English Idioms

English Idioms

Definitions and Examples

  1. Absent-minded: forgetful.

    • Example: "My grandfather is very absent-minded and often forgets his key."

  2. Add up: being reasonable, rational.

    • Example: "He doesn’t add up by judging the new students by their appearance."

  3. An arm and a leg: (cost) a large amount of money.

    • Example: "His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg."

  4. As easy as pie: very easy.

    • Example: "I thought you said this was a difficult problem. It isn't. In fact, it's as easy as pie."

  5. At first blush: when first seen, without careful study.

    • Example: "At first blush, the student looked friendly but later we had problems with him."

  6. At the eleventh hour: at the last minute; almost too late.

    • Example: "Yes, I got the work done in time. I finished it at the eleventh hour, but I wasn't late."

  7. Be a piece of cake: be very easy.

    • Example: "Bob said the test was difficult, but I thought it was a piece of cake."

  8. Be all ears: be eager to hear what someone has to say.

    • Example: "Tell me what she said. I'm all ears!"

  9. Be in and out: be at and away from a place during a particular time.

    • Example: "Could we postpone our meeting until tomorrow? I expect to be in and out of the office most of the day today."

  10. Be on the go: be very busy.

    • Example: "I'm really tired. I've been on the go all week long."

  11. Be up and running: (for a technological process) be operational; be ready to use.

    • Example: "Dave's ESL Cafe on the Web has been up and running since December 1995."

  12. Beat around the bush: evade an issue.

    • Example: "Quit beating around the bush! If you don't want to go with me, just tell me!"

  13. Beat one's brains out: try very hard to understand or do something.

    • Example: "Can you help me with this problem? I've been beating my brains out to solve it."

  14. Bent out of shape: needlessly worried about something.

    • Example: "I know you're worried about the interview, but don't get bent out of shape. You'll do fine."

  15. Bet on the wrong horse: false prediction of the future.

    • Example: "He bets on the wrong horse after accepting the new employee."

Additional Idioms (16-30)

  1. Bite off more than one can chew: take responsibility for more than one can manage.

  2. Bite the bullet: endure a difficult situation.

  3. Blow one's top: become extremely angry.

  4. The bottom line: the most essential information.

  5. Break a leg!: Good luck!

  6. Break someone's heart: cause disappointment.

  7. Bull-headed: stubborn; inflexible.

  8. Burn the midnight oil: study/work all night.

  9. By the skin of one's teeth: barely succeed in doing something.

  10. Call it a day: stop work for the day.

  11. Can't make heads or tails of something: can't understand something.

  12. Cash cow: great financial source.

  13. Catch one's eye: attract attention.

  14. Catch some Zs: sleep for a while.

  15. Clear the air: calm down misunderstandings.