English Idioms
Search this index of English idioms. Each idiom has its own page with meaning, examples, and related expressions.
- A pain in the neck
An annoying person or problem.
General - Make waves
To cause attention, change, or trouble.
General - In all fairness
Used to make a fair or balanced statement.
General - A walk in the park
Something very easy to do.
General - Hold all the cards
To have the strongest position or most power.
General - Do more harm than good
To make a situation worse instead of better.
General - A clean break
A complete separation from a person, place, or situation.
General - Easy come, easy go
Something gained easily can be lost easily.
General - Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
Born into a rich or privileged family.
General - By the book
According to the rules.
General - Hit a wall
To reach a point where no further progress seems possible.
General - A hidden gem
Something excellent but not widely known.
General - Fair game
Acceptable to criticize, attack, or use.
General - Come full circle
To return to the original situation after changes.
General - Make headway
To make progress.
General - Draw attention to
To make people notice something.
General - A tall order
A difficult task or demand.
General - Go over someone’s head
To be too difficult for someone to understand.
General - Get the short end of the stick
To receive unfair or worse treatment.
General - Feather in your cap
An achievement you can be proud of.
General - Behind the times
Old-fashioned or not modern.
General - Black sheep
A person who is different from the rest of a family or group, often in a negative way.
General - Blank slate
A fresh start with no previous influence.
General - Do the trick
To achieve the desired result.
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.