English Idioms

An idiom is a phrase that, when you listen or see all of the words, has a particular meaning. But when you look at the words in the phrase individually, we are not able to understand the phrase.
Jan 13 / Jake Borland
What is an idiom?

An idiom is a phrase that, when you listen or see all of the words, has a particular meaning. But when you look at the words in the phrase individually, we are not able to understand the phrase.
An idiom is similar to an expression or proverb. The group of words inside of the phrase have a meaning which is not related to actual words. Which is why we also have idiomatic phrasal verbs in English. An idiomatic phrasal verb is a verb and a preposition together which form a different meaning than the actual verb.
Idioms are a very important part of the English language and used a lot in written and spoken English. Native English speakers use idioms all the time when speaking to each other which can make it hard for non-native English speakers to understand the exact meaning of what they are saying.
When English learners reach a certain level of English, it becomes important for them to start learning idioms. It can seem scary learning idioms especially as there are so many, but it also fun. I will continue helping you learn more and more idioms with future blog articles and YouTube videos.
By learning idioms, and learning how to use them correctly when speaking, you will sound more like a native speaker so it is important for you to dedicate some time to learning them.
I would recommend starting by learning the most common idioms in the English language and when you get familiar with them, you can move on to more complicated and less common ones. Below I have listed some of the most common idioms in the English language but will continue to give you more over the next few months.

Here are 10 common idioms for you to learn now.

Actions speak louder than words. (Meaning: People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.)

At the drop of a hat. (Meaning: without any hesitation; instantly.)

Back to the drawing board. (Meaning: when an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.)

Ball is in your court. (Meaning. It is up to you to make the next decision or step.)

Barking up the wrong tree. (Meaning. Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person.)

Be glad to see the back of. (Meaning. Be happy when a person leaves.)

Beat around the bush. (Meaning. Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.)

Best of both worlds. (Meaning: All the advantages.)
Best thing since sliced bread. (Meaning: A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.)

Bite off more than you can chew. (Meaning: To take on a task that is way to big.)

Jake Borland

Jake Borland is an experienced English teacher with 20 years in the field. As the co-founder and Marketing Manager of Speak English Institute, he is dedicated to delivering high-quality education both in-person and online. Jake’s passion lies in helping students improve their English skills through engaging and effective learning experiences.

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