Idioms are everyday expressions that dont always make sense if you take from their litter meanings. However, idioms are important to add color, emotiosn, and fluceny to yoru speech. Native speakers often use idioms in their communication and therefore, learning idioms with examples is a great way to improve English listening, speaking and writing skills. 

In this article, you will learn 100 popular English idioms with meanings and examples so that you can understand and use them in your speaking and writing. 

100 Idioms with Examples

Here is the complete list of 100 idioms with their meanings and examples:

1. A blessing in disguise

• Meaning: A good thing that seemed bad at first
• Example: Missing the flight was a blessing in disguise.

2. A dime a dozen

• Meaning: Very common
• Example: Smartphones are a dime a dozen these days.

3. Beat around the bush

• Meaning: Avoid saying what you mean
• Example: Don’t beat around the bush – just tell me what happened.

4. Better late than never

• Meaning: It’s better to be late than never
• Example: He finally apologized – better late than never.

5. Bite the bullet

• Meaning: Do something unpleasant
• Example: I decided to bite the bullet and go to the dentist.

6. Break the ice

• Meaning: Start a conversation in a social setting
• Example: Telling a joke helped break the ice at the party.

7.  Call it a day

• Meaning: Stop working on something
• Example: We have done enough – let’s call it a day.

8. Cut somebody some slack

• Meaning: Don’t be too critical
• Example: She’s new – cut her some slack.

9. Taste of your own medicine

• Meaning: Being treated the same way you treat others
• Example: He was rude and got a taste of his own medicine.

10. Benefit of the doubt

• Meaning: Trust without proof
• Example: I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

Idioms: 11 -20

11. Hit the nail on the head

• Meaning: Say exactly the right thing.
• Example: You hit the nail on the head with your answer.

12. Let the cat out of the bag

• Meaning: Reveal a secret
• Example: He let the cat out of the bag about the party.

13. Miss the boat

• Meaning: Miss an opportunity
• Example: I missed the boat on that job offer.

14. On the ball

• Meaning: Alert and quick to respond
• Example: She is really on the ball at work.

15. Pull someone’s leg

• Meaning: Joke or tease
• Example: Don’t worry, I’m just pulling your leg.

16. Speak of the devil

• Meaning: The person appears when mentioned
• Example: Speak of the devil, here he is!

17. Under the Weather

• Meaning: Feeling sick
• Example: I’m a bit under the weather today.

18. Wrap your head around it

• Meaning: Understand something difficult
• Example: I can’t wrap my head around that concept.

19. Burn the midnight oil 

• Meaning: Work late
• Example: She burned the midnight oil to finish the report.

20. Cry over spilled milk

• Meaning: Worry about something in the past
• Example: It’s no use crying over spilled milk.

Idioms: 21-30

21. Kill two birs with one stone

• Meaning: Do two things at once
• Example: I killed two birds with one stone by shopping and visiting.

22. Bite off more than you can chew

• Meaning: Take on too much
• Example: He bit off more than he could chew at work.

23. Costs an arm and a leg

• Meaning: Very expensive
• Example: That dress costs an arm and a leg!

24. Once in a blue moon

• Meaning: Very rarely
• Example: We go out only once in a blue moon.

25. The ball is in your court

• Meaning: It’s your decision
• Example: I made my offer, now the ball is in your court.

26. Break a leg

• Meaning: Good luck
• Example: Break a leg in your performance tonight.

27. In hot water

• Meaning: In trouble
• Example: He is in hot water after missing the meeting.

28. Hit the sack

• Meaning: Go to bed
• Example: I am exhausted – I am hitting the sack.

29. Let someone off the hook

• Meaning: Not to punish
• Example: The teacher let me offer the hook for being late.

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Idioms: 31-40

31. The last straw

• Meaning: Final problem that causes failure
• Example: His rude remark was the last straw.

32. A piece of cake

• Meaning: Very easy
• Example: The test was a piece of cake.

33. Go the extra mile

• Meaning: Do more than expected
• Example: She always goes the extra mile at work.

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Idioms: 41-50

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Idioms: 51-60

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Idioms: 61-70

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Idioms: 71-80

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Idioms: 81-90

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Idioms: 90-100

30. Sit on the fence

• Meaning: Avoid making a decision
• Example: He is sitting on the fence about moving abroad.

Conclusion

Idioms are an important part of the English language because they help you understand native speakers, sound more natural, and add depth to your vocabulary. This list of 100 idioms with examples is useful to improve your English skills and boost your confidence while speaking and engaging in conversations.