Idioms are fun phrases that don’t mean what they say. They make talking and writing more colorful. This post explains 20 base idioms so you can start using them too!
Base Idioms
Here are 20 base idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
On the ball
Meaning: Alert and efficient
Example: She’s always on the ball in class.
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Exactly right
Example: You really hit the nail on the head with that idea.
Back to square one
Meaning: Starting over
Example: After the error, it was back to square one.
Cut corners
Meaning: Do something poorly to save time or money
Example: He cut corners on the project and it showed.
Break the ice
Meaning: Reduce tension in a social situation
Example: His joke broke the ice at the meeting.
Cold feet
Meaning: Nervous just before a big event
Example: She got cold feet before her speech.
Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do much more than is required
Example: He went the extra mile to help her.
Read between the lines
Meaning: Find the hidden meaning
Example: You have to read between the lines of his letter.
A piece of cake
Meaning: Very easy
Example: The test was a piece of cake.
Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill
Example: I’m staying home today, feeling under the weather.
Spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal a secret
Example: He accidentally spilled the beans about the party.
Through thick and thin
Meaning: In all circumstances, no matter how difficult
Example: They stuck together through thick and thin.
Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working on something
Example: She burned the midnight oil to finish the report.
Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: Joke or tease someone
Example: Don’t be upset; I was just pulling your leg.
Hit the sack
Meaning: Go to bed
Example: It’s late; time to hit the sack.
Out of the blue
Meaning: Unexpectedly
Example: He arrived out of the blue without any warning.
Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive
Example: This car costs an arm and a leg.
The last straw
Meaning: The final problem in a series of problems
Example: This mistake was the last straw.
Over the moon
Meaning: Extremely happy
Example: She was over the moon with her new bike.
Keep an eye on
Meaning: Watch something carefully
Example: Please keep an eye on the baby while I’m out.
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