By Priya Garuda
Idioms are phrases whose meanings cannot be derived from the definitions of the words that make them up. They have a figurative meaning. Idioms have a fixed grammatical structure. Changing the words or order can alter or obscure their meaning.
1. Break a leg!
Meaning: All the best! Good luck!
Sentence: Go break a leg with your performance—I know you will do a great job!
2. Don’t cry over spilt milk!
Meaning: Don’t complain about things that are not in your control.
Sentence: Get up and prepare for what’s next; there’s no point in crying over spilt milk.
3. Cost an arm and a leg!
Meaning: Anything that is exceptionally expensive
Sentence: That new PlayStation costs an arm and a leg, but its features are amazing.
4. Heart of gold!
Meaning: Be very kind, caring and generous
Sentence: My neighbour has a heart of gold despite seeming to be rough.
5. Walking on eggshells!
Meaning: To be very careful and cautious to avoid offending someone.
Sentence: Ever since the disagreement, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around my friends and teachers.
6. Bite the bullet!
Meaning: Face the unavoidable situation and endure the pain.
Sentence: I dislike going to the dentist, but I’ll have to bite the bullet and make an appointment.
7. Don’t put all your eggs in the same basket!
Meaning: Don’t keep all your money, ideas, skills and visions on a single venture, place or event.
Sentence: My father taught me to diversify my investments and asked not to put all my eggs in the same basket.
8. Pull yourself together
Meaning: To be composed and behave neutrally and normally
Sentence: After hearing the disheartening news, she took a while to pull herself together.
9. Pull up your socks
Meaning: To make an effort to improve your present work or behaviour.
Sentence: If you want to be a top performer, you’ll need to pull up your socks and increase your capacity.
10. Born with a silver spoon
Meaning: To be born rich/ into a wealthy family.
Sentence: Despite being born with a silver spoon she understands the hardships of daily labour.
11. On the same boat
Meaning: Having the same situation as everyone else
Sentence: I guess, we are all in the same boat, we need to understand the issue and find ways to solve it.
12. On cloud nine
Meaning: To be extremely happy
Sentence: They were on cloud nine after being selected for finals.
13. The seventh heaven
Meaning: A state of bliss and satisfaction
Sentence: Winning the championship put him in seventh heaven.
14. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely
Sentence: I only see my childhood friend once in a blue moon since he moved to the United States.
15. A penny for your thoughts
Meaning: Asking someone what they are thinking and their opinion
Sentence: You have been thinking for a while; a penny for your thoughts?
16. Have deep pockets
Meaning: To have more than enough financial resources
Sentence: He can afford a lot of luxuries because his family has deep pockets.
17. Heard through the grapevine
Meaning: Getting the information through informal sources or gossip.
Sentence: I heard through the grapevine that they are moving abroad.
18. In a nutshell
Meaning: In short/ In brief
Sentence: In a nutshell, the assignment was a grand success.
19. To beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid the topic and speak indirectly.
Sentence: Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
20. Drop someone a line
Meaning: To connect with someone, usually by writing or calling.
Sentence: Drop me a line through mail regarding the updates of the project.
21. To get our wires crossed
Meaning: Having a misunderstanding.
Sentence: I think we got our wires crossed; I thought the meeting would be on 3rd May.
22. To be on the same wavelength
Meaning: Understanding each other well and thinking similarly.
Sentence: We’re on the same wavelength on the new proposal.
23. Over the moon
Meaning: To be happy.
Sentence: My friend was over the moon when she got selected for her dream job.
24. From horse’s mouth
Meaning: Listen to something directly from the source.
Sentence: The journalist heard the news straight from the horse’s mouth.
25. Come out of your shell
Meaning: To become more confident, move out of your comfort zone and socialise.
Sentence: She had come out of her shell to start her venture.
Read more: English Riddles for Kids: 20 Short Easy Riddles [With Answers]
26. In the loop
Meaning: To keep someone informed about something.
Sentence: Please keep all your teammates in the loop about the updates.
27. To touch base
Meaning: To contact someone briefly.
Sentence: Let us touch base in the evening to discuss further plans.
28. Spread like wildfire
Meaning: Spreading rapidly.
Sentence: The news of their marriage spreak like wildfire.
29. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: Revealing a secret.
Sentence: My sister accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the
30. Put someone in the picture
Meaning: To explain to someone what is happening.
Sentence: Let me put you in the picture about the science project.
31. To talk at cross-purposes
Meaning: Misunderstanding each other.
Sentence: In the review, we found that we are talking at cross-purposes; I was speaking about old policy and you are talking about the new policy.
32. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To be exactly right.
Sentence: She hit the nail on the head with her on-the-point answer.
33. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It is your turn to decide and take action.
Sentence: The authority has done its part; now the ball is in your court.
34. Let someone off the hook.
Meaning: To allow someone to avoid responsibility.
Sentence: They were let off the hook and weren’t suspended.
35. Ahead of the curve
Meaning: To be more innovative than others
Sentence: Their new skills and technology always keep them ahead of the curve in the industry.
36. Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: To face any challenge head-on
Sentence: He decided to take the bull by the horns and confront the principal about the issue.
37. Not going to fly
Meaning: Not going to succeed or be accepted.
Sentence: His excuse for not completing the project will not fly with the boss.
38. On the back burner
Meaning: To be delayed or postponed
Sentence: The idea was put on the back burner due to the budget cuts.
39. Cut the mustard
Meaning: Meeting the required standards.
Sentence: The new employee just doesn’t cut the mustard.
40. Off the cuff
Meaning: Without preparation
Sentence: He announced the holiday off the cuff mark which surprised everyone.
41. Wind out of my sails
Meaning: Feeling less confident about something
Sentence: My friend’s criticism took the wind out of my sails.
42. Easier said than done
Meaning: Difficult than it sounds.
Sentence: Drinking alcohol and quitting smoking is easier said than done.
43. Let’s get down to brass tacks
Meaning: Let’s get to the important point.
Sentence: Enough of gossip; let’s get down to brass tacks.
44. Time to hit the books
Meaning: Time to study
Sentence: Exams are approaching, so it’s time to hit the books.
45. The proof is in the pudding
Meaning: We can understand the value of something only from practical experience.
Sentence: His ability to lead the project will be proven by his results—the proof is in the pudding.
46. In a pickle
Meaning: In a difficult situation
Sentence: I’m in a pickle because I lost her project and she has to produce it tomorrow.
47. Mad as a hatter
Meaning: Fully crazy
Sentence: He is mad as a hatter if he thinks he can finish that project in one day.
48. Lose your marbles
Meaning: To lose your mind
Sentence: If my friend keeps working these long hours, sure she will lose her marbles.
49. Stab someone in the back.
Meaning: To betray someone.
Sentence: My sister thought she was a friend, but she stabbed him in the back.
50. Living hand-to-mouth
Meaning: Having enough money to live one and nothing extra, means living paycheck to paycheck with no savings.
Sentence: After losing his job, he lived hand-to-mouth, struggling to cover his basic expenses.
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