50 COMMON IDIOMS IN ENGLISH USE IN CONVERSATION
An idiom is a phrase or expression
whose meaning differs from the literal meaning of the words that make it up. In
other words, it's a figure of speech. For example, "to kick the
bucket" is an idiom that means "to die." The words themselves
have nothing to do with death, but the phrase as a whole has come to mean that.
Therefore, Let’s study the 50 idioms that common use in a conversation:
- Piece of cake:
Very easy.
Example: The math test was a piece of cake.
- Arm and a leg:
Very expensive.
Example: That new car cost an arm and a leg.
- Under the weather:
Slightly ill.
Example: I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.
- Hit the nail on the head: Been exactly right.
Example: You've hit the nail on the head with your
suggestion.
- Let the cat out of the bag: Revealed a secret.
Example: Someone let the cat out of the bag about the
surprise party.
- Killed two birds with one stone: Accomplished two things at once.
Example: He killed two birds with one stone by going to the
grocery store and the post office on the same trip.
- Bit off more than she could chew: Took on more than she could handle.
Example: She bit off more than she could chew when she
volunteered to organize the entire conference.
- Add insult to injury:
To make a bad situation worse.
Example: To add insult to injury, it started raining after I
spilled my coffee.
- Dog house:
In trouble.
Example: He's in the dog house with his wife for forgetting
their anniversary.
- Break a leg:
Good luck.
Example: Break a leg in your play tonight!
- Call it a day:
Stop working.
Example: Let's call it a day and go home.
- Get something off your chest: Confess something that's been bothering you.
Example: I need to get something off my chest – I'm really
worried about the presentation.
- Go the extra mile:
Does more than is expected.
Example: She always goes the extra mile for her clients.
- Jump the gun:
Do something too early or prematurely.
Example: Don't jump the gun – wait for the official announcement.
- Let someone off the hook: Allowed someone to avoid a consequence or punishment.
Example: The teacher let him off the hook because it was his
first offense.
- Make a long story short: To summarize a complicated story quickly.
Example: To make a long story short, we decided to move to a
new city.
- Missed the boat:
Missed an opportunity.
Example: I think I missed the boat on that job opportunity.
- Pulling your leg:
Joking with you.
Example: Don't worry, I'm just pulling your leg.
- Saw eye to eye:
Agreed with each other.
Example: We finally saw eye to eye on the budget.
- Spilled the beans:
Revealed a secret.
Example: Someone spilled the beans about the surprise party.
- Grain of salt:
Don't take it too seriously.
Example: Take what he says with a grain of salt – he tends to
exaggerate.
- Throw in the towel:
Give up.
Example: I'm about to throw in the towel on this difficult
project.
- Up in the air:
Uncertain; undecided.
Example: The details of the trip are still up in the air.
- Cloud nine:
Extremely happy.
Example: I was on cloud nine when I heard I got the job.
- Down in the dumps:
Sad or depressed.
Example: She's been down in the dumps since she lost her job.
- Couch potato:
Lazy and spends a lot of time watching television.
Example: He's such a couch potato – he spends all day
watching TV.
- Night owl:
Someone who stays up late.
Example: My roommate is a night owl; she never goes to bed
before 2 AM.
- Early bird:
Someone who gets up early.
Example: I'm an early bird – I'm always up before sunrise.
- Fish out of water:
Uncomfortable in a new or unfamiliar situation.
Example: He felt like a fish out of water at the formal
dinner.
- Pain in the neck:
Annoying.
Example: My little brother can be a real pain in the neck
sometimes.
- Smart cookie:
Intelligent.
Example: She's a smart cookie – she aced the exam.
- Wet blanket:
Someone who is negative and spoils the fun for others.
Example: Don't be a wet blanket – let's have some fun!
- Wolf in sheep's clothing: Someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous
or deceitful.
Example: He's a wolf in sheep's clothing – he seems nice, but
he's actually very manipulative.
- Barking up the wrong tree: Looking in the wrong place or accusing the wrong
person.
Example: You're barking up the wrong tree if you think I took
your1 pen.
- Better late than never: It's better to do something late than not at all.
Example: It's better late than never – I'm glad you finally
arrived.
- Between a rock and a hard place: In a difficult situation with no easy way out.
Example: I was between a rock and a hard place – I didn't
know which option to choose.
- Caught between two stools: Unable to choose between two options.
Example: He was caught between two stools, unable to decide
which job offer to accept.
- Dead as a doornail:
Completely dead.
Example: The old tree was dead as a doornail.
- Down to earth:
Practical and realistic.
Example: She's very down to earth despite her success.
- Dressed to kill:
Dressed very stylishly and attractively.
Example: She was dressed to kill for the party.
- Full of beans:
Energetic and lively.
Example: The children were full of beans and excited for the
trip.
- Green with envy:
Jealous.
Example: I was green with envy when I saw her new car.
- Hot water:
In trouble.
Example: He's in hot water with his boss for being late
again.
- In the pink:
Healthy and well.
Example: She's been in the pink since her surgery.
- On the ball:
Alert, competent, and efficient.
Example: He's really on the ball – he's always prepared.
- On the fence:
Undecided.
Example: I'm still on the fence about whether or not to go.
- Over the moon:
Extremely happy. Example: She was over
the moon about the engagement.
- Snowed under:
Very busy.
Example: I'm completely snowed under with work.
- Apple of someone's eye: Someone who is very much loved.
Example: Her granddaughter is the apple of her eye.
- Up to your neck:
Very busy with something. Example: I'm up to my neck in
paperwork.
I hope this can help readers to
enrich their vocabulary about idioms that commonly used in daily conversation.
Best Regard,
Hady F
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