Idioms are common phrases that have a different meaning. If you take each word and translate it, you will have a confusing and unusual translation. For ESL speakers, idioms can be difficult and not predictable in the English structure. Unfortunately, native speakers will often use them. You will hear idioms in many movies and television shows. You do not need to use idioms but it is important to know the popular ones. So when you hear them, you will know the actual meaning. Thousands of idioms exist in the English language. This is a list of some common idioms to study.
- a piece of cake
- all ears
- all that glitters is not gold
- as sly as a fox
- as blind as a bat
- be on the same wavelength (be on the same page)
- blow your mind / mind blowing
- break the ice
- catch someone red-handed (catch them with their hand in the cookie jar)
- close shave
- copy cat
- cost an arm and a leg
- cross a bridge when one comes to it
- dime a dozen
- easy money
- elbow grease
- fall into the trap
- feel blue
- feel like a million bucks
- fight like cats and dogs
- get on your nerves
- get something under one’s belt
- get straight to the point
- get the short end of the stick
- go broke
- golden opportunity
- hang a left
- hang a right
- have second thoughts
- have the heart skip a beat
- hit a happy medium
- hit the nail on the head
- I’m outta here
- keep one’s fingers crossed
- kid around (kidding)
- let bygones be bygones
- let the cat out of the bag
- like talking to a brick wall
- make waves
- no sweat
- not all there
- on cloud nine
- once in a blue moon
- put it in a nutshell
- roll your eyes
- see red
- show true colors
- slip of the tongue
- SO – SO
- straight from the horse’s mouth
- throw in the towel
- turn over a new leaf
- wolf something down
