Idiomatic expressions are the seasoning in the stew of language, adding flavor and color to our daily conversations. The origin of idioms dates back to ancient times, as languages and cultures developed their own unique ways of expressing ideas and emotions. Many idioms we use today have roots in ancient Greek and Roman literature. The Bible has also contributed many idiomatic expressions to the English language, such as “the writing on the wall” and “a thorn in the flesh.” During the medieval period, folklore, proverbs, and fables were popular, contributing to the richness of idiomatic expressions. In modern times, idiomatic expressions continue to evolve with the influence of technology, pop culture, and globalization. New idioms emerge from movies, television, social media, and everyday experiences.
Idioms are deeply rooted in cultural context, reflecting the values, humor, and experiences of a particular group of people. Understanding idioms often requires knowledge of the culture from which they arise. When taken literally, idioms often seem nonsensical, but they convey well-understood meanings within a cultural context.
In this blog post, we will explore 47 common idiomatic expressions and their meanings, and provide some examples to show how they can be used in everyday communication. Whether you’re a language learner trying to grasp English idioms, or a native speaker interested in these quirky phrases, this post will provide insightful and fun explanations.
49 Idiomatic Expressions, Meanings and Examples
- Bite the bullet: To endure a painful or otherwise unpleasant situation that is seen as unavoidable. Example: “I really don’t want to exercise today, but I guess I’ll just have to bite the bullet.”
- Break the ice: To initiate conversation in a social setting, making people feel more comfortable. Example: “He told a funny joke to break the ice.”
- Turn A Blind Eye: To deliberately ignore something or pretend not to notice something. Example: Despite knowing that his friend was cheating on the test, John decided to turn a blind eye and said nothing to the teacher.
- Barking up the wrong tree: To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action; to make a wrong assumption about something. Example: If you think I’m the one who broke the vase, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I wasn’t even home when it happened.
- The elephant in the room: An obvious problem or difficult issue that people do not want to talk about. Example: “Everyone avoided talking about his dismissal, but it was the elephant in the room.”
- At A Drop of a Hat: Doing something immediately and without hesitation. Example: If you need help moving, just call me; I’ll be there at the drop of a hat.
- Burning the midnight oil: Staying up late working on something, especially studying. Example: “She was burning the midnight oil last night to finish her thesis on time.”
- Hit the nail on the head – To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem. Example: “She hit the nail on the head when she said the company’s problem was a lack of communication.”
- Jump on the bandwagon: To join a popular activity or trend. Example: “When she saw how popular the new social media app was, she decided to jump on the bandwagon.”
- Kick the bucket: A light-hearted way to talk about death. Example: “He’s so healthy, it’ll be a long time before he kicks the bucket.”
- A piece of cake: Something very easy to do. Example: “I thought the test would be difficult, but it was a piece of cake.”
12. Miss the boat: To miss an opportunity. Example: “He missed the boat on investing in that company early on.”
13. No-brainer: Something that requires or involves very little or no mental effort. Example: “Choosing between a week in Paris or a week in the office is a no-brainer.”
14. Once in a blue moon: Very rarely. Example: “I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon.”
15. Pull someone’s leg: To joke or tease someone. Example: “I was just pulling your leg; of course, I’m not serious!”
16. Run-of-the-mill: Average, ordinary, not special. Example: “It was just a run-of-the-mill restaurant, nothing special.”
17. Hear something through the Grapevine: To learn about something informally and often indirectly, usually through gossip or rumors rather than official or direct communication. Example: I heard through the grapevine that our team is going to have a new manager next month.
18. Through thick and thin: To endure all kinds of challenges and situations. Example: “They remained friends through thick and thin.”
19. Up in the air: Something that is uncertain or unclear. Example: “Plans for the outdoor wedding are up in the air because of the weather forecast.”
20. When pigs fly: Something that’s highly unlikely or will never happen. Example: “He’ll clean his room when pigs fly!”
21. Break A Leg. This idiom means “good luck”. It is usually used to Wish someone good luck before their performance. Example: “You’ll be amazing! Break a leg out there!”
22. You can’t judge a book by its cover: Not to judge someone or something based solely on appearance. Example: “Don’t judge a book by its cover. Though the restaurant is small, I’ve heard the food is excellent and the service is great.”
23. Spill the beans: To reveal secret information unintentionally or impulsively. Example: “He spilled the beans about their plans to elope.”
24. Every Cloud has a Silver Lining: This means that there is something good in every bad situation, or that a negative event can lead to something positive. Example: Even though I was laid off from my job, it gave me the time to finish my novel, proving that every cloud has a silver lining.
25. Feeling under the weather: Not feeling well. Example: “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today, so I think I’ll stay home.”
26. Add Insult to Injury: To make a bad situation even worse by doing something to upset someone further. Example: Jane’s car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and to add insult to injury, it started to rain heavily.
27. Back To the Drawing Board: To start over from the beginning after a plan or idea has failed. Example: The project proposal was rejected by the client, so the team had to go back to the drawing board to come up with a new plan.
28. Rub someone up the wrong way: To irritate or annoy someone without intending to. Example: Samantha’s habit of humming loudly while working rubbed her colleagues up the wrong way.
29. Cut Someone Some slack: To be more lenient with someone when criticizing. Example: John was late to the meeting because of heavy traffic, so his boss decided to cut him some slack.
30. To Cut Corners: To do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often sacrificing quality or safety. Example: The contractor cut corners by using cheaper materials, which resulted in a poorly constructed building.
31. Butter Someone Up: To flatter someone excessively, usually to gain favor or something in return. Example: Before asking for a raise, Jane decided to butter up her boss by complimenting her on her recent achievements.
32. Has the Cat Got Your Tongue?: A phrase used when someone is unusually quiet or reluctant to speak, often implying they are at a loss for words or feeling shy. Example: During the meeting, when asked about his progress on the project, John just sat there silently. His boss asked, ‘What’s the matter, John? Has the cat got your tongue?’
33. A bed of Roses: A situation or activity that is comfortable, easy, or pleasant. It often implies that everything is going smoothly without any difficulties or challenges. Example: Starting a new business isn’t exactly a bed of roses; it requires a lot of hard work and dedication.
34. A Walk in The Park: Something that is very easy to do or accomplish. It suggests that the task is as simple and pleasant as taking a leisurely walk in the park. Example: After years of practice, giving a presentation in front of a large audience is a walk in the park for Sarah.
35. Take it with a grain of salt: To not take what someone says too seriously; to view it with skepticism. Example: “He tends to exaggerate, so take what he says with a grain of salt.”
36. Curiosity Killed the Cat: Being too curious or inquisitive can lead to trouble or danger. This idiom serves as a warning against unnecessary investigation or prying into things that don’t concern you. Example: Jenny couldn’t resist peeking into her brother’s diary, but when he found out, he was really upset. Curiosity killed the cat, after all.
37. Cost an arm and a leg: Something very expensive. Example: “That designer dress costs an arm and a leg.”
38. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: This idiom means that you shouldn’t talk about a bad situation that most people have forgotten that could potentially lead to trouble. Example: We could reopen the debate about the old policy, but I think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.
39. Pull the wool over someone’s Eyes: This idiom means to deceive or mislead someone. Example: The con artist tried to pull the wool over the old lady’s eyes by pretending to be a bank officer.
40. Let Your Hair Down: To permit yourself to have fun and relax more than you usually would without worrying about what others think. Example: After a long week of work, Sarah decided to let her hair down and have some fun at the weekend party.
41. Cry over spilled milk: Complaining about a loss or failure from the past that cannot be undone. Example: “He forgot to save his document before the computer crashed, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk.”
42. Skeleton in the closet: A hidden and potentially embarrassing or shameful secret about someone. Example: Both of her parents were alcoholics.
43. Give Someone the Cold Shoulder: To deliberately ignore someone or be unfriendly to them. Example: When Lisa saw her ex-boyfriend at the party, she gave him the cold shoulder and refused to talk to him.
44. Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret, usually unintentionally. Example: “I let the cat out of the bag about their surprise party.”
45. Give As Good as You Get: Tough enough to treat people or respond to an attack or criticism with equal force or intensity. Example: During the debate, Mark didn’t back down when challenged; he gave as good as he got, defending his points vigorously.
46. Give Someone A Taste of their own medicine: To treat someone the same way they have been treating others, usually negatively or unpleasantly. Example: After months of being bullied by her coworker, Emily decided to give him a taste of his own medicine by spreading rumors about him.
47. Hit the Roof: Someone who is extremely angry usually at the point of shouting. Example: My sister will hit the roof when she finds out I dented her car.
48. A Thorn in the Flesh: A persistent annoyance or problem caused by someone or something. Example: The constant delays in the project have been a thorn in the flesh for the entire team.
49. The Writing on the Wall: An indication that something bad is going to happen, usually unavoidable. Example: With the company’s declining sales and increasing debt, the writing on the wall was clear that bankruptcy was imminent.
By understanding these common idiomatic expressions, you can enhance your communication skills and make conversations more engaging. Remember, the more you practice using these expressions, the more natural they will become in your daily conversations. So go ahead, spice up your language with these quirky phrases and enjoy the richness they bring to your interactions!
