Writing essays can be like painting with words. Just as painters use different colors to create beautiful art, writers can use special phrases, called idioms, to make their writing more colorful and interesting. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say, but they add flavor and depth to our language. Using idioms in essays can help you express your ideas in a more creative and engaging way, making your writing stand out. Let’s dive into some English idioms that are perfect for essays, helping you to make your writing as vivid and captivating as a masterpiece painting.
What Does Essay Mean?
An essay is a piece of writing that expresses the author’s own ideas, arguments, or experiences on a specific topic. It’s structured to include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, aiming to persuade, inform, or entertain the reader. Essays are common assignments in school and college, helping students to develop their writing skills and express their thoughts clearly and effectively.
English Idioms for Essay
1. Break the ice
Meaning: Initiate
Examples:
- He joked to break the ice.
- Break the ice at new job.
- Icebreaker question helped break the ice.
2. Spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal
Examples:
- She spilled the beans accidentally.
- Don’t spill the beans about surprise!
- He spilled the beans at dinner.
3. Hit the sack
Meaning: Sleep
Examples:
- I’m tired, gonna hit the sack.
- Hit the sack after the movie.
- She hit the sack early yesterday.
4. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: Disclose
Examples:
- He let the cat out yesterday.
- Secret’s safe, don’t let cat out!
- Accidentally let the cat out early.
5. Beat around the bush
Meaning: Evade
Examples:
- Stop beating around the bush now.
- Just ask; don’t beat around bush.
- She always beats around the bush.
6. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Rarely
Examples:
- I visit there once in blue.
- Happens once in a blue moon.
- Blue moon events are very rare.
7. Piece of cake
Meaning: Easy
Examples:
- This puzzle is a piece of cake.
- Homework done, it was cake!
- Found parking, it was piece cake.
8. When pigs fly
Meaning: Never
Examples:
- I’ll clean my room when pigs fly.
- He’ll dance? When pigs fly!
- When pigs fly, he’ll be early.
9. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Expensive
Examples:
- This car costs an arm and leg.
- Rare book cost arm and a leg.
- Holiday gifts cost an arm leg.
10. Feeling under the weather
Meaning: Unwell
Examples:
- Feeling under the weather today.
- She’s under the weather, staying home.
- He felt weathered, skipped the party.
11. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: Multitask
Examples:
- Kill two birds with one meeting.
- Shopping trip killed two birds.
- He killed two birds with call.
12. Cut corners
Meaning: Skimp
Examples:
- Don’t cut corners on safety.
- She cut corners doing homework.
- Cutting corners can cost more later.
13. Break a leg
Meaning: Good luck
Examples:
- Break a leg on your test!
- He said “break a leg” smiling.
- They yelled “break a leg” backstage.
14. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Precise
Examples:
- You hit the nail with your guess.
- His analysis hit the nail perfectly.
- She nailed the head during debate.
15. Burning the midnight oil
Meaning: Overworking
Examples:
- Burning oil to finish the project.
- He’s burning midnight oil again.
- She burned the oil studying late.
16. A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Fortuitous
Examples:
- Layoff was a blessing in disguise.
- Breakup turned into blessing disguise.
- His injury was blessing disguised.
17. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Endure
Examples:
- He bit the bullet, apologized.
- Just bite the bullet, do it.
- Biting the bullet, she cleaned up.
18. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Mistaken
Examples:
- You’re barking up wrong tree here.
- He barked up the wrong tree.
- They barked wrong tree with blame.
19. The ball is in your court
Meaning: Responsibility
Examples:
- Decision time, ball’s in your court.
- The ball is now in your court.
- He passed the ball to your court.
20. A dime a dozen
Meaning: Common
Examples:
- These gadgets are a dime dozen.
- Such mistakes are dime a dozen.
- Ideas like these are dime dozen.
21. Beat a dead horse
Meaning: Futile
Examples:
- Stop beating the dead horse already.
- It’s dead horse; move on.
- Arguing this is beating dead horse.
22. Bend over backwards
Meaning: Accommodate
Examples:
- She bends backwards to help us.
- Always bending over backwards for friends.
- Bends over backwards, no appreciation.
23. Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning: Trapped
Examples:
- Stuck between rock and hard place.
- Decision left him between rock hard.
- She’s between a rock place now.
24. Call it a day
Meaning: Stop
Examples:
- Worked hard, let’s call it day.
- I’m tired; let’s call it.
- After long meeting, called it day.
25. Catch someone red-handed
Meaning: Expose
Examples:
- Caught red-handed stealing cookies.
- She was caught red-handed lying.
- Red-handed in the act, he froze.
26. Cry over spilt milk
Meaning: Regret
Examples:
- No use crying over spilt milk.
- He cried over the spilt milk.
- She’s crying milk, move forward.
27. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning: Premature
Examples:
- Don’t count chickens, wait.
- Counting chickens too soon backfires.
- He counted chickens, regretted early.
28. Easier said than done
Meaning: Difficult
Examples:
- Quitting smoking is easier said.
- This fix is easier said done.
- Easier said than done, he realized.
29. Get a taste of your own medicine
Meaning: Retribution
Examples:
- He got a taste his medicine.
- Tasted her own medicine, learned lesson.
- Got a taste, didn’t like it.
30. Go back to the drawing board
Meaning: Restart
Examples:
- Project failed, back to drawing board.
- Idea flopped, went back drawing.
- Back to the board, plan anew.
Explore More Idioms:
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