Every language has its own collection of wise sayings. They offer advice about how to live and also transfer some underlying ideas, principles and values of a given culture / society. These sayings are called “idioms” – or proverbs if they are longer. The use of these idioms and proverbs in a language adds colour and makes it more interesting for the listeners.
This List of commonly used idioms and sayings (in everyday conversational English), can help to speak English by learning English idiomatic expressions. This is a list, which contains exactly 50 of the most commonly used idioms and their meaning.
Let’s begin:
A hot potato
Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed
A penny for your thoughts
A way of asking what someone is thinking
Acid Test
Acid test proves the effectiveness of something
Cut the ground from under feet
When you cut the ground from under someone’s feet, you do something which weakens their position
Back to the drawing board
When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over
Whole bag of tricks
Trying all the clever means to achieve something
Chase your tail
Spending a lot of time and energy doing a lot of things but actually achieving too little
Barking up the wrong tree
Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person
Deliver the goods
Do what is expected or promised
Be glad to see the back of
Be happy when a person leaves
Fine-tooth comb
Examining something carefully to not miss out any details
Explore all avenues
Trying out every possibility to get a result
Fast track something
Rating something higher on your priority list to achieve the desired result
Add insult to injury
To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation
At the drop of a hat
Without any hesitation; instantly
Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting
Can’t judge a book by its cover
Cannot judge something primarily on appearance
Cross that bridge when you come to it
Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before
Cry over spilt milk
When you complain about a loss from the past
Cut the mustard [possibly derived from “cut the muster”]
To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate
Devil’s Advocate
To present a counter argument
Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
Don’t make plans for something that might not happen
Elvis has left the building
The show has come to an end. It’s all over
Keep your fingers on the pulse
Being constantly aware of the most recent developments
Mean business
Being serious about what you announce
Give the benefit of the doubt
Believe someone’s statement, without proof
Hear it on the grapevine
To hear rumours about something or someone
Hit the nail on the head
Do or say something exactly right
Feel a bit under the weather
Feeling slightly ill
Hit the sack / sheets / hay
To go to bed
In the heat of the moment
Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment
Get the show on the road
Putting up a plan or idea into action
Think on your feet
Adjusting quickly to changes and making fast decisions
Actions speak louder than words
People’s intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say
Far cry from
Very different from
It takes two to tango
Actions or communications need more than one person
Jump on the bandwagon
Join a popular trend or activity
Last straw
The final problem in a series of problems
Every cloud has a silver lining
Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days
Keep something at bay
Keep something away
Get ducks in a row
Getting your things well organized
Sail through something
Being successful in doing something without difficulty
Ball is in your court
It is up to you to make the next decision or step
Beat around the bush
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue
Don’t give up the day job
You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Do not put all your resources in one possibility
Drastic times call for drastic measures
When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions
Tricks of the trade
Clever or expert way of doing something
Not let grass grow under feet
Don’t delay in getting something done
Best thing since sliced bread
A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan