Learn the 100 Most Common Idioms in 30 Minutes (with examples)

Share

Summary

This video teaches 100 common English idioms with definitions and examples to help improve English fluency and sound more like a native speaker.

Highlights

Pull Someone's Leg0:18:43

To playfully tease or deceive someone.

Pull Yourself Together0:19:01

To regain control of one's emotions after being upset.

Rain on Someone's Parade0:19:22

To spoil someone's plans or enthusiasm.

No Pain, No Gain0:15:51

Suggests that effort and difficulty are necessary to achieve something worthwhile, especially in physical training.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words0:00:47

This idiom means that a visual representation conveys a message more effectively than written words, e.g., a sketch of a floor plan.

Not One's Cup of Tea0:16:12

To dislike or be uninterested in something.

A Piece of Cake0:01:12

Means something is very easy, e.g., that exam was really simple.

On Thin Ice0:17:02

To be in a precarious or risky situation where further mistakes will lead to negative consequences.

Out of Someone's League0:17:46

Too good, expensive, or desirable for someone to attain.

Play Devil's Advocate0:18:02

To argue against a point of view for the sake of healthy debate, or to present a differing opinion.

Play Something by Ear0:18:26

To decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than according to a plan.

Add Insult to Injury0:01:48

To make a bad situation even worse, e.g., being late and then forgetting your keys.

As Cheap as Chips0:02:10

Means something is very inexpensive, e.g., not worrying about being paid back for something cheap.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie0:13:48

To avoid interfering with a situation that is currently calm to prevent making it worse.

Let Someone Off the Hook0:14:11

To allow someone to escape punishment for a wrongdoing.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree0:02:26

To be mistaken about the approach or reason for something, e.g., trying to read a textbook cover to cover instead of using an effective study method.

Beat Around the Bush0:02:51

To avoid directly stating what you mean, often due to discomfort, e.g., directly expressing an dislike for someone's boyfriend.

Better Late Than Never0:03:11

It's preferable to do something or arrive late than not at all, often used sarcastically.

Bite Off More Than You Can Chew0:03:34

To attempt something that is too challenging or too much to handle, e.g., taking on a large project.

Bite the Bullet0:03:55

To force oneself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to act bravely in a tough situation, e.g., quitting a job.

Break a Leg0:04:10

A phrase meaning 'good luck,' commonly said to performers.

Break the Ice0:04:28

To help people who don't know each other feel more comfortable and relaxed, e.g., playing a game to ease introductions.

Call it a Day0:04:57

To stop working or doing something because you've either accomplished enough or don't want to continue, e.g., stopping work due to exhaustion.

Cost an Arm and a Leg0:05:15

Means something is very expensive, e.g., a fancy coat.

Cut Corners0:05:30

To do something in the easiest, fastest, or cheapest way, which often results in lower quality, e.g., a poorly written report.

Cut Somebody Some Slack0:05:55

To give someone more freedom or be less critical, e.g., teachers being lenient on the last day of class.

Don't Give Up the Day Job0:06:14

Used to tell someone they are not good at something, often humorously, e.g., a drum solo being entertaining but not professional-level.

Put All Your Eggs in One Basket0:06:32

To rely solely on one person or plan for success, e.g., applying for multiple jobs instead of just one.

Easy Does It0:06:55

To encourage someone to do something carefully and slowly, e.g., warning someone not to spill paint.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining0:07:11

Every negative situation has a positive aspect, e.g., finding a dream job after being made redundant.

Get a Taste of Your Own Medicine0:07:31

To be treated in the same unpleasant way that you have treated others, e.g., a cruel prison warden being jailed.

Get Out of Hand0:07:54

To become difficult to control, e.g., overspending during Christmas.

Get Something Out of Your System0:08:11

To express a wish or emotion, especially a negative one, to relieve it, e.g., buying a desired dress to stop thinking about it.

Get Your Act Together0:08:41

To start organizing oneself to be more effective, e.g., tidying a messy desk.

Give Someone the Benefit of the Doubt0:09:01

To believe someone even if you're not entirely sure they are telling the truth, e.g., accepting an excuse for lateness.

Give Someone the Cold Shoulder0:09:23

To deliberately ignore someone.

Go Back to the Drawing Board0:09:37

To start planning something again because the initial plan failed.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait0:09:57

Encourages patience, as positive outcomes will eventually occur.

Hang in There0:10:17

To persevere and not give up hope during difficulties, e.g., during final exams.

Hit the Nail on the Head0:10:36

To accurately identify something or get something exactly right.

Hit the Sack0:10:52

To go to bed, e.g., when tired.

Ignorance is Bliss0:11:09

You are better off not knowing certain unpleasant facts or truths.

In a Nutshell0:11:32

To summarize something in the fewest possible words.

It Takes One to Know One0:11:44

An informal way of saying that someone accusing another of a fault possesses the same fault themselves.

It's Not Rocket Science0:12:01

Used to express that something is not difficult to understand or do.

Jump on the Bandwagon0:12:24

To join a popular activity, trend, or opinion.

Keep One's Chin Up0:12:48

To remain optimistic and happy despite difficulties.

Kill Two Birds with One Stone0:13:04

To achieve two things with a single action.

Save Something for a Rainy Day0:20:00

To save money or other resources for a future time when they might be needed.

See Eye to Eye0:20:18

To agree with someone.

Shed Light on Something0:20:28

To clarify or provide new information about something.

Sit on the Fence0:20:44

To avoid making a decision or choosing sides.

Sit Tight0:21:11

To wait patiently or refrain from taking action.

Smell a Rat0:21:27

To suspect that something is wrong, deceptive, or treacherous.

So Far So Good0:21:40

Indicates that something, like a plan, has been progressing well without issues up to the present moment.

Wouldn't Be Caught Dead0:22:11

Used to express intense dislike for something, implying one would never do or wear it.

Someone's Heart is in the Right Place0:22:26

Describes someone who has good intentions, even if their actions are sometimes misguided.

Someone's Jaw Drops0:22:45

To be very surprised or amazed.

Someone's Pride and Joy0:23:01

A person or thing that brings great satisfaction and happiness.

Someone's True Colors0:23:20

The actual character or nature of a person, often revealed after initial impressions.

Something Rings a Bell0:23:57

To sound vaguely familiar or remind someone of something they've heard before.

Speak of the Devil0:24:15

Said when a person who was just being discussed unexpectedly appears.

Spill the Beans0:24:39

To reveal a secret or share gossip.

Steal Someone's Thunder0:24:56

To preempt someone's announcement or accomplishment, taking attention or praise away from them.

Stick to One's Guns0:25:20

To maintain one's opinions or beliefs despite opposition or pressure.

Take Something with a Pinch/Grain of Salt0:25:40

To not take something too seriously or believe it completely, often due to doubt about its accuracy.

Take the Mickey (Mick)0:25:59

To make fun of someone or something, often in a teasing way.

The Ball is in Your Court0:26:17

It is up to you to make the next decision or take action.

The Best of Both Worlds0:26:34

A situation where one can enjoy the advantages of two different things simultaneously.

The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread0:26:53

A highly effective, innovative, or excellent invention or idea.

The Devil is in the Details0:27:15

It seems straightforward at first glance, but hidden complexities or problems emerge upon closer inspection.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm0:27:37

Those who arrive first or act promptly will have the best opportunities or advantages.

The Elephant in the Room0:28:00

A significant and obvious problem or contentious issue that everyone is aware of but chooses to avoid discussing.

The Last Straw0:28:21

The final insult or difficulty in a series, which makes a situation unbearable.

There Are Plenty More Fish in the Sea0:28:55

Don't worry about a missed opportunity or a broken relationship, as other equally good options are available.

There's Method to Someone's Madness0:29:13

Someone's seemingly irrational behavior actually has a logical explanation or underlying plan.

There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch0:29:31

Nothing is entirely free; there are always hidden costs or reasons behind seemingly free offers.

Through Thick and Thin0:29:52

To remain supportive and loyal during all circumstances, both good and bad.

Throw Caution to the Wind0:30:14

To act recklessly or impulsively, disregarding potential risks.

To Make Matters Worse0:30:32

To add another negative element to an already bad situation.

Twist Someone's Arm0:30:58

To persuade or pressure someone to do something they were initially reluctant to do.

Under the Weather0:31:16

Feeling slightly unwell or low in spirits.

Up in the Air0:31:31

Something that is undecided or unresolved.

We'll Cross That Bridge When We Come to It0:31:49

To not worry about a potential problem until it actually arises.

Wrap Your Head Around Something0:32:10

To understand or accept something complex or unusual.

You Can Say That Again0:32:32

Used to express strong agreement with what someone has just said.

You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too0:32:57

You cannot enjoy the benefits of two mutually exclusive options simultaneously; you must choose one.

You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover0:33:14

You shouldn't form an opinion about someone or something based solely on their outward appearance.

You Live and You Learn0:33:32

You learn from your mistakes and experiences, becoming wiser as a result.

Off the Top of One's Head0:16:29

To say something from memory without extensive thought or checking.

On the Ball0:16:44

To be alert, well-informed, or highly organized.

Rock the Boat0:19:43

To say or do something that disrupts a stable situation or causes trouble.

Once in a Blue Moon0:17:26

Something that happens very rarely.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words0:01:25

What someone does is more significant than what they say they will do, e.g., waiting for someone to show love rather than just say it.

Leave No Stone Unturned0:13:29

To try every possible method to achieve something.

Blessing in Disguise0:00:30

An idiom referring to a good thing that initially appeared bad, e.g., losing a job proved to be a positive change.

Let the Cat Out of the Bag0:14:31

To accidentally reveal a secret.

Make a Long Story Short0:14:48

To get straight to the point, providing only essential information to shorten a narrative.

Miss the Boat0:15:12

To be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity.

Neck of the Woods0:15:30

Refers to a specific local area or region.

Recently Summarized Articles

Loading...