idioms

It is the phrase which has the figurative meaning unlike literacy meaning.

Idioms are used as figurative language, i.e. the use of words in an imaginative and unusual manner. Take a look at more idioms with examples.

1. In for a penny, in for a pound

Meaning: That someone is intentionally investing his time or money for a particular project or task.
Example: When Athlead was booming, Jim was in for a penny and in for a pound, that’s how dedicated he was.

2. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush

Meaning: An opportunity in hand, currently, is better than a prospect in the future, because time never repeats itself.
Example: The detective apprehended 3 criminals and saw another one running but didn’t chase him, because she knew a bird in one hand was better than two in the bush.

3. Chip off the old block

Meaning: A person is similar in behaviour or actions to his parents.
Example: When grandmother saw her grandson collecting coins like her son used to do, she knew he was a Chip off the old block.

4. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Meaning: Treat people the same way you want to be treated.
Example: I felt Peter was a little cold today towards that homeless man, he should do unto others as he would have them do unto him, because who knows about time.

5. Don’t cry over spilt milk

Meaning: Don’t cry over what has happened as it can not be fixed.
Example: Walter failed his examination but his dad came and said just one thing, “Son, Don’t cry over spilt milk.”

6. Every cloud has a silver lining

Meaning: Bad things one day eventually lead to good things.
Example: See, yesterday you were so morose as your phone was stolen but look at you today, you got a promotion. Is it rightly said that every cloud has a silver lining?

7. Beside yourself with joy

Meaning: To be extremely happy.
Example: I can see that you are beside yourself with joy on being selected for the job, congratulations.

8. Fair and square

Meaning: Being direct or fair.
Example: To tell you fair and square, I did everything that I was meant to do, but I still feel unfulfilled.

9. Having an Ace up the sleeve

Meaning: Have an advantage that is currently being withheld for future purposes.
Example: Brian kept quiet at the board meeting, who knew he had an Ace hidden up his sleeve the whole time?

10. A black sheep

Meaning: Being a disgrace to the family.
Example: They don’t talk about Olive anymore, turns out he was the Black sheep for the family, and he married someone else while he was still married to his fiancé.

11. Hook, line and sinker

Meaning: Doing something or trying to achieve something with thoroughness and passion.
Example: I have set my mind to go through the spreadsheets by Monday and I am working for its Hook, line and sinker.

12. Looking to your laurels

Meaning: Do not be lost in your achievements and lose sight of what is supposed to happen.
Example: Look on your laurels but do not rest on them.

13. Bear a grudge

Meaning: To continue to feel angry or unfriendly toward someone or something because of a particular past incident.
Example: I Bear a grudge against him for not taking me into confidence.

14. By the skin of your teeth

Meaning: To just barely get by or make it.
Example: Lester made the dance team By the skin of his teeth, you see the audition gates were about to get closed.

15. Down for the count

Meaning: Tired; giving up.
Example: My pet dog is down for the count after playing the whole day with the frisbee

16. Draw the line

Meaning: To stop before a point where something okay gets not okay.
Example: Hey buddy, that’s enough, Draw the line before someone comes and beats you to a pulp.

17. Easier said than done

Meaning: Not as easy as it appears to be.
Example: Listen, losing weight is easier said than done, many people lack commitment.

18. Break a leg

Meaning: Saying good luck to someone.
Example: Hey Barry, it’s time for you to get on the stage and present your monologue, break a leg.

19. Up a creek without a paddle

Meaning: In an unlucky situation.
Example: Dan tried to dine and dash yesterday at a Chinese place but he was stopped by the waiters, guess he was up a creek without a paddle yesterday.

20. Give it a whirl

Meaning: To give something a try.
Example: I am absolutely terrified of skydiving, but I think once in my life, I will give it a whirl.

21. Fish out of water

Meaning: To be out of your comfort zone.
Example: Tom felt like a fish out of water when his girlfriend took him to a Star Wars convention in LA.

22. In the fast lane

Meaning: A life filled with excitement.
Example: When Chris turned forty, he decided to live his life in the fast lane and quit his job for his hobbies.

23. Go the extra mile

Meaning: To make an extra effort.
Example: He was willing to go the extra mile for the love of his life, Mia.

24. Snug as a bug in a rug

Meaning: Warm and cosy.
Meaning: The baby looks as snug as a bug in a rug next to her mother.

25. Step up your game

Meaning: To start performing better
Example: Jennifer better step up her game if she wants to make big in Basketball.

26. To not see the wood for the trees

Meaning: To be so involved in trivial matters that you don’t get the important facts.
Example: He always argues on the silliest topics, it’s like he can’t see wood for the trees.

27. Lose your marbles

Meaning: To go insane.
Example: Our mailman has lost his marbles, every day he drops Mr. Smith’s mail on our door.

28. Straight from the Horse’s mouth

Meaning: Directly from the person involved.
Example: Listen to the news straight from the horse’s mouth, his factory burned down right in front of his eyes.

29. Crying Wolf

Meaning: To ask for help when you don’t need it.
Example: You have been a crying Wolf so many times that no one believes you now.

30. Palm off

Meaning: Pass off something as genuine when it is spurious.
Example: This shopkeeper always palms off old stock to the customers.

31. Has bigger fish to fry

Meaning: Has more important work to do.
Example: Please don’t bother me today with any calls, I have bigger fish to fry.

32. Look before you leap

Meaning: Calculate the risks before advancing towards a possibility.
Example: You can’t just sell all of your shares when the market is low, look before you leap, Trump is coming tomorrow, and it is possible the shares will grow.

33. On thin ice

Meaning: In a precarious or risky situation.
Example: Andy played hooky from work for a week saying he was sick, and now his boss said that he is on thin ice.

34. Play devil’s advocate

Meaning: To argue, just for the sake of it.
Example: He was not agreeing to back off as if he was playing devil’s advocate.

35. Rain on someone’s parade

Meaning: To spoil a moment.
Example: He told his wife that he didn’t want to rain on her parade, but they had to shift their vacation dates.

36. Take a rain check

Meaning: Postpone a plan.
Example: He asked me whether I would like to have dinner with his family, but I had a thing so I said, rain check.

37. Take it with a grain of salt

Meaning: Don’t take it too seriously.
Example: She tells great tales but we take whatever she says with a grain of salt.

38. Like a cakewalk

Meaning: So easy task.
Example: Everyone took hours to write the code but Adam did it like a cakewalk.

39. Throw caution to the wind

Meaning: Take a risk.
Example: The caretaker threw caution to the wind by taking a sick baby outside.

30 Idioms with Examples and Their Meaning for Students

Here are the most common 30 idioms with their meanings and sentences:

Shoot from the hip
Meaning: To speak bluntly or rashly without thinking carefully
Example: Don’t feel bad about what he said. He has a habit of shooting from the hip, but he means no harm
Shoot oneself in the foot
Meaning: To harm one’s own cause inadvertently
Example: Foolishly harm one’s own cause, as in He really shot himself in the foot, telling the interviewer all about the others who were applying for the job he wanted.
In cold blood
Meaning: If you do something violent and cruel in cold blood, you do it deliberately and in an unemotional way.
Example: In a purposely ruthless and unfeeling manner, as in The whole family was murdered in cold blood.
Draw first blood
Meaning: If you draw first blood, you cause the first damage to an opponent in a conflict or contest.
Example: To be the first to gain an advantage or score against an opponent. I drew first blood in the tournament and quickly dispatched my opponent.
Ace up one’s sleeve
Meaning: A secret or hidden advantage that you can use when you need it
Example: Cheating at a card game by hiding a favourable card up one’s sleeve. I have an ace up my sleeve for this race—my stamina.
Play your cards right
Meaning: To behave or work in a way that gives you an advantage or improves your odds of success.
Example: Play your cards right in college and you’ll get a great job after you graduate
Egg on your face
Meaning: If you’ve egg on your face, you look stupid and face embarrassment because of something you’ve done.
Example: Terry had an egg on his face after boasting that the examinations were really easy, but ended up failing most of his papers.
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
Meaning: To destroy something that gives you a lot of money to get immediate returns
Example: Tearing down the top attraction in the theme park, “The Haunted House”, would be akin to killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
An arm and a leg
Meaning: If something costs an arm and a leg, it costs a lot.
Example: I want to buy a house by the beach, but it may cost me an arm and a leg.
Behind one’s back
Meaning: If you do something behind someone’s back, you do it secretly without their knowledge (used in a negative way).
Example: My colleague is really nice to me but I don’t trust him because I know he talks negatively about me behind my back
Stab someone in the back
Meaning: Harm someone who trusts you.
Example: Don’t trust George; he’s been known to stab his friends in the back
Take a back seat
Meaning: If you take a back seat, you choose not to be in a position of responsibility or power.
Example: The founder of the company decided to take a back seat and let the board members run the business.
Back to the drawing board
Meaning: If you go back to the drawing board, you make a fresh start or try another idea because the earlier one didn’t succeed.
Example: It looks like my plans to kill the weeds in the garden failed. Back to the drawing board
Right off the bat
Meaning: If you do something right off the bat, you do it immediately.
Example: Nathan was in the mood for a cheeseburger, so he hopped into his car and bought some fast food. After unwrapping the burger, he took a bite and right off the bat he knew that something was wrong; it didn’t taste right.
Heart misses (skips) a beat
Meaning: If your heart misses a beat, you feel excited or nervous.
Example: Her heart missed a beat when she heard her name called out in the list of finalists, or When the bear appeared in front of us, my heart skipped a beat, or My heart stands still at the very thought of flying through a thunderstorm
Have your heart in your mouth
Meaning: If you’ve your heart in your mouth, you’re feeling extremely nervous.
Example: You sure don’t seem relaxed—in fact, it seems like your heart is in your mouth.
Not the only fish in the sea
Meaning: Not the only suitable thing or person one can find
Example: When Bob walked out on Sally, all we could tell her was that he was not the only fish in the sea, or Bill knew she wasn’t the only pebble on the beach but he was determined to win her over.
Not your cup of tea
Meaning: If you say that someone or something is not your cup of tea, you mean that they’re not the kind of person or thing you like.
Example: We couldn’t decide which movie to watch, so we ended up settling on a comedy. Halfway through the movie, I concluded that its humour was not my cup of tea.
A piece of cake
Meaning: If something is a piece of cake, it’s easy to do.
Example: The boy found the project to be a piece of cake because it was incredibly easy.
Call it a day
Meaning: If you call it a day, you stop what you’re doing because you’re tired of it or you’ve not been successful.
Example: I think we have done enough work today, I am feeling tired now, let’s call it a day.
The pot calling the kettle black
Meaning: Accusing someone of faults that you yourself have
Example: I can’t believe that you are upset because I was late. That is the pot calling the kettle black. Peter called me a liar! That is the pot calling the kettle black.
Call a spade a spade
Meaning: To speak truth even if it’s unpleasant
Example: That dress made her look fat, let’s call a spade a spade before she goes out wearing it and embarrasses herself.
A bolt from the blue
Meaning: A sudden, unexpected event
Example: Let us hope the pandemic disappears. It came as a bolt from the blue in 2020.
In the same boat
Meaning: If two or more persons are in the same boat, they’re in the same difficult situation.
Example: If you lose your job, I’ll lose mine. We are both in the same boat.
Miss the boat/ bus
Meaning: To miss an opportunity
Example: He missed the boat when he did not apply for the job in time.
Over my dead body
Meaning: If you say something will happen to your dead body, you mean you dislike it and will do everything you can to prevent it.
Example: I told John that he could shave his head, over my dead body.
Make one’s blood boil
Meaning: To make someone extremely angry
Example: When I hear stories of cruelty to animals, it makes my blood boil.
Bounce something off someone
Meaning: If you bounce something off someone, you discuss ideas or plan with someone to get their view on it.
Example: I caught the rubber ball when it bounced off the wall. The light bouncing off of that mirror is blinding me—can we close the curtains?
Bell the cat
Meaning: To undertake a risky or dangerous task.
Example: Someone has to bell the cat and tell the commissioner that his own started the violence
Like a cat on hot tin roof
Meaning: In an uneasy or nervous state
Example: She’s waiting for the doctor to call with her test results, so she’s been like a cat on a hot tin roof all day.

Top Idioms for Competitive Exams

Your Guess is as Good as Mine – To have no idea about anything
Example: “Will this flight reach on time?” “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Speak of the Devil – The person you’re talking about shows up at the exact time
Example: I hope he doesn’t show up to the office today – oh, speak of the devil, here he comes.
Not a spark of decency – No manners
The class showed not a spark of decency by refusing to stand up when their principal entered the classroom.
In the heat of the Moment – Overwhelmed by what is happening at the moment
I’m afraid I was very arrogant; I was caught up in the heat of the moment.
Hear it on the grapevine – To hear rumours
I heard on the grapevine that my brother-in-law got the promotion, but I really don’t know much about it.”
To cook the books – To alter facts and figures
Their accountant was charged with cooking the books, and now he’s in jail.
Devil’s Advocate – A person who advocates an unpopular cause for the sake of an argument.
I don’t really believe all that – I was just playing devil’s advocate.
A cash cow – A product or service that generates a lot of revenue for a company.
A singer deemed a cash cow for the record label.
Burn the midnight oil – Work or study hard
I have a big exam tomorrow, so I’ll be burning the midnight oil to review all the material.”
By fits and starts – In short periods, not regularly
The project progressed in fits and starts, with periods of intense productivity followed by long periods of inactivity.
Under his thumb – Under his control
I feel like I’m always under his thumb.
Out of the way – Strange
Alex realized they were in a tight corner when the client demanded a lower price.
Be in a tight corner – In a very difficult situation
Keep one’s fingers crossed – The anxiety in which you hope that nothing will upset your plans
I have a job interview tomorrow, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it goes well and I get the position.
The gift of the gab – Talent for speaking
With his natural charisma and the gift of the gab, he could effortlessly captivate any audience with his storytelling.
Cost an Arm and a Leg – Be very expensive
The vintage car restoration ended up costing me an arm and a leg, but it was worth it to see it gleaming again.
Smell a rat – Suspect something foul
After seeing how eager he was to sell his car for such a low price, I began to smell a rat and suspected that there might be something wrong.
By hook or by crook – By fair or foul means
She was willing to do whatever it took—by hook or by crook—to meet the deadline.
Spread like a wildfire – Spread quickly
The news of the new product launch spread like wildfire through social media, garnering attention and excitement from users around the world.
Out of gear – Disturb the work
The sudden power outage threw the entire production process out of gear, causing delays and disruptions.
Die in harness – Die while in service
Even in his old age, he continued to teach and inspire his students until he eventually died in harness, doing what he loved most.
To be snowed under – To be very busy
I can’t go out tonight, I’m absolutely snowed under with work and deadlines
To get the sack – To be dismissed from your job
After consistently showing up late for work, he eventually got sacked from his job
To cook the books – To modify financial statements
Don’t give up a day’s job – You are not very good at something or you could not do it professionally
I love painting, but I shouldn’t give up a day’s job just yet.
To balance the books – To make certain that the amount of money spent is not more than the amount of money received
The company was accused of balancing the books to inflate its profits and deceive investors.
A ball park figure – A general financial figure
The project manager gave us a ballpark figure for the budget, estimating it to be around $50,000, but the actual costs could vary.
Yellow press – Newspapers that publish sensational and unscrupulous stories and exaggerate the news to attract readers.
Don’t believe everything you read in the yellow press. They often exaggerate stories for sensationalism
A nine day’s Wonder – An event which relates a sensation for a time but is soon forgotten
The new gadget was a nine-day wonder, capturing everyone’s attention for a short time before they moved on to the next big thing.
One swallow does not make a summer – It is unreliable to base one’s conclusions on only a single test or incident
Just because John aced one test doesn’t mean he’ll excel in the whole course. Remember, one swallow does not make a summer.
To move heaven and earth – To exert all efforts
Sarah was determined to move heaven and earth to ensure her project’s success.
A miss is as good as a mile – Comes nowhere near the target
She didn’t win the race, but her coach reminded her that in the end, a miss is as good as a mile.
Lock, stock and barrel – The whole of everything
After years of negotiations, they finally decided to buy the company lock, stock, and barrel.
Make hay while the sun shines – Take advantage of all opportunities
You should go and make hay while the sun shines, as this could be your chance to secure a great job.
All that glitters are not gold – Things that appear attractive or valuable on the surface may not always be as good as they seem.
She realized that all that glitters is not gold and that a high-paying job isn’t always worth sacrificing her happiness and health.
To jump from a frying pan into fire – To come out of one trouble and get into a worse
He ended up jumping from the frying pan into the fire when he started his new job at a company.
Foul play – Cheating
The police suspected foul play in the sudden disappearance of the valuable painting from the museum.
A fish out of water – Anyone in an awkward
Sarah felt like a fish out of water at the fancy gala, surrounded by wealthy socialites and unfamiliar customs.
A burnt child dreads the fire – One who has had a previous unpleasant experience is always scared of situations where such experiences are likely to be repeated
After getting food poisoning from a street vendor, she never ate street food again; a burnt child dreads the fire.
To set the Thames on fire – To do something sensational or remarkable
It’s clear that he thinks he’s going to set the Thames on fire with his revolutionary ideas.
A white elephant – A useless possession which is extremely expensive to keep
He was getting a great deal when he bought that antique vase, but it turned out to be a real white elephant.
To throw dust in one’s eyes – To try to deceive someone or mislead someone
The company’s CEO tried to throw dust in everyone’s eyes by giving a carefully crafted speech.
Every dog has his day – Sooner or later, everyone has his share of good fortune
When he unexpectedly won the Employee of the Month award, he proved that every dog has his day.
Give a dog a bad name and hang him – Once a person loses his reputation
They’re just trying to give a dog a bad name and hang him, without any concrete evidence to support their claims.
Go to the devil – Be off
After enduring his rude comments for far too long, Jane finally had enough and told him to go to the devil.
To step into dead man’s shoes – To come into an inheritance
Jane found herself having to step into the dead man’s shoes and lead the company through these challenging times.
Halcyon Days – Refers to a period of peace, tranquillity, and happiness
She would often talk about the halcyon days she spent at her grandparents’ farm.
Evil days – A period of misfortune
Many families struggled to make ends meet and faced evil days as they navigated through job losses and financial instability.
Cut and dried – Readymade
Sarah was cut and dried, as she had consistently outperformed her colleagues and had the most experience in the department.
Too many cooks spoil the broth – There are more workers than necessary leading to disappointment
Everyone had their own ideas for the project, but too many cooks spoil the broth, and the final result ended up being confusing and ineffective.
To commit to memory – To learn by heart
I spent hours studying the poem so that I could learn it by heart and recite it perfectly during the poetry recitation competition.
To throw cold water upon anything – To discourage efforts
The manager threw cold water upon their ambitious ideas by pointing out the potential budget constraints.
A cock and bull story – A foolishly incredible story
His explanation for why he was late to the meeting was a foolishly incredible story about being abducted by aliens.
Close fisted – To be mean
As known for being close-fisted when it came to lending money to his friends.
To square the circle – To attempt something impossible
Trying to convince her strict parents to let her go on a solo backpacking trip was like trying to square the circle.
Ball is in your court – Refers to the fact that its time for action now
She did her best and the ball is now in your court.
To pick and choose – To make a careful selection
She can’t just pick and choose which tasks she wants to do.
Clean Bill of Health – A person or a system or organisation has been examined and found in good condition, without facing any significant problems or issues.
The company’s financial statements and issued a clean bill of health.
Stress out – Means to become extremely anxious, overwhelmed, or mentally strained
She’s been really stressed out lately because of her heavy workload.
She is no chicken – She is older than she says
Despite her age, she is no chicken when it comes to taking on challenging tasks and responsibilities.
Clean Swipe – Means winning without facing any defeat.
The ruling party made a clean sweep in the election, winning all the seats in the parliament.
To Catch one’s eye – To attract attention
Her vibrant red dress and confident demeanor were enough to catch anyone’s eye as she walked into the room.
Care killed the cat – Don’t fret and worry yourself to death
She couldn’t resist opening the mysterious package despite the warning label and care killed the cat.
To burn the candle at both ends – Expend energy in two directions at the same time
Seems like he’s been burning the candle at both ends, trying to balance his responsibilities.
Good wine needs no bush – no need to advertise something good
Handcrafted wines spread far and wide, proving that good wine needs no bush.
To kick the bucket – To die
He was truly prepared to kick the bucket on his feet rather than live on his knees.
If the cap fits, wear it – If the remarks refer to you, then accept the criticism
Well, if the cap fits, wear it. You’ve been known to misplace things too.
To make bricks without straw – To do something without proper materials
Trying to complete this project with such limited resources feels like trying to make bricks without straw.
One’s bread and butter – One’s means of livelihood
Graphic design may be my passion, but web development is my bread and butter.
A Bolt from the Blue – Something completely unexpected that surprises you
Getting a job offer from that prestigious company was like a bolt from the blue.
At First Blush – First sight
At first blush, the proposal seems promising, but upon closer examination, its flaws become apparent.
A wet blanket – A person who discourages enjoyment or enthusiasm
Sarah’s constant pessimism and negative comments about potential challenges threw a wet blanket on their celebration.
In Cold Blood – Deliberately
In cold blood, she betrayed her closest friend, revealing all of their secrets to the world without a hint of remorse.
To bite the dust – To be defeated in battle
The ambitious project eventually bit the dust due to a lack of funding and support.
Behind the scenes – In private
Behind the scenes, the dedicated team of engineers worked tirelessly to ensure the flawless execution of the event.
To cause bad blood – To create feelings of resentment, hostility, or animosity
Spreading rumours about others eventually caused bad blood between her and the rest of the office.
To backbite a person – To speak negatively about someone in their absence
Sarah often backbites her colleagues, spreading rumors about them when they are not around.
Bag and baggage – The idiom is used to indicate the entirety of someone’s belongings
They left nothing behind, departing with their bag and baggage.
To have no backbone – Used to describe someone who lacks courage
He never takes any action to improve his situation; it’s clear that he has no backbone.
To keep the ball rolling – To continue an activity or process
The marketing team worked diligently to keep the ball rolling by organizing engaging events.
To take up arms – To prepare for battle or engage in a conflict
The labor union decided to take up arms against unfair working conditions.
On pins and needles – To be anxious or agitated
She was on pins and needles when I went on for the first time.
Below the belt – To pass a disrespectful, insulting or unethical comment
One candidate resorted to personal attacks and hit below the belt by bringing up his opponent’s family issues.
Roll up your sleeves – To prepare for hard work, mainly physical task
She rolled up her sleeves and helped the team instantly.
The other side of the coin – Looking at different aspects of a situation
Teams might elevate the sales rate but the other side of the coin is overburdening the employees.
Rock the boat – Doing something that causes problems
We already have too much homework; let’s not rock the boat and get more!
Take with a pinch of salt – When someone tells you something based on their opinion, rather than facts or evidence.
Take his advice with a pinch of salt, he is not very experienced in this field.
Call it a night – Halt your evening or nighttime activities.
Probably best to call it a night for today!
Clean as a whistle – Meaning is free from dirt
Like a fresh start, everything was clean as a whistle.
Two heads are better than one – Refers to the idea that having more than one person participate in an activity improves the quality.
Since two heads are better than one when it comes to solving problems.
Rising tide lifts all boats – It is associated with economic growth, wealth, and prosperity.
How a rising tide lifts all boats, as it helps the major corporate sector employees save money.
Tuck in – To put something in a secure place, to start eating, or to encourage someone to start eating something.
Mother cooked some delicious food and asked us to tuck in.

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30 Idioms with Examples and Their Meaning for Students

Top Idioms for Competitive Exams

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