List of Idioms (Alphabetical Order)

Here you can find a list of common idioms in English, in alphabetical order. Each idiom is accompanied by its meaning and an example.

NOTE: This list is ongoing. You can make a request for an idiom to be included by leaving a comment!

IDIOM	MEANING	EXAMPLE
A blessing in disguise	something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but results in something good happening later	Getting fired was a blessing in disguise.
A dime a dozen	something that is common and not special	Small toys like that are a dime a dozen.
At the drop of a hat	to do something immediately/easily with little encouragement	I’d move to a new city at the drop of a hat* if I found a better job opportunity.*
Barking up the wrong tree	when someone is pursuing a mistaken course of action or idea	His attorney suggested that the investigators might be barking up the wrong tree.
Beat around the bush	to avoid talking about what is really important	Don’t beat around the bush – Tell me!
Birds of a feather flock together	said about people who have similar characters or interests, especially ones of which you disapprove, and who often spend time with each other	Sarah and Emily are always seen together, they’re both into fashion and shopping. Birds of a feather flock together.
Bite the bullet	to force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be brave in a difficult situation	I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll just have to bite the bullet.
Break a leg	used for wishing someone good luck (especially in theater)	We’ll see you after the show. Break a leg!
Break the ice	to do or say something that makes people who do not know each other feel more comfortable	He told a joke to break the ice.
By the skin of your teeth	when you only just succeed in doing something	You passed the exam by the skin of your teeth.
Call it a day	to stop what you are doing because you do not want to do any more or think you have done enough	We’ve finished most of the work. Let’s call it a day.
Chew someone out	to tell someone angrily that they have done something wrong	The teacher chewed* his students out for being disruptive.*
Cost an arm and a leg	to be very expensive	That car cost* me an arm and a leg!*
Cry over spilled milk	to cry or feel sad about something that has already happened (used to emphasize that this isn’t helpful)	It’s no use crying over spilled milk* – he’s spent all the money, and there’s nothing you can do about it.*
Cut corners	to save money or time when doing something by not including some parts, actions, or details, so that the result is not as good as it could be	The book took nearly 20 years to write because the writer refused to cut corners.
Don’t give up the day job	to tell someone you do not think they are very good at something	“What did you think of my singing, then?” “Er, don’t give up the day job!”
Hit the books	to study (often in a serious and determined way)	I have to hit the books this weekend because I have two exams next week.
Hit the sack	go to bed or sleep	I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, so I think I’ll hit the sack.
Kill two birds with one stone	to succeed in achieving two things in one action	I killed two birds with one stone* and went to the supermarket on the way to the hospital.*
Let the cat out of the bag	reveal a secret by accident	My dad let the cat out of the bag* about the surprise party.*
On cloud nine	to be extremely happy and excited	Mike is on cloud nine* because he got the job.*
Piece of cake	something that is very easy to do	The geography exam was a piece of cake.
Pull someone’s leg	to try to persuade someone to believe something that is not true, as a joke	Is that true or are you pulling my leg?
Raining cats and dogs	used when it is raining heavily	Take your umbrella. It’s raining cats and dogs!
Spill the beans	to tell people secret information	Someone spilled the beans* about John’s affair.*
Under the weather	feeling sick or unwell	She’s a bit under the weather, so she’s not coming.

List of Idioms (Alphabetical Order)