Idioms are expressions where the literal meaning of the words doesn’t match their figurative meaning. Native speakers use them constantly, often without realizing it, which can make English conversations hard to follow for learners.
The good news? Once you understand idioms, you’ll comprehend conversations better, sound more natural, and connect more deeply with English-speaking culture.
In this guide, we’ll cover 30 common idioms you’ll hear everywhere, explain their meanings, give examples, and share a short origin story for each one to help you remember them better.
1. Break the Ice
Meaning: To start a conversation and make people feel comfortable.
Example: “The teacher told a funny story to break the ice on the first day of class.”
Origin: In the past, ships would literally “break the ice” in frozen waters to create a safe path. Similarly, in conversations, you “break the ice” to clear social tension.
2. Hit the Nail on the Head
Meaning: To describe something exactly or be completely correct.
Example: “When Sarah said the project failed because of poor planning, she hit the nail on the head.”
Origin: Comes from carpentry: hitting the nail perfectly drives it straight in, just like making an accurate statement.
3. Bite the Bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult situation with courage.
Example: “I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll bite the bullet and make an appointment.”
Origin: Before modern anesthesia, soldiers would bite on bullets during surgery to endure pain.
4. Under the Weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly ill or unwell.
Example: “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today, so I’ll stay home.”
Origin: Sailors used this phrase when feeling seasick and going “below deck” to recover — literally “under the weather.”
5. Spill the Beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: “He spilled the beans about the surprise party.”
Origin: Ancient Greeks used beans in secret votes. Spilling them accidentally revealed hidden results.
6. A Blessing in Disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad but turns out good later.
Example: “Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.”
Origin: From an 18th-century poem by James Hervey, the phrase highlights how troubles can hide positive outcomes.
7. The Ball Is in Your Court
Meaning: It’s your responsibility to act next.
Example: “I’ve explained the options; now the ball is in your court.”
Origin: Comes from tennis — once the ball crosses the net, it’s your turn to respond.
8. Call It a Day
Meaning: To stop working on something.
Example: “We’ve done enough; let’s call it a day.”
Origin: Originally used by laborers to announce the end of their work shift.
9. Costs an Arm and a Leg
Meaning: Extremely expensive.
Example: “That car costs an arm and a leg.”
Origin: Likely from the 18th century when expensive portraits were priced based on how many limbs were shown.
10. Piece of Cake
Meaning: Something very easy to do.
Example: “The exam was a piece of cake.”
Origin: Comes from 19th-century cakewalk competitions where the winner literally received a cake.
11. Burn the Midnight Oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: “She had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report.”
Origin: Before electric lights, oil lamps were used, and burning oil late into the night meant long working hours.
12. Cry Over Spilled Milk
Meaning: To waste time worrying about something that cannot be changed.
Example: “There’s no point crying over spilled milk; just clean it up.”
Origin: First used in the 17th century, likely referring to milk — once spilled, it can’t be recovered.
13. Hit the Sack
Meaning: To go to bed.
Example: “I’m exhausted; I’m going to hit the sack.”
Origin: Mattresses were once sacks filled with straw, so going to bed literally meant “hitting the sack.”
14. Kill Two Birds with One Stone
Meaning: To solve two problems with one action.
Example: “I killed two birds with one stone by shopping while waiting for my car service.”
Origin: The metaphor dates back to the 1600s, symbolizing efficiency: one throw, two results.
15. Beat Around the Bush
Meaning: To avoid talking about the main topic.
Example: “Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.”
Origin: Hunters would beat bushes to flush animals out but not face them directly — similar to avoiding direct answers.
16. Once in a Blue Moon
Meaning: Something very rare.
Example: “We only see each other once in a blue moon.”
Origin: A blue moon refers to a rare second full moon within a single calendar month.
17. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret accidentally.
Example: “Who let the cat out of the bag about the surprise?”
Origin: In medieval markets, piglets were sold in sacks; dishonest sellers sometimes substituted cats. Revealing the cat exposed the trick.
18. Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Meaning: To pursue the wrong assumption or solution.
Example: “If you blame me, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
Origin: Hunting dogs would sometimes bark at empty trees, thinking prey was there — a perfect metaphor for mistaken efforts.
19. Hit the Road
Meaning: To start a journey or leave.
Example: “We should hit the road early to avoid traffic.”
Origin: Popularized in 20th-century America, referring to literally “hitting the road” by walking or driving.
20. Pull Someone’s Leg
Meaning: To joke or tease.
Example: “Relax, I’m just pulling your leg.”
Origin: In 18th-century London, street thieves tripped victims by pulling their legs — over time, it became a lighthearted term.
21. Sit Tight
Meaning: To wait patiently.
Example: “Just sit tight until I call you.”
Origin: Likely comes from hunting commands given to dogs — “sit tight” meant staying perfectly still.
22. Back to Square One
Meaning: To start over after failure.
Example: “The experiment failed, so we’re back to square one.”
Origin: Believed to come from board games like Snakes and Ladders, where players had to return to the starting square.
23. Cut to the Chase
Meaning: To skip unnecessary details and get to the main point.
Example: “Let’s cut to the chase and talk about the budget.”
Origin: Early silent films ended with chase scenes; cutting straight to them meant skipping the buildup.
24. It’s Not Rocket Science
Meaning: Something simple or easy to understand.
Example: “Come on, it’s just basic math; it’s not rocket science.”
Origin: Emerged in the 20th century when rocket science was considered extremely complex.
25. Burn Bridges
Meaning: To destroy relationships or opportunities permanently.
Example: “Be careful not to burn bridges with former colleagues.”
Origin: Comes from military strategy — burning a bridge behind your army made retreat impossible.
26. Get Out of Hand
Meaning: When something becomes uncontrollable.
Example: “The protest got out of hand quickly.”
Origin: Refers to reins slipping out of a rider’s hand, causing a horse to become unmanageable.
27. Take It with a Grain of Salt
Meaning: To not take something too seriously.
Example: “Take his advice with a grain of salt; he tends to exaggerate.”
Origin: Ancient Romans believed consuming salt with antidotes neutralized poison — symbolizing caution.
28. The Best of Both Worlds
Meaning: Enjoying two different benefits at the same time.
Example: “Working from home gives me the best of both worlds.”
Origin: A phrase dating back to the 17th century, meaning an ideal compromise.
29. Keep an Eye on
Meaning: To watch carefully.
Example: “Keep an eye on the kids while I’m out.”
Origin: The expression comes from literally “keeping your eyes fixed” on something important.
30. Jump on the Bandwagon
Meaning: To join a popular trend.
Example: “Everyone’s buying electric cars, so I jumped on the bandwagon.”
Origin: In 19th-century parades, popular entertainers rode bandwagons, and politicians would “jump on” to share the spotlight.
How to Master Idioms
- Learn in context: Use movies, shows, and real-life conversations.
- Group by themes: Easier to memorize related idioms together.
- Practice daily: Use 1–2 new idioms in conversation each day.
- Review regularly: Use flashcards or spaced repetition apps like LanGeek Daily Words.
