ENG: commonly used idioms

to cut somebody some slack

to treat (someone) in a less harsh or critical way

hang in there

don’t give up

to let someone off the hook

to allow someone who was done something wrong to go without punishment

to get bent out of shape

to become absolutely furious

spill the beans (us)/tea (uk)

when someone encourages someone else to tell a secret/some gossip

it takes two to tango

both parties involved in a situation are equally responsible for it

it is a poor workman who blames his tools

not taking up responsibility for your own mistakes and blaming someone/something else.

wrap your head around something

to find a way to understand or accept something

add insult to injury

make a bad situation worse

birds of a feather flock together

to form groups with people with similar interests and tastes

barking up the wrong tree

following a dead end path, being totally wrong about something you believed to be true

(do something) at the drop of a hat

to do something immediately

good things come to those who wait

if you’re patient, you will be rewarded

don’t count your chickens before they hatch

do not count on something that has not happened yet

to rack your brain

to think really hard about something

that ship has sailed

the opportunity has passed

(it’s) better (to be) safe than (to be) sorry

it is good to be careful and not suffer any negative consequences

we see eye to eye

to agree with each other, to have the same opinion/view as someone else

to paint the town red

to (go out and) have a good time

the devil’s in the detail

the details are important, can be the most vicious part of something

to sit on the fence

to delay/avoid making a decision, to remain neutral in a discussion

a blessing in disguise

something that seems bad but ends up being good

easy does it

don’t lose your temper, do something slowly and carefully

to pull someone’s leg/to yank someone’s chain (US)

to try to persuade someone to believe something that is not true, as a joke

don’t cry over spilled milk

don’t worry about something that happened in the past, which cannot be changed anyway

ignorance is bliss

people who are unaware of a problem are also not troubled by that problem

take a rain check

politely decline an offer, with the implication that one may take it up at a later date

the early bird catches the worm

someone will have an advantage if they do something immediately or before other people do it

the whole nine yards

everything, all the way, the whole shabang

leave no stone unturned

to try everything possible in order to achieve a goal

Bob’s your uncle

after you finish something

hold your horses

calm down

once in a blue moon

rarely

every cloud has a silver lining

every disadvantage also has an advantage

get a taste of your own medicine

harsh or unpleasant treatment that is like the treatment someone has given others

beat around the bush

when you don’t get to the point

break a leg!

to wish someone good luck

to call it a day

to decide to stop what you have been doing for some time

hit the sack/hay

to go to bed/sleep

it’s not rocket science

something is not difficult

to kick the bucket

to die

your guess is as good as mine

when you don’t know the answer

a penny for your thoughts

when you want to know what someone is thinking about

to feel under the weather

when you don’t feel well

bite off more than you can chew

taking too much tasks at the same time

nature’s calling

you have to go to the restroom

to be on thin ice

being close to being in trouble

to be a chip off the old block

to resemble one’s parents

to be on cloud nine

to be very happy

it costs an arm and a leg

something is very expensive