Comprehensive Guide to English Idioms and Meanings

General & Body-Related Idioms

  • Keep an eye on

    • Definition: Take care of; to look after, monitor, or watch over someone or something attentively.

  • Learn by heart

    • Definition: Memorize; to commit information completely to memory so that it can be recalled fluently.

  • Let one's hair down

    • Definition: Relax; to behave unreservedly, let go of inhibitions, and enjoy oneself freely.

  • My lips are sealed

    • Definition: To keep a secret; a promise to keep confidential information safe and not reveal it to anyone.

  • To powder your nose

    • Definition: Go to the toilet; a polite euphemism used when excusing oneself to use the restroom.

  • Use your loaf

    • Definition: Use your head; an encouragement to think critically, use common sense, or exercise intelligence.

Food-Based Idioms

  • Apple of one's eye

    • Definition: A person that is adored by someone; a cherished, favored, or deeply loved individual.

  • (Have a) bun in the oven

    • Definition: Be pregnant; carrying an unborn child.

  • Bad egg

    • Definition: A person who is often in trouble; an untrustworthy, dishonest, or troublesome individual.

  • Big cheese

    • Definition: VIP; an important, powerful, or influential person within an organization or group.

  • Bread and butter

    • Definition: The main thing; a person's primary source of income, livelihood, or essential component.

  • Butter someone up

    • Definition: Be extra nice to someone; praising or flattering someone excessively to gain a favor or advantage.

  • Cheesy

    • Definition: Silly; lacking taste, tacky, overly sentimental, or cheap.

  • Cool as a cucumber / As cool as a cucumber

    • Definition: Very relaxed; a person who is able to remain calm, composure-filled, and unruffled in any situation.

  • Cream of the crop

    • Definition: The best; the finest or highest quality individuals or items in a particular group.

  • Cry over spilled milk

    • Definition: Get upset over something that already happened and cannot be changed; worrying about past mistakes or unalterable losses.

  • To go bananas

    • Definition: To get temporarily angry, wildly excited, or crazy.

  • A piece of cake

    • Definition: Very easy; a task or activity that requires minimal effort to complete successfully.

  • To know your onions

    • Definition: To know a lot about a particular subject; to be highly knowledgeable, experienced, or skilled in a specific field.

Animal & Nature Idioms

  • Ants in one's pants

    • Definition: Unable to sit still; being excessively restless, impatient, agitated, or overly energetic.

  • (The) birds and the bees

    • Definition: Sex education; the basic facts about sex, reproduction, and biological development taught to children or young people.

  • Cat nap

    • Definition: A short sleep; a brief nap taken during the daytime to rest quickly.

  • Chicken out

    • Definition: To decide not to do something out of fear, anxiety, or lack of courage.

  • Copy cat

    • Definition: Someone that copies you; a person who closely imitates or plagiarizes another individual's actions, ideas, or style.