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