Top 50 English idioms with examples and translation

16 January 2025

English-learners

Oleksandra Kulish

Book expert

The essence of idioms in English is that when translated, a phrase is not equal in meaning to the sum of the translations of the words included in it. In other words, it acquires a figurative meaning. Ordinary dictionaries are of no help here. Let's analyze the stable expressions in English with translation.

Idioms: what they are and what their role is

Idioms in English are well-established expressions, phrases or speech turns that acquire new meaning and serve to give the speech imagery and expressiveness.

The meaning of idioms in English:

They enrich speech, making it lively and imaginative.
They carry an important cultural aspect and help in understanding the thinking of the speakers.
With the help of English idioms, just a few words are enough to express a complex state or phenomenon.
Skillful use of these phrases demonstrates a high level of English proficiency, as understanding the context plays an important role in their use.

English phrases are an integral part of language proficiency tests (IELTS, TOEFL).

Why it is important to know and understand English idioms

A good knowledge of stable phrases in English will come in handy for several reasons:

Without them, it is impossible to understand native speakers' speech fluently, as they are often used in formal and informal communication.
They improve and deepen communication.
Knowing these collocations enriches speech and makes it lively and relaxed.
They are an important part of culture that you need to know if you plan to speak the language you are learning.

Knowing the resistant expressions is essential for anyone who aspires to a high level of language proficiency.

Classifying idioms by style and topic

Let's consider what categories idioms can be divided into by style:

Conversational style. Such idioms are used in everyday life, friendly conversations and informal communication. Example: the expression Break the ice, that is, to start a conversation, to overcome awkwardness.
Literary style. Occur in books, articles and speeches. Example: A storm in a teacup - an exaggerated problem or “a storm in a glass of water”.
Business style. Used in professional settings, business and official correspondence. Example: Think outside the box.
Slang expressions. Characteristic of youth or street slang. Crash and burn - to fail.
Archaic. Expressions that were used in the past, but are rarely found in modern speech. By and by - over time.

Persistent expressions depending on the topic:

Phrases about the weather or nature: Make hay while the sun shines - strike iron while it's hot.
About achievements and labor: Climb the ladder - to move up the career ladder.
About work: Have a lot on your plate - have a lot on your plate.
About health and condition: Fit as a fiddle - in excellent condition.
About life and life lessons: The ball is in your court - everything is in your hands.

These and other phrases significantly expand your vocabulary and allow you to better understand the English language in its various manifestations.

Examples of 50 popular idioms with context decoding

Let's look at the list of the most popular idioms in English and find out what they mean:

A dime a dozen - ponderous.
Add insult to injury - to make an already unfavorable situation even worse.
Time flies.
Bed of roses - an easy and pleasant life.
Bite off more than you can chew - overestimate your capabilities.
Out of sorts - out of sorts.
Under the weather - not feeling well.
It takes two to tango - a communication or action cannot be done alone.
Miss the boat - to miss a chance.
Burn the midnight oil - work late.
Pushing up daisies - to die, to play in a box.
Bury the hatchet - bury the hatchet, make peace.
Big-wig.
Blood is thicker than water - blood is thicker than water, blood ties are stronger than others.
Break the bank - Break the bank, spend a lot of money.
No spring chicken.
Taste of your own medicine - get what you deserve, feel it on your own skin.
Take it with a grain of salt - to be skeptical, not to believe until the end.
Bigger fish to fry - more important things to do.
At the end of your rope - on the verge of failure, in a desperate situation.
Blow off steam.
A wild goose chase - a waste of time.
Feel blue - to feel sad.
Actions speak louder than words.
By the skin of your teeth - to be very close to failure.
Straight from the horse's mouth - information from the first source.
Hit it off.
Piece of cake - a simple thing, an easy thing.
Spill the beans - to tell a secret.
Eat humble pie - admit a mistake.
Cry over spilled milk - to regret the irreparable.
Bring home the bacon - to make money, to bring money.
The ball is in your court - everything is in your hands.
To stick one's neck out - to risk criticism by speaking out.
Bite the bullet.
Burn bridges.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Jump on the bandwagon - succumb to the trend.
To beat a dead horse - To keep doing things even when they have lost effectiveness.
Cut corners - to shoddy, to economize, to sacrifice quality.
Bark up the wrong tree - to make a mistake.
To go cold turkey - to suddenly stop doing something.
A fish out of water - to be out of place.
Between a rock and a hard place - between a hammer and an anvil.
Throw in the towel - to give up.
Keep your chin up - to keep your spirits up.
The elephant in the room - an obvious but ignored problem.
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Let the cat out of the bag - give away a secret.
Keep someone at arm's length - keep someone at a distance.

Enrich your vocabulary and grammar by using these expressions in your writing and conversation.

How to memorize idioms and use them confidently: tips and recommendations

The following tips will help you memorize sentences with idioms in English and use them confidently:

Define your goals and decide why you need to know them: to understand conversational speech, to improve your communication skills or simply to enrich your vocabulary.
Don't try to memorize phrases in isolation from context. Study them in sentences to better understand their meaning and usage.
Create cards with idioms and their meanings. Review them regularly to consolidate your knowledge.
Try to incorporate them into your speech. This may be difficult at first, but with practice you will become more confident in using them.
Read books and articles. This will help you expand your vocabulary and learn how to use word combinations correctly.
Talk to native speakers to hear how they use these expressions and ask questions about their meaning.
Record the way you speak English using the phrases you have learned and then listen to the recording.

You can watch movies and TV shows with subtitles more often so that you can hear and see how special phrases are used at the same time. This way, you will hear the actors' accents and learn to understand what they are saying.