50 Common English Idioms
for Students of English
for Students of English
Learn
Colorful and Useful English Vocabulary!
Increase your vocabulary and speak more natural English by studying the idioms and expressions below. These are some of the most common expressions in English. Study the example sentences which show how idioms are used in context when you speak English. Have fun!
English Expression 1.
as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of
cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It
seems as easy as pie to me!
English Expression 2.
be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's
go out tonight and have fun.
English Expression 3.
bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.
English Expression 4.
bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.
English Expression 5.
broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.
English Expression 6.
change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.
English Expression 7.
Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!
English Expression 8.
drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.
English Expression 9.
figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.
English Expression 10.
fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.
English Expression 11.
in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.
English Expression 12.
give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?
English Expression 13.
hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.
English Expression 14.
in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.
English Expression 15.
in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.
English Expression 16.
in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!
English Expression 17.
keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.
English Expression 18.
know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"
Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand
English Expression 19.
once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.
English Expression 20.
sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!
English Expression 21.
sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.
English Expression 22.
take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.
English Expression 23.
to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.
English Expression 24.
up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.
English Expression 25.
twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!
English Expression 26.
all of a sudden means "unexpectedly", used to describe something that happens very quickly
Example: He had just gone to bed when all of a sudden the phone rang.
English Expression 27.
be all ears means "eager and ready to listen"
Example: Go ahead and speak. I'm all ears!
English Expression 28.
be fed up with means "to hate something now, even though I may have liked it before"
Example: I'm fed up with my job! I think I should start looking for a new one.
English Expression 29.
to bug means "to bother someone". (American English)
Example: Hey, stop tapping your fingers. It's really bugging me!
English Expression 30.
a cinch means something that is very easy to do
Example: I didn't think I could run five kilometers, but with the right preparation, it was a cinch.
English Expression 31.
cost an arm and a leg means "very expensive"
Example: I'd really like a new car, but they all cost an arm and a leg.
English Expression 32.
to cram means "to study hard a few days before a test"
Example: If you had studied hard for the past four months, you wouldn't have to cram so much this weekend.
English Expression 33.
fresh out of something means "to have no more of something"
Example: I have to go buy some more milk. It seems we're fresh out now.
English Expression 34.
to get it (often negative) means "to understand"
Example: What did the teacher say? I didn't get it. Did you?
English Expression 35.
got a minute? means "Do you have time right now?"
Example: Hey, Joe, got a minute? I have something to show you.
English Expression 36.
give someone a hand means "help someone"
Example: Could you give me a hand moving this table? It's quite heavy.
English Expression 37.
grab a bite to eat means "quickly go get something to eat"
Example: I'm going to go grab a bite. I'll be back in a few minutes.
English Expression 38.
drive someone up a wall (or "drive someone crazy") means "to make someone very angry"
Example: My neighbor practices the piano every night, but he's terrible. It's driving me up the wall!
English Expression 39.
to hang on means "to wait"
Example: Hang on a few minutes. I have to make a phone call and then I'll be able to join you for lunch.
English Expression 40.
hard headed means "stubborn" or "unwilling to change an opinion or idea
Example: I can't work with Joe any more. He's so hard headed!
English Expression 41.
have a change of heart means "change a previous decision"
Example: I thought I would change jobs, but now that my boss is treating me with more respect, I've had a change of heart.
English Expression 42.
have mixed feelings about something means "to be uncertain"
Example: I have mixed feelings about Joe. He's a very good teacher, but he has a very strange sense of humor!
English Expression 43.
head out for means "to start on a long trip" (but it could be within a big city)
Example: We're heading out for the countryside to pick some apples. Would you like to join us?
English Expression 44.
How come? means "Why?"
Example: How come we don't go to the movies any more? I guess we're too busy to enjoy ourselves these days.
English Expression 45.
keep in touch (or "stay in touch") means "do not stop communicating - send letters or call sometimes"
Example: Don't forget to keep in touch. I want to know how you're doing while you're away.
English Expression 46.
be kidding means "to joke or tease someone in a playful way"
Example: No, I don't really have three wives - I was just kidding!
English Expression 47.
look down on means "think somone or something is not good enough"
Example: We shouldn't look down on people just because they don't have as much money as we do.
English Expression 48.
make ends meet (often used negatively) means "to have enough money to buy everything we need"
Example: Even though I make more money than last year, we just can't seem to make ends meet.
English Expression 49.
miss the boat means "to miss an opportunity"
Example: The sale ends today at noon. If we don't hurry, we're going to miss the boat!
English Expression 50.
next to nothing means "to cost very little"
Example: I went to the new discount store and bought these new shoes for only five dollars. That's next to nothing!
