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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