100+ Common Idioms and phrases examples & their Meanings
What are idioms?
A common word or phrase which means something different from its literal meaning but can be understood because of its popular use.
• Any idioms can be a phrase.
• Can be a single word.
• Moonlighting
What is a phrase?
A group of words that makes sense, but not complete sense is called a phrase.
• A herd of cat
• Reading a book.
• To be free
• Once in a blue moon
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Examples :
1. A gentleman at large
Meaning: (an unreliable person)
Example: he is a gentleman at large, you must not trust issues.
2. A man of straw
Meaning: (a week person)
Example: Raghav is a man of straw
3. To be at sea
Meaning: ( a person confused )
Example: My wife is quiet at sea in maths.
4. To be in a fix
Meaning: ( in a dilemma)
Example: The police department was in a fix about the threatening calls sent by the militants.
5. To be in the good books
Meaning: ( to be in favor of a person)
Example: a good student is always in the good books of his teachers.
6. To be under a cloud
Meaning: (to be under suspicion)
Example: his connections with the militants have brought him under a cloud.
7. To be large
Meaning: (free)
Example: the man who tried to kill her is still at large.
8. To be not worth one’s salt
Meaning: (not deserving)
Example: you should not help Ramesh, he is not worth his salt.
9. To be in tune
Meaning: (in argument or mood)
Example: the principal asked the students if they were in tune for organizing the annual function.
10. To be out of shorts
Meaning: (to be unwell )
Example: she had been out of shots for several days and so could not do her office work.
11. To break the news
Meaning: (to give bad news)
Example: He broke the news of her husband’s death very cautiously in order to lessen the shock.
12. To burn the midnight oil
Meaning: (to work late hours)
Example: I have to burn the midnight oil for several days in order to complete the work in time.
13. To be up
Meaning: (to be familiar with)
Example: He is not up to all the tracks of this new business.
14. To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth –
Meaning: (to be born in a rich family)
Example: Indira Gandhi was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
15. To be worth its weight in gold –
Meaning: (something extremely valuable)
Example: For a hungry man a piece of bread is is is often worth its weight in gold.
16. To be lost in the cloud
Meaning: (a person with confused or unclear thoughts)
Example: Philosophers are often lost in clouds.
17. To be weak or vacant in the upper story
Meaning: (a feeble-minded person)
Example: I can’t assign such work to him, as he is vacant in the upper story.
18. To be under a cloud
Meaning: ( under suspension)
Example: the recovery of recovery from his office has put him under a cloud.
19. To be under one’s thump
Meaning: (to be under control)
Example: she is no more under the thumb of her mother-in-law.
20. To be at daggers drawn
Meaning: (ready to fight):
Example: Both the brothers are at daggers down.
21. To be at a loss
Meaning: (to be puzzled or confused)
Example: in an interview, he found himself at a loss and couldn’t answer even very simple questions.
22. To be at one’s wit’s end
Meaning: (unable to decide the right course of action)
Example: Seeing the Income-Tax officer at his shop he was at his wit’s end.
23. To be at the helm of
Meaning: ( enjoying the best position)
Example: until his father was a minister he was at the helm of affairs.
24. To be in a fix
Meaning: (unable to decide)
Example: The was in a fix when the inspector discovered many irregularities in the accountant’s books.
25. To be in the teens
Meaning: (between the age of 12 and 20)
Example: 2 girls still in their teens were caught talking about alcoholic drinks.
26. To be on one’s last legs to be about
Meaning: (to collapse)
Example: it is wrong to say that the caste system in India is on its last legs.
27. To be on the tenterhooks
Meaning: (to be in a state of distress)
Example: When police caught him with stolen money he was on the tenterhooks.
28. To be true to one’s salt
Meaning: (to prove fateful)
Example: The Rajput soldiers in Akbar’s army were true to their salt.
29. To be at loggerheads
Meaning: (to quarrel):
Example: The two brothers are now at loggerheads.
30. To bear the bond of
Meaning: (to bear the main attack)
Example: The secretary has to bear the brunt of ministers
31. completely in the dark
Meaning: (unaware)
Example: Kelvin says he was completely in the dark about the CEO’s plans to sell the company.
32. seventh heaven
Meaning: (extremely happy)
Example: I’ve been in seventh heaven ever since I got engaged!
33. call me 24/7
Meaning: (at any time)
Example: If you have problems call me 24/7 it doesn’t matter if I am sleeping.
34. be on thin ice
Meaning: (in a risky situation).
Example: If you keep asking him about his ex-girlfriend you’ll be on thin ice
35. all wet!
Meaning: (completely mistaken).
Example: If you think I’m going to climb that rickety ladder, you’re all wet!
36. It’ll be a cold day
Meaning: (July never happens)
Example: It’ll be a cold day in when our team wins the championship. We’re terrible.
37. It’s been raining cats and dogs
Meaning: (rain heavily) all day.
Example: It’s been raining cats and dogs I’m afraid the roof is going to leak.
38. smokes like a chimney
Meaning: (smoke a lot)
Example: Jeff smokes like a chimney I worry about his health.
39. straight arrow
Meaning: (an honest, trustworthy person)
Example: Jim is a straight arrow
40. put my face on
Meaning: (apply cosmetics)
Example: Let me just put my face on and I’ll meet you at the restaurant in 15 minutes.
41. heaven opens!
Meaning: (start to rain heavily).
Example: Let’s come back soon before heaven opens!
42. as pale as a ghost
Meaning: (extremely pale)
Example: My grandfather was as pale as a ghost when he entered the hospital.
43. sharp as a tack.
Meaning: ( mentally agile)
Example: My grandmother is 92 years old but she’s still sharp as a tack.
44. back on her feet
Meaning: (healthy again)
Example: My mother is back on her feet after being sick for two weeks.
45. one foot in the grave
Meaning: (near death)
Example: My uncle is very sick and has one foot in the grave
46. Never in a million years
Meaning: (absolutely never)
Example: Never in a million years did I think that I would actually win the lottery!
47. Around the corner
Meaning: (occurring soon).
Example: New year’s EVE is just around the corner Have a made party plans yet
48. Music to my ears
Meaning: (good to hear)
Example: News of the new president was music to my ears
49. 9 times out of 10
Meaning: (almost always)
Example: 9 times out of 10 your first choice turns out to be the right one.
50. Once in a blue
Meaning: (very rarely)
Example: Once in a blue, you see the aurora here, but it’s not like further north.
51. shooting fish in a barrel
Meaning: (very easy)
Example: Passing the quiz will be like shooting fish in a barrel. I’ve studied a lot.
52. make yourself at home
Meaning: (make yourself comfortable)
Example: Please come in and make yourself at home.
53. The house of correction
Meaning: (prison)
Example: She said he is out of the house of correction
54. She’s a dead ringer
Meaning: (similar in appearance)
Example: She’s a dead ringer for her older sister.
55. No spring chicken
Meaning: (not young)
Example: She’s no spring chicken, but she is still very good-looking.
56. Chop-Chop
Meaning: (quickly)
Example: Sure, come into the office, and we can get the documents you need chop-chop
57. Take your time
Meaning: (don’t hurry)
Example: Take your time on the exam. You don’t get a bonus for finishing quickly.
58. carry the day
Meaning: (successful)
Example: Teamwork and training will carry the day
59. held my peace
Meaning: (be silent)
Example: I wanted to speak up during the meeting but I held my peace
60. Hell freezes over
Meaning: (never)
Example: Tom stole cameras when he worked here. I’ll hire him back when hell freezes over.
61. Money down the drain
Meaning: (waste money)
Example: That’s a worthless investment. He is throwing his money down the drain.
62. call time on his long career
Meaning: (end)
Example: The boxer is ready to call time on his long career.
63. Back to square one
Meaning: (back to start)
Example: The project failed we are back to square one.
65. Once in a while
Meaning: (occasionally)
Example: I don’t want to leave the city but I enjoy visiting once in a while.
66. Feeling on top of the world
Meaning: (feel very happy)
Example: I have been feeling on top of the world since I quit my job.
67. I have a million and one
Meaning: (many)
Example: ideas.
68. Heard through the grapevine
Meaning: (via gossip)
Example: I heard through the grapevine that Evan and Amber are going out. It is true?
69. Rain or shine
Meaning: (do regularly)
Example: I listen to music every day, come rain or shine
70. Turned out to be a breeze!
Meaning: (be very easy)
Example: I state off all night studying for that exam and then it turned out to be a breeze!
71. 9 to 5 job.
Meaning: (A routine job)
Example: I wouldn’t want a 9 to 5 job.
72. I put in my two cents
Meaning: (say your opinion)
Example: I put in my two cents at the meeting.
73. A New York minute
Meaning: (very quickly)
Example: I’d buy that car in a New York minute if I had the money.
74. Going around the bend
Meaning: (crazy)
Example: I’d tell you were going around the bend.
75. pushing up daisies
Meaning: (dead)
Example: I’ll be pushing up daisies before my daughter decides to get married.
76. I’m on deck.
Meaning: ( Next)
Example: I’ll call you back in an hour. The speaker is almost finished, and I’m on deck.
77. Around the clock.
Meaning: ( at all times)
Example: The restaurant is open around the clock.
78. At death’s door
Meaning: ( very near death)
Example: The sales manager was at death’s door after his heart attack.
79. knock your socks off
Meaning: (amaze you)
Example: Wait until you try the new Yamaha scooters. They’ll knock your socks off!
80. Hit the road
Meaning: (leave)
Example: We better hit the road before traffic gets even worse.
81. Seize the day
Meaning: (take an opportunity)
Example: We should seize the day while prices are low. That won’t last forever.
82. Nick of time
Meaning: (just in time)
Example: We were going to leave without you but you got here just in the nick of time.
83. Pull the plug on
Meaning: (terminate)
Example: We’re going to pull the plug on or operation in Taiwan. It’s just not succeeding.
84. I hit the roof
Meaning: (become very angry)
Example: When I found out Tom crashed my car, I hit the roof
85. On the spot
Meaning: (immediately)
Example: When I said I would move to New York, she offered me the job on the spot
86. On cloud nine
Meaning: (very happy)
Example: When my mom brought me a computer, I was on cloud nine.
87. Let’s call it a day
Meaning: (stop working)
Example: You all look tired. Let’s call it a day
88. Totally by the book.
Meaning: (Follow instructions exactly)
Example: You don’t have to do this totally by the book.
89. Out of your Gourd
Meaning: (crazy)
Example: You’re going to jump down from that ledge? Are you out of your Gourd?
90. Days are numbered
Meaning: (will die soon)
Example: Your days are numbered if you keep driving while drunk.
91. Hit the books.
Meaning: (study)
Example: Ok I’ll come to the party Friday. But Saturday it will be time to hit the books.
92. Hit the hay.
Meaning: (go to bed)
Example: I have to get up at 5 tomorrow morning. It’s time to hit the hay.
93. In touch
Meaning: (in contact)
Example: I’ll be out of town his weekend, but I will be in touch when I get back Sunday night.
94. Lost touch.
Meaning: ( Fall out of contact)
Example: Social media are great for finding old friends with whom you’ve lost touch.
95. Rings a Bell.
Meaning: (sound familiar)
Example: The name Susan Thompson rings a Bell. I think she worked here let me look it up.
96. Bent out of shape
Meaning: (become angry)
Example: I was just making a suggestion. Don’t get all bent out of shape over it.
97. 110-proof conservative
Meaning: (very strong)
Example: Bob is a 110-proof conservative I’ve never seen him vote for a labor candidate.
98. In his cups
Meaning: (drunk)
Example: Don’t brother Joseph when he’s in his cups he is very irritable.
99. One for the road
Meaning: ( A final drink)
Example: Give me a beer. I am having one for the road
100. All the rage
Meaning: (very fashionable)
Example: A few years ago were all the rage but now you don’t see them so much.
101. Cloud nine after
Meaning: (extremely happy)
Example: Gindy was on cloud nine after her boyfriend proposed to her.
102. Music is distracting
Meaning: (meaningless talk)
Example: Can you guys please be quiet? Your music is distracting me from my work.
103. Hell for leather
Meaning: (very fast)
Example: After work, I drove home hell for leather, but I still missed my sister’s birthday party.
104. Threw in the towel
Meaning: (give up)
Example: After losing his queen, the chess player threw in the towel and resigned.
105. The figure for the cost
Meaning: (a rough estimate)
Example: A ballpark figure for the cost of the new stadium would be $150,000,000