Foreign Idioms (With Meaning and Examples)

Welcome to our fun world of idioms! Today, we’re diving into expressions that include the word “foreign” or relate to the theme of being “foreign.” These phrases are colorful ways to spice up your English and help you sound like a native speaker!

Foreign Idioms

Here are 20 foreign idioms in English.

1. Foreign territory

Meaning: Unfamiliar or new area
Example: Starting college felt like foreign territory.

2. A foreign concept

Meaning: Something not easily understood
Example: Homework is a foreign concept to him.

3. To sound foreign

Meaning: To seem unfamiliar or strange
Example: His idea sounds foreign to us.

4. Foreign to one’s nature

Meaning: Not typical for someone’s character
Example: Patience is foreign to his nature.

5. In foreign parts

Meaning: In another country
Example: He lives in foreign parts now.

6. Foreign body

Meaning: An object not naturally part of something
Example: A splinter is a foreign body.

7. To be treated as foreign

Meaning: To be treated as not belonging
Example: He’s often treated as foreign.

8. Foreign exchange

Meaning: Trade of currencies
Example: She works in foreign exchange.

9. A foreign affair

Meaning: A matter involving other countries
Example: It’s a delicate foreign affair.

10. Speak in foreign tongues

Meaning: To speak in another language
Example: She can speak in foreign tongues.

11. To feel foreign

Meaning: To feel out of place
Example: I felt foreign at the party.

12. Like a foreign language

Meaning: Very difficult to understand
Example: Math feels like a foreign language.

13. Foreign elements

Meaning: Unfamiliar or disruptive factors
Example: The group introduced foreign elements.

14. Foreign soil

Meaning: Land in another country
Example: They landed on foreign soil.

15. Foreign waters

Meaning: Unknown or unfamiliar situations
Example: He navigated foreign waters smoothly.

16. A foreign hand

Meaning: Assistance from an outsider
Example: We sought a foreign hand.

17. To adopt foreign ways

Meaning: To embrace other cultures
Example: She quickly adopted foreign ways.

18. From a foreign land

Meaning: Originating from another country
Example: This vase is from a foreign land.

19. Foreign relations

Meaning: Connections with other countries
Example: He specializes in foreign relations.

20. A foreign name

Meaning: A name from another culture
Example: She has a foreign name.

Foreign Idioms