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