Hi Guys! This is Matt, the Director of Studies at Langports Brisbane campus. There are, of course, many ways you can improve your English. One of these ways is to become more familiar with idioms. An idiom is an expression that has a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own (Are you confused yet!?!). For example, you probably know the famous English idiom, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” In English, we use this expression to say that it’s raining heavily. Here is a list of 30 common idioms you can try to use to improve your understanding of English.
1. It’s raining cats and dogs.
English meaning: It is raining heavily.
2. The straw that broke the camel’s back.
English meaning: you have reached the limit of your patience
3. As useful as a chocolate teapot.
English meaning: referring to a useless or pointless item or action
4. Like a seagull on a hot chip
English meaning: quick to take action
5. Let the cat out of the bag
English meaning: to reveal a secret or information previously hidden
6. That’s the way the cookie crumbles
English meaning: to say that sometimes bad things happen and there is nothing you can do. That is just how life goes.
7. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
English meaning: don’t put all your resources in one place. For example: don’t invest all your money in the same company.
8. A hot potato
English meaning: referring to a controversial issue/problem.
9. Open a can of worms
English meaning: to create a situation that will cause trouble or be unpleasant
10. That’s a piece of cake
English meaning: you consider something to be very easy.
11. At the drop of a hat
English meaning: doing something immediately
12. It rings a bell
English meaning: it sounds familiar
13. Champagne on a beer budget
English meaning: referring to someone who likes expensive things that they cannot afford.
14. To go the extra mile
English meaning: make an extra effort that was not expected.
15. To put your heart (and soul) into something
English meaning: to give a 100% effort into something.
16. To hit the road
English meaning: to begin a journey, to leave.
17. To be back on your feet
English meaning: to recover from an illness or bad situation.
18. To be blind as a bat
English meaning: somebody who can’t see very well.
19. To be in the same boat
English meaning: to be in the same unpleasant situation as someone else.
20. To explore all avenues
English meaning: you try out every possibility in order to obtain a result or find a solution
21. To be all ears
English meaning: listening carefully.
22. Cost an arm and a leg
English meaning: something that is very expensive.
23. Up a gum tree
English meaning: you are having a problem.
24. A ray of sunshine
English meaning: something or someone that makes you really happy.
25. Your bread and butter
English meaning: a job or activity that provides you with an income.
26. To make a killing
English meaning: to earn a lot of money in a short time
27. To play it by ear
English meaning: to improvise, to do whatever seems best at the time depending on the situation.
28. Drive up the wall
English meaning: being irritated or annoyed by something or somebody.
29. To break the ice
English meaning: to end or avoid an awkward situation by starting a conversation with someone about something.
30. To keep an eye on somebody
English meaning: to make sure you know what someone is doing.
Now that you’ve learnt 30 common English expressions, you can try to use them in your conversations.
Good luck guys!
Matt