English Idioms List
The Ultimate Dictionary of English Idioms
Master the English language by exploring hundreds of classic expressions and modern, everyday phrases.
A
- A big cheeseAn important or a powerful person in a group or family[cite: 5].
- A bird's eye viewA view from a very high place which allows you to see a large area[cite: 5].
- A cock and a bull storyA story or an explanation which is obviously not true[cite: 5].
- At the crack of the dawnVery early in morning[cite: 5].
- A litmus testA method which clearly proves something[cite: 5].
- As the crow fliesMeasuring distance between two places in a straight line[cite: 5].
- At the drop of the hatYou do something easily and without any preparation[cite: 5].
- At the eleventh hourBe too late[cite: 5].
- A wakeup callAn event done to warn someone[cite: 5].
- Against the clockTo be in a hurry to do something before a particular time[cite: 5].
- An arm and a legA large amount of money[cite: 5].
- Apple of someone's eyeSomeone loved very much[cite: 5].
- A blessing in disguiseSomething that turns out to be good which earlier appeared to be wrong[cite: 5].
- All ears Latest AdditionTo be fully listening, attentive, and ready to hear what someone has to say.
B
- Bad bloodFeelings of hate between two families[cite: 5].
- Bite your tongueTo stop yourself from saying something because it would be better not to[cite: 5].
- Black and blueFull of bruises[cite: 5].
- Break the iceTo make more comfort or relaxed with a person whom you have not met earlier, to break the silence[cite: 5].
- Be on cloud nineBe very happy[cite: 5].
- Between the devil and deep blue seaA type of situation where you must choose between two equally unpleasant situations[cite: 5].
- Back to square oneTo reach again to the starting point[cite: 5].
- Bark up the wrong treeTo make a wrong assumption[cite: 5].
- Bite the bulletTo face a difficult situation bravely[cite: 5].
- Bitter pill to swallowAn unpleasant fact that must be accepted[cite: 5].
- Bring home the baconTo earn money to live[cite: 5].
- Burn the midnight oilTo study till late of night[cite: 5].
- Break a legTo wish good luck[cite: 5].
- Bandwidth Latest AdditionHaving the energy, time, or mental capacity to deal with a situation or task.
- Bite the hand that feeds you Latest AdditionTo act ungratefully towards someone who is providing for you or helping you.
C
- Carrot and sticksYou use both awards as well as punishments to make someone do something[cite: 5].
- Cloak and draggerWhen people behave in a very secret manner[cite: 5].
- Crack a bookTo open book to study[cite: 5].
- Cross a bridge before one comes to itWorry about the future in advance[cite: 5].
- Change horses in midstreamTo change plans[cite: 5].
- Carry the canIf you carry the can, you take the blame for something, even though you didn't do it or are only partly at fault[cite: 5].
- Cat and dog lifeIf people lead a cat and dog life, they are always arguing[cite: 5].
- Circle back Latest AdditionTo postpone a conversation and agree to discuss it at a later time.
- Cut to the chase Latest AdditionTo stop wasting time and get straight to the point.
- Catch feelings Latest AdditionTo start developing a romantic interest or emotional attachment to someone.
D
- Drive a wedge betweenTo break relationship between the two[cite: 5].
- Dressed up to the ninesWearing fancy clothes[cite: 5].
- Dragging its feetDelaying in decision, not showing enthusiasm[cite: 5].
- Davey Jones' lockerThe bottom of the sea or resting place of drowned sailors[cite: 5].
- Dog in the mangerIf someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them[cite: 5].
- Don't cry over spilt milkWhen something bad happens and nothing can be done to help it[cite: 5].
- Donkey workAny hard, boring work or task[cite: 5].
- Don't throw bricks when you live in a glass houseDon't call others out on actions that you, yourself do. Don't be a hypocrite[cite: 5].
- Deep dive Latest AdditionTo conduct an extensive and detailed examination or analysis of a specific topic.
E
- Eleventh hour decisionDecision that is made at the last possible minute[cite: 5].
- End in smokeTo bear no result[cite: 5].
- Eat humble pieTo apologize humbly[cite: 5].
- Elephant in the roomA problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.[cite: 5].
- Egg on your faceIf someone has egg on their face; they are made to look foolish or embarrassed[cite: 5].
- Eye for an eyeThis is an expression for retributive justice, where the punishment equals the crime[cite: 5].
F
- From cradle to graveDuring the whole span of your life[cite: 5].
- Face the musicTo accept punishment for something you have done[cite: 5].
- Feather in one's capSomething that you achieve and proud of[cite: 5].
- Firing on all cylindersWork every possible way to succeed[cite: 5].
- Fall on your feetIf you fall on your feet, you succeed in doing something where there was a risk of failure[cite: 5].
- Flash in the panIf something is a flash in the pan; it is very noticeable but doesn't last long[cite: 5].
- For a songIf you buy or sell something for a song, it is very cheap[cite: 5].
- Flex Latest AdditionTo show off, boast, or demonstrate one's success, wealth, or physique.
G
- Get off the hookFree from all obligations[cite: 5].
- Give-up the ghostTo die[cite: 5].
- Gift of the gabTalent of speaking; speaking in a persuasive and interesting way[cite: 5].
- Gives cold shoulderTo ignore[cite: 5].
- Get your wires crossedIf people get their wires cross, they misunderstand each other[cite: 5].
- Go bananasIf you go bananas, you are wild with excitement, anxiety, or worry[cite: 5].
- Ghost someone Latest AdditionTo abruptly end all communication with someone without offering any explanation.
- Get your ducks in a row Latest AdditionTo completely organize your tasks, schedule, or affairs.
H
- Have ants in your pantsNot be able to keep still because you are very excited or worried about something[cite: 5].
- Hold one's horseBe patient[cite: 5].
- Hit the nail on the headDone the thing correctly[cite: 5].
- Hand to mouthLiving from hand to mouth is being very poor and needing the little money coming in to cover expenses[cite: 5].
- Hold waterMeans that the point of view or argument put forward is sound, strong or logical[cite: 5].
- Hit the ground running Latest AdditionTo start a new activity or project with great energy and immediate success.
I
- In dribs and drabsIn small amounts at a time[cite: 5].
- In black and whiteTo give in writing[cite: 5].
- In cahoots withIn a partnership usually for a dishonest reason[cite: 5].
- In the doghouseIf someone is in the doghouse, they are in disgrace and very unpopular at the moment[cite: 5].
J
- Jack-of-all-tradesSomeone that can do many different jobs[cite: 5].
- Jekyll and HydeSomeone who has a pleasant and a very unpleasant side to the character[cite: 5].
- Jump on the bandwagonGet involved in something that has recently become very popular[cite: 5].
- Jump the gunStart doing something before the appropriate time[cite: 5].
- Just around the cornerExpected to happen very soon[cite: 5].
- Just in the nick of timeManage to do it just in time, with seconds to spare[cite: 5].
- Jump the shark Latest AdditionThe moment when a TV show or franchise begins a decline in quality, often marked by an absurd event.
K | L | M
- Keep ones eye on the ballBe ready for something; stay alert and pay close attention[cite: 5].
- Kangaroo courtCourts formed by people taking the law into their own hands that are not legal[cite: 5].
- Let the cat out of the bagReveal the secret[cite: 5].
- Lion's shareA major share[cite: 5].
- Make castles in the airPlans or hopes that have very little chances of happening[cite: 5].
- Man of his wordA person who does what he says and keeps his promises[cite: 5].
- Move the needle Latest AdditionTo make a significant or measurable impact on a project or goal.
N | O | P
- Needle in a haystackVery difficult, if not impossible to find among everything around it[cite: 5].
- No smoke without fireWhen people suspect something, there is normally a good reason for the suspicion[cite: 5].
- Once in a blue moonVery rarely[cite: 5].
- On pins and needlesVery worried about something[cite: 5].
- Put the cart before the horseDoing things in a wrong manner[cite: 5].
- Pen is mightier than the swordWords and communication are more powerful than wars and fighting[cite: 5].
- On the same page Latest AdditionHaving a shared understanding of a situation or working towards the same goal.
- Out of left field Latest AdditionSomething completely unexpected or strange.
Q | R | S
- Queer fishA strange person[cite: 5].
- Read between the linesRead hidden meanings[cite: 5].
- Red letter dayA day of good luck, when something special happens to you[cite: 5].
- Spill the beansTo expose a secret[cite: 5].
- Snake in the grassA hidden enemy[cite: 5].
- Spill the tea Latest AdditionTo share juicy gossip or reveal a hidden truth.
- Silver bullet Latest AdditionA simple and seemingly magical solution to a very complicated problem.
- Salty Latest AdditionTo be unnecessarily annoyed, angry, or bitter over a minor issue.
T | U | V
- Talk turkeyTo discuss a problem with a real intension to solve it[cite: 5].
- Tit for tatAn action done to revenge against a person who has done some wrong to you[cite: 5].
- The apple does not fall far from the treeOffspring grow up to be like their parents[cite: 5].
- Through thick and thinSupport during good times and bad[cite: 5].
- Under the weatherFalling ill[cite: 5].
- Uncharted watersA situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you have no experience of[cite: 5].
- Vicious circleA sequence of events that make each other worse[cite: 5].
- Touch base Latest AdditionTo briefly make contact or update someone on a situation.
- Think outside the box Latest AdditionTo think creatively and unbound by traditional rules or norms.
W | X | Y | Z
- Wet behind the earsSomeone who is very young or inexperienced[cite: 5].
- Work your fingers to the boneIf you work your fingers to the bone, you work extremely hard on something[cite: 5].
- X marks the spotThis is used to say where something is located or hidden[cite: 5].
- You are what you eatEmphasises the importance of a good diet as a key to good health[cite: 5].
- You reap what you sowIf you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things[cite: 5].
- Zero hourThe time when something important is to begin[cite: 5].
- Zip your lipIf someone tells you to zip your lip, they want to to shut up or keep quiet about something[cite: 5].
- Wrap my head around it Latest AdditionTo finally find a way to understand or process something complex or shocking.
- Throw under the bus Latest AdditionTo selfishly betray or blame a colleague to protect your own interests.