Overview
This lecture introduced 100 of the most common English idioms, providing their meanings and example sentences to help learners sound more fluent and native-like.
Common English Idioms (Selected Highlights)
- A blessing in disguise — something good that initially seemed bad.
- A picture is worth a thousand words — images can convey ideas better than words.
- A piece of cake — something very easy.
- Actions speak louder than words — actions are more important than words.
- Add insult to injury — make a bad situation worse.
- As cheap as chips — very inexpensive.
- Barking up the wrong tree — pursuing a mistaken or misguided course.
- Beat around the bush — avoid saying what you mean.
- Better late than never — it’s better to do something late than not at all.
- Bite off more than you can chew — attempt too much.
- Bite the bullet — force yourself to do something unpleasant.
- Break a leg — good luck (especially to performers).
- Break the ice — make people feel more comfortable in a new situation.
- Call it a day — stop working for the day.
- Cost an arm and a leg — very expensive.
- Cut corners — do something poorly to save time or money.
- Cut somebody some slack — give someone more freedom or leniency.
- Don’t give up the day job — someone isn’t good at something.
- Put all your eggs in one basket — rely on one plan or opportunity.
- Easy does it — do something slowly and carefully.
- Every cloud has a silver lining — positive can come from negative situations.
- Get a taste of your own medicine — be treated as you treat others.
- Get out of hand — become difficult to control.
- Get something out of your system — do something to relieve a desire or feeling.
- Get your act together — become organized and effective.
- Give someone the benefit of the doubt — believe someone without proof.
- Give someone the cold shoulder — deliberately ignore someone.
- Go back to the drawing board — start again after failure.
- Good things come to those who wait — be patient.
- Hang in there — don’t give up.
- Hit the nail on the head — do or say something exactly right.
- Hit the sack — go to bed.
- Ignorance is bliss — sometimes it’s better not to know.
- In a nutshell — summed up briefly.
- It takes one to know one — you're just as bad as the person you’re criticizing.
- It’s not rocket science — it’s not difficult to understand.
- Jump on the bandwagon — join something that is popular.
- Keep one’s chin up — stay positive.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Idiom — a phrase with a meaning different from its literal words.
- Cut corners — do something improperly or cheaply.
- Break the ice — initiate conversation to ease tension.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Write five sentences using your favorite idioms from the lecture.
- Review and practice the idioms to increase familiarity and fluency.