Idioms
An idiom is a group of words, a saying, or a phrase with a symbolic rather than literal meaning that is widely recognized and used in everyday language. It is a form of artistic expression characteristic of a movement, period, individual, medium, or instrument.
An idiom’s figurative meaning is different from the literal definition of its individual words. They convey concepts that are difficult to grasp solely through word reading. For example, the phrase “when pigs fly” means something will never happen, a meaning that isn’t obvious without context or explanation.
Many different idioms exist, and people use them frequently in all languages. Translating them into other languages can be challenging because some meanings may be lost. Still, equivalents that fill in the gaps between languages exist. The English language has an unlimited number of idiomatic expressions.
Idiomatic expressions are the building blocks of civilization and language. They help language grow and evolve. The richness of such phrases makes communication dynamic and engaging. These colorful expressions add vivid imagery to everyday speech and offer fascinating insights into how words are used and what the speaker is thinking. There is a sense of fun and mystery about them.
Why are idiomatic expressions challenging?
They can be hard to understand because their meanings aren’t always clear right away. This is especially true for people learning English, since these expressions often have hidden or symbolic meanings. That’s why many learners find these kinds of phrases strange and confusing at first.
Top 10 Everyday Expressions
This is a list of ten unique English idioms and phrases used in America. Each entry includes its meaning and example sentence, making it a valuable resource for both teachers and students. These idiomatic expressions are often discussed by students in competitive exams. While the popularity of an idiom can vary from region to region, the ones in this list are widely recognized throughout the United States.
Meaning: a controversial issue or situation that is awkward to deal with.
Example: Addressing the issue of bullying in our school has become a hot potato. Read more ➺
Meaning: something that is easy to do
Example: Learning English is a piece of cake as long as you do it with our website. Read more ➺
Meaning: very rarely
Example: I go to visit my grandfather only once in a blue moon; he lives in a remote farm house. Read more ➺
Meaning: a person who argues the opposite side to test an idea.
Example: I don't actually disagree, but let me play devil's advocate to see if your plan can handle criticism. Read more ➺
Meaning: raining very heavily
Example: I wanted to go to play outside, but it was raining cats and dogs yesterday. Read more ➺
Meaning: something that will never happen or is impossible.
Example: William will keep quiet only when pigs fly. Read more ➺
Meaning: fake cry or insincere display of sadness.
Example: He shed crocodile tears after being caught cheating, pretending to be sorry. Read more ➺
Meaning: miss the chance.
Example: Peter wanted to enter the drawing competition, but he was too late to enter, and he missed the boat. Read more ➺
Meaning: someone very precious or dear
Example: Every kid in the world is the apple of their parents' eye(s). Read more ➺
Meaning: to stop talking
Example: I don't want to hear another sound out of you. Now do as you're told and zip your lip. Read more ➺
Download as PDF fileNew Phrases to Learn
Meaning: A good final result makes the earlier problems unimportant.
Example: After days of stressful revisions, the book launch was a success—all's well that ends well. Read more ➺
Meaning: A cheap, low-quality, or worthless person or thing.
Example: The two-bit crooks thought they could fool everyone, but the police caught them within minutes. Read more ➺
Meaning: To reveal your true position, intentions, or opinions after hiding them.
Example: The adviser decided to break cover and admit he had been guiding the project from the start. Read more ➺
Meaning: Something small-time or insignificant.
Example: The investors dismissed the proposal as a rinky-dink idea that wasn't worth funding. Read more ➺
Meaning: To shake hands and welcome people in a friendly, public, or political manner.
Example: When the senator arrived, he began to glad-hand supporters, hoping to win their votes. Read more ➺
Meaning: To abandon someone who needs help, leaving them in a difficult or helpless situation.
Example: When the project got complicated, he leave in the lurch his teammates by disappearing for two days. Read more ➺
Meaning: A question that suggests or pushes the respondent toward a specific answer.
Example: The lawyer asked a leading question that practically told the witness what to say. Read more ➺
Meaning: To try to fall asleep by imagining and counting sheep jumping one after another.
Example: When anxiety kept him awake, he began counting sheep to settle his mind and fall asleep. Read more ➺
Meaning: To meet expectations or be as good as people hoped.
Example: The new movie didn't live up to the excitement created by the trailers. Read more ➺
Meaning: A person who wakes up very easily, even from small sounds or movement.
Example: As a light sleeper, she woke up the second the dog barked outside. Read more ➺
View the complete list of all idiomatic phrases we have on our website. Read more ➺
