Discover essential idioms along with their meanings and example sentences to enhance your English skills. Learn how to use these common idiomatic expressions effectively in your writing and conversation. Perfect for students, writers, and language enthusiasts!
60 Idioms along with their meanings and example sentences
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| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| 1. Break a leg | Good luck! | “Break a leg in your job interview tomorrow!” |
| 2. Cost an arm and a leg | Very expensive. | “That new phone costs an arm and a leg.” |
| 3. Hit the nail on the head | Accurately pinpoint something. | “You hit the nail on the head with that analysis.” |
| 4. Piece of cake | Something very easy. | “Fixing this should be a piece of cake.” |
| 5. Bite the bullet | To endure a painful situation. | “I had to bite the bullet and apologize.” |
| 6. Kick the bucket | To die. | “He kicked the bucket last year.” |
| 7. Under the weather | Feeling sick or unwell. | “I’m feeling under the weather, so I’m staying home.” |
| 8. On the ball | Alert and competent. | “She’s always on the ball in meetings.” |
| 9. Cut to the chase | Get to the point. | “Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the main issue.” |
| 10. A piece of cake | Something very easy. | “Don’t worry, it’s a piece of cake to fix.” |
| 11. Bite off more than you can chew | To take on a task that’s too big. | “I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew with this project.” |
| 12. Cost a fortune | Very expensive. | “That vacation must have cost a fortune.” |
| 13. Jump on the bandwagon | Join a popular trend or activity. | “Everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon for that new diet.” |
| 14. Spill the beans | Reveal a secret. | “I accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise party.” |
| 15. Hit the jackpot | To be very successful or lucky. | “She hit the jackpot with her new business venture.” |
| 16. A dime a dozen | Very common and easy to find. | “Those souvenirs are a dime a dozen in the market.” |
| 17. Burn the midnight oil | To work late into the night. | “I burned the midnight oil to finish my assignment.” |
| 18. Don’t cry over spilled milk | Don’t worry about things that have already happened. | “Yes, I made a mistake, but there’s no need to cry over spilled milk.” |
| 19. Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret. | “She accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.” |
| 20. A penny for your thoughts | Asking someone what they are thinking about. | “You seem lost in thought. A penny for your thoughts?” |
| 21. Give someone the cold shoulder | Ignore someone. | “She gave me the cold shoulder after our argument.” |
| 22. Raining cats and dogs | Raining heavily. | “I can’t go out; it’s raining cats and dogs.” |
| 23. In the same boat | In the same situation. | “We’re all in the same boat when it comes to this issue.” |
| 24. Barking up the wrong tree | Pursuing the wrong course of action. | “If you think I’m the culprit, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” |
| 25. Throw in the towel | Give up. | “I’ve been trying to fix it for hours; I think I’ll just throw in the towel.” |
| 26. Keep an eye on | Watch or monitor something closely. | “Keep an eye on the cake; it’s baking in the oven.” |
| 27. The ball is in your court | It’s your turn to make a decision or take action. | “I’ve made my offer; now the ball is in your court.” |
| 28. Actions speak louder than words | What you do is more important than what you say. | “Instead of promising to help, show up; actions speak louder than words.” |
| 29. Straight from the horse’s mouth | Information from a reliable source. | “I got this news straight from the horse’s mouth.” |
| 30. Hit the ground running | Start something quickly and energetically. | “She hit the ground running in her new job.” |
| 31. In hot water | In trouble or difficulty. | “He’s in hot water after missing the deadline.” |
| 32. Bite your tongue | Refrain from speaking. | “I had to bite my tongue to avoid an argument.” |
| 33. Once in a blue moon | Very rarely. | “We only see each other once in a blue moon.” |
| 34. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket | Don’t risk everything on a single venture. | “Invest wisely; don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” |
| 35. Cold feet | Nervousness or fear before a significant event. | “She got cold feet before her wedding.” |
| 36. Every cloud has a silver lining | There’s something positive in every negative situation. | “Losing the match taught me a valuable lesson; every cloud has a silver lining.” |
| 37. The early bird catches the worm | Those who act promptly get rewarded. | “I always arrive early; you know what they say, the early bird catches the worm.” |
| 38. Spitting image | Exact likeness. | “She’s the spitting image of her mother.” |
| 39. A drop in the ocean | A very small amount compared to what is needed or expected. | “The donation was appreciated, but it’s just a drop in the ocean compared to what’s needed.” |
| 40. Burn bridges | Damage relationships irreparably. | “Don’t burn bridges with your colleagues; you might need them in the future.” |
| 41. In the heat of the moment | Acting impulsively or without careful thought. | “I said some things in the heat of the moment that I regret.” |
| 42. Put all your eggs in one basket | To risk everything on a single venture. | “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket; diversify your investments.” |
| 43. Keep your chin up | Remain cheerful in difficult times. | “Keep your chin up; things will get better.” |
| 44. The last straw | The final problem in a series of problems. | “His laziness was the last straw for his boss.” |
| 45. Break the ice | To initiate conversation in a social setting. | “His joke helped break the ice at the party.” |
Conclusion
Understanding idioms along with their meanings and example sentences can significantly boost your command of the English language. These expressions not only enrich your vocabulary but also help you communicate more naturally and persuasively. Whether you are preparing for exams, writing creatively, or engaging in casual conversations, knowing idioms can make your language more vivid and relatable. Start incorporating these phrases into your daily speech, and watch your English skills shine!
