English Idioms Commonly Used In Daily Language

Common Idioms

Meaning

Example

A blessing in disguise

seems bad, but is actually good

Accidently registering for the wrong class was actually a blessing in disguise.

Actions speak louder than

actions are more important than words

You say you love me but actions speak louder than words.

easy

That test was a piece of cake.

Beating around the bush

not discussing what is important/procrastinating

I needed to study, but I kept beating around the bush.

Big task on your hand

having something important to finish

My teacher gave me a new assignment, so I have a big task on my hands.

Break a leg

wishing someone to do well/ good luck

You will do fine on your presentation. Go break a leg out there.

Cant stand (something)

to dislike something

I cant stand having to do homework on a Sunday.

Check out that

give that a look

Check out that very cool looking car.

Close but no cigar

close but failed at the end

You got a 79% on the test. Almost a Bclose but no cigar.

Don't sweat it

dont worry about it

You accidently scratched my car but I don't care. Dont sweat it.

Driving me bananas

making me feel crazy

My very loud neighbors are driving me bananas.

Easier said than done

easy to say, but hard to actually do

Changing the world is easier said than done.

Get out of town

I don't believe you

You got an A in your Finance class? Get out of town!

Get over it

forget about the past

He broke up with his girlfriend but he needs to get over it.

Gone off track

forgot about your future goal

My friend really got off track because he failed three classes this semester.

Hands down

for certain the right answer

America is hands down the best place to study abroad.

Hang on a second

wait for a moment

Hang on a secondI am waiting for my laundry to finish.

Hang out

spend time with a friend

Joe and I hang out after class every week.

Have stumbled upon

to accidentally discover something

I stumbled upon a new restaurant while walking around downtown.

Hold your horses

wait/calm down

Hold your horses. I am still eating my lunch.

Hows it going?

How are you?

Hows it going today Bobby?

I made a key decision

make an important decision

I made a key decision to finish college.

Inside scoop

the details

Hey give me the inside scoop on how you met John.

In the bag

will definitely happen

My baseball team will win the game. It is in the bag.

I was knocked on my heels

I was surprised

I was knocked on my heels when I realized I got the job.

Ill toss it around

to casually suggest an idea to people

I am tossing around the idea of having a party this weekend.

Im feeling blue

to feel sad

I failed my test today, I'm really feeling blue.

Im out

I'm leaving

I have to go to a meeting, I'm out!

In the nick of time

The firefighter saved the baby from the burning building in the nick of time.

Kick the bucket

when something happens at the last possible

Kill two birds with one stone

accomplish two things at once

You can kill two birds with one stone by checking email and study at the library.

Laid back

relaxed

Jason is not very excited, he is laid back.

Last shot

Last chance

The final exam is my last shot to get an A in the class.

Leading someone on

having someone believe something that isn't true

Why do you keep telling Amy you like her, you are just leading her on.

Lend a hand

help someone out

I see those grocery bags are very heavy, can I lend you a hand?

Let it ride

to allow something to remain as it is

I don't like my schedule for next semester, but I'm going to let it ride.

Lets boogie on out

lets all leave together

The bar is closing, lets boogie on out.

Lets bounce

to leave

The football game is over, lets bounce.

Low down

to receive the full story

Hey give me the low down on what happened last Saturday night.

Take a chill pill

a way of telling someone to calm down

I don't think the test will be too hard, take a chill pill.

Hit the books

to study

I can't go to the party tonight, I have to hit the books.

To touch base

to contact someone

I need to touch base with Jeremy about the new office reports.

Locked in

to give full concentration too

I'm really locked in to this new television series.

No big deal

no need to worry

If you can't make it to my birthday dinner its no big deal.

Get on the ball

to get focused on the goal

If you havent started your research project yet, you need to get on the ball.

Out of nowhere

unexpected

That surprise quiz came out of nowhere.

Out of the blue

unexpected

We were walking to the store when Mike appeared out of the blue.

Pull the plug

to end something/someone

After Bob quit, we may just have to pull the plug on the whole operation.

Put a sock in it

be quiet

My loud neighbors really need to put a sock in it.

Rally the troops

to gather friends together

We're going to rally the troops then head to the basketball game.

Since day one

for a long time

I've been playing basketball since day one.

Its all flooding back to me

When I saw my childhood bicycle memories all came flooding back to me.
Yesterday my phone kicked the bucket.

Somethings fishy

somethings strange

All the lights are off in the house and door is open, somethings fishy.

Speak of the Devil

Speak of the devil Jenny! We were just talking about your new car.

Spill the beans

when you see someone/something happens

Spur of the moment

to make a random decision

I decided to drive to Colorado on the spur of the moment.

Stay on track

to stay focused on the goal

I shouldnt watch TV right now. I need to stay on track and study.

Stick with your goal/stick

to continue doing something

You should really stick with soccer because you are very good at it.

remove him from the situation

Mike isn't the best group partner, we should take him out of the picture.

Take it easy

calm down

You only failed the first test. You will have many more. Take it easy.

Thats tight

thats awesome

This new song is tight.

The stars have aligned

the moment is right

The stars have aligned because its his birthday and he won the lottery.

Draw the line

the point where you decide not to do something

I draw the line at $10 for a hamburger.

The last straw

the last thing that causes everything to fail

My recent sprained ankle was the last straw; I need to get surgery now.

Throw an idea around

casually suggest an idea

I want to throw an idea around for tomorrows event.

Tight

a sporting event having a close score

75 to 75 with one minute left! This is a really tight game.

Time flies

time passes by fast

I can't believe the weekend is already over, time flies!

Up a creek without a paddle

in a bad situation

Fill in the blanks

figure out the rest on your own

Yesterday my car ran out of gas and then my phone ran out of battery, I was up a
creek without a paddle.
Did we win? We were losing by 40 points at halftime, fill in the blanks.

On the same page

having similar thoughts

I'm glad we are on the same page with our ideas for this project.

Whats up?

How are you?

Hey John whats up?

You pulled a fast one

to trick someone

You pretended you knew his name when really you did not, you pulled a fast one.

I told Jessica my biggest secret, she then spilled the beans to the whole class.

Special Thanks To Max Schmitt