Common English Idioms and Their Meanings

Common English Idioms and Phrases

Idioms with Meanings and Examples

Put Your Foot in Your Mouth

Meaning: To say something foolish, embarrassing, or hurtful by accident.

Example: I put my foot in my mouth when I called my brother's new wife by his ex-wife's name.

Cost an Arm and a Leg

Meaning: To be very expensive.

Example: It cost me an arm and a leg to get my car fixed.

Get Off My Back

Meaning: Stop bothering or criticizing me.

Example: Stop telling me what to do. Get off my back!

Give Someone the Cold Shoulder

Meaning: To ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way.

Example: I saw my ex-girlfriend at a party, but she wouldn't talk to me. She gave me the cold shoulder.

Feel Weak at the Knees

Meaning: To feel nervous, frightened, or excited.

Example: I felt weak at the knees when I saw the job offer.

Get Cold Feet

Meaning: To become nervous or have second thoughts about something, especially a big decision like marriage.

Example: I'm getting cold feet about my wedding. I'm so nervous.

A Sight for Sore Eyes

Meaning: Someone or something that you are very pleased to see.

Example: Hi Frank. You're a sight for sore eyes. I haven't seen you for years.

Off the Top of My Head

Meaning: Giving an answer or opinion without careful thought or checking facts.

Example: Off the top of my head, I'd say there were a thousand people there.

Look Down One's Nose At

Meaning: To regard someone or something with a feeling of superiority.

Example: Because he's rich, he seems to think that he's better than everyone. He really looks down his nose at people.

Keep One's Hair On

Meaning: To stay calm; not get angry.

Example: Just keep your hair on! We'll be there soon.

Play It By Ear

Meaning: To decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than planning in advance.

Example: I don't know where we should go tonight. Let's just play it by ear.

Have a Lot of Guts

Meaning: To be very brave or courageous.

Example: He has a lot of guts, taking on Mount Everest without any training.

Pull Someone's Leg

Meaning: To tease or trick someone in a playful way.

Example: I was just pulling your leg. I'm not really a police officer.

All Skin and Bones

Meaning: Very thin.

Example: A lot of these fashion models are all skin and bones.

Easy on the Eyes

Meaning: Pleasant to look at; attractive.

Example: He's easy on the eyes, isn't he?

Pay Through the Nose

Meaning: To pay a very high price for something.

Example: We had to pay through the nose for the concert tickets.

Run an Eye Over

Meaning: To quickly look at or check something.

Example: I always run an eye over my desk before leaving.

Turn a Blind Eye

Meaning: To ignore something that you know is wrong.

Example: Management often turn a blind eye to bullying.

Lend an Ear

Meaning: To listen patiently and sympathetically to someone.

Example: The Samaritans lend their ears to those in need.

Twist Someone's Arm

Meaning: To persuade someone to do something they are reluctant to do.

Example: I wasn't going to come, but George twisted my arm.

By the Skin of Your Teeth

Meaning: To succeed in doing something by the smallest possible margin.

Example: I passed my exam by the skin of my teeth.

A Hive of Activity

Meaning: A place where people are busy working.

Example: When we went to offer help, the kitchen was already a hive of activity.

Clean as a Whistle

Meaning: Completely clean or free from wrongdoing.

Example: I don't have a criminal record, I'm clean as a whistle.

Backseat Driver

Meaning: A passenger who gives unwanted advice about driving; someone who gives unwanted advice in a situation they are not responsible for.

Example: I can't stand backseat drivers like my mother-in-law!

Highways and Byways

Meaning: Main roads and smaller, less important roads; all parts of a region.

Example: He travelled the highways and byways looking for traces of his ancestors.

Live Out of a Suitcase

Meaning: To stay in different places for short periods, living with only the belongings in your suitcase.

Example: I'm on the road for three months at a time for work, so I've got pretty used to living out of a suitcase.

My Way or the Highway

Meaning: This is my final offer or decision; accept it or leave.

Example: The boss told us, "It's my way or the highway!"

Go Around the Houses

Meaning: To take a long, indirect route; to talk about something in a roundabout way.

Example: Stop going around the houses and bring us to the beach right now!

Few and Far Between

Meaning: Not happening or existing very often or in many places.

Example: Restaurants in this part of the country are few and far between.

Paddle Your Own Canoe

Meaning: To be independent and self-reliant.

Example: Now that you are 30, people expect you to paddle your own canoe.

Looked As Though It Had Been Through the War

Meaning: To be in a very bad condition.

Example: That house looked as though it had been through the war.

More English Idioms

• To Have a Chip on One's Shoulder
• To Be On Your Last Legs
• To Get Off Someone's Back
• To Give Your Right Arm
• To Put a Brave Face On
• (Put the) Cart Before the Horse
• In the Middle of Nowhere
• Going to Hell in a Handcart
• Creature Comforts
• The Land of Milk and Honey
• Go Back to Nature
• When in Rome, Do As the Romans Do
• Off Track
• All Roads Lead to Rome
• A Full Plate
• Itchy Feet
• Hit the Town
• On the Home Stretch