Idioms are a collection of words, phrases, or sentences that convey a different meaning than the literal meanings of the words or the phrase itself. Most of the common idioms used in the English language are made up of five to 8 words, and they are used as emotional expressions, warnings, or as a means to describe certain situations without saying it directly.<\/p>\n
Many of the famous idioms are made up of short and incomplete sentences. When an idiom is composed of long or even complete sentences, it is called a proverb.<\/p>\n
Here we have compiled a list of idioms and their meanings when used in most situations.<\/p>\n
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- Speak of the devil<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used when a person who is being talked about at the moment suddenly appears.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201c\u2026and he never talked about it again. Oh! Speak of the devil. I was just telling Jerry about the other day at the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- A blessing in disguise<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used to refer to something that was initially perceived as being bad that then turns out to be good.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI guess John\u2019s girlfriend getting pregnant in high school was a blessing in disguise. Their son is the best thing that has happened to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- A hot potato <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used to describe an issue or even a person that is currently being talked about and is surrounded by a lot of controversy.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cWorld War III is suddenly a hot potato in 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Back to the drawing board<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>it is usually used to mean starting over again, especially when everything else has failed.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cAfter Jenny\u2019s startup failed, she had to go back to the drawing board.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Beating around the bush<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means avoiding the main topic or situation by saying or doing something else.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cQuit beating around the bush and tell me exactly what happened to my money.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Beating a dead horse <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>trying to add energy to revive a situation that is hopeless or dead.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cTrying to get Angela back is like trying beating a dead horse, she is already married to that tech billionaire guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Bite more than you can chew<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means to take on more challenges or responsibilities than you can handle.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cHey, John, you have so much work on your hands already, do not bite more than you can chew by taking on more responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Judge a book by its cover<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means judging a person or situation on the first encounter or how they appear.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cBella is not a bad person just because of how she dresses, you are just judging a book by its cover.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Through thick and thin<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means in Good and bad situations.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cHis wife stuck with him through thick and thin, it is no wonder he loves her so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Weather the storm<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means to endure hardship or a difficult situation.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI am sure that things will get better for you, all you have to do is weather the storm till it’s over.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Stir the hornets\u2019 nest <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means doing something that you know can get you in trouble or make someone angry.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cDriving your wife\u2019s car to work on a Monday is like stirring the hornets\u2019 nest, I hope you are ready for what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Head over heels<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means to be completely in love with someone.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cJessica is head over heels in love with her neighbor, I hope she gets to marry her.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Keep at arm\u2019s length <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means avoiding a person or a situation by staying away from them.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI am a very quiet person, and this is why keep Ben at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>\n
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- Barking up the wrong tree<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means to follow a wrong course or take the wrong action that might end badly for you.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cIf you are saying all these lies about me just to provoke me, stop now because you are barking up the wrong tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- A chip off the old block<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means that the person being referred to is similar to their parent or a mentor in some distinct way.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cMusa is a chip off the old block, you can tell by how he talks.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/peachyessay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/A-chip-off-the-old-block.jpg\")
A chip off the old block<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n - \n
- An apple doesn\u2019t fall far from the tree<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means the character of a person is expected to resemble or be similar to that of one\u2019s parents.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI actually Rebecca would be different from her mum, but then an apple doesn\u2019t fall far from the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Once in a blue moon <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means the situation being talked about rarely happens.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cGetting praise from my father is something that happens once in a blue moon.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Best of both worlds<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used to say a situation has the advantages of two unrelated things.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cif you get this item, you get to spend less on a product that is also of high quality, it is the best of both worlds really!\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Burn the Midnight Oil <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This means working late into the night to get something done.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cShe burned the midnight oil on multiple occasions to makes sure that she got this deal. She clearly deserved it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Don\u2019t count your chickens before your eggs have hatched. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used to tell someone to avoid making plans for something that has not happened yet, or might not happen.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cReally, you went out and bought a car when your client has not paid. I thought you knew better than counting your chickens before they have hatched.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Cut somebody some slack <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used to say, you should go easy on somebody or stop being so critical about a person\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cHey, John, could you at least cut peter some slack, at least we can all see that he is trying his best to impress you.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Put all your eggs in one basket<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used to mean a person is depending on a single source of income, or an opportunity, or depending on a single thing for support when they could have more.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cRuby has been miserable since she lost her day job, she has no other source of income because she put all her eggs in one basket.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Feel a bit under the weather<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning:<\/strong> This is used to mean a person or thing is feeling slightly ill.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI had to stay home yesterday because my cat was feeling a bit under the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Hanging by the skin of your teeth<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning:<\/strong> This is means you are barely hanging on in a situation.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cTabita doesn\u2019t like this new job, she is just hanging by the skin of her teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Caught between a rock and a hard place <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>This is used to say there is no easy choice or that you have to choose between two hard choices.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cTelling your Indian mother that you are gay or telling her that you are quitting med school is hard. It seems like you are caught between a rock and a hard place.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Fit as a fiddle <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>being in a very good state of health.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cEven at 50 years of age, my father is as fit as a fiddle.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Give the cold shoulder<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>Ignoring a person or a thing.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI tried talking to my girlfriend yesterday, but she gave me the cold shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Hit the nail on the head<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning:<\/strong> This means being correct or precise.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cWhen he said the problem of my community is bad governance, he hit the nail on the head.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Let a person or thing off the hook <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>letting go of wrongdoing or not holding someone responsible for a situation.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI thought Jackson\u2019s mum would kill him after that stunt he pulled, but she let off of the hook.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Keep your eye on the ball<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning:<\/strong> This is used to tell someone to stay focus or keep their eyes on the prize and work hard.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cYou can\u2019t give up just after one try, you need to keep your eyes on the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Steal a person\u2019s thunder<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>Taking credit for someone else\u2019s work or stealing the spotlight from a person.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cEven though Rahim made the drone work, Janet stole his thunder and said she did it all by herself.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- The last straw that broke the camel\u2019s back<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>The last action or event that makes an already difficult situation totally unbearable.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cI could live with her wanting to keep the dog beside the bed in the room, but her wanting to adopt four dogs was the last straw that broke the camel\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- You guess is as good as mine<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning:<\/strong> This is used to say a person knows just as much as the next person knows.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201c\u2026hey don\u2019t look at me like I know anything about what happened, your guess is as good as mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Every dog has his day<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning:<\/strong> everyone gets a stroke of good luck no matter how bad they might have had it, or everyone gets to do something important once in a while.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cdon\u2019t take this as anything meaningful, every dog has his day, and this one is yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- Heads in the clouds<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>not paying attention because a person is lost in their own thoughts.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> \u201cOf course, you did not hear me, since you had your heads in the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- At the drop of a hat<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meaning: <\/strong>To do something immediately.<\/p>\n
- At the drop of a hat<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Heads in the clouds<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Every dog has his day<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- You guess is as good as mine<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- The last straw that broke the camel\u2019s back<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Steal a person\u2019s thunder<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Keep your eye on the ball<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Let a person or thing off the hook <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Hit the nail on the head<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Give the cold shoulder<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Fit as a fiddle <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Caught between a rock and a hard place <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Hanging by the skin of your teeth<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Feel a bit under the weather<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Put all your eggs in one basket<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Cut somebody some slack <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Don\u2019t count your chickens before your eggs have hatched. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Burn the Midnight Oil <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Best of both worlds<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Once in a blue moon <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- An apple doesn\u2019t fall far from the tree<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- A chip off the old block<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Barking up the wrong tree<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Keep at arm\u2019s length <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Head over heels<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Stir the hornets\u2019 nest <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Weather the storm<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Through thick and thin<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Judge a book by its cover<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Bite more than you can chew<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Beating a dead horse <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Beating around the bush<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Back to the drawing board<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- A hot potato <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- A blessing in disguise<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n