse's mouth
Meaning : To receive information directly from the source.
I heard the news directly from the horse's mouth.
Get butterflies in your stomach
Meaning : Feel nervous or anxious for something.
I always receive butterflies in my stomach before a large presentation.
Ants in your pants
Meaning : To be agitated or unable to sit.
The children started to put ants in their pants towards the end of the ride.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning : To escape conflicts by avoiding communication.
I know you want to face it what it has done, but sometimes it is better to let sleep dog lie.
Wild goose chase
Meaning : A unnecessary pursuit of something that cannot be obtained.
The detectives were sent to a wild goose pursuit, each point leading to a dead end.
Silver idioms
For a penny, for a book
Meaning : To fully engage in something, even if it can be difficult or expensive.
I have already spent so much money on this vacation, but I think: "In a penny, for a book", so I made follies on the more expensive tour.
Money speaks
Meaning : A reference to power or the influence of money has decision -making.
Money Talks, which is why he was able to avoid going in judgment.
Penny-sage and book
Meaning : Be careful about small sums of money but negligible with regard to large -scale investments.
I thought it was intelligent to buy cheap cars, but with the money I spent on repairs, the decision turned out to be a penny and a book.
Act rather than talk
Meaning : To follow a promise with action or financial support.
If you are so confident of your investment strategy, why don't you put your money where your mouth is?
Make ends meet
Meaning : To earn enough money to cover your basic needs.
It is difficult to reach both ends at the minimum wage, but we manage.
Milking cow
Meaning : A company or a product that generates a lot of profit.
The new range of products has been a milk cow for the company.
Do not give up your day work
Meaning : To involve that someone is not very good at doing something.
I appreciate that you are trying to learn to cook, but I would not give up your day work.
Sauté
Meaning : To spend more money than you can allow it.
I want everything to be beautiful for the event, but do not break the bank on the decorations.
Wrap
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