Here is a list of the most common English idioms that are used in everyday conversations and their usage examples:
A hot potato
Speak of an issue which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed.
A penny for your thoughts
A way of asking what someone is thinking
Actions speak louder than words
People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
Add insult to injury
To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavourable situation.
An arm and a leg
Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.
At the drop of a hat
Meaning: without any hesitation; instantly.
Back to the drawing board
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
The ball is in your court
It is up to you to make the next decision or step
Barking up the wrong tree
Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person
Be glad to see the back of
Be happy when a person leaves.
Beat around the bush
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Best of both worlds
Meaning: All the advantages.
Its best thing since sliced bread
A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.
Bite off more than you can chew
To take on a task that is way too big.
Blessing in disguise
Something good that isn't recognized at first.
Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting.
Can't judge a book by its cover
Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.
Caught between two stools
When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
Costs an arm and a leg
This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
Cross that bridge when you come to it
Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.
Cry over spilt milk
When you complain about a loss from the past.
Curiosity killed the cat
Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
Cut corners
When something is done badly to save money.
Cut the mustard
To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate
Devil's Advocate
To present a counterargument
Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
This idiom is used to express "Don't make plans for something that might not happen".
Don't give up the day job
You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
Drastic times call for drastic measures
When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions.
Elvis has left the building
The show has come to an end. It's all over.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
Far cry from
Very different from.
Feel a bit under the weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly ill.
Give the benefit of the doubt
Believe someone's statement, without proof.
Hear it on the grapevine
This idiom means 'to hear rumours' about something or someone.
Hit the nail on the head
Do or say something exactly right
Hit the sack/sheets/hay
To go to bed.
In the heat of the moment
Overwhelmed by what is happening at the moment.
It takes two to tango
Actions or communications need more than one person
Jump on the bandwagon
Join a popular trend or activity.
Keep something at bay
Keep something away.
Kill two birds with one stone
This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the same time.
Last straw
The final problem is a series of problems.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning - do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications.
Let the cat out of the bag
To share information that was previously concealed
To make a long story short
Come to the point - leave out details
Method to my madness
An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.
Miss the boat
This idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her chance
Not a spark of decency
Meaning: No manners
Not playing with a full deck
Someone who lacks intelligence.
Off one's rocker
Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile.
On the ball
When someone understands the situation well.
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Happens very rarely.
A picture paints a thousand words
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
Piece of cake
A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
Put wool over other people's eyes
This means to deceive someone into thinking well of them.
See eye to eye
This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.
Sit on the fence
This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.
Speak of the devil
This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.
Steal someone's thunder
To take the credit for something someone else did.
Take with a grain of salt
This means not to take what someone says too seriously.
Taste of your own medicine
This means that something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else
To hear something straight from the horse's mouth
To hear something from an authoritative source.
Whole nine yards
Everything. All of it.
Wouldn't be caught dead
Would never like to do something
Your guess is as good as mine
To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question.
Acid Test
Meaning - Acid test proves the effectiveness of something.
Example - I practised hard at the dance sessions but the acid test will come when the master will assess our solo performances.
Cut the ground from under feet
Meaning - When you cut the ground from under someone's feet, you do something which weakens their position.
Example - When team India hit more than 350 runs in the ODI, they cut the ground from under the opponent's feet.
Chase your tail:
Meaning - Spending a lot of time and energy doing a lot of things but actually achieving too little.
Example - He's been chasing his tail all week collecting data but the report is still not ready
The whole bag of tricks
Meaning - Means trying all the clever means to achieve something.
Example - It was really difficult to find the information even after applying the whole bag of tricks.
Deliver the goods
Meaning - Do what is expected or promised.
Example - I have given my car to a new mechanic for repair, hope he delivers the goods.
Fine-tooth comb
Meaning - Examining something carefully to not miss out on any details.
Example - The boss examined my report with a fine-tooth comb before submitting it to the senior management.
Explore all avenues
Meaning - Trying out every possibility to get a result.
Example - It is a difficult thing to do but if we really want it done, we must explore all avenues.
Fast track something
Meaning - Rating something higher on your priority list to achieve the desired result.
Example - Given the seriousness of the crime, civil society is pressing up on a fast track decision from the court.
Get ducks in a row
Meaning - Getting your things well organized.
Example - To ensure a successful product launch, we must get our ducks in a row.
Get the show on the road
Meaning - Putting up a plan or idea into action.
Example - Now that we have completed all the legal formalities, let's get the show on the road.
Keep your fingers on the pulse
Meaning - Being constantly aware of the most recent developments.
Example - An entrepreneur must keep his fingers on the pulse of the market to be successful.
Mean business
Meaning - Being serious about what you announce.
Example - Now that all our policies about work are put up on the intranet, we mean business.
Think on your feet
Meaning - Adjusting quickly to changes and making fast decisions.
Example - A good salesman must be able to think on his feet to close the deal.
Sail through something
Meaning - Being successful in doing something without difficulty.
Example - The presentation at the national conference was extremely important for the company. We sailed through it.
Tricks of the trade
Meaning - Clever or expert way of doing something.
Example - Being in the construction business for the last 10 years, I know all tricks of the trade.
Not let the grass grow under feet
Meaning - Don't delay in getting something done.
Example - As soon as he finished all the registration formalities, he put the house on sale. He doesn't let the grass grow under his feet.
Work like a charm
Meaning - Works very well or has the desired effect.
Example - I had cloves from my sore throat and they worked like a charm.
Back-room boys
Meaning - People who perform important work but have no contact with the public.
Example - Our backroom boys deserve applause for the success of this advertisement.
Deadwood
Meaning - People or things that are no longer useful or necessary.
Example - The company bought a lot of new computers. They no longer want the dead woods.
Get the axe
Meaning - lose the job.
Example - The projects team was undergoing a major restructuring, recruitment executives were the first to get the axe.
Plum job
Meaning - Desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy.
Example - This looks like a plum job but it has its own bunch of complications.
Shape up or ship out
Meaning - This expression is used to warn someone that if they do not improve their ways, they will have to leave their job.
Example - When Tom started neglecting the customers, he was told to shape up or ship out.
Golden handshake
Meaning - Big sum of money is given to a person when they leave a company or retire.
Example - The management of various PSUs wanted to cut down on manpower. They offered a golden handshake to many of their aged employees.
Separate sheep from goats
Meaning - Examining a group of people and deciding their suitability
For example - An audition test was conducted by the director to separate sheep from goats.
Waiting in the wings
Meaning - Waiting for an opportunity to take action, mostly to replace someone else in their job.
Example - The senior manager is going to retire in the next 2 months. Two of his juniors who are waiting in the wings will have fierce competition.
Eat, sleep and breathe something
Meaning - Being so enthusiastic and passionate about something that you think about it all the time.
Example - My son has recently learnt cycling. He eats, sleeps and breathes it now.
With bells on
Meaning - When you are delighted and eager to go somewhere, you are said to go with bells on.
Example - The New Year party at the beach is most awaited. I will be there - with bells on.
Fever pitch
Meaning - When a feeling is very intense and exciting, it is said to be at a fever pitch.
Example - His love for music had reached a fever pitch before he became a world-known musician.
Blood, sweat and tears
Meaning - Something that requires a lot of effort and hard work.
Example - Being the team of an Indian cricket team is not just a matter of luck for him, it is his blood, sweat and tears which has got him here.
Have on the brain
Meaning - Thinking or talking about it all day long.
Example - He has just got engaged. Now, he has his fiance on his brain all the time.
Fling yourself into
Meaning - Doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
Example - Flinging himself into the exercise routine is the reason for his good physique.
Raring to go
Meaning - Being very eager and enthusiastic about the idea of doing something.
Example - My kids wish to see the animals. They are raring to go to the zoo.
Xerox subsidy
Meaning - Using the office photocopier for personal use.
Example - The office now has a strict policy about xerox subsidy.
Get a grip on yourself
Meaning - Controlling your feelings to deal with a situation.
Example - Reema saw her jewellery and cash missing from the almirah. After the initial shock, she got a grip on herself and called up the police.
Hang on by fingernails
Meaning - Continuing to do something in a very difficult situation.
Example - The market for watches has suffered a big loss after the arrival of mobile phones. The survivors are just hanging on by their fingernails.
Pull out all the stops
Meaning - Doing everything you can to make something successful.
Example - The deadline for the project is fast arriving; we have pulled out all the stops for timely completion.
Buckle down
Meaning - Doing some hard work with determination and full attention.
Example - Getting through the exam for civil services is possible when you have buckled down yourself.
First out of the gate
Meaning - Being the first one to make a start at something.
Example - John and his friends had decided to voice their opinion against the new economic policy. John was the first one to be out of the gate.
Going places
Meaning - Exhibiting talent and ability that will lead to a successful future.
Example - Rakesh was a performer at the school sports club. It was obvious that he was going places.
Have one's heart set on
Meaning - Possessing a determination to obtain something.
Example - He has not become a renowned cardiologist just by chance. He has his heart set on it after his father passed away with a cardiac arrest.
Make headway
Meaning - Progress in what you are trying to achieve.
Example - The police have made headway with their investigation of the terror attack on the city last Friday.
Punch above one's weight
Meaning - Performing beyond your ability.
Example - He was not the best swimmer around but he could win the gold medal at the state swimming competition by working hard and punching above his weight in the finals.
Sink your teeth into
Meaning - doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
Example - Marie joined the badminton coaching classes. She sank her teeth into the practice sessions.
Stand one's ground
Meaning - Maintaining your position.
Example - He stood his ground in support of his friend despite several family interferences.
Close to home
Meaning - A comment which is true and makes you uncomfortable is close to home.
Example - Tom's comment about his friend's unethical activities was quite close to home. He looked quite embarrassed.
Carry the torch for
Meaning - Having strong feelings for someone who cannot be yours.
Example - He has been carrying a torch for Mamta, who is now married to Nitin since they studied together in college.
Cork up something
Meaning - Failing to express your emotions.
Example - She did not let her grief pour out when her father passed away. It’s not good for her to cork up his feelings.
Cut to the quick
Meaning - Hurting someone deeply or offending them.
Example - Joe had worked for 10 years with all his loyalty for his company. He was cut to the quick when his boss held him responsible for the theft.
Fish out of water
Meaning - Feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.
Example - Being french, I felt like a fish out of water in the group of Japanese.
Bee in one's bonnet
Meaning - Carrying an idea that constantly occupies your thoughts.
Example - She is not happy in Africa. She has a bee in the bonnet about moving to Dubai.
Deep down
Meaning - Describing what a person really feels deep inside or what is he like.
Example - He appears to be indifferent to the success or failure of his children but deep down he is highly concerned.
Have your heart in the right place
Meaning - Refers to a person with good intentions; even though the results are not that impressive.
Example - The dinner she had cooked wasn't the best but she had her heart in the right place.
Groan inwardly
Meaning - Refers to a feeling where you want to express despair, disapproval or distress, but you keep quiet.
Example - She was quite disappointed at the sarcastic remark by her friend but looking at the situation she groaned inwardly.
Beard the lion in his den
Meaning - Challenge someone in his own area.
Example - If he doesn't come to see me today, I'll have to beard the lion in his den.
Keep a stiff upper lip
Meaning - Refers to a person who doesn't show off his emotions.
Example - He heard the news about his father's demise but kept a stiff upper lip.
Go bananas
Meaning - Refers to someone who behaves in a crazy way out of emotions.
Example - Your decision to go abroad for a year will make your family go bananas.
Lump in your throat
Meaning - Refers to a tight feeling in your throat because of emotions like sadness or gratitude.
Example - After all the hardships, I saw my son winning a gold medal today - I had a lump in my throat.
Hard as nails
Meaning - Refers to a person without sentiments and sympathy for anyone.
Example - He has become as hard as a nail after his brother was brutally murdered.
Lick one's wounds
Meaning - Trying to regain their confidence or boost up the spirits after a defeat.
Example - Raja is licking his wounds after being dropped from the Indian Cricket Team.
Proud as a peacock
Meaning - Refers to an extremely proud person.
Example - His son has finally become a doctor. He is as proud as a peacock.
Tongue-tied
Meaning - Difficulty in expressing yourself because of nervousness or embarrassment.
Example - As her prospective in-laws came to see her, she was completely tongue-tied.
Look on the bright side
Meaning - View an unpleasant situation in a positive light.
Example - You met with an accident but look on the bright side - you managed to get away just with some bruises.
Swallow one's pride
Meaning - Accepting something humiliating or embarrassing.
Example - When his son was caught cheating in the exam. He had to swallow his pride and meet the principal.
Makes your flesh crawl
Meaning - Something that makes you feel disgusting or nervous.
Example - The sight of the accident made my flesh crawl.
Speak volumes
Meaning - Expresses a reaction without words.
Example - She came to pick me up at the station at an odd hour. Her actions spoke volumes about her brevity.
Not turn a hair
Meaning - Refers to not exhibiting any emotion where it is expected.
Example - He didn't turn a hair even after his office was raided by the CBI.
Reduce to tears
Meaning - Getting into tears because of someone's behaviour.
Example - Her best friend stopped talking to her. This reduced her to tears.
In the bag
Meaning - Refers to a situation when you are sure that success is sure.
Example - The wickets of the opponent team fell down very fast, visitors seemed to be in the bag at the end of 25 overs.
Blow up in the face
Meaning - Refers to a situation when a plan or project suddenly fails.
Example - It was difficult to get a place on the train to Mumbai. It blew up in the face when a train derailed and blocked the track.
Bottom fell out
Meaning - Refers to a situation when a plan or project fails.
Example - When the police announced a red alert in the city, the bottom fell out of their plan to hold a rally.
Cake not worth the candle
Meaning - Refers to something in which result vs effort is too less.
Example - He worked very hard to organize the party but very few guests walked in. The cake wasn't worth the candle.
Chance one's arm
Meaning - Deciding to do something even though the chances of success are very few.
Example - She knew there was little chance of getting through the audition test but she decided to change her arm.
Come up roses
Meaning - Successful end results even though there may be some initial hiccups.
Example - After initial hiccups, the project seems to be coming up roses.
Cook someone's goose
Meaning - Spoil other person's chances of success.
Example - When the opponent team saw Indian batsmen taking wicket after wicket, they realised that their goose was cooked.
Cut one's own throat
Meaning - Doing something that will cause your own failure.
Example - Raghav is not sincere in the class since the beginning. He is cutting his own throat.
Foot in the door
Meaning - Small but good start with a possibility for a bright future.
Example - With customers coming in, his new venture has got a foot in the door.
Go great guns
Meaning - Being successful.
Example - Ram's preparation for the final exams is going great guns. He scored 90% marks on the practice test.
Dead in the water
Meaning - Plan or project that has ceased to function and is not expected to be re-activated in future.
Example - Because of the revolt from the civil society, the plan to get the FDI in various sectors is now dead in the water.
Flying start
Meaning - Something that is immediately successful.
Example - The film hit the box office with a flying start and collected the highest revenue on day 1.
Make a goof
Meaning - Succeeding in your enterprise.
Example - With his hard work and dedication, he has made a go of his new venture.
Go to the dogs
Meaning - Getting comparably less successful than before.
Example - With new corruption scams unveiling every day, the country is going to dogs.
Go up in smoke
Meaning - Something that ends before getting a result.
Example - With a vigilant police force around the town, the plan of antisocial elements to cause chaos went up in smoke.
Live on the breadline
Meaning - Having very little income.
Example - The partition of the country has left many people on the breadline.
Make or break
Meaning - Circumstances causing total success or total ruin.
Example - The huge investment in this big project with making or break him.
Landslide victory
Meaning - Overwhelming victory received by a candidate of a political party at an election.
Example - With a win of more than 40% seats in the first two hours of counting, they are expecting a landslide victory.
Let slip through fingers
Meaning - Failing to obtain or keep up a good opportunity.
Example - This opportunity can be your breakthrough in the industry. Don't let it slip through your fingers.
Rags to riches
Meaning - Becoming very rich while starting very poor.
Example - His innovative ideas in business got him from rags to riches.
On the pig's back
Meaning - Refers to a person in a successful and well situated.
Example - The tourism in the state was on the pig's back before the terror attacks hit the capital.
Miss the boat
Meaning - Failing to take advantage of an opportunity because of slow actions.
Example - I managed to get a discount of 10% but could not get an early bird offer. Reaching late made me miss the boat.
Smash hit
Meaning - Refers to music, films which are very successful.
Example - His music became a smash hit in a week.
Murphy's law
Meaning - This means that if anything can go wrong, it will.
Example - Let's be prepared for the worst but don't forget Murphy's law.
Place in the sun
Meaning - Finding a place in the sun refers to a position that provides you all the success and happiness you want in your life.
Example - Getting married into the renowned business family in the town, she found a place in the sun.
Sink or swim
Meaning - fail or succeed.
Example - The test will decide if he sinks or swims.
Champagne on a beer budget
Meaning - Wanting expensive things that you cannot afford.
Example - She always buys things out of her budget. She has developed a taste for champagne on a beer budget.
Top dog
Meaning - Very successful group, company, person, country etc.
Example - The economic survey proved that they are the top dogs of the IT industry.
Keep up appearances
Meaning - Maintaining an outward show of prosperity or well-being while hiding your difficulties
Example - Keeping up the appearances was important for him to secure the new big projects.
Wooden spoon
Meaning - Imaginary prize for the last person in a race.
Example - We won a wooden spoon at the fashion show.
Have the world by its tail
Meaning - Very successful person who can choose from a lot of opportunities.
Example - Being the pioneers in the pharmaceutical industry, they are now having the world by its tail.
Live beyond means
Meaning - Spending more money than you can afford.
Example - He has a habit of living beyond his means. Most of the time, you will find him borrowing money from his friends.
Live in an ivory tower
Meaning - Living a lifestyle that saves you from real-world problems.
Example - Her inexperience in dealing with tough situations is because she has lived in an ivory tower
Hit the road running
Meaning - start performing immediately.
Example - She was our old employee. She hit the road running when she joined us back.