{"id":12905,"date":"2023-01-07T20:12:52","date_gmt":"2023-01-08T03:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>These English idioms are common in everyday conversation in the United States. You will hear them in movies, the web series and can use them to make your English sound more lik"},"modified":"2023-01-07T20:12:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-08T03:12:55","slug":"american-idioms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/american-idioms\/","title":{"rendered":"150+ Famous American Idioms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"words-head\" id=\"words-3771240614\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5017566440575750\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5017566440575750\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3340569236\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These English idioms are common in everyday conversation in the United States. You will hear them in movies, the web series and can use them to make your English sound more like that of a native speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">List of American Idioms\u00a0<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here is a list of some common American English idioms with definitions and examples:<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">All over the map.<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> a conversation that does not stick to the main topic and goes off on tangents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The meeting today was all over the map and I don&#8217;t feel like we accomplished what we needed to.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Ants in your pants<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> can&#8217;t sit still<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> My children have ants in their pants because tomorrow is Christmas and they are excited about their presents.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Under the weather<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone is sick, ill, or doesn\u2019t feel well for some reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I called in sick to work today because I was feeling under the weather.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">It\u2019s not rocket science<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something is not complicated or to not make things more complicated than they need to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Basketball is not rocket science. It&#8217;s about putting the ball in the basket.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Bats in the belfry<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> indicates that someone is behaving in an eccentric or less than sane manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The poor man have bats in the belfry &#8211; he wears such peculiar clothes.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hang in there<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to keep going, keep moving forward, and to not give up with things get difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Work can get tough in the middle of a term but hang in there and it&#8217;ll be OK.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Blow off steam<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> express anger or frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I was so happy I was able to go to the gym tonight. After a stressful work day it was great to blow off some steam and work out.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Barking up the wrong tree<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> having the wrong impression of a person or situation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The police spent three months barking up the wrong tree on the murder investigation.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cutting corners<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> used to describe an activity that someone is performing by taking shortcuts to get to the end result that could jeopardize the integrity of the final product in some way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Babies aren&#8217;t inexpensive, but there are ways to cut corners!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Beef up<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to strengthen something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The company plans to beef up our fringe benefit.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Eager beaver<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone who is very eager or excited to do something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Being eager beaver, he sometimes is not well &#8211; liked by his colleagues.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Earworm<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> thinking about a song or lyrics from a song over and over<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The researchers found earworm infections last longer with musicians than with non-musicians.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Elephant in the room<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something that everyone in the room is aware of that probably needs to be addressed<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> &#8220;Elephant in the room&#8221; is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">For the birds<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something that is silly, ridiculous or ludicrous<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> There would be no room for the birds to fly, and dead birds would fall on me as I walked.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get your ducks in a row<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> make proper plans; get things in order<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> They should have had their ducks in a row beforehand, so they were ready to start the job when required.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Bite the bullet<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to accept that something inevitable is about to happen, usually something negative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I hate going to the dentist, but I&#8217;ll just have to bite the bullet.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Better late than never<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> doing something a day late, a week late, etc. is better than to never do it at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The agreement that has been reached is to be welcomed, but on the basis of &#8220;better late than never&#8221;.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Go back to the drawing board<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to begin all over because something wasn\u2019t done right the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> His government should go back to the drawing board to rethink their programme in time to return it to Parliament by September.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get the hang of it<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> To have the ability to complete a task and do it well; to go from beginner to intermediate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It was tough at first but now I am really getting the hang of it!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Gets my goat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something that really bothers or annoys someone<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> When I park in her space, it really gets her goat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/popular-idioms-and-their-meanings\/\">POPULAR IDIOMS AND THEIR MEANINGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hair of the dog that bit you<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> whatever caused you to be in the situation you&#8217;re in, go get more of that<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Put a good face upon it, and drink another hair of the dog that bit you.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hold your horses<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> slow down; stop and think about what you&#8217;re doing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Just hold your horses, Bill! Let&#8217;s think about this for a moment.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">On a fishing expedition<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> trying to get information out of someone without being fully aware of what you&#8217;re looking for<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The judge said the prosecutor was on a fishing expedition and stopped him.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hit the sack<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to retire for the evening and go to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> He never hits the sack before midnight.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">We\u2019ll cross that bridge when it gets here<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to address the problem when it arises and not worry about it beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> My sister worries too much about what might happen when her kids grow up and move out, so people are always saying \u201cyou\u2019ll cross that bridge when you come to it\u201d to her.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Speak of the devil<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone you were just talking about showed up unexpectedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> They were discussing the girl who was his new crush when she walked in. Speak of the devil.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Head over heels<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to be very much in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Kim and Erica are adorable, they are head over heels for each other!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">That\u2019s the last straw<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> your patience is wearing thin or you are completely out of patience with something or someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> My bruised knee is the last straw and it&#8217;s got to go.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Give props to<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> show appreciation for<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> We would like to give props to those who helped us tonight.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">On the ball<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are doing what you are supposed to be doing and you are doing a good job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> We need someone who\u2019s really on the ball to answer questions from the press.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Smell a rat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to get a sense that there is a problem with something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It is enough to make you smell a rat and be damned for your cynicism.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Straight from the horse&#8217;s mouth<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> got information directly from the most knowledgeable source<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I learnt my quantum mechanics, so to speak, straight from the horse&#8217;s mouth.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">To be a fly on the wall<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to wish to witness what is going on without anyone being aware that you are there<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> What I&#8217;d give to be a fly on the wall when Davis finds out what&#8217;s happened to his precious cargo.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Here and there<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> On occasion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> We get calls from that client here and there but not very often.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Make a long story short<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are taking a lengthy story and abbreviating it by leaving some details out to make it briefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> We started going out and, to make a long story short, we ended up getting serious about one another.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A blessing in disguise<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something you thought would be problem actually turned out to be something beneficial<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Losing that job was a blessing in disguise really.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get out of hand<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> situation or someone is spinning out of control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Police were called in when the situation began to get out of hand.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">The best of both worlds<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> an ideal situation or scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Before you know it.<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I will be there before you know it.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Wrap your head around it<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are taking the time to understand something or you have already taken the time to understand something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I just couldn&#8217;t wrap my mind around what had happened.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/40-common-english-idioms\/\">40 Common English Idioms<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Pulling your leg<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are just joking or kidding around with someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> My sister told me, the dog ate my food. I know she was pulling my leg.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Time flies when you\u2019re having fun<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are having such a good time that you don\u2019t pay attention to the time and before you know it, it\u2019s really late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Wow, it&#8217;s midnight already? I feel like we just got here. Time flies when you&#8217;re having fun!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Disco nap.<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> short nap usually taken before one goes out to a long evening engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It&#8217;s 4pm I think I&#8217;ll take a disco nap before we go out dancing tonight.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get your act together<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> straighten up and do what you are supposed to do instead of goofing off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Grow up, get your act together, try to behave like a professional.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Let you off the hook<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>you are not going to blame someone or something for which they rightfully have the blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> John&#8217;s agreed to go to the meeting in my place so that gets\/lets me off the hook.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat nap<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> short nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It has been a productive morning, I am going to take a cat nap after lunch.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A dime a dozen<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something or someone is common and not unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Plastic toys like this are a dime a dozen.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Break a leg<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> is used to wish someone good luck, typically regarding a performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Break a leg at your performance tonight!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">bang for your buck<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> get the most benefit possible out of the money you spend<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Getting your cable TV, internet and mobile phone services together from one company offers the best bang for the buck<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">bought the farm<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to die unexpectedly<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> My father had bought the farm at an auction, at what turned out to be an inflated price.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">freeze someone out<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to deliberately leave someone out; to choose not to include someone who would expect to be included<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> He believed that organizations like theirs were being frozen out.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Call it day<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to retire for the day, stop working and relax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Ok, we have done as much as we can for now, let&#8217;s call it a day<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Give you the benefit of the doubt<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to trust what someone is saying as the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I didn&#8217;t know whether his story was true or not, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">No pain, no gain<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> if you don\u2019t work hard to achieve something, you won\u2019t ever achieve it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I&#8217;ve worked for hours on those irregular French verbs, but no pain, no gain.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Don\u2019t get bent out of shape<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> don\u2019t get upset over something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I&#8217;m not getting bent out of shape because people don&#8217;t respect my opinion.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/d3c1yyje0uguxm.cloudfront.net\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Famous American Idioms - wordscoach.com\" class=\"wp-image-12962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">So far, so good<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> the progress so far is a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The doctor did some quick tests. &#8220;So far so good,&#8221; she said.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">That really knocked my socks off<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>to be really impressed by something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>I&#8217;m going to take you to a restaurant that&#8217;ll knock your socks off.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Think outside the box<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> think of new ideas outside the norm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> She goes on to urge companies to think outside the box and challenge the old ways of working.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">To take a rain check<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to say no to an invitation when it is given, but suggest that it is likely to be accepted in the future<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I was planning to ask you in for a brandy, but if you want to take a rain check, that&#8217;s fine.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Top of the line<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> the best possible version of something; the most luxurious or expensive options<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The computers used to be top of the line, but they have been superseded by more recent models.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Touch base<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to communicate with someone regarding future plans<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It&#8217;s important to touch base with our allies in this issue.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Up my alley<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something that you really like, or something that is within your skillset<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> She said, I will tell you this Bobby Kennedy is right up my alley.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">To make matters worse<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are doing something to cause an already existing problem an even worse problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> He laughed at her and then, to make matters worse, he accused her of lying!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Your guess is as good as mine<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you don\u2019t have a clue and that your best guess would most likely be mine too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I asked her when the shipment would arrive. She said, \u201cyour guess is as good as mine.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Absence makes the heart grow fonder<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> sometimes being away for a period of time can cause a person to care for you even more than they already did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The couple reunited after almost a year and understood that the absence had made their hearts grow fonder.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Add insult to injury<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> compounding an already bad situation by doing something to make it even worse in some way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The company rejected his application for a job, and to add insult to injury, refused to pay his expenses.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Act your age<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to grow up because you are acting immaturely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> After years of experimentation with colors and strokes, his painting has come of age.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Add fuel to the fire<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> making a bad situation, the \u201cfire,\u201d even worse by providing this hypothetical \u201cfire\u201d with the fuel is needs to burn even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The President said he wouldn&#8217;t add fuel to the fire by commenting without knowing all the facts.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Ball-park figure<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to give someone an approximate number or estimation, usually to do with money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The management was given a ballpark figure at the very beginning of the presentation.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Big fish in a little sea<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone is famous or well-known but are only so in their small town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Here they can be big fish in a little pond.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/idioms\/\">Idioms by Category<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Bite to eat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> getting something to eat. generally more than just one bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> You&#8217;ll feel better once you&#8217;ve had a bite to eat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Don\u2019t bite the hand that feeds you<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> don\u2019t mistreat someone who is trying to help you out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> &#8220;I think you don&#8217;t bite the hand that feeds you,&#8221; Jenkins said on CBS.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Breaking ground<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are doing something new or something that has never been done before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> His latest movie is interesting, but not groundbreaking.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Burst into tears<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to begin crying all of a sudden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Some burst into tears as the news was broken.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cash in on it<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to gain profit from doing something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Carpenters cashed in on the construction boom.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Catch your eye<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something or someone got your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> While we were driving down the road, a small shop selling beautiful potteries caught my eye.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Come out of the closet<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to tell someone that you are gay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Once people decide to come out of the closet, it is pretty easy to do here.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Come what may<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> what will be will be no matter what happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The shuttle is heading into the air come what may.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">The crack of dawn<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> right at dawn or right as the sun rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I often start work at the crack of dawn when there is a big order to get out.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cut class<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to not attend a class or classes that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Kids cut class and ran down the street to watch the fire.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cut loose<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to not pay attention to the way you are acting, have fun, party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Many were cut loose and left to fend for themselves in the job-poor wilderness.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Dead ringer<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone or something looks exactly like someone or something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I heard he was a dead ringer for the Eagle.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Dirt cheap<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>something is extremely inexpensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Travel packages to Hawaii are dirt cheap during the off-season.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Behind the eight ball<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> in a difficult position<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The football team got behind the eight ball in the first two games.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Call the shots<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to make the decisions; to decide what will be done<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The directors call the shots and nothing happens without their say-so.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cheap shot<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to take advantage of someone when they are down<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It was a cheap shot but an effective one.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Down to the wire<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> completing or finishing something with no extra time remaining<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Negotiators again worked right down to the wire to reach an agreement.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Drop the ball<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to make a basic mistake<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Those who drop the ball return to number one and those below that number move up one place.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Game plan<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to put a plan in place; to decide how things should be handled<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>The game plan was right. We just didn&#8217;t follow the script.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get the ball rolling<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>to begin or get started; to put things into motion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Early arrivals heard one of our own, the superb John Hurley, get the ball rolling in the upstairs bar.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get ahead of the game<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to have an advantage over others<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Highlighting this move to renewables helped us convince Reading to get ahead of the game.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Drown your sorrows<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to get drunk in order to forget all of your problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Drinking on your own or to drown your sorrows can get out of hand.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Down in the dumps<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are upset, sad, or depressed because of something that happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> She&#8217;s a bit down in the dumps because she&#8217;s got to take her exams again.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Easy as pie<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something was very easy to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Finding recipes in America is as easy as pie.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Easy come, easy go<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>something was simple to obtain, but it was also very simple to lose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> That is what is called easy money, but easy come easy go.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Everything but the kitchen sink<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> nearly everything a person owns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I think we&#8217;ve packed everything but the kitchen sink!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Joined at the hip<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> people who seem to be together all the time<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> They were born joined at the hip and are learning to walk with artificial legs after being separated.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Keep at arm&#8217;s length<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to deliberately not let someone get too close<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> They no longer trust her and are keeping her at arm&#8217;s length.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Long in the tooth<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> old; of advanced years<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I&#8217;m getting a bit long in the tooth for this sort of thing.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Need elbow room<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to prefer to have plenty of space between you and other people<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> That will give us the elbow room to deal with specific problems.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/idioms-that-came-from-movies\/\">Idioms that came from movies!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">No skin off my nose<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something isn&#8217;t going to affect you, so you don&#8217;t really care<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It&#8217;s no skin off my nose if you don&#8217;t take my advice.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Pick your brain<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to ask questions to find out someone&#8217;s thoughts or opinions on a topic<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Can I pick your brain about how you got rid of those weeds?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Elbow room<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to have enough space for people so they won\u2019t be bumping into one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> There&#8217;s more elbow room in the restaurant since they extended it.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Eat your words<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> willing to admit that what you said was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Don&#8217;t brag so much. I guarantee you will eat your words sooner or later.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Eat your heart out<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to be jealous or envious of someone or something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> If you had any sense you&#8217;d forget him, but eat your heart out if you want to.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Face the music<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to stand up and admit that you did wrong and deal with the consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The others all ran off, leaving me to face the music.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Fall short<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> not having enough of something that you need or to need more to make ends meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It is true that most plant foods fall short in one or more of the essential amino acids.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Apply some elbow grease<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> put some physical effort into what you&#8217;re doing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The polish needs a certain amount of elbow grease to apply.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Armed to the teeth<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>in possession of a lot of weapons<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The tourists got out of the coach, armed to the teeth with cameras, binoculars, and guidebooks.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/d3c1yyje0uguxm.cloudfront.net\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Famous American Idioms - wordscoach.com\" class=\"wp-image-12963\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-1-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Bare bones<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> a very basic model or version, with no extras or add-ons<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> There are not even the bare bones of a garden here \u2014 I&#8217;ve got nothing.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Bundle of nerves<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> very nervous or anxious about something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The poor chap was a bundle of nerves at the interview.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">By the skin of your teeth<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> just barely<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> He won, but only by the skin of his teeth<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get it off your chest<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>share information about something that has been bothering you<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Tell me about it, get it off your chest.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Feel like a new person<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to feel revived or refreshed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> After he had some time to recover from the surgery, he felt like a new person.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Follow your heart<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to act based on your feelings for someone or something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Learn to trust your heart.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Ruffle feathers<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> To irritate or annoy someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I like him but sometimes he can really ruffle my feathers.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Full plate<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone is extremely busy and does not have room in their schedule to do anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Senator Charles Schumer (D &#8211; NY) , among others , has a full plate of measures on offer.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get carried away<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to blow something out of proportion or exaggerate it in some way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> He tends to get carried away when watching wrestling on TV.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get cold feet<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to second guess something that you are doing and become frightened about actually going through with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>People get cold feet. They get a space heater.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get something off your chest<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to admit something that you have not admitted before that is bothering you and causing you distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>I had spent two months worrying about it and I was glad to get it off my chest<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get a kick out of it<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to be amused by something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I love to do things for children because I get a kick out of it.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Give it your best shot<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> try as hard as you possibly can; put forth your best effort<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Just give it your best shot and you&#8217;ll be fine.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hit the mark<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to find the perfect or ideal solution; to be in exactly the right place<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> You certainly hit the mark when you said that he was lazy.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hit below the belt<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to capitalize on an opponent&#8217;s vulnerabilities in an unfair way<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Whichever camp you are in, the same celestial advice will apply &#8211; hit below the belt.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In the ballpark<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> close to a suitable amount or suggestion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> This puts them in the ballpark and makes them a major player.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/10-idioms-for-ielts-speaking-that-will-boost-your-score\/\">10 Idioms for IELTS speaking that will boost your score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Go Dutch<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> everyone pays for themselves when they are going out as a group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>She was surprised when he suggested they go Dutch.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Go over with a fine-tooth comb<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>to look at something very closely to analyze every little detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The police are going over the evidence with a fine-tooth comb.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Golden opportunity<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> it is an opportune chance to do something that you may never get the chance to do again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Businesses have a golden opportunity to expand into new markets.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hand-me-down<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something, typically clothing, that is passed down from an older child to a younger one in order to save money purchasing new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Most of the boys wore hand-me-down military shirts from their fathers.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hands full<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>you have too much to do and have no room in your schedule to do anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I had my hands full, but other than hitting one frond on a coconut tree, I was doing okay.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hit the spot<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> something was gratifying or fulfilling in some way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Eating a hamburger right now would hit the spot.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hit me up<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> communicate or let one know by calling, texting, emailing etc<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Hit me up when you have finished the presentation.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hit a snag<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you have encountered a problem or an issue along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> A police clampdown on car thieves hit a snag when villains stole one of their cars.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Ill at ease<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> you are uneasy about something or uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> He always felt shy and ill at ease at parties.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In mint condition<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>something has no flaws and is in perfect condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Top notes present thrillingly, and Kollo&#8217;s technique is in mint condition after nearly 25 years.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In the same boat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>someone is in a similar predicament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Everyone has lost their job. We&#8217;re all in the same boat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Jack of all trades<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone that is able to fix a lot of different things but who seems to be an expert in none of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Our gardener is a jack of all trades, he can do carpentering, decorating, a bit of plumbing, and so on.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Just what the doctor ordered<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone got exactly what they needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Ooh thank you, a nice cup of tea. Just what the doctor ordered.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Not for nothing<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to call attention to the next words out of the speaker&#8217;s mouth, usually followed by the word but\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Not for nothing but did you notice the look on her face when you mentioned Patagonia?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Keeping a low profile<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to not draw attention to yourself so no one will notice you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Sun is believed to be keeping a low profile on the suit lest it catch flak for restricting the clone trade.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Two peas in a pod<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Very similar<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Tony and Angela are like two peas in a pod; I always see them together.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Kick back<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to relax and take it easy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> You ought to kick back at such malicious slander.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Knock on wood<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to hope that something will happen and the bad luck will not affect the outcome or success; essentially saying \u201cI hope\u201d or \u201cGod willing\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Always ready to knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder, bite my tongue, cross my fingers.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Keep me in the loop\/Keep me posted<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> stay in touch, keep one informed of your whereabouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> keep me in the loop about your weekend plans.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Know the score<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> be aware of all relevant factors and variables<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> We are trying to attract managers who know the score.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/american-idioms-with-meaning-and-example\/\">American idioms with meaning and example<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Make the cut<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to be chosen, selected or included in something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Make the cut through the floorboard as near as possible to the middle of a joist.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Monday morning quarterback<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone who tries to call the shots after the action is already over<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Tom is often referred to as a Monday morning quarterback.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Move the goalposts<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to set your sights or standards even higher; to make something more challenging<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The answer to failure and sin is not to move the goalposts but to repent and try again.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Out of your league<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> above or beyond what one is capable of attaining<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> You do realize that she is a cartoon, and way out of your league?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Take the wind out of your sails<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to be disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It really took the wind out of my sails when I found out I didn&#8217;t get the promotion.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Wet blanket<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone who is dull and keeps others from having fun<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>The morose Mitchells wins the wet blanket award.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Your John Hancock<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> your official signature<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Your John Hancock represents your responsibility for this matter.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/d3c1yyje0uguxm.cloudfront.net\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Famous American Idioms - wordscoach.com\" class=\"wp-image-12964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-2-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com-2.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These English idioms are common in everyday conversation in the United States. You will hear them in movies, the web series and can use them to make your English sound more like that of a native speaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here is a list of some common American idioms with definitions and examples:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,26],"tags":[5695,5705,8960,959,8956,8958,8961,8957,956,8955,8962,8959],"class_list":["post-12905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-idioms","category-english","tag-american-english","tag-american-english-idioms","tag-american-expressions-and-their-meanings","tag-american-idioms","tag-american-idioms-examples","tag-american-idioms-in-english","tag-american-idioms-list","tag-common-american-idioms","tag-common-english-idioms","tag-famous-american-idioms","tag-learn-american-english","tag-list-of-american-idioms"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Famous-American-Idioms-wordscoach.com_.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12905\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}