Learn and use these 20 common idioms to improve your English further and sound more fluent!
Here are 20 common idioms in English:
1. ‘The best of both worlds’– means you can enjoy two different opportunities at the same time. “By working part-time and looking after her kids two days a week she managed to get the best of both worlds.”
2. ‘Hold your horses’ – means wait a minute, be patient. “Hold your horses, we still have to tidy up before we go”
3. ‘Speak of the devil’ –this means that the person you’re just talking about actually appears at that moment. “Hi Tom, speak of the devil, I was just telling Sara about your new car.”
4. ‘See eye to eye’– this means agreeing with someone. “They finally saw eye to eye on the business deal.”
5. ‘Once in a blue moon’– an event that happens infrequently. “I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon.”
6. ‘Kick the bucket’ – means to die. “I want to do a bungee jump before I kick the bucket.”
7. ‘Pigs might fly’ –something that will never happen. “Will you ever get married? – Ha ha, pigs might fly!”
8. ‘To cost an arm and a leg’– something is very expensive. “Fuel these days costs an arm and a leg.”
9. ‘Blue in the face” – exhausted from great effort which was futile. “I have told you until I am blue in the face – keep your bedroom tidy!”
10. ‘A piece of cake’– something is very easy. “The English test was a piece of cake”.
Confused yet? Keep reading…
11. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’– to accidentally reveal a secret. “I let the cat out of the bag about their wedding plans.”
12. ‘Out of the blue’ – means randomly or unexpectedly. “I was writing her a letter when, out of the blue, she came to the door”.
13. ‘To feel under the weather’– to feel unwell. “I’m really feeling under the weather today; I have a terrible cold.”
14. ‘To kill two birds with one stone’– to solve two problems at once. “By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go away but also spend time with him.”
15. ‘Neck of the woods’ – a specific area. “What are you doing visiting this neck of the woods?”
16. ‘To cut corners’– to do something badly or cheaply. “They really cut corners when they built this bathroom; the shower is leaking.”
17. ‘Thick as thieves’ – to be very close friends. “My sister and I are as thick as thieves”.
18. ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’– to not judge someone or something based solely on appearance. “I thought this no-brand bread would be horrible; turns out you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
19. ‘Break a leg’ –means ‘good luck’ (often said to actors before they go on stage). “Break a leg Sam, I’m sure your performance will be great.”
20. ‘To hit the nail on the head’ –to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem. “He hit the nail on the head when he said this company needs more HR support.”
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