English idioms – the main ingredient of advanced English
DEFINITION:
Idioms are informal phrases where the meaning of the whole phrase cannot be understood from individual words. By another definition, idioms are phrases or expressions that usually have a figurative meaning.
Idioms with examples
You should always learn English idioms in examples from real-life sentences and situations.
Why?
Beacuse this way you will learn them faster and you will remember them better.
In every language, there are thousands of idioms and idiomatic expressions. In English, we have approximately twenty-five thousand (25,000) idioms.
Yes, that’s a huge number – therefore you will probably never learn them all.
But don’t get frustrated!
Several hundred of the most common and frequently used English idioms with examples are covered and explained on these pages 🙂
Our extensive list of idioms and phrases (scroll down) is extracted from English and American movies. So you can click on each phrase or idiom and see the whole sentence.
Some examples of commonly used idioms
This is a quick list with examples of my favorite English idioms and their meaning:
| IDIOM | MEANING |
| • ring a bell | when somebody looks familiar or something sounds familiar |
| • catch some rays | spending time sunbathing |
| • no brainer | situation when a decision is absolutely clear and doesn’t require any thinking |
| • cut corners | doing something easier way in order to save time, money or effort |
| • bite the bullet | to face a difficult situation with courage |
| • to have a beef with somebody | to have a personal problem with somebody |
| • cut the crap | frequently used phrase if you want to stop somebody who is talking complete nonsense |
| • blow out of the water | completely defeat or destroy somebody or win in certain situation |
| • keep in the dark | to be secretive and keep somebody uninformed about some facts |
| • high roller | person who earns and spends a lot of money |
| • to be on cloud nine | when somebody is extremely happy and satisfied |
Why should you learn English idioms?
Learning idioms can be fun – especially when you compare the meaning of an English idiom to a similar phrase in your native language.
Understanding and using English idioms is a sign of your proficiency and advanced knowledge of English. In addition to sounding “more native”, you will also have better understanding of your favorite movies and TV shows.
For example, if you use some explicit (= vulgar, inappropriate) idioms in a formal conversation (like with your employer), that would probably not be a good idea! The same applies in the opposite situation. Using too formal and polite idioms in an informal environment would also be rather inappropriate.
So in order to learn English idioms correctly, our website offers a lot of context. As a result, you will gain confidence to use them properly.
Our 2-step method:
In order to help you to understand correctly when somebody uses an idiom in a speech or conversation, we have created a concept based on examples from movies.
As you probably know, you can hear lots of idioms in American movies and TV shows.
The method is very simple, yet very effective.
STEP 1. Listen to idioms in short video samples in real-life situations
These are the examples of idioms that you will certainly hear in many conversations with English speakers on a daily basis.
So the best way to master them is to learn them in context in real sentences. And I am pretty sure that the best context is your favorite movie or TV show 🙂
STEP 2. Practice them in short exercises
Collocations | Idioms | Phrasal verbs | Words
LIST OF IDIOMS WITH MEANINGS
| (110 terms) | |
| blow out of the water | to be much better in something than anybody else |
| feel boobs | touching female breasts |
| kill the vibe | to destroy a good atmosphere |
| cover the shift | when somebody works instead of other employee |
| make a stand | to express a strong opinion and make an effort to achieve a desired outcome |
| no rush | no need to hurry |
| set for life | to have enough money for the rest of life |
| to suck at something | to have very poor knowledge of something |
| seeing somebody | to date somebody |
| don’t count your chickens | don't make planes before all circumstances are figured out |
| before the year’s up | before the year ends |
| at own peril | at own risk |
| old bag | grumpy old woman |
| to be cool (with somebody) | not having any problem (with somebody) |
| big time | when emphasizing a level of a situation |
| give a shot | to try something again (one more time) |
| Don’t get flip with me! | Don't be insolent! |
| be crazy about (someone) | to be strongly in love |
| keep your chin up | to remain in good spirit in difficult situation |
| get in the sack | to have a sexual affair |
| hot girl | pretty and sexy girl |
| be on (something) | working on something |
| put on hold | to pause the communication |
| make it | to survive |
| long shot | something that has only small chance of success |
| hanky-panky | immoral, indecent and dishonest behavior |
| take a dump | to defecate (slang) |
| high-rolling person | person with high income |
| be off something | to be out of some activity |
| force (someone’s) hand | to push somebody to do something he/she wouldn't normally do |
| keep plugging | to keep trying and making effort |
| set up on my own | to start own business, to become independent |
| there/here’s the rub | there is the problem |
| big fish | important person |
| hell of a lot | huge amount of something |
| cerebral stud | highly intelligent man |
| roll over in grave | when someone who has already died would be strongly disappointed about what is happening |
| be in business | when something is operating OK |
| get back on one’s feet | regain control of one's life |
| wish on a star | to make a wish when a star is falling |
| in one’s power | when someone has the ability to do something, in one’s hands |
| to crush exams | to do very well on exams |
| be fine and dandy | to be OK and well |
| final score | the last successful robbery |
| three sheets to the wind | drunk |
| pop the question | when a man asks a woman to marry him |
| sea legs | ability to keep balance on a ship |
| slip one’s mind | to forget about something |
| to be put together | elegant |
| live out of a suitcase | to live only temporarily in many different locations |
| crock of shit | complete nonsense |
| put your hands together for (someone) | to clap hands, to applause |
| in a row | constantly without interruption |
| let (somebody) off the hook | to forgive, relieve or to free somebody from the responsibility |
| for keep | permanently |
| leave to dead | to abandon somebody |
| high-roller (slang) | somebody who earns and spends a lot of money |
| pick up where we left off | to continue where the previous activity was stopped |
| run like the wind blows | to run very fast |
| keep in dark | to keep secret, not to tell |
| to fit like a round peg | to fit perfectly |
| hood rat | promiscuous woman from a poor neighborhood |
| keep on leash | to control someone strictly |
| to scare the shit out of (somebody) | to make someone to be really frightened |
| way too | too much |
| to be cool (with somebody) | not having any problem (with somebody) |
| do the math | to calculate information in order to understand the situation |
| drive crazy | to irritate somebody or make him/her angry |
| to get laid | to have sex, copulation |
| rumor has it | story or information that people are talking about |
| eat (somebody’s) head off | to attack verbally (slang) |
| up to par | standard quality |
| out of left field | unexpectedly and surprisingly |
| hop in the sack | to start having a sexual pleasure |
| to have guts | to have a courage for some task |
| one-night stand | sexual relationship for one night |
| free ride | something that is free |
| in a good shape | in good physical condition |
| be on the table | another alternative that may be considered |
| child’s play | easy situation |
| dissecting the eye | to watch something with an extreme interest (slang) |
| let the good times roll | to have a good time (usually sex) |
| Life is a bitch | Life is unfair and bad |
| to have balls | to have courage |
| press the button | to make woman excited (slang) |
| go nuts | to go crazy |
| make an ass out of yourself | to make a fool out of yourself |
| watch your language | be careful what you say |
| whole way | everything |
| off the beaten track/path | away from typical tourist areas |
| jump off the page | to be significantly different from others |
| grasp for anything | trying every possible option |
| no strings attached | some activity (usually relationship) where nothing is expected in return or no official attachment |
| lose (one’s) mind | go crazy, to lose control of emotions |
| sausage fest | party with the majority of male participants |
| make a killing | to have a huge success |
| doom and gloom | very negative outlook, end of the world |
| Goody Two-Shoes | extremely decent young girl |
| buy more time | to make more time available |
| dirty-talk | vulgar talk, especially about sex |
| to have second thoughts | to be uncertain and undecided |
| say the word | ask for something (favor) |
| give a go | to try something |
| shit the bed | to fail at something |
| big roll | a lot of money |
| way to go | used when something is the way it should be, expressing approval |
| shut one’s mouth | stop talking |
| cheeseball lines | rather stupid or corny talk |
| hit the head | to go to the toilet to pee (slang) |
| to be sick and tired | to be completely dissatisfied with some situation |