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What are some common English idioms?
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- A hard nut to crack. Explanation: usually a person who is very difficult to deal with. Example: I gave my best to be friendly with her, but she is simply a hard nut to crack.
- All ears. Explanation: very concentrated or keen to listen to the other person who has your full attention. Example: Children are all ears when the teacher tells them fairytales.
- A picture is worth a thousand words. Explanation: It’s better to show than to tell; illustration conveys a stronger message than words. Example: Such a beautiful portrait of a little girl represents how a picture is worth a thousand words.
- A piece of cake. Explanation: something easily done, simple task, or work. Example: Anne said the test would be difficult, but it was a piece of cake. I’ll pass with no problem at all.
- Kelly Roell
- 24/7: Twenty-four hours a day; seven days a week; all the time; constantly. My little sister irritates me 24/7!
- A short fuse: A quick temper. Jamie is known for his short fuse; just a few days ago he screamed at his coach for not letting him play.
- A taste of your own medicine: Bad treatment deservedly received for treating other people badly. After constantly being prank-called, Julian decided to give Juan a taste of his own medicine and ordered twenty-seven pizzas to be delivered to Juan’s house.
- Butterflies in my stomach: To be nervous. Liam had butterflies in his stomach before he went on stage to play the violin.
- A Blessing in Disguise
- A Dime A Dozen
- All Ears
- All in The Same Boat
- Barking Up The Wrong Tree
- Beat Around The Bush
- Bite The Bullet
- Bury The Hatchet
- By The Skin of Your Teeth
- Call It A Day
Meaning: Something that seems bad or unlucky at first but turns out to be good.Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguisebecause it pushed me to start my own business.Meaning: Very common and easy to find.Example: Those souvenir keychains area dime a dozenat the tourist shops.Meaning: Fully listening and paying attention.Example: Go ahead, I’m all ears.Tell me what’s been on your mind.Meaning: In the same situation or predicament.Example: Everybody on staff got a pay cut – we’re all in the same boat.Meaning: Accusing or blaming the wrong person.Example: If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I haven’t seen it.Meaning: Avoiding the main topic or being indirect.Example: Stop beating around the bushand tell me why you didn’t show up to my birthday party.Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely.Example: I have to bite the bulletand tell him the truth, even though it might hurt him.Meaning: To reconcile or make peace after a conflict.Example: After years of not speaking to each other, they finally decided to bury the hatchetand become friends again.Meaning: Just barely or narrowly escaping a difficult situation.Example: I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth; I got the minimum required score.Meaning: To stop working or to end an activity.Example: We’ve been painting all afternoon; let’s call it a dayand continue tomorrow.May 7, 2024 · English idioms are extremely common and understanding them is key to understanding the language as a whole. This post will introduce you to 144 of the most frequently used idioms and their meanings, along with examples of how they are actually used!
- A dime a dozen: If something is a dime a dozen, it’s common, easy to come by, or not of much value—you can get a dozen of them for just ten cents! Fitness YouTubers are a dime a dozen these days.
- A slap on the wrist: A slap on the wrist is a mild or inconsequential punishment, especially when a more severe punishment is warranted. The company had to pay a fine after causing the oil spill—a slap on the wrist!
- All Greek to me: I thought I was going to understand German after studying it for years, but once I was in Berlin, it was all Greek to me. I didn’t understand a word of it.
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: This is one of the many common English idioms that are intuitive when you break it down. It typically stands alone, and means that it’s better to keep something you already have than it is to risk it by trying to get something better.
What are the most common English idioms used today? This post lists the 150 most popular idiomatic expressions to help you sound more like a native English speaker! Our A-Z of idioms gives you the meaning of each expression, along with example sentences.
39 Common English Idioms You Should Know. Learning common idioms will make your spoken English more lively and will also make you closer to native English speakers. Inside, you’ll find plenty of simple and fun idioms you should learn today.
