110 Commonly Used English Idioms with Example Sentences

Table of Contents

English idioms! Idioms in English are like the language’s secret handshake, small linguistic treasures that bring color and depth to our talks. They are more than words; they are portals into our culture and history. Consider the phrase “piece of cake” or “walk in the park.” These Phrases may appear simple, but their meanings extend beyond their literal translations. Idioms are language’s spice, the unexpected twist in a sentence that makes you smile or scratch your head.

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Imagine encouraging someone to “keep their chin up” in a difficult situation or telling them not to “cry over spilled milk” after a little incident. Idioms are short stories that transmit wisdom and experience passed down through generations. They bridge generational gaps and foster a sense of belonging, much like sharing a secret code with fellow language enthusiasts.

Idioms might be difficult for English learners to understand. They frequently cause confusion since their meanings do not correspond to the language they use. So, if you’re interested in studying idioms, brace yourself for a journey filled with shocks and humor. It’s like discovering lost gems in the language sea. Idioms make conversation more enjoyable and exciting. Idioms are an important element of English, whether you’re hesitant or eager to learn.

English Idioms | Picture

Commonly Used English idioms

110 Commonly Used Idioms List & Examples

Idioms	Example Sentences
A penny for your thoughts	“Share your thoughts?”
A piece of cake	“The test was easy.”
Actions speak louder than words	“Show, don’t tell.”
All ears	“I’m listening.”
An arm and a leg	“Very expensive.”
Barking up the wrong tree	“You’re mistaken.”
Beat around the bush	“Get to the point.”
Bite the bullet	“Face the challenge.”
Break a leg	“Good luck!”
Call it a day	“Finish for today.”
Catch someone’s eye	“Attract attention.”
Cry over spilled milk	“Don’t dwell on the past.”
Don’t count your chickens	“Don’t assume success.”
Don’t put all your eggs	“Diversify investments.”
Down to the wire	“Close competition.”
Drop in the bucket	“Insignificant amount.”
Every cloud has a silver lining	“Positives in negatives.”
Fish out of water	“Uncomfortable situation.”
Get a taste of your own medicine	“Experience what you give.”
Get cold feet	“Nervous hesitation.”
Give the benefit of the doubt	“Trust with uncertainty.”
Go the extra mile	“Exceed expectations.”
Hit the nail on the head	“Correctly identify.”
In the blink of an eye	“Very quickly.”
It’s a piece of cake	“It’s easy.”
Jump the gun	“Act prematurely.”
Keep an eye on the ball	“Stay focused.”
Keep your chin up	“Stay optimistic.”
Kick the bucket	“Pass away.”
Kill two birds with one stone	“Solve two problems at once.”
Let the cat out of the bag	“Reveal a secret.”
Miss the boat	“Miss an opportunity.”
On the ball	“Alert and efficient.”
Once in a blue moon	“Very rarely.”
Pay through the nose	“Pay a high price.”
Pull someone’s leg	“Tease or joke with someone.”
Put all your eggs in one basket	“Risk everything on one plan.”
Read between the lines	“Understand the hidden meaning.”
Rule of thumb	“A general guideline.”
See eye to eye	“Agree on something.”
Shake a leg	“Hurry up!”
The ball is in your court	“It’s your responsibility now.”
The best of both worlds	“Enjoy the advantages of two things.”
The early bird catches the worm	“Acting early has advantages.”
The last straw	“The final problem causing frustration.”
Throw in the towel	“Give up.”
Under the weather	“Feeling unwell.”
Up in the air	“Uncertain.”
When pigs fly	“Impossible.”
You can’t judge a book by its cover	“Appearances can be deceiving.”
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours	“Mutual favors.”
A watched pot never boils	“Time seems slower when you’re waiting.”
Add insult to injury	“Make a bad situation worse.”
All in the same boat	“Facing the same challenge.”
An apple a day keeps the doctor away	“Eating healthily prevents illness.”
Back to the drawing board	“Start over after a failure.”
Beating a dead horse	“Flogging a hopeless issue.”
Better late than never	“It’s better to arrive late than not at all.”
Bite the dust	“Face defeat or death.”
Break the ice	“Start a conversation.”
Burn the midnight oil	“Work late into the night.”
Can’t judge a book by its cover	“Don’t judge based on appearance.”
Don’t cry over spilled milk	“Don’t lament what can’t be changed.”
Don’t put the cart before the horse	“Do things in the right order.”
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater	“Preserve the good while discarding the bad.”
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch	“Don’t assume success prematurely.”
Down the rabbit hole	“Into a strange or complex situation.”
Go down in flames	“Fail spectacularly.”
Go the whole nine yards	“Put maximum effort into something.”
Hit the books	“Study hard.”
Hit the sack	“Go to bed.”
Jump on the bandwagon	“Join a popular trend.”
Kick the can down the road	“Delay a decision or action.”
Leave no stone unturned	“Examine thoroughly.”
Let sleeping dogs lie	“Don’t awaken old conflicts.”
Like a bull in a china shop	“Clumsy or reckless behavior.”
The ball is in your court	“It’s your responsibility now.”
The best of both worlds	“Enjoy the advantages of two things.”
The early bird catches the worm	“Acting early has advantages.”
The last straw	“The final problem causing frustration.”
Throw in the towel	“Give up.”
Under the weather	“Feeling unwell.”
Up in the air	“Uncertain.”
When pigs fly	“Impossible.”
You can’t judge a book by its cover	“Appearances can be deceiving.”
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours	“Mutual favors.”
A watched pot never boils	“Time seems slower when you’re waiting.”
Add insult to injury	“Make a bad situation worse.”
All in the same boat	“Facing the same challenge.”
An apple a day keeps the doctor away	“Eating healthily prevents illness.”
Back to the drawing board	“Start over after a failure.”
Beating a dead horse	“Flogging a hopeless issue.”
Better late than never	“It’s better to arrive late than not at all.”
Bite the dust	“Face defeat or death.”
Break the ice	“Start a conversation.”
Burn the midnight oil	“Work late into the night.”
Can’t judge a book by its cover	“Don’t judge based on appearance.”
Don’t cry over spilled milk	“Don’t lament what can’t be changed.”
Don’t put the cart before the horse	“Do things in the right order.”
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater	“Preserve the good while discarding the bad.”
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch	“Don’t assume success prematurely.”
Down the rabbit hole	“Into a strange or complex situation.”
Go down in flames	“Fail spectacularly.”
Go the whole nine yards	“Put maximum effort into something.”
Hit the sack	“Go to bed.”
Jump on the bandwagon	“Join a popular trend.”
Kick the can down the road	“Delay a decision or action.”
Leave no stone unturned	“Examine thoroughly.”
Let sleeping dogs lie	“Don’t awaken old conflicts.”
Like a bull in a china shop	“Clumsy or reckless behavior.”
Like two peas in a pod	“Very similar.”
Make a long story short	“Summarize quickly.”
Miss the boat	“Miss an opportunity.”
Put all your eggs in one basket	“Risk everything on one plan.”
Read between the lines	“Understand the hidden meaning.”
Rule of thumb	“A general guideline.”
See eye to eye	“Agree on something.”
Shake a leg	“Hurry up!”
The ball is in your court	“It’s your responsibility now.”
The best of both worlds	“Enjoy the advantages of two things.”
The early bird catches the worm	“Acting early has advantages.”
The last straw	“The final problem causing frustration.”
Throw in the towel	“Give up.”
Under the weather	“Feeling unwell.”
Up in the air	“Uncertain.”
When pigs fly	“Impossible.”
You can’t judge a book by its cover	“Appearances can be deceiving.”
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours	“Mutual favors.”
A watched pot never boils	“Time seems slower when you’re waiting.”
Add insult to injury	“Make a bad situation worse.”
All in the same boat	“Facing the same challenge.”
An apple a day keeps the doctor away	“Eating healthily prevents illness.”
Back to the drawing board	“Start over after a failure.”
Beating a dead horse	“Flogging a hopeless issue.”
Better late than never	“It’s better to arrive late than not at all.”
Bite the dust	“Face defeat or death.”
Break the ice	“Start a conversation.”
Burn the midnight oil	“Work late into the night.”
Can’t judge a book by its cover	“Don’t judge based on appearance.”
Don’t cry over spilled milk	“Don’t lament what can’t be changed.”
Don’t put the cart before the horse	“Do things in the right order.”
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater	“Preserve the good while discarding the bad.”
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch	“Don’t assume success prematurely.”
Down the rabbit hole	“Into a strange or complex situation.”
Go down in flames	“Fail spectacularly.”
Go the whole nine yards	“Put maximum effort into something.”
Hit the books	“Study hard.”
Jump on the bandwagon	“Join a popular trend.”
Kick the can down the road	“Delay a decision or action.”
Leave no stone unturned	“Examine thoroughly.”
Let sleeping dogs lie	“Don’t awaken old conflicts.”
Like a bull in a china shop	“Clumsy or reckless behavior.”
Like two peas in a pod	“Very similar.”
Make a long story short	“Summarize quickly.”
Miss the boat	“Miss an opportunity.”
Put all your eggs in one basket	“Risk everything on one plan.”
Read between the lines	“Understand the hidden meaning.”
See eye to eye	“Agree on something.”
Shake a leg	“Hurry up!”
The ball is in your court	“It’s your responsibility now.”
The best of both worlds	“Enjoy the advantages of two things.”
The early bird catches the worm	“Acting early has advantages.”
The last straw	“The final problem causing frustration.”
Throw in the towel	“Give up.”
Under the weather	“Feeling unwell.”
Up in the air	“Uncertain.”
You can’t judge a book by its cover	“Appearances can be deceiving.”
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours	“Mutual favors.”