🎯 How to use this guide: Each idiom is hidden behind a "Guess the meaning" button. Try to guess the meaning first, then click to reveal the answer and see detailed examples!
Idioms are expressions with meanings different from individual words. They're essential for natural English communication and cultural understanding.
1. "Break the ice"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: To start a conversation or make people feel comfortable.
"She told a joke to break the ice at the meeting."
2. "Piece of cake"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: Something very easy to do.
"The math test was a piece of cake!"
3. "Hit the nail on the head"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: To be exactly right about something.
"You hit the nail on the head with that comment!"
4. "Spill the beans"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: To reveal a secret.
"Don't spill the beans about the surprise party!"
5. "Get the hang of it"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: To learn how to do something.
"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it soon."
6. "It's raining cats and dogs"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: It's raining very heavily.
"We can't go out now - it's raining cats and dogs!"
7. "When pigs fly"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: Something that will never happen.
"He'll clean his room when pigs fly!"
8. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: Don't make plans based on something that hasn't happened yet.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch - wait for the results first."
9. "The ball is in your court"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: It's your turn to take action or make a decision.
"I've given you my proposal. The ball is in your court now."
10. "Kill two birds with one stone"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: To accomplish two things with one action.
"I'll visit the bank and post office together to kill two birds with one stone."
11. "Actions speak louder than words"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: What you do is more important than what you say.
"Don't just promise - actions speak louder than words."
12. "Better late than never"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: It's better to do something late than not at all.
"He finally apologized after a month. Better late than never!"
13. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: Don't risk everything on one plan or option.
"Apply to several universities - don't put all your eggs in one basket."
14. "Time flies"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: Time passes quickly.
"Time flies when you're having fun!"
15. "Easy as pie"
🟢 BeginnerMeaning: Very easy to do.
"This homework is easy as pie!"
🟡 Intermediate Idioms (16-35)
Common idioms for everyday conversations - Build your fluency!
16. "Bite the bullet"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To face a difficult situation bravely.
"I have to bite the bullet and tell her the truth."
17. "Back to the drawing board"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: Start over because the plan didn't work.
"The project failed, so it's back to the drawing board."
18. "Cut to the chase"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: Get to the point; skip unnecessary details.
"Let's cut to the chase - what's your decision?"
19. "Don't cry over spilled milk"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: Don't worry about things that have already happened.
"You failed the test, but don't cry over spilled milk."
20. "Burn bridges"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To destroy relationships or opportunities.
"Don't burn bridges - you might need their help later."
21. "The elephant in the room"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: An obvious problem that everyone ignores.
"Let's address the elephant in the room - our budget is too small."
22. "Under the weather"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: Feeling sick or ill.
"I'm feeling a bit under the weather today."
23. "Costs an arm and a leg"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: Very expensive.
"That new phone costs an arm and a leg!"
24. "Once in a blue moon"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: Very rarely; almost never.
"I only eat fast food once in a blue moon."
25. "Let the cat out of the bag"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To reveal a secret accidentally.
"He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party."
26. "See eye to eye"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To agree with someone.
"We don't always see eye to eye on politics."
27. "On thin ice"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: In a risky or dangerous situation.
"You're on thin ice with your boss after that mistake."
28. "Barking up the wrong tree"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To pursue the wrong course of action.
"If you think I did it, you're barking up the wrong tree."
29. "Hit the sack"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To go to bed.
"I'm exhausted - I'm going to hit the sack."
30. "Pull someone's leg"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To joke with someone; to tease.
"I'm just pulling your leg - it's not true!"
31. "The best of both worlds"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: A situation where you can enjoy two different advantages.
"Working from home gives me the best of both worlds."
32. "Blessing in disguise"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: Something that seems bad but turns out to be good.
"Losing that job was a blessing in disguise."
33. "Call it a day"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To stop working for the day.
"It's 6 PM - let's call it a day."
34. "Get cold feet"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: To become nervous about something you planned to do.
"He got cold feet and canceled the presentation."
35. "In hot water"
🟡 IntermediateMeaning: In trouble.
"You'll be in hot water if you're late again."
🔴 Advanced Idioms (36-50)
Sophisticated idioms for advanced English - Master natural expressions!
36. "Jump on the bandwagon"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To join a popular trend or activity.
"Everyone is jumping on the AI bandwagon."
37. "Devil's advocate"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To argue the opposite view for the sake of debate.
"Let me play devil's advocate here..."
38. "Miss the boat"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To miss an opportunity.
"You missed the boat on that investment."
39. "Twist someone's arm"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To persuade someone forcefully.
"They had to twist my arm to get me to go."
40. "A dime a dozen"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: Very common; not valuable because of abundance.
"Those kinds of jobs are a dime a dozen."
41. "Beat around the bush"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To avoid talking about what's important.
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth."
42. "Go the extra mile"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To do more than what is expected.
"She always goes the extra mile for her students."
43. "Bite off more than you can chew"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To take on more than you can handle.
"Taking five classes was biting off more than I could chew."
44. "Burn the midnight oil"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To work late into the night.
"I was burning the midnight oil to finish my thesis."
45. "Cut corners"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To do something poorly to save time or money.
"Don't cut corners on safety procedures."
46. "Get your act together"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To get organized; to improve your behavior.
"You need to get your act together before the exam."
47. "Keep your chin up"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To stay positive in a difficult situation.
"Keep your chin up - things will get better."
48. "Make a long story short"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: To summarize; to skip unnecessary details.
"To make a long story short, we won the contract."
49. "The last straw"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: The final problem that makes someone lose patience.
"His rudeness was the last straw - I quit."
50. "Through thick and thin"
🔴 AdvancedMeaning: Through good times and bad times.
"They've been friends through thick and thin."
🎯 Interactive Idioms Quiz
Test your knowledge of the idioms you've learned!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are English idioms?
English idioms are expressions where the meaning differs from the literal interpretation of individual words. They're essential for natural English communication and cultural understanding. For example, "break the ice" doesn't mean literally breaking ice - it means starting a conversation!
How can I learn English idioms effectively?
The best way to learn idioms is through interactive practice with real examples. Try to guess meanings first, then review the explanations and usage tips. Practice using them in context through quizzes and conversations. Our page offers all of these features!
What is the easiest English idiom to learn?
Beginner-friendly idioms like "piece of cake" (very easy), "break the ice" (start a conversation), and "time flies" (time passes quickly) are great starting points for ESL learners. They're commonly used and easy to visualize!
How many idioms should I learn?
Start with 10-15 basic idioms and gradually expand. Our guide includes 50 essential idioms divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Focus on quality over quantity - it's better to truly understand and use 20 idioms well than to memorize 100 without practice.