IDIOMS

English language learners often find idioms challenging because the figurative meaning
is not always apparent. Familiarity with idioms is crucial for understanding the nuances
of English and communicating effectively.

Some common English idioms and their figurative meanings include:

● “Break a leg”: Good luck

● “Bite the bullet”: Face a difficult situation bravely
● “Hit the nail on the head”: To be exactly right

A hard nut to crack: Used for people who are difficult to deal with.
A piece of cake: Indicates that a job or person is simple.
Better late than never: It means to be late but not at all.
To be closefisted: Be stingy.
As cold as stone: Indicates that it is quite cold.
A perfect storm: Used to mean the worst possible situation.
Between a hard place and a rock: Staying together in a creek that is, being in a dilemma.
Hit the sack: It means to hit the head and lie down and sleep.

Break a leg: If you go to America or England and hear someone say this English idiom, don’t
worry, there is no way that the person in front of you can actually take it with your bones. This
English idiom means wishing luck.

Hit the nail on the head: This English idiom means exactly catching a situation like many
languages, that is, hitting from exactly 12.
Scratch someone’s back: This phrase means doing a favor to someone in anticipation of
getting something in return. In other words, it is the equivalent of the statement to draw fat with
its shortest expression.

Bite off more than you can chew: Imagine a huge steak put in front of you when you are very
hungry; you probably try to put the whole steak in your mouth all at once and while doing this
you will cause a silly image. This statement precisely tells you to avoid such behavior. The
equivalent of this English idiom is to take off from work.

Let the cat out of the bag: The meaning of this idiom, in fact, the bag and the cat in it are
completely independent. Who wants to put his cat in a bag, anyway? This English idiom is used
in terms of not being able to hide a situation or a secret that needs to be kept secret.

When pigs fly: Have you ever seen a flying pig? Of course, you did not see, you cannot see.
This statement is used to describe a situation or phenomenon that is impossible to realize for
this very reason.

Hit the books: If you are going to spend your education life in a native English language such
as America or England, you should prepare yourself to hear this phrase frequently. Let’s not go
without warning; Be the first to hear this phrase, do not find yourself suddenly hitting your
nearest book. This English idiom actually just means study.
You can’t judge a book by its cover: Imagine that you saw a book while visiting the stands in
the bookstore. But you did not receive this book because the cover was not designed or
interested. Also later you learned how beautiful and exactly the same book was written in a style
that would be of interest to you. . Isn’t it sad? Although this English idiom is not said for books, it
actually applies to all areas of life. This statement corresponds to the promise to judge anyone
by his appearance.

Piece of cake: If you hear that a person whose native language is completely English uses this
phrase after a job, it doesn’t mean that he really wants a piece of cake or someone has been
given a nice piece of cake. This statement means that the work done is actually very easy.

Red tape; Official or bureaucratic tasks

To be yellow; to be cowardly
To see red; to be very angry
Black out; Faint
Black and blue; describe something that is badly bruised
Golden opportunity; the perfect chance
Have the blues; be sad or depressed
Black sheep; a person who is a disgrace to a family or group

Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Family relationships take precedence over others.
Example: No matter how much I’ve fought with my brother, but blood is thicker than water.

Brain Drain
Departure of talented, well-educated individuals from a place.
Example: Venezuela is experiencing a brain drain right now, with many professionals leaving for
other countries because of bad conditions at home.

No-Brainer Something that not requires thought.

Example: If the salary offered to me is more than my current salary, the decision is a no-brainer.

On the Blink Not working, intermittently not working.

Example: We have work piling up, the computer is on the blink.

Bend over Backwards you make every effort to achieve something, especially you should to
be fair or helpful. Example: I’ve bent over backwards to please you. But it never seems to be
good enough.

 A Hair’s Breadth A very small distance or space.

Example: He was going to set a more successful a hair’s breadth than his predecessors,
unfortunately he got tired in the last kilometer of the race.

Pink tickling; means that very pleased with the situation.

Example: My uncle was tickled pink that you called on her birthday!

White lie; is a small lie that is said politely or avoiding hurting one’s feelings.
Example: I knew it would be sad, so I couldn’t say I didn’t like your clothes, and I lied a white lie.
Example: He had forgotten his mother’s birthday, but he lied a white lie not to upset him.
With flying colors: with great or total success.
Out of the blue; means that randomly, without warning, immediately.
Example: Out of the blue my cousin came to visit and he came with bad news. I was caught
unprepared.

Green with envy; means that to be very jealous, envious.

Example: She really envies me because I can get shopping as much as her want.

Gray area; is an unclear, undefined something.

Example: Allowing mobile phones at work is now a gray area, available and not available.
Speaking English well means knowing English words and English phrases and knowing the
grammar of English as well as being familiar with the daily use of language. When using the
daily spoken language, using the above and many other expressions in your sentences will add
fluency and color to your speech.
Idiom Examples and Meanings
Popular Idioms

● A piece of cake: This expression means that something is easy to do. For example, “The
math test was a piece of cake for her because she studied a lot.”
● Hit the sack: This idiom implies that someone is going to bed or sleep. For instance,
“I’m exhausted; I’m going to hit the sack.”
● Every cloud has a silver lining: This phrase reminds us that even in difficult situations,
there is often something positive to be found. Example: “Although she lost her job, she
found a new one with a higher salary; every cloud has a silver lining.”
● On cloud nine: This idiom means feeling extremely happy or joyful. An example usage
could be, “When he won the lottery, he was on cloud nine.”

Less Common Idioms

● Lose your marbles: This expression implies that someone is acting crazy or illogical.
For instance, “My neighbor started building a UFO in his backyard. I think he’s lost his
marbles.”
● When pigs fly: This phrase is used to highlight the impossibility of a situation or event
occurring. An example would be, “He said he’d clean his room without being asked?
Yeah, when pigs fly!”
● Snug as a bug in a rug: This idiom describes someone or something that is very cozy
and comfortable. For example, “She was curled up on the couch under a warm blanket,
snug as a bug in a rug.”
In this section, we covered examples and meanings of popular idioms such as “a piece of cake,”
“hit the sack,” “every cloud has a silver lining,” and “on cloud nine.” We also discussed less
common idioms like “lose your marbles,” “when pigs fly,” and “snug as a bug in a rug.” These
idioms and expressions add color and depth to the English language, making it more enjoyable
for both native speakers and learners alike.

Why are idioms difficult for language learners?

Because idioms have meanings that are not directly deducible from their individual words, they
can be challenging for people learning a new language. Additionally, idiomatic expressions often
involve cultural elements that may not be familiar to learners, which can make them even more
confusing.

What are some common examples of idioms in English?

● “Break a leg” – means to wish someone good luck, often before a performance
● “Bite the bullet” – to endure a painful or difficult situation
● “Raining cats and dogs” – raining very heavily
● “The ball is in your court” – it is your responsibility or the decision is yours

How can I learn and practice idioms?

There are several ways to learn idioms, such as:

● Studying lists of common idioms with their meanings and example sentences
● Reading books, articles, or watching movies/TV shows in English to see idioms used in
context
● Practicing using idiomatic expressions in conversation with native speakers or in
language learning groups

Are idioms used in formal writing?

Generally, idioms are more commonly found in informal contexts, such as conversations and
casual writing. They are less frequently used in formal writing, as they can introduce ambiguity
or be perceived as too colloquial. However, some idioms are widely accepted and may be
appropriate in specific scenarios, depending on the desired tone and audience.