Idioms are words or statements that have a specific meaning that differs from the words' literal meaning. They are frequently employed to make language interesting. Idioms can be very confusing since their meanings aren't always clear.
For instance, It's raining cats and dogs.
In this idiom, "raining cats and dogs" doesn't mean that actual cats and dogs are falling from the sky. It's a way of saying that it's raining very heavily.
Idiom |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
1. Kick the bucket |
To die |
a) He's so old; he might kick the bucket soon. |
2. Hit the nail on the head |
Accurately describe or identify something |
a) Her explanation hit the nail on the head. |
3. Get out of hand |
Not in one's control anymore |
a) The party started off as a small gathering, but it quickly got out of hand with more and more people arriving. |
4. To burn the midnight oil |
To work late into the night |
a) She had to burn the midnight oil to finish her project. |
5. Like two peas in a pod |
Be together always |
a) Me and my best friend are like two peas in a pod. |
6. Know which way the wind blows |
To understand what is happening |
a) She always knows which way the wind blows when it comes to fun activities. |
7. Catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar |
Getting what you want by being nice |
a) He decided to be polite and friendly, like this, she can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. |
8. Let someone off the hook |
Releasing someone or letting someone go |
a) Charlie forgot to do his homework, but the teacher let her off the hook when he explained that his dog had chewed up her assignment. |
9. Like riding a bicycle |
A skill that you learn and will never forget |
a) Learning to swim was challenging at first, but once I got the hang of it, it was like riding a bicycle. |
10. Blame one's tools |
Blaming something on someone else |
a) Luke didn't do well on his art project and tried to blame his tool. |
11. It's not rocket science |
Not that difficult to comprehend |
a) Winny, don't worry! Solving this math problem is not rocket science. |
12. Spill the beans |
Reveal a secret |
a) Ketty accidentally spilt the beans about the surprise party. |
13. Get the show on the road |
Start something or begin an enterprise |
a) After spending hours preparing for the event, it's time to get the show on the road and start welcoming the guests. |
14. Pull the last straw |
The final point in a series of unfortunate events when you feel you cannot take it anymore |
a) I had been late to school multiple times and when he missed an important exam, it was like he pulled the last straw for his teacher. |
15. That ship has sailed |
It is too late to do something |
a) Shelly wanted to apply for that scholarship, but she missed her chance and now she realizes that the ship has sailed. |
16. It is always the darkest before dawn |
Things will get better |
a) Do not be worried about your career; it is always the darkest before dawn. |
17. Have one's head in the clouds |
To have no concentration at all |
a) Elizabeth always has her head in the clouds during math classes. |
18. On thin ice |
Refers to a sensitive scenario or a person who is in trouble |
a) After forgetting to do his homework for the third time, Tim was really on thin ice with his teacher. |
19. Give a cold shoulder |
Act rudely to someone |
a) When Phillip tried to apologize for his mistake, his friend gave him a cold shoulder and didn't speak to him for days. |
20. Cannot make an omelette without breaking some eggs |
Everything has a cost to pay |
a) When you want to improve your grades, you'll have to study, you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs. |
21. Once bitten, twice shy |
Being extremely cautious as you have been hurt already |
a) Whenever Jonas sees dark clouds forming, he grabs her umbrella because once bitten, twice shy right? |
22. Out of the blue |
Something that happens unexpectedly or without a warning |
a) He became my best friend, out of the blue. |
23. When it rains, it pours |
When everything goes wrong at once |
a) She not only had a tough week, but she also lost her job. When it rains, it pours! |
24. Miss the boat |
To act too slowly and miss an opportunity |
a) Now the concert's tickets have been sold out and Daizy has missed the boat. |
25. Pull someone's leg |
To make fun of someone |
a) Don't pull my leg! |
26. No pain no gain |
Suffering or making efforts is required to achieve something |
a) If you want to be a doctor, you have to study hard. No pain no gain. |
27. See eye to eye |
Have the same opinion |
a) My sister and I, see eye to eye. |
28. Wear your heart on your sleeve |
To be extremely open about what you feel and think |
a) If you are not happy here, wear your heart on your sleeve and tell him. |
29. Takes two to tango |
Two persons are equally responsible for what is happening or has happened |
a) You can't blame only one person for the argument. Remember, it takes two to tango. |
30. Come rain or shine |
No matter what happens |
a) Smith is always there to help his friends, come rain or shine. |
Idiom |
Meaning |
Examples |
31. Break a leg |
Wishing good luck |
a) Before the play, I told my brother to break a leg. |
32. Piece of cake |
Very easy |
a) The math test was a piece of cake. |
33. Hit the books |
Start studying |
a) I need to hit the books for my science test. |
34. Cost an arm and a leg |
Very expensive |
a) That new video game console costs an arm and a leg. |
35. It's raining cats and dogs |
Heavy rain |
a) We had to stay inside because it was raining cats and dogs. |
36. Don't cry over spilt milk |
Don't worry about the past |
a) I accidentally broke my toy, but I know I shouldn't cry over spilt milk. |
37. Biting the bullet |
Facing a difficult situation with courage |
a) She's biting the bullet and going to the dentist today. |
38. On the same page |
Having a shared understanding or agreement |
a) We need to be on the same page about the project's goals. |
39. Under the weather |
Feeling unwell or sick |
a) I won't be at school today because I'm under the weather. |
40. All ears |
Listening attentively |
a) I'm all ears, tell me what happened. |
41. The ball is in your court |
It's your responsibility |
a) I've given you all the information; now the ball is in your court. |
42. A piece of the pie |
A share or portion of something |
a) If you work hard, you can have a piece of the pie. |
43. Walking on air |
Feeling extremely happy or elated |
a) After winning the game, she was walking on air. |
44. Hitting the nail on the head |
Making an accurate statement |
a) When he described the issue, he really hit the nail on the head. |
45. Jump on the bandwagon |
Join a popular trend or activity |
a) Many people are jumping on the bandwagon of fitness these days. |
46. Clouds on the horizon |
Problems/ Trouble |
a) Sussan noticed that her friend was showing it as clouds on the horizon and suspected that something might be bothering her. |
47. A blessing in disguise |
Something that you think is bad but turns out to be a blessing |
a) Due to rain, we didn't visit an amusement park but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we stayed home and found out about a fantastic new video game. |
48. Blue in the face |
To be exhausted due to strain or anger |
a) He argued with his friend about their favourite football team until he was blue in the face, but they still couldn't agree on which team was better. |
49. Make a long story short |
To say something in simple words in a brief manner |
a) They decided to cut the long story short and tell them what happened to them. |
50. Cup of tea |
Not something that a person would do |
a) Cooking has never been my cup of tea. |
51. Beating a dead horse |
Overdoing something or a pointless action |
a) My friend is like someone beating a dead horse because I already know what to do. |
52. Speak of the devil |
It refers to a person who appears as soon as they are being mentioned |
a) Speak of the devil! Here she arrives. |
53. Let sleeping dogs lie |
To stop discussing something that is already over or sorted out |
a) My little brother was playing with his toys quietly in the corner, and I didn't want to wake him up, so I decided to let sleeping dogs lie. |
54. Let the cat out of the bag |
Reveal a secret carelessly |
a) Zain accidentally let the cat out of the bag when he told everyone about the surprise party. |
55. Elephant in the room |
A controversial problem or a major issue |
a) During the school assembly, nobody wanted to talk about the elephant in the room, which was the upcoming maths test. |
56. To say it in a nutshell |
To sum up the points and be brief |
a) To say it in a nutshell, the story is about a young boy who learns valuable life lessons during his summer vacation. |
57. Worth its weight in gold |
To be highly valuable |
a) My grandmother's advice has always been worth its weight in gold. |
58. To weather the storm |
To go through something difficult |
a) During the challenging times of the pandemic, our family stuck together and supported each other to weather the storm. |
59. Get your act together |
To stop fooling around and do something in the way it should be done |
a) Tim, you need to get your act together if you want to do well in the upcoming math test. |
60. On top of the world |
A state of extreme happiness |
a) After receiving an A+ on my math test, I felt like I was on top of the world. |
61. Bite the bullet |
This is used when facing a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and determination. |
a)Even though the math test was hard, she had to bite the bullet and do her best. |
62. Piece of cake |
This is used for something very easy to do. |
The spelling test was a piece of cake for me because I studied really hard. |
63. A penny for your thoughts |
This is used as when polite way of asking someone what they are thinking about. |
a) You look deep in thought. A penny for your thoughts? |
64. Don't cry over spilt spilled milk |
This is used when you want to say don't be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed. |
a) I accidentally dropped my ice cream, but I won't cry over spilt spilled milk. I'll get another one. |
65. In the same boat |
This is used when you are In the same situation or facing the same difficulties as someone else. |
a) We both have a lot of homework to do, so we're in the same boat. |
66. Under the weather |
This is used when you are feeling sick or not well. |
a) I won't be able to come to school today because I'm feeling under the weather. |
67. Hit the books |
This is used when you want to study or start doing schoolwork. |
a) I need to hit the books to prepare for my upcoming science test. |
68. Break the ice |
This is used when one wants to start a conversation or social interaction in a friendly and relaxed manner. |
a) At the new student orientation, we played games to break the ice and get to know each other. |
69. Cost an arm and a leg |
< p>This is used when the thing is meant to be very expensive. |
a) The latest video game console costs an arm and a leg, so I can't afford it right now. |
70. The ball is in your court |
This is used to show that now it's your responsibility or turn to make a decision or take action in a particular situation. |
a) We have done our part and now the ball is in your court. |
71. Cold feet |
This is used to show that someone is getting nervous |
a) Sammy was going to perform in the school talent show, but she got cold feet and decided not to go on stage. |
72. Apple of my eye |
This is used to show someone whom you are very fond of or like |
a) My little sister is the apple of my eye. |
73. Set the record straight |
This is used to reveal the truth / to clarify |
a) Who won the school's first chess tournament? Can someone please set the record straight? |
74. Kill two birds with a stone |
This is used to achieve two results by doing one thing |
a) Samuel invited her friends over to study and killed two birds with one stone by completing their homework and spending time together. |
75. Snowed under |
This is used to show that someone is busy |
a) I can't play with you today, I'm snowed under with homework from school. |
76. To break someone's bubble |
This is used to do or say something that proves someone else's beliefs are not true. |
a) I hate to break Sana's bubble, but I heard that her birthday party is not happening. |
77. Walk on eggshells |
This is used to be very careful with your actions and words. |
a) Alice walks on eggshells around the house to avoid making noise and disturbing her brother. |
78. Make two ends meet |
This is used to have just enough money for all your needs |
a) My mom works very hard to make two ends meet. |
79. To be at loggerheads with someone |
This is used to quarrel or disagree |
a) Manuel and his friend Mary were at loggerheads when they couldn't agree on which movie to watch. |
80. Pretty penny |
This is used to describe expensiveness Quick Video RecapIn this section, you will find interesting and well-explained topic-wise video summary of the topic, perfect for quick revision before your Olympiad exams.
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