Idioms are words, phrases or expressions which are commonly used in everyday conversation.
List of The 30 Most Useful Idioms and their Meaning
1. A bitter pill
Meaning: A situation or information that is in-pleasant but must be accepted
Example: Getting a poor performance review was a bitter pill to swallow, but it made me a better worker.
2. Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: People’s intension can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
Example: You keep saying that you’ll do your fair share of the housework. Remember that actions speak louder than words.
3. A dime a dozen
Meaning: Very common and no particular value
Example: Experts in this field are a dime a dozen.
4. Add insult to injury
Meaning: To act a way that makes a bad or displeasing situation worse
Example: My car barely started this morning, and to add insult to injury, I got a flat tire in the driveway.
5. All ears
Meaning: Listening intently, fully focused or awaiting an explanation
Example: I’m all ears, tell me what happened with you.
6. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Looking in the wrong place, accusing the wrong person
Meaning: If you think I’m the guilty person, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
7. Beat around the bush
Meaning: Avoiding the main issue, not speaking directly about a topic
Example: Don’t beat around the bush—just tell me the truth.
8. Bed of roses
Meaning: An easy, comfortable situation or an easy life
Example: Who said life would be a bed of roses? If I had a million bucks, I would be in a bed of roses.
9. Best of both worlds
Meaning: To get all the advantages of two things at the same time
Example: She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds.
10. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To talk a task that is way too big
Example: I bit off more than I could chew when I volunteered to manage three little league teams in one season.
11. Call it a day
Meaning: To declare the end of a task
Example: I’m tired. Let’s call it a day.
12. Can’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Cannot judge something primarily on appearance
Example: This report may look dull, but don’t judge a book by its cover
13. Cat nap
Meaning: To have a short, light sleep, a doze
Example: I’m really tired. I need a cat nap right now!
14. Couch potato
Meaning: A lazy person
Example: The only thing you do all day is watching TV. You’ve become a real couch potato, haven’t you?
15. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: When you complain about a loss from the past
Example: Yes, we made a mistake, but there’s no point in crying over spilled milk.
16. Curiosity killed the cat
Meaning: Being inquisitive can lead to an unpleasant situation
Example: I know curiosity killed the cat, but I can’t stop the investigation until I know where the donations are really going.
17. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Do not put all your resources in one possibility
Example: relax! Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
18. Have a blast
Meaning: To have a good time or to enjoy
Example: The kids are having a blast running around the beach all day.
19. Hit the road
Meaning: To depart, to start the journey
Example: We better hit the road before traffic gets even worse.
20. Hit the sack/sheets/hay
Meaning: To go to bed
Example: It’s 10 pm. I’m going to hit the hay.
21. It takes two to tango
Meaning: Actions or communications need more than one person
Example: She may want to argue, but it takes two to tango and I won’t stoop to her level.
22. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To accomplish two different things at the same time
Example: John learned the words to his part in the play while peeling potatoes. He was killing two birds with one stone.
23. Miss the boat
Meaning: Someone missed his or her chance
Example: There were tickets available last week, but he missed the boat by waiting till today to try to buy some.
24. Off the hook
Meaning: To escape a situation of responsibility, obligation or (less frequently) danger
Example: I couldn’t get myself off the hook no matter what I tried.
25. Pushing up daisies
Meaning: Euphemism for dying or death
Example: If you talk to me like that again, you’ll be pushing up the daisies!
26. A picture paints a thousand words
Meaning: A visual image is far more descriptive than words
Example: Wow! She is so elegant! A picture paints a thousand words!
27. Piece of cake
Meaning: A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple
Example: No problem. When you know what you’re doing, it’s a piece of cake.
28. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Happens very rarely
Example: Once in a blue moon, I buy a fashion magazine, just to see what people are wearing.
29. He/she’s a big fish
Meaning: Being the boss, the leader
Example: I’d rather be a big fish in a small pond than move to New York City and be a nobody!
30. Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal someone’s secret
Example: There is a surprise party for Heidi on Wednesday. Please don’t spill the beans.
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Bts
Saturday 10th of June 2023
It was very helpfull!Thanks alot
Rajendra Murmu
Sunday 26th of March 2023
interesting to learn with you
Gospel
Wednesday 1st of March 2023
Wow what a nice process, it is useful and understandable thanks a lot.
Valeena
Thursday 23rd of February 2023
Very helpful to learners ????
darsh
Tuesday 10th of January 2023
IT IS VERY HELPFUL I ACTUALLY GOT AN A IN MY TEST THANK YOU eslbuss