Idioms are expressions or words that have figurative meanings, or different meanings as a group from the meaning it would have if you understood each word separately.
Common English Idioms
List of Common English Idioms and Phrases with Their Meaning
- above board: honest, open
- ad lib: improvise, interpolate
- after all: in spite of the situation; nevertheless
- against the grain: contrary to someone’s feelings, principles
- all along: all the time
- all ears: eager to listen
- all of a sudden: no difference
- all thumbs: clumsy
- apple of one’s eye: very dear, precious
- apple of discord: subject of envy or quarrel
- as a rule: generally, usually
- as far as I know: if I have correct information
- as far as I am concerned: in my opinion
- as for me/ as to me: in my opinion
- as well: also, too
- at first sight: from the first glance; at once; at first glance
- at odds with: in disagreement with
- at random: at this time
- backseat driver: a passenger who tells you how to drive
- ballpark figure: approximate estimate (in figures)
- bark at the moon: do a useless thing; waste time
- bark up the wrong tree: accuse or pursue the wrong person; misdirect one’s efforts
- be about to: ready
- be all in: be extremely tired
- be back on one’s feet: healthy again or better financially
- beat around the bush: avoid giving a clear/definite answer
- be behind the times: be old-fashioned, outdated
- be beside oneself: be very upset, nervous, worried
- be better off: be in a better situation (financially)
- be broke: have no money at all; be penniless, bankrupt
- be hard on something or someone: treat roughly
- be high on one’s list: be one of the most important things
- be in charge of something: be responsible for
- be in good health: be healthy
- be in poor health: be not healthy
- be in good shape: be physically fit; in good condition
- be in bad shape: be in bad state; in bad condition
- be in the red: be in debt
- be on/at the point of something: be on the verge of something; be close to doing something
- be out of date: be outdated
- be out of sorts: be in bad temper
- be pressed for time, for money: not to have enough time, money
- be to blame: be responsible for a mistake, for something wrong
- be touch and go: risky, dangerous; uncertain of the result
- be up and around / about: able to be out of bed after an illness
- be up to one’s ears in work: be very busy
- beat around/about the bush: avoid giving a clear or definite answer
- beat one’s brains out: make great efforts, often unsuccessfully
- before long: soon
- big shot: important person
- bite off more than one can chew: try to do more than one can
- bite the bullet: accept painful but necessary action
- bite the dust: be killed; die; suffer defeat
- bite the hand that feeds one: repay kindness with evil
- black sheep: a good-for-nothing member of the family
- blind date: a meeting between a man and a woman (who have never met before) arranged by their friends
- blow it: lose the chance
- bottom line: main result; main factor
- break someone’s heart: hurt deeply
- break the ice: overcome awkwardness or shyness
- break the news (to someone): tell important news
- bring home the bacon: earn the living for the family
- by all means: definitely, certainly
- by heart: by memorizing
- by hook or by crook: by any possible means
- by oneself (by myself, by himself, etc.): alone; on one’s own
- by the way: incidentally
- call a halt to something: terminate, stop something
- call a spade a spade: use plain, direct words
- call it a day: consider work finished for the day
- call the shots: give orders; be in control of something
- call the tune: give orders; be the most important person in some situation
- carry weight: be important
- castles in the air: daydreaming about success
- catch someone’s eye: attract attention
- catch one’s breath: stop and rest
- catch someone off guard: catch someone unprepared
- catch someone red-handed: find someone in the act of doing wrong
- close call: a narrow escape; a bad thing that almost happened
- come to one’s senses: act normally and reasonably again
- come true: become reality
- cross one’s mind: occur to someone
- do one’s best: try very hard
- do one’s bit: do what’s needed
- do someone good: be good for someone
- do something behind someone’s back: do (harmful) things secretively
- down to earth: practical
- draw the line: set a limit; impose a restriction
- duty calls: must fulfill obligations
- eat one’s words: take back one’s words
- every now and then: occasionally
- every other: every second one
- fall in love (with): begin to love
- fall out of love: stop loving
- false alarm: untrue signal; untrue rumor
- a far cry from something: not nearly as good
- feel it in one’s bones: expect something bad to happen
- feel like doing something: want to do; be inclined to do something
- few and far between: rare, scarce
- find fault with someone or something: criticize; complain about
- first things first: important things come before others
- fly off the handle: get angry
- follow in someone’s footsteps: do the same thing
- foot the bill: pay the bill
- for good: forever
- for the time being: for now; at this time
- frame of mind: mental state
- from now on: now and in the future
- from the word go: from the very beginning
- get a grip on oneself: take control of one’s feelings
- get carried away: get too excited and enthusiastic about something
- get cold feet: be afraid to do something
- get even with someone: have one’s revenge
- get in touch with someone: contact someone
- get to the bottom of something: know deeply
- get to the point: speak directly about the subject; come to the point
- Give me a break!: Stop it! Enough!
- give someone a hand: help someone
- go back on one’s word: break a promise
- go from bad to worse: become much worse
- go to pieces: get very upset; fall apart
- go with the flow: lead a quiet life
- have a ball: have a good time
- have a bone to pick with someone: complain or discuss something unpleasant
- have a sweet tooth: love eating sweet things
- have a word with someone: talk to someone
- have no business doing something: have no right to do something
- have one’s hands full: be very busy
- hit the nail on the head: say exactly the right thing
- hold one’s tongue: keep silent; refrain from speaking
- ill at ease: uncomfortable
- in advance: well before
- in cold blood: mercilessly
- in fact: actually; in reality
- in hot water: in trouble; in a difficult situation
- in someone’s shoes: in another person’s position
- in the long run: in the end
- in the same boat: in the same situation
- in the clear: free from blame
- it goes without saying: should be clear without words
- jump at the opportunity: accept the opportunity eagerly
- just as soon: prefer; would rather
- just in case: to be on the safe side
- keep a straight face: try not to laugh
- keep company: accompany
- keep in mind: bear in mind; consider; remember
- keep one’s word: fulfill a promise
- keep someone posted: inform someone
- keep one’s fingers crossed: hope that nothing will go wrong
- kill time: fill time; spend empty time
- know the ropes: be very familiar with some business
- lay one’s cards on the table: be frank and open
- lay one’s life on the line: put oneself in a dangerous situation
- lead a dog’s life: live in misery
- leave word: leave a message
- let go of something: release the hold
- let one’s hair down: be relaxed and informal with other people
- let someone know: inform someone
- like father, like son: be like one’s parent in something
- little by little: step by step; bit by bit; gradually
- lose one’s temper: become angry
- lose one’s way: get lost
- lose track of someone: not to know where someone is
- lucky break: a lucky chance
- make a living: earn money to provide for life
- make allowance(s) for something: take into consideration when judging
- make a point of: be sure to do something intentionally
- make friends: become friends
- make fun of someone or something: laugh at; joke about
- make room for someone: allow space for someone
- make up one’s mind: decide
- make yourself at home: be comfortable; feel at home
- mean well: have good intentions
- might as well: maybe it’s a good idea
- never mind: don’t worry about it
- now and again: occasionally; now and then
- off the cuff: without preparation
- off the point: beside the point
- off the record: not for the public; unofficially
- once and for all: decidedly
- on credit: not having to pay cash right away
- on edge: nervous, irritable
- on guard: on the alert
- on hand: available
- on one hand/on the one hand: considering one side of the question
- on one’s toes: alert, attentive, prepared for difficulties
- on purpose: intentionally
- on second thought: after thinking again
- on the alert: on guard
- on the carpet: called in by the boss for criticism
- on the go: on the move; busy, active
- on the other hand: considering the other side of the question
- on the spot: right there
- on the spur of the moment: without previous thought or plan
- on the tip of one’s tongue: on the verge of saying but unable to remember
- out of one’s mind: crazy
- out of one’s way: away from one’s usual route
- out of the question: not to be considered; impossible
- pack rat: a person who saves lots of unnecessary things
- pay attention: note something; be attentive to something
- pick a fight: start a quarrel
- put one’s foot down: object strongly
- right away: immediately
- ring a bell: remind someone of something familiar but half-forgotten
- see red: become very angry
- take a break: stop for rest
- take it easy: relax; be calm
- take something for granted: accept as given
- take steps: take action; take measures
- take time: take a long time
- twist someone’s arm: force someone to agree
- under the weather: feeling a little ill, a little unwell
- up-and-coming: showing promise of future success
- up in the air: undecided, unsettled
- up to date: modern, latest, current
- walk on air: be very happy
- waste one’s breath: speak uselessly, to no purpose
- watch one’s step: behave prudently; be careful
- white lie: unimportant lie
- word for word: in the same words
English Idioms | Images
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