Free English Lesson: Master These Top 30 English Idioms to Sound Like a Native Speaker
Date
Nov 23, 2024
Author
Daily Native English
Idioms are an essential part of the English language, adding color and personality to everyday conversations. These short phrases often have meanings that go beyond the literal interpretation of the words. For learners, understanding and using idioms correctly can make your English sound more fluent and natural.
In this blog, we’ll explore 30 commonly used idioms, their meanings, and examples to help you incorporate them into your conversations effortlessly.
Why Learn English Idioms?
Idioms are a window into the culture of English speakers. They reflect humor, wisdom, and ways of thinking that can’t always be directly translated. By mastering idioms, you’ll:
Understand Native Conversations: Idioms appear in movies, songs, and even work meetings.
Sound More Fluent: Using idioms shows your grasp of the language beyond grammar and vocabulary.
Make a Stronger Impression: Idiomatic language can make your conversations more engaging and relatable.
Let’s dive into 30 must-know idioms for every English learner!
1–10: Everyday Idioms for Casual Conversations
Break the ice
Meaning: To make people feel more comfortable in a social setting.
Example: “At the party, we played a game to break the ice.”
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To say something that is exactly right.
Example: “You hit the nail on the head when you said we need more time to finish.”
Piece of cake
Meaning: Something very easy to do.
Example: “This math problem is a piece of cake for me!”
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
Example: “She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.”
Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal secret information.
Example: “Who spilled the beans about our plan?”
Costs an arm and a leg
Meaning: Something that is very expensive.
Example: “This designer bag costs an arm and a leg!”
Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: “He’s burning the midnight oil to finish his project.”
Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant that you’ve been avoiding.
Example: “I had to bite the bullet and tell my boss the bad news.”
Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working for the day.
Example: “We’ve done enough work; let’s call it a day.”
Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling unwell or sick.
Example: “I didn’t go to work because I was feeling under the weather.”
11–20: Idioms for Work and School
Hit the books
Meaning: To start studying seriously.
Example: “I have an exam tomorrow, so I need to hit the books tonight.”
Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To joke or tease someone.
Example: “I’m just pulling your leg! Don’t take it seriously.”
Get out of hand
Meaning: To become uncontrollable.
Example: “The meeting got out of hand when everyone started shouting.”
The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your decision or responsibility to act next.
Example: “I’ve done my part. Now, the ball is in your court.”
On the same page
Meaning: To agree or have a shared understanding.
Example: “Let’s make sure we’re on the same page before presenting to the client.”
Burn out
Meaning: To become exhausted from overwork or stress.
Example: “If you keep working like this, you’ll burn out.”
Go the extra mile
Meaning: To make extra effort to achieve something.
Example: “She always goes the extra mile to help her customers.”
Think outside the box
Meaning: To think creatively or in an unconventional way.
Example: “To solve this problem, we need to think outside the box.”
Cut corners
Meaning: To do something in a quick or cheap way, often sacrificing quality.
Example: “Don’t cut corners when it comes to safety.”
Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: To risk everything on a single opportunity.
Example: “Investing in only one stock is like putting all your eggs in one basket.”
21–30: Idioms for Relationships and Life
Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid talking directly about something.
Example: “Stop beating around the bush and tell me what’s wrong.”
Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What you do is more important than what you say.
Example: “He says he cares, but actions speak louder than words.”
Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: There’s something good in every bad situation.
Example: “Losing my job was hard, but every cloud has a silver lining—I found a better one!”
Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To accomplish two tasks with one action.
Example: “By taking the bus, I killed two birds with one stone: saved money and avoided traffic.”
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t judge someone or something by its appearance.
Example: “He looks strict, but don’t judge a book by its cover. He’s very kind.”
When pigs fly
Meaning: Something that will never happen.
Example: “I’ll believe you can sing when pigs fly!”
Break a leg
Meaning: A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Example: “You’re going on stage soon? Break a leg!”
Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Avoid bringing up old problems.
Example: “It’s better to let sleeping dogs lie and not talk about the argument.”
The best of both worlds
Meaning: A situation where you enjoy two advantages at the same time.
Example: “Working remotely gives me the best of both worlds: flexibility and productivity.”
A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
Example: “Failing that test was a blessing in disguise; it made me work harder.”
How to Learn Idioms Effectively
Practice in Context: Use these idioms in sentences related to your daily life.
Listen and Observe: Pay attention to how native speakers use idioms in conversations, movies, and podcasts.
Review and Repeat: The more you hear and use these idioms, the more natural they’ll feel.
Test Yourself: Write short paragraphs or dialogues using at least five idioms from this list.
