Idioms enrich the English language, offering colorful expressions and insights into cultural nuances. This comprehensive list showcases a diverse range of idioms, each elucidated with a succinct meaning and a pithy example. It serves as a valuable resource for enhancing communication skills and understanding idiomatic expressions more deeply.
What are Idioms?
Idioms are phrases or expressions that have a figurative meaning different from their literal meaning. These expressions are often culturally specific and provide a unique way of conveying ideas or feelings. The figurative meaning of idioms is understood through common use and familiarity within a language community, rather than being deducible from the individual words. Idioms add color and richness to language, often drawing from cultural references, historical events, or everyday experiences. They are an essential part of fluent language understanding and usage, offering a window into the cultural and historical aspects of the language.
List of Idioms
Keep Up
- Meaning: Stay current
- Example: Must keep up with times.
Lose Steam
- Meaning: Decrease energy
- Example: The project quickly lost steam.
Miss Boat
- Meaning: Lost chance
- Example: He missed boat for promotion.
Off Base
- Meaning: Incorrect assumption
- Example: His conclusion was totally off base.
Play Ball
- Meaning: Cooperate fully
- Example: Let’s play ball with partners.
Rain Check
- Meaning: Postpone plan
- Example: Take a rain check, please.
See Eye
- Meaning: Agree fully
- Example: We see eye to eye.
Tip Iceberg
- Meaning: Small part
- Example: This is tip of iceberg.
Under Weather
- Meaning: Feeling ill
- Example: She’s under weather today, unfortunately.
Walk Eggshells
- Meaning: Tread carefully
- Example: Must walk eggshells around him.
Must Read: Common Idioms
X Marks
- Meaning: Specific location
- Example: X marks the treasure spot.
Yearn Learn
- Meaning: Desire knowledge
- Example: Always yearn to learn more.
Zip Lips
- Meaning: Remain silent
- Example: Better zip lips in meetings.
Above Board
- Meaning: Completely honest
- Example: Their dealings are above board.
Below Belt
- Meaning: Unfairly critical
- Example: That comment was below belt.
Cross Bridges
- Meaning: Address later
- Example: We’ll cross bridges when necessary.
Draw Line
- Meaning: Set limit
- Example: Must draw line at risks.
Even Odds
- Meaning: Equal chances
- Example: Even odds of success here.
Face Music
- Meaning: Accept consequences
- Example: He must face music now.
Grasp Straws
- Meaning: Desperate search
- Example: They’re just grasping at straws.
Hold Horses
- Meaning: Be patient
- Example: Please hold your horses, everyone.
In Limbo
- Meaning: Uncertain status
- Example: Project is currently in limbo.
Jump Gun
- Meaning: Act prematurely
- Example: He jumped gun on decision.
Keep Tabs
- Meaning: Monitor closely
- Example: Always keep tabs on competitors.
Lay Low
- Meaning: Avoid attention
- Example: Best to lay low now.
Make Waves
- Meaning: Cause disturbance
- Example: Don’t make waves at work.
Nip Bud
- Meaning: Stop early
- Example: Nip the problem in bud.
On Fence
- Meaning: Undecided
- Example: She’s still on the fence.
Pull Strings
- Meaning: Use influence
- Example: He can pull some strings.
Quick Fix
- Meaning: Temporary solution
- Example: Only a quick fix, unfortunately.
Red Tape
- Meaning: Bureaucratic delay
- Example: Encountering red tape with permits.
Silver Lining
- Meaning: Hopeful aspect
- Example: There’s a silver lining here.
Take Heart
- Meaning: Be encouraged
- Example: Take heart in these times.
Up Ante
- Meaning: Increase stakes
- Example: We must up the ante.
White Lie
- Meaning: Harmless deceit
- Example: Told a white lie today.
Yellow Belly
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Example: No yellow bellies in team.
Zero In
- Meaning: Focus intently
- Example: Zero in on main issue.
Beat Around Bush
- Meaning: Avoid direct
- Example: Stop beating around the bush.
Cut to Chase
- Meaning: Get point
- Example: Let’s cut to the chase.
Drop Ball
- Meaning: Make error
- Example: He unfortunately dropped the ball.
Eye Tiger
- Meaning: Focused determination
- Example: Maintain an eye of tiger.
Full Plate
- Meaning: Very busy
- Example: I’ve got a full plate.
Give Inch
- Meaning: Allow leeway
- Example: Give an inch, they’ll take.
Hit Books
- Meaning: Study hard
- Example: Time to hit the books.
In a Pickle
- Meaning: Difficult situation
- Example: Found ourselves in a pickle.
Jump Shark
- Meaning: Pass peak
- Example: This idea has jumped shark.
Knock Socks Off
- Meaning: Impress greatly
- Example: That news will knock socks.
Last Straw
- Meaning: Final limit
- Example: This is the last straw.
Meet Maker
- Meaning: Die
- Example: He nearly met his maker.
No Dice
- Meaning: No success
- Example: Tried negotiating, but no dice.
Off Hook
- Meaning: Avoid responsibility
- Example: You’re not off the hook.
Pull Weight
- Meaning: Contribute fairly
- Example: Everyone must pull their weight.
List of Idioms for Kids In English
Bend Rules
- Meaning: Modify regulations
- Example: Sometimes we must bend rules.
Cold Feet
- Meaning: Nervous hesitation
- Example: Got cold feet before speaking.
Down Earth
- Meaning: Realistic approach
- Example: Her ideas are down earth.
Eye Opener
- Meaning: Surprising revelation
- Example: The documentary was an eye-opener.
Flash Pan
- Meaning: Short-lived success
- Example: His fame was flash pan.
Go Bananas
- Meaning: Act wildly
- Example: Kids will go bananas here.
Hit Roof
- Meaning: Extremely angry
- Example: Dad hit roof about grades.
Ivory Tower
- Meaning: Out of touch
- Example: He lives in ivory tower.
Join Dots
- Meaning: Connect facts
- Example: Need to join dots here.
Keep Cool
- Meaning: Remain calm
- Example: Always keep cool under pressure.
Leave Stone
- Meaning: Explore fully
- Example: Leave no stone unturned always.
Make Grade
- Meaning: Achieve standard
- Example: She will definitely make grade.
Neck Woods
- Meaning: Remote area
- Example: Cabin in neck of woods.
On Ball
- Meaning: Alert, competent
- Example: Stay on ball with tasks.
Play Devil
- Meaning: Oppose view
- Example: Let’s play devil’s advocate here.
Quick Buck
- Meaning: Easy money
- Example: Made a quick buck today.
Run Mill
- Meaning: Average quality
- Example: Just another run of mill.
Spill Beans
- Meaning: Reveal secret
- Example: He might spill beans soon.
Through Thick
- Meaning: Despite difficulties
- Example: Friends through thick and thin.
Up Sleeves
- Meaning: Prepare work
- Example: Time to roll up sleeves.
A To Z Idioms
Apple Pie
- Meaning: Very simple
- Example: Directions are as apple pie.
Back Burner
- Meaning: Low priority
- Example: Project’s on the back burner.
Cold Turkey
- Meaning: Abruptly stop
- Example: Quit smoking cold turkey successfully.
Down Earth
- Meaning: Realistic approach
- Example: Her ideas are down earth.
Eye Opener
- Meaning: Surprising revelation
- Example: The documentary was an eye-opener.
Flash Pan
- Meaning: Short-lived success
- Example: His fame was flash pan.
Go Bananas
- Meaning: Act wildly
- Example: Kids will go bananas here.
Hit Roof
- Meaning: Extremely angry
- Example: Dad hit roof about grades.
Ivory Tower
- Meaning: Out of touch
- Example: He lives in ivory tower.
Jump Gun
- Meaning: Act prematurely
- Example: He jumped gun on decision.
Keep Cool
- Meaning: Remain calm
- Example: Always keep cool under pressure.
Leave Stone
- Meaning: Explore fully
- Example: Leave no stone unturned always.
Make Hay
- Meaning: Seize opportunity
- Example: Let’s make hay while sunny.
Nail Coffin
- Meaning: Contribute downfall
- Example: Final mistake was nail coffin.
Open Book
- Meaning: Easily understood
- Example: His intentions are open book.
Paint Town
- Meaning: Celebrate lavishly
- Example: Let’s paint town red tonight.
Quick Buck
- Meaning: Easy money
- Example: Made a quick buck today.
Right as Rain
- Meaning: Perfectly fine
- Example: Feel right as rain now.
Spill Beans
- Meaning: Reveal secret
- Example: He might spill beans soon.
Talk Turkey
- Meaning: Speak frankly
- Example: Time to talk turkey now.
Under Weather
- Meaning: Feeling ill
- Example: She’s under weather today, unfortunately.
Vanish Air
- Meaning: Disappear suddenly
- Example: He vanished into thin air.
Wild Goose
- Meaning: Futile search
- Example: It’s a wild goose chase.
X Marks
- Meaning: Specific location
- Example: X marks the treasure spot.
Yoke Around
- Meaning: Heavy burden
- Example: Debt is yoke around neck.
Zero In
- Meaning: Focus intently
- Example: Zero in on main issue.