Knowing everyday idioms in English is important because they help you understand and communicate more naturally with native speakers. Idioms are common expressions that don’t always mean exactly what the words say, like “it’s raining cats and dogs” for heavy rain. If you know these idioms, you can better understand conversations, jokes, and writings, and you can also express yourself in a way that sounds more fluent and familiar to others. This makes it easier to connect with people and fit in with different social and cultural groups.
Pay attention to this dialogue:
I’m worried about the test
Don’t worry! That’ll be a piece of cake!
(Piece of cake?!) … So what are you gonna do about it?
There’s nothing much I can do! I gotta bite the bullet
(bite.. the bullet…? What is he talking about?)
You ok?
Yeah yeah, I’m gonna go study
Ait. Break a leg!
Break a leg! Why would I break a leg??
Did you understand the dialogue completely? If not, stay with us in the rest of this article, to get familiar with everyday idioms in English.
Piece of cake
Meaning: Something very easy to do.
Example: “Don’t worry about that test; it will be a piece of cake.”
Break a leg (Of everyday idioms in English)
Meaning: A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Example: “You have your big presentation today, right? Break a leg!”
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 a new strategy.”
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
Example: “I let the cat out of the bag about their surprise party.”
Read more: What are the idioms about cats in English?
Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive.
Example: “That car costs an arm and a leg.”
Feeling under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick.
Example: “I’m feeling under the weather, so I’ll stay home today.”
Bite the bullet (Of everyday idioms in English)
Meaning: To get something over with because it is inevitable.
Example: “I really don’t want to exercise today, but I guess I’ll just bite the bullet.”
The best of both worlds
Meaning: A situation wherein someone can enjoy two different opportunities.
Example: “Working part-time and being able to study is having the best of both worlds.”
Speak of the devil
Meaning: This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.
Example: “Hi John, speak of the devil, we were just talking about you!”
When pigs fly (Of everyday idioms in English)
Meaning: Something that will never happen.
Example: “He’ll clean his room when pigs fly.”
Read more: Learn about the funny idioms in English
Cut to the chase
Meaning: Get to the point without wasting time.
Example: “We don’t have much time, so please cut to the chase.”
Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: To worsen a situation or increase anger.
Example: “By arguing back, he just added fuel to the fire.”
Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than what is expected of you.
Example: “She always goes the extra mile to ensure her clients are happy.”
Out of the blue (Of everyday idioms in English)
Meaning: Something happening unexpectedly.
Example: “I hadn’t seen him for years when, out of the blue, I received a letter from him.”
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.
Example: “I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon.”
In this article, you learned about the everyday idioms in English. Don’t forget to practice and try to use the in your daily conversations.
Burn the Midnight Oil
Meaning: To stay up late working on something.
Example: She burned the midnight oil to finish her project
Spill the Beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret, often by accident.
Example: Tom accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise party.
Hit the Sack
Meaning: To go to bed.
Example: I’m exhausted; I’m going to hit the sack.
Jump on the Bandwagon
Meaning: To join others in doing something that’s popular or trendy.
Example: Everyone is joining the new gym, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon.
A Penny for Your Thoughts
Meaning: Used to ask someone what they are thinking.
Example: You’ve been quiet today, a penny for your thoughts?
Bite the Dust
Meaning: To fail or be defeated.
Example: The old computer finally bit the dust.
Blow Off Some Steam
Meaning: To release stress or anger.
Example: He went for a run to blow off some steam.
Hit the Ground Running
Meaning: To start something with energy and enthusiasm.
Example: She hit the ground running on her first day at work.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Meaning: To avoid interfering in a situation that could lead to trouble.
Example: Let’s not bring up old arguments—let sleeping dogs lie.
The Ball Is in Your Court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.
Break the Bank
Meaning: To spend all of your money.
Example: Buying that new car will break the bank.
Right Under Your Nose
Meaning: Something that is clearly visible but not noticed.
Example: The keys were right under your nose the whole time.
Wrap Your Head Around
Meaning: To try to understand something complicated.
Example: I can’t wrap my head around this math problem.
Throw in the Towel
Meaning: To give up or admit defeat.
Example: After hours of trying, he finally threw in the towel.
By the Skin of Your Teeth
Meaning: To barely succeed at something.
Example: He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Meaning: To stay alert and watch carefully.
Example: Keep your eyes peeled for a parking spot.
Pull Someone’s Leg
Meaning: To joke or trick someone.
Example: I was just pulling your leg; I didn’t win the lottery.
Cry Over Spilled Milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that cannot be changed.
Example: It’s no use crying over spilled milk; we can’t change what happened.
Leave No Stone Unturned
Meaning: To try every possible way to achieve something.
Example: They left no stone unturned in their search for the missing ring.
In the Same Boat
Meaning: To be in the same difficult situation as someone else.
Example: After losing our jobs, we’re all in the same boat.
Go Down in Flames
Meaning: To fail spectacularly.
Example: The business went down in flames because they didn’t have enough customers.
Keep Your Chin Up
Meaning: To stay positive in a difficult situation.
Example: Keep your chin up, things will get better soon.
Back to the Drawing Board
Meaning: To start over after a failure.
Example: The plan didn’t work, so it’s back to the drawing board.
On the Same Page
Meaning: To have a shared understanding or agreement.
Example: Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page before continuing.
Put Your Foot Down
Meaning: To use your authority to stop something.
Example: She put her foot down and refused to let her kids stay up late.
Idioms are a fun and essential part of mastering the English language. They make your speech more natural and help you connect better with native speakers. Learning these idioms will not only improve your vocabulary but also your overall fluency.
Watch the following video and review the last idioms mentioned in this article
