300 + simple idioms that will take your English to a new level

Idioms, or stable expressions, make speech lively and emotional, replacing a long description with a vivid image that everyone understands. And the British and Americans simply adore them and insert them into the conversation literally through a sentence. And if some of them are similar to ours (for example, “eats like a bird” or “dark horse”), then others have no analogues in Russian and sound unusual or strange (for example, “bag with the wind” or “rain on parade” ). In our huge list there are those and others.

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AdMe.ru gathered a whole bunch of great idioms for those who want to speak English as their mother tongue.

Money

• From rags to riches - from rags to riches.
• Money talks - with money you can achieve everything.
• Money to burn / Rolling in money - hens do not peck at money.
• Born with a silver spoon in her mouth - to be born in a rich family.
• More money than sense - throwing money away.
• Gravy train - easy money.
• Cost a pretty penny - cost a lot of money.
• Worth every penny - cost your money; worth every penny spent.
• To go Dutch - pay everyone for themselves.
• Hit the jackpot - hit the jackpot.
• Bet your bottom dollar - guarantee anything.
• Highway robbery - robbery in broad daylight.
• Be flush with money - swim in luxury.
• Buy (something) for a song - buy something very cheap.
• To make ends meet.
• Flat broke - broke; penniless.
• On the breadline - below the poverty line.
• Scrape together - scrape the bottom of the barrel; collect all the money that is.
• Beyond one's means - (live) beyond its means.
• As phony as a three-dollar bill is as fake as a three dollar bill.
• Golden handshake is a cash compensation for a dismissed or retiring employee.

Time

• Better late than never - better late than never.
• Let 's grass grow under one' s feet - sit back; waste time.
• Around the clock - around the clock.
• In the interim - meanwhile; in the interim.
• On the spur of the moment - spontaneously; thoughtlessly; in a fit.
• Have a time of one's life - have a wonderful time.
• Against the clock - hurry to do something until a certain time.
• Behind the times is old fashioned.
• In broad daylight - in public; in the middle of the day.
• The museum piece is something old fashioned; Museum piece.
• Give someone a hard time - chastise; spoil someone's life.
• All in good time - everything has its time.
• The time is ripe - the time has come.
• Beat the clock - have time to finish something before the appointed time.
• To serve time / To do time - go to jail; serve time
• Be ahead of time - ahead of time.
• Take your time - do not rush; do not rush.

Appearance and character

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• Don't judge a book by its cover.
• A leopard can't change its spots - a hunchbacked grave will fix it.
• Worrywart is an anxious, suspicious person.
• Bag of wind - talker; braggart.
• Armchair critic - sofa critic; a person who does not miss the opportunity to criticize others.
• Charm the birds out of the trees - to achieve their charm and charisma; cajole.
• The soul of the party.
• Wouldn't say boo to a goose - won't hurt a fly; shy; modest.
• Know-it-all / Wise guy - know-it-all.
• Bark is worse than bite - barks, but does not bite; terrible only in words.
• Stickler for the rules - a person who strictly observes the rules; pedant.
• Go-getter - adventurous; vigorous; easy-going.
• Not have a nasty / mean / jealous bone in their body - to have a golden character.
• The salt of the earth - the best, most worthy people.
• Down-to-earth - realistic; landed
• Social butterfly - sociable; sociable; friendly.
• Goody two shoes - good boy; holy man; correct nausea.
• Set in one's way - stubborn; self-righteous.
• Wet blanket / Spoilsport / Killjoy - one who spoils the pleasure of others.
• Man of his word / Woman of her word - man of his word.
• Mover and shaker - the first face of the company; one of the mighty of this world.
• Behind the times / A fuddy-duddy / To stick in the mud - a man behind the times; conservative criticizing everything new.
• Down at heel - poorly dressed; in worn out shoes.
• Five o'clock shadow - bristles; unshaven
• Look a sight is a pitiful sight.
• As ugly as sin - terrible as a mortal sin; extremely unattractive.
• Look like a million dollars - look great.
• Mutton dressed as lamb - young lady, dressed not according to age.
• Vertically challenged - low growth.
• Thin on the top is balding.

Feelings, emotions, relationships

• On cloud nine / Walk on air - in the seventh heaven with happiness; on top of bliss.
• Old flame - old love; former lover.
• Jump for joy - jump for joy.
• Thrilled to bits - delighted; pretty like an elephant.
• On pins and needles - nervous; be like pins and needles.
• Add insult to injury - rub salt into the wound.
• Bundle of nerves - anxious person; bundle of nerves.
• To be in two minds - to doubt.
• Cut to the quick - hit the quick; offend.
• No hard feelings - no offense.
• Swallow your pride - sacrifice self-esteem; swallow a grudge.
• Go spare - get lost; flare up.
• To be hopping mad - get very angry; be furious.
• Get a grip on yourself - pull yourself together.
• To be on the horns of a dilemma - to be between two lights, in a difficult position.
• To be in one's element - to be in his element, at ease.
• Couldn't care less - be indifferent to anything.
• Storm in a teacup - a storm in a glass of water; much ado about nothing.
• Go to pieces - lose control of yourself; peel off; feel overwhelmed.
• Every cloud has a silver lining - not so bad; no blessing in disguise.
• Look on the bright side - optimistic about things.
• That's that - such things; it's nothing you can do.

Behavior

• Tie the knot - get married.
• To eat somebody for breakfast - easy to beat others.
• Ahead of the pack - be ahead of everyone.
• Shake on something - agree on something; shake hands as a sign of agreement about something.
• Burn the candle at both ends - burn at work; work without rest.
• To connect the dots - to connect all the facts together.
• Blow smoke - let the fog; powder brains; embellish
• Rain on (someone's) parade - to upset someone's plans.
• Eat, sleep and breath something - to be passionate about something; direct all your energy to something.
• To go the extra mile - do more than is expected of you; laid out on 200%.
• To go halfers - divide the bill in a restaurant in half.
• To cherry pick - skim the cream off; choose the tidbits; select the best.
• Tar one with the same brush - cut one size fits all.
• Steal the show / Steal the spotlight - overshadow all; draw attention to yourself.
• To cut to the chase - get to the point, to the point.
• To test the waters - to test the soil; throw the bait; to try.
• A point of no return is a point of no return; the moment when you no longer come back.
• It takes two to tango - if two people participated in an unpleasant situation, then both are responsible.
• To be fixed for a life - to settle down well in life.
• Sell ​​someone out - betray, “surrender” someone.
• A friend in need is a friend indeed - a friend is known in trouble.
• You can't take it with you - you won't take anything with you after death; live now, don't postpone.
• To keep the pot boiling - earn, energetically doing his job.
• To run out of steam - exhale; to wear out.
• Huff and puff - breathing hard; puff.
• To cause a stir - cause a stir, a stir.
• The fat lady sings are not over yet; there is still a chance to change everything.
• That's (It's) a wrap - case successfully completed.
• Come again - repeat, please.

Animal-related idioms

• Bull in a china shop - an elephant in a china shop.
• Let the cat out of the bag - let it out; blab the secret.
• Cock-and-bull story - an incredible story; fiction
• Dark horse is a dark horse.
• Beat a dead horse - wasting energy; try to waste.
• Horse around - fool around; fool.
• Straight from the horse's mouth - first hand.
• Dead duck - bad job.
• Like water off a duck's back - like water off a duck's back.
• Cook someone's goose - destroy (someone); to ruin
• Ugly duckling - an ugly duckling.
• As a duck takes to water - like a fish in water.
• Get ducks in a row - restore order; sort things out.
• Cat's meow - cutie; beauty; cute thing.
• When pigs fly - when the cancer on the mountain whistles (that is, never).
• Buy a pig in a poke - buy a cat in a bag.
• To have ants in one's pants - to be restless, restless; not be able to sit still.
• As happy as a lark - very happy, cheerful.
• Let sleeping dogs lie - do not wake famously while it is quiet; You should not stir up the past.
• To have no dog in this fight - not to be interested in the situation; don't worry about the result.
• Top dog - the leader; Alpha male; boss.
• Dog-eat-dog - a situation where everyone is for himself.
• Dog in the manger - a dog in the manger; neither myself nor the people.
• In the doghouse - (to be) out of favor.
• As clean as a hound's tooth - very clean.
• Little bird told me - brought forty on the tail; I became aware.
• Chicken out - trish.
• To jump the shark - lose its former popularity.
• Kangaroo court - unfair trial; the court is not under the law.
• For donkey's years - from time immemorial; for ages.
• Barrel of monkeys - something funny, funny.
• Monkey see, monkey do - imitation of something without understanding the essence.
• Monkey business - frivolous behavior; mischief; deception; scam
• Smell a rat - to feel evil.
• To have rats in the attic - not all homes; cockroaches in my head.
• Calm as a toad in the sun - very calm and contented.
• Сast pearls before swine - to throw beads in front of pigs.
• A fine kettle of fish - a difficult, awkward position.
• A different kettle of fish is another thing; Not the same.
• Cold fish is an unfeeling, cold person.
• Conceited as a barber's cat - smug.
• Cry wolf - raise a false alarm.
• Poor as a church mouse - poor as a church mouse.
• Сash cow - a source of money; Milch cow.
• Eager beaver - hard worker; hard worker.
• Elephant in the room is a simple truth; that is obvious to all.
• Cat nap - a short nap in the afternoon.
• Cat gets one's tongue - swallow tongue.
• Like a cat on a hot tin roof - do not find a place for yourself; be nervous
• Serve as a guinea pig - to be a guinea pig.
• Grab a tiger by the tail - to get down to the business, which turned out to be unexpectedly difficult, but which cannot be abandoned

Food-related idioms

• The best thing since sliced ​​bread is an amazing thing; as good as it gets.
• Too much to want; to desire two incompatible things at once.
• A piece of cake - a pair of trivia; Easier steamed turnip.
• Sell ​​like hot cakes - scatter like hot cakes.
• Eat humble pie - to endure insults; endure humiliation.
• An apple-pie order is the perfect order.
• Eat one's words - take your words back.
• As warm as toast - warm and cozy.
• Hard nut to crack is a tough nut to crack; difficult person; difficult task.
• In a nutshell - in short; in a nutshell.
• To work for peanuts - work for pennies.
• Neither fish nor fowl - neither fish nor fowl; neither this nor that.
• Not my cup of tea - it does not suit me, I do not like it.
• Сouch potato - lazy; lover to lie on the couch; "vegetable".
• Hot potato is a hot topic.
• As cheap as chips - very cheap.
• A bad egg / A bad apple is a bad person; cheater; slacker; a scoundrel.
• A good egg - the guy that needs it.
• Nest egg - money for a rainy day; stash.
• Egghead is a wise guy.
• Have egg on one's face - look stupid; get caught on something shameful.
• Beef something up - strengthen, increase power.
• Bread and butter - livelihood.
• Butter somebody up - flatter; cajole.
• Bread-and-butter letter - thank you letter.
• To bring home the bacon - make good money; provide family.
• Save one's bacon - save your skin.
• Big cheese is an influential person; leader.
• Tough cookie - toughie; strong man.
• Top banana is a biggie; boss.
• Go bananas - to be overjoyed; to sleep; go crazy
• As cool as a cucumber - cold-blooded.
• Full of beans - to be lively, in high spirits.
• As slow as molasses - very slow.
• Whew the fat - chat; scratch your tongue.
• Take something with a pinch of salt - to treat something with doubt, disbelief.
• Bite off more than you can chew - reassess their capabilities; take on more of what you can handle.
• Cry over spilt milk - tears will not help; the past will not return.
• Everything but the kitchen sink is everything that is possible; car and small truck.

Idioms associated with body parts

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• An arm and a leg - exorbitantly high price; crazy money.
• Break a leg - good luck; break a leg.
• Not have a leg to stand on - do not have support; do not have a chance to prove anything.
• Old hand - grated roll.
• Hand in glove - in close connection; at the same time.
• Left-handed compliment is a dubious, ambiguous compliment.
• Come away empty-handed - leave with nothing; achieve nothing.
• To get the upper hand (on someone) - to get an advantage; have superiority over anyone.
• Keep at arm's length - keep distance; keep at a respectful distance.
• To have your head screwed on - have your head on your shoulders.
• Head over heels - in love with the ears.
• Head in the clouds - naive dreamer; man is not of this world.
• Hide one's head in the sand - hide your head in the sand; ignore the situation.
• Beat one's head against the wall - beat your head against the wall; lead a useless struggle.
• Bite someone's head off - snap; to be rude
• Able to (do something) standing on one's head - to be able to do something easily and quickly.
• Bonehead is stupid; stupid.
• To have a chip on one shoulder - to carry a load of offenses; blame others for their troubles.
• Busybody - the one who pokes his nose in the affairs of others.
• Over my dead body - only through my dead body.
• All mouth and no trousers - windbag; a person who promises, but does nothing.
• To foam at the mouth - to be furious; seethe with anger.
• Bite one's tongue - bite your tongue.
• Don't lift a finger - lazy.
• This face is an ugly face.
• A face like thunder is darker than a cloud.
• Fall flat on one's face - fail; fail.
• Not a hair out of place - hair to hair; impeccable look.
• Bad hair day is a bad day when everything goes wrong.
• Hair-raising - scary; creepy.
• To the backbone - to the bone marrow.
• All skin and bone - very thin; skin and bones.
• Jump out of skin - flinch, jump in surprise; to be beside yourself (for joy, fear).
• Get a slap on the wrist - suffer a mild punishment; get off easy fright.
• Blood runs cold - blood runs cold (from horror).
• Bad blood (between people) - hostility; strained relations.
• Eat one's heart out - die from envy; plaguing yourself with experiences.
• To put your heart (and soul) into something - by all means; fully surrendering, putting all soul.
• Wear one's heart on one's sleeve - do not hide your feelings; flaunt your feelings.
• Have a lump in one's throat - feel a lump in your throat (from excitement).
• Count noses - count the number of people.
• Have one's nose in (something) - pry into other people's affairs.
• To give someone the stink eye - to look at someone disapprovingly; to reward with ice.
• One's eyes are bigger than one's stomach - being greedy (eating).
• Eyeball-to-eyeball - face to face; Tet-a-tet.
• With the naked eye - to the naked eye.
• In the blink of an eye - in the blink of an eye.
• Be all eyes (and ears) - carefully watch and listen.
• Bend someone's ear - talking to someone is boring.
• Plain as the nose on one's face is obvious.
• Break one's back / neck (to do something) - hard work; do my best.
• Breathe down someone's neck - chase; stand over one's soul.
• Hate (someone's) guts - hate someone.
• Be the ball at one's feet - be the master of the situation.
• To be not just a pretty face - to be not only beautiful, but also smart.
• All thumbs - awkward; clumsy.
• Button one's lip - keep your mouth shut.
• A no-brainer is the obvious choice; no brainer.

Clothing-related idioms

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• A feather in one's cap is an achievement; a matter of pride.
• Birthday suit - naked; in the buff.
• Comfortable as an old shoe - very comfortable.
• Deep pockets - rich.
• Dressed to kill / Dressed to the nines / Dressed to the teeth - to be dressed is very fashionable, stylish, elegant.
• Have (something) up one's sleeve - have a secret plan or idea.
• Hit below the belt - hit below the belt; dishonest to do.
• Hot under the collar - angry; outraged.
• I'll eat my hat - give my head a cut.
• Walk a mile in one's shoes - put yourself in the shoes of another; to be in somebody's skin.
• Keep one's shirt on - keep calm.
• Lose one's shirt - spend, pull almost all the money.
• Laugh up one's sleeve - chuckle secretly, fist, sneak.
• Money burning a hole in your pocket - money is burning a pocket, can't wait to spend it.
• Quake in one's boots - shake with fear; tremble like an aspen leaf.
• To be tied to one's wife's apron-string - to be under the heel of his wife.
• If the shoe fits, wear it - if the criticism is true of you, you should take it into account.

Color related idioms

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• Once in a blue moon - very rare.
• Feel blue - sad; sadden.
• To cry the blues - cry the blues.
• Blue devils - melancholy; yearning.
• Talk until one is blue in the face - talk until blue in the face, until exhaustion.
• A bolt out of / from the blue - unexpectedly; like a bolt from the blue.
• Black eye - black eye.
• Black sheep - black sheep; White crow.
• As black as a stack of black cats - very black.
• Blue ribbon is the best; prestigious; carefully selected.
• Burn with a low blue flame - to experience strong anger, not expressing it clearly.
• Do something up brown - do something well and carefully.
• Green winter is a snowless, mild winter.
• Green with envy - turn green with envy.
• Give the green light - allow.
• Green-eyed monster - jealousy.
• To have a green thumb - have a talent for gardening.
• Red herring - false information; distracting maneuver.
• Red tape - red tape; bureaucracy.
• In the pink (of something) - in good shape; in excellent condition; in order.
• Tickled pink - very pleased.
• To be green about the gills - look pale, sick.
• To catch red-handed - catch red-handed; take someone by surprise.
• To be in the red - to be in debt, at a loss.
• To roll out the red carpet - to give a warm welcome; warm to meet the guest.
• To see red - lose your temper; get furious.
• Not to be worth a red cent - not worth a penny.
• To show the white feather - show cowardice; chill.
• White fury - frenzy; rabies; rage.
• White lie - an innocent lie; lie to the rescue.
• Lily-white reputation - impeccable reputation.
• To bleed white - cut to the skin.
• White night - sleepless night.
• To have a yellow streak - fear; to be afraid
• A purple patch is a strip of luck, good luck.
• Chase rainbows - try to achieve the unattainable; pursue ghostly goals.

What idioms do you like and use?

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