Learn the 100 Most Common Idioms in 30 Minutes with examples

[Music]

hello everyone and welcome back to

english with Lucy today I am going to

teach you 100 of the most common English

idioms with definitions and examples of

course these are really going to help

you bring your English to the next level

and help you sound more like a native

but before we get started I want to ask

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okay let’s get started with the lesson

number one is a blessing in disguise a

blessing in disguise

this means a good thing that seemed bad

at first

for example losing that job was a

blessing in disguise losing that job was

a blessing in disguise

next a picture is worth a thousand words

a picture is worth a thousand words this

means that a picture tells a story just

as well as if not better than written

words for example please could you

sketch out a floor plan a picture is

worth a thousand words please could you

sketch out a floor plan a picture is

worth a thousand words number three you

might have heard this one before

it’s a piece of cake a piece of cake and

this means really easy for example that

exam was a piece of cake that exam was a

piece of cake number four is actions

speak louder than words actions speak

louder than words and this means that

what somebody actually does means more

than what they say they will do an

example I’m going to wait for him to

show me he loves me because actions

speak louder than words I’m going to

wait for him to show me he loves me

because actions speak louder than words

next we have add insult to injury add

insult to injury this means to act in a

way that makes a bad situation worse for

example I was late and to add insult to

injury I forgot my keys I was late and

to add insult to injury I forgot my keys

number six this is really common it’s

there’s cheapest chips

it’s cheapest chips and this means

really cheap for example don’t worry

about pay me back

they were as cheap as chips don’t worry

about paying me back they were as cheap

as chips number seven is barking up the

wrong tree barking up the wrong tree

this means to be wrong a

the way to achieve something or the

reason for something an example I think

you’re barking up the wrong tree rather

than reading the text book

cover-to-cover you should try the SQ RRR

method if you want to know more about

that then you should see my study it’s

smart not hard video number eight is

beat around the bush beat around the

bush this means to avoid saying what you

mean usually because it’s uncomfortable

for example I’m not going to beat around

the bush I hate your boyfriend I’m not

going to beat around the bush I hate

your boyfriend number nine is better

late than never better late than never

this means that it’s better to arrive or

do something later than expected than to

not arrive or not do something at all

for example wow she finally turned up

better late than never

it’s often used sarcastically wow she

finally turned up better late than never

number ten bite off more than you can

chew bite off more than you can chew

this means to try to do something that

is too difficult or too much for you an

example I have bitten off more than I

can chew with this 100 idioms video I

have bitten off more than I can chew

with this 100 idioms video number 11 is

bite the bullet bite the bullet this

means to force yourself to do something

unpleasant or difficult or to be brave

in a difficult situation for example I’m

going to bite the bullet and quit my job

I’m going to bite the bullet and quit my

job number 12 is break a leg break a leg

and this means believe it or not good

luck it’s often what we say to actors as

they are going onstage for example break

a leg tonight you’re an amazing actor

break a leg tonight you’re an amazing

actor number 13 is break the ice break

the ice this means to make people who

have not met each other before feel more

relaxed and comfortable

for example I’ve organized a fun game to

help us all break the ice I’ve organized

a fun game to

help us all break the ice I hate that in

classes when we have to break the ice

and introduce ourselves I’m too British

for that number 14 incredibly common

this one to call it a day call it a day

this means to stop what you were doing

because you either think you’ve done

enough or you don’t want to do anymore

for example I’m exhausted I think I’m

gonna call it a day

I’m exhausted I think I’m gonna call it

a day

I think I’m gonna stop now number 15 is

cost an arm and a leg cost an arm and a

leg this means to be very expensive for

example that coat looks like it cost you

an arm and a leg that coat looks like it

cost you an arm and a leg number 16 is

cut corners cut corners and this means

to do something in the fastest easiest

or cheapest way an example this report

is of poor quality I think the author

may have cut some corners this report is

a poor quality I think the author may

have cut some corners number 17 is cut

somebody at some slack

cut somebody some slack this means to

give somebody additional freedom for

example because it was the last day of

class the teachers cut the students some

slack because it was the last day of

class the teachers cut the students some

slack number 18 is don’t give up the day

job don’t give up the day job and this

is used for telling somebody that you

don’t think that they’re very good at

something for example your drum solo was

very entertaining but don’t give up the

day job your drum solo was very

entertaining but don’t give up the day

job number 19 is to put all of your eggs

in one basket put all of your eggs in

one basket and this means to depend for

success on a single person or plan for

example I’m applying for several jobs

because I don’t want to put all of my

eggs in one basket

I’m applying for several jobs because I

don’t want to put all of my eggs in one

basket number 20 is easy does it easy

does it and this is used to tell someone

too

do something carefully and slowly for

example easy does it

don’t spill that paint easy does it

don’t spill that paint number 21 is my

favorite it is every cloud has a silver

lining every cloud has a silver lining

and this means that every negative has a

positive for example every cloud has a

silver lining

after being made redundant I found my

dream job every cloud has a silver

lining after being made redundant I

found my dream job number 22 is to get a

taste of your own medicine to get a

taste of your own medicine and this is

to get treated the way you’ve been

treating other people an example the

nasty prison warden got a taste of his

own medicine when he was thrown in jail

and nasty prison warden got a taste of

his own medicine

when he got thrown in jail number 23 is

get out of hand to get out of hand and

this means to become difficult to

control for example over Christmas our

spending got a little out of hand over

Christmas are spending got a little out

of hand

number 24 is to get something out of

your system to get something out of your

system this means to get rid of a wish

or emotion especially a negative one by

allowing yourself to express it for

example I went and bought that dress I

was thinking about all day I had to get

it out of my system I went and bought

that dress I was thinking about all day

I had to get it out of my system

my mummy who’s this a lot when she buys

things we say why did you get that she

says I had to get it out my system it’s

a good excuse number 25 is to get your

act together get your act together

this means to start to organize yourself

so that you do things in an effective

way for example my desk is a complete

mess I need to get my act together my

desk is a complete mess I need to get my

act together true story

number 26 to give someone the benefit of

the doubt to give someone the benefit of

the doubt this means to decide that you

will believe someone even if you’re not

sure that what they’re saying is true

for example she said that she was late

because

train was canceled and we gave her the

benefit of the doubt she said that she

was late because her train was cancelled

and we gave her the benefit of the doubt

number 27 is to give someone the cold

shoulder to give someone the cold

shoulder and this means to ignore

someone an example I think Sally is

giving me the cold shoulder

I think Sally is giving me the cold

shoulder number 28 is to go back to the

drawing board to go back to the drawing

board this means to start planning

something again because the first plan

failed for example well that didn’t work

let’s go back to the drawing board well

that didn’t work let’s go back to the

drawing board number 29 is good things

come to those who wait good things come

to those who wait I say that to my dog a

lot it means be patient be patient for

example stop rushing me good things come

to those who wait stop rushing me good

things come to those who wait

number 30 is hang in there hang in there

and this is said as a way to tell people

to not give up hope even through

difficulties for example final exams are

tough but hang in there and it will be

okay

final exams are tough but hang in there

and it’ll be okay number 31 is to hit

the nail on the head to hit the nail on

the head and this means to get something

exactly right for example you’ve hit the

nail on the head that is the route we

should have taken you’ve hit the nail on

the head that is the route we should

have taken number 32 is to hit the sack

to hit the sack

this means to go to bed for example oh

I’m tired do you mind if I hit the sack

number 33 is ignorance is bliss

ignorance is bliss and this means you’re

better off not knowing for example I

could ask my boss if she’s planning to

fire me but ignorant is bliss I could

ask my boss if she’s planning to fire me

but ignorance is

I’m better off not knowing number 34 is

in a nutshell in a nutshell and this

means in the fewest words possible for

example in a nutshell everything went

wrong in a nutshell everything went

wrong number 35 is it takes one to know

one

it takes one to know one and this means

you’re just as bad as I am you are just

as bad as I am for example if someone

says to me you’re such a gossip I could

respond with when it takes one to know

one

number 36 is it’s not rocket science

it’s not rocket science and this is used

to say that you don’t think something is

very difficult or hard to understand for

example I don’t understand why you can’t

work out how to use the washing machine

it’s not rocket science

I don’t understand how you can’t work

out how to use the washing machine it’s

not rocket science

number 37 is to jump on the bandwagon to

jump on the bandwagon and this means to

join an activity trend or opinion that

has become popular for example I’ve

jumped on the bandwagon and downloaded

fortnight I’ve jumped on the bandwagon

and downloaded fortnight I haven’t I

don’t have time but I’m sure it’s really

fun now a 38 is to keep one’s chin up to

keep one’s chin up and this means to

keep one’s spirits high to keep happy

and positive for example I’m trying to

keep my chin up after receiving that

rejection letter I’m trying to keep my

chin up after receiving that rejection

letter number 39 is to kill two birds

with one stone to kill two birds with

one stone this means to get two things

done with a single action for example we

could kill two birds with one stone by

stopping off at the bakery on the way

back from the butchers we could kill two

birds with one stone by stopping off at

the bakery on the way back from the

butchers we could get two tasks

accomplished in one trip number 40 is to

leave no stone unturned to leave no

stone unturned this means to try every

possible course of action in order to

get something done

he left no stone unturned in his search

for his natural mother

he left no stone unturned in his search

for his natural mother number 41 is to

let sleeping dogs lie to let sleeping

dogs lie this means to leave a situation

as it is in order to not make it worse

for example I think we should let

sleeping dogs lie and avoid confronting

her about her issues I think we should

let sleeping dogs lie and avoid

confronting her about her issues number

42 is to let someone off the hook to let

someone off the hook this means to allow

someone to go unpunished to allow

someone to go unpunished

for example this is the third time

you’ve been caught speeding and I don’t

think they’re going to let you off the

hook this is the third time you’ve been

caught speeding and I don’t think

they’re going to let you off the hook

number 43 is to let the cat out of the

bag to let the cat out of the bag this

means to reveal a secret for example

don’t let the cat out of the bag because

the party is meant to be a surprise

don’t let the cat out of the bag because

the party is meant to be a surprise

number 44 is to make a long story short

to make a long story short this is very

similar to in a nutshell it’s used to

indicate that you are providing just

basic facts and information in order to

reduce the length of a story for example

to make a long story short I canceled

the party because of financial problems

to make a long story short I canceled

the party because of financial problems

number 45 is to miss the boat to miss

the boat and this means to be too slow

to take advantage of an opportunity for

example I waited too long for the house

prices to drop and I missed the boat I

waited too long for the house prices to

drop and I missed the boat number 46 is

neck of the wood neck of the wood and

this either means the area where someone

comes from or the area where you are for

example I’m surprised to see you in this

neck of the woods I’m surprised to see

you in this neck of the woods in this

area number 47 is no pain no gain

pain no gain this is often used to talk

about exercise it means that suffering

is necessary in order to achieve

something for example I’ve been going to

the gym twice day and my muscles ache

but no pain no gain I’ve been going to

the gym twice a day and my muscles ache

but no pain no gain number 48 is not

one’s cup of tea not one’s cup of tea

this one is very British this means that

someone doesn’t like or isn’t interested

in something for example I’m sorry but

line dancing really isn’t my cup of tea

I’m sorry but line dancing really isn’t

my cup of tea

number 49 is off the top of one’s head

off the top of one’s head this means

from memory without a lot of thought or

consideration for example off the top of

my head I think she’s been engaged five

times off the top of my head I think

she’s been engaged five times number 50

is on the ball on the ball and this

means alert new ideas methods and trends

or it can also mean very organised for

example I like hanging out with younger

people it keeps me on the ball I like

hanging out with younger people it keeps

me on the ball number 51 is on thin ice

on thin ice and this means on probation

if you make another mistake there will

be consequences for example I’m on thin

ice after my behavior at the office

party I’m on thin ice after my behavior

at the office party you can hear more

about that in my stop saying sorry video

link below

number 52 is once in a blue moon once in

a blue moon

and this means rarely very infrequently

for example I only go to the cinema once

in a blue moon but when I do go I really

enjoy it I only go to the cinema once in

a blue moon but when I do go I really

enjoy it number 53 is out of someone’s

league out of someone’s league and this

means too good or too expensive for

someone for example my crush is

completely out of my league my crush is

completely out of my league number 54 is

to play devil’s advocate to play

devil’s advocate this means to argue the

opposite just for the sake of an

argument

we often say I don’t want to play

devil’s advocate because we’re saying I

don’t want to just argue for the sake of

arguing but I have a differing opinion

for example I don’t want to play devil’s

advocate but are you really going out

dressed like that

number 55 is to play something by ear to

play something by ear and this means to

plan something in an improvised way so

you decide as you are going along for

example instead of booking a table this

weekend shall we just play it by ear

shall we just see what happens number 56

is to pull someone’s leg to pull

someone’s leg this means to playfully

deceive someone or to tease someone for

example are you actually leaving your

job or are you just pulling my leg are

you actually leaving your job or are you

just pulling my leg number 57 this is

what my mother said to me this morning

pull yourself together pull yourself

together

and this means recover control of your

emotions as being a bit emotional this

morning and my mom told me to pull

myself together and I did and now I’m

filming for example I need to pull

myself together and stop crying I need

to pull myself together and stop crying

number 58 is to rain on someone’s parade

to rain on someone’s parade and this

means to spoil something to spoil

something for example I don’t want to

rain on your parade but I think you’ve

made a huge mistake in your thesis I

don’t want to rain on your parade but I

think you’ve made a huge mistake in your

thesis number 59 is to rock the boat to

rock the boat and this means to do or

say something that could cause a problem

or disturbance for example the team is

getting on really well at the moment so

let’s not rock the boat the team is

getting on really well at the moment so

let’s not rock the boat number 60 is to

save something for a rainy day to save

something for a rainy day and this means

to save something usually money for when

you need it for example I think you

should save that bonus for a rainy day I

think you should save that bonus for a

rainy day

number 61 is to see eye to eye

to see eye-to-eye this means to agree

for example I really don’t see eye to

eye with my grandma I really don’t see

eye to eye with my grandma number

sixty-two is to shed light on something

to shed light on something this means to

reveal information about or to clarify

something for example please could you

shed some light on your absence

yesterday please could you shed some

light on your absence yesterday number

63 is to sit on the fence to sit on the

fence we often also say to be on the

fence of like I’m on the fence and this

means to avoid making a decision or

choice for example I’m sitting on the

fence I really can’t choose between

these two adorable puppies this happened

to me in real life I had to choose

between my dog Diego and another puppy

and hardest decision of my life

what obviously had quite an easy life

number 64 is to sit tight to sit tight

and this means to refrain from taking

action or changing one’s mind

for example the estate agent advised us

to sit tight and neither buy nor sell

the estate agent advised us to sit tight

and neither buy nor style number 65 is

to smell a rat to smell a rat and this

means to begin to suspect trickery or

deception for example when she passed

away investigators were called in and

soon smelled a rat when she passed away

investigators were called in and soon

smelt a rat number 66 is so far so good

so far so good and this is used to say

that something usually a plan or a

project has been progressing well with

no problems and this is up until the

present so if someone asks me how’s the

new job I could say so far so good until

this very moment there hasn’t been

anything problematic number 67 is

someone wouldn’t be caught dead someone

wouldn’t be caught dead and this means

that someone dislikes something very

much for example I wouldn’t be caught

dead in a dress like that I hate that

dress I wouldn’t be seen dead in it

caught or seen dead number 68 is

someone’s heart is in the right place

someone’s

is in the right place this means that

someone only has good intentions for

example he’s very strict with his

students but his heart is in the right

place he’s very strict with his students

but his heart is in the right place

number 69 is someone’s jaw drops

someone’s jaw drops and this means that

someone is very surprised for example

when I saw him in his suit my jaw

dropped when I saw him in his suit my

jaw dropped I was very surprised number

70 is someone’s pride and joy

someone’s pride and joy this means a

person or a thing that gives someone a

lot of satisfaction and happiness for

example her vegetable garden is her

pride and joy her vegetable garden is

her pride and joy number 71 is someone’s

true colors someone’s true colors and

this means the kind of person someone

really is rather than what they appear

to be so if you show your true colors

you show how you really are rather than

how you appear for example I thought he

was really nice and then he was rude to

the waiter and showed his true colors I

thought he was really nice but then he

was rude to the waiter and showed his

true colors that’s one of my pet hates

when someone is rude to waiters I know a

lot of people like that actually it

really grinds my gears it’s another one

it means it annoys me number 72 is

something rings a bell if something

rings a bell

this means that something is familiar or

you have heard something before for

example I don’t know him personally but

the name rings a bell I’ve heard that

name before I don’t know him personally

but the name rings a bell number 73 is

speak of the devil

speak of the devil this is said when

somebody appears just after being

mentioned for example Stephanie is so

mean speak of the devil she just liked

my Instagram post stephanie is so mean

speak of the devil she just liked my

Instagram post so mean of her number 74

is to spill the beans

to spill the beans and this means to

give away a secret

or to reveal some gossip for example go

on spill the beans I need to know how

your date went go on spill the beans I

need to know how your date went

number 75 is to steal someone’s thunder

to steal someone’s thunder and this

means to take attention or praise away

from someone else’s accomplishments by

outdoing them with your own for example

she stole my thunder when she announced

her pregnancy at my wedding

she stole my thunder when she announced

her pregnancy at my wedding

number 76 is to stick to one’s guns to

stick to one’s guns this means to refuse

to change your opinions or beliefs about

something for example you need to stick

to your guns and stop listening to what

he says you need to stick to your guns

and stop listening to what he says you

need to stick to what you believe in not

what someone else believes in number 77

is to take something with a pinch of

salt or also a grain of salt that’s used