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) | |
| run like the wind blows | to run very fast |
| slip one’s mind | to forget about something |
| free ride | something that is free |
| to fit like a round peg | to fit perfectly |
| pop the question | when a man asks a woman to marry him |
| up to par | standard quality |
| Life is a bitch | Life is unfair and bad |
| press the button | to make woman excited (slang) |
| wish on a star | to make a wish when a star is falling |
| big roll | a lot of money |
| feel boobs | touching female breasts |
| make an ass out of yourself | to make a fool out of yourself |
| give a go | to try something |
| set up on my own | to start own business, to become independent |
| force (someone’s) hand | to push somebody to do something he/she wouldn't normally do |
| child’s play | easy situation |
| don’t count your chickens | don't make planes before all circumstances are figured out |
| get back on one’s feet | regain control of one's life |
| leave to dead | to abandon somebody |
| hanky-panky | immoral, indecent and dishonest behavior |
| go nuts | to go crazy |
| be crazy about (someone) | to be strongly in love |
| there/here’s the rub | there is the problem |
| grasp for anything | trying every possible option |
| watch your language | be careful what you say |
| way too | too much |
| hood rat | promiscuous woman from a poor neighborhood |
| keep on leash | to control someone strictly |
| let the good times roll | to have a good time (usually sex) |
| way to go | used when something is the way it should be, expressing approval |
| to get laid | to have sex, copulation |
| shut one’s mouth | stop talking |
| pick up where we left off | to continue where the previous activity was stopped |
| high-roller (slang) | somebody who earns and spends a lot of money |
| whole way | everything |
| be in business | when something is operating OK |
| do the math | to calculate information in order to understand the situation |
| high-rolling person | person with high income |
| Goody Two-Shoes | extremely decent young girl |
| put your hands together for (someone) | to clap hands, to applause |
| out of left field | unexpectedly and surprisingly |
| before the year’s up | before the year ends |
| to scare the shit out of (somebody) | to make someone to be really frightened |
| for keep | permanently |
| jump off the page | to be significantly different from others |
| to be sick and tired | to be completely dissatisfied with some situation |
| to crush exams | to do very well on exams |
| dissecting the eye | to watch something with an extreme interest (slang) |
| hop in the sack | to start having a sexual pleasure |
| old bag | grumpy old woman |
| big time | when emphasizing a level of a situation |
| let (somebody) off the hook | to forgive, relieve or to free somebody from the responsibility |
| rumor has it | story or information that people are talking about |
| kill the vibe | to destroy a good atmosphere |
| in one’s power | when someone has the ability to do something, in one’s hands |
| take a dump | to defecate (slang) |
| give a shot | to try something again (one more time) |
| make a stand | to express a strong opinion and make an effort to achieve a desired outcome |
| keep plugging | to keep trying and making effort |
| keep your chin up | to remain in good spirit in difficult situation |
| cerebral stud | highly intelligent man |
| to have guts | to have a courage for some task |
| Don’t get flip with me! | Don't be insolent! |
| to suck at something | to have very poor knowledge of something |
| be on the table | another alternative that may be considered |
| hot girl | pretty and sexy girl |
| no strings attached | some activity (usually relationship) where nothing is expected in return or no official attachment |
| make it | to survive |
| shit the bed | to fail at something |
| make a killing | to have a huge success |
| live out of a suitcase | to live only temporarily in many different locations |
| crock of shit | complete nonsense |
| to be cool (with somebody) | not having any problem (with somebody) |
| be on (something) | working on something |
| one-night stand | sexual relationship for one night |
| hit the head | to go to the toilet to pee (slang) |
| cover the shift | when somebody works instead of other employee |
| keep in dark | to keep secret, not to tell |
| hell of a lot | huge amount of something |
| blow out of the water | to be much better in something than anybody else |
| to have second thoughts | to be uncertain and undecided |
| eat (somebody’s) head off | to attack verbally (slang) |
| in a good shape | in good physical condition |
| three sheets to the wind | drunk |
| say the word | ask for something (favor) |
| no rush | no need to hurry |
| long shot | something that has only small chance of success |
| to be put together | elegant |
| sea legs | ability to keep balance on a ship |
| drive crazy | to irritate somebody or make him/her angry |
| in a row | constantly without interruption |
| dirty-talk | vulgar talk, especially about sex |
| seeing somebody | to date somebody |
| sausage fest | party with the majority of male participants |
| be off something | to be out of some activity |
| at own peril | at own risk |
| off the beaten track/path | away from typical tourist areas |
| doom and gloom | very negative outlook, end of the world |
| to be cool (with somebody) | not having any problem (with somebody) |
| get in the sack | to have a sexual affair |
| lose (one’s) mind | go crazy, to lose control of emotions |
| put on hold | to pause the communication |
| buy more time | to make more time available |
| roll over in grave | when someone who has already died would be strongly disappointed about what is happening |
| cheeseball lines | rather stupid or corny talk |
| to have balls | to have courage |
| set for life | to have enough money for the rest of life |
| final score | the last successful robbery |
| be fine and dandy | to be OK and well |
| big fish | important person |