50 Common English phrases and idioms
Hi Everyone! In today’s blog, I’m going to share with you 50 common English phrases and idioms that you can use every day. These phrases will take you one step closer to speaking like a native English speaker. These idioms are a great way to expand your vocabulary in order to make you feel more confident when speaking English with friends, colleagues, or strangers. Let’s get started!
Common English Phrases
-
to let your hair down
Meaning: to allow yourself to behave much more freely than usual
Example: Come on Sophie, it’s our graduation party. Let your hair down, have some fun! -
to have a ball
Meaning: to have a very exciting time, to have a very enjoyable time, to enjoy oneself enormously
Example: How was Clive’s party last night? It was great, we had a ball! -
catch up with
Meaning: to meet or talk with someone after a long time
Example: Let me know when you’re back in town. It would be great to catch up with you. -
budge up (mainly UK)
Meaning: to move up/move over so that there is room for other people
Example: Budge up kids! Make room for your cousin on the couch. -
cost a bomb
Meaning: to cost a lot of money, something is extremely expensive
Example: Wow, I love your new shoes. They must have cost a bomb! -
give one the cold shoulder
Meaning: to deliberately ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly manner
Example: After the party I really thought she liked me. But the next day, she just gave me the cold shoulder. -
on a wild goose chase
Meaning: a hopeless pursuit of something non-existent or unattainable
Example: Last Christmas my wife sent me on a wild goose chase to buy a PS5 for the kids. It was impossible because every store had sold out of PS5’s. -
a hard nut to crack
Meaning: a person that is difficult to understand or a problem that is difficult to solve
Example: The new boss is being very stubborn on this issue. He is a tough nut to crack. -
better late than never
Meaning: to be glad that something has finally been done, even if it was later than expected
Example: A: Here is the last of the money that I owe you. Sorry it took me so long to pay you back. B: No problem, better late than never. -
a piece of cake
Meaning: something that is easy to do
Example: The physics exam was a piece of cake! -
judge a book by its cover
Meaning: you cannot know what someone or something is like by only looking at the outside appearance of the person or thing
Example: Warren Buffett lives in the same house he purchased in 1958. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. He is one of the world’s most successful investors. -
be / feel under the weather
Meaning: to feel sick or unwell
Example: This morning I had to call in sick to work because I was feeling under the weather. -
once in a blue moon
Meaning: something that happens not very often
Example: My brother moved to Brazil, so I only get to see him once in a blue moon. -
on the ball
Meaning: to be alert, quick to react and understand things
Example: The new intern is really on the ball. She had completed all her assignments by noon. -
a perfect storm
Meaning: an unusual combination of actions, things, or events that result in a bad or powerful event
Example: The general public are faced with a perfect storm of rising inflation, slowing economic growth, and poor political leadership. -
go the extra mile
Meaning: to work extremely hard and make a special effort in order to achieve or do something
Example: The independent coffee shop in town is my favourite. They always go the extra mile for their customers. -
cut corners
Meaning: to do something in either the least expensive or easiest way, usually resulting in something not being done properly
Example: I don’t like to cut corners when I’m servicing my car. I don’t want it to break down later. -
cut to the chase
Meaning: to start talking about or dealing with what is important without wasting any unnecessary time
Example: I didn’t have to talk, so I told Louis to cut to the chase and tell me what he needed. -
back to the drawing board
Meaning: to start all over again after a failed effort
Example: After the bank denied my proposal for a business loan, I had to go back to the drawing board. -
call it a day
Meaning: to agree or decide to stop a particular activity or task
Example: We’ve been painting the living room all afternoon. Let’s call it a day. We can start again in the morning. -
cut it out
Meaning: stop doing something (usually said in an angry way)
Example: Cut it out kids! Your arguing is driving me crazy! -
sleep on it
Meaning: to delay making a decision until the next day
Example: I’ve been offered a promotion at work, but I asked my boss if I could sleep on it. She doesn’t know, but I’m looking for a job at another company. -
twenty-four seven (24/7)
Meaning: all the time, twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week
Example: The store near my home is open twenty-four seven. -
bend over backwards
Meaning: to try extremely hard to do something helpful or good
Example: Your mother will always bend over backwards to help you; you only have to ask. -
to kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: to achieve two things at once in one single action
Example: When I go running, I listen to audiobooks in English. I kill two birds with one stone. I get fit and practice my English.
If you’re finding these 50 English phrases useful, please be sure to check out my store below! 🙂
-
to add insult to injury
Meaning: to say or do something that makes a bad situation worse than before
Example: The dentist first told me that I needed four new fillings. To add insult to injury, he also said that my breath smelled horrible! -
no pain no gain
Meaning: to suffer or work hard in order to achieve success
Example: I was struggling to finish my workout, but I kept telling myself “no pain no gain!” -
a blessing in disguise
Meaning: a bad thing or situation that turns out to be good
Example: I lost my job because my previous company shut down, but it was a blessing in disguise. One month later I got a new job with less hours and more pay! -
see eye to eye
Meaning: to be in full agreement or have the same opinion as someone
Example: I’ve finally found a new client who sees eye to eye with me on how to approach the project. -
the best of both worlds
Meaning: to enjoy the advantage of two different things in the same situation or time
Example: Working at home allows me to experience the best of both worlds. I am able to pay the bills, but also be close to my family. -
to be all ears
Meaning: to be listening attentively, ready to hear something
Example: The children in the classroom were all ears as the teacher read them a story. -
cool as a cucumber
Meaning: to be calm and composed, not affected by pressure
Example: Ronaldo was as cool as a cucumber as he stepped up to take the penalty. -
easier said than done
Meaning: something that is more difficult to do than talk about
Example: The transition for nations to green renewable energy is easier said than done. -
find your feet
Meaning: to start to feel comfortable and confident about doing something new
Example: After moving to San Diego from Alabama, I’m really starting to find my feet. -
make ends meet
Meaning: to earn enough money to cover the cost of basic needs
Example: The musician had to work as an Uber Driver during the day to help make ends meet. -
out of the woods
Meaning: to no longer be in a dangerous situation or experiencing difficulty
Example: My grandpa is finally off the ventilator and the doctor says he is now out of the woods. -
what goes around comes around
Meaning: actions performed by an individual, good or bad, will have consequences
Example: She used to always tease her colleague at work. Now her colleague is her boss, and will not approve her pay rise – what goes around comes around. -
lose your marbles
Meaning: to lose one’s mind, to go insane or crazy
Example: After his wife left him, he thought he would lose his marbles. -
go cold turkey
Meaning: to suddenly stop doing something completely, usually either alcohol, smoking, or drugs
Example: After his father got sick, he decided to stop smoking and go cold turkey. -
strong as an ox
Meaning: to have/possess great physical strength
Example: I’m going to get my brother to help me move all of this furniture. He’s as strong as an ox. -
solid as a rock
Meaning: very strongly built, stable, sturdy
Example: That table is 65 years old and is still as solid as a rock. -
as good as new
Meaning: something that has been used, but is in extremely good condition
Example: My girlfriend has many pairs of shoes that are as good as ne. She never wears them! -
cross that bridge when you get/come to it
Meaning: to not be worried about a possible problem or situation until it arises
Example: We may have invited too many people to the party, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. -
best thing since sliced bread
Meaning: to describe a new thing or person that is fantastic or very good
Example: The free WIFI in the coffee shop is the best thing since sliced bread. I can check all of my emails before I get into work in the morning. -
drop the ball
Meaning: to miss an opportunity, make an error, or do something stupid
Example: Kevin really dropped the ball on that project. We needed the contracts signed and delivered by Monday and he missed the deadline. -
walking on eggshells
Meaning: to be very cautious about one’s actions or words, to be careful not to upset or offend anyone
Example: After Barry forgot his wedding anniversary, he spent the morning walking on eggshells. -
bear with me
Meaning: to ask someone to please be patient with you
Example: Please bear with me, our computer system is running very slowly today. -
throw a wrench in the works
Meaning: to cause a problem that prevents an activity or plan from proceeding
Example: When the head office decided to cut funding to our department, it really threw a wrench in the works of our latest project. -
catch you (or “ya”) later
Meaning: see you later, bye, goodbye
Example: Ok, that sounds great! Catch ya later!
-
as good as gold
Meaning: very well-behaved, usually a child
Example: Your daughter is welcome to come over again any time. She was as good as gold.
Thank you so much for reading my blog on 50 common English phrases and idioms. I hope you found it useful!
