🗣️ 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 while making your own English sound more natural. Each idiom includes translations in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. Note: If you are interested in more idioms, the IDIOMS section of this website contains more content.
🟢 Common English Idioms
🐱 Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
Example:
She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
🇪🇸 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.
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
Example:
She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
🇪🇸 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
Meaning: To reveal secret information.
Example:
Don't spill the beans before everyone arrives.
🇪🇸 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 segredo ainda.
Meaning: To reveal secret information.
Example:
Don't spill the beans before everyone arrives.
🇪🇸 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 segredo ainda.
🍎 The apple of my eye
Meaning: Someone you love very much.
Example:
My granddaughter is the apple of my eye.
🇪🇸 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.
Meaning: Someone you love very much.
Example:
My granddaughter is the apple of my eye.
🇪🇸 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
Meaning: To make people feel more comfortable.
Example:
He told a funny story to break the ice.
🇪🇸 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.
Meaning: To make people feel more comfortable.
Example:
He told a funny story to break the ice.
🇪🇸 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
Meaning: Something that is very easy.
Example:
The quiz was a piece of cake.
🇪🇸 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.
Meaning: Something that is very easy.
Example:
The quiz was a piece of cake.
🇪🇸 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
Meaning: To be extremely expensive.
Example:
That concert ticket cost an arm and a leg.
🇪🇸 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.
Meaning: To be extremely expensive.
Example:
That concert ticket cost an arm and a leg.
🇪🇸 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 individual words usually don't explain the real meaning. Learn the entire 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 individual words usually don't explain the real meaning. Learn the entire 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
English idioms still follow normal grammar. The verb tense and subject can change naturally.
Spill the beans → She spilled the beans.
Break the ice → We broke the ice.
Miss the boat → They missed the boat.
English idioms still follow normal grammar. The verb tense and subject can change naturally.
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 English idioms are understood in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, although some may be more common in certain regions.
Many English idioms are understood in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, although some may be more common in certain regions.
💡 Focus on Meaning
When you hear a new idiom, think about what the speaker is trying to communicate instead of translating every word. Context will usually tell you the meaning.
When you hear a new idiom, think about what the speaker is trying to communicate instead of translating every word. Context will usually tell you the meaning.
🧠 Idioms vs. Proverbs
💬 Idioms
Idioms are expressions with a figurative meaning that is different from the literal words.
Example:
Break the ice.
To help people feel more relaxed in a new situation.
Idioms are expressions with a figurative meaning that is different from the literal words.
Example:
Break the ice.
To help people feel more relaxed in a new situation.
📜 Proverbs
Proverbs are short sayings that express advice or a general truth.
Example:
Actions speak louder than words.
What people do is more important than what they say.
Proverbs are short sayings that express advice or a general truth.
Example:
Actions speak louder than words.
What people do is more important than what they say.
📜 Common English Proverbs
⏰ Better late than never.
It's better to do something late than not do it at all.
It's 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
A: Don't tell Emma about the party.
B: Don't worry. I won't spill the beans.
A: Don't tell Emma about the party.
B: Don't worry. I won't spill the beans.
Meeting New People
A: Everyone seems so quiet.
B: Let's play a game to break the ice.
A: Everyone seems so quiet.
B: Let's play a game to break the ice.
Shopping
A: I love that watch.
B: Me too, but it costs an arm and a leg.
A: I love that watch.
B: Me too, but it costs an arm and a leg.
🏆 Final Practice
Match each situation with the best English idiom.
- You accidentally told everyone the surprise. → Let the cat out of the bag.
- The test was very easy. → It was a piece of cake.
- The tickets were extremely expensive. → They cost an arm and a leg.
- You made everyone feel comfortable at the meeting. → You broke the ice.
- You described the problem perfectly. → You hit the nail on the head.
- You missed a great opportunity. → You missed the boat.
Tip: Don't try to memorize dozens of idioms at once. Learn a few common expressions, listen for them in conversations, movies, and TV shows, and practice using them naturally.