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

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