Idioms can make everyday English sound vivid, but their meanings are not always clear from the words themselves.
These common idioms with example sentences show what each expression means and how it works in context.
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a familiar expression whose established meaning differs from a strictly literal reading of its words.
For example, “spill the beans” usually means to reveal a secret, not to drop food.
Idioms are part of figurative language, and many are informal, so the situation and audience matter when choosing one.
Idioms are different from proverbs.
A proverb expresses a general observation or piece of advice, such as “A stitch in time saves nine.” An idiom typically functions as part of a sentence: “We need to get the ball rolling.” Some expressions can be classified differently depending on how they are used.
Common idioms with example sentences
Everyday conversation
- Break the ice — Make people feel more relaxed in a new or awkward situation.
Example: “Maya asked everyone about their weekend to break the ice at the meeting.” - Get the ball rolling — Begin an activity or process.
Example: “Let’s get the ball rolling by choosing a date for the event.” - On the same page — In agreement or sharing the same understanding.
Example: “Before we send the proposal, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.” - Call it a day — Stop working for the day or end an activity.
Example: “We’ve finished the urgent tasks, so let’s call it a day.” - In the loop — Informed about what is happening.
Example: “Please keep the new team member in the loop about schedule changes.” - Out of the blue — Unexpectedly, without warning.
Example: “An old classmate called me out of the blue.” - Under the weather — Feeling slightly ill.
Example: “I’m feeling under the weather, so I’ll join the meeting from home.” - Make up your mind — Decide.
Example: “You have until Friday to make up your mind about the offer.”
Work, plans, and problem-solving
- Think outside the box — Consider creative or unconventional ideas.
Example: “The usual fixes haven’t worked, so we’ll need to think outside the box.” - Learn the ropes — Learn how a job, role, or activity is done.
Example: “It took Jordan a few weeks to learn the ropes at the new office.” - Back to the drawing board — Start planning again after an attempt fails.
Example: “The client rejected the first design, so it’s back to the drawing board.” - Cut corners — Do something carelessly or skip steps to save time or money.
Example: “The contractor refused to cut corners on safety checks.” - On the right track — Making progress in a suitable direction.
Example: “Your revised outline is on the right track.” - Keep an eye on — Watch or monitor something.
Example: “Could you keep an eye on the oven while I answer the door?” - Play it by ear — Decide what to do as events unfold, rather than following a fixed plan.
Example: “We may go for a walk after lunch, but we’ll play it by ear.” - Go the extra mile — Make more effort than is expected.
Example: “The support team went the extra mile to help us recover the files.” - Take something with a grain of salt — Treat a claim with some skepticism.
Example: “Take the online rumor with a grain of salt until it’s confirmed.”
Feelings, relationships, and reactions
- See eye to eye — Agree with someone.
Example: “The partners don’t always see eye to eye on advertising.” - Get on someone’s nerves — Annoy someone.
Example: “The constant tapping is starting to get on my nerves.” - Lose your cool — Become visibly angry or upset.
Example: “He lost his cool when the train was delayed again.” - Have a change of heart — Change your opinion or decision, often because of new feelings or information.
Example: “Nina had a change of heart and decided to join the trip.” - Give someone the benefit of the doubt — Choose to believe someone may be telling the truth or acting fairly when the facts are uncertain.
Example: “I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he missed the message.” - Let the cat out of the bag — Reveal a secret, often by accident.
Example: “Sam let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.” - Keep your fingers crossed — Hope that something will happen as desired.
Example: “We’re keeping our fingers crossed for good weather.”
Time, difficulty, and results
- Once in a blue moon — Very rarely.
Example: “We eat at that restaurant once in a blue moon.” - A piece of cake — Something very easy to do.
Example: “The first exercise was a piece of cake.” - Cost an arm and a leg — Be very expensive.
Example: “Parking near the stadium can cost an arm and a leg.” - Better late than never — Doing something late is preferable to not doing it at all.
Example: “I finally sent my thank-you note—better late than never.” - Miss the boat — Lose an opportunity by acting too late.
Example: “The early registration price ended yesterday, so we missed the boat.” - The last straw — The final problem that makes a difficult situation unbearable.
Example: “The repeated cancellations were frustrating, and the last straw was being left without a replacement.” - In hot water — In trouble, especially because of something you did.
Example: “The employee was in hot water after sharing confidential information.”
How to use idioms naturally
Learn an idiom as a complete expression, along with its meaning, grammar, and typical context.
Notice whether it is usually used in conversation, writing, or both.
For instance, “under the weather” is common in casual speech, while a formal report would usually say “feeling unwell.”
Pay attention to the words that commonly accompany an idiom.
You “break the ice,” “make up your mind,” and “give someone the benefit of the doubt.” Changing a small part of a fixed expression can sound unnatural or alter its meaning.
Also check whether the verb changes with tense: “She let the cat out of the bag” is past tense; “She lets the cat out of the bag” describes a repeated action.
Use idioms selectively.
One well-placed expression can make a sentence feel natural, while several in a row may sound forced or confusing.
If your reader may not know the expression, a direct alternative can be clearer.
Idiom dictionaries and examples from reliable English-language sources can help you check usage, regional differences, and whether an expression is informal or potentially dated.
Practice with idioms in context
Choose a few expressions from the list and write original sentences about familiar situations.
Then check that each sentence matches the idiom’s meaning and tone.
You can also look for the expressions while reading or listening to English, noting who uses them and what is happening around them.
For a quick exercise, complete these sentences with an idiom from the list:
- “We don’t agree on every detail, but we __________ on the main goal.”
- “The news came __________; no one expected it.”
- “I’m not sure the report is accurate, so I’ll take it __________.”
Possible answers are “see eye to eye,” “out of the blue,” and “with a grain of salt.” Use the examples as models, then adapt the expressions to situations where their meaning and level of formality fit.