English Idioms

“Cross your mind”

To think of something briefly.

“Big fish in a small pond”

An important person in a small group or limited environment.

“The calm before the storm”

A quiet period before trouble or intense activity begins.

“Drop a hint”

To suggest something indirectly.

“Come under fire”

To receive strong criticism.

“Beyond repair”

Too damaged to be fixed.

“Have eyes bigger than your stomach”

To take or want more food than you can eat.

“Carry the day”

To win or succeed.

“Low-hanging fruit”

Tasks or opportunities that are easy to achieve.

“Leave someone in the lurch”

To abandon someone when they need help.

“Get the hang of it”

To learn how to do something.

“Take a rain check”

To postpone an invitation or plan for another time.

“Catch someone off guard”

To surprise someone unexpectedly.

“Heavy going”

Difficult to do, read, or understand.

“Hang in there”

To keep trying and not give up.

“For the time being”

For now; temporarily.

“Out of your depth”

In a situation that is too difficult for your knowledge or ability.

“Lose your touch”

To become less skilled at something than before.

“Clear as day”

Very obvious or easy to understand.

“A shot in the dark”

A guess made without much information.

“A thing of the past”

Something that no longer exists or happens.

“Flash in the pan”

A short-lived success that does not last.

“Feel the pinch”

To experience financial difficulty.

“No-brainer”

A very easy decision.