A List of the most commonly used English idioms

IDIOMS MEANINGS
1 A hot potato Speak of an issue which many people are talking about
and which is usually disputed
2 A penny for your thoughts A way of asking what someone is thinking
3 Actions speak louder than words People's intentions can be judged better by what they
do than what they say.
4 Add insult to injury To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen
an unfavorable situation.
5 An arm and a leg Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.

6 At the drop of a hat without any hesitation; instantly.

8 Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next decision or step

9 Barking up the wrong tree Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person
10 Be glad to see the back of Be happy when a person leaves.
11 Beat around the bush Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about
the issue.
12 Best of both worlds All the advantages.
13 Best thing since sliced bread A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.

14 Bite off more than you can chew To take on a task that is way to big.
15 Blessing in disguise Something good that isn't recognized at first.
16 Burn the midnight oil To work late into the night, alluding to the time before
electric lighting.
17 Can't judge a book by its cover Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.
18 Caught between two stools When someone finds it difficult to choose between
two alternatives.
19 Costs an arm and a leg Something is very expensive.
20 Cross that bridge when you come to it Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary,
not before.
21 Cry over spilt milk When you complain about a loss from the past.

22 Curiosity killed the cat Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant
situation.
23 Cut corners When something is done badly to save money.
24 Cut the mustard To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate
enough to compete or participate
25 Devil's Advocate To present a counter argument
26 Don't count your chickens before the Don't make plans for something that might not happen
eggs have hatched
27 Don't give up the day job You are not very good at something. You could
definitely not do it professionally.
28 Don't put all your eggs in one basket Do not put all your resources in one possibility.

29 Drastic times call for drastic measures When you are extremely desperate you need to take
drastic actions.
30 Elvis has left the building The show has come to an end. It's all over.
31 Every cloud has a silver lining Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better
days.
32 Far cry from Very different from.
33 Feel a bit under the weather Feeling slightly ill.
34 Give the benefit of the doubt Believe someone's statement, without proof.
35 Hear it on the grapevine 'to hear rumors' about something or someone.
36 Hit the nail on the head Do or say something exactly right
37 Hit the sack / sheets / hay To go to bed.
38 In the heat of the moment Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
39 It takes two to tango Actions or communications need more than one
person
40 Jump on the bandwagon Join a popular trend or activity.
41 Keep something at bay Keep something away.
42 Kill two birds with one stone to accomplish two different things at the same time.

43 Last straw The final problem in a series of problems.

46 Make a long story short Come to the point - leave out details
47 Method to my madness An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming
random, there actually is structure to it.
48 Miss the boat to say that someone missed his or her chance
49 Not a spark of decency No manners
50 Not playing with a full deck Someone who lacks intelligence.
51 Off one's rocker Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or
befuddled state of mind, senile.
52 On the ball When someone understands the situation well.
53 Once in a blue moon Happens very rarely.
54 Picture paints a thousand words A visual presentation is far more descriptive than
words.
55 Piece of cake A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
56 Put wool over other people's eyes to deceive someone into thinking well of them.
57 See eye to eye to say that two (or more people) agree on something

58 Sit on the fence when someone does not want to choose or make a
decision
59 Speak of the devil! used when the person you have just been talking
about arrives.
60 Steal someone's thunder To take the credit for something someone else did.
61 Take with a grain of salt not to take what someone says too seriously.
62 Taste of your own medicine Means that something happens to you, or is done to
you, that you have done to someone else
63 To hear something straight from the To hear something from the authoritative source.
horse's mouth
64 Whole nine yards Everything. All of it.
65 Wouldn't be caught dead Would never like to do something
66 Your guess is as good as mine To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question