111+ Common English Phrases With Useful Meanings

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Common English Phrases

Learners will delve into the intriguing world of phrases that give the language depth and color in this in-depth course on English idioms. This Lesson is a helpful tool for both native speakers and English learners alike, covering 111 of the most prevalent idioms used in everyday conversation. Each idiom is accompanied by information on its usage and significance, giving students a clear grasp of how to properly use these terms in their Conversation.

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This lesson seeks to improve language competency by providing clear explanations and useful examples. It will enable students to more easily navigate the nuances of the English language while developing a greater understanding of its rich linguistic past. This lesson will help you learn the ins and outs of idiomatic expressions and improve your ability to speak English fluently and naturally, whether you’re a language enthusiast or someone who just wants to get better at it.

What Are Phrases?

The subject and verb necessary for a complete sentence are absent from phrases, which are collections of words that together make up a coherent unit within a sentence. They can be used as nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs and are used to express information or thoughts. “In the morning” (a prepositional phrase), “running fast” (a participial phrase), and “very slowly” (an adverbial phrase) are a few examples. By adding information or changing other elements of speech, phrases make sentences more complex and clear, adding to the language’s depth.

Common Phrases With Useful Meanings

Phrases	Meanings
A penny for your thoughts	Asking someone what they’re thinking
Actions speak louder than words	What you do is more important than what you say
All ears	Listening intently
Bite the bullet	Face a difficult situation with courage
Break a leg	Good luck
Call it a day	Finish working on something for the day
Cat got your tongue?	Why aren’t you talking?
Caught between a rock and a hard place	Facing a difficult decision
Cold feet	Feeling nervous or anxious
Cost an arm and a leg	Very expensive
Cry over spilled milk	Regret something that has already happened
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch	Don’t make plans based on uncertain outcomes
Drop in the bucket	A very small amount in comparison to what is needed
Easy does it	Do something slowly and carefully
Every cloud has a silver lining	Even in difficult situations, there is a positive aspect
Fit as a fiddle	In good physical condition
Get a taste of your own medicine	Experience something you’ve inflicted on others
Give someone the benefit of the doubt	Believe someone’s statement without being skeptical
Go the extra mile	Put in extra effort
Green with envy	Jealous
Hit the nail on the head	Describe something precisely
In the same boat	In the same difficult situation
It’s a piece of cake	It’s very easy
Jump on the bandwagon	Join a popular trend or activity
Keep your chin up	Stay positive during tough times
Kill two birds with one stone	Achieve two goals with one action
Let the cat out of the bag	Reveal a secret
Make a long story short	Summarize a story or explanation
No pain, no gain	You have to work hard to achieve something
On the ball	Alert and efficient
Piece of cake	Very easy
Pull someone’s leg	Tease or joke with someone
Put all your eggs in one basket	Invest everything in one thing
Rain on someone’s parade	Spoil someone’s plans
Read between the lines	Understand the hidden meaning
Raining cats and dogs	Heavy rain
See eye to eye	Agree with someone
Sitting on the fence	Undecided
Take a rain check	Decline an offer but suggest it might be accepted later
Take it with a grain of salt	Be skeptical of something
The ball is in your court	It’s your turn to take action
The early bird catches the worm	Being early can lead to success
The last straw	The final irritating event that causes a reaction
Time flies	Time passes quickly
To kill time	Do something to pass the time
Under the weather	Feeling unwell
Up in the air	Uncertain or undecided
Watch the clock	Waiting for something to end
When pigs fly	Something that will never happen
You’re pulling my leg	You’re joking with me
Your guess is as good as mine	I have no idea