Idioms Practice English
Essential English Idioms and Phrases: Comprehensive Reference - Part 1
“Break the ice”
Meaning: To start a conversation or make people feel more comfortable.
Example: “To break the ice at the party, I said hello to the person next to me.”
“Cut corners”
Meaning: To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often badly.
Example: “The company cut corners on safety to save money, which caused problems.”
“Hit the nail on the head”
Meaning: To describe something exactly right.
Example: “You’ve hit the nail on the head with your idea about the problem.”
“Piece of cake”
Meaning: Something very easy to do.
Example: “The test was a piece of cake; I finished it very quickly.”
“Cost an arm and a leg”
Meaning: To be very expensive.
Example: “That new phone costs an arm and a leg; I can’t buy it now.”
‐Bite off more than you can chew”
Meaning: To try to do more than you can manage.
Example: “By agreeing to do two big projects at once, I bit off more than I could chew.”
‐Cry over spilled milk”
Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed.
Example: ‐Don’t cry over spilled milk; let’s focus on fixing the problem.”
‐Get your act together”
Meaning: To organise yourself and improve your behaviour.
Example: ‐You need to get your act together if you want to pass this class.”
‐Kill two birds with one stone”
Meaning: To solve two problems with one action.
Example: ‐By walking to work, I kill two birds with one stone: I save money and get exercise.”
‐Let the cat out of the bag”
Meaning: To reveal a secret by mistake.
Example: ‐I let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party when I asked her what cake she likes.”
‐Pull someone’s leg”
Meaning: To joke with someone by telling them something that isn’t true.
Example: ‐Don’t worry, I’m just pulling your leg; I didn’t really sell your bike.”
Essential English Idioms and Phrases: Comprehensive Reference - Part 2
‐Burn the midnight oil”
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: ‐I’ve been burning the midnight oil to finish this project before the deadline.”
‐Bite the bullet”
Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding.
Example: ‐I finally bit the bullet and went to the dentist after waiting for months.”
‐Break a leg”
Meaning: A way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Example: ‐You’re going to do great in the play tonight. Break a leg!”
‐Call it a day”
Meaning: To stop working on something.
Example: ‐We’ve done a lot of work on the report. Let’s call it a day and continue tomorrow.”
‐Steal someone’s thunder”
Meaning: To take attention away from someone else’s achievement.
Example: ‐I was about to share my good news, but my sister stole my thunder by announcing her engagement.”
‐The ball is in your court”
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: ‐I’ve made my offer; now the ball is in your court to decide.”
‐Under the weather”
Meaning: Feeling slightly ill.
Example: ‐I’m feeling a bit under the weather today; I might stay home and rest.”
‐Speak of the devil”
Meaning: Said when someone appears just as you’re talking about them.
Example: ‐Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you when you walked in.”
‐Once in a blue moon”
Meaning: Very rarely.
Example: ‐I only eat fast food once in a blue moon; I usually cook at home.”
‐Barking up the wrong tree”
Meaning: To look for something in the wrong place or to blame the wrong person.
Example: ‐If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I haven’t seen it.”
‐Go the extra mile”
Meaning: To make an extra effort.
Example: ‐Our teachers always go the extra mile to help students understand difficult topics.”
Essential English Idioms and Phrases: Comprehensive Reference - Part 3
“Straight from the horse’s mouth”
Meaning: Information from the person who knows best.
Example: ‐I heard about the university’s new policy straight from the horse’s mouth – the vice-chancellor told us herself.”
‐Take with a pinch of salt”
Meaning: To not completely believe something.
Example: ‐You should take his stories with a pinch of salt; he often exaggerates.”
‐To feel like a million bucks”
Meaning: To feel wonderful or in great health.
Example: ‐I feel like a million bucks after that workout!”
‐Miss the boat”
Meaning: To miss an opportunity.
Example: ‐Don’t miss the boat on this great deal.”
‐The elephant in the room”
Meaning: A problem that everyone is avoiding discussing.
Example: ‐Let’s address the elephant in the room.”
‐Hit the sack/hay”
Meaning: Go to sleep
Example: ‐I’m exhausted; I’m going to hit the hay.”
‐On the ball”
Meaning: Doing a good job, being on top of it
Example: ‐Thanks for the reminder – you’re on the ball!”
“The last straw:
Meaning: Patience has run out
Example: ‐You’re always late; this is the last straw.”
‐Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”
Meaning: Don’t count on something good to happen until it’s actually happened
Expression: ‐Although the interview went well, don’t count your chickens before they hatch – wait for the offer letter.”
‐Comparing apples to oranges”
Meaning: Comparing two things that are too different and cannot be compared
Example: ‐Comparing Italian food with Mexican food is like comparing apples to oranges.”
‐A storm in a teacup”
Meaning: A big fuss about a small problem
Example: ‐It’s just a little traffic; you’re making it a storm in a teacup.”
‐Cut [somebody] some slack”
Meaning: Don’t be so critical
Example: ‐I tried my best; cut me some slack.”
Essential English Idioms and Phrases: Comprehensive Reference - Part 4
‐It’s not rocket science”
Meaning: It’s not difficult or complicated
Example: ‐You just need to restart your laptop; it’s not rocket science.”
‐A picture is worth a thousand words”
Meaning: It’s better to show it than to talk about it
Example: ‐Looking at their wedding photo, you can tell they’re so happy – a picture is worth a thousand words.”