English Idioms
Search this index of English idioms. Each idiom has its own page with meaning, examples, and related expressions.
- Behind closed doors
Privately, not in public.
General - Keep at bay
To prevent something from coming close or becoming a problem.
General - On the ball
Alert, quick to understand, and able to react well.
General - Cast a wide net
To search or try broadly.
General - All hands on deck
Everyone must help with an urgent task.
General - Nothing to write home about
Not special or impressive.
General - Hard to swallow
Difficult to accept or believe.
General - Fly off the handle
To suddenly become very angry.
General - Once and for all
Finally and permanently.
General - Cut someone some slack
To be less critical of someone.
General - Blow things out of proportion
To make something seem much worse than it is.
General - Save face
To avoid embarrassment or loss of respect.
General - Kick the can down the road
To delay dealing with a problem.
General - Carry weight
To be important or influential.
General - Big picture
The overall situation, not small details.
General - Diamond in the rough
A person or thing with great potential but not yet fully developed.
General - Cost a pretty penny
To cost a lot of money.
General - In the works
Being prepared or developed.
General - Move mountains
To do something extremely difficult.
General - Get a grip
To control your emotions or understand reality.
General - Blow off steam
To release anger, stress, or strong feelings.
General - Hard sell
An aggressive way of trying to sell something.
General - Face value
The obvious or stated value of something.
General - High and dry
Left without help or support.
General
Idiom of the Day
“Wear your heart on your sleeve”
To show your feelings openly.
A highlighted idiom from our collection. Browse the full index above for more.
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FAQ
What are English idioms?
Idioms are fixed expressions where the meaning is different from the literal words.
Why are idioms important in conversation?
They make speech sound natural and help you understand native-level communication.
How can I learn idioms faster?
Study idioms in context, repeat example sentences aloud, and review them regularly.
What are common idioms for beginners?
Start with high-frequency idioms from daily conversation and workplace English.