Top 100 English Idioms¶

"Unlock the power of expression with the most popular English idioms"

English idioms add color and depth to the language, offering unique ways to express ideas. This list presents the top 100 idioms, complete with their meanings and examples, to help you understand and use them effectively in conversation and writing.

Topics¶

Top 100 English Idioms

Overview¶

Title: "Top 100 English Idioms: Meaning and Example"
Subtitle: "Unlock the power of expression with the most popular English idioms"
Tagline: "Unlock the power of expression with the most popular English idioms"
Description: "This list presents the top 100 idioms, complete with their meanings and examples, to help you understand and use them effectively in conversation and writing."
Keywords: Idioms, English, Expressions, Meanings, Examples, Phrases, Language, Communication

Cheat¶

# Top 100 English Idioms
- Meaning and Example
- Unlock the power of expression with the most popular English idioms
- This list presents the top 100 idioms, complete with their meanings and examples, to help you understand and use them effectively in conversation and writing.
- 5 Topics

## Topics
- Common Idioms: Expressions, Meanings, Examples, Usage, Language
- Animal Idioms: Phrases, Meanings, Examples, Animals, Usage
- Food Idioms: Expressions, Meanings, Examples, Food, Usage
- Weather Idioms: Phrases, Meanings, Examples, Weather, Usage
- Body Idioms: Expressions, Meanings, Examples, Body, Usage

Common Idioms¶

"Everyday phrases with unique meanings"

Common idioms are widely used in everyday conversation. They add flavor to the language and often have meanings that aren't immediately obvious from the words themselves.

Break the ice
Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social setting.
Example: "He told a joke to break the ice at the party."
Bite the bullet
Meaning: To endure a painful or otherwise unpleasant situation that is seen as unavoidable.
Example: "I decided to bite the bullet and start the challenging project."
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
Example: "She hit the nail on the head when she identified the lack of communication as the main issue."
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret or a surprise by accident.
Example: "He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party."
Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell.
Example: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather today."
Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to bed.
Example: "I'm exhausted; I think I'll hit the sack."
The ball is in your court
Meaning: It's your decision or responsibility to do something.
Example: "I've done my part, now the ball is in your court."
A blessing in disguise
Meaning: A good thing that initially seemed bad.
Example: "Losing that job was a blessing in disguise."
You can't judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don't judge something based on its appearance.
Example: "He may look rough, but you can't judge a book by its cover."
Go the extra mile
- Meaning: To make an extra effort.
- Example: "She always goes the extra mile to ensure her clients are satisfied."
Once in a blue moon
- Meaning: Very rarely.
- Example: "He only visits his hometown once in a blue moon."
Back to the drawing board
- Meaning: Start over.
- Example: "Our plan didn't work out, so it's back to the drawing board."
Cut to the chase
- Meaning: Get to the point.
- Example: "Let's cut to the chase and discuss the main issue."
On the same page
- Meaning: In agreement.
- Example: "Let's make sure we're on the same page before we proceed."
Miss the boat
- Meaning: Miss an opportunity.
- Example: "If you don't act now, you'll miss the boat."
Call it a day
- Meaning: Stop working on something.
- Example: "I'm tired; let's call it a day."
A dime a dozen
- Meaning: Very common.
- Example: "These kinds of mistakes are a dime a dozen."
Break the bank
- Meaning: Spend all your money.
- Example: "Buying a new car would break the bank."
Burn the midnight oil
- Meaning: Work late into the night.
- Example: "I had to burn the midnight oil to meet the deadline."
In the nick of time
- Meaning: Just in time.
- Example: "We finished the project in the nick of time."

Animal Idioms¶

"Expressions inspired by the animal kingdom"

Animal idioms draw upon the characteristics and behaviors of animals to convey meanings in a vivid and memorable way.

Curiosity killed the cat
Meaning: Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.
Example: "Don't ask too many questions about their relationship; curiosity killed the cat."
Birds of a feather flock together
Meaning: People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with each other.
Example: "All the artists in town seem to know each other; birds of a feather flock together."
A bull in a china shop
Meaning: Someone who is very clumsy in a delicate situation.
Example: "He was like a bull in a china shop, knocking over everything."
The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: Success comes to those who prepare well and put in effort early.
Example: "I always wake up early to study; the early bird catches the worm."
Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait a moment; be patient.
Example: "Hold your horses! We haven't finished packing yet."
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret by accident.
Example: "She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party."
When pigs fly
Meaning: Something that will never happen.
Example: "He'll clean his room when pigs fly."
Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To accomplish two things at once.
Example: "I killed two birds with one stone by shopping and meeting a friend."
The elephant in the room
Meaning: An obvious problem that people avoid discussing.
Example: "The budget deficit is the elephant in the room."
Take the bull by the horns
- Meaning: To confront a problem directly.
- Example: "She took the bull by the horns and addressed the issue with her boss."
Barking up the wrong tree
- Meaning: To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.
- Example: "If you think I took your book, you're barking up the wrong tree."
Let sleeping dogs lie
- Meaning: Avoid interfering in a situation that is currently causing no problems.
- Example: "Don't bring up past disagreements; let sleeping dogs lie."
Apple of my eye
- Meaning: Someone who is cherished above others.
- Example: "Her grandson is the apple of her eye."
Beating a dead horse
- Meaning: To continue a particular endeavor that is a waste of time as the outcome is already decided.
- Example: "We need to move on from this project; we're beating a dead horse."
A wolf in sheep's clothing
- Meaning: Someone who hides malicious intent under the guise of kindness.
- Example: "Be careful of him; he's a wolf in sheep's clothing."
Cat got your tongue?
- Meaning: Used when someone is unexpectedly silent.
- Example: "Why are you so quiet? Cat got your tongue?"
Chicken out
- Meaning: To decide not to do something because of fear.
- Example: "He was going to ask her out, but he chickened out."
Cry wolf
- Meaning: To raise a false alarm.
- Example: "If you keep crying wolf, people won't believe you when you're really in trouble."
Dark horse
- Meaning: A candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.
- Example: "He was the dark horse in the election, but he won by a landslide."
Fish out of water
- Meaning: Someone who is uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation.
- Example: "She felt like a fish out of water at her new school."

Food Idioms¶

"Tasty phrases with hidden meanings"

Food idioms often use cooking and eating as metaphors to describe various situations and behaviors.

Piece of cake
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.
Example: "The test was a piece of cake."
Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal secret information.
Example: "She spilled the beans about the surprise."
Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To earn money to support your family.
Example: "He works hard to bring home the bacon."
Full of beans
Meaning: Very energetic and lively.
Example: "The kids are always full of beans after recess."
Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: Don't take what someone says too seriously.
Example: "I take his advice with a grain of salt."
Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more than you can handle.
Example: "I bit off more than I could chew by taking on two jobs."
In hot water
Meaning: In trouble or in a difficult situation.
Example: "He found himself in hot water after missing the deadline."
Not my cup of tea
Meaning: Not to one's liking.
Example: "Horror movies are not my cup of tea."
Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To complain about a loss from the past.
Example: "It's no use crying over spilled milk; we need to move on."
Jump on the bandwagon
- Meaning: To join others in doing something that is currently popular.
- Example: "He jumped on the bandwagon and started using the new app."
Easy as pie
- Meaning: Very easy.
- Example: "Fixing the computer was easy as pie."
Have your cake and eat it too
- Meaning: To have or do two good things at the same time that are impossible to have or do at the same time.
- Example: "You can't save money and spend it at the same time. You can't have your cake and eat it too."
In a nutshell
- Meaning: Summarized in a few words.
- Example: "In a nutshell, he decided to quit."
Sell like hotcakes
- Meaning: To sell quickly and in large quantities.
- Example: "The new game is selling like hotcakes."
Butter someone up
- Meaning: To flatter someone to gain favor.
- Example: "He's trying to butter up his boss to get a promotion."
Bad apple
- Meaning: A person who negatively influences others.
- Example: "One bad apple can spoil the whole group."
Egg on your face
- Meaning: To be embarrassed or humiliated.
- Example: "She had egg on her face after forgetting her lines."
Food for thought
- Meaning: Something to think about.
- Example: "His suggestion gave us a lot of food for thought."
Cup of joe
- Meaning: A cup of coffee.
- Example: "I need a cup of joe to start my day."
Bring home the bread
- Meaning: To earn money to support your family.
- Example: "He's working hard to bring home the bread."

Weather Idioms¶

"Weather-based phrases that brighten up the language"

Weather idioms often reflect human emotions and life situations using weather-related terms.

Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell.
Example: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather today."
It’s raining cats and dogs
Meaning: It’s raining very heavily.
Example: "We can't go out now; it's raining cats and dogs."
Storm in a teacup
Meaning: A lot of fuss about something that is not important.
Example: "The argument was just a storm in a teacup."
Break the ice
Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social setting.
Example: "He told a joke to break the ice at the party."
Come rain or shine
Meaning: No matter what happens.
Example: "We'll be there, come rain or shine."
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely.
Example: "He only visits his hometown once in a blue moon."
Out of the blue
Meaning: Unexpectedly.
Example: "She called me out of the blue."
Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: There is something good in every bad situation.
Example: "Even though you lost your job, remember that every cloud has a silver lining."
Steal someone's thunder
Meaning: To take credit for someone else's idea.
Example: "He stole my thunder by announcing my idea."
Throw caution to the wind
- Meaning: To take a risk.
- Example: "She threw caution to the wind and quit her job."
Calm before the storm
- Meaning: A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis.
- Example: "The negotiations seemed smooth, but it was just the calm before the storm."
Chasing rainbows
- Meaning: Trying to achieve something impossible.
- Example: "You're chasing rainbows if you think you can finish this project in one day."
Face like thunder
- Meaning: A very angry expression.
- Example: "He came into the room with a face like thunder."
Get wind of
- Meaning: To hear a rumor about something.
- Example: "She got wind of the surprise party."
Head in the clouds
- Meaning: To be daydreaming or not paying attention.
- Example: "He's always got his head in the clouds during meetings."
Lightning fast
- Meaning: Very fast.
- Example: "The response was lightning fast."
Rain on someone's parade
- Meaning: To spoil someone's plans.
- Example: "I hate to rain on your parade, but the event is canceled."
Snowed under
- Meaning: Overwhelmed with work.
- Example: "I'm snowed under with paperwork."
Under a cloud
- Meaning: Suspected of something.
- Example: "He's been under a cloud since the investigation started."
Weather the storm
- Meaning: To survive a difficult situation.
- Example: "We need to weather the storm and wait for better times."

Body Idioms¶

"Expressions that put the body in the spotlight"

Body idioms use parts of the body as metaphors to describe actions, feelings, or situations.

Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive.
Example: "The new car cost me an arm and a leg."
Cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous about something.
Example: "She got cold feet before her wedding."
Get something off your chest
Meaning: To talk about something that has been bothering you.
Example: "I had to get it off my chest, so I told her the truth."
Head over heels
Meaning: Very much in love.
Example: "They are head over heels for each other."
Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch someone or something carefully.
Example: "Can you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?"
Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous.
Example: "I always get butterflies in my stomach before a presentation."
Apple of my eye
Meaning: Someone very dear.
Example: "Her grandson is the apple of her eye."
Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something.
Example: "I wanted to tell him off, but I bit my tongue."
Cry your heart out
Meaning: To cry a lot.
Example: "She cried her heart out after the breakup."
Cross your fingers
- Meaning: To hope that something will happen the way you want it to.
- Example: "I'm crossing my fingers that I get the job."
Elbow grease
- Meaning: Hard physical effort.
- Example: "This stain won't come out without some elbow grease."
Eye for an eye
- Meaning: Retribution or revenge.
- Example: "He wants an eye for an eye after the accident."
Get cold feet
- Meaning: To suddenly become nervous about something.
- Example: "He got cold feet and called off the wedding."
Have a heart
- Meaning: Be compassionate or generous.
- Example: "Have a heart and let him stay for the night."
Head in the clouds
- Meaning: To be daydreaming or not paying attention.
- Example: "He's always got his head in the clouds during meetings."
Heart of gold
- Meaning: A very kind and good-natured personality.
- Example: "She has a heart of gold and always helps others."
Itchy feet
- Meaning: The need to travel or move on.
- Example: "After a year in one place, I get itchy feet."
Keep your chin up
- Meaning: Stay positive.
- Example: "Keep your chin up, things will get better."
Lend a hand
- Meaning: To help someone.
- Example: "Can you lend a hand with this project?"
Long in the tooth
- Meaning: Old.
- Example: "He's a bit long in the tooth to be playing football."

Top 100 List¶

Break the ice (Common)
Bite the bullet (Common)
Hit the nail on the head (Common)
Let the cat out of the bag (Common)
Under the weather (Common)
Curiosity killed the cat (Animal)
Birds of a feather flock together (Animal)
A bull in a china shop (Animal)
The early bird catches the worm (Animal)
Hold your horses (Animal)
Piece of cake (Food)
Spill the beans (Food)
Bring home the bacon (Food)
Full of beans (Food)
Take it with a grain of salt (Food)
Under the weather (Weather)
It’s raining cats and dogs (Weather)
Storm in a teacup (Weather)
Break the ice (Weather)
Come rain or shine (Weather)
Cost an arm and a leg (Body)
Cold feet (Body)
Get something off your chest (Body)
Head over heels (Body)
Keep an eye on (Body)
Hit the sack (Common)
Barking up the wrong tree (Animal)
Butterflies in your stomach (Body)
On cloud nine (Weather)
The ball is in your court (Common)
A blessing in disguise (Common)
Let sleeping dogs lie (Animal)
Apple of my eye (Body)
When pigs fly (Animal)
Bite off more than you can chew (Food)
You can't judge a book by its cover (Common)
Go the extra mile (Common)
In hot water (Food)
Kill two birds with one stone (Animal)
Through thick and thin (Common)
Not my cup of tea (Food)
Cry over spilled milk (Food)
Jump on the bandwagon (Common)
Once in a blue moon (Weather)
Back to the drawing board (Common)
Cut to the chase (Common)
The elephant in the room (Animal)
Put all your eggs in one basket (Food)
Every cloud has a silver lining (Weather)
On the same page (Common)
Out of the blue (Weather)
Spill the beans (Food)
Miss the boat (Common)
Pull someone's leg (Body)
Call it a day (Common)
A dime a dozen (Common)
Break the bank (Common)
Burn the midnight oil (Common)
Easy as pie (Food)
Face the music (Body)
Have your cake and eat it too (Food)
Hit the jackpot (Common)
In the nick of time (Common)
It's not rocket science (Common)
Jump the gun (Common)
Keep your chin up (Body)
Know the ropes (Common)
Leave no stone unturned (Common)
Let the cat out of the bag (Animal)
Long in the tooth (Animal)
Make a long story short (Common)
On the ball (Common)
Play it by ear (Body)
Pull out all the stops (Common)
Raining cats and dogs (Weather)
Run out of steam (Common)
Save your breath (Common)
Sink or swim (Common)
Steal someone's thunder (Weather)
Take the bull by the horns (Animal)
The best of both worlds (Common)
The whole nine yards (Common)
Throw in the towel (Common)
Time flies (Common)
Under the gun (Common)
Up in the air (Weather)
Water under the bridge (Weather)
Wear your heart on your sleeve (Body)
Wrap your head around (Body)
Your guess is as good as mine (Common)
Zero tolerance (Common)
As fit as a fiddle (Body)
Barking up the wrong tree (Animal)
Beating around the bush (Common)
Better late than never (Common)
Between a rock and a hard place (Common)
Bite the bullet (Common)
Bite the dust (Common)
Bury the hatchet (Common)
By the skin of your teeth (Body)
Can't make heads or tails of it (Body)
Caught red-handed (Common)
Cross that bridge when you come to it (Common)

Top 100 Table¶

Rank	Name	Topic	Tagline
1	Break the ice	Common	"To initiate conversation"
2	Bite the bullet	Common	"To endure an unpleasant situation"
3	Hit the nail on the head	Common	"To describe exactly what's causing a situation"
4	Let the cat out of the bag	Common	"To reveal a secret by accident"
5	Under the weather	Common	"Feeling ill"
6	Curiosity killed the cat	Animal	"Being too inquisitive leads to trouble"
7	Birds of a feather flock together	Animal	"Similar people associate together"
8	A bull in a china shop	Animal	"Very clumsy in a delicate situation"
9	The early bird catches the worm	Animal	"Success comes to early risers"
10	Hold your horses	Animal	"Wait a moment"
11	Piece of cake	Food	"Very easy to do"
12	Spill the beans	Food	"To reveal secret information"
13	Bring home the bacon	Food	"To earn money for the family"
14	Full of beans	Food	"Very energetic"
15	Take it with a grain of salt	Food	"Don't take it too seriously"
16	Under the weather	Weather	"Feeling ill"
17	It’s raining cats and dogs	Weather	"Raining very heavily"
18	Storm in a teacup	Weather	"Fuss about a minor issue"
19	Break the ice	Weather	"To initiate conversation"
20	Come rain or shine	Weather	"No matter what happens"
21	Cost an arm and a leg	Body	"Very expensive"
22	Cold feet	Body	"Feeling nervous"
23	Get something off your chest	Body	"Talk about something bothering you"
24	Head over heels	Body	"Very much in love"
25	Keep an eye on	Body	"Watch carefully"
26	Hit the sack	Common	"To go to bed"
27	Barking up the wrong tree	Animal	"Pursuing a wrong course"
28	Butterflies in your stomach	Body	"Feeling nervous"
29	On cloud nine	Weather	"Very happy"
30	The ball is in your court	Common	"It's your decision"
31	A blessing in disguise	Common	"A good thing that seemed bad at first"
32	Let sleeping dogs lie	Animal	"Don't disturb a situation"
33	Apple of my eye	Body	"Someone very dear"
34	When pigs fly	Animal	"Something that will never happen"
35	Bite off more than you can chew	Food	"Take on too much"
36	You can't judge a book by its cover	Common	"Don't judge by appearance"
37	Go the extra mile	Common	"Make a special effort"
38	In hot water	Food	"In trouble"
39	Kill two birds with one stone	Animal	"Solve two problems at once"
40	Through thick and thin	Common	"In good and bad times"
41	Not my cup of tea	Food	"Not to one's liking"
42	Cry over spilled milk	Food	"Complain about a past event"
43	Jump on the bandwagon	Common	"Join a trend"
44	Once in a blue moon	Weather	"Very rarely"
45	Back to the drawing board	Common	"Start over"
46	Cut to the chase	Common	"Get to the point"
47	The elephant in the room	Animal	"An obvious problem"
48	Put all your eggs in one basket	Food	"Risk everything on one thing"
49	Every cloud has a silver lining	Weather	"There is something good in every bad situation"
50	On the same page	Common	"In agreement"
51	Out of the blue	Weather	"Unexpectedly"
52	Spill the beans	Food	"To reveal secret information"
53	Miss the boat	Common	"Miss an opportunity"
54	Pull someone's leg	Body	"To joke"
55	Call it a day	Common	"Stop working for the day"
56	A dime a dozen	Common	"Very common"
57	Break the bank	Common	"Spend all your money"
58	Burn the midnight oil	Common	"Work late into the night"
59	Easy as pie	Food	"Very easy"
60	Face the music	Body	"Accept the consequences"
61	Have your cake and eat it too	Food	"Have everything"
62	Hit the jackpot	Common	"Have great success"
63	In the nick of time	Common	"Just in time"
64	It's not rocket science	Common	"Not complicated"
65	Jump the gun	Common	"Start too soon"
66	Keep your chin up	Body	"Stay positive"
67	Know the ropes	Common	"Understand the details"
68	Leave no stone unturned	Common	"Try everything"
69	Let the cat out of the bag	Animal	"Reveal a secret"
70	Long in the tooth	Animal	"Old"
71	Make a long story short	Common	"Summarize"
72	On the ball	Common	"Alert"
73	Play it by ear	Body	"Improvise"
74	Pull out all the stops	Common	"Do everything possible"
75	Raining cats and dogs	Weather	"Raining heavily"
76	Run out of steam	Common	"Lose energy"
77	Save your breath	Common	"Don't bother speaking"
78	Sink or swim	Common	"Succeed or fail without help"
79	Steal someone's thunder	Weather	"Take credit for someone else's idea"
80	Take the bull by the horns	Animal	"Deal with a difficult situation"
81	The best of both worlds	Common	"All advantages"
82	The whole nine yards	Common	"Everything"
83	Throw in the towel	Common	"Give up"
84	Time flies	Common	"Time passes quickly"
85	Under the gun	Common	"Under pressure"
86	Up in the air	Weather	"Uncertain"
87	Water under the bridge	Weather	"Past events"
88	Wear your heart on your sleeve	Body	"Show your emotions"
89	Wrap your head around	Body	"Understand"
90	Your guess is as good as mine	Common	"I don't know"
91	Zero tolerance	Common	"No acceptance of misbehavior"
92	As fit as a fiddle	Body	"Very healthy"
93	Barking up the wrong tree	Animal	"Pursuing the wrong course"
94	Beating around the bush	Common	"Avoiding the main point"
95	Better late than never	Common	"It's better to do something late than not at all"
96	Between a rock and a hard place	Common	"In a difficult situation"
97	Bite the bullet	Common	"Endure a difficult situation"
98	Bite the dust	Common	"Fail or die"
99	Bury the hatchet	Common	"Make peace"
100	By the skin of your teeth	Body	"Narrowly"

Conclusion¶

Mastering idioms is a great way to enhance your English communication skills. By understanding the meanings and examples of these common expressions, you can add color and nuance to your language, making your conversations more engaging and dynamic.