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Idioms in English - with Examples
Idioms are phrases or expressions that have a figurative meaning different from their literal meaning. They are an integral part of the English language, adding color and depth to conversations and writing. For beginners, understanding idioms can be challenging but rewarding, as they help in mastering the nuances of the language.
An idiom is a combination of words that has a meaning separate from the literal meanings of the individual words. For instance, “break the ice” means to initiate conversation in a social setting, not literally breaking ice. Idioms are widely used in everyday English and are essential for achieving fluency.
Here are some common idioms that beginners might encounter, along with their meanings and examples:
Break the Ice
Hit the Nail on the Head
Piece of Cake
Under the Weather
Bite the Bullet
Cost an Arm and a Leg
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Break a Leg
Hit the Books
The Ball is in Your Court
Idioms often reflect the culture and history of a language. For example, idioms used in British English might differ from those used in American English. Additionally, some idioms may not translate well into other languages, including Indian languages, and can sometimes lead to confusion if taken literally.
Indian English, influenced by regional languages and cultures, has its own set of idioms and phrases. Some Indian English idioms may not be familiar to native English speakers but are widely understood in India. For instance:
Pass out (Meaning: to graduate, especially from an educational institution).
Prepone (Meaning: to reschedule to an earlier time, the opposite of postpone).
Idioms are a fascinating and essential part of the English language. For beginners from India, mastering idioms can significantly improve their communication skills and understanding of English. By learning idioms, you can make your speech and writing more expressive and engaging.
Fill in the Blanks: Use the appropriate idiom to complete the sentences.
Match the Idioms with Their Meanings:
a. To endure a painful experience b. To initiate conversation c. To study hard d. It’s your turn to take action
Create Sentences: Write your own sentences using the following idioms:
By regularly practicing idioms and incorporating them into your speech and writing, you can enhance your English language skills and communicate more effectively. Happy learning!
Sentence: “After weeks of training, winning the competition was a piece of cake for him.”
Sentence: “She had to bite the bullet and tell her boss about the mistake.”
Sentence: “I felt under the weather, so I decided to stay home and rest.”
Sentence: “Let’s break the ice with a fun game before we start the meeting.”
Sentence: “The new laptop cost an arm and a leg, but it has all the features I need.”
Sentence: “He let the cat out of the bag and told everyone about the surprise party.”
Sentence: “She hit the nail on the head when she pointed out the problem in the report.”
Sentence: “It’s getting late, we should hit the road soon.”
Sentence: “She was feeling blue after her pet ran away.”
Sentence: “He was caught red-handed trying to steal the cookies.”
These sentences and their explanations should help you understand how idioms are used in everyday conversation.
Sentence: “Despite the numerous challenges we faced during the project, we finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel and successfully completed it.”
Sentence: “Even though the proposal was initially rejected, she kept her chin up and worked on improving it until it was eventually accepted.”
Sentence: “When the CEO announced the sudden change in company policy, it threw a wrench in the works of our carefully laid plans.”
Sentence: “Though he was known for his fiery temper, he decided to bury the hatchet and reconcile with his old friend after years of animosity.”
Sentence: “She knew that if she wanted to get ahead in her career, she would have to pull out all the stops and impress the new manager.”
Sentence: “In the heated debate, he suddenly changed his tune and started supporting the very policy he had previously criticized.”
Sentence: “Although the new regulations seemed to benefit only a few, they claimed it was a blessing in disguise for the long-term growth of the industry.”
Sentence: “As the discussion became more intense, it was clear that he had an axe to grind, bringing up past grievances unrelated to the topic at hand.”
Sentence: “Despite her financial difficulties, she decided to go out on a limb and invest in her friend’s startup, hoping it would pay off in the future.”
Sentence: “When the new director took over, he promised to get the ball rolling on several long-delayed projects, much to the relief of the staff.”
These complex sentences show how idioms can be integrated into more intricate structures, enhancing both the meaning and the stylistic quality of the language.
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A blessing in disguise (Commonly Used) | A good thing that seemed bad at first. | Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; it pushed me to pursue my passion. | Missing the flight turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the plane had technical issues. |
| A dime a dozen (Commonly Used) | Something very common and not valuable. | Cheap souvenirs are a dime a dozen in this tourist spot. | In the age of the internet, opinions are a dime a dozen. |
| A piece of cake (Commonly Used) | Something very easy to do. | The exam was a piece of cake for her. | Compared to the previous project, this one is a piece of cake. |
| A taste of your own medicine (Commonly Used) | Experiencing the same bad treatment that one has given to others. | After years of being a bully, he finally got a taste of his own medicine. | She always ignores my calls, so I gave her a taste of her own medicine by not responding. |
| Actions speak louder than words (Commonly Used) | What people do is more important than what they say. | He promised to help, but actions speak louder than words; he never showed up. | Actions speak louder than words, so let’s see if they actually implement the changes they talk about. |
| Add fuel to the fire | To make a bad situation worse. | His sarcastic comment only added fuel to the fire during the argument. | Don’t add fuel to the fire by bringing up past mistakes. |
| All bark and no bite | Someone who talks a lot but does not act on their words. | He threatens to quit every week, but he’s all bark and no bite. | She’s all bark and no bite; she won’t actually do anything. |
| All in the same boat (Commonly Used) | Everyone is facing the same situation or challenge. | During the pandemic, we were all in the same boat, facing similar difficulties. | Don’t worry, we’re all in the same boat and we’ll get through this together. |
| An arm and a leg (Commonly Used) | Very expensive. | That car costs an arm and a leg. | I want to buy a new phone, but they all cost an arm and a leg. |
| Apple of my eye (Commonly Used) | Someone who is cherished above all others. | Her grandson is the apple of her eye. | That little girl is the apple of her father’s eye. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back to the drawing board (Commonly Used) | To start something again from the beginning because it failed. | Our plan didn’t work out, so it’s back to the drawing board. | After the project was rejected, we had to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new idea. |
| Bite off more than you can chew (Commonly Used) | To take on a task that is too big. | He bit off more than he could chew by agreeing to finish the project in one week. | She realized she had bitten off more than she could chew with her ambitious plans. |
| Break the ice (Commonly Used) | To make people feel more comfortable in a social situation. | He told a joke to break the ice at the beginning of the meeting. | The team-building activities helped break the ice among the new employees. |
| Burn the midnight oil (Commonly Used) | To work late into the night. | She had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report on time. | I’ve been burning the midnight oil studying for the exams. |
| Barking up the wrong tree (Commonly Used) | To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action. | If you think I can help with the financial issues, you’re barking up the wrong tree. | He’s barking up the wrong tree if he thinks his complaints will change anything. |
| Beat around the bush (Commonly Used) | To avoid talking about what is important. | Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened. | Instead of beating around the bush, she explained the problem directly. |
| Bend over backwards | To make a great effort to help someone. | She bent over backwards to make sure we were comfortable. | He’ll bend over backwards to accommodate your schedule. |
| Between a rock and a hard place | Facing two difficult choices. | She was caught between a rock and a hard place, having to choose between her career and her family. | I’m between a rock and a hard place with this decision. |
| Blow off steam (Commonly Used) | To release pent-up energy or emotion. | He went for a run to blow off some steam after the argument. | Sometimes I need to blow off steam by playing video games. |
| Break the bank | To cost a lot of money. | The vacation didn’t break the bank because we found a good deal. | I’d love to buy a new car, but it would break the bank. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call it a day (Commonly Used) | To stop working on something, usually because you feel it is enough for the day. | We’ve been working on this project for hours; let’s call it a day. | After finishing the report, she decided to call it a day and go home. |
| Catch someone red-handed (Commonly Used) | To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong. | The thief was caught red-handed by the police. | She was caught red-handed cheating during the exam. |
| Cut corners (Commonly Used) | To do something in the easiest, cheapest, or fastest way. | If you cut corners on this project, the quality will suffer. | They often cut corners to save money, but it usually backfires. |
| Cross that bridge when you come to it (Commonly Used) | To deal with a problem only when it arises. | We don’t need to worry about that now; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. | Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it, instead of stressing about it now. |
| Cry over spilled milk (Commonly Used) | To be upset about something that cannot be undone. | It’s no use crying over spilled milk; what’s done is done. | Stop crying over spilled milk and focus on the solution. |
| Cut to the chase (Commonly Used) | To get to the point without wasting time. | Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the main issue. | She’s not one to waste time, so she always cuts to the chase. |
| Costs an arm and a leg (Commonly Used) | Very expensive. | That new smartphone costs an arm and a leg. | I’d love to buy a new car, but it costs an arm and a leg. |
| Curiosity killed the cat (Commonly Used) | Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble. | Don’t ask too many questions; curiosity killed the cat. | He learned the hard way that curiosity killed the cat when he got involved in things he shouldn’t have. |
| Clam up | To become silent suddenly. | He tends to clam up whenever he’s asked about his personal life. | She clammed up when the teacher asked her a difficult question. |
| Chew the fat | To chat in a leisurely way. | We spent the afternoon chewing the fat about old times. | It’s nice to just sit and chew the fat with friends. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don’t count your chickens before they hatch (Commonly Used) | Don’t assume something will happen before it does. | You shouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch; the deal isn’t finalized yet. | He was planning how to spend his bonus, but I told him not to count his chickens before they hatch. |
| Drop the ball (Commonly Used) | To make a mistake or fail to do something important. | I really dropped the ball on that project deadline. | She dropped the ball by not preparing for the meeting. |
| Drive someone up the wall (Commonly Used) | To make someone very irritated or angry. | Her constant complaining is driving me up the wall. | The loud music from the neighbors drove him up the wall. |
| Dig in your heels | To refuse to change your opinion or position. | He dug in his heels and refused to compromise on the issue. | Despite the criticism, she dug in her heels and stood by her decision. |
| Dog days (Commonly Used) | The hottest days of summer. | During the dog days of summer, we often stay indoors to keep cool. | The dog days are perfect for spending time at the beach. |
| Double-edged sword (Commonly Used) | Something that has both positive and negative effects. | Fame can be a double-edged sword; it brings attention but also invades privacy. | The new technology is a double-edged sword; it’s efficient but eliminates jobs. |
| Down to the wire | Until the last possible moment. | The negotiations went down to the wire, but they reached an agreement just in time. | It was down to the wire, but we managed to finish the project before the deadline. |
| Dressed to the nines | To be dressed very elegantly or stylishly. | She was dressed to the nines for the gala. | He always shows up to events dressed to the nines. |
| Devil’s advocate (Commonly Used) | Someone who argues a point they may not agree with to stimulate discussion. | I’ll play devil’s advocate to highlight potential issues with your plan. | By acting as the devil’s advocate, he helped us see the flaws in our argument. |
| Don’t cry wolf (Commonly Used) | Don’t raise a false alarm. | If you cry wolf too often, no one will believe you when there’s a real problem. | He learned not to cry wolf after his friends stopped responding to his fake emergencies. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eat your words (Commonly Used) | To admit that what you said was wrong. | He had to eat his words after the project succeeded. | She made a bold prediction but ended up eating her words when the opposite happened. |
| Elephant in the room (Commonly Used) | An obvious problem or issue that people avoid discussing. | The company’s financial troubles were the elephant in the room during the meeting. | We need to address the elephant in the room and talk about our declining sales. |
| Every cloud has a silver lining (Commonly Used) | There is something good in every bad situation. | Even after the setback, he believed every cloud has a silver lining. | Losing that job was tough, but every cloud has a silver lining; he found a better one soon after. |
| Early bird catches the worm (Commonly Used) | The person who takes the earliest action gets the advantage. | She always wakes up at 5 AM because she believes the early bird catches the worm. | If you want to get the best deals, remember that the early bird catches the worm. |
| Easier said than done (Commonly Used) | Something that is more difficult than it seems. | Quitting smoking is easier said than done. | It’s easier said than done to start a business from scratch. |
| Eat like a horse | To eat a lot of food. | He eats like a horse after a workout. | She was so hungry that she ate like a horse at dinner. |
| Every dog has its day (Commonly Used) | Everyone gets a chance eventually. | Don’t worry about the rejection; every dog has its day. | He may be struggling now, but every dog has its day. |
| Elbow grease (Commonly Used) | Hard physical work. | The old furniture looks new again after some elbow grease. | With a bit of elbow grease, we managed to clean the entire house. |
| Empty nest | The feeling of loneliness when children leave home. | She experienced empty nest syndrome after her children went to college. | With the kids off to university, they’re dealing with an empty nest. |
| Explore all avenues | To try every possible way to achieve something. | We need to explore all avenues before making a final decision. | The detectives explored all avenues to solve the case. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face the music (Commonly Used) | To accept the consequences of your actions. | He has to face the music for breaking the rules. | After failing the exam, she had to face the music and explain to her parents. |
| Fair and square (Commonly Used) | Honestly and according to the rules. | He won the competition fair and square. | They played fair and square and deserved the victory. |
| Feeling under the weather (Commonly Used) | Feeling slightly ill. | She’s feeling under the weather today and won’t be coming to work. | I’ve been feeling under the weather, so I’m going to rest at home. |
| Fit as a fiddle (Commonly Used) | In very good health. | At 80, he’s still fit as a fiddle. | She exercises regularly and is as fit as a fiddle. |
| Fly off the handle (Commonly Used) | To suddenly become very angry. | He flew off the handle when he heard the news. | She tends to fly off the handle over minor issues. |
| Fall on deaf ears (Commonly Used) | To be ignored or not noticed by others. | His suggestions often fall on deaf ears during meetings. | The warning fell on deaf ears, and the problem persisted. |
| Fish out of water (Commonly Used) | Someone who is uncomfortable in a particular situation. | He felt like a fish out of water at the formal dinner. | When she started her new job, she was a fish out of water. |
| Follow suit (Commonly Used) | To do the same thing as someone else. | When she started clapping, the rest of the audience followed suit. | The other companies are likely to follow suit with similar policies. |
| Fool’s gold | Something that appears valuable but is actually worthless. | His promises turned out to be fool’s gold. | The investment seemed promising but was ultimately fool’s gold. |
| Froze in his tracks | To suddenly stop moving due to fear or surprise. | He froze in his tracks when he saw the bear. | She froze in her tracks when she heard the unexpected news. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Give someone the cold shoulder (Commonly Used) | To ignore someone deliberately. | After the argument, she gave him the cold shoulder for days. | He felt hurt when his friends gave him the cold shoulder. |
| Go the extra mile (Commonly Used) | To make an extra effort to achieve something. | She always goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction. | If you want to succeed, you need to go the extra mile in your work. |
| Grin and bear it (Commonly Used) | To endure something unpleasant with good humor. | Even though he was in pain, he decided to grin and bear it. | She didn’t like the task, but she would just have to grin and bear it. |
| Get out of hand (Commonly Used) | To become uncontrollable. | The party started to get out of hand, so they called the police. | If we don’t address the issue now, it could get out of hand. |
| Give the benefit of the doubt (Commonly Used) | To believe someone is telling the truth even if it’s not certain. | I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt since he has never lied to me before. | She gave her colleague the benefit of the doubt regarding the missed deadline. |
| Go down in flames | To fail spectacularly. | Their business venture went down in flames due to poor planning. | His attempt to impress the audience went down in flames. |
| Get cold feet (Commonly Used) | To become nervous or anxious before a big event. | She got cold feet just before her wedding. | He was about to sign the contract but got cold feet at the last minute. |
| Go back to square one (Commonly Used) | To start over from the beginning. | The project was rejected, so we have to go back to square one. | They realized their approach was flawed and had to go back to square one. |
| Get the ball rolling (Commonly Used) | To start something. | Let’s get the ball rolling on this project by setting up a meeting. | She got the ball rolling by making the first donation. |
| Gut feeling (Commonly Used) | An instinctive feeling. | I have a gut feeling that this investment will pay off. | Trust your gut feeling when making important decisions. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit the nail on the head (Commonly Used) | To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem. | You hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the situation. | She hit the nail on the head when she pointed out the flaws in the plan. |
| Hold your horses (Commonly Used) | To wait and be patient. | Hold your horses, we’re not ready to leave yet. | He needs to hold his horses and think before making decisions. |
| Have a change of heart (Commonly Used) | To change one’s mind or feelings. | She had a change of heart and decided not to move away. | After talking to her friend, she had a change of heart about the job offer. |
| Hit the books (Commonly Used) | To study very hard. | I need to hit the books if I want to pass the exam. | He has been hitting the books all week for his finals. |
| Hit the sack (Commonly Used) | To go to bed. | I’m exhausted, it’s time to hit the sack. | After a long day, he decided to hit the sack early. |
| Heart of gold (Commonly Used) | To be very kind and generous. | She has a heart of gold, always helping those in need. | Despite his rough exterior, he has a heart of gold. |
| Hold the fort (Commonly Used) | To take care of a place or situation in someone’s absence. | Can you hold the fort while I’m on vacation? | She held the fort while her boss was away on business. |
| Hit the road (Commonly Used) | To leave or start a journey. | We need to hit the road if we want to reach on time. | They packed their bags and hit the road for a weekend getaway. |
| Have eyes in the back of your head | To be very aware of everything happening around you. | Teachers seem to have eyes in the back of their heads. | Parents need to have eyes in the back of their heads when watching their kids. |
| Head over heels (Commonly Used) | Completely in love. | They are head over heels in love with each other. | He fell head over heels for her the moment they met. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the nick of time (Commonly Used) | Just in time; at the last possible moment. | We finished the project in the nick of time. | The firefighters arrived in the nick of time to save the building. |
| It’s raining cats and dogs (Commonly Used) | It’s raining very heavily. | Don’t forget your umbrella; it’s raining cats and dogs outside. | We had to cancel our plans because it was raining cats and dogs. |
| In hot water (Commonly Used) | In trouble or in a difficult situation. | He found himself in hot water after missing the deadline. | She’s in hot water with her boss for not completing the report on time. |
| In the same boat (Commonly Used) | In the same situation, usually a bad or difficult one. | We’re all in the same boat, trying to make ends meet during the recession. | Don’t worry, you’re not alone; we’re in the same boat. |
| It takes two to tango (Commonly Used) | Both parties involved in a situation are responsible for it. | Don’t blame him alone for the argument; it takes two to tango. | Remember, it takes two to tango in any relationship problem. |
| In a nutshell (Commonly Used) | To summarize briefly. | In a nutshell, we need more funding to continue the project. | The report explained the issue in a nutshell. |
| In the dark (Commonly Used) | Uninformed; not knowing about something important. | We were kept in the dark about the changes in the project. | She felt in the dark about her own company’s future. |
| In a pickle | In a difficult or problematic situation. | He’s in a pickle now that he’s lost his job. | She found herself in a pickle when her car broke down. |
| If the shoe fits (Commonly Used) | If something applies to you, accept it. | I wasn’t calling you lazy, but if the shoe fits, wear it. | He didn’t like the criticism, but if the shoe fits, he should take it to heart. |
| In over your head (Commonly Used) | Involved in something that is too difficult to handle. | She realized she was in over her head when the project became too complex. | He’s in over his head with this new job. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jump on the bandwagon (Commonly Used) | To join others in doing something that is currently popular or fashionable. | Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon of eco-friendly products. | She jumped on the bandwagon and started a TikTok account. |
| Jump to conclusions (Commonly Used) | To make a decision or form an opinion without having all the facts. | Don’t jump to conclusions; let’s wait for the full report. | She jumped to conclusions and blamed him without knowing the whole story. |
| Just what the doctor ordered (Commonly Used) | Exactly what is needed or wanted. | This vacation is just what the doctor ordered. | The hot soup was just what the doctor ordered on a cold day. |
| Juggle multiple tasks | To handle several tasks at once. | She’s juggling multiple tasks at work and finding it stressful. | He had to juggle multiple tasks to meet the deadline. |
| Jump the gun (Commonly Used) | To start something too soon or ahead of the proper time. | They jumped the gun by announcing the product before it was ready. | She jumped the gun and started decorating before finalizing the theme. |
| Join forces | To work together with someone to achieve a common goal. | They joined forces to tackle the community issue. | The two companies joined forces to create a new product. |
| Jack of all trades | A person who can do many different types of work. | He’s a jack of all trades but master of none. | Being a jack of all trades, she can handle any task that comes her way. |
| Jog your memory | To help someone remember something. | Looking at old photos can jog your memory about past events. | Let me jog your memory: we met at last year’s conference. |
| Jump through hoops | To go through a lot of effort or difficulties to achieve something. | He had to jump through hoops to get the visa. | The application process is complex, requiring you to jump through many hoops. |
| Jot down (Commonly Used) | To write something quickly. | She jotted down the address on a piece of paper. | Let me jot down your phone number so I don’t forget. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep your chin up (Commonly Used) | To remain cheerful in a difficult situation. | Keep your chin up, things will get better soon. | Despite the setbacks, he kept his chin up and continued working hard. |
| Kill two birds with one stone (Commonly Used) | To achieve two things with a single action. | By taking the job, she killed two birds with one stone: she gained experience and earned money. | We can kill two birds with one stone by visiting the museum and the park since they are close to each other. |
| Kick the bucket | To die. | The old man kicked the bucket after a long illness. | When I’m gone, I hope I don’t just kick the bucket unnoticed. |
| Keep your fingers crossed (Commonly Used) | To hope that things will happen in the way you want them to. | I have a job interview tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed for me. | We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather stays nice for our picnic. |
| Knock on wood (Commonly Used) | To knock on wood to avoid bad luck after mentioning something good that has happened. | I’ve never been sick this year, knock on wood. | Our project is going smoothly so far, knock on wood. |
| Keep your nose to the grindstone | To work hard and continuously. | If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll finish the project on time. | He kept his nose to the grindstone and finally got the promotion he wanted. |
| Kick up a fuss | To create a disturbance or complain loudly. | She kicked up a fuss when her order was wrong. | If they don’t improve the service, customers will kick up a fuss. |
| Keep an eye on (Commonly Used) | To watch or monitor something or someone carefully. | Can you keep an eye on the soup while I answer the phone? | We need to keep an eye on our spending to stay within budget. |
| Know the ropes (Commonly Used) | To be familiar with the details or procedures of a task. | It takes a few weeks to really know the ropes at a new job. | She knows the ropes, so ask her if you have any questions. |
| Kick the habit (Commonly Used) | To stop doing something that is a habit, especially something bad. | He finally kicked the habit of smoking after ten years. | It’s hard to kick the habit of checking your phone frequently. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Let the cat out of the bag (Commonly Used) | To reveal a secret or a surprise by accident. | She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party. | I was trying to keep the plans a secret, but he let the cat out of the bag. |
| Leave no stone unturned (Commonly Used) | To do everything possible to achieve a goal. | The detectives left no stone unturned in their search for evidence. | We need to leave no stone unturned to find the best candidate for the job. |
| Let sleeping dogs lie (Commonly Used) | To avoid mentioning a subject that could cause trouble. | Don’t bring up old arguments; let sleeping dogs lie. | He decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not discuss the incident further. |
| Light at the end of the tunnel (Commonly Used) | A sign that a difficult period will end soon. | After months of hard work, we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. | The treatment was tough, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel now. |
| Lose your touch (Commonly Used) | To lose your ability or talent for doing something. | He seems to have lost his touch in cooking. | After being away from the sport for years, she felt she had lost her touch. |
| Long story short (Commonly Used) | To summarize briefly. | Long story short, we missed the flight because of traffic. | Long story short, they ended up getting married. |
| Look before you leap (Commonly Used) | To think carefully before taking action. | You should look before you leap when making such a big decision. | He didn’t look before he leaped, and now he’s in trouble. |
| Lose track of time (Commonly Used) | To be unaware of how much time has passed. | She lost track of time while reading and missed her appointment. | I lose track of time whenever I’m working on my hobbies. |
| Lend an ear | To listen carefully and sympathetically. | He’s always ready to lend an ear when someone has a problem. | Sometimes people just need someone to lend an ear and listen to them. |
| Let bygones be bygones (Commonly Used) | To forget about past disagreements or problems. | They decided to let bygones be bygones and move on. | It’s time to let bygones be bygones and forgive each other. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make a mountain out of a molehill (Commonly Used) | To exaggerate a small problem into something big. | She’s making a mountain out of a molehill by overreacting to that comment. | Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill; it’s just a minor mistake. |
| Miss the boat (Commonly Used) | To miss an opportunity. | He missed the boat on that investment deal. | I wanted to join the team, but I missed the boat and now they’re full. |
| Mum’s the word (Commonly Used) | To keep something a secret. | I won’t tell anyone about your surprise party; mum’s the word. | She told him to keep mum’s the word about their plans. |
| My two cents (Commonly Used) | To give one’s opinion or advice. | Let me give my two cents on the matter. | Here’s my two cents: I think you should take the job offer. |
| Make ends meet (Commonly Used) | To manage financially. | With the rising costs, it’s hard for many families to make ends meet. | She took a second job to make ends meet. |
| Mad as a hornet | Very angry. | He was mad as a hornet when he found out about the betrayal. | She got mad as a hornet when she realized her car had been towed. |
| Make a long story short (Commonly Used) | To summarize something. | To make a long story short, we decided to move to a new city. | She made a long story short and told us they broke up. |
| Make waves (Commonly Used) | To cause trouble or controversy. | He likes to make waves at meetings with his bold ideas. | She didn’t want to make waves, so she stayed quiet. |
| Move heaven and earth (Commonly Used) | To do everything possible to achieve something. | He’ll move heaven and earth to get the job done. | She moved heaven and earth to make sure her children had a good education. |
| Mouth-watering | Very delicious or appetizing. | The smell of the baking cookies was mouth-watering. | She prepared a mouth-watering feast for the guests. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nip it in the bud (Commonly Used) | To stop something at an early stage. | We need to nip this problem in the bud before it gets worse. | He decided to nip the rumors in the bud by addressing them directly. |
| No pain, no gain (Commonly Used) | You have to work hard for something to be successful. | He works out every day because he believes no pain, no gain. | Studying for hours might be tough, but no pain, no gain. |
| Not one’s cup of tea (Commonly Used) | Not something one likes or is interested in. | Horror movies are not my cup of tea. | She tried yoga but decided it wasn’t her cup of tea. |
| Nest egg | Savings set aside for future use. | They have a nest egg saved up for their retirement. | She started building a nest egg for her children’s education. |
| New lease on life (Commonly Used) | A fresh start or new enthusiasm for living. | After the surgery, he felt he had a new lease on life. | The new job gave her a new lease on life. |
| Nose to the grindstone (Commonly Used) | To work hard and continuously. | She kept her nose to the grindstone and finished the project ahead of schedule. | If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll achieve your goals. |
| Not the sharpest tool in the shed (Commonly Used) | Not very intelligent. | He’s a nice guy, but he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. | She made a silly mistake; she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. |
| Nuts and bolts | The basic, practical details of a task or subject. | Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of the project. | He explained the nuts and bolts of the process. |
| Nail in the coffin (Commonly Used) | An event that leads to the failure or end of something. | The final nail in the coffin was the company’s bankruptcy. | His constant lateness was the nail in the coffin for his job. |
| No strings attached (Commonly Used) | Without any special conditions or restrictions. | They offered me the loan with no strings attached. | I’ll help you with your project, no strings attached. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the ball (Commonly Used) | To be alert and aware of things. | She’s really on the ball and always knows what’s going on. | You need to be on the ball if you want to succeed in this fast-paced environment. |
| Once in a blue moon (Commonly Used) | Something that happens very rarely. | He visits his relatives once in a blue moon. | They only go to the beach once in a blue moon. |
| Out of the blue (Commonly Used) | Something that happens unexpectedly. | She called me out of the blue after years of no contact. | The decision to move came out of the blue. |
| Off the top of my head (Commonly Used) | Saying something without thinking about it much or checking the facts. | Off the top of my head, I’d say we have about 50 employees. | I can’t give you an exact number off the top of my head. |
| On cloud nine (Commonly Used) | Extremely happy. | She’s been on cloud nine since she got the job offer. | Winning the competition left him on cloud nine. |
| Over the moon (Commonly Used) | Extremely pleased or happy. | They were over the moon about their new house. | She was over the moon when she heard the news. |
| Out of hand (Commonly Used) | Out of control. | The situation got out of hand quickly. | If we don’t act now, things could get out of hand. |
| On thin ice (Commonly Used) | In a risky or precarious situation. | He’s on thin ice with his boss after missing the deadline. | You’re on thin ice if you continue to break the rules. |
| Open a can of worms (Commonly Used) | To create a situation that will cause trouble or be unpleasant. | Bringing up that topic at the meeting will open a can of worms. | He avoided discussing the issue to not open a can of worms. |
| Out of the frying pan and into the fire | To go from a bad situation to an even worse one. | When he changed jobs, he went out of the frying pan and into the fire. | She left one bad relationship only to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piece of cake (Commonly Used) | Something very easy to do. | The exam was a piece of cake for her. | Compared to the previous project, this one is a piece of cake. |
| Pull someone’s leg (Commonly Used) | To joke or tease someone. | Are you pulling my leg, or is there really a surprise party? | He likes to pull people’s legs, so don’t take him too seriously. |
| Play it by ear (Commonly Used) | To improvise or decide what to do as a situation develops. | Let’s play it by ear and see how the evening goes. | I’m not sure what time I’ll arrive; I’ll play it by ear. |
| Put all your eggs in one basket (Commonly Used) | To risk everything on a single venture. | Don’t put all your eggs in one basket; diversify your investments. | She put all her eggs in one basket by investing only in tech stocks. |
| Pull yourself together (Commonly Used) | To regain control of your emotions and behave calmly. | After hearing the news, she needed a moment to pull herself together. | He told her to pull herself together before the meeting. |
| Put the cart before the horse (Commonly Used) | To do things in the wrong order. | Planning the celebration before getting approval is putting the cart before the horse. | Don’t put the cart before the horse by deciding on the venue before setting a date. |
| Pull out all the stops (Commonly Used) | To do everything possible to achieve something. | They pulled out all the stops to make the event a success. | She pulled out all the stops to finish the project on time. |
| Pass the buck (Commonly Used) | To shift responsibility to someone else. | He’s always trying to pass the buck instead of taking responsibility. | The manager was known to pass the buck when things went wrong. |
| Put your foot in your mouth (Commonly Used) | To say something embarrassing or inappropriate. | He put his foot in his mouth by commenting on her weight. | She realized she had put her foot in her mouth when she mentioned the surprise party. |
| Penny for your thoughts (Commonly Used) | Asking someone what they are thinking about. | You’ve been quiet for a while—a penny for your thoughts? | He looked deep in thought, so she asked, “Penny for your thoughts?” |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queer the pitch | To spoil someone’s plans. | His interference queered the pitch for our negotiations. | They accused her of queering the pitch by revealing their strategy. |
| Quick on the draw | To be fast in understanding or reacting to a situation. | You need to be quick on the draw in this fast-paced job. | She’s quick on the draw when it comes to solving problems. |
| Quicker than a New York minute | Very fast. | She finished the project quicker than a New York minute. | He agreed to the proposal quicker than a New York minute. |
| Quid pro quo | A favor or advantage granted in return for something. | They agreed to a quid pro quo arrangement. | It was a quid pro quo deal where each party got what they wanted. |
| Quiet as a mouse (Commonly Used) | Very quiet. | The children were as quiet as mice during the movie. | He entered the room as quiet as a mouse. |
| Quit cold turkey (Commonly Used) | To stop doing something abruptly and completely. | He quit smoking cold turkey and hasn’t had a cigarette since. | She decided to quit drinking cold turkey. |
| Quality time (Commonly Used) | Time spent giving someone one’s full attention. | He makes sure to spend quality time with his family every weekend. | They enjoyed some quality time together during the holidays. |
| Queue up | To line up or wait in line. | People queued up to buy the new product. | We had to queue up for hours to get tickets. |
| Quick fix | A simple and temporary solution to a problem. | This is just a quick fix; we need a permanent solution. | The patch is a quick fix until we can replace the software. |
| Quaking in your boots | To be very frightened or nervous. | He was quaking in his boots before the presentation. | She felt like quaking in her boots when she saw the exam questions. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raining cats and dogs (Commonly Used) | Raining very heavily. | We couldn’t go outside because it was raining cats and dogs. | It’s raining cats and dogs, so don’t forget your umbrella. |
| Read between the lines (Commonly Used) | To understand the hidden meaning. | If you read between the lines, you’ll see that she’s not happy with the proposal. | Reading between the lines, I think he’s not telling us the whole story. |
| Ring a bell (Commonly Used) | To sound familiar. | That name rings a bell, but I can’t remember where I’ve heard it before. | His face rings a bell, but I can’t place him. |
| Rise and shine (Commonly Used) | Get out of bed and prepare for the day. | It’s time to rise and shine; we have a busy day ahead. | Rise and shine, sleepyhead! |
| Rock the boat (Commonly Used) | To do something that causes trouble or disturbs a stable situation. | He didn’t want to rock the boat by bringing up the controversial issue. | She tends to rock the boat with her bold ideas. |
| Run out of steam (Commonly Used) | To lose energy or enthusiasm. | After working all day, I ran out of steam and couldn’t finish the report. | The team ran out of steam by the end of the marathon. |
| Rub salt in the wound (Commonly Used) | To make a painful experience even more painful. | Losing the game was bad enough, but seeing their celebration rubbed salt in the wound. | Don’t rub salt in the wound by reminding her of her mistake. |
| Run of the mill (Commonly Used) | Ordinary or average; not special. | The movie was run of the mill, nothing extraordinary. | It was a run-of-the-mill performance, lacking any real excitement. |
| Raise the bar (Commonly Used) | To set a higher standard. | Her exceptional work has raised the bar for everyone else. | The new technology raises the bar for the entire industry. |
| Roll up your sleeves (Commonly Used) | To prepare to work hard. | It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get this project done. | He rolled up his sleeves and got to work on the repairs. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spill the beans (Commonly Used) | To reveal a secret. | She spilled the beans about the surprise party. | He accidentally spilled the beans during the conversation. |
| Sit on the fence (Commonly Used) | To be undecided or not to take sides in a dispute. | He’s sitting on the fence and hasn’t decided which team to support. | She sat on the fence during the debate, not wanting to offend anyone. |
| Steal someone’s thunder (Commonly Used) | To take attention away from someone else’s achievements. | She stole his thunder by announcing her promotion just before he could share his news. | He felt like his colleague stole his thunder during the presentation. |
| Speak of the devil (Commonly Used) | When the person you were talking about appears. | Speak of the devil, here comes John now. | We were just talking about her, and speak of the devil, she walked in. |
| Shake a leg | To hurry up. | We need to shake a leg if we don’t want to be late. | Shake a leg, or we’ll miss the train! |
| Skeletons in the closet (Commonly Used) | Hidden and shocking secrets. | Every family has a few skeletons in the closet. | He was worried that his skeletons in the closet might be exposed. |
| Straight from the horse’s mouth (Commonly Used) | Information directly from the original source. | I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth that they’re planning to merge. | She got the news straight from the horse’s mouth. |
| Stab someone in the back (Commonly Used) | To betray someone. | He stabbed his friend in the back by taking credit for his work. | She felt betrayed when her colleague stabbed her in the back. |
| Storm in a teacup | A lot of fuss over something unimportant. | Their argument was just a storm in a teacup. | Don’t worry about their quarrel; it’s just a storm in a teacup. |
| Sleep on it (Commonly Used) | To think about something overnight before making a decision. | I’m not sure about the offer; let me sleep on it. | He decided to sleep on it before giving his final answer. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The ball is in your court (Commonly Used) | It’s your decision or responsibility to take action. | I’ve done all I can; now the ball is in your court. | The offer is on the table, so the ball is in your court. |
| Take it with a grain of salt (Commonly Used) | To not take something too seriously. | Take his advice with a grain of salt; he doesn’t always get things right. | She told me the story, but I took it with a grain of salt. |
| Throw in the towel (Commonly Used) | To give up or admit defeat. | After trying for years, they finally threw in the towel. | He decided to throw in the towel after facing numerous obstacles. |
| Through thick and thin (Commonly Used) | To support someone in both good and bad times. | They’ve been together through thick and thin. | She promised to stay with him through thick and thin. |
| Tip of the iceberg (Commonly Used) | A small part of a much larger problem. | The issues we’ve discussed are just the tip of the iceberg. | The visible symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg of the underlying disease. |
| Time flies (Commonly Used) | Time passes very quickly. | Time flies when you’re having fun. | It’s hard to believe we’ve been here a week already; time flies. |
| Turn a blind eye (Commonly Used) | To ignore something and pretend not to see it. | The manager turned a blind eye to the minor infractions. | He decided to turn a blind eye to his friend’s mistake. |
| Throw caution to the wind (Commonly Used) | To take a risk and act recklessly. | She decided to throw caution to the wind and invest in the new startup. | They threw caution to the wind and went on an impromptu trip. |
| Tongue-in-cheek (Commonly Used) | Saying something jokingly or sarcastically. | His comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. | She made a tongue-in-cheek remark about the situation. |
| Two peas in a pod (Commonly Used) | Very similar, especially in appearance or behavior. | The twins are like two peas in a pod. | They’re best friends and as alike as two peas in a pod. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under the weather (Commonly Used) | Feeling sick or unwell. | She’s feeling under the weather, so she won’t be coming to work today. | He’s a bit under the weather and decided to stay home and rest. |
| Up in the air (Commonly Used) | Uncertain or undecided. | Our vacation plans are still up in the air. | Everything is up in the air until we get the final approval. |
| Use your noodle (Commonly Used) | To think or use your brain. | Come on, use your noodle and solve this puzzle. | You need to use your noodle to figure out the answer. |
| Under the radar (Commonly Used) | Not getting noticed or not attracting attention. | He kept his project under the radar until it was ready to be presented. | They tried to stay under the radar to avoid any scrutiny. |
| Until the cows come home (Commonly Used) | For a very long time. | You can argue until the cows come home, but I won’t change my mind. | He can talk about his favorite sports team until the cows come home. |
| Upset the apple cart (Commonly Used) | To cause trouble or spoil plans. | Let’s not upset the apple cart by changing the schedule now. | She upset the apple cart by revealing the surprise too early. |
| Under one’s breath (Commonly Used) | To speak quietly so that others cannot hear. | He muttered something under his breath as he walked away. | She complained under her breath, not wanting to cause a scene. |
| Up the ante (Commonly Used) | To increase the stakes or demands in a situation. | The company decided to up the ante by offering a better deal. | They upped the ante in the competition by adding a cash prize. |
| Under wraps (Commonly Used) | Kept secret or hidden. | The details of the project are still under wraps. | They kept the new product design under wraps until the official launch. |
| Upper hand (Commonly Used) | To have an advantage or control over a situation. | She has the upper hand in the negotiations. | He gained the upper hand by learning all the details of the deal. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanishing act | To disappear or go missing suddenly. | He pulled a vanishing act right before the bill arrived. | She did a vanishing act as soon as the work got tough. |
| Vanish into thin air (Commonly Used) | To disappear completely and without a trace. | The magician made the rabbit vanish into thin air. | The documents seem to have vanished into thin air. |
| Voice of reason | Someone who offers rational advice or opinions in a situation. | She was the voice of reason in the heated discussion. | During the crisis, his calm demeanor made him the voice of reason. |
| Variety is the spice of life (Commonly Used) | Differences and changes make life interesting. | Try something new; variety is the spice of life. | They say variety is the spice of life, so I’m learning a new language. |
| Vote of confidence | An expression of support or approval. | The manager gave him a vote of confidence by promoting him. | She received a vote of confidence from her colleagues. |
| Vicious circle | A complex problem where one trouble leads to another, creating a loop. | Poverty can lead to poor education, which in turn leads to poverty – it’s a vicious circle. | Breaking out of the vicious circle of debt is challenging. |
| Vent one’s spleen | To express anger. | He vented his spleen after the frustrating meeting. | She vented her spleen by yelling at her computer. |
| Vested interest (Commonly Used) | A personal interest or involvement in an enterprise. | He has a vested interest in the success of the project. | Her comments were biased due to her vested interest. |
| Vital signs | Indicators that show the state of something’s health or condition. | The patient’s vital signs are stable. | We need to monitor the vital signs of the economy. |
| Virtue is its own reward | Doing something good is rewarding in itself, without expecting anything in return. | Helping others gives me a sense of satisfaction; virtue is its own reward. | She volunteers at the shelter because she believes virtue is its own reward. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild goose chase (Commonly Used) | A futile or hopeless pursuit. | Trying to find that old document was like a wild goose chase. | He sent us on a wild goose chase, looking for information that didn’t exist. |
| When pigs fly (Commonly Used) | Something that will never happen. | He’ll apologize when pigs fly. | She’ll finish that project on time when pigs fly. |
| Wear your heart on your sleeve (Commonly Used) | To openly show your emotions. | She wears her heart on her sleeve and everyone knows when she’s upset. | He’s the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, so his feelings are always clear. |
| Water under the bridge (Commonly Used) | Something that happened in the past and is no longer important. | We had our disagreements, but that’s water under the bridge now. | Let’s not dwell on past mistakes; it’s all water under the bridge. |
| Word of mouth (Commonly Used) | Information spread by people talking to each other. | The restaurant became popular through word of mouth. | Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool. |
| Wipe the slate clean (Commonly Used) | To forget past disagreements or mistakes and start fresh. | They decided to wipe the slate clean and rebuild their friendship. | Let’s wipe the slate clean and move forward without any grudges. |
| Walking on eggshells (Commonly Used) | To be very cautious or careful around someone. | Ever since the argument, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around her. | He’s been walking on eggshells, trying not to upset his boss. |
| Win by a landslide (Commonly Used) | To win by a very large margin. | She won the election by a landslide. | The team won by a landslide, dominating the entire game. |
| Wolf in sheep’s clothing (Commonly Used) | Someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous. | Be careful of him; he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. | She seemed kind, but turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. |
| Work around the clock (Commonly Used) | To work continuously without stopping. | They worked around the clock to meet the deadline. | The doctors and nurses are working around the clock to care for the patients. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| X marks the spot | The exact location. | The treasure map showed that X marks the spot. | Follow the directions until you reach the place where X marks the spot. |
| X factor | A noteworthy special talent or quality. | Her singing has that X factor that makes her stand out. | The candidate had the X factor that the company was looking for. |
| X-rated | Not suitable for children; explicit content. | The movie was X-rated and not appropriate for a younger audience. | Some scenes were cut to avoid an X-rated classification. |
| X-ray vision | The ability to see through objects, often used metaphorically. | She has X-ray vision when it comes to spotting mistakes. | His attention to detail is like having X-ray vision. |
| Cross-examine | To question someone in detail, often to verify facts. | The lawyer cross-examined the witness during the trial. | She felt like she was being cross-examined during the interview. |
| Cross one’s heart (and hope to die) | A promise or vow to tell the truth. | I’ll help you, cross my heart. | He said he would be there on time, cross his heart and hope to die. |
| Cross to bear | A difficult responsibility or burden that someone has to deal with. | Caring for his ill mother is his cross to bear. | Everyone has their own cross to bear in life. |
| Ex marks the spot | An altered form of “X marks the spot,” used humorously when talking about past relationships or locations tied to ex-partners. | For her, ex marks the spot of too many bad memories. | He avoided that café because ex marks the spot. |
| Ex-factor | The lingering influence or impact of a past relationship or partner. | The ex-factor made it difficult for her to move on. | He couldn’t fully commit because of the ex-factor. |
| Ex-marksman | Someone who was once an excellent shooter but is no longer active. | The ex-marksman gave shooting lessons to beginners. | As an ex-marksman, he shared his experiences with the team. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| You can’t judge a book by its cover (Commonly Used) | Don’t judge someone or something based solely on appearance. | He may look unassuming, but you can’t judge a book by its cover. | The hotel looked old, but you can’t judge a book by its cover; it was very comfortable inside. |
| You reap what you sow (Commonly Used) | You get the results of your actions, good or bad. | If you work hard, you will succeed; you reap what you sow. | She’s realizing that you reap what you sow after neglecting her studies. |
| Your guess is as good as mine (Commonly Used) | I have no idea; I know as little as you do. | When will the train arrive? Your guess is as good as mine. | As for why she left, your guess is as good as mine. |
| You can’t have your cake and eat it too (Commonly Used) | You can’t have it both ways; you must choose between options. | He wants more responsibility but less work; you can’t have your cake and eat it too. | She wants to save money but also travel extensively—you can’t have your cake and eat it too. |
| You’re barking up the wrong tree (Commonly Used) | You’re looking in the wrong place or accusing the wrong person. | If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree. | They’re barking up the wrong tree if they expect him to confess. |
| You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink (Commonly Used) | You can offer someone an opportunity, but you can’t force them to take it. | I gave him the job lead, but he didn’t follow up; you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. | She provided all the resources, but they didn’t use them; you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. |
| You’re pulling my leg (Commonly Used) | You’re joking or teasing me. | Are you serious, or are you pulling my leg? | He said he won the lottery, but I think he’s pulling my leg. |
| You can’t please everyone (Commonly Used) | It’s impossible to satisfy everyone’s desires or expectations. | No matter what decision you make, you can’t please everyone. | She tried her best, but you can’t please everyone. |
| You’re in the driver’s seat (Commonly Used) | You’re in control of a situation. | With your new promotion, you’re in the driver’s seat. | He likes being in the driver’s seat and making decisions. |
| You’re on thin ice (Commonly Used) | You’re in a risky or dangerous situation. | After that mistake, you’re on thin ice with the boss. | She’s on thin ice after coming late to work multiple times. |
| Idioms (1 to 10) | Meaning | Sentence Example 1 | Sentence Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero in on (Commonly Used) | To focus closely on something. | The researchers zeroed in on the cause of the disease. | Let’s zero in on the main issues during the meeting. |
| Zip your lip (Commonly Used) | To stop talking; to keep quiet. | He told me to zip my lip during the negotiation. | Zip your lip about the surprise party! |
| Zigzag path | A route that is not straight or direct. | His career has followed a zigzag path with many changes in direction. | The hike followed a zigzag path up the mountain. |
| Zoned out (Commonly Used) | To lose focus or attention. | I zoned out during the long lecture. | She tends to zone out when she’s tired. |
| Zeal of the convert | Intense enthusiasm for something new, typically from someone newly introduced to it. | She approached her new fitness routine with the zeal of the convert. | His newfound interest in chess was pursued with the zeal of the convert. |
| Zero tolerance (Commonly Used) | No acceptance of certain behavior or actions. | The school has a zero tolerance policy for bullying. | The company practices zero tolerance for workplace harassment. |
| Zip past | To move very quickly. | The car zipped past us on the highway. | Time seems to zip past when you’re having fun. |
| Zany antics | Crazy or unusual behavior intended to be funny. | The clown’s zany antics amused the children. | His zany antics often lighten the mood at work. |
| Zilch (Commonly Used) | Nothing; zero. | I asked for his help, but he did zilch. | We found zilch evidence to support the theory. |
| Zenith of one’s career | The highest point or peak of one’s professional life. | Winning the award marked the zenith of her career. | He reached the zenith of his career with that groundbreaking discovery. |
Question: What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “under the weather” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “break the ice” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “hit the books” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “cost an arm and a leg” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “let the cat out of the bag” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “on cloud nine” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “hit the nail on the head” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “bite the bullet” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “kick the bucket” mean?
These quiz questions will help you test your understanding of common idioms and their meanings.
Question: What does the idiom “spill the beans” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “burn the midnight oil” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “jump on the bandwagon” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “beat around the bush” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “pull someone’s leg” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “through thick and thin” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “cut to the chase” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “the ball is in your court” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “barking up the wrong tree” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “hit the ground running” mean?
These medium difficulty quiz questions will help you further test your understanding of idioms and their meanings.
Question: What does the idiom “throw in the towel” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “get your ducks in a row” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “take with a grain of salt” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “leave no stone unturned” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “water under the bridge” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “burn bridges” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “beat a dead horse” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “jump the gun” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “take the bull by the horns” mean?
Question: What does the idiom “pull the wool over someone’s eyes” mean?
These advanced quiz questions will challenge learners to deepen their understanding of idioms and their nuanced meanings.
