POPULAR IDIOMS AND THEIR MEANINGS

POPULAR IDIOMS AND THEIR MEANINGS

What Is an Idiom?

Idiom: An idiom is a group of words that are used as a common expression whose meaning is not deducible from that of the literal words.

Popular English Idioms

1. A Bit Much
   Meaning: More than is reasonable; a bit too much
   
   
2. A blessing in disguise
   Meaning: A good thing that initially seemed bad
   
   
3. Adding insult to injury
   Meaning: To make a bad situation even worse
   
   
4. A hot potato
   Meaning: a controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with.
   
   
5. Piece of cake
   Meaning: something that is easy to do
   
   
6. Once in a blue moon
   Meaning: very rarely
   
   
7. Beat around the bush
   Meaning: Avoid sharing your true viewpoint or feelings because it is uncomfortable
   
   
8. Beating a dead horse
   Meaning: Giving time or energy to something that is ended or over
   
   
9. Bite the bullet
   Meaning: To get an unfavorable situation or chore over with now because it will need to get finished eventually.
   
   
10. Best of both worlds
    Meaning: The choice or solution has all of the advantages of two contrasting things at the same time
    
    
11. Biting off more than you can chew
    Meaning: Not having the capacity to take on a new assignment or task that is just too taxing.
    
    
12. By the skin of your teeth
    Meaning: Just barely making it.
    
    
13. Don’t judge a book by its cover
    Meaning: Not judging something by its initial appearance.
    
    
14. Doing something at the drop of a hat
    Meaning: Doing something at the moment of being asked.
    
    
15. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
    Meaning: Not to count on something happening until after it’s already happened.
    
    
16. Caught between a rock and a hard place
    Meaning: Making a choice between two unpleasant choices.
    
    
17. Costs an arm and a leg
    Meaning: Something that is overpriced or very expensive.
    
    
18. Cutting corners
    Meaning: Not performing a task or duty correctly in order to save time or money.
    
    
19. Devil’s advocate
    Meaning: To take the side of the counter-argument, or offer an alternative point of view.
    
    
20. Feeling under the weather
    Meaning: Not feeling well, or feeling sick

Popular English Idioms