100 Common English Idioms and Expressions | Resources for English as a Second Language Learners


Context clues are important tools for understanding the meaning of words and expressions that may be unfamiliar or unusual. When encountering an unfamiliar expression or idiom, it can be helpful to look at the context in which it is used to infer its meaning. This can include looking at the words and phrases that surround it, as well as the tone and intent of the speaker or writer.


However, there are some expressions and idioms that may not make sense even when considering their context. These can include regional expressions, slang, or cultural references that may be unfamiliar to someone outside of a particular group or location. In these cases, it may be necessary to ask for clarification or do further research to fully understand the meaning.

Here are 100 common English idioms and expressions along with their meanings:

  1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: Having something for certain is better than the possibility of getting something better.
  2. A penny for your thoughts: A way of asking someone what they are thinking.
  3. A picture is worth a thousand words: A picture can convey a message more effectively than words.
  4. Actions speak louder than words: What someone does is more important than what they say.
  5. Add insult to injury: To make a bad situation even worse.
  6. All ears: Listening intently and with interest.
  7. All in the same boat: In the same situation or predicament as someone else.
  8. An arm and a leg: Very expensive.
  9. Apple of my eye: A person who is cherished and loved.
  10. Back to the drawing board: To start over again from the beginning.
  11. Barking up the wrong tree: To make a mistake or be mistaken about something.
  12. Beat around the bush: To avoid talking about something directly.
  13. Better late than never: It's better to do something late than to never do it at all.
  14. Bite the bullet: To face a difficult situation with courage and determination.
  15. Break a leg: A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
  16. Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night.
  17. By the skin of your teeth: To just barely make it through something.
  18. Call it a day: To stop working for the day.
  19. Can't judge a book by its cover: You can't judge someone or something by their appearance alone.
  20. Caught between a rock and a hard place: To be in a difficult situation with no good options.
  21. Cost an arm and a leg: To be very expensive.
  22. Cross your fingers: A way to wish someone good luck.
  23. Cut corners: To do something quickly or cheaply by avoiding proper procedures.
  24. Cut the mustard: To meet the required standards.
  25. Devil's advocate: Someone who takes a position in an argument that they don't necessarily agree with, in order to challenge or test the other person's argument.
  26. Don't count your chickens before they hatch: Don't assume something will happen before it actually does.
  27. Don't cry over spilled milk: Don't worry about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
  28. Don't put all your eggs in one basket: To not focus all your resources or efforts on one thing.
  29. Down to the wire: To be very close to the deadline or the end of a project.
  30. Drop the ball: To make a mistake or fail to meet expectations.
  31. Every cloud has a silver lining: Even in a bad situation, there is something positive to be found.
  32. Face the music: To take responsibility for something you did wrong and face the consequences.
  33. Fair-weather friend: Someone who is only a friend when things are going well.
  34. Feather in one's cap: An achievement or accomplishment to be proud of.
  35. Fish out of water: To be in a situation where you feel uncomfortable or out of place.
  36. Fit as a fiddle: To be in excellent health.
  37. For the birds: Something that is not worth paying attention to.
  38. Go the extra mile: To do more than what is expected.
  39. Good things come to those who wait: If you are patient, good things will come to you eventually.
  40. Got the cat by the tail: To have control of a situation.
  41. Grass is greener on the other side: A belief that things are better somewhere else.
  42. Haste makes waste: If you rush through something, you are more likely to make mistakes.
  43. Hit the nail on the head: To be exactly right about something.
  44. In hot water: To be in trouble or facing consequences for something you did.
  45. In the nick of time: Just in time to avoid disaster.
  46. It takes two to tango: Both parties are responsible for a situation or problem.
  47. Jump on the bandwagon: To join a popular trend or movement.
  48. Keep your chin up: To stay positive during a difficult situation.
  49. Kick the bucket: To die.
  50. Kill two birds with one stone: To accomplish two things at once.
  51. Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret.
  52. Like a chicken with its head cut off: To act frantic and disorganized.
  53. Live and learn: To gain experience and knowledge through trial and error.
  54. Long in the tooth: To be old or past one's prime.
  55. Make ends meet: To make enough money to cover expenses.
  56. Miss the boat: To miss an opportunity.
  57. Money talks: To emphasize the importance of financial incentives or rewards.
  58. Needle in a haystack: Something that is very difficult or impossible to find.
  59. No pain, no gain: You have to work hard to achieve success.
  60. Once in a blue moon: Something that happens rarely.
  61. Out of the blue: Something that happens unexpectedly.
  62. Play it by ear: To improvise or make decisions as you go.
  63. Pull someone's leg: To tease or joke with someone.
  64. Put all your eggs in one basket: To focus all your resources or efforts on one thing.
  65. Put your money where your mouth is: To back up your words with action or investment.
  66. Right as rain: To be in perfect condition or health.
  67. See eye to eye: To agree or have the same opinion.
  68. Shot in the dark: To make a guess without much information or evidence.
  69. Sit tight: To wait patiently.
  70. Six of one, half a dozen of the other: Two things that are essentially the same.
  71. Sleep on it: To postpone making a decision until the next day.
  72. Slow and steady wins the race: To emphasize the importance of persistence and consistency.
  73. Smell a rat: To sense that something is not right or suspicious.
  74. Spill the beans: To reveal a secret.
  75. Steal someone's thunder: To take credit for someone else's work or idea.
  76. Straight from the horse's mouth: To hear something directly from the source.
  77. Take a rain check: To postpone plans or an invitation to a future date.
  78. Take the bull by the horns: To confront a difficult or challenging situation head-on.
  79. The ball is in your court: It is someone else's turn to take action or make a decision.
  80. The devil is in the details: Small details can have a big impact on the outcome of something.
  81. The early bird catches the worm: To emphasize the importance of starting early and being proactive.
  82. The elephant in the room: An obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss.
  83. The grass is always greener on the other side: To believe that things are better somewhere else.
  84. The whole nine yards: Everything possible or available.
  85. There are plenty of fish in the sea: There are many opportunities or potential partners available.
  86. There's a method to my madness: To have a reason behind seemingly crazy actions or decisions.
  87. There's no place like home: To emphasize the importance and comfort of one's home.
  88. There's no such thing as a free lunch: Everything has a cost or consequence.
  89. Throw in the towel: To give up or quit.
  90. Time flies when you're having fun: Time passes quickly when you are enjoying yourself.
  91. To each his own: Everyone has their own preferences or opinions.
  92. Two heads are better than one: Collaborating with someone else can lead to better ideas or solutions.
  93. Under the weather: To feel sick or unwell.
  94. Up in the air: Uncertain or undecided.
  95. When in Rome, do as the Romans do: To adapt to the customs and practices of a new environment.
  96. Whole new ball game: A completely different situation or challenge.
  97. Wild-goose chase: A fruitless and pointless search or pursuit.
  98. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink: You can provide someone with an opportunity, but you cannot force them to take it.
  99. You can't have your cake and eat it too: You cannot have two incompatible things at the same time.
  100. You're barking up the wrong tree: To make a mistake or be mistaken about something.
By learning and using these idioms and expressions, individuals can effectively communicate key concepts and ideas in English.
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