50 Idioms in English Language That You Should Know

Idioms are an essential part of the English language. They are phrases or expressions with meanings that are not always obvious from the individual words. Understanding and using idioms in English language can make your speech and writing more natural, colorful, and engaging.

In this article, you will learn 50 idioms in English language that you should know, along with their meanings and examples.

Table of Contents

50 Idioms in English Language That Everyone Should Know

Here is the list of 50 idioms in English language with their meanings and usage.

1. A Blessing in Disguise

Meaning: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise because I found a better one.

2. A Piece of Cake

Meaning: Something very easy to do.
Example: The test was a piece of cake for her because she had studied hard.

3. Break the Ice

Meaning: To start a conversation in a social setting.
Example: He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.

4. Burn the Midnight Oil

Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: She burned the midnight oil to finish her project on time.

5. 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 the company needs better management.

6. Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.

7. Spill the Beans

Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: Don’t spill the beans about the new product launch.

8. Under the Weather

Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell.
Example: I didn’t go to work today because I was feeling under the weather.

9. Bite the Bullet

Meaning: To face a difficult situation with courage.
Example: He had to bite the bullet and tell his boss about the mistake.

10. Costs an Arm and a Leg

Meaning: Something very expensive.
Example: That designer bag costs an arm and a leg.

11. The Ball is in Your Court

Meaning: It’s your decision or responsibility to take action.
Example: I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.

12. Add Fuel to the Fire

Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.
Example: His rude comments only added fuel to the fire during the argument.

13. Kill Two Birds with One Stone

Meaning: To achieve two things with one action.
Example: I killed two birds with one stone by exercising while listening to a podcast.

14. The Last Straw

Meaning: The final event that makes a situation unbearable.
Example: Losing his wallet was the last straw for him.

15. Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Meaning: To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.
Example: If you think I’m the one who broke the vase, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

16. Beat Around the Bush

Meaning: To avoid talking about the main issue.
Example: Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.

17. Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Meaning: There’s something good in every bad situation.
Example: Losing my job taught me to start my own business; every cloud has a silver lining.

18. Cry Over Spilled Milk

Meaning: To waste time worrying about something that has already happened.
Example: There’s no use crying over spilled milk; let’s focus on the solution.

19. Hit the Sack

Meaning: To go to bed.
Example: I’m exhausted; I’m going to hit the sack early tonight.

20. On Cloud Nine

Meaning: Extremely happy or delighted.
Example: She’s on cloud nine after getting her dream job.

21. Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Meaning: To overwork yourself by doing too much.
Example: He’s burning the candle at both ends and needs a break.

22. Pull Someone’s Leg

Meaning: To joke or trick someone playfully.
Example: Relax, I was just pulling your leg about winning the lottery.

23. Throw in the Towel

Meaning: To give up or quit.
Example: After years of trying, he finally threw in the towel on his invention.

24. Get Cold Feet

Meaning: To feel nervous about a major decision.
Example: She got cold feet just before her wedding.

25. Break a Leg

Meaning: A way to wish someone good luck.
Example: Break a leg at your audition tomorrow!

26. Take with a Grain of Salt

Meaning: To view something skeptically.
Example: Take his advice with a grain of salt; he’s not an expert.

27. Jump on the Bandwagon

Meaning: To follow a trend.
Example: Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of online courses.

28. Piece of the Pie

Meaning: A share of something valuable.
Example: She wants a piece of the pie from the new business profits.

29. Face the Music

Meaning: To confront the consequences of your actions.
Example: It’s time for him to face the music and accept his mistake.

30. Caught Between a Rock and a hard Place

Meaning: Stuck in a difficult situation with no good options.
Example: He was caught between a rock and a hard place when both friends asked for his help.

31. Hit the Ground Running

Meaning: To start something with enthusiasm and immediately be productive.
Example: We need to hit the ground running when the new project begins next week.

32. Pull Yourself Together

Meaning: Regain control of your emotions or actions.
Example: After hearing the bad news, she took a moment to pull herself together before speaking.

33. Time Flies

Meaning: Time passes very quickly.
Example: Time flies when you’re having fun with friends.

34. Keep an Eye on

Meaning: To watch or monitor something or someone carefully.
Example: Can you keep an eye on the soup while I answer the door?

35. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Meaning: Avoid restarting old conflicts or issues.
Example: Let’s not discuss that argument again; it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.

36. Under One’s Nose

Meaning: Happening close by but unnoticed.
Example: The keys were under my nose the whole time!

37. Go the Extra Mile

Meaning: To make a special effort to achieve something.
Example: The teacher went the extra mile to help her students understand the topic.

38. Jump the Gun

Meaning: To act too quickly without proper preparation or understanding.
Example: He jumped the gun by announcing the product launch before it was ready.

39. In Hot Water

Meaning: In trouble or facing difficulty.
Example: He got into hot water for skipping work without informing his boss.

40. Over the Moon

Meaning: Extremely happy or delighted.
Example: She was over the moon when she got accepted into her dream university.

41. Pull Out All the Stops

Meaning: To do everything possible to achieve success.
Example: They pulled out all the stops to make the event unforgettable.

42. Throw Someone Under the Bus

Meaning: To betray someone for personal benefit.
Example: He threw his colleague under the bus to save his own job.

43. Through Thick and Think

Meaning: In good times and bad times; to stay loyal regardless of circumstances.
Example: True friends stick together through thick and thin.

44. Bite Off More Thank You Can Chew

Meaning: To take on more work or responsibility than you can handle.
Example: He bit off more than he could chew by agreeing to finish two big projects in one week.

45. Stick to Your Guns

Meaning: To maintain your position or opinion, even when others disagree.
Example: Despite the criticism, she stuck to her guns and continued with her plan.

46. Make Ends Meet

Meaning: To manage finances to cover basic expenses.
Example: With rising prices, it’s getting harder to make ends meet.

47. Leave No Stone Unturned

Meaning: To try every possible option to achieve a goal.
Example: The detectives left no stone unturned in their search for clues.

48. By the Skin of Your Teeth

Meaning: Just barely managing to succeed or escape something.
Example: He passed the test by the skin of his teeth after studying all night.

49. All Ears

Meaning: Fully listening and paying attention.
Example: Tell me about your trip; I’m all ears!

50. Water Under the Bridge

Meaning: Something that happened in the past and is no longer a concern.
Example: We had our differences in the past, but that’s all water under the bridge now.

Conclusion: 50 Idioms in English Language

Idioms are an integral part of the English language, making communication more engaging, expressive, and relatable. By learning these 50 idioms in English language, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also gain a deeper understanding of how native speakers convey emotions, humor, and creativity.

Remember, idioms often have meanings that can’t be understood literally, so practice using them in context to make your conversations sound more natural and fluent.

Incorporate these 50 idioms in English language into your daily speaking and writing, and over time, they will become second nature. Whether you’re aiming to enhance your professional communication or simply add flair to casual conversations, mastering these 50 idioms in English language is a step closer to becoming a confident English speaker.

I hope this article helped you to learn 50 idioms in English language along with their meanings and examples.

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