English Idioms
Search this index of English idioms. Each idiom has its own page with meaning, examples, and related expressions.
- Down and out
Without money, work, or hope.
General - Change your tune
To change your opinion or attitude.
General - The elephant in the room
An obvious problem that people avoid talking about.
General - An uphill battle
A very difficult challenge.
General - A long way off
Far in the future or far from being ready.
General - Fight fire with fire
To use the same methods as your opponent.
General - At arm’s length
At a safe distance, emotionally or physically.
General - Rule of thumb
A simple practical rule based on experience.
General - Change hands
To pass from one owner to another.
General - In the heat of the moment
While feeling strong emotion, without thinking calmly.
General - Eat your words
To admit that what you said was wrong.
General - Carry the day
To win or succeed.
General - Think outside the box
To think creatively and differently from usual.
General - The final straw
The last problem that makes a situation unacceptable.
General - Lose ground
To become less successful or fall behind.
General - Jump the gun
To do something too early before the right time.
General - Get in on the act
To join an activity that others are doing successfully.
General - Come to terms with
To accept a difficult reality.
General - Take a rain check
To postpone an invitation or plan for another time.
General - In the driver’s seat
In control of a situation.
General - Butter someone up
To praise someone too much in order to get something.
General - The calm before the storm
A quiet period before trouble or intense activity begins.
General - Start from scratch
To begin again from the very beginning.
General - Bring out the best in
To help someone show their best qualities.
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.