Idioms
An idiom is a group of words, a saying, or a phrase with a symbolic rather than literal meaning that is widely recognized and used in everyday language. It is a form of artistic expression characteristic of a movement, period, individual, medium, or instrument.
An idiom’s figurative meaning is different from the literal definition of its individual words. They convey concepts that are difficult to grasp solely through word reading. For example, the phrase “when pigs fly” means something will never happen, a meaning that isn’t obvious without context or explanation.
Many different idioms exist, and people use them frequently in all languages. Translating them into other languages can be challenging because some meanings may be lost. Still, equivalents that fill in the gaps between languages exist. The English language has an unlimited number of idiomatic expressions.
Idiomatic expressions are the building blocks of civilization and language. They help language grow and evolve. The richness of such phrases makes communication dynamic and engaging. These colorful expressions add vivid imagery to everyday speech and offer fascinating insights into how words are used and what the speaker is thinking. There is a sense of fun and mystery about them.
Why are idiomatic expressions challenging?
They can be hard to understand because their meanings aren’t always clear right away. This is especially true for people learning English, since these expressions often have hidden or symbolic meanings. That’s why many learners find these kinds of phrases strange and confusing at first.
Top 10 Everyday Expressions
This is a list of ten unique English idioms and phrases used in America. Each entry includes its meaning and example sentence, making it a valuable resource for both teachers and students. These idiomatic expressions are often discussed by students in competitive exams. While the popularity of an idiom can vary from region to region, the ones in this list are widely recognized throughout the United States.
Meaning: a controversial issue or situation that is awkward to deal with.
Example: Addressing the issue of bullying in our school has become a hot potato. Read more ➺
Meaning: something that is easy to do
Example: Learning English is a piece of cake as long as you do it with our website. Read more ➺
Meaning: very rarely
Example: I go to visit my grandfather only once in a blue moon; he lives in a remote farm house. Read more ➺
Meaning: a person who argues the opposite side to test an idea.
Example: I don't actually disagree, but let me play devil's advocate to see if your plan can handle criticism. Read more ➺
Meaning: raining very heavily
Example: I wanted to go to play outside, but it was raining cats and dogs yesterday. Read more ➺
Meaning: something that will never happen or is impossible.
Example: William will keep quiet only when pigs fly. Read more ➺
Meaning: fake cry or insincere display of sadness.
Example: He shed crocodile tears after being caught cheating, pretending to be sorry. Read more ➺
Meaning: miss the chance.
Example: Peter wanted to enter the drawing competition, but he was too late to enter, and he missed the boat. Read more ➺
Meaning: someone very precious or dear
Example: Every kid in the world is the apple of their parents' eye(s). Read more ➺
Meaning: to stop talking
Example: I don't want to hear another sound out of you. Now do as you're told and zip your lip. Read more ➺
Download as PDF fileNew Phrases to Learn
Meaning: A promise of something good that is always said to come later but never actually arrives.
Example: After years of unkept political pledges, the people saw the new campaign as just jam tomorrow. Read more ➺
Meaning: Something or someone considered outstanding, admirable, or excellent.
Example: Everyone said the new café was the cat's meow after its grand opening; the pastries and music were perfect. Read more ➺
Meaning: Used to express pleasure or relief that someone or something unwanted has gone or ended.
Example: When the rude customer stormed out of the shop, the cashier muttered good riddance and smiled in relief. Read more ➺
Meaning: A very lucky person — someone who has unusually good fortune.
Example: He won the lottery and bought a new house—everyone in town called him lucky stiff. Read more ➺
Meaning: A drastic remedy or action that will either completely solve a problem or make it much worse.
Example: After months of poor sales, the company adopted a kill or cure strategy that would either save the business or destroy it. Read more ➺
Meaning: A late-night work period, typically covering midnight to early morning.
Example: She took the graveyard shift at the hospital so she could attend classes during the day. Read more ➺
Meaning: To have great or unexpected success or luck.
Example: After launching her online shop, she hit the jackpot when a celebrity endorsed her products. Read more ➺
Meaning: Something that looks attractive or promising but is impossible to reach or achieve.
Example: The dream of building a perfect society turned out to be a will-o'-the-wisp, always out of reach. Read more ➺
Meaning: To become successful or achieve great things in life or career.
Example: Everyone can see that Sarah is going places—her work always stands out. Read more ➺
straw that broke the camel’s back
Meaning: The final small problem or event that makes a situation unbearable.
Example: After endless delays and mistakes, the missed payment was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the workers went on strike. Read more ➺
View the complete list of all idiomatic phrases we have on our website. Read more ➺
