Common English Idioms and Their Meanings: Master Everyday Expressions
Discover the fascinating origins and practical meanings behind 60+ essential English idioms that native speakers use every day
What Are Idioms and Why Should You Learn Them?
Idioms are fascinating expressions that make language colorful, dynamic, and culturally rich. These phrases carry meanings that cannot be understood simply by looking at the individual words—they represent shared cultural knowledge and linguistic creativity that has evolved over centuries.
Understanding idioms is crucial for anyone learning English or wanting to communicate more effectively with native speakers. They appear constantly in everyday conversation, business meetings, movies, books, news articles, and social media. When you grasp these expressions, you unlock a deeper level of comprehension and can express yourself with greater nuance and authenticity.
This comprehensive guide explores over 60 common English idioms organized by theme, complete with clear meanings, practical examples, and fascinating historical origins. Whether you're a student, professional, or language enthusiast, mastering these expressions will dramatically enhance your English communication skills and cultural literacy.
Sound Native
Speak English naturally and confidently like a native speaker
Understand Culture
Gain insights into English-speaking cultures and traditions
Better Communication
Express complex ideas succinctly and memorably
Enjoy Media
Fully appreciate movies, TV shows, and literature
Money & Success
"Break the bank"
To cost too much money or use up all available funds
💬 Example:
"That vacation to Hawaii won't break the bank if we book during the off-season."
📜 Origin:
Originated from gambling, where 'breaking the bank' meant winning all the money at a casino table.
"Hit the jackpot"
To achieve great success or have exceptional good luck
💬 Example:
"Sarah hit the jackpot when she landed her dream job at Google."
📜 Origin:
Comes from slot machines and gambling, where hitting the jackpot means winning the top prize.
"Make ends meet"
To have just enough money to pay for necessities
💬 Example:
"With rent prices rising, many families struggle to make ends meet."
📜 Origin:
Refers to making the two ends of a financial year meet, meaning balancing income and expenses.
"Cost an arm and a leg"
To be extremely expensive
💬 Example:
"That luxury car costs an arm and a leg, so I bought a used one instead."
📜 Origin:
Possibly originated from the high cost of commissioned portraits where subjects with all limbs cost more.
Time & Opportunity
"The ball is in your court"
It's your turn to make a decision or take action
💬 Example:
"I've sent you the proposal, so the ball is in your court now."
📜 Origin:
Comes from tennis, where the player whose side the ball is on must make the next move.
"Better late than never"
It's better to do something late than not do it at all
💬 Example:
"He finally apologized after three months—better late than never."
📜 Origin:
First recorded in English in the 1200s, appearing in various historical texts.
"In the nick of time"
Just in time; at the last possible moment
💬 Example:
"The firefighters arrived in the nick of time and saved the family."
📜 Origin:
'Nick' referred to a notch or exact point, meaning something happened at exactly the right moment.
"Once in a blue moon"
Very rarely; almost never
💬 Example:
"My brother only visits once in a blue moon since he moved abroad."
📜 Origin:
A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month, which happens rarely.
Weather & Nature
"Under the weather"
Feeling ill or sick
💬 Example:
"I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I might stay home."
📜 Origin:
Nautical term referring to sailors who felt seasick and went below deck, literally under the weather.
"Every cloud has a silver lining"
There's something positive in every bad situation
💬 Example:
"I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining—now I can pursue my passion."
📜 Origin:
From John Milton's poem 'Comus' in 1634, referring to how clouds look when backlit by the sun.
"Raining cats and dogs"
Raining very heavily
💬 Example:
"We can't go to the park now; it's raining cats and dogs outside."
📜 Origin:
Several theories exist, but one suggests heavy rain would wash dead animals through streets in old England.
"Break the ice"
To initiate conversation or ease tension in a social situation
💬 Example:
"The team-building games helped break the ice at the company retreat."
📜 Origin:
Refers to breaking ice to allow ships to pass, making way for something to proceed smoothly.
Food & Cooking
"Piece of cake"
Something very easy to do
💬 Example:
"The math test was a piece of cake after all that studying."
📜 Origin:
Possibly from the 1870s when cakes were given as prizes for winning competitions.
"Bite off more than you can chew"
To take on a task that's too difficult or too much to handle
💬 Example:
"Taking five classes while working full-time—I've bitten off more than I can chew."
📜 Origin:
Literal meaning of trying to eat too much food at once, applied metaphorically to tasks.
"Spill the beans"
To reveal a secret or disclose information
💬 Example:
"Don't spill the beans about the surprise party!"
📜 Origin:
Ancient Greek voting method using beans, where spilling them would reveal the vote prematurely.
"Take it with a grain of salt"
To be skeptical about something; not take it too seriously
💬 Example:
"He tends to exaggerate, so take his stories with a grain of salt."
📜 Origin:
From the Latin phrase 'cum grano salis,' referring to making something more palatable.
Animals
"Let the cat out of the bag"
To accidentally reveal a secret
💬 Example:
"I let the cat out of the bag about their engagement before they announced it."
📜 Origin:
Fraudulent merchants would sell a cat in a bag, pretending it was a pig; opening it revealed the truth.
"Kill two birds with one stone"
To accomplish two things with one action
💬 Example:
"I'm visiting my parents and attending the conference—killing two birds with one stone."
📜 Origin:
Dating back to the 1600s, referring to the skill of hitting two birds with a single stone throw.
"When pigs fly"
Something that will never happen
💬 Example:
"He'll clean his room when pigs fly."
📜 Origin:
Used since the 1600s to describe something impossible, as pigs cannot fly.
"The elephant in the room"
An obvious problem that everyone avoids discussing
💬 Example:
"Let's address the elephant in the room—our sales are down 40 percent."
📜 Origin:
Modern phrase from the 1950s, illustrating how people ignore something so large it can't be missed.
Body Parts
"Keep an eye on"
To watch or monitor something carefully
💬 Example:
"Can you keep an eye on my bag while I use the restroom?"
📜 Origin:
Self-explanatory phrase meaning to watch with one's eyes.
"Give someone a hand"
To help someone
💬 Example:
"Could you give me a hand moving this furniture?"
📜 Origin:
Literally offering one's hand to help someone, dating back centuries.
"Pull someone's leg"
To joke with someone or tease them
💬 Example:
"I was just pulling your leg—I didn't really eat all the cookies."
📜 Origin:
May come from tripping someone by pulling their leg, or from thieves who would grab legs to rob people.
"Cost an arm and a leg"
To be very expensive
💬 Example:
"Designer handbags cost an arm and a leg these days."
📜 Origin:
Possibly from portrait painting where including limbs in paintings increased the price.
Communication & Expression
"Hear it through the grapevine"
To hear rumors or information informally
💬 Example:
"I heard through the grapevine that the company is hiring."
📜 Origin:
From the American Civil War telegraph lines that resembled grapevines and carried news.
"Beat around the bush"
To avoid talking about something directly
💬 Example:
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened."
📜 Origin:
From medieval hunting where people would beat bushes to drive out game birds.
"Get something off your chest"
To express something that's been bothering you
💬 Example:
"I need to get this off my chest—I've been feeling undervalued at work."
📜 Origin:
Refers to the physical relief felt after expressing pent-up emotions.
"Read between the lines"
To understand the hidden or implied meaning
💬 Example:
"She said she was 'fine,' but reading between the lines, I could tell she was upset."
📜 Origin:
From a 19th-century method of secret communication using invisible ink between lines of text.
Work & Effort
"Burning the midnight oil"
Working late into the night
💬 Example:
"I've been burning the midnight oil to finish this project on time."
📜 Origin:
Before electricity, people used oil lamps and would burn oil to work late at night.
"Go the extra mile"
To make an extra effort; do more than expected
💬 Example:
"She always goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction."
📜 Origin:
Biblical reference from the Sermon on the Mount about going beyond what's required.
"Back to the drawing board"
Start over because the current approach failed
💬 Example:
"The prototype didn't work, so it's back to the drawing board."
📜 Origin:
From designers and engineers who would return to their drawing boards to redesign failed plans.
"Cut corners"
To do something the easiest or cheapest way, often sacrificing quality
💬 Example:
"They cut corners during construction, and now the building has problems."
📜 Origin:
Literally taking a shorter route by cutting across corners rather than following the full path.
How to Master English Idioms Effectively
Keep a Personal Idiom Journal
Write down new idioms you encounter with their meanings, examples, and context. Review them regularly to reinforce memory.
Watch Movies and TV Shows
Native speakers use idioms constantly in entertainment. Pay attention to context and how they're delivered naturally in conversation.
Understand the Context
Don't just memorize meanings—understand when and where each idiom is appropriate. Some are casual, others formal.
Practice in Real Conversations
Use idioms in your daily conversations with language partners or native speakers. Practice makes perfect.
Read Widely and Often
Books, newspapers, blogs, and magazines are full of idioms. Reading exposes you to varied usage and contexts.
Learn in Thematic Groups
Group idioms by topic (like we've done here) to create mental connections and make them easier to remember.
Use Spaced Repetition
Review idioms at increasing intervals. Apps like Anki can help you remember idioms through spaced repetition.
Explore Cultural Origins
Understanding where idioms come from makes them more memorable and gives insight into English-speaking cultures.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Idioms
Don't Mix Idioms
Wrong: "We'll burn that bridge when we come to it."
Right: "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it" OR "Don't burn your bridges."
Don't Translate Literally
Idioms from your native language rarely translate directly to English. Learn English idioms in their proper context rather than translating from your language.
Don't Overuse Them
Using too many idioms in one conversation sounds unnatural and forced. Sprinkle them naturally throughout your speech.
Don't Change the Wording
Idioms have fixed forms. Saying "piece of pie" instead of "piece of cake" or "simple as ABC" instead of "easy as ABC" changes the meaning or sounds wrong.
Start Speaking Like a Native Today
Mastering English idioms is a journey that opens doors to richer, more authentic communication. These colorful expressions are not just linguistic decorations—they're windows into the culture, history, and shared experiences of English speakers around the world.
Start by incorporating just a few idioms into your daily conversations. Pay attention to how native speakers use them in movies, books, and real-life situations. Remember that context is everything—understanding when and where to use an idiom is just as important as knowing what it means.
As you continue your language learning journey, you'll find that idioms make your English more natural, expressive, and engaging. They help you connect with native speakers on a deeper level and demonstrate your cultural understanding and linguistic sophistication.
Keep this guide as a reference, practice regularly, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. After all, practice makes perfect, and before you know it, using idioms will be a piece of cake!