30 useful English idiomatic expressions & their meanings

At Oxford International, we know that learning idiomatic expressions is important for speaking English well. These special phrases can be hard for non-native speakers, but they’re very useful for natural communication. In this blog post, we’ll look at 30 common idioms in English, what they mean and how to use them.

What are idiomatic expressions?

Idiomatic expressions are phrases with meanings that are different from the literal meanings of the words. They’re an important part of English and often come from history or culture. Learning these expressions will help you speak better and understand English-speaking cultures more.

Let’s look at 30 useful English idiomatic expressions, their meanings and examples of how to use them:

1. “Break the ice” Meaning: To start a conversation or make people feel more comfortable. Example: “To break the ice at the party, I said hello to the person next to me.”
2. “Cut corners” Meaning: To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often badly. Example: “The company cut corners on safety to save money, which caused problems.”
3. “Hit the nail on the head” Meaning: To describe something exactly right. Example: “You’ve hit the nail on the head with your idea about the problem.”
4. “Piece of cake” Meaning: Something very easy to do. Example: “The test was a piece of cake; I finished it very quickly.”
5. “Cost an arm and a leg” Meaning: To be very expensive Example: “That new phone costs an arm and a leg; I can’t buy it now.”

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1. “Bite off more than you can chew” Meaning: To try to do more than you can manage. Example: “By agreeing to do two big projects at once, I bit off more than I could chew.”
2. “Beat around the bush” Meaning: To avoid talking about what’s important. Example: “Please stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.”
3. “Cry over spilled milk” Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed. Example: “Don’t cry over spilled milk; let’s focus on fixing the problem.”
4. “Get your act together” Meaning: To organise yourself and improve your behaviour. Example: “You need to get your act together if you want to pass this class.”
5. “Kill two birds with one stone” Meaning: To solve two problems with one action. Example: “By walking to work, I kill two birds with one stone: I save money and get exercise.”
6. “Let the cat out of the bag” Meaning: To reveal a secret by mistake. Example: “I let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party when I asked her what cake she likes.”
7. “Pull someone’s leg” Meaning: To joke with someone by telling them something that isn’t true. Example: “Don’t worry, I’m just pulling your leg; I didn’t really sell your bike.”
8. “Burn the midnight oil” Meaning: To work late into the night. Example: “I’ve been burning the midnight oil to finish this project before the deadline.”
9. “Bite the bullet” Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding. Example: “I finally bit the bullet and went to the dentist after waiting for months.”
10. “Break a leg” Meaning: A way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance. Example: “You’re going to do great in the play tonight. Break a leg!”
11. “Call it a day” Meaning: To stop working on something. Example: “We’ve done a lot of work on the report. Let’s call it a day and continue tomorrow.”
12. “Steal someone’s thunder” Meaning: To take attention away from someone else’s achievement. Example: “I was about to share my good news, but my sister stole my thunder by announcing her engagement.”
13. “The ball is in your court” Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision. Example: “I’ve made my offer; now the ball is in your court to decide.”
14. “Throw in the towel” Meaning: To give up. Example: “After trying for hours to fix the computer, I threw in the towel and called an expert.”
15. “Under the weather” Meaning: Feeling slightly ill. Example: “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today; I might stay home and rest.”
16. “Speak of the devil” Meaning: Said when someone appears just as you’re talking about them. Example: “Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you when you walked in.”
17. “Once in a blue moon” Meaning: Very rarely. Example: “I only eat fast food once in a blue moon; I usually cook at home.”
18. “Catch someone red-handed” Meaning: To catch someone while they are doing something wrong. Example: “The teacher caught the student red-handed trying to cheat on the test.”
19. “Barking up the wrong tree” Meaning: To look for something in the wrong place or to blame the wrong person. Example: “If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I haven’t seen it.”
20. “Jump on the bandwagon” Meaning: To join an activity that has become popular. Example: “When healthy eating became popular, many people jumped on the bandwagon.”
21. “Like two peas in a pod” Meaning: Very similar or close. Example: “Those best friends are like two peas in a pod; they do everything together.”
22. “Ten a penny” Meaning: Very common and not special or valuable. Example: “Empty promises are ten a penny; I need to see real actions.”
23. “Go the extra mile” Meaning: To make an extra effort. Example: “Our teachers always go the extra mile to help students understand difficult topics.”
24. “Straight from the horse’s mouth” Meaning: Information from the person who knows best. Example: “I heard about the university’s new policy straight from the horse’s mouth – the vice-chancellor told us herself.”
25. “Take with a pinch of salt” Meaning: To not completely believe something. Example: “You should take his stories with a pinch of salt; he often exaggerates.”

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How to use idiomatic expressions well

Now that you know these common idioms in English, here are some tips to help you use them:

1. Understand when to use them: Make sure you know the right situation for each expression.
2. Practice in conversations: Try using these phrases when you speak English every day.
3. Listen for idioms: Pay attention to how native speakers use these expressions.
4. Don’t use too many: Using some idioms is good, but using too many can sound strange.

At Oxford International, we believe that learning idiomatic expressions is very important for speaking English well. Our courses help you understand and use these phrases naturally, so you can communicate better in English.

Remember, learning to use idiomatic expressions takes time and practice. Don’t worry if you make mistakes; even native speakers sometimes use idioms wrong. Keep learning and practising, and soon you’ll use these colourful phrases confidently!

Whether you’re studying, working or just want to improve your English, understanding and using idiomatic expressions will help you a lot. At Oxford International, we’re here to help you learn English better.

So, start using these idiomatic expressions in your English today! With practice, you’ll soon use them like a native speaker.