50 Popular English Idioms
1. CRUNCH TIME: the period of time just before a project has to be completed and everyone has to work hard
- I’m not getting enough sleep these days. It’s crunch time at work.
![LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/LET-YOUR-FREAK-FLAG-FLY.jpg)
2. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY: to let others see your uniqueness
- My colleagues were surprised at the Christmas party- I let my freak flag fly and showed them a break dance routine.
3. GET OUT OF HAND: when 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.
4. GET YOUR HEAD AROUND IT: to understand something
- I just can’t get my head around the fact that Joe is leaving us.
5. DIG IN YOUR HEELS / STICK TO YOUR GUNS: to 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.
6. POUND THE PAVEMENT: to walk the streets looking for a job
- I’d been pounding the pavement for months before I found a job in a fast food restaurant.
![PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PULL-A-RABBIT-OUT-OF-A-HAT.jpg)
7. PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT: to do something unexpected that may have seemed impossible
- I thought we were going bankrupt, but my partner pulled a rabbit out of his hat and we landed a major contract.
8. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED: to do everything you can to achieve your goal
- I’ll leave no stone unturned until I find out who did this.
9. GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM: to do something you’ve wanted to do for a long time and don’t want to postpone any longer
- I wasn’t 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.
10. STEP UP YOUR GAME: to start performing better
- If you want to win this competition, you’ll have to step up your game.
11. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER: to calm down and behave normally
- I understand you’ve had a bad day, but pull yourself together and get on with your job, will you?
12. SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT: either start performing better or leave
- This is the last time I’m telling you to arrive on time. Shape up or ship out.
13. CUT SOMEBODY SOME SLACK: to give somebody a break/ not to judge somebody severely
- I was extremely busy last week. Cut me some slack and I’ll finish the report by tomorrow morning.
![BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BY-THE-SKIN-OF-YOUR-TEETH.jpg)
14. BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH: when you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just succeed/ nearly fail
- I hadn’t studied much, but passed the test by the skin of my teeth.
15. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON: when something rarely ever happens
- We used to see him all the time, but now he just visits us once in a blue moon.
16. GO DOWN IN FLAMES: to end or fail suddenly and spectacularly
- She’d wanted to become Managing Director, but her career went down in flames when they found out she’d been leaking information to our competitors.
17. TAR SOMEONE WITH THE SAME BRUSH: to believe that someone has the same bad qualities as others in a group
- I don’t think much of that band, but the singer shouldn’t be tarred with the same brush. She’s got a fantastic voice.
18. COME OUT SWINGING: to 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.
19. HANG IN THERE: wait and be patient
- I know you’d really like to call him, but I don’t think that’s the right thing to do now. Just hang in there and he will call you.
20. SHOOT FROM THE HIP: to speak directly
- If you want to get on well with your boss, try not to shoot from the hip next time. You don’t want to offend him, do you?
![GO THE EXTRA MILE](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/GO-THE-EXTRA-MILE.jpg)
21. GO THE EXTRA MILE: to make a special effort/try very hard to achieve your goal
- If you want to become proficient in English, you’ll 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.
22. RUNNING ON FUMES: to continue to stay awake when feeling exhausted
- I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go home now. I haven’t slept for twenty hours and I’m running on fumes.
23. SOLD ME OUT: to snitch on someone, or let their secret out
- I asked you to keep it to yourself! I can’t believe you sold me out, I trusted you!
24. YOU SOLD ME (ON SOMETHING): you convinced me of something, because you were persuasive
- OK, you’ve sold me. I’ll go to the match with you.
25. BLEW ME AWAY: when something blows you away, you’re extremely impressed by it
- The exhibition just blew me away. I’d never seen so many beautiful paintings before.
26. BLOW SMOKE: to exaggerate or say things that aren’t true to make you seem better/ more knowledgeable than in reality
- I’m not blowing smoke. I have honestly read War and Peace by Tolstoy.
![CRY WOLF](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CRY-WOLF.jpg)
27. CRY WOLF: to call for help when you don’t need it
- Do you think Peter is in trouble or is he just crying wolf?
28. COULDN’T CARE LESS: used to express total lack of interest in something
- That man stole a bottle of wine from the shop.
- Oh, really? I couldn’t care less.
29. BE CHUFFED TO BITS: to be pleased and happy
- Hey, thanks for the present! I’m chuffed to bits.
30. FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER: to be ill or unable to do regular activities
- I think I’m going to have to take the day off work. I feel quite under the weather today.
31. BE TICKLED PINK: to be excited and happy
- She was tickled pink by all the compliments she’d received.
32. A BAKER’S DOZEN: thirteen
- Check out our baker’s dozen language learning tips.
33. COMFORT FOOD: food that makes you feel better, because it reminds you of your childhood
- After a tiring day, it’s so nice to make some comfort food and settle down with a good book.
34. SKELETON CREW: the minimum number of people needed to keep a service/office operating
- Can you come back after the holidays? We’re operating with a skeleton crew at the moment.
![LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/LET-THE-CHIPS-FALL-WHERE-THEY-MAY.jpg)
35. LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY: to let something happen, no matter what happens next
- I must tell John how I feel about him, let the chips fall where they may.
36. NO-BRAINER: an easy decision
- Do you think I should propose to Judy?
- Come on, it’s a no-brainer. She’s such a fantastic woman!
37. A STONE’S THROW: very near
- The hotel was a stone’s throw from the beach. I loved it.
38. HEAR ON THE GRAPEVINE: to hear a rumour or unconfirmed story
- I heard on the grapevine that Charlie and Sarah are dating at the moment.
39. SIT ON THE FENCE: to stay neutral and not take sides
- Well don’t you think I’m right, he’s been acting differently hasn’t he?
- I’m sitting on the fence with this one, you’re both my good friends.
40. TAKE WHAT SOMEONE SAYS WITH A PINCH OF SALT: regard 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 OUT: to become very angry, scared or excited
- Mum, don’t freak out! I married a guy in Las Vegas.
![BE A CATCH](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BE-A-CATCH.jpg)
42. BE A CATCH: be someone worth marrying/having
- John is taking me out tonight. He’s such a catch, I hope he’ll 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. I’m 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 it’ll 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, I’m 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 he’s just too busy. He bit off more than he could chew, and I don’t think he can handle it anymore.
48. WHEN PIGS FLY: this means that something will never happen
- Aren’t you going to buy that dream house you told me about?
- Ugh, I will when pigs fly. It’s just so expensive, I don’t think it’ll happen.
49. DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER: this means don’t make a decision based on a brief impression or outward appearance
- I don’t like our new neighbours very much, they’re quite strange.
- Hey, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Give them a chance, I think they’re just a bit quirky but really nice!
![YOU ROCK](https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/YOU-ROCK.jpg)
50. YOU ROCK: you are great
- Thanks for the tickets, Rob. You rock!
51. MISS THE BOAT:
when someone has missed their opportunity to do something
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 should’ve done it last week.