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Idioms - English Language, Lecture notes of English Literature

Angeles University (AU)English Literature

This will honestly help to your studies and I do hope you'll enjoy reading this file.

Typology: Lecture notes

2022/2023

Uploaded on 07/30/2023

arnold-balobal
arnold-balobal 🇵🇭

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100 Common Idioms Native Speakers
Use
1. To play something by ear - To make decisions in
the moment, rather than planning in advance.
Ex/ What should we do this weekend? Let’s just play it
by ear!
2. To be all ears - To be ready and willing to listen
closely.
Ex/ Do you have a minute to discuss the project? I’m all
ears!
3. To wake up on the wrong side of the bed - To
wake up in a bad mood. To be grumpy first
thing in the morning.
Ex/ What would you like for breakfast honey?
Ah who cares. I’m not hungry. Where’s my phone?
Gees, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed
today!
4. To Wing Something - To perform or speak
without preparing in advance.
Ex/ You shouldn’t wing your IELTS speaking exam. You
should be well prepared!
5. To make a mountain out of a molehill - To
make a small issue or mistake seem like a
serious problem.
Ex/ You only got one question wrong. Don’t make a
mountain out of a molehill.
6. To be at a crossroads - Used when you have to
make a very important decision that impacts
your life.
Ex/ I’m not sure if I want to be a graphic designer
anymore. I’m at a crossroads.
7. To rain cats and dogs - To rain heavily.
Ex/ Did it rain yesterday? It rained cats and dogs!
8. To be on top of the world - To be really happy.
Ex/ Congrats on the new promotion. You must be on
top of the world!
9. To give someone the cold shoulder - To ignore
someone (on purpose).
Ex/ Why are you giving me the cold shoulder?
10. To sit on the fence - To delay making a decision.
Ex/ I asked my boss for a raise but he’s sitting on the
fence.
11. To hit the nail on the head - To describe exactly
what caused a problem, issue or situation.
Ex/ You hit the nail on the head when you suggested we
need to reduce our costs.
12. To be fit as a fiddle - To be in great health.
Ex/ Eating more vegetables has really helped. Now I’m
as fit as a fiddle!
13. To get something out of your system - To do
the thing you’ve been wanting to do so you can
move on.
Ex/ Just go skydiving once so you can get it out of your
system!
14. Speak of the devil - Used when the person you
were talking about appears at that exact
moment.
Ex/ I’m not sure if Greg is coming to the party tonight.
(PHONE RINGS AND IT’S GREG) Well speak of the devil!
We were just talking about you!
15. To give someone the benefit of the doubt - To
trust what someone says.
Ex/ He said he’s stuck in traffic. Let’s give him the
benefit of the doubt.
16. No pain, no gain - If you want results, you need
to work hard and get uncomfortable.
Ex/ Public speaking can be scary. But no pain, no gain!
17. Hang in there - Used to say don’t give up.
Ex/ I know learning a language is hard, but hang in
there!
18. A penny for your thoughts - A way of asking
what someone is thinking.
Ex/ You look concerned. A penny for your thoughts?
19. It’s not rocket science - Used to say that it’s not
complicated.
Ex/ Becoming a confident English speaker isn’t rocket
science!
20. To let someone off the hook - To not punish
someone for a mistake or wrongdoing.
Ex/ I know you came in late today, but I’ll let you off the
hook just this once!
21. To make a long story short - To tell a long or
complicated story very briefly.
Ex/ To make a long story short, we missed our flight.
22. Easy does it - Used to tell someone to slow
down.
Ex/ Woah, you’re doing too many exercises. Easy does
it!
23. To go back to the drawing board - To start over
with a plan or strategy because the previous
attempt failed.
Ex/ Well, our strategy failed. Let’s go back to the
drawing board!
24. Once in a blue moon - An event that happens
infrequently.
Ex/ I only see Cara once in a blue moon.
25. At the drop of a hat - Without any hesitation,
instantly.
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100 Common Idioms Native Speakers Use

  1. To play something by ear - To make decisions in the moment, rather than planning in advance. Ex/ What should we do this weekend? Let’s just play it by ear!
  2. To be all ears - To be ready and willing to listen closely. Ex/ Do you have a minute to discuss the project? I’m all ears! 3. To wake up on the wrong side of the bed - To wake up in a bad mood. To be grumpy first thing in the morning. Ex/ What would you like for breakfast honey? Ah who cares. I’m not hungry. Where’s my phone? Gees, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today! 4. To Wing Something - To perform or speak without preparing in advance. Ex/ You shouldn’t wing your IELTS speaking exam. You should be well prepared! 5. To make a mountain out of a molehill - To make a small issue or mistake seem like a serious problem. Ex/ You only got one question wrong. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. 6. To be at a crossroads - Used when you have to make a very important decision that impacts your life. Ex/ I’m not sure if I want to be a graphic designer anymore. I’m at a crossroads.
  3. To rain cats and dogs - To rain heavily. Ex/ Did it rain yesterday? It rained cats and dogs! 8. To be on top of the world - To be really happy. Ex/ Congrats on the new promotion. You must be on top of the world! 9. To give someone the cold shoulder - To ignore someone (on purpose). Ex/ Why are you giving me the cold shoulder? 10. To sit on the fence - To delay making a decision. Ex/ I asked my boss for a raise but he’s sitting on the fence. 11. To hit the nail on the head - To describe exactly what caused a problem, issue or situation. Ex/ You hit the nail on the head when you suggested we need to reduce our costs.
  4. To be fit as a fiddle - To be in great health. Ex/ Eating more vegetables has really helped. Now I’m as fit as a fiddle!
  5. To get something out of your system - To do the thing you’ve been wanting to do so you can move on. Ex/ Just go skydiving once so you can get it out of your system! 14. Speak of the devil - Used when the person you were talking about appears at that exact moment. Ex/ I’m not sure if Greg is coming to the party tonight. (PHONE RINGS AND IT’S GREG) Well speak of the devil! We were just talking about you!
  6. To give someone the benefit of the doubt - To trust what someone says. Ex/ He said he’s stuck in traffic. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. 16. No pain, no gain - If you want results, you need to work hard and get uncomfortable. Ex/ Public speaking can be scary. But no pain, no gain!
  7. Hang in there - Used to say don’t give up. Ex/ I know learning a language is hard, but hang in there!
  8. A penny for your thoughts - A way of asking what someone is thinking. Ex/ You look concerned. A penny for your thoughts? 19. It’s not rocket science - Used to say that it’s not complicated. Ex/ Becoming a confident English speaker isn’t rocket science! 20. To let someone off the hook - To not punish someone for a mistake or wrongdoing. Ex/ I know you came in late today, but I’ll let you off the hook just this once! 21. To make a long story short - To tell a long or complicated story very briefly. Ex/ To make a long story short, we missed our flight. 22. Easy does it - Used to tell someone to slow down. Ex/ Woah, you’re doing too many exercises. Easy does it! 23. To go back to the drawing board - To start over with a plan or strategy because the previous attempt failed. Ex/ Well, our strategy failed. Let’s go back to the drawing board! 24. Once in a blue moon - An event that happens infrequently. Ex/ I only see Cara once in a blue moon. 25. At the drop of a hat - Without any hesitation, instantly.

Ex/ Call me if you need anything and I’ll be there at the drop of a hat!

26. To add insult to injury - To worsen a situation that is already unfavorable. Ex/ First my date showed up late. And to add insult to injury, he forgot his wallet so had to pay!

  1. To hit the sack - To go to sleep. Ex/ I’m tired. I think I’ll hit the sack! 28. The ball is in your court - It is up to you to make the next decision or step. Ex/ We offered her a great promotion. So now the ball’s in her court! 29. To be/go barking up the wrong tree - To look in the wrong place. To Accuse the wrong person. Ex/ If you think lost your ring, you’re barking up the wrong tree!
  2. To get/have your ducks in a row - To be well prepared or well organized for something. Ex/ The presentation was supposed to start 10 minutes ago. They should have gotten their ducks in a row! 31. To get/have the best of both worlds - When you enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time. Ex/ She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds. 32. The lion’s share - The largest part or most of something. Ex/ I did the lion’s share of work on this project! 33. To be on the ball - To do a great job; to perform well. Ex/ Wow, you completed all those reports already! You’re on the ball today!
  3. To pull someone’s leg - To joke with someone. Ex/ Don't get upset, I'm just pulling your leg!
  4. To pull yourself together - To regain your composure (calm down) after being upset, worried or anxious. Ex/ Pull yourself together, it was a false alarm! 36. So far so good - Used to say that things are going well until this point in time. Ex/ How’s the project going? So far so good! 37. That’s the last straw - To have no patience left for someone’s errors or wrong doings. Ex/ This is her 5th^ time being late this month. That’s the last straw! 38. Time flies when you’re having fun - Used when you don’t notice how long something takes because it’s enjoyable. Ex/ Wow, I can’t believe it’s already 1 am! Time flies when you’re having fun! 39. To be bent out of shape - To be upset. Ex/ Janice is bent out of shape because she has to work late tonight.
  5. To make matters worse - To make a problem worse. Ex/ have to work late tonight. And to make matters worse, I have an appointment early tomorrow morning. 41. Don’t judge a book by its cover - Don’t judge something or someone purely on appearance. Ex/ I don’t think he’d be a good fit. I mean, look at his hair! Don’t judge a book by its cover! Have you reviewed his resume? 42. To fall between two stools - Used when something fails to achieve both of two objectives. Ex/ The movie fell between two stools. It wasn’t romantic and it wasn’t funny!
  6. To cost an arm and a leg - Used when something is exceptionally expensive. Ex/ My flight cost me an arm and a leg! 44. To cross a bridge when you come to it - To deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before. Ex/ But what if the client doesn’t like the presentation? Focus on creating the presentation and you’ll cross that bridge when you come to it. 45. To cry over spilt milk - Used to say that you shouldn’t complain about a loss from the past. Ex/ I can’t believe he didn’t come to my birthday party! That was 3 weeks ago. Don’t cry over spilt milk! 46. Curiosity killed the cat - Used to say that being inquisitive or asking a lot of questions can lead to an unpleasant situation. Ex/ know you’re planning me a surprise party, but can you tell me who’s coming, when it is, where we’re going and what we’re doing? Curiosity killed the cat! 47. To miss the boat - To lose an opportunity to do something by being slow to act. Ex/ The application deadline was last week. Guess missed the boat! 48. To be on fire - To perform very well. Ex/ Wow, your presentation was amazing! You were on fire! 49. To spill the beans - To reveal a secret when you shouldn’t have. Ex/ It’s a surprise party. Don’t spill the beans! 50. To be under the weather - To feel ill or sick. Ex/ I’m a little under the weather today. 51. A blessing in disguise - Something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but results in something good happening later.

Ex/ He’s skating on thin ice by lying to his wife.

76. A silver lining - An advantage that comes from a difficult or unpleasant situation. Ex/ One silver lining of the pandemic is that it made us realize how important our relationships with friends and family are. 77. To have a sweet tooth - To describe someone who likes eating sweet food, especially chocolate. Ex/ No dessert for me, thanks. Don’t have a sweet tooth! 78. To go dutch - To agree to share the cost of something, especially a meal. Ex/ I’ll pay for dinner. No, let’s go dutch! 79. To make ends meet - To have just enough money to pay for the things that you need. Ex/ With food prices increasing, we’re barely making ends meet! 80. To ring a bell - When something (a name, place, information) is familiar to you. Ex/ Have you met Fred from accounting yet? No, that name doesn’t ring a bell. 81. The tip of the iceberg - A small part of a much bigger problem. Ex/ These small local protests are just the tip of the iceberg. 82. To blow off steam - To do or say something that helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy. Ex/ After our fight, went for a long walk to blow off steam. 83. A piece of cake - Something that is very easy to do. Ex/ The exam was a piece of cake! 84. To be out of the woods - To no longer have a problem or difficulty. Ex/ Our profits are increasing but we’re not out of the woods yet! 85. To get over something - To get better after an illness. Ex/ It took me 2 weeks to get over that cold. 86. Not be one’s cup of tea - To describe a type or category that you don’t like. Ex/ Thanks for the invitation, but camping isn’t my cup of tea. 87. To be loaded - To be rich, to have a lot of money. Ex/ I just found out my cousin is loaded! 88. To nip something in the bud - To stop something before it has an opportunity to become established. Ex/ We need to nip these rumors in the bud before the employees start worrying. 89. Out of the blue - When something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and without warning. Ex/ My boss gave me a promotion out of the blue! 90. To keep one’s chin up - To remain cheerful in difficult circumstances. Ex/ I know the economy seems bad, but keep your chin up! 91. To race against the clock - To try to finish tasks quickly, before a certain time. Ex/ I raced against the clock to finish the audit and meet the deadline. 92. To catch someone off guard - To surprise someone by doing something they weren’t expecting or prepared for. Ex/ The politician was caught off guard when asked about the scandal. 93. To be on one’s radar - If something is on your radar, you are aware of it or considering it. Ex/ Leaving the company isn’t even on my radar! 94. To stab someone in the back - To betray someone, to do something harmful to someone who trusted you. Ex/ She told the client that she did all the work on the project. Can’t believe she stabbed me in the back like that! 95. To make a beeline for something - To move quickly and directly toward something. Ex/ The guests made a beeline for the buffet. 96. To be in hot water - To be in a situation where you might be criticized or punished. Ex/ The politician’s in hot water after his comments about gender equality. 97. To be dressed to the nines - To be dressed formally/smartly/fashionably. Ex/ We were dressed to the nines for our wedding anniversary. 98. To be between a rock and a hard place - To be in a difficult situation and/or to make a difficult decision. Ex/ If I accept the promotion, have to move abroad and know Matt won’t come with me. I’m between a rock and a hard place! 99. Lo and behold - Used to say that something surprising happened. Ex/ I was on vacation in Japan and lo and behold, saw my childhood sweetheart! 100. To let the cat out of the bag - To accidentally reveal a secret.

Ex/ You know about the surprise party, don’t you? Who let the cat out of the bag?