50+ Interesting Idiom Examples Everyone Should Know

Idioms are phrases or expressions used to add colour and richness to language. The meaning of the group of words in an idiom is not deducible from the literal definitions of its words. Idioms are part of our everyday language, meaning they can be used in both casual and professional conversations. However, it is very important to understand their meaning before using them.

There are many ways in which you can use idioms to strengthen your vocabulary. While giving a speech or writing an article, you can add idioms to catch your audience’s attention. You can make your conversations as many jokes and humorous anecdotes rely on the use of idioms to create wordplay, puns, or unexpected twists in language. On this page, we will provide you with some of the most interesting idioms with their examples.

Idioms Examples and Their Meaning

In this section, we will provide you with more than 50 idioms that will help you improve your English vocabulary. Also, you can use these idioms in your professional, informal, and academic realms.

1. A Blessing in Disguise

Meaning: Something that initially seems unfortunate or challenging but ultimately results in something positive or beneficial.

2. A chip on your shoulder

Meaning: Someone who harbours a grudge or has a lingering sense of resentment, often resulting from a perceived injustice, insult, or disadvantage.

3. A doubting Thomas

Meaning: A person who is sceptical, particularly someone who refuses to believe something without direct evidence or proof.

4. A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

Meaning: It means by saving money, you are earning it.

5. Have an Axe to Grind

Meaning: A personal grievance or a selfish motive for something.

6. Be as High as a Kite

Meaning: Someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol and is feeling euphoric or overly excited.

7. Back to the Drawing Board

Meaning: Starting everything from the beginning after an idea or plan has previously failed.

8. Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Meaning: Pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.

9. Beating Around the Bush

Meaning: Avoiding the main topic or delaying getting to the point in a conversation.

10. Between a Road and a Hard Place

Meaning: A situation where someone is faced with two equally difficult or uunfavourableoptions.

11. Can’t Cut the Mustard

Meaning: Someone who is unable to meet expectations or perform adequately.

12. Cock and Bull Story

Meaning: Made up a story or something which is not true.

13. Come Hell or High Water

Meaning: Facing or overcoming any obstacles or challenges, no matter how difficult.

14. Cry Over Spilled Milk

Meaning: Unnecessarily worrying or feeling sad about something that happened in the past.

15. Curiosity Kills the Cat

Meaning: Excessive curiosity or prying into matters can lead to trouble or danger.

16. A Dead Ringer for Someone/ Something

Meaning: Closely resemble each other, almost identical in appearance.

17. Don’t Count Your Chicken Before They Hatch

Meaning: Being cautious and not assuming positive results until they occur.

18. Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Meaning: Don’t put all your resources in one place. You might lose or damage all of them.

19. Elvis Has Left the Building

Meaning: Something has come to an end or is over.

20. Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Meaning: Absolutely everything, even unnecessary or excessive items.

21. Feeding Frenzy

Meaning: A situation where a group of people or animals becomes overly excited and aggressive in pursuing something, usually related to an opportunity or resource.

22. Finding Your Feet

Meaning: Becoming accustomed to a new situation or environment, gaining confidence, and feeling more comfortable or settled.

23. Flash in the Pan

Meaning: something that is initially impressive or attention-grabbing but quickly fades in significance. It suggests that the success or impact is short-lived.

24. Foam at the Mouth

Meaning: Someone who is extremely angry or agitated.

25. From Rags to Riches

Meaning: A dramatic improvement in one’s social or financial status, often from a state of poverty to one of wealth and success.

26. Get Down to Brass Task

Meaning: Getting to the fundamental or practical details of a matter, often used when discussing serious or essential aspects of a situation.

27. Get up on the Wrong Side of the Bed

Meaning: Waking up in a bad mood or starting their day in a grumpy or irritable state.

28. Get Your Walking Papers

Meaning: To be dismissed or fired from a job. If someone receives their walking papers, it indicates the end of their employment.

29. Go Down Like a Leading Balloon

Meaning: Fail or be unsuccessful, particularly in a way that is swift and disappointing

30. Great Minds Think Alike

Meaning: Two or more people have the same or similar thoughts or ideas.

31. Good Samaritans

Meaning: Individuals who selflessly help others in need, often strangers, without any expectation of personal gain

32. Haste Makes Waste

Meaning: Rushing through a task without proper care or attention is likely to result in errors or inefficiency, leading to a waste of time or resources.

33. To Go to Hell in a Handbasket

Meaning: A rapid and severe decline or deterioration of a situation.

34. Hit the Hay

Meaning: To go to bed or to go to sleep

35. Hit the Nail on the Head

Meaning: To do or say the same thing.

36. Hold Your Horses

Meaning: Advising someone to be patient and not rush into a decision or action.

37. Idle Hands are Devil’s Tools

Meaning: People who have nothing to do or are bored are more likely to engage in mischief or trouble.

38. It takes Two to Tango

Meaning: A situation or conflict involves the active participation of two parties.

39. Let Bygones by Bygones

Meaning: Encourages letting go of past grievances or conflicts and moving forward without holding onto resentment.

40. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Meaning: Advising against revisiting or stirring up old, potentially troublesome issues.

41. Make no Bones About

Meaning: Be straightforward and clear in expressing something, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

42. New York Minute

Meaning: A very brief and extremely short period.

43. On Pins and Needles

Meaning: A state of nervousness, anxiety, or anticipation, often waiting for something important or uncertain to happen.

44. Over My Dead Body

Meaning: A strong opposition or determination to prevent something from happening, even if it means resisting to the point of death.

45. Pass the Buck

Meaning: To shift responsibility or blame to someone else.

46. Queer the Pitch

Meaning: Spoil or ruin a situation, often intentionally.

47. Raining Cats and Dogs

Meaning: Raining heavily

48. Smell a Rat

Meaning: Suspect that something is wrong or that someone is being deceitful.

49. Son of a Gun

Meaning: Someone, especially a man, who is playful or affectionate.

50. The Whole Nine Yards

Meaning: The entirety or completeness of something.

51. Wild and Wooly

Meaning: A situation or place that is characterized by chaos, disorder, or a lack of restraint

52. The Last Straw

Meaning: The final challenge or problem in a series of problems.

This was all about the idiom examples you should know about. We hope the above-listed English idioms will help you improve your vocabulary. For more information on such informative articles, visit GeekforGeeks.

Interesting Idiom Examples Everyone Should Know- FAQs

What are idioms?

Idioms are group of words or phrases that convey a figurative or metaphorical meaning that is understood by native speakers of a language. Idioms can be used in professional, informal and academic environments.

What are some popular idioms?

Here are some popular idioms: Raining cats and dogs, Rome was not built in a day, Don’t judge a book by its cover, Your guess is as good as mine, Under the weather, Let bygones by bygones, etc.

What does the ‘Wag the Dog’ idiom mean?

Wag the dog is an idiomic expression meaning to purposely direct the attention from something of greater importance to something of lesser importance.

What are 5 popular idioms for students?

Here are 5 popular idioms for students: Out of the blue, Hit the sack, Burn the midnight oil, Against the clock, A penny saved is a penny earned.

What are the benefits of using idioms?

With the help of idioms, we can convey complex ideas or emotions in a more concise and vivid manner. Using idioms can enhance cultural expression and contribute to a shared understanding among speakers of the language. Idioms often involve metaphorical or figurative language, adding creativity and imagery to speech or writing.