Learning English idioms can be fun and interesting. Idioms are phrases that have a different meaning than the individual words. They are often used in everyday conversations and can make your English sound more natural. This blog will discuss popular English idioms with meanings, their origins, and how to use them in sentences. These idioms will add value to your English skills and help you understand native speakers better.
English Idioms with Meanings and Usage
Before delving into the common English idioms, let’s understand their definition and why it is important to learn these idioms while practicing English speaking.
What Are Idioms?
Idioms are expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. For example, “break the ice” doesn’t mean to literally break ice. It means to start a conversation in a friendly way. Idioms are a part of every language and can be confusing for learners. Understanding idioms can make your English more colorful and expressive.
Why Learn Idioms?
- Improve Understanding: Knowing idioms helps you understand movies, books, and conversations better.
- Sound Natural: Using idioms makes your speech sound more natural and fluent.
- Cultural Insight: Idioms often reflect cultural values and history. Learning them gives you insight into English-speaking cultures.
Popular English Idioms with Meanings
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Here are some most frequently used English idioms with their meanings, origin and example sentence. Understand these idioms thoroughly so that you never forget.
- Break the Ice
- Meaning: To start a conversation in a social situation.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the practice of breaking ice in frozen waters to allow ships to pass.
- Example: “At the party, John told a joke to break the ice.”
- Hit the Nail on the Head
- Meaning: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
- Origin: This idiom comes from carpentry, where hitting the nail on the head means hitting it accurately.
- Example: “When you said the team needs better communication, you hit the nail on the head.”
- Bite the Bullet
- Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the past when soldiers bit on a bullet during surgery to cope with pain.
- Example: “I have to bite the bullet and finish my homework.”
- Under the Weather
- Meaning: To feel sick or unwell.
- Origin: This idiom comes from sailors who felt sick during bad weather at sea.
- Example: “I’m feeling under the weather today, so I’ll stay home.”
- Piece of Cake
- Meaning: Something very easy to do.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the idea that eating a piece of cake is very easy and pleasant.
- Example: “The test was a piece of cake for me.”
- Burn the Midnight Oil
- Meaning: To stay up late working on something.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the time when people used oil lamps for light while working late at night.
- Example: “She burned the midnight oil to finish her project.”
- Cost an Arm and a Leg
- Meaning: Something very expensive.
- Origin: This idiom likely comes from the high cost of prosthetic limbs for injured soldiers.
- Example: “That designer handbag cost an arm and a leg.”
- Let the Cat Out of the Bag
- Meaning: To reveal a secret.
- Origin: This idiom comes from markets where farmers would sell piglets in bags but sometimes cheat by putting a cat in the bag instead. Letting the cat out would reveal the trick.
- Example: “He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.”
- Hit the Sack
- Meaning: To go to bed.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the idea of hitting or moving towards the sack, which is an old term for a sleeping bag.
- Example: “I’m tired, so I’m going to hit the sack.”
- Kick the Bucket
- Meaning: To die.
- Origin: This idiom’s origin is unclear but might come from the way animals were hung before being slaughtered.
- Example: “He kicked the bucket after a long illness.”
More Idioms and Their Uses
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These idioms can be used more often in your conversation to style your language like a native.
- Spill the Beans
- Meaning: To reveal a secret.
- Origin: This idiom might come from ancient voting systems where beans were used to count votes.
- Example: “Who spilled the beans about the surprise party?”
- Break a Leg
- Meaning: Good luck (often used in the theater).
- Origin: This idiom comes from the superstition that wishing someone good luck might bring bad luck, so instead, people say “break a leg.”
- Example: “You have an exam tomorrow? Break a leg!”
- The Ball is in Your Court
- Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision or take action.
- Origin: This idiom comes from tennis, where the ball is in your court means it’s your turn to play.
- Example: “I’ve done all I can; now the ball is in your court.”
- Cut to the Chase
- Meaning: Get to the point without wasting time.
- Origin: This idiom comes from old movies where the exciting chase scene would come after a lot of buildup.
- Example: “Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the main issue.”
- Sit on the Fence
- Meaning: To remain neutral and not take sides.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the image of someone sitting on a fence, not choosing either side.
- Example: “You can’t sit on the fence when it comes to this issue.”
- Take It with a Grain of Salt
- Meaning: Don’t take something too seriously or literally.
- Origin: This idiom might come from ancient times when a grain of salt was believed to help digest bad food.
- Example: “He exaggerates a lot, so take his story with a grain of salt.”
- Once in a Blue Moon
- Meaning: Very rarely.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the rare event of a second full moon in a calendar month, which is called a blue moon.
- Example: “She visits her hometown once in a blue moon.”
- Barking Up the Wrong Tree
- Meaning: To make a wrong assumption or to pursue a mistaken course of action.
- Origin: This idiom comes from hunting dogs that would bark at the base of a tree, thinking the prey was there when it wasn’t.
- Example: “If you think I’m the one who broke the vase, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
- Hit the Road
- Meaning: To leave or start a journey.
- Origin: This idiom comes from the image of hitting the road with your feet or vehicle as you start traveling.
- Example: “We should hit the road early to avoid traffic.”
- Throw in the Towel
- Meaning: To give up or quit.
- Origin: This idiom comes from boxing, where a trainer throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight.
- Example: “After trying to fix the car for hours, he finally threw in the towel.”
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English Idioms with Meaning: More Example Sentences
Learning how to use idioms correctly in sentences can help you sound more fluent. Here are some examples to show you how to use the idioms we discussed:
- Break the Ice
- “To break the ice at the meeting, she told a funny story.”
- Hit the Nail on the Head
- “When you suggested a new marketing strategy, you hit the nail on the head.”
- Bite the Bullet
- “I decided to bite the bullet and ask for a raise.”
- Under the Weather
- “He’s feeling under the weather, so he won’t come to work today.”
- Piece of Cake
- “That math problem was a piece of cake.”
- Burn the Midnight Oil
- “She burned the midnight oil to prepare for her exam.”
- Cost an Arm and a Leg
- “Their new house cost an arm and a leg.”
- Let the Cat Out of the Bag
- “They accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the new project.”
- Hit the Sack
- “After a long day, I’m ready to hit the sack.”
- Kick the Bucket
- “The old man down the street kicked the bucket last week.”
- Spill the Beans
- “He spilled the beans about their plan to move to a new city.”
- Break a Leg
- “You have a big presentation tomorrow? Break a leg!”
- The Ball is in Your Court
- “I’ve made my decision; now the ball is in your court.”
- Cut to the Chase
- “Let’s cut to the chase and get to the main topic.”
- Sit on the Fence
- “She tends to sit on the fence when it comes to political debates.”
- Take It with a Grain of Salt
- “Take his advice with a grain of salt; he’s not an expert.”
- Once in a Blue Moon
- “We go out for dinner once in a blue moon.”
- Barking Up the Wrong Tree
- “If you think I can fix the computer, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
- Hit the Road
- “It’s time to hit the road if we want to arrive before dark.”
- Throw in the Towel
- “After several failed attempts, she decided to throw in the towel.”
Tips for Learning Idioms
- Read and Listen: Read books, watch movies, and listen to native speakers. This will help you learn how idioms are used in context.
- Practice: Use new idioms in your own sentences. Practice speaking with friends or writing short stories using idioms.
- Learn the Origins: Knowing the origin of an idiom can help you remember its meaning.
- Use Idiom Dictionaries: There are many online dictionaries and resources dedicated to idioms.
- Be Patient: Learning idioms takes time. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t understand them right away.
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Idioms are a fun and important part of the English language. They add color and expressiveness to your speech and writing. By learning these English idioms with meanings, you can improve your English skills and understand native speakers better. Practice using idioms in your conversations, and soon you’ll be speaking English like a pro. Keep exploring and enjoying the richness of the English language!
