20 English Idioms in English With Meaning & Sentences

Idioms are an essential part of the English language, adding color and depth to everyday conversations. They are expressions whose meanings are not deducible from the literal definitions of the words that make them up. In this blog post, we will explore 20 English idioms that you can use to enrich your vocabulary and improve your understanding of native speakers.

Whether you’re a language learner or a seasoned speaker, these 20 English idioms will enhance your communication skills and help you sound more fluent and natural.

20 Idioms in English with Meaning

No	Idioms	Meaning
1	In the nick of time	This idiom means “at the right moment” or “just in time.”
2	To cut one’s losses	To stop doing something that is not profitable or successful and move on to something else.
3	Under your breath	This idiom means “in a low voice,” not loud enough for others to hear.
4	Letting someone off the hook	Letting them escape punishment for something they have done wrong.
5	Angels on a pin	A situation so unlikely as to be impossible; is an example of hyperbole or exaggeration.
6	A face like thunder	It is used to describe someone is angry or upset about something.
7	To take the bull by the horns	It means facing a difficult situation instead of trying to avoid or ignore it.
8	There’s more than meets the eye	It means that something seems simple but has hidden complexities that aren’t immediately apparent at first glance!
9	All’s well that ends well	Everything will turn out well in the end; no matter what happens, it’s good if it ends well.
10	An elephant never forgets	This idiom means that people have long memories and will not easily forget what has happened to them in the past.
11	A leopard doesn’t change its spots	This idiom means that people have a particular character or personality which does not change over time or with experience.
12	As old as the hills	This idiom is used to describe something very old and has been around for a long time.
13	To cast pearls before swine	To waste something valuable on someone who does not appreciate it.
14	It’s all Greek to me	This idiom means “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
15	At first blush	This means that something looks good on the surface but may not be exactly what it seems.
16	To throw one’s hat into the ring	This idiom means someone wants their name added as a candidate for an election, job position etc., especially if there is only one vacancy and many possible candidates.
17	To put the cart before the horse	To do things in the wrong order or in the wrong way; to do something the wrong way.
18	To keep one’s head above water	This idiom means to manage financially and to have enough money to live.
19	To be up in arms about something	This idiom means to be very angry about something or to feel strongly about it.
20	Take the bull by the horns	This idiom means to deal with a problem directly and without fear.

Here are 20 sentences using the idioms from the list:

1. In the nick of time: The firefighters arrived in the nick of time to save the burning building.
2. To cut one’s losses: After months of losing money, she decided to cut her losses and sell the failing business.
3. Under your breath: He muttered something under his breath that I couldn’t quite hear.
4. Letting someone off the hook: The teacher let him off the hook even though he didn’t do his homework.
5. Angels on a pin: The debate was so theoretical it felt like discussing angels on a pin.
6. A face like thunder: She walked into the room with a face like thunder after hearing the bad news.
7. To take the bull by the horns: Instead of complaining, she decided to take the bull by the horns and fix the issue herself.
8. There’s more than meets the eye: The project seems simple, but there’s more than meets the eye.
9. All’s well that ends well: The trip had some hiccups, but all’s well that ends well.
10. An elephant never forgets: He remembered every detail of the event because an elephant never forgets.
11. A leopard doesn’t change its spots: Despite his promises, he didn’t change; a leopard doesn’t change its spots.
12. As old as the hills: The legend of the haunted house is as old as the hills.
13. To cast pearls before swine: Giving them such detailed advice was like casting pearls before swine.
14. It’s all Greek to me: She tried to explain quantum physics, but it’s all Greek to me.
15. At first blush: At first blush, the plan seemed perfect, but it had many flaws.
16. To throw one’s hat into the ring: He decided to throw his hat into the ring and run for mayor.
17. To put the cart before the horse: Planning the wedding before the proposal is putting the cart before the horse.
18. To keep one’s head above water: Despite all the challenges, she managed to keep her head above water.
19. To be up in arms about something: The community was up in arms about the proposed factory.
20. Take the bull by the horns: To solve the budget issue, the manager decided to take the bull by the horns and make some tough cuts.

Origins of the Above 20 English Idioms

1. In the nick of time
   • Origin: This idiom dates back to the 16th century, where “nick” referred to a precise moment. It originally described the last, precise point at which something could be done successfully.
2. To cut one’s losses
   • Origin: This phrase comes from the world of finance and gambling, where it is advised to stop spending money on a losing venture.
3. Under your breath
   • Origin: The origin is uncertain, but it has been used since the 18th century to describe speaking softly enough that others cannot hear.
4. Letting someone off the hook
   • Origin: This idiom comes from fishing. When a fish escapes from the hook, it is no longer in danger of being caught.
5. Angels on a pin
   • Origin: This phrase comes from a theological debate among medieval scholars who speculated on how many angels could fit on the head of a pin.
6. A face like thunder
   • Origin: This simile is derived from the dark, stormy appearance of thunderclouds, representing anger or displeasure.
7. To take the bull by the horns
   • Origin: This idiom originates from bullfighting, where the matador must confront the bull directly and head-on.
8. There’s more than meets the eye
   • Origin: This phrase became popular in the 1800s and means that there is more information or complexity to a situation than is initially apparent.
9. All’s well that ends well
   • Origin: This idiom comes from the title of a play by William Shakespeare, emphasizing that a good ending can make up for any previous problems.
10. An elephant never forgets
    • Origin: This phrase is based on the belief that elephants have excellent memories and can remember events and places for many years.
11. A leopard doesn’t change its spots
    • Origin: This idiom comes from the Bible, specifically Jeremiah 13:23, which states that it is impossible for a leopard to change its spots.
12. As old as the hills
    • Origin: This simile has been used since ancient times to describe something very old, as hills are among the oldest geological features.
13. To cast pearls before swine
    • Origin: This phrase comes from the Bible, Matthew 7:6, where Jesus advises against giving what is sacred to those who cannot appreciate its value.
14. It’s all Greek to me
    • Origin: This idiom was popularized by William Shakespeare in his play “Julius Caesar,” where Casca says he cannot understand Cicero’s speech because it is in Greek.
15. At first blush
    • Origin: This phrase has been used since the 1500s, referring to the first appearance or initial view of something.
16. To throw one’s hat into the ring
    • Origin: This idiom originates from boxing, where throwing one’s hat into the ring was a way to announce one’s intention to fight.
17. To put the cart before the horse
    • Origin: This phrase dates back to Roman times and was used to describe a situation where things are done in the wrong order.
18. To keep one’s head above water
    • Origin: This idiom likely comes from swimming, where keeping one’s head above water is necessary to avoid drowning, metaphorically applied to managing difficult situations.
19. To be up in arms about something
    • Origin: This idiom dates back to the 17th century and refers to people literally taking up weapons in protest or anger.
20. Take the bull by the horns
    • Origin: This idiom also originates from bullfighting, emphasizing confronting a problem directly and bravely.

🗂️ 20 Common English Idioms by Theme

Theme	Idiom	Meaning	Example
Emotions	Break the ice	To ease tension and start a conversation	“He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.”
Emotions	Bite your tongue	Stop yourself from saying something	“She bit her tongue instead of yelling back.”
Emotions	Blow off steam	Release pent-up energy or emotion	“He went for a run to blow off steam after the exam.”
Time	In the nick of time	Just in time	“They arrived in the nick of time for the train.”
Time	Call it a day	Stop working for the day	“Let’s call it a day and finish this tomorrow.”
Time	Ahead of the curve	More advanced than the norm	“Our tech team is ahead of the curve in AI development.”
Weather	Under the weather	Feeling ill	“I stayed home because I was feeling under the weather.”
Weather	Every cloud has a silver lining	Something good in a bad situation	“Getting fired was tough, but it led to better things—every cloud has a silver lining.”
Weather	Come rain or shine	No matter the circumstances	“She walks her dog every day, come rain or shine.”
Animals	Let the cat out of the bag	Reveal a secret	“He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.”
Animals	Hold your horses	Wait or slow down	“Hold your horses—we’re not ready to go yet.”
Animals	Wild goose chase	A pointless or futile search	“Looking for that lost sock was a wild goose chase.”
Money	Cost an arm and a leg	Very expensive	“That designer jacket cost an arm and a leg.”
Money	Penny for your thoughts	Ask what someone is thinking	“You’ve been quiet—penny for your thoughts?”
Money	Break the bank	Spend too much money	“Buying a new car would break the bank right now.”
Work/Tasks	Back to the drawing board	Start over with a new plan	“The design failed, so it’s back to the drawing board.”
Work/Tasks	Burn the midnight oil	Work late into the night	“She burned the midnight oil studying for finals.”
Work/Tasks	Get the ball rolling	Start a process or project	“Let’s get the ball rolling on the new marketing plan.”
Communication	Hit the nail on the head	Say something exactly right	“When she explained the issue, she hit the nail on the head.”
Communication	Get something off your chest	Share something that’s been bothering you	“He felt better after getting it off his chest.”

Final Words

Incorporating idioms into your speech and writing can significantly improve your English language skills. The 20 English idioms we’ve discussed in this blog post are just a starting point. They offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of expressions that make English such a vibrant and dynamic language. Practice using these idioms in context, and soon you’ll find that they come to you naturally in conversations. Remember, the more you use these 20 English idioms, the more confident and proficient you’ll become in expressing yourself in English.

Guess the Idiom Quiz

🧠 Ready to Test Your Idiom Skills?
Put your knowledge to the test with this quick idioms quiz! Whether you’re an ESL learner or just brushing up on your figurative language, these multiple-choice questions will help you review what you’ve learned—and maybe teach you something new.

🧠 Idioms Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

1. What does “break the ice” mean?
   To break something literally
   To begin a conversation in a relaxed way ✅
   To avoid someone
   


2. “Under the weather” means:
   Feeling sad
   Feeling ill ✅
   Enjoying the sunshine
   


3. What’s the meaning of “bite your tongue”?
   Say something loudly
   Stay silent to avoid conflict ✅
   Talk with food in your mouth
   


4. What does “cost an arm and a leg” mean?
   Be dangerous
   Be extremely expensive ✅
   Be rare or hard to find
   


5. “Let the cat out of the bag” means:
   Reveal a secret ✅
   Free an animal
   Carry a bag
   

Submit Quiz

🛠️ Create Your Own Idiom Practice Sentences

Looking to explore idioms in context? Use our interactive Idiom Generator to get sentence examples or writing prompts based on standard English idioms. Great for ESL learners and teachers who want to make figurative language fun and practical!

📝Worksheet: 20 Common English Idioms – Practice & Review

Use this worksheet to reinforce the idioms from today’s lesson. Students will match idioms to meanings, complete fill-in-the-blank sentences, create original examples, and answer multiple-choice questions. Perfect for in-class practice, homework, or quick assessment.

📚 Lesson Plan: Mastering 20 Common English Idioms

This lesson plan guides teachers through a 45–60-minute class that helps intermediate ESL learners recognize, interpret, and apply 20 everyday English idioms. With a warm-up discussion, hands-on generator activity, worksheet practice, and a quick quiz, students will gain confidence using figurative language in genuine conversation and writing.

❓ FAQ – Using and Learning English Idioms

What is the difference between an idiom and a proverb?

Idioms are figurative phrases whose meanings aren’t obvious from the individual words (e.g., “break the ice”). A proverb is a short, well-known saying that offers advice or wisdom (e.g., “A stitch in time saves nine”). Idioms add color to language; proverbs teach a lesson.

Can I change the words inside an idiom?

Usually, no. Idioms are fixed expressions. Changing or rearranging words often makes them sound odd or loses the figurative meaning. For example, “cost two legs and an arm” would confuse listeners—stick with “cost an arm and a leg.”

Why do native speakers use idioms so often?

Idioms make speech more vivid, concise, and natural. Native speakers use them to express complex ideas quickly, show cultural identity, or add humor. Learning common idioms helps ESL students sound more fluent and understand movies, songs, and everyday conversations.

How can I remember idioms more easily?

Group idioms by theme (e.g., money, weather, emotions), create visual flashcards, and practice using them in sentences or short stories. Recording yourself or pairing each idiom with a picture can also reinforce memory.

Are idioms acceptable in formal writing?

In academic or professional documents, idioms can feel too informal or unclear. Use them sparingly and make sure your audience will understand. In creative writing or everyday conversation, idioms are perfectly acceptable and engaging.