Common Idioms Used in English
Idiom |
Meaning |
a blessing in disguise |
some good that may come from an otherwise bad event |
bark up the wrong tree |
addressing the wrong issue or pursuing the wrong course of action |
beat around the bush |
talking but not addressing the main issue or question |
bend over backward for someone |
to go to extraordinary lengths to accommodate someone |
bite the bullet |
do something difficult that you have been avoiding but know needs doing |
break the ice |
put people at ease after a tense moment |
call it a day |
stop after a period of work often expecting to start again the next day |
cut corners |
miss out steps for quickness when doing a task, hoping their absence won't matter |
don't burn any bridges |
avoid destroying a relationship with the future in mind |
don't judge a book by its cover |
something or someone may be quite different from initial observation after a closer look |
fit as a fiddle |
very healthy |
get a taste of your own medicine |
suffer the same consequences as you have created for others |
give someone the cold shoulder |
ignore someone on purpose |
go back to the drawing board |
stop, rethink, and restart from the beginning |
having bigger fish to fry |
having things that are more important or rewarding than what is being discussed |
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Idiom |
Meaning |
kill two birds with one stone |
achieve two outcomes with a single action |
let the cat out of the bag |
tell a secret, perhaps inadvertently |
like a fish out of the water |
uncomfortable and performing poorly |
live and learn |
make a mistake but learn from it |
miss the boat |
be late for something that is now beyond you |
on thin ice |
a risky or perilous position |
play devil's advocate |
argue the opposite case, either to examine it closer or just to have an argument |
rain on someone's parade |
do or say something that diminishes another's achievement |
save for a rainy day |
keep something for use later when it might be more needed |
straight from the horse’s mouth |
to hear from whoever witnessed or participated in the event |
the ball is in your court |
you need to respond before the matter progresses |
the devil is in the details |
something may look good but, until specific details are known, may not be |
to be as right as rain |
to feel very well and healthy |
under the weather |
to feel unwell or sick (but not very) |
wouldn’t hurt a fly |
someone who is gentle and never aggressive |
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