Common Idioms in English
Idiom
Explanation
Example usage
A hot potato
An issue which many people are
talking about and which is
usually disputed
Don‘t give me a hot potato, man
1. your work is such a hot
potato, i can help you
2. that guy look like a hot potato
A penny for your
thoughts
A way of asking what someone
is thinking
You look angry, a penny for
your thoughts?
กำลังคิดอะไรอยู่
1. you look quiet today, a penny
for your thoughts?
2. why are you do that? a penny
for your thoughts?
People's intentions can be
judged better by what they do
than what they say.
1. don’t talk too much, action
speak louder than words
To further a loss with mockery or
indignity; to worsen an
unfavorable situation.
1.please don’t add insult to
injury
2.that guy already feel bad, you
don’t have to add insult to injury
An arm and a leg
Very expensive or costly. A large
amount of money.
Ex. That bag cost an arm!
1. I will cut an arm and a leg if I
can have that car!
At the drop of a hat
Without any hesitation; instantly.
ลังเล
ทันที
1. I will come at the drop of a
hat.
2. he decide at the drop of a
hat.
Back to the drawing
board
กลับสู่จุดเริ่มต้น
When an attempt fails and it's
time to start all over.
1.Hopefuly we don’t have to go
back to the drawing board
2.when we fail we go back to
the drawing board.
Barking up the wrong
tree
Looking in the wrong place.
Accusing the wrong person.
1. I think your barking up the
wrong tree
Be happy when a person leaves.
1.I will be glad to see the back
of him.
Actions speak louder
than words
กำรกระทำสำคัญกว่ำคำพู
ด
Add insult to injury
โรยเกลือใส่แผลสด
เพียงชัว
่ กระพริบตำ
กล่ำวหำคนผิดคน,กล่ำวห
ำอะไรผิดๆ
Be glad to see the
back of ...........
ดีใจที่จำก/จบไปซักที
Beat around the bush
2. I will be glad to see the back
of this homework.
Avoiding the main topic. Not
speaking directly about the
issue.
Ex. Stop beating around the
bush, answer my question.
1. It’s no use beating around the
bush
2. I don’t know what talking
about, you beating around the
bush
Best of both worlds
เก่งในทุกทำง เก่งรอบด้ำน
ดีทั้งสองแบบ
All the advantages.
1. I study in the city and I live in
the country, I got best of both
worlds
2. I left in the city and I live in
the country, I can’t get best of
both worlds
3. I can’t choose; I want best of
both worlds.
Best thing since
sliced bread
A good invention or innovation. A
good idea or plan.
Ex. Computer is the best thing
since sliced bread
1. This president is the worst
thing since slice bread
2. I really love my new phone
it’s the best thing since sliced
bread
Bite กัด off more than
you can chew เคี้ยว
ทำอะไรใหญ่เกินตัว
To take on a task that is way too
big.
Ex. I have to go to swimming
class and I have doctor
appointment at the same time, I
might bite off more than I can
chew
1. you should not bite off more
than you can chew
2. why are you bite off more
than you can chew
Blessing in disguise
Something good that isn't
recognized at first.
Ex. I wake up late this morning
so I miss my bus, but I have an
opportunity to exercise by
walking it’s a blessing in
disguise
1. government stupidity is a
blessing in disguise
To work late into the night.
ทำงำนจนดึก
อยู่ดึก/ ใช้พลังงำนจนดึก
1. i was burn the midnight oil
last night to finish the
homework.
2. i burn the midnight oil to play
game.
Judge ตัดสิน a book by Judge something primarily on
appearance.
its cover ปก
ตัดสินหนังสือจำกปก
มองแค่เปลือกนอก
Ex don’t judge a book by its
cover.
1. you don’t judge a book by its
cover, he is a prince!!!
เฉไฉ อ้อมค้อม อ้อมโลก
ดีที่สุดตั้งแต่ที่เคยมีมำ
โชคดีในโชคร้ำย
โชคร้ำยกลำยเป็นดี
Burn the midnight oil
ผ้ำขี้รว
ิ้ ห่อทอง
Caught between two
stools
ติดอยู่ระหว่ำงขี้สองก้อน
Cross that bridge
when you come to it
เมือ
่ ถึงเวลำค่อยตัดสินใจ
อย่ำกังวลไปก่อน
Cry over spilled milk
บ่นถึงอดีต
ร้องถึงสิ่งที่จบไปแล้ว
Curiosity คิว-ริ-ออส-สิ-ทิ
killed the cat.
2. he drive an old car but he the
richest man, don’t judge the
book by its cover
When someone finds it difficult to
choose between two
alternatives.
Ex. You have to choose
between your friends and you
boyfriends, you got caught
between two stools
1. some time I got caught
between two stools.
Deal with a problem if and when
it becomes necessary, not
before.
Ex. Don’t think about it now,
Cross that bridge when you
come to it.
1. Cross that bridge when you
come to it, it not the time to
decide now
2. some people like to Cross
that bridge when it comes to it.
When you complain about a loss
from the past.
1. my mother cry over every
spilled milk.
2. some case it past don’t cry
over spilled milk
Being Inquisitive can lead you
into an unpleasant situation.
1.sometime curiosity killed the
cat.
ควำมสงสัยฆ่ำแมวตำย
ควำมอยำกรู้อยำกเห็นทำใ
ห้แมวตำย
2.dont ask me any question,
curiosity killed the cat.
Cut corners มุม
ทำสิ่งที่ง่ำยทีส
่ ุด
ทำสิ่งที่ดีสุด
When something is done badly
to save money.
1. Don’t think so much, just cut
the corners.
2. I have to cut corners at
homework to save times.
Cut the mustard
To succeed; to come up to
expectations; adequate enough
to compete or participate
Ex. can’t cut the mustard
1. If you don’t fallow my advice,
you will not cut the mustard.
2. he can’t cut the mustard as a
teacher.
Play Devil's Advocate
To present a counter argument
(although it might not be one's
own opinion).
He is lying!!! Don’t play devil’s
advocate
I am bored of you playing devil’s
advocate to everything I side.
Don't count your
chickens before the
eggs have hatched.
Don't make plans for something
that might not happen.
Ex. You may win this time, but
don't count your chickens
before the eggs have hatched.
1. May be you will win the
match to day, but Don't count
your chickens before the eggs
have hatched.
ประสบควำมสำเร็จ
2. This match is not finish, you
can lose don't count your
chickens before the eggs have
hatched.
Don't give up the day
job. อย่ำชะล่ำใจ,
ไม่ได้เรื่อง
You are not very good at
something. You could definitely
not do it professionally.
1. Your good, don't give up the
day job.
2. I like your singing, so don't
give up the day job.
Don't put all your
eggs in one basket
อย่ำเสีย
่ งกับอะไรอย่ำงเดีย
ว อย่ำทุ่มเทไปทั้งหมด
Do not put all your resources in
one possibility.
1. You must have another plan,
don't put all your eggs in one
basket.
2. I should invest in many
things; I didn’t want to put all my
eggs in one basket
Drastic times call for
drastic measures.
ในเวลำที่หนักหน่วงต้องใ
ช้มำตรกำรทีห
่ นักหน่วง
(ใช้ไม้แข็ง)
When you are extremely
desperate you need to take
drastic actions.
Ex. My kids don’t want to do
homework so I forbid them from
playing game, Drastic times call
for drastic measures!!
1. if student don’t listen I will
give them a homework, Drastic
times call for drastic measures.
2. When the people came out to
demand democracy
authoritarian government must
use drastic times call for drastic
measures.
Elvis has left the
building.
The show has come to an end.
It's all over.
When an undercover corps
asks me about flash mob, so I
reply to him that Elvis has left
the building.
Every cloud has a
silver lighting.
Be optimistic, even difficult times
will lead to better days.
Don‘t give up every cloud has a
silver lighting.
Far cry from
Very different from.
Old english is a far cry from the
english we speak today.
Feel a bit under the
weather.
Feeling slightly ill.
I Feel a bit under the weather to
day.
Give the benefit of the
doubt
Believe someone's statement,
without proof.
I don‘t belive him, but give him
the benefit of the doubt.
Hit the nail on the
head
พูดขวำนผ่ำซำก
Meaning: to say something that
is exactly.
I like talking with him, because
his word hit the nail on the
head.
Let the cat out of the
bag
เปิดเผยควำมลับออกมำ
Share information that was
previously kept a secret.
I want to surprise my father in
his birthday but my brother Let
the cat out of the bag.
บ้ำไปแล้ว เพี้ยน
Crazy, demented, out of one's
mind, in a confused or befuddled
state of mind, senile.
Don’t do that, it look like your
Off your's rocker.
On the ball
กระตือรือร้น ใส่ใจ
When someone understands the
situation well.
You should stay on the ball.
Once in a blue moon
Something happens very rarely.
I can‘t remember, because its
happen once in a blue moon.
A visual presentation is far more
descriptive than words.
We should take her to see it for
herself because a Picture paints
a thousand words.
A job, task or other activity that is
easy or simple.
This word is a piece of cake.
To deceive someone into
thinking well of them.
He is trying to put wool over
your eyes.
Two (or more people) agree on
something.
Me and you lets see eye to eye.
Someone does not want to
choose or make a decision.
When your friends fight, is best
to just sit on the fence and not
make them angry
Speak of the devil!
When the person you have just
been talking about arrives.
We talk about you just a
moment ago, speak of the devil
Steal someone's
thunder
To take the credit for something
someone else did.
I don’t want any one to steal my
thunder
Take with a grain of
salt
ฟังหูไว้หู
Not to take what someone says
too seriously.
Don’t trust all of them, take with
a grain of salt
Taste of your own
medicine
Something happens to you or is
done to you, that you have done
to someone else.
When he broke my heart I will
give him a taste of his own
medicine
The ball is in your
court
กำรตัดสินใจอยูท
่ ี่คณ
ุ แล้ว
It is up to you to make the next
decision or step.
Don’t be serious, the ball is in
your court.
To hear something
straight from the
horse's mouth
To hear something from the
authoritative source.
I want to hear it straight from
the horse's mouth.
Off one's rocker
เกิดขึ้นนำนครั้ง
A Picture paints a
thousand words.
หนึ่งภำพมีคำ่ หนึ่งพันคำ
Piece of cake
เรื่องกล้วยๆ ง่ำยๆ
Put wool over other
people's eyes
ปิดหูปิดตำให้เชื่อ
See eye to eye
ตำต่อตำ ฟันต่อฟัน
Sit on the fence
โลเล ลังเล ไม่ตัดสินใจ
กรรมตำมสนอง
Whole nine yards
Everything. All of it.
I have a whole nine yards of car
Wouldn't be caught
dead
Would never like to do
something.
I wouldn't be caught dead
blakmail him.
Your guess is as good To have no idea, do not know
as mine.
the answer to a question.
พอๆกัน
Don’t be happy, your guess is
as bad as mine.