1. Idioms: a blessing in disguise Meaning: a good thing that seemed bad at first. Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise. 2. Idioms: a picture is worth 1000 words Meaning: a picture tells a story just as well as, if not better than, written words. Example: please could you sketch out a floor plan? A picture is worth a thousand words. 3. Idioms: a piece of cake Meaning: really easy Example: That exam was a piece of cake! 4. Idioms: actions speak louder than words Meaning: what someone actually does means more than what they say they will do. Example: I’m going to wait for him to show me he loves me because actions speak louder than words. 5. Idioms: add insult to injury Meaning: to act in a way that makes a bad situation worse. Example: I was late and, to add insult to injury, I forget my keys. 6. Idioms: as cheap as chips Meaning: really cheap Example: Don’t worry about paying me back they were as cheap as chips! 7. Idioms: barking up the wrong tree Meaning: to be wrong about the way to achieve something or the reason for something. Example: I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. Rather than reading the textbook cover to cover, you should try the SPRRY method. 8. Idioms: beat around the bush Meaning: avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable. Example: I’m not going to beat around the bush I hate your boyfriend. 9. Idioms: better late than never Meaning: it is better to arrive or do something later than expected than to not arrive or not do something at all. Example: Wow! She finally turned up! Better late than never! 10. Idioms: bite off more than you can chew Meaning: to try to do something that is too difficult or too much for you. Example: I have bitten off more than I can chew with this 100 idioms video! 11. Idioms: bite the bullet Meaning: to force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, Or to be brave in a difficult situation. Example: I’m going to bite the bullet and quite my job. 12. Idioms: break a leg Meaning: good luck Example: Break a leg tonight! You’re an amazing actor! 13. Idioms: break the ice Meaning: to make people who have not met each other before feel more relaxed and comfortable Example: I’ve organized a fun game to help us all break the ice! 14. Idioms: to call it a day Meaning: to stop what you are doing because you think you have done enough or do not want to do any more. Example: I’m exhausted I think I’m going to call it a day! 15. Idioms: cost an arm and a leg Meaning: to be very expensive Example: That coat looks like it cost you an arm and a leg! 16. Idioms: cut corners Meaning: to do something in the fastest easiest or cheapest way. Example: This report is of poor quality I think the author may have cut some corners. 17. Idioms: cut somebody some slack Meaning: to give someone additional freedom Example: Because it was the last day of class the teacher cut the students some slack. 18. Idioms: don’t give up your day job Meaning: used for telling somebody that you don’t think they’re very good at something. Example: your drum solo was very entertaining but don’t give up the day job! 19. Idioms: put all your eggs in one basket Meaning: to depend for success on a single person or plan Example: I’m applying for several jobs because I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. 20. Idioms: easy does it Meaning: used to tell someone to do something carefully slowly Example: easy does it! Don’t spill that paint! 21.Idioms: every cloud has a silver lining Meaning: every negative has a positive Example: Every cloud has a silver lining after being made redundant I found my dream job! 22. Idioms: get a taste of your medicine Meaning: get treated the way you’ve been treating other people Example: the nasty prison warden got a taste of his own medicine after being thrown in jail. 23. Idioms: to get out of hand Meaning: to become difficult to control Example: over Christmas our spending got a little out of hand. 24. Idioms: to get something out of your system Meaning: to get rid of a wish or emotion, especially a negative one, by allowing yourself to express it. Example: I went and bought that dress I was thinking about all day I had to get it out of my system! 25. Idioms: to get your act together Meaning: to start to organize yourself so that you do things in an effective way Example: My desk is a complete mess. I need to get my act together! 26. Idioms: to give someone the cold shoulder Meaning: to ignore someone Example: I think sally is giving me the cold shoulder! 27. Idioms: to go back the drawing board Meaning: to start planning something again because the first plan failed Example: well that didn’t work! Let’s go back to the drawing board. 28. Idioms: good things come to those who wait Meaning: be patient Example: stop rushing me! Good things come to those who wait 29. Idioms: hang in there Meaning: said as a way to tell people to not give up hope, even through difficulties Example: final exams are tough, but hang in there and it’ll be ok. 30. Idioms: to hit the nail on the head Meaning: to get something exactly right Example: you’ve hit the nail on the head that is the route we should have taken! 31. Idioms: to hit the sack Meaning: to go to the bed Example: I’m tired do you mind if I hit the sack? 32. Idioms: ignorance is bliss Meaning: you’re better off not knowing Example: I could ask my boss if she’s planning to fire me, but ignorance is bliss. 33. Idioms: in a nutshell Meaning: in the fewest possible words Example: in a nutshell, everything went wrong. 34. Idioms: it takes one to know one Meaning: you’re just as bad as I am Example: you’re such a gossip it takes one to know one! 35. Idioms: to jump on the bandwagon Meaning: to join an activity, trend or opinion that has become popular Example: I’ve jumped on the bandwagon and downloaded fortnight. 36. Idioms: to keep one’s chin up Meaning: to keep one’s spirits high Example: I’m trying to keep my chin up after receiving that rejection letter. 37. Idioms: to leave no stone unturned Meaning: try every possible course of action in order to get something done Example: He left no stone unturned in his search for his natural mother. 38. Idioms: to let sleeping dogs lie Meaning: to leave a situation as it is, in order to not make it worse Example: I think we should let sleeping dogs lie and avoid confronting her about her issues. 39. Idioms: to let the cat out of the bag Meaning: to reveal a secret Example: Don’t let the cat out of the bag because the party is a surprise. 40. Idioms: to miss the boat Meaning: to be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity Example: I waited too long for the house prices to drop and I missed the boat. 41. Idioms: neck of the woods Meaning: the area where someone comes from, or the area where you are Example: I’m surprised to see you in this neck of the woods. 42. Idioms: no pain, no gain Meaning: suffering is necessary on order to achieve something Example: I’ve been going to the gym twice a day and my muscle ache but no pain no gain! 43. Idioms: not one’s cup of tea Meaning: someone doesn’t like or isn’t interested in something Example: I’m sorry but line dancing really isn’t my cup of tea 44. Idioms: off the top one’s head Meaning: from memory without a lot of thought or consideration Example: off the top of my head, I think she’s been engaged 5 times. 45. Idioms: on the ball Meaning: alert to new ideas, methods and trends Example: I like hanging out with younger people it keeps me on the ball. 46. Idioms: on thin ice Meaning: on probation if you make another mistake there will be trouble Example: I’m on thin ice after my behavior at the office party. 47. Idioms: once on a blue moon Meaning: rarely very infrequently Example: I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon, but when I do go I really enjoy it. 48. Idioms: to play devil’s advocate Meaning: to argue the opposite just for the sake of argument Example: I don’t want t play devil’s advocate but are you really going out dressed like that? 49. Idioms: to play something by ear Meaning: to plan something in an improvised way deciding what to do as plan develops Example: instead of booking a table this weekend shall we just play it by ear? 50. Idioms: to pull someone’s leg Meaning: to playfully deceive someone Example: Are you actually leaving your job or are you pulling my leg? 51. Idioms: pull yourself together Meaning: recover control of your emotions Example: I need to pull myself together and stop crying! 52. Idioms: to rain on someone’s parade Meaning: to spoil something Example: I don’t want to rain on your parade but I think you’ve made a huge mistake in your thesis. 53. Idioms: to rock the boat Meaning: to do or say something that could cause a problem or disturbance Example: the team is getting on really well at the moment so let’s not rock the boat. 54. Idioms: to save something for a rainy day Meaning: to save something for when you need it Example: I think you should save that bonus for a rainy day. 55. Idioms: to see eye to eye Meaning: to agree Example: I really don’t see eye to eye with my father 56. Idioms: to shed light on something Meaning: to reveal information about or to clarify something Example: please could you shed some light on your absence yesterday! 57. Idioms: to sit on the fence Meaning: to avoid making a decision or choice Example: I am sitting on the fence, I really can’t choose between these 2 adorable puppies. 58. Idioms: to sit tight Meaning: refrain from taking action or changing one’s mind Example: the estate agent advised us to sit tight and neither buy nor sell. 59. Idioms: to smell rat Meaning: to begin to suspect trickery or deception Example: when she passed away, investigators were called in and soon smelt a rat. 60. Idioms: so far so good Meaning: used to say that something is progressing well with no problems up the present. Example: how is the new job? So far so good!
