Examples Of Idioms – Meaning And 75 Idomatic Expressions You Should Know

Examples Of Idioms – Meaning And 75 Idomatic Expressions You Should Know

Many of us have been in a situation where an idiom was used and you do not understand what was said, which made us look like the odd ones out. This situation is, most of the time, really embarrassing and hard to forget. This is why you need to know what idioms are and some idiomatic expressions for better communication with others.

The English language is one of the most unifying languages of the world, and that is why you have to gain mastery of it and learn how to communicate effectively with it.

And idioms are also an essential part you need to know. We will look into the detailed meaning of an idiom and give possible examples and their meanings, which you may have heard.

What Are Idiomatic Expressions?

Idiomatic expressions are phrases that have a different meaning from the literal meaning of the words used. They are there to make.

The word “idiom” comes from the Greek word idioma, which means “peculiar phraseology” or “private possession.” This is fitting because the meaning is “private” to those who know the language and the culture.

Idioms have been a part of society for a long time, as they are sometimes derived from history or culture. Learning these expressions will help you speak better and better understand English-speaking cultures.

Examples Of Idiomatic Expressions And Their Meaning

Here are some of the examples of idiomatic expressions you should know. They include the following:

1. Against the clock: Being rushed and having little time to complete something.
2. Ahead of time: Something that happens early or before it is supposed to.
3. An arm and a leg: Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.
4. Around the clock: At any time of the day or night
5. At the drop of a hat: Without any hesitation; instantly.
6. Back to basics: An approach that uses traditional ideas that have previously worked.
7. Bad apple: Troublemaker or undesirable person in a group.
8. Barking up the wrong tree: Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person.
9. Beat the clock:  Do something quickly before it’s too late.
10. Bee in one’s bonnet:  Carrying an idea that’s constantly in one’s thoughts.
11. Chance one’s arm: Deciding to do something even though the chances of success are slim or unknown.
12. Chase your tail: Spend a lot of time and energy, but achieve nothing.
13. Clock-in/clock-out:  Record the time of arrival and the time of departure.
14. Cold shoulder: Pay no attention to.
15. Cook someone’s goose: Spoil the person’s chance of success.
16. Dead duck: A Plan or event that has failed or is certain to fail and therefore not worth discussing.
17. Dead in the water: A Plan or project that has ceased to function and is not expected to re-activate.
18. Dead wood: People or things that are no longer useful or necessary.
19. Devil’s Advocate: To present a counter argument.
20. Donkey’s years: A very long period of time
21. Eleventh hour: At the very last minute or just in time.
22. Elvis has left the building: The show has come to an end. It’s all over.
23. Every cloud has a silver lining: Being optimistic, even in difficult times, will lead to better days. Good can come from a bad situation.
24. Explore all avenues: Investigating or examining every option.
25. Eye-catching: Tending to attract attention.
26. Fallen in love: Start feeling love towards someone.
27. Far cry from: Very different from.
28. Feeling blue: Feeling depressed or disconnected.
29. Feeling under the weather: Feeling unwell.
30. Fever pitch: When a feeling is very intense and exciting.
31. Getting the show on the road: Putting a plan or idea into action.
32. Go belly up: Fail completely.
33. Going places: Demonstrating talent and ability that will lead to success.
34. Golden boy: A Young man idolised for a great skill, typically in sport.
35. Golden handshake: A Large sum of money given to someone when they retire from a company.
36. Hit the panic button: Act quickly and without thinking in reaction to an unexpected event.
37. Hit the road: Begin travelling or leave.
38. Hit the sack (or sheets, or hay): Go to bed.
39. Hold the fort: Have responsibility for something or care about someone while others are away or out.
40. Hot potato: Speak of a current issue which many people are talking about
41. In tune with someone (on the same wavelength): Have the same ideas and be in agreement with someone else.
42. It takes two to tango: Actions or communications need more than one person.
43. Itchy feet: Strong impulse to travel or go somewhere.
44. In the nick of time. Just before it is too late.
45. In the red: In debt with your bank. To have a negative bank balance or to owe money to the bank.
46. Judge a book by its cover: Judge something primarily on appearance.
47. Jump on the bandwagon: Join a popular trend or activity.
48. Keep something at bay: Keep something away or prevent something from happening.
49. Keeping up appearances: Maintaining an outward show of prosperity or well-being while hiding your
50. difficulties.
51. Keeping your finger on the pulse: Being constantly aware of current developments.
52. Kept in the dark: Not knowing the secrets or truth.
53. Kill time: Do something whilst waiting.
54. Kill two birds with one stone:  Accomplish two different things at the same time. And which is usually disputed.
55. Keeping up appearances: Maintaining an outward show of prosperity or well-being while hiding your difficulties.
56. Look on the bright side: View an unpleasant situation in a positive light.
57. Love at first sight: Start feeling love towards someone the first time you see them.
58. Lovey-dovey: Making an excessive display of affection.
59. Learn by rote: Learn something by memorising it without thought to what is being learnt.
60. Lump in your throat: A Tight feeling in the throat because of an emotion like sadness, pride or gratitude.
61. Make a long story short: Come to the point without superfluous or unnecessary details.
62. Make my day: Something that makes me very happy or satisfies me.
63. Make or break: Circumstances causing total success or total failure.
64. Make time: Find time to do something as a priority.
65. Makes your flesh crawl: Something that makes you feel disgusted or nervous
66. Never in a million years: Will never happen.
67. Not letting grass grow under your feet: Not delaying in getting something done.
68. Not letting moss grow over: Doing something now or without delay.
69. Not playing with a full deck: Lacking intelligence.
70. Now or never: Something that should be done now, or it will never be done.
71. Off colour: Unwell.
72. Off one’s rocker: Crazy; demented; out of one’s mind; in a confused or befuddled state of mind; senile.
73. Off to a flying start: Something that is immediately successful or has begun well.
74. Old hand: A Person with a lot of experience in something.
75. Old school: Holding ideas that were popular and important in the past but which are no longer so.

Conclusion 

Learning should be an integral part of your life.

Having the right knowledge of idioms helps you know when and how to use them in conversations with others. We have listed some of the idiomatic expressions we think you should know.

We hope this post was helpful for you.