50 English Idioms Every Learner Should Know
By using idioms in your vocabulary you’ll gain confidence and sound like a native speaker!
When learning English mastering idioms is key to sounding more natural and confident. In this post, we’ll explore 50 everyday expressions like “a piece of cake” and “hit the road,” explaining their meanings, how to use them in real-life conversations and tips to remember them. By the end, you'll feel confident using these idioms and will better understand native speakers.
Why idioms are important for English learners
If you're learning English, idioms are an essential part of mastering the language. They are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say, but have a figurative (symbolic/non-literal) meaning. knowing them is key to understanding how native speakers communicate.
We will cover the 50 most common English idioms used today. You will learn their meaning, see examples of how to use them in daily conversations, and tips on how to remember them. By learning these idioms, you’ll improve your fluency and better understand and use everyday phrases.
Idioms are key for English learners because focusing only on the literal meanings of words can lead to confusion. Imagine someone says, "That task was a piece of cake!" without knowing that this idiom means "very easy," you might think they’re talking about food!
Mastering idioms also makes your speech more dynamic and natural, moving beyond straightforward expressions to sound more fluent. For example, instead of saying, "That was easy," you can say, "It was a piece of cake!"
The role of idioms in conversations
English speakers use idioms in casual conversations, work meetings, and even in formal writing. They’re especially common in storytelling, jokes, and small talk. Understanding idioms helps you catch the tone of a conversation, whether it’s light-hearted, serious, or playful.
For instance, when someone says, "It’s not rocket science," they are emphasizing that something is simple to understand. You might hear this in business meetings when colleagues want to stress that a task is straightforward.
Tips for remembering idioms
Here are a few simple ways to help you remember idioms more effectively and use them confidently in everyday conversations.
Use visuals: Some idioms, like "Let the cat out of the bag," can be remembered easily by imagining a cat escaping from a bag, symbolizing revealing a hidden secret.
Practice with a friend or tutor: Idioms are best learned through repetition. Try using them with a conversation partner, friend or tutor to make sure they stick.
Keep a journal: Write down the idioms you learn and try to use them in sentences. This will help you recall them when you need them.
50 most common English idioms used today
This list is based on a combination of commonly used expressions that are widely recognized in English-speaking countries. They are part of everyday language, and their popularity is evident in both spoken and written communication. We compiled the list from general knowledge, as they are frequently taught in English language learning resources, used in TV shows, movies, news articles, and social media, and in regular every day conversations.
1. A Blessing in Disguise
Definition: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
Examples:
"Losing my job was a blessing in disguise—it pushed me to start my own business."
"Missing the bus turned out to be a blessing in disguise; I bumped into an old friend while waiting."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a dark cloud (representing something bad) that transforms into a sun (something good).
2. A Dime a Dozen
Definition: Something very common or easily available.
Examples:
"Those kinds of cheap souvenirs are a dime a dozen at the market."
"In the digital age, online courses are a dime a dozen."
Visual memory tip: Picture a handful of coins (dimes) scattered everywhere to show something is common.
3. Beat Around the Bush
Definition: To avoid saying something directly.
Examples:
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think."
"He kept beating around the bush instead of giving a clear answer."
Visual memory tip: Visualize someone walking in circles around a bush, avoiding going straight to the middle.
4. Better Late Than Never
Definition: It’s better to do something late than not at all.
Examples:
"I finally finished my degree—better late than never!"
"She arrived an hour late, but better late than never."
Visual memory tip: Picture a clock showing a late time but still moving forward, symbolizing progress.
5. Bite the Bullet
Definition: To do something unpleasant that you’ve been avoiding.
Examples:
"I need to bite the bullet and go to the dentist."
"She decided to bite the bullet and tell her boss the truth."
Visual memory tip: Imagine someone literally biting down on a bullet to endure pain or discomfort.
6. Break the Ice
Definition: To start a conversation in a social situation.
Examples:
"She told a joke to break the ice at the party."
"The host tried to break the ice by asking everyone about their hobbies."
Visual memory tip: Visualize someone using a hammer to crack ice, symbolizing opening up communication.
7. Call It a Day
Definition: To stop working for the day.
Examples:
"We’ve done enough work; let’s call it a day."
"After the long meeting, they decided to call it a day and head home."
Visual memory tip: Picture a calendar with a big check mark (✓), signaling the end of the day’s work.
8. Cut Corners
Definition: To do something cheaply or poorly to save time or money.
Examples:
"If you cut corners on this project, it won’t turn out well."
"The builder cut corners to finish quickly, and now the wall is cracking."
Visual memory tip: Visualize someone cutting the corners off a square to make it smaller and quicker to complete.
9. Cut to the Chase
Definition: To get to the point.
Examples:
"Let’s cut to the chase—what’s the real problem here?"
"I appreciate your story, but can you cut to the chase?"
Visual memory tip: Imagine a film director waving their hand to move on to the action scene.
10. Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk
Definition: Don’t worry about things that cannot be undone.
Examples:
"It’s too late to fix it, so don’t cry over spilled milk."
"I forgot my umbrella, but no use crying over spilled milk now."
Visual memory tip: Picture a glass of milk spilled on the floor with someone shrugging, showing acceptance.
11. Easy Does It
Definition: Slow down or do something carefully.
Examples:
"Easy does it with that fragile vase."
"You’re lifting too fast—easy does it."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a traffic sign that says "Slow down" next to a person carrying a delicate item.
12. Feeling Under the Weather
Definition: Feeling sick.
Examples:
"I’m feeling under the weather, so I’m staying home today."
"She felt under the weather, so she missed work."
Visual memory tip: Picture a person with an umbrella and rain clouds hovering over them.
13. Get Out of Hand
Definition: To lose control of a situation.
Examples:
"The party got out of hand when too many people showed up."
"The situation might get out of hand if we don’t address it now."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a balloon slipping out of someone’s hand and floating away.
14. Get Something Out of Your System
Definition: To do something you’ve been wanting to do so you can move on.
Examples:
"I need to travel before I settle down—just to get it out of my system."
"Go ahead and vent your frustrations to get it out of your system."
Visual memory tip: Imagine taking out an object from a bag and placing it aside, indicating relief.
15. Give Someone the Benefit of the Doubt
Definition: To believe someone without proof.
Examples:
"I didn’t see what happened, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt."
"He’s always been honest, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt."
Visual memory tip: Picture a judge holding a scale, leaning toward the side of trust.
16. Go Back to the Drawing Board
Definition: To start over when something fails.
Examples:
"The client rejected our idea, so we’ll go back to the drawing board."
"This recipe didn’t work, so it’s back to the drawing board."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a person erasing a design on a chalkboard and starting again.
17. Hang in There
Definition: Don’t give up.
Examples:
"The project is tough, but hang in there—it’ll be worth it."
"Hang in there; things will get better soon."
Visual memory tip: Picture a cat hanging on a branch, symbolizing persistence.
18. Hit the Sack
Definition: To go to sleep.
Examples:
"I’m exhausted; I’m going to hit the sack."
"After a long day, he decided to hit the sack early."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a bed with a pillow labeled “Sack” and someone jumping onto it.
19. It’s Not Rocket Science
Definition: It’s not complicated.
Examples:
"Just follow the steps; it’s not rocket science."
"Learning how to use this app is easy—it’s not rocket science."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a person doing a simple task while a complex rocket diagram floats in the background.
20. Let Someone Off the Hook
Definition: To not hold someone responsible.
Examples:
"Even though he was late, the boss let him off the hook."
"She let her friend off the hook after he apologized."
Visual memory tip: Picture a fish being released from a fishing hook, swimming away freely.
21. Make a Long Story Short
Definition: To summarize something briefly.
Examples:
"To make a long story short, we missed our flight."
"She explained everything, but to make a long story short, they broke up."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a long scroll of paper being folded into a small, concise note.
22. Miss the Boat
Definition: To miss an opportunity.
Examples:
"He didn’t apply in time, so he missed the boat on that job."
"You’ll miss the boat if you don’t invest in this opportunity now."
Visual memory tip: Picture a person running toward a dock as a boat sails away, symbolizing a lost opportunity.
23. No Pain, No Gain
Definition: You have to work hard for success.
Examples:
"He knows that if he wants to build muscle, it’s no pain, no gain."
"She practices every day—no pain, no gain."
Visual memory tip: Visualize someone lifting weights, sweating but smiling, showing effort leading to results.
24. On the Ball
Definition: To be alert and efficient.
Examples:
"She’s really on the ball with her assignments."
"You need to be on the ball if you want to impress the boss."
Visual memory Tip: Imagine someone balancing perfectly on a ball, symbolizing attentiveness and skill.
25. Once in a Blue Moon
Definition: Something that happens rarely.
Examples:
"We only go out for dinner once in a blue moon."
"It’s once in a blue moon that I get a weekend off."
Visual nemory tip: Picture a bright, blue moon in the sky, showing something rare and unusual.
26. Pull Someone’s Leg
Definition: To joke with someone.
Examples:
"Relax, I’m just pulling your leg!"
"He said he won the lottery, but he was just pulling my leg."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a person pretending to pull someone’s leg, indicating it’s all in fun.
27. Pull Yourself Together
Definition: To calm down and regain control.
Examples:
"You need to pull yourself together before the presentation."
"She pulled herself together and finished the race."
Visual memory tip: Imagine someone straightening their clothes, taking a deep breath, and standing tall.
28. So Far So Good
Definition: Things are going well up to now.
Examples:
"The project is challenging, but so far so good."
"We’ve been traveling for two weeks, and so far so good."
Visual memory tip: Picture a road with smooth progress, showing everything is going well up to a point.
29. Speak of the Devil
Definition: The person we were talking about has just arrived.
Examples:
"Oh, speak of the devil—here comes John!"
"We were just mentioning her, and speak of the devil, she’s calling!"
Visual memory tip: Imagine a playful devil figure appearing suddenly when two people are talking, symbolizing coincidence.
30. The Best of Both Worlds
Definition: A situation where you can enjoy two different advantages.
Examples:
"Living in the city but having a home in the countryside gives us the best of both worlds."
"She works remotely and travels—she has the best of both worlds."
Visual memory tip: Picture a person standing between two landscapes—a city and a countryside—enjoying both.
31. The Last Straw
Definition: The final problem in a series of problems that causes frustration.
Examples:
"Her rude comment was the last straw."
"The last straw was when he missed our anniversary."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a camel with straw being piled on its back, and one last piece causes it to collapse.
32. Through Thick and Thin
Definition: Through good times and bad times.
Examples:
"We’ve been friends through thick and thin."
"She stayed by his side through thick and thin."
Visual memory tip: Picture a path that changes from smooth (thick) to rough (thin), but a pair of friends walk together.
33. Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Definition: Time seems to pass quickly when you enjoy yourself.
Examples:
"It’s already evening—time flies when you’re having fun!"
"We’ve been chatting for hours; time flies when you’re having fun."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a clock with wings flying away, symbolizing how quickly time moves when you’re happy.
34. To Get Bent Out of Shape
Definition: To get upset.
Examples:
"Don’t get bent out of shape over something so small."
"He got bent out of shape when I pointed out his mistake."
Visual memory tip: Picture a bent object, like a ruler, to symbolize being upset or out of order.
35. To Make Matters Worse
Definition: To make a problem even worse.
Examples:
"The car broke down, and to make matters worse, it started to rain."
"He was late, and to make matters worse, he forgot his keys."
Visual memory tip: Visualize someone carrying a pile of items and then dropping everything when something extra is added.
36. Under the Weather
Definition: Feeling sick.
Examples:
"I’m feeling under the weather, so I’m staying home."
"He looks a bit under the weather today."
Visual memory tip: Picture someone under a dark cloud, symbolizing illness or feeling low.
37. We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Come to It
Definition: Don’t worry about future problems until they happen.
Examples:
"I don’t know how we’ll manage, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"We’ll deal with the problem later—cross that bridge when we come to it."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a person approaching a bridge but not worrying about it until they reach it.
38. Wrap Your Head Around Something
Definition: To understand something complicated.
Examples:
"It’s hard to wrap my head around quantum physics."
"He’s trying to wrap his head around the new system."
Visual memory tip: Visualize someone wrapping a ribbon around their head, showing effort to grasp a complex idea.
39. You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Definition: Don’t make decisions based on appearances.
Examples:
"He may look unorganized, but you can’t judge a book by its cover."
"The restaurant looks small, but you can’t judge a book by its cover—it’s amazing inside."
Visual memory tip: Picture someone picking up a plain book and finding beautiful illustrations inside.
40. Your Guess is as Good as Mine
Definition: I don’t know either.
Examples:
"How long will it take? Your guess is as good as mine."
"What’s the answer? Honestly, your guess is as good as mine."
Visual memory tip: Visualize two people shrugging and scratching their heads, both equally unsure.
41. Hit the Nail on the Head
Definition: To be exactly right about something.
Examples:
"You hit the nail on the head with that answer."
"She hit the nail on the head when she said we need better planning."
Visual memory tip: Imagine someone using a hammer to hit a nail perfectly in the center.
42. Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Definition: To be mistaken about something.
Examples:
"If you think I’m to blame, you’re barking up the wrong tree."
"She’s barking up the wrong tree if she thinks I can help."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a dog barking at the wrong tree while the cat it’s looking for sits elsewhere.
43. Burn the Midnight Oil
Definition: To work late into the night.
Examples:
"He had to burn the midnight oil to finish his report."
"She’s burning the midnight oil to prepare for her exams."
Visual memory tip: Picture a candle burning late at night with a person studying beside it.
44. Cost an Arm and a Leg
Definition: To be very expensive.
Examples:
"That new phone costs an arm and a leg."
"We want to travel, but flights cost an arm and a leg."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a price tag with an arm and leg drawn on it, showing high cost.
45. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Definition: To reveal a secret.
Examples:
"He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party."
"I was trying to keep it a secret, but she let the cat out of the bag."
Visual memory tip: Picture a cat jumping out of a bag, symbolizing a hidden secret being revealed.
46. Piece of Cake
Definition: Something very easy to do.
Examples:
"The math test was a piece of cake."
"Don’t worry; fixing this issue is a piece of cake."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a slice of cake with a smiling face, indicating that the task is enjoyable and simple.
47. Break a Leg
Definition: A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Examples:
"Break a leg tonight at your show!"
"You’ll do great in your presentation, so break a leg!"
Visual memory tip: Picture someone stepping onto a stage with a friendly audience clapping, wishing them luck.
48. Hit the Road
Definition: To leave or start a journey.
Examples:
"We need to hit the road early to avoid traffic."
"It’s time to hit the road if we want to get to the beach before sunset."
Visual memory tip: Visualize a car driving down a long road with a sign that says "Hit the Road."
49. By the Skin of Your Teeth
Definition: Barely manage to do something.
Examples:
"I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth."
"They made it to the airport by the skin of their teeth."
Visual memory tip: Imagine a person clinging to a cliff edge with only their fingertips, showing they just made it.
50. To Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Definition: To take on more work or responsibility than you can handle.
Examples:
"He’s stressed because he bit off more than he could chew at work."
"She realized she bit off more than she could chew when she volunteered for too many tasks."
Visual memory tip: Picture someone with a big bite of food that’s too much for their mouth, showing they’ve taken on too much.
How to Practice Using Idioms
A great way to practice idioms is by incorporating them into your daily conversations. Watch our short English Idiom videos on YouTube to hear James explain how and when they are used. You can also watch English-language TV shows or movies, where idioms are used frequently. As you listen, note the context in which idioms are used.
When learning idioms, it’s helpful to practice them with a native speaker or a tutor who can correct you if needed. You can also use flashcards or language apps that focus on idiomatic expressions. Book a lesson with James to practice using idioms.
Final Thoughts
Mastering idioms is a great way to improve your English and make your conversations sound more real. The more idioms you learn, the more you’ll understand how native English speakers think and express themselves.
Start by learning a few idioms each day, and try to use them in your conversations or writing. This practice will help reinforce their meanings and make them a natural part of your English vocabulary! By visualizing the idioms, you’ll also find it easier to recall them and use them naturally in various contexts.
Soon they’ll become a part of your everyday language. If you ever feel confused, remember, “It’s not rocket science”—just keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it!
Take the idiom quiz
Looking at these images can you identify the idiom and remember its definition? The answers are revealed under each image.
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It’s not rocket science
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It’s not complicated
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Piece of cake
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Something very easy to do
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Don’t cry over spilled milk
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Don’t worry about things that cannot be undone
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On the ball
-
To be alert and doing well
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Miss the boat
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To miss an opportunity
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Time flies when you’re having fun
-
Time seems to pass quickly when you enjoy yourself
100 Business Idioms eBook. Free!
English idioms play a significant role in communication within the workplace. They help convey complex ideas and concepts in a clear manner.
Understanding and using them can enhance your proficiency in English and make you a more effective communicator in professional settings.
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