40 Common English Idioms to Master

#1

Break a leg

Literal Translation:"to break a leg"

Meaning:good luck

Example:

You're going to do great on your audition, break a leg!

You're going to do great on your audition, good luck!

#2

Cost an arm and a leg

Literal Translation:"to cost an arm and a leg"

Meaning:something is very expensive

Example:

I love that new designer handbag, but it costs an arm and a leg.

I love that new designer handbag, but it's very expensive.

#3

Bite off more than you can chew

Literal Translation:"to bite off more than you can chew"

Meaning:to take on more responsibility than you can handle

Example:

I think I've bitten off more than I can chew with this new project.

I think I've taken on more responsibility than I can handle with this new project.

#4

Beat around the bush

Literal Translation:"to beat around the bush"

Meaning:to avoid talking directly or clearly about something

Example:

Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think.

Stop avoiding the topic and tell me what you really think.

#5

Cut to the chase

Literal Translation:"to cut to the chase"

Meaning:to get to the point or the most interesting part of a conversation

Example:

Can you cut to the chase and tell me what you want?

Can you get to the point and tell me what you want?

#6

Give someone the cold shoulder

Literal Translation:"to give someone the cold shoulder"

Meaning:to deliberately ignore or show indifference to someone

Example:

I've been giving my ex the cold shoulder since we broke up.

I've been deliberately ignoring my ex since we broke up.

#7

In a nutshell

Literal Translation:"in a nutshell"

Meaning:to summarize or describe something briefly

Example:

In a nutshell, the new policy is designed to reduce costs.

To summarize, the new policy is designed to reduce costs.

#8

Let sleeping dogs lie

Literal Translation:"to let sleeping dogs lie"

Meaning:to leave a problem or situation alone and not try to fix it

Example:

I think it's best to let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up the past.

I think it's best to leave the past alone and not bring it up.

#9

Make a mountain out of a molehill

Literal Translation:"to make a mountain out of a molehill"

Meaning:to exaggerate or make something seem more important than it is

Example:

You're making a mountain out of a molehill, it's not that big of a deal.

You're exaggerating, it's not that important.

#10

Practice what you preach

Literal Translation:"to practice what you preach"

Meaning:to act on your own advice or principles

Example:

If you're going to lecture me about being on time, you should practice what you preach.

If you're going to give me advice about being punctual, you should follow your own advice.

#11

A bird in the hand

Literal Translation:"a bird in the hand"

Meaning:it's often better to appreciate what you have than to take a risk to get something more

Example:

I'm going to take the job offer, because a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

#12

Bee's knees

Literal Translation:"knees of a bee"

Meaning:something or someone excellent or outstanding

Example:

This new restaurant is the bee's knees, you should totally try it.

#13

Bend over backwards

Literal Translation:"bend over backwards"

Meaning:to try very hard to help or please someone

Example:

The hotel staff bent over backwards to make sure our stay was comfortable.

#14

Burn the midnight oil

Literal Translation:"burn the midnight oil"

Meaning:to work late into the night

Example:

I've been burning the midnight oil all week to meet the project deadline.

#15

Cut your teeth

Literal Translation:"cut your teeth"

Meaning:to get your first experience of something

Example:

I cut my teeth in the business world by working for a small startup.

#16

Easy does it

Literal Translation:"easy does it"

Meaning:be patient and don't rush

Example:

Easy does it, we don't want to scare the animal away.

#17

Give someone a run for their money

Literal Translation:"give someone a run for their money"

Meaning:to challenge someone strongly

Example:

The new employee is giving the experienced manager a run for their money.

#18

In the same boat

Literal Translation:"in the same boat"

Meaning:to be in a similar situation

Example:

We're all in the same boat, trying to figure out this new software.

#19

Let the cat out of the bag

Literal Translation:"let the cat out of the bag"

Meaning:to reveal a secret

Example:

I didn't mean to let the cat out of the bag, but I accidentally told her about the surprise party.

#20

On the same page

Literal Translation:"on the same page"

Meaning:to have a shared understanding or agreement

Example:

We're all on the same page, so let's move forward with the project.

#21

A piece of cake

Literal Translation:"a piece of cake"

Meaning:something very easy to do

Example:

I thought the test was going to be hard, but it was a piece of cake.

#22

Rain on someone's parade

Literal Translation:"rain on someone's parade"

Meaning:to spoil or ruin someone's plans or event

Example:

I don't want to rain on your parade, but we need to discuss the budget.

#23

Take it with a grain of salt

Literal Translation:"take it with a grain of salt"

Meaning:to be skeptical or cautious, not to take something at face value

Example:

You should take what he says with a grain of salt, he's not always reliable.

#24

The pot calling the kettle black

Literal Translation:"the pot calling the kettle black"

Meaning:to accuse someone of something that you yourself are guilty of

Example:

It's like the pot calling the kettle black when you accuse me of being lazy.

#25

Bite the bullet

Literal Translation:"bite the bullet"

Meaning:to endure a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage or determination

Example:

I know it's hard, but we have to bite the bullet and make some tough decisions.

#26

Burn your bridges

Literal Translation:"burn your bridges"

Meaning:to do something that will make it impossible to go back to a previous situation or relationship

Example:

If you quit your job without having another one lined up, you'll be burning your bridges.

#27

Cut from the same cloth

Literal Translation:"cut from the same cloth"

Meaning:to be very similar in character, background, or attitude

Example:

My sister and I are cut from the same cloth, we have the same sense of humor.

#28

Give someone the benefit of the doubt

Literal Translation:"give someone the benefit of the doubt"

Meaning:to trust someone or believe what they say, even if you are not sure

Example:

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust that he'll do the right thing.

#29

In the loop

Literal Translation:"in the loop"

Meaning:to be informed or involved in something, especially a decision-making process

Example:

I want to make sure you're in the loop about the upcoming changes.

#30

Let bygones be bygones

Literal Translation:"let bygones be bygones"

Meaning:to forget past disagreements or unpleasantness and move on

Example:

Let's let bygones be bygones and start fresh.

#31

A fish out of water

Literal Translation:"a fish out of water"

Meaning:someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place

Example:

After moving to the city, she felt like a fish out of water.

#32

Blood is thicker than water

Literal Translation:"blood is thicker than water"

Meaning:family ties are stronger than any other relationship

Example:

Despite their differences, blood is thicker than water, and they always support each other.

#33

Cry over spilt milk

Literal Translation:"cry over spilt milk"

Meaning:don't waste time feeling sorry for something that has already happened and can't be changed

Example:

There's no use crying over spilt milk, so let's just move on.

#34

Don't count your chickens before they hatch

Literal Translation:"don't count your chickens before they hatch"

Meaning:don't assume something will happen or that you will receive something until it has actually happened

Example:

I know you're excited about the job offer, but don't count your chickens before they hatch.

#35

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Literal Translation:"don't put all your eggs in one basket"

Meaning:don't risk everything by putting all your resources into one thing

Example:

It's a good idea to diversify your investments, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

#36

Give someone the green light

Literal Translation:"give someone the green light"

Meaning:to give someone permission or approval to proceed with something

Example:

The manager gave us the green light to start the project.

#37

In the dark

Literal Translation:"in the dark"

Meaning:without knowledge or information about something

Example:

I'm in the dark about the company's plans for the future.

#38

Let the dust settle

Literal Translation:"let the dust settle"

Meaning:to wait until a situation has calmed down or become less confusing

Example:

Let's wait a few days and let the dust settle before making any decisions.

#39

Make hay while the sun shines

Literal Translation:"make hay while the sun shines"

Meaning:to take advantage of an opportunity while it is available

Example:

We should make hay while the sun shines and invest in the stock market now.

#40

On the same wavelength

Literal Translation:"on the same wavelength"

Meaning:to be in agreement or have a similar perspective with someone

Example:

My business partner and I are always on the same wavelength, which makes our collaboration very effective.

#41

Spill the beans

Literal Translation:"to spill the beans"

Meaning:To reveal a secret, often prematurely or unintentionally.

Example:

We were planning a surprise party, but someone spilled the beans.

#42

Barking up the wrong tree

Literal Translation:"to bark up the wrong tree"

Meaning:To pursue a line of thought or course of action that is misguided.

Example:

If you think I took your keys, you are barking up the wrong tree.

#43

A blessing in disguise

Literal Translation:"a blessing in disguise"

Meaning:Something that seems bad at first but results in something good later.

Example:

Losing my job was a blessing in disguise because it led to a better career.

#44

Hit the nail on the head

Literal Translation:"to hit the nail on the head"

Meaning:To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.

Example:

You hit the nail on the head when you said we need more time.

#45

Burn the candle at both ends

Literal Translation:"to burn the candle at both ends"

Meaning:To work excessively hard without enough rest, leading to exhaustion.

Example:

Since starting his new job, he has been burning the candle at both ends.

#46

Hit the sack

Literal Translation:"to hit the sack"

Meaning:To go to bed in order to sleep.

Example:

I'm exhausted, so I'm going to hit the sack early tonight.

#47

Kick the bucket

Literal Translation:"to kick the bucket"

Meaning:An informal way to say that someone has died.

Example:

The old radio finally kicked the bucket yesterday.

#48

Pull someone's leg

Literal Translation:"to pull someone's leg"

Meaning:To tease or joke with someone, often by trying to make them believe something that isn't true.

Example:

Relax, I'm just pulling your leg!

#49

Through the grapevine

Literal Translation:"through the grapevine"

Meaning:To learn some news through gossip or informal communication.

Example:

I heard through the grapevine that she is getting married.

#50

Under the weather

Literal Translation:"under the weather"

Meaning:Feeling slightly sick, unwell, or tired.

Example:

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I won't come to office.

#51

Take the bull by the horns

Literal Translation:"to take the bull by the horns"

Meaning:To deal with a difficult situation directly and courageously.

Example:

Instead of worrying, she decided to take the bull by the horns.

#52

Once in a blue moon

Literal Translation:"once in a blue moon"

Meaning:Very rarely; almost never.

Example:

He visits his hometown once in a blue moon.

#53

Add insult to injury

Literal Translation:"to add insult to injury"

Meaning:To make a bad situation even worse by doing or saying something else.

Example:

They fired him, and to add insult to injury, they refused to pay his last salary.

#54

Look before you leap

Literal Translation:"to look before you leap"

Meaning:To think about the consequences before taking action.

Example:

You should check the details of the contract; look before you leap.

#55

Break the ice

Literal Translation:"to break the ice"

Meaning:To do or say something that makes people feel more comfortable in a social setting.

Example:

He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.

#56

At the eleventh hour

Literal Translation:"at the eleventh hour"

Meaning:At the last possible moment.

Example:

She submitted the report at the eleventh hour.

#57

Leave no stone unturned

Literal Translation:"to leave no stone unturned"

Meaning:To try every possible way to achieve something or find a solution.

Example:

The police will leave no stone unturned to find the suspect.

#58

Face the music

Literal Translation:"to face the music"

Meaning:To accept unpleasant consequences or criticism for one's actions.

Example:

After breaking the window, he had to face the music.

#59

Curiosity killed the cat

Literal Translation:"curiosity killed the cat"

Meaning:Being too inquisitive can lead to dangerous situations.

Example:

Don't ask too many questions; curiosity killed the cat.

#60

Speak of the devil

Literal Translation:"to speak of the devil"

Meaning:Said when a person appears just after you have been talking about them.

Example:

Did you see what John did? Speak of the devil, here he comes!

#61

Under the thumb

Literal Translation:"Under the thumb"

Meaning:Under someone's control or influence.

Example:

He is completely under his wife's thumb.

#62

Hit the road

Literal Translation:"Hit the road"

Meaning:To depart; to set out on a journey.

Example:

It is getting late, we should hit the road.

#63

Break the bank

Literal Translation:"Break the bank"

Meaning:To cost more money than one can afford; to be extremely expensive.

Example:

Buy a good phone, it won't break the bank.

#64

Put all cards on the table

Literal Translation:"Put all cards on the table"

Meaning:To be completely honest; to reveal all plans or secrets.

Example:

I want us to put all our cards on the table.

#65

Play second fiddle

Literal Translation:"Play second fiddle"

Meaning:To take a subordinate or lesser role in relation to someone else.

Example:

I am tired of playing second fiddle to him.

#66

Through thick and thin

Literal Translation:"Through thick and thin"

Meaning:Under all circumstances, good and bad; with unwavering loyalty.

Example:

She supported him through thick and thin.

#67

In the red

Literal Translation:"In the red"

Meaning:Losing money; having more liabilities than assets; in debt.

Example:

The business has been in the red for months.

#68

Up in the air

Literal Translation:"Up in the air"

Meaning:Undecided, uncertain, or unresolved.

Example:

Our plans for summer are still up in the air.

#69

On the fence

Literal Translation:"On the fence"

Meaning:Undecided or neutral between two choices or opinions.

Example:

He is still on the fence about accepting the job.

#70

Cry wolf

Literal Translation:"Cry wolf"

Meaning:To give a false alarm, causing people to ignore future warnings when they are real.

Example:

If you keep crying wolf, no one will help you when you need it.

#71

The elephant in the room

Literal Translation:"The elephant in the room"

Meaning:An obvious, major problem or controversial issue that everyone avoids discussing.

Example:

His drug addiction was the elephant in the room.

#72

Ring a bell

Literal Translation:"Ring a bell"

Meaning:To sound familiar; to evoke a vague memory.

Example:

His name rings a bell, but I can't remember where we met.

#73

Pull the wool over someone's eyes

Literal Translation:"Pull the wool over someone's eyes"

Meaning:To deceive, trick, or mislead someone by hiding the truth.

Example:

You can't pull the wool over my eyes, I know what you did.

#74

Get cold feet

Literal Translation:"Get cold feet"

Meaning:To become nervous or hesitant about a planned course of action.

Example:

She wanted to skydive, but got cold feet at the last minute.

#75

Walk on eggshells

Literal Translation:"Walk on eggshells"

Meaning:To be extremely cautious and sensitive in one's words and actions to avoid offending someone.

Example:

I feel like I'm walking on eggshells whenever she is angry.

#76

Throw in the towel

Literal Translation:"Throw in the towel"

Meaning:To surrender, yield, or give up in the face of defeat or difficulty.

Example:

The project was too hard, but we refused to throw in the towel.

#77

Kill two birds with one stone

Literal Translation:"Kill two birds with one stone"

Meaning:To achieve two tasks or objectives with a single effort or action.

Example:

By walking to the market, I buy food and get exercise, killing two birds with one stone.

#78

Bury the hatchet

Literal Translation:"Bury the hatchet"

Meaning:To make peace; to settle differences or end a conflict.

Example:

After years of fighting, they finally buried the hatchet.

#79

Keep your chin up

Literal Translation:"Keep your chin up"

Meaning:To remain cheerful, hopeful, and resilient in a difficult situation.

Example:

Keep your chin up, things will get better soon.

#80

Rule of thumb

Literal Translation:"Rule of thumb"

Meaning:A broadly accurate guide or principle, based on experience rather than exact theory.

Example:

As a rule of thumb, you should save 10% of your income.

#81

Best of both worlds

Literal Translation:"best of both worlds"

Meaning:A situation where you can enjoy the advantages of two different opportunities.

Example:

Working from home while keeping a high salary gives her the best of both worlds.

#82

Call it a day

Literal Translation:"to call it a day"

Meaning:To stop working on something, especially for the rest of the day.

Example:

We've been working on this project for eight hours; let's call it a day.

#83

Get out of hand

Literal Translation:"to get out of hand"

Meaning:To get out of control; to become chaotic or unmanageable.

Example:

The demonstration began peacefully, but it quickly got out of hand.

#84

Hang in there

Literal Translation:"to hang in there"

Meaning:To stay determined in a difficult situation; don't give up.

Example:

I know exam week is stressful, but hang in there!

#85

No pain, no gain

Literal Translation:"no pain, no gain"

Meaning:You have to work hard and suffer to achieve progress.

Example:

The training session was exhausting, but no pain, no gain.

#86

On the ball

Literal Translation:"on the ball"

Meaning:To be alert, active, quick to understand, and competent.

Example:

She is really on the ball and always finds mistakes before anyone else.

#87

Pull yourself together

Literal Translation:"to pull yourself together"

Meaning:To regain control of one's emotions; to calm down.

Example:

Stop crying and pull yourself together so we can solve this problem.

#88

So far so good

Literal Translation:"so far so good"

Meaning:Everything has gone well up to this point.

Example:

How is the new job going? So far so good.

#89

Under the radar

Literal Translation:"under the radar"

Meaning:To go unnoticed; to avoid attention or detection.

Example:

He tried to keep his investments under the radar to avoid taxes.

#90

A penny for your thoughts

Literal Translation:"a penny for your thoughts"

Meaning:A way of asking what someone is thinking about when they are quiet.

Example:

You've been staring out the window for ten minutes. A penny for your thoughts!

#91

Actions speak louder than words

Literal Translation:"actions speak louder than words"

Meaning:What people do is more important and revealing than what they say.

Example:

Don't just tell me you love me; actions speak louder than words.

#92

By the skin of your teeth

Literal Translation:"by the skin of your teeth"

Meaning:By a very narrow margin; just barely.

Example:

I passed the final exam by the skin of my teeth.

#93

Cold turkey

Literal Translation:"cold turkey"

Meaning:Stopping a habit or addiction abruptly and completely.

Example:

He quit smoking cold turkey last year and hasn't touched a cigarette since.

#94

Cut corners

Literal Translation:"to cut corners"

Meaning:To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often sacrificing quality.

Example:

The builders cut corners, and now the roof is leaking.

#95

Go the extra mile

Literal Translation:"to go the extra mile"

Meaning:To make an extra effort; to do more than what is required.

Example:

She always goes the extra mile to make her clients feel welcome.

#96

In the heat of the moment

Literal Translation:"in the heat of the moment"

Meaning:Saying or doing something without thinking because of strong emotions.

Example:

I'm sorry I said those things; I just got carried away in the heat of the moment.

#97

Miss the boat

Literal Translation:"to miss the boat"

Meaning:To miss an opportunity by being too slow.

Example:

The price went up today, so I missed the boat on that discount.

#98

See eye to eye

Literal Translation:"to see eye to eye"

Meaning:To agree with each other completely.

Example:

They don't always see eye to eye on politics, but they are good friends.

#99

Steal someone's thunder

Literal Translation:"to steal someone's thunder"

Meaning:To take credit for someone else's achievement, or steal attention from them.

Example:

I was about to announce my promotion, but she stole my thunder by sharing hers first.

#100

Take a rain check

Literal Translation:"to take a rain check"

Meaning:To politely decline an invitation but suggest postponing it to a later date.

Example:

I can't go to dinner tonight, but I'd love to take a rain check.

#101

Bark up the wrong tree

Literal Translation:"To bark up the wrong tree"

Meaning:To pursue a mistaken line of thought or course of action.

Example:

If you think I took your keys, you are barking up the wrong tree.

#102

Cry over spilled milk

Literal Translation:"To cry over spilled milk"

Meaning:To waste time worrying about past events that cannot be changed.

Example:

We lost the contract, but it's no use crying over spilled milk.

#103

The last straw

Literal Translation:"The last straw"

Meaning:The final minor problem that makes a situation completely unbearable.

Example:

When he was late again, that was the last straw.

#104

Jump on the bandwagon

Literal Translation:"To jump on the bandwagon"

Meaning:To join a popular trend or activity to share in its success.

Example:

Many investors jumped on the cryptocurrency bandwagon.

#105

Ignorance is bliss

Literal Translation:"Ignorance is bliss"

Meaning:It is better not to know about problems, as it keeps you happy.

Example:

I didn't ask how much the dinner cost; sometimes ignorance is bliss.

#106

Ball is in your court

Literal Translation:"The ball is in your court"

Meaning:It is up to you to take the next step or make a decision.

Example:

I sent the offer, so the ball is in their court now.

#107

Bite the dust

Literal Translation:"To bite the dust"

Meaning:To fail spectacularly; to be broken; to die.

Example:

My old laptop finally bit the dust yesterday.

#108

By the skin of one's teeth

Literal Translation:"By the skin of one's teeth"

Meaning:By a very narrow margin; only just.

Example:

She passed the driving test by the skin of her teeth.

#109

Cross that bridge when you come to it

Literal Translation:"To cross that bridge when you come to it"

Meaning:Deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before.

Example:

We might lose funding, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

#110

Every cloud has a silver lining

Literal Translation:"Every cloud has a silver lining"

Meaning:Every difficult or sad situation has a positive aspect.

Example:

I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining because I found a better one.

#111

Fit as a fiddle

Literal Translation:"Fit as a fiddle"

Meaning:In very good health; physically fit.

Example:

Grandfather is eighty years old, but he is as fit as a fiddle.

#112

Go down in flames

Literal Translation:"To go down in flames"

Meaning:To fail spectacularly and completely.

Example:

The ambitious start-up went down in flames within six months.

#113

He has bigger fish to fry

Literal Translation:"He has bigger fish to fry"

Meaning:He has more important matters to attend to.

Example:

Don't bother the manager with minor issues, he has bigger fish to fry.

#114

Hear it on the grapevine

Literal Translation:"To hear it on the grapevine"

Meaning:To hear rumors or news through gossip.

Example:

I heard on the grapevine that you are planning to relocate.

#115

It takes two to tango

Literal Translation:"It takes two to tango"

Meaning:Both people involved in a bad situation are responsible for it.

Example:

She blames him, but it takes two to tango.

#116

Method to the madness

Literal Translation:"Method to the madness"

Meaning:There is a logical, sensible plan behind seemingly crazy behavior.

Example:

His filing system looks chaotic, but there is a method to his madness.

#117

A picture paints a thousand words

Literal Translation:"A picture paints a thousand words"

Meaning:A visual presentation is far more descriptive than written text.

Example:

Instead of describing the design, show them the mockup; a picture paints a thousand words.

#118

Straight from the horse's mouth

Literal Translation:"Straight from the horse's mouth"

Meaning:From the highest, most authoritative source.

Example:

I know she is resigning, I got it straight from the horse's mouth.

#119

Burn bridges

Literal Translation:"To burn bridges"

Meaning:To destroy relationships or path of return intentionally.

Example:

Try not to burn bridges when you quit your current job.

#120

Drastic times call for drastic measures

Literal Translation:"Drastic times call for drastic measures"

Meaning:Extreme circumstances require extreme actions to resolve them.

Example:

They had to lay off half the staff; drastic times call for drastic measures.

#121

The grass is always greener on the other side

Pronunciation: [ðə ɡrɑːs ɪz ˈɔːlweɪz ˈɡriːnə ɒn ði ˈʌðə saɪd]

Literal Translation:"The grass is always greener on the other side"

Meaning:Other people's lives or situations always seem better than one's own.

Example:

He wants to change jobs, but he should remember that the grass is always greener on the other side.

#122

Beat a dead horse

Pronunciation: [biːt ə dɛd hɔːs]

Literal Translation:"To beat a dead horse"

Meaning:To waste time doing or discussing something that has already been resolved or cannot be changed.

Example:

There is no point in arguing about this anymore; we're just beating a dead horse.

#123

Bite the hand that feeds you

Pronunciation: [baɪt ðə hænd ðæt fiːdz juː]

Literal Translation:"To bite the hand that feeds you"

Meaning:To act meanly or ungratefully toward someone who helps or supports you.

Example:

Criticizing your boss publicly is like biting the hand that feeds you.

#124

Blow off steam

Pronunciation: [bləʊ ɒf stiːm]

Literal Translation:"To blow off steam"

Meaning:To do or say something that helps you get rid of strong feelings or energy.

Example:

I went for a long run to blow off steam after the meeting.

#125

Don't judge a book by its cover

Pronunciation: [dəʊnt dʒʌdʒ ə bʊk baɪ ɪts ˈkʌvə]

Literal Translation:"Don't judge a book by its cover"

Meaning:Do not form an opinion about something based purely on its outward appearance.

Example:

The hotel didn't look great from the outside, but inside it was beautiful — don't judge a book by its cover.

#126

Drive someone up the wall

Pronunciation: [draɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp ðə wɔːl]

Literal Translation:"To drive someone up the wall"

Meaning:To annoy, irritate, or make someone very angry.

Example:

That loud clicking noise is driving me up the wall.

#127

It's raining cats and dogs

Pronunciation: [ɪts ˈreɪnɪŋ kæts ænd dɒɡz]

Literal Translation:"It's raining cats and dogs"

Meaning:It is raining very heavily.

Example:

We can't go for a walk now, it's raining cats and dogs.

#128

Make a long story short

Pronunciation: [meɪk ə lɒŋ ˈstɔːri ʃɔːt]

Literal Translation:"To make a long story short"

Meaning:To summarize a story or tell only the main facts to save time.

Example:

To make a long story short, we missed our train and had to sleep at the station.

#129

Out of the blue

Pronunciation: [aʊt ɒv ðə bluː]

Literal Translation:"Out of the blue"

Meaning:Completely unexpectedly; without warning.

Example:

He called me out of the blue after three years of silence.

#130

Play devil's advocate

Pronunciation: [pleɪ ˈdɛvlz ˈædvəkət]

Literal Translation:"To play devil's advocate"

Meaning:To argue against an idea for the sake of debate, even if you agree with it.

Example:

I agree with your plan, but let me play devil's advocate for a second.

#131

You can't have your cake and eat it too

Pronunciation: [juː kɑːnt hæv jɔː keɪk ænd iːt ɪt tuː]

Literal Translation:"You can't have your cake and eat it too"

Meaning:You cannot possess two desirable but incompatible things at the same time.

Example:

You want to travel but save money? You can't have your cake and eat it too.

#132

A storm in a teacup

Pronunciation: [ə stɔːm ɪn ə ˈtiːkʌp]

Literal Translation:"A storm in a teacup"

Meaning:A lot of anger or worry about something that is actually not important.

Example:

Don't worry about their argument, it's just a storm in a teacup.

#133

To pull strings

Pronunciation: [tuː pʊl strɪŋz]

Literal Translation:"To pull strings"

Meaning:To use secret influence or connections to get what you want.

Example:

He had to pull some strings to get his son into that university.

#134

A drop in the bucket

Pronunciation: [ə drɒp ɪn ðə ˈbʌkɪt]

Literal Translation:"A drop in the bucket"

Meaning:A very small amount compared to what is needed or expected.

Example:

Our donation is just a drop in the bucket, but it helps.

#135

A chip on one's shoulder

Pronunciation: [ə tʃɪp ɒn wʌnz ˈʃəʊldə]

Literal Translation:"A chip on one's shoulder"

Meaning:An angry attitude caused by a belief that one has been treated unfairly.

Example:

He has a chip on his shoulder because he didn't get promoted.

#136

Bite one's tongue

Pronunciation: [baɪt wʌnz tʌŋ]

Literal Translation:"To bite one's tongue"

Meaning:To stop oneself from saying something that might cause trouble or offense.

Example:

I wanted to tell him the truth, but I decided to bite my tongue.

#137

Behind the scenes

Pronunciation: [bɪˈhaɪnd ðə siːnz]

Literal Translation:"Behind the scenes"

Meaning:Out of public view; in a way that is not noticed or known by most people.

Example:

A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes.

#138

Buy a pig in a poke

Pronunciation: [baɪ ə pɪɡ ɪn ə pəʊk]

Literal Translation:"To buy a pig in a bag/sack"

Meaning:To purchase something without inspecting it first.

Example:

Buying a used car online without seeing it is like buying a pig in a poke.

#139

Cut the mustard

Pronunciation: [kʌt ðə ˈmʌstəd]

Literal Translation:"To cut the mustard"

Meaning:To meet the required standards; to succeed.

Example:

We need players who can really cut the mustard in the final match.

#140

Get your act together

Pronunciation: [ɡɛt jɔː ækt təˈɡɛðə]

Literal Translation:"To get your act together"

Meaning:To organize yourself or your work in a better way in order to achieve success.

Example:

If you don't get your act together, you will fail the exam.

40 Essential English Idioms to Master

Break a leg🔊

Cost an arm and a leg🔊

Bite off more than you can chew🔊

Beat around the bush🔊

Cut to the chase🔊

Give someone the cold shoulder🔊

In a nutshell🔊

Let sleeping dogs lie🔊

Make a mountain out of a molehill🔊

Practice what you preach🔊

A bird in the hand🔊

Bee's knees🔊

Bend over backwards🔊

Burn the midnight oil🔊

Cut your teeth🔊

Easy does it🔊

Give someone a run for their money🔊

In the same boat🔊

Let the cat out of the bag🔊

On the same page🔊

A piece of cake🔊

Rain on someone's parade🔊

Take it with a grain of salt🔊

The pot calling the kettle black🔊

Bite the bullet🔊

Burn your bridges🔊

Cut from the same cloth🔊

Give someone the benefit of the doubt🔊

In the loop🔊

Let bygones be bygones🔊

A fish out of water🔊

Blood is thicker than water🔊

Cry over spilt milk🔊

Don't count your chickens before they hatch🔊

Don't put all your eggs in one basket🔊

Give someone the green light🔊

In the dark🔊

Let the dust settle🔊

Make hay while the sun shines🔊

On the same wavelength🔊

Spill the beans🔊

Barking up the wrong tree🔊

A blessing in disguise🔊

Hit the nail on the head🔊

Burn the candle at both ends🔊

Hit the sack🔊

Kick the bucket🔊

Pull someone's leg🔊

Through the grapevine🔊

Under the weather🔊

Take the bull by the horns🔊

Once in a blue moon🔊

Add insult to injury🔊

Look before you leap🔊

Break the ice🔊

At the eleventh hour🔊

Leave no stone unturned🔊

Face the music🔊

Curiosity killed the cat🔊

Speak of the devil🔊

Under the thumb🔊

Hit the road🔊

Break the bank🔊

Put all cards on the table🔊

Play second fiddle🔊

Through thick and thin🔊

In the red🔊

Up in the air🔊

On the fence🔊

Cry wolf🔊

The elephant in the room🔊

Ring a bell🔊

Pull the wool over someone's eyes🔊

Get cold feet🔊

Walk on eggshells🔊

Throw in the towel🔊

Kill two birds with one stone🔊

Bury the hatchet🔊

Keep your chin up🔊

Break a leg

Cost an arm and a leg

Bite off more than you can chew

Beat around the bush

Cut to the chase

Give someone the cold shoulder

In a nutshell

Let sleeping dogs lie

Make a mountain out of a molehill

Practice what you preach

A bird in the hand

Bee's knees

Bend over backwards

Burn the midnight oil

Cut your teeth

Easy does it

Give someone a run for their money

In the same boat

Let the cat out of the bag

On the same page

A piece of cake

Rain on someone's parade

Take it with a grain of salt

The pot calling the kettle black

Bite the bullet

Burn your bridges

Cut from the same cloth

Give someone the benefit of the doubt

In the loop

Let bygones be bygones

A fish out of water

Blood is thicker than water

Cry over spilt milk

Don't count your chickens before they hatch

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Give someone the green light

In the dark

Let the dust settle

Make hay while the sun shines

On the same wavelength

Spill the beans

Barking up the wrong tree

A blessing in disguise

Hit the nail on the head

Burn the candle at both ends

Hit the sack

Kick the bucket

Pull someone's leg

Through the grapevine

Under the weather

Take the bull by the horns

Once in a blue moon

Add insult to injury

Look before you leap

Break the ice

At the eleventh hour

Leave no stone unturned

Face the music

Curiosity killed the cat

Speak of the devil

Under the thumb

Hit the road

Break the bank

Put all cards on the table

Play second fiddle

Through thick and thin

In the red

Up in the air

On the fence

Cry wolf

The elephant in the room

Ring a bell

Pull the wool over someone's eyes

Get cold feet

Walk on eggshells

Throw in the towel

Kill two birds with one stone

Bury the hatchet

Keep your chin up

Rule of thumb