Have you ever heard a phrase you couldn’t understand the meaning of? You likely heard an idiomatic expression. Idioms and idiomatic expressions are used in every language. They add character to the language and help to convey more distinct meaning. However, due to their figurative nature, it can be difficult for a non-native English speaker, or someone who is just learning, to even begin to guess what they mean. It’s just a matter of being familiar with them. To help you out, here is a list of a few of the most common English idioms. Some can be used on their own, while others are used as part of a sentence. How many have you heard before?
1.Go bananas – go crazy
When he realized he had won the lottery, he went bananas
2. Get into hot water – get into trouble
Be careful not to get yourself into hot water.
3. Raining cats and dogs – pouring
I wanted to take a walk, but it’s raining cats and dogs.
4. At the eleventh hour – at the last minute
She changed her mind at the eleventh hour.
5. Break a leg – good luck
Break a leg!
6. Bring home the bacon – bring home the money/ provide for a family.
Someone’s got to bring home the bacon in this household.
7. Once in a blue moon – once in a while, not very often
They only visit once in a blue moon.
8. Piece of cake/a walk in the park/ a breeze – easy or simple
That was a piece of cake./ That was a walk in the park./ That was a breeze.
9. Pulling my leg – teasing
Quit pulling my leg!
10. See eye to eye – agree, share the same perspective
We always see eye to eye./ We never see eye to eye.
11. The bottom line – the important thing
If we are late, we’ll miss the train. That’s the bottom line.
12. The whole nine yards – everything
They really went the whole nine yards for that wedding.
13. At the end of the day – after much has been said and done
At the end of the day, family comes first.
14. The cat is out of the bag – the secret is out, made public
The cat is out of the bag now.
15. Let the cat out of the bag/Spill the beans/ Spill the tea – to reveal a secret
She let the cat out of the bag./ She spilled the beans./ She spilled the tea.
16. Cut some slack – not be too critical
I’ve been working all night. Cut me some slack!
17. Hit the hay/ hit the sack – go to bed
I’m going to hit the hay./ I’m going to hit the sack.
18. Call it a day – be finished working
After I finish this, I’m going to call it a day.
19. Get bent out of shape – to get upset
Don’t get yourself all bent out of shape.
20. Wrap my head around it – try to make sense of something.
I can’t seem to wrap my head around it.
Learners English Academy 