An idiom is a saying or expression that says one thing literally but means something else when in context. Native English speakers use many idioms in everyday conversation. You can also hear them in many tv shows and movies. English idioms are used regularly and it is something every student should be comfortable with. Misunderstanding an idiom in conversation can be quite confusing, you might not see eye to eye with the person after. Let’s have a look at the 10 English idioms that every English student should know:
See Eye To Eye
Example: “Finally my manager and I see eye to eye”
Meaning: To agree with someone fully. This definitely isn’t about sitting down and staring at your friend’s eyes and looking at them deeply, it means to agree with someone fully. So please don’t go around looking deeply into people’s eyes.
Under The Weather
Example: “I’m not going to be able to make it to work today, I’m feeling really under the weather”
Meaning: Not feeling well, feeling ill or sick. We use this generally when we’re not feeling very well. We might say we are feeling under the weather, especially if the weather outside is quite bad.
Hit The Sack
Example: “I’m completely exhausted, I need to hit the sack”
Meaning: To go to bed. Some people occasionally would also say “Hit the hay” too, with the same meaning. We would usually use this at the end of a long day when we’re very tired or exhausted.
Piece Of Cake
Example: “Well that game was a piece of cake, I totally nailed it!”
Meaning: Don’t get too excited, this isn’t an actual piece of chocolate cake or something. This means that something is extremely easy, just like eating a piece of cake. We would use this idiom after an action, to comment on its simplicity.
Break A Leg
Example: “Hey, go out there and break a leg! Enjoy it!”
Meaning: Used mainly for the stage, musicals or stage plays. This is something an actor would say to another actor, meaning to wish someone good luck.
Stabbed In The Back
Example: “I’m not going if Sophie is going, she totally stabbed me in the back”
Meaning: There are no knives or swords here, stabbing someone in the back will almost definitely mean you will go to prison. This is to have been betrayed by someone you trust. If someone has done something to you, like betray your trust or lied to you.
Judge A Book By Its Cover
Example: “I can’t believe you said that you should never judge a book by its cover”
Meaning: You should not make judgments based solely on appearance. Judging a book by its cover can sometimes refer to racism and more serious issues.
By The Skin Of Your Teeth
Example: “I can’t believe I got here on time today, I made the bus by the skin of my teeth”
Meaning: Obviously there is no skin on our teeth, this example is quite absurd. But it means by the smallest amount of time. Just barely.
To Have Butterflies In Your Stomach
Example: “She’s got butterflies in her stomach, cause it’s her first blind date”
Meaning: To have butterflies is to be excited and nervous. There are many situations where you can feel you have butterflies in your stomach, like a first date. We can also use this idiom if have a job interview or something we are incredibly nervous about.
To Cost An Arm And A Leg
Example: “My new bag cost an arm and a leg, I bought it on vacation in Barcelona”
Meaning: We usually can’t pay for the things that we want to buy with our own limbs, so this means something costs a large amount of money. Generally, if something costs an arm and a leg, it is that whatever you bought is more money than you would usually spend on something.
