50 Popular English Idioms to Sound Like a Native Speaker

http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/50-popular-english-idioms-and-slang-words/

- Do you want to go to the cinema after dinner? Im easy.

Does it mean Im not difficult? Well, not exactly. Im easy is an idiomatic expression that means I dont mind.

To understand English as it is spoken in real life, you have to be familiar with idioms. They are used so much in everyday English that it is important to be aware of them. You need to learn what they mean, and how to use them to become an insider.

This blog post will show you some of the most popular English idioms currently in use. Remember, knowledge is power.

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english idioms

1. CRUNCH TIMEthe period of time just before a project has to be completed and everyone has to work hard

- Im not getting enough sleep these days. Its crunch time at work.

2. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLYto let others see your uniqueness

image: http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/LET-YOUR-FREAK-FLAG-FLY.jpg

LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY

- My colleagues were surprised at the Christmas party- I let my freak flag fly and showed them a break dance routine.

3. PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HATto do something unexpected that may have seemed impossible

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PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT

- I thought we were going bankrupt, but my partner pulled a rabbit out of his hat and we landed a major contract.

4. GET OUT OF HANDwhen you lose control of things, they get out of hand

- The party got out of hand and the guests started to throw bottles at each other.

5. GET YOUR HEAD AROUND ITto understand something

- I just cant get my head around the fact that Joe is leaving us.

6. DIG IN YOUR HEELS / STICK TO YOUR GUNSto refuse to compromise or change your mind

- My parents wanted me to give up writing, but I dug in my heels and went on to become a famous writer.

- My parents wanted me to give up writing, but I stuck to my guns and went on to become a famous writer.

7. POUND THE PAVEMENTto walk the streets looking for a job

- Id been pounding the pavement for months before I found a job in a fast food restaurant.

8. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNEDto do everything you can to achieve your goal

- Ill leave no stone unturned until I find out who did this.

9. BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETHwhen you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just succeed/ nearly fail

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BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH

- I hadnt studied much, but passed the test by the skin of my teeth.

10. GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEMto do something youve wanted to do for a long time and dont want to postpone any longer

- I wasnt sure how she was going to react, but I had to get it out of my system, so I told her I had found another woman.

11. GO THE EXTRA MILEto make a special effort/try very hard to achieve your goal

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GO THE EXTRA MILE

- If you want to become proficient in English, youll have to go the extra mile and start learning idioms.

- My English class was great, we learnt so much because our teacher was the best, she always went the extra mile for us.

12. STEP UP YOUR GAMEto start performing better

- If you want to win this competition, youll have to step up your game.

13. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHERto calm down and behave normally

- I understand youve had a bad day, but pull yourself together and get on with your job, will you?

14. SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUTeither start performing better or leave

- This is the last time Im telling you to arrive on time. Shape up or ship out.

15. CUT SOMEBODY SOME SLACKto give somebody a break/ not to judge somebody severely

- I was extremely busy last week. Cut me some slack and Ill finish the report by tomorrow morning.

16. ONCE IN A BLUE MOONwhen something rarely ever happens

- We used to see him all the time, but now he just visits us once in a blue moon.

17. GO DOWN IN FLAMESto end or fail suddenly and spectacularly

- Shed wanted to become Managing Director, but her career went down in flames when they found out shed been leaking information to our competitors.

18. TAR SOMEONE WITH THE SAME BRUSHto believe that someone has the same bad qualities as others in a group

- I dont think much of that band, but the singer shouldnt be tarred with the same brush. Shes got a fantastic voice.

19. COME OUT SWINGINGto be confrontational and strongly defend yourself at the beginning of a debate

- Our local MP came out swinging against the current leadership and demanded that the government resign.

20. CRY WOLFto call for help when you dont need it

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CRY WOLF

- Do you think Peter is in trouble or is he just crying wolf?

21. HANG IN THEREwait and be patient

- I know youd really like to call him, but I dont think thats the right thing to do now. Just hang in there and he will call you.

22. SHOOT FROM THE HIPto speak directly

- If you want to get on well with your boss, try not to shoot from the hip next time. You dont want to offend him, do you?

23. LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAYto let something happen, no matter what happens next

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LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY

- I must tell John how I feel about him, let the chips fall where they may.

24. RUNNING ON FUMESto continue to stay awake when feeling exhausted

- Im sorry, but Ive got to go home now. I havent slept for twenty hours and Im running on fumes.

25. SOLD ME OUTto snitch on someone, or let their secret out

- I asked you to keep it to yourself! I cant believe you sold me out, I trusted you!

26. YOU SOLD ME (ON SOMETHING)you convinced me of something, because you were persuasive

- OK, youve sold me. Ill go to the match with you.

27. YOU ROCKyou are great

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YOU ROCK

- Thanks for the tickets, Rob. You rock!

28. BLEW ME AWAYwhen something blows you away, youre extremely impressed by it

- The exhibition just blew me away. Id never seen so many beautiful paintings before.

29. BLOW SMOKEto exaggerate or say things that arent true to make you seem better/ more knowledgeable than in reality

- Im not blowing smoke. I have honestly read War and Peace by Tolstoy.

30. COULDNT CARE LESSused to express total lack of interest in something

- That man stole a bottle of wine from the shop. Oh, really? I couldnt care less.

31. BE CHUFFED TO BITSto be pleased and happy

- Hey, thanks for the present! Im chuffed to bits.

32. FEELING UNDER THE WEATHERto be ill or unable to do regular activities

- I think Im going to have to take the day off work. I feel quite under the weather today.

32. BE TICKLED PINKto be excited and happy

- She was tickled pink by all the compliments shed received.

33. A BAKERS DOZENthirteen

- Check out our bakers dozen language learning tips.

34. COMFORT FOODfood that makes you feel better, because it reminds you of your childhood

- After a tiring day, its so nice to make some comfort food and settle down with a good book.

35. SKELETON CREWthe minimum number of people needed to keep a service/office operating

- Can you come back after the holidays? Were operating with a skeleton crew at the moment.

36. NO-BRAINERan easy decision

- Do you think I should propose to Judy? Come on, its a no-brainer. Shes such a fantastic woman!

37. A STONES THROWvery near

- The hotel was a stones throw from the beach. I loved it.

38. HEAR ON THE GRAPEVINEto hear a rumour or unconfirmed story

- I heard on the grapevine that Charlie and Sarah are dating at the moment.

39. SIT ON THE FENCEto stay neutral and not take sides

- Well dont you think Im right, hes been acting differently hasnt he? Im sitting on the fence with this one, youre both my good friends.

40. TAKE WHAT SOMEONE SAYS WITH A PINCH OF SALTregard something as exaggerated, or only believe a part of something

- Did you hear what Tina said happened in the office yesterday? Oh, I would take anything she says with a pinch of salt.

41. FREAK OUTto become very angry, scared or excited

- Mum, dont freak out! I married a guy in Las Vegas.

42. BE A CATCHbe someone worth marrying/having

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BE A CATCH

- John is taking me out tonight. Hes such a catch, I hope hell propose.

43. PIECE OF CAKE

When something is extremely easy to do

Do you think you could beat him in a race?

Yeah, piece of cake. Im definitely a lot faster than him.

44. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

used if something someone says, is precisely correct

- My doctor hit the nail on the head. He knew exactly what was wrong with me!

45. COSTS AN ARM AND A LEG

when something is very expensive

- My son wants that mountain bike for his birthday, but itll cost an arm and a leg!

46. HIT THE BOOKS

to study very hard

- Do you want to go for lunch somewhere nice?- No thanks, Im going to hit the books. I have an exam coming up soon.

47. BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW

to take on something that is too much for you to handle

- He recently got promoted and took on some new responsibilities, but hes just too busy. He bit off more than he could chew, and I dont think he can handle it anymore.

48. WHEN PIGS FLY

this means that something will never happen

- Arent you going to buy that dream house you told me about?- Ugh, I will when pigs fly. Its just so expensive, I dont think itll happen.

49. DONT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

this means dont make a decision based on a brief impression or outward appearance

- I dont like our new neighbours very much, theyre quite strange.- Hey, you shouldnt judge a book by its cover. Give them a chance, I think theyre just a bit quirky but really nice!

50. MISS THE BOAT

when someone has missed their opportunity to do something

- Have you applied for that job yet?- No, I think I may have missed the boat. I shouldve done it last week.

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