English is full of idioms, fixed expressions whose meaning is figurative and cannot be worked out from the individual words. They are one of the things that most surprise learners, and one of the surest signs of fluency once you use them well. This guide explains what idioms are and gathers popular ones from across the English-speaking world, each with its meaning and an example, so you can start dropping them into conversation.
Popular English Idioms & Meanings
What English idioms are
An English idiom is a fixed phrase with a figurative or metaphorical meaning that differs from the literal sense of its words.
Idioms express ideas and feelings in a vivid, often colourful way, and they are deeply tied to a language's culture and history.
Because they cannot be translated word for word, they can be baffling to non-native speakers: "to break a leg", "to kick the bucket" and "it's raining cats and dogs" make no sense taken literally, which is exactly why each one below comes with a plain-English explanation.
Idioms across the English-speaking world
English began in England but, through centuries of contact and settlement, developed distinct flavours around the world, and its idioms reflect that.
Britain has expressions like "Bob's your uncle" and "the bee's knees"; the United States has "burning the midnight oil" and "hit the hay"; Australia has "no worries" and "flat out like a lizard drinking".
American, Australian and Canadian English are all the same language, but their varieties differ in vocabulary, structure and pronunciation, and their idioms are part of what gives each its character.
British Idioms
Some of the best-loved expressions from Britain:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bob's your uncle | And there it is; problem solved | Add the ingredients, bake for an hour, and Bob's your uncle. |
| The bee's knees | Something outstanding | That vintage car is the bee's knees. |
| Donkey's years | A very long time | I haven't been to the seaside in donkey's years. |
| Blow a raspberry | Make a rude noise with the tongue between the lips | He blew a raspberry to show what he thought of the idea. |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Be very expensive | A new phone would cost an arm and a leg. |
| In a pickle | In a difficult situation | When the car broke down miles from anywhere, we were in a pickle. |
| Keep a stiff upper lip | Stay composed and determined in adversity | Despite the setbacks, she kept a stiff upper lip. |
| Not my cup of tea | Something I do not much like | Horror films are not my cup of tea. |
| Chin up | Stay cheerful; an encouragement | Chin up, things will get better. |
Visit England, learn English
American idioms
Common expressions from the United States:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Burn the midnight oil | Work late into the night | He burnt the midnight oil to finish the report. |
| A piece of cake | Very easy | Don't worry, the test was a piece of cake. |
| Hit the hay | Go to bed | After a long day, I just want to hit the hay. |
| Break a leg | Good luck (especially in the theatre) | Before the audition, the director said, "Break a leg." |
| Bite the bullet | Face something difficult with courage | She bit the bullet and apologised. |
| On cloud nine | Extremely happy | She was on cloud nine after the good news. |
| Kick the bucket | To die (informal) | The old car has finally kicked the bucket. |
| Jump the gun | Act too soon | Don't jump the gun, wait for the announcement. |
| A dime a dozen | Common and ordinary | Cheap sunglasses like these are a dime a dozen. |
| Don't count your chickens before they hatch | Don't rely on something before it happens | We shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch. |
Australian Idioms
Australia has some of the most colourful expressions of all:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| No worries | It's fine; don't mention it | "Thanks for the lift." "No worries." |
| Flat out like a lizard drinking | Extremely busy, working at full speed | I've been flat out like a lizard drinking all day. |
| A few sandwiches short of a picnic | Not very bright | Nice enough, but he's a few sandwiches short of a picnic. |
| Fair dinkum | Genuine, true | Is that fair dinkum, or are you pulling my leg? |
| Chuck a U-ey | Do a U-turn | I missed the turning, so I chucked a U-ey. |
| The bush telegraph | The informal way news spreads in the country | News travels fast out here thanks to the bush telegraph. |
| Spit the dummy | Throw a tantrum | He spat the dummy when he lost. |
| She'll be right | It will be fine; no need to worry | Don't stress about it, she'll be right. |
| Up a gum tree | In a difficult situation | Without a map, we were up a gum tree. |
Idioms from around the English-speaking world
A few more, with their meanings and where they come from:
| Idiom | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| That's how the cookie crumbles | That's just how things turn out | United States |
| Throw the baby out with the bathwater | Discard something valuable along with the unwanted | English (from a German proverb) |
| When pigs fly | Something that will never happen | Britain |
| Don't cry over spilt milk | Don't fret over what cannot be undone | Britain |
| Nothing to sneeze at | Something significant, not to be dismissed | United States |
| Being salty | Bitter or resentful, especially after losing (informal) | United States |
| Don't teach your granny to suck eggs | Don't give advice to someone more experienced | Scotland |
| As rare as rocking horse droppings | Extremely rare | Britain and Australia |
How to learn idioms
Idioms stick best in context, so learn them in small batches and use them quickly. Note new ones as you meet them in films, songs and conversation, learn the meaning and one natural example, and then try them out in your own speech.
Take care with register, since some idioms are informal, and with variety, since an expression common in Australia may puzzle someone in Britain.
The surest way to pick them up is to spend time where the language lives, which is exactly what a language course with SPRACHCAFFE offers.
Summary
Idioms are fixed, figurative expressions that give English much of its colour, from British favourites (Bob's your uncle, the bee's knees) to American (a piece of cake, on cloud nine), Australian (no worries, fair dinkum) and beyond.
They cannot be translated literally, so learn each with its meaning and an example, mind the register, and use them in real conversation.
Do that, and your English will sound noticeably more natural, all the more so after time abroad with SPRACHCAFFE.
FAQ
An idiom is a fixed phrase whose figurative meaning differs from the literal sense of its words, such as "break the ice", which means to ease tension rather than to shatter anything.
They are everywhere in natural speech and a clear sign of fluency once you use them well. Understanding them is also essential for following films, conversation and the news.
A few at a time, learned in example sentences rather than as lists, and used soon afterwards. Focusing on the most common ones first gives the quickest payoff.
Yes. Many are shared, but some idioms and their wording differ between varieties, so it is worth noting which are common where you plan to use your English.
Idioms come alive in conversation, which a course abroad puts you in daily.
Related news
Get the latest on travel, languages and culture