English idioms with meaning and examples: 40 common ones, by situation
An idiom is a fixed phrase whose meaning is different from its words: “break the ice” has nothing to do with ice. Native speakers use idioms all the time, so you need to understand them, and a few help you sound natural. Here are 40 common idioms grouped by the situation you hear them in, each with a spoken example, and a guide to using them well.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 9 min read
On this page
40 common English idioms by situation
Work and study
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hit the books | start studying hard | “I can’t come out tonight; I have to hit the books.” |
| burn the midnight oil | work late into the night | “We burned the midnight oil to finish the report.” |
| get the ball rolling | start something | “Let’s get the ball rolling with a quick introduction.” |
| on the same page | in agreement or sharing understanding | “Before we start, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.” |
| back to square one | starting again from the beginning | “The client rejected the design, so we’re back to square one.” |
| think outside the box | think in a new, creative way | “We need to think outside the box to solve this.” |
| a piece of cake | very easy | “The exam was a piece of cake.” |
| cut corners | do something badly to save time or money | “Don’t cut corners on safety.” |
| go the extra mile | make more effort than expected | “She always goes the extra mile for customers.” |
| call it a day | stop working for the day | “It’s late. Let’s call it a day.” |
Feelings and opinions
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| over the moon | extremely happy | “She was over the moon about the news.” |
| under the weather | slightly ill | “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.” |
| on cloud nine | very happy | “He’s been on cloud nine since the wedding.” |
| down in the dumps | sad | “He’s been down in the dumps since he lost his job.” |
| get cold feet | become too nervous to do something | “He got cold feet before the interview.” |
| a blessing in disguise | something that seems bad but turns out good | “Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.” |
| hit the nail on the head | say exactly what is right | “You hit the nail on the head with that comment.” |
| sit on the fence | refuse to choose a side | “You can’t sit on the fence forever.” |
| drive someone up the wall | annoy someone very much | “This noise is driving me up the wall.” |
| in two minds | unable to decide | “I’m in two minds about moving abroad.” |
Money and time
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cost an arm and a leg | be very expensive | “That phone cost an arm and a leg.” |
| break the bank | cost too much money | “A small treat won’t break the bank.” |
| a dime a dozen | very common and not special | “Cheap souvenirs are a dime a dozen here.” |
| pay through the nose | pay far too much | “We paid through the nose for the hotel.” |
| save for a rainy day | keep money for difficult times | “I’m trying to save for a rainy day.” |
| once in a blue moon | very rarely | “We only eat out once in a blue moon.” |
| at the eleventh hour | at the very last moment | “They finished the project at the eleventh hour.” |
| time flies | time passes quickly | “Time flies when you’re having fun.” |
| in the nick of time | just in time | “We arrived in the nick of time.” |
| better late than never | it is better to do something late than not at all | “He apologised a week later. Better late than never.” |
People and communication
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| break the ice | start a conversation in an awkward situation | “A joke is a good way to break the ice.” |
| spill the beans | reveal a secret | “Who spilled the beans about the surprise party?” |
| beat around the bush | avoid saying the main thing | “Stop beating around the bush and tell me.” |
| bite your tongue | stop yourself from saying something | “I had to bite my tongue during the meeting.” |
| let the cat out of the bag | reveal a secret by mistake | “He let the cat out of the bag about the move.” |
| speak of the devil | said when the person you were talking about appears | “Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you.” |
| get along like a house on fire | become friends very quickly | “My sister and my new roommate get along like a house on fire.” |
| the last straw | the final problem that makes you lose patience | “When he was late again, it was the last straw.” |
| keep an eye on | watch carefully | “Can you keep an eye on my bag?” |
| a shoulder to cry on | someone who listens to your problems | “She was a shoulder to cry on when I needed it.” |
How to use idioms when speaking
- Check the register. Most idioms are informal. They are fine in conversation, but avoid them in formal emails and academic writing.
- Learn the whole phrase, including the preposition: “on the same page”, “in two minds”, “at the eleventh hour”.
- Change only the grammar: “She broke the ice”, “They’re beating around the bush”. Don’t replace words.
- Use them naturally, where a plain sentence would also work: “The exam was a piece of cake”, not a forced “It is as easy as a piece of cake”.
- Don’t use too many. One idiom in a short answer sounds fluent. Three in a row sounds memorised.
- Check the culture. Some idioms exist only in British, American or Australian English. If you are unsure, ask or check a dictionary.
Idioms in IELTS and other speaking tests
Examiners assess “lexical resource”, which includes using less common vocabulary naturally and accurately. A well-placed idiom can help, but an idiom used wrongly, or forced into every answer, can hurt. A good rule: only use an idiom you have heard in context and can use in a real sentence.
| Instead of… | Natural idiom (if it fits) |
|---|---|
| It was very easy. | It was a piece of cake. |
| I was extremely happy. | I was over the moon. |
| It happens rarely. | It happens once in a blue moon. |
| It cost a lot. | It cost an arm and a leg. |
| I felt too nervous to continue. | I got cold feet. |
For more speaking practice, see IELTS cue cards with a timer and IELTS speaking topics.
A 5-minute routine to remember idioms
- Pick 4 idioms from one group above.
- Write one true sentence about your own life for each (“I got cold feet before my first presentation.”).
- Say them aloud in a short story and record it.
- Use each one in a real conversation within two days, then review after a week.
Idioms often come with phrasal verbs, slang and proverbs. See phrasal verbs with meaning and examples, English slang words and English proverbs with meaning. To try them in conversation, use an AI tutor.
Frequently asked questions
What is an idiom in English?
An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of its separate words. For example, “break the ice” means to start a conversation in an awkward situation, not to break real ice.
What are some common English idioms?
Common ones include “a piece of cake” (very easy), “under the weather” (slightly ill), “break the ice” (start a conversation), “once in a blue moon” (very rarely) and “cost an arm and a leg” (very expensive).
What is the difference between an idiom and a proverb?
An idiom is a phrase with a figurative meaning that fits into a sentence (“spill the beans”). A proverb is a short saying that gives advice or a general truth (“Actions speak louder than words”).
Can I use idioms in formal writing?
Usually not. Idioms are mostly informal, so in academic essays and formal emails, use plain, precise language. Idioms are more suitable for conversation.
How many idioms should I learn?
Start with 30 to 50 common ones, learned in groups with example sentences. It is better to use a few correctly than to know a long list you cannot use.
Can I change the words of an idiom?
You can change tense and pronouns (“She broke the ice”), but you should not change the key words, because the meaning depends on the fixed form.
Try idioms in a real conversation
Talk with an AI tutor and practise using idioms naturally, with feedback on your English. Free for 3 days.
Start your free trial