🗣️ English Idioms
English idioms are expressions whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words. Learning common idioms will help you understand conversations, TV shows, movies, books, and native speakers, and it can make your own English sound more natural. Each idiom includes translations in several languages. If you want more idioms, the Idioms section of this website has more content.
🟢 Common English Idioms
🐱 Let the cat out of the bag
to accidentally reveal a secret
She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
🇫🇷 French: Elle a révélé le secret par accident.
🇩🇪 German: Sie hat das Geheimnis versehentlich verraten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ha rivelato il segreto per sbaglio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ela revelou o segredo sem querer.
to accidentally reveal a secret
She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Reveló el secreto sin querer.🇫🇷 French: Elle a révélé le secret par accident.
🇩🇪 German: Sie hat das Geheimnis versehentlich verraten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ha rivelato il segreto per sbaglio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ela revelou o segredo sem querer.
🫘 Spill the beans
to reveal secret information
Don't spill the beans before everyone arrives.
🇫🇷 French: Ne révèle pas le secret tout de suite.
🇩🇪 German: Verrate das Geheimnis noch nicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non svelare ancora il segreto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não conte o segreto ainda.
to reveal secret information
Don't spill the beans before everyone arrives.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: No reveles el secreto todavía.🇫🇷 French: Ne révèle pas le secret tout de suite.
🇩🇪 German: Verrate das Geheimnis noch nicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non svelare ancora il segreto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não conte o segreto ainda.
🍎 The apple of my eye
someone you love very much
My granddaughter is the apple of my eye.
🇫🇷 French: Ma petite-fille est ce que j'ai de plus précieux.
🇩🇪 German: Meine Enkelin ist mein ganzer Stolz.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mia nipote è la persona che amo di più.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Minha neta é meu xodó.
someone you love very much
My granddaughter is the apple of my eye.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi nieta es mi adoración.🇫🇷 French: Ma petite-fille est ce que j'ai de plus précieux.
🇩🇪 German: Meine Enkelin ist mein ganzer Stolz.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mia nipote è la persona che amo di più.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Minha neta é meu xodó.
🧊 Break the ice
to make people feel more comfortable
He told a funny story to break the ice.
🇫🇷 French: Il a raconté une histoire drôle pour détendre l'atmosphère.
🇩🇪 German: Er erzählte eine lustige Geschichte, um das Eis zu brechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ha raccontato una storia divertente per rompere il ghiaccio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ele contou uma história engraçada para quebrar o gelo.
to make people feel more comfortable
He told a funny story to break the ice.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Contó una historia divertida para romper el hielo.🇫🇷 French: Il a raconté une histoire drôle pour détendre l'atmosphère.
🇩🇪 German: Er erzählte eine lustige Geschichte, um das Eis zu brechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ha raccontato una storia divertente per rompere il ghiaccio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ele contou uma história engraçada para quebrar o gelo.
🎂 A piece of cake
something that is very easy
The quiz was a piece of cake.
🇫🇷 French: Le contrôle était très facile.
🇩🇪 German: Der Test war kinderleicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il quiz è stato facilissimo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A prova foi muito fácil.
something that is very easy
The quiz was a piece of cake.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: El examen fue facilísimo.🇫🇷 French: Le contrôle était très facile.
🇩🇪 German: Der Test war kinderleicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il quiz è stato facilissimo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A prova foi muito fácil.
🦵 Cost an arm and a leg
to be extremely expensive
That concert ticket cost an arm and a leg.
🇫🇷 French: Ce billet coûtait une fortune.
🇩🇪 German: Das Ticket war unglaublich teuer.
🇮🇹 Italian: Quel biglietto costava un occhio della testa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Esse ingresso custou os olhos da cara.
to be extremely expensive
That concert ticket cost an arm and a leg.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Esa entrada costó un ojo de la cara.🇫🇷 French: Ce billet coûtait une fortune.
🇩🇪 German: Das Ticket war unglaublich teuer.
🇮🇹 Italian: Quel biglietto costava un occhio della testa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Esse ingresso custou os olhos da cara.
🟡 Idioms for Everyday Conversation
🎯 Hit the nail on the head
to describe something exactly right
You really hit the nail on the head with that idea.
to describe something exactly right
You really hit the nail on the head with that idea.
🤒 Under the weather
to feel slightly sick
I'm feeling a little under the weather today.
to feel slightly sick
I'm feeling a little under the weather today.
🌙 Once in a blue moon
something that happens very rarely
We only eat out once in a blue moon.
something that happens very rarely
We only eat out once in a blue moon.
🧈 Butter someone up
to flatter someone to get a favor
He's trying to butter up the teacher.
to flatter someone to get a favor
He's trying to butter up the teacher.
🚢 Miss the boat
to miss an opportunity
If you wait too long, you'll miss the boat.
to miss an opportunity
If you wait too long, you'll miss the boat.
🌧️ It's raining cats and dogs
it's raining very heavily
We stayed inside because it was raining cats and dogs.
it's raining very heavily
We stayed inside because it was raining cats and dogs.
🔵 Understanding Idioms in Context
🗣️ Don't take idioms literally
the separate words usually do not explain the real meaning
Learn the whole expression as one phrase.
Break the ice does not mean breaking actual ice. It means helping people feel more comfortable when they first meet.
the separate words usually do not explain the real meaning
Learn the whole expression as one phrase.
Break the ice does not mean breaking actual ice. It means helping people feel more comfortable when they first meet.
🔄 Idioms change with grammar
the verb tense and subject can still change
Spill the beans → She spilled the beans.
Break the ice → We broke the ice.
Miss the boat → They missed the boat.
the verb tense and subject can still change
Spill the beans → She spilled the beans.
Break the ice → We broke the ice.
Miss the boat → They missed the boat.
🌎 Common across English-speaking countries
many idioms are understood in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and other English-speaking countries
Some may be more common in certain regions.
many idioms are understood in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and other English-speaking countries
Some may be more common in certain regions.
💡 Focus on meaning
think about what the speaker wants to say, not every separate word
Context will usually tell you the meaning.
think about what the speaker wants to say, not every separate word
Context will usually tell you the meaning.
🧠 Idioms vs. Proverbs
💬 Idioms
expressions with a figurative meaning different from the literal words
Break the ice.
to help people feel more relaxed in a new situation
expressions with a figurative meaning different from the literal words
Break the ice.
to help people feel more relaxed in a new situation
📜 Proverbs
short sayings that give advice or a general truth
Actions speak louder than words.
what people do is more important than what they say
short sayings that give advice or a general truth
Actions speak louder than words.
what people do is more important than what they say
📜 Common English Proverbs
⏰ Better late than never.
it is better to do something late than not do it at all
it is better to do something late than not do it at all
🐴 Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
be thankful for a gift instead of criticizing it
be thankful for a gift instead of criticizing it
🐦 The early bird gets the worm.
people who act early often have an advantage
people who act early often have an advantage
🗣️ Honesty is the best policy.
being truthful is usually the best choice
being truthful is usually the best choice
💬 Idioms in Conversation
Planning a surprise
spill the beans = reveal the secret
A: Don't tell Emma about the party.
B: Don't worry. I won't spill the beans.
spill the beans = reveal the secret
A: Don't tell Emma about the party.
B: Don't worry. I won't spill the beans.
Meeting new people
break the ice = help people relax
A: Everyone seems so quiet.
B: Let's play a game to break the ice.
break the ice = help people relax
A: Everyone seems so quiet.
B: Let's play a game to break the ice.
Shopping
cost an arm and a leg = very expensive
A: I love that watch.
B: Me too, but it costs an arm and a leg.
cost an arm and a leg = very expensive
A: I love that watch.
B: Me too, but it costs an arm and a leg.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the idiom that fits.
Read the situation. Choose the idiom that fits.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%