Idioms List with Meanings and Examples – 1,186 Common English Idioms

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This page features 1,186 common English idioms and phrases, each explained with clear definitions and example sentences. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or English learner, this comprehensive idioms list will help you understand natural, everyday English and speak more fluently.

Use the quick examples below or jump directly to the full alphabetical list.

Most Common Idioms (Quick Start)

Here are some of the most frequently used idioms in English:

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
A piece of cake	Very easy	The exam was a piece of cake.
Break the ice	Start a conversation	He told a joke to break the ice.
Bite the bullet	Face something difficult bravely	I bit the bullet and apologized.
Hit the nail on the head	Be exactly right	You hit the nail on the head.
Let the cat out of the bag	Reveal a secret	She let the cat out of the bag.
Once in a blue moon	Very rarely	We eat out once in a blue moon.
Under the weather	Feeling sick	I’m a bit under the weather today.
Cost an arm and a leg	Very expensive	That car costs an arm and a leg.
Burn the midnight oil	Study/work late	She burned the midnight oil before exams.
The ball is in your court	Your turn to decide	I’ve done my part. Now the ball is in your court.
Call it a day	Stop working	Let’s call it a day and go home.
Get cold feet	Become nervous	He got cold feet before the interview.
In hot water	In trouble	He is in hot water at work.
Kill two birds with one stone	Achieve two goals at once	I walked to work to kill two birds with one stone.
On cloud nine	Very happy	She was on cloud nine after the news.

👉 Scroll down for the complete list of 1,186 idioms.

Jump to the Full Idioms List

Use the quick links below to browse the complete idioms list. You can explore the expressions alphabetically (A–Z) or by category.

A. Full Idioms List A–Z (Alphabetical)

Below you’ll find the complete English idioms list organized alphabetically for easy browsing.

1. Idioms Starting with A–F

👉 View the full A–F idioms list

2. Idioms Starting with G–L

👉 View the full G–L idioms list

3. Idioms Starting with M–R

👉 View the full M–R idioms list

4. Idioms Starting with S–Z

👉 View the full S–Z idioms list

B. Idioms by Category

Prefer learning by topic? Explore idioms grouped by themes:

• Money Idioms
• Sport Idioms
• Color Idioms
• Animal Idioms
• Love Idioms
• Relationship Idioms
• Food Idioms
• Parts of the Body Idioms

Learning idioms by topic makes them easier to remember and use in real conversations.

What Are Idioms? (Simple Definition)

Why Learn English Idioms?

Idioms are everywhere in English — movies, TV shows, books, and daily conversations.

If you want real-life English, idioms are essential.

Practice Idioms

After studying the list, test yourself:

• Idioms Exercises with Answers
• Weather Idioms Quiz with Answers
• Face Idioms Quiz with Answers
• Vocabulary Lessons and Resources

Practice helps you remember idioms faster.

Final Tip

More Related Posts about Common Idiomatic Expressions in English

• List of Idioms About Mothers
• List of Idioms About Money
• List of Idioms About Success
• English Idioms for Business Communication
• English Vocabulary – Idiomatic Expressions Used with Numbers
• 41 Idioms With Parts Of The Body
• Engaging Techniques for Teaching Idioms: Unleashing Expressive Language Skills
• Unlocking the Language of Expression: 6 Facts About Teaching Idioms and Their Implications

Frequently Asked Questions About Idioms