Idioms with Meanings and Examples
A penny saved is a penny earned
- Meaning: Saving money is just as important as earning it.
- Example: "I always try to save when I can; a penny saved is a penny earned."
A picture is worth a thousand words
- Meaning: An image can convey complex ideas better than words.
- Example: "His photograph of the city at sunset—truly, a picture is worth a thousand words."
Bite the hand that feeds you
- Meaning: To harm someone who helps you.
- Example: "He criticized his boss in front of everyone, but that’s just biting the hand that feeds you."
Burning bridges
- Meaning: Destroying relationships that could be useful.
- Example: "I shouldn’t have sent that email; I might have burned my bridges with them."
Can't judge a book by its cover
- Meaning: Don't judge something based solely on appearance.
- Example: "The restaurant looks rundown, but you can’t judge a book by its cover; the food is amazing."
Caught red-handed
- Meaning: Caught in the act of doing something wrong.
- Example: "The thief was caught red-handed as he was trying to steal a car."
Cost an arm and a leg
- Meaning: Very expensive.
- Example: "The repairs on my car cost an arm and a leg."
Cry over spilled milk
- Meaning: Worrying about something that has already happened.
- Example: "It’s done now; there’s no use crying over spilled milk."
Curiosity killed the cat
- Meaning: Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.
- Example: "Be careful asking about his past; curiosity killed the cat."
Cut the cheese
- Meaning: To fart.
- Example: "I didn’t want to embarrass myself, but I had to cut the cheese."
Don't bite off more than you can chew
- Meaning: Don’t take on more than you can handle.
- Example: "I took three classes this semester; I think I bit off more than I can chew."
Elephant in the room
- Meaning: An obvious problem that is being ignored.
- Example: "We need to talk about the elephant in the room: our declining sales."
Every cloud has a silver lining
- Meaning: Every negative situation has a positive aspect.
- Example: "I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining; it gave me the chance to pursue my passion."
Feather in your cap
- Meaning: A special achievement or honor.
- Example: "Winning that award was a real feather in your cap."
Fifth wheel
- Meaning: An unnecessary person in a situation.
- Example: "I felt like a fifth wheel at the couple’s dinner."
Full plate
- Meaning: Having a lot of responsibilities.
- Example: "I can’t take on any more projects right now; I have a full plate."
Get your act together
- Meaning: Organize yourself.
- Example: "You need to get your act together if you want to pass that class."
Go down in flames
- Meaning: To fail spectacularly.
- Example: "Their business went down in flames after the financial crisis."
Have a chip on your shoulder
- Meaning: Holding a grudge or feeling angry.
- Example: "He has a chip on his shoulder ever since he was passed over for promotion."
Have your cake and eat it too
- Meaning: Wanting to enjoy two desirable but mutually exclusive things.
- Example: "He wants a high-paying job with a lot of free time; he can’t have his cake and eat it too."
In the driver's seat
- Meaning: In control of a situation.
- Example: "Now that you’re the manager, you’re in the driver's seat."
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
- Meaning: Destroy a source of income by being greedy.
- Example: "Don’t overcharge your customers; you might kill the goose that lays the golden eggs."
Let the chips fall where they may
- Meaning: Accept the outcome of a situation, regardless of the consequences.
- Example: "I’m going to present my ideas and let the chips fall where they may."
Like a fish out of water
- Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable in a new situation.
- Example: "I felt like a fish out of water at the fancy gala."
Make ends meet
- Meaning: To manage financially.
- Example: "With the rising costs, it’s getting harder to make ends meet."
More than meets the eye
- Meaning: Something is more complex than it appears.
- Example: "This project has more than meets the eye; it’s not just about the surface work."
My hands are tied
- Meaning: Unable to act due to restrictions.
- Example: "I would help you, but my hands are tied by company policy."
On the ball
- Meaning: Alert and efficient.
- Example: "You have to be on the ball if you want to keep up with this fast-paced job."
Once in a blue moon
- Meaning: Very rarely.
- Example: "I go to the cinema once in a blue moon."
Out of the blue
- Meaning: Unexpectedly.
- Example: "She called me out of the blue after five years."
Put all your eggs in one basket
- Meaning: Risk everything on a single venture.
- Example: "Investing all your savings in one stock is putting all your eggs in one basket."
Raining cats and dogs
- Meaning: Raining heavily.
- Example: "We had to cancel the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs."
Read the riot act
- Meaning: To reprimand someone severely.
- Example: "The teacher read the riot act to the students after their disruptive behavior."
Right up your alley
- Meaning: Suitable for someone’s interests or abilities.
- Example: "This project is right up your alley; you have the perfect skills for it."
Run of the mill
- Meaning: Average, ordinary.
- Example: "The movie was just a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy."
See eye to eye
- Meaning: To agree.
- Example: "I don’t see eye to eye with him on many issues."
Sink or swim
- Meaning: Succeed or fail based on one’s own efforts.
- Example: "In this job, it’s sink or swim; you have to figure things out on your own."
Sit tight
- Meaning: To wait patiently.
- Example: "Just sit tight; I’ll have an answer for you soon."
Spill the beans
- Meaning: Reveal a secret.
- Example: "He spilled the beans about the surprise party."
Steal someone's thunder
- Meaning: Take credit for someone else's idea.
- Example: "She stole my thunder by announcing the promotion before I had a chance."
Take it with a grain of salt
- Meaning: To view something with skepticism.
- Example: "You should take his advice with a grain of salt; he has his own agenda."
The ball is in your court
- Meaning: It's your turn to make a decision.
- Example: "I've done my part; now the ball is in your court."
The whole nine yards
- Meaning: Everything possible.
- Example: "When I go on vacation, I do the whole nine yards: sightseeing, dining, and shopping."
Throw in the towel
- Meaning: To give up.
- Example: "After several failed attempts, he finally threw in the towel."
Tie the knot
- Meaning: To get married.
- Example: "They decided to tie the knot after dating for five years."
Turn over a new leaf
- Meaning: To change one's behavior for the better.
- Example: "After the incident, he decided to turn over a new leaf and focus on his studies."
Under the weather
- Meaning: Feeling ill.
- Example: "I won’t be able to join you today; I’m feeling a bit under the weather."
Up in the air
- Meaning: Uncertain.
- Example: "Our plans for the weekend are still up in the air."
Walk on eggshells
- Meaning: To be very careful about how you behave around someone.
- Example: "I have to walk on eggshells around my boss; he’s very sensitive."
You can't have your cake and eat it too
- Meaning: You can’t enjoy both of two desirable but contradictory things.
- Example: "You can't have your cake and eat it too; if you want to go out, you need to sacrifice your sleep."
Additional Idioms
A dime a dozen
- Meaning: Very common and easy to find.
- Example: "Plastic toys are a dime a dozen."
All bark and no bite
- Meaning: Someone who talks tough but doesn’t take action.
- Example: "He’s all bark and no bite; he won’t actually do anything."
Barking up the wrong tree
- Meaning: Looking in the wrong place or pursuing the wrong course of action.
- Example: "If you think I’m the one who leaked the information, you’re barking up the wrong tree."
Beat around the bush
- Meaning: Avoiding the main topic.
- Example: "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think."
Break the ice
- Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social setting.
- Example: "To break the ice at the party, I started a fun game."
Burn the midnight oil
- Meaning: To work late into the night.
- Example: "I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the project on time."
Caught between a rock and a hard place
- Meaning: Facing a dilemma with no good options.
- Example: "I’m caught between a rock and a hard place; I need to choose between two jobs."
Cold feet
- Meaning: Sudden nervousness or apprehension about something.
- Example: "He got cold feet just before the wedding."
Cost you an arm and a leg
- Meaning: Very expensive.
- Example: "That new phone will cost you an arm and a leg."
Cut corners
- Meaning: To do something in the easiest or cheapest way.
- Example: "They cut corners on the project, and the quality suffered."
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
- Meaning: Don’t assume success before it happens.
- Example: "You might get that promotion, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch."
Every dog has its day
- Meaning: Everyone gets a chance eventually.
- Example: "Don’t worry; every dog has its day."
Face the music
- Meaning: To confront the consequences of one's actions.
- Example: "He finally had to face the music for his mistakes."
Get a taste of your own medicine
- Meaning: To experience the same unpleasantness one has inflicted on others.
- Example: "After he was rude to everyone, he finally got a taste of his own medicine."
Hit the nail on the head
- Meaning: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
- Example: "You hit the nail on the head when you said the team needs better communication."
In hot water
- Meaning: In trouble.
- Example: "He found himself in hot water after missing the deadline."
Jump on the bandwagon
- Meaning: To join a popular trend or activity.
- Example: "Everyone is starting to invest in stocks; I might as well jump on the bandwagon."
Let sleeping dogs lie
- Meaning: To avoid interfering in a situation that is currently stable.
- Example: "I think we should let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up the argument."
Not playing with a full deck
- Meaning: Someone who is not mentally sound.
- Example: "I think he’s not playing with a full deck; he believes the earth is flat."
Once bitten, twice shy
- Meaning: After an unpleasant experience, one is more cautious.
- Example: "After being cheated in business, he is once bitten, twice shy."
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
- Meaning: Going from a bad situation to a worse one.
- Example: "I thought changing jobs would help, but I went out of the frying pan and into the fire."
Pulling someone's leg
- Meaning: To tease or joke with someone.
- Example: "Are you pulling my leg, or is that really true?"
Put your best foot forward
- Meaning: To make a strong effort to succeed.
- Example: "Make sure to put your best foot forward during the interview."
Read between the lines
- Meaning: To understand the implied meaning.
- Example: "You have to read between the lines to get his true feelings."
Run around in circles
- Meaning: To waste time without making progress.
- Example: "We’ve been running around in circles trying to solve this problem."
Spill the beans
- Meaning: To reveal a secret.
- Example: "She spilled the beans about the surprise party."
Take it easy
- Meaning: To relax or not to worry.
- Example: "Just take it easy; everything will work out."
Throw caution to the wind
- Meaning: To act recklessly or without worrying about the risk.
- Example: "He threw caution to the wind and invested all his savings."
Under the weather
- Meaning: Feeling ill.
- Example: "I can’t come to the party; I’m feeling under the weather."
Walking on air
- Meaning: Feeling extremely happy.
- Example: "After getting the promotion, she was walking on air."
When pigs fly
- Meaning: Something that will never happen.
- Example: "He’ll clean his room when pigs fly."
You can’t judge a book by its cover
- Meaning: Don't judge something based solely on appearance.
- Example: "The restaurant looks shabby, but you can’t judge a book by its cover; the food is delicious."
A bitter pill to swallow
- Meaning: An unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted.
- Example: "Losing the job was a bitter pill to swallow."
A blessing in disguise
- Meaning: An apparent misfortune that results in something good.
- Example: "Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; I found something better."
A dime a dozen
- Meaning: Very common and easy to find.
- Example: "Plastic toys are a dime a dozen."
Bite the bullet
- Meaning: To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable.
- Example: "I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll have to bite the bullet."
Burning the candle at both ends
- Meaning: To overwork oneself.
- Example: "He’s been burning the candle at both ends lately."
Caught between a rock and a hard place
- Meaning: Faced with two difficult choices.
- Example: "I’m caught between a rock and a hard place; both options are terrible."
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
- Meaning: Don’t risk everything on one venture.
- Example: "Invest in multiple stocks; don’t put all your eggs in one basket."
Every cloud has a silver lining
- Meaning: Every negative situation has a positive aspect.
- Example: "Though the project failed, every cloud has a silver lining; we learned valuable lessons."
Go out on a limb
- Meaning: To take a risk.
- Example: "I’m going out on a limb by saying we will win the match."
In the same boat
- Meaning: In the same situation.
- Example: "We’re all in the same boat when it comes to budget cuts."
Keep your chin up
- Meaning: Stay positive in tough times.
- Example: "Even though things are hard right now, keep your chin up!"
Make a long story short
- Meaning: To skip to the conclusion.
- Example: "To make a long story short, we won the game!"
On thin ice
- Meaning: In a risky situation.
- Example: "He’s on thin ice after that last mistake."
Out of sight, out of mind
- Meaning: If you don’t see someone or something, you will forget about it.
- Example: "After he moved away, it was out of sight, out of mind."
Pull someone's leg
- Meaning: To tease or joke with someone.
- Example: "I was just pulling your leg about moving to Canada."
Put your foot in your mouth
- Meaning: To say something embarrassing or inappropriate.
- Example: "I put my foot in my mouth when I asked her about her ex."
Scratch someone's back
- Meaning: To help someone with the expectation that they will help you in return.
- Example: "I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine."
The tip of the iceberg
- Meaning: A small, visible part of a much larger problem.
- Example: "The issues we see are just the tip of the iceberg."Under your nose
- Meaning: Something happening in plain sight.
- Example: "The answers were right under your nose the whole time."Wear your heart on your sleeve
- Meaning: To openly show your emotions.
- Example: "He wears his heart on his sleeve, which makes him vulnerable."Your guess is as good as mine
- Meaning: I have no idea.
- Example: "Where did he go? Your guess is as good as mine."Actions speak louder than words
- Meaning: What people do is more important than what they say.
- Example: "He always promises to help, but actions speak louder than words."Bite the dust
- Meaning: To fail or die.
- Example: "The old car finally bit the dust."Burn the midnight oil
- Meaning: To work late into the night.
- Example: "I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report."By the skin of your teeth
- Meaning: Just barely.
- Example: "I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth."Give someone the cold shoulder
- Meaning: To ignore someone.
- Example: "She gave him the cold shoulder after their argument."Hit the sack
- Meaning: To go to bed.
- Example: "I’m exhausted; I think I’ll hit the sack early tonight."It takes two to tango
- Meaning: Both parties are responsible for a situation.
- Example: "They both contributed to the problem; it takes two to tango."