Commonly used Idioms and Phrases

IDIOMS MEANING
A hot potato A sensitive situation or controversial issue that is
difficult to handle and thus gets passed from one
person to the next.
A penny for your thoughts Away of asking what someone is thinking.
Actions speak louder than words People's intentions can be judged better by what they
do than what they say.
Add insult to injury To further a loss with mockery or indignity;
to worsen an unfavorable situation.
An arm and a leg An exorbitant amount of money
At the drop of a hat Without any hesitation; instantly.
Back to the drawing board Revising something (such as a plan) from the
beginning, typically after it has failed.
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
Ball is in your court One has the responsibility for further action.
It is up to you to make the next decision or step.
Barking up the wrong tree Looking in the wrong place.
Taking a wrong direction in an activity.
Be glad to see the back of Be happy when a person leaves.
Beat around the bush Not speaking directly about the issue.
To speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to avoid
talking directly about an unpleasant or sensitive topic.
Best of both worlds A situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of
two very different things at the same time.
Best thing since sliced bread A good invention or innovation.
A good idea or plan.
Something that is thought to be very good.
Bite off more than you can chew To take on more responsibility than one can handle.
Blessing in disguise Something good that isn't recognized at first.
Burn the midnight oil To stay up late working on a project or task.
Can't judge a book by its cover Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.
Don't base your opinion of something (or someone)
on the way it (or one) looks.
Caught between two stools When someone finds it difficult to choose between
two alternatives.
Costs an arm and a leg To be extremely expensive.
Cross that bridge when you come to it To address something only when it actually happens
or becomes an issue.
Cry over spilt milk To be upset over something that cannot be fixed.
Curiosity killed the cat Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant
situation.
Being inquisitive about other people's affairs may get

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 you into trouble.
Cut corners When something is done badly to save money.
To skip certain steps in order to do something as
easily or cheaply as possible, usually to the detriment
of the finished product or end result.
Cut the mustard To work or operate in a satisfactory manner.
Devil's Advocate To present a counter argument.
One who argues against or attacks an idea, argument,
or proposition, even if one is in favor of it, for the
sake of debate or to further examine its strength,
validity, or details
Don't count your chickens before the eggs have Don't make plans for something that might not
hatched happen.
Don't give up the day job Used as a humorous way of recommending someone
not to pursue something at which they are unlikely to
be successful.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
Don't risk everything on the success of one venture.
Drastic times call for drastic measures Extreme and undesirable circumstances or situations
can only be resolved by resorting to equally extreme
actions.
Elvis has left the building The show has come to an end. It's all over.
Every cloud has a silver lining Every negative situation has the potential to result in
or produce something positive or beneficial.
Far cry from Vastly different from something.
Feel a bit under the weather Feeling slightly ill.
Give the benefit of the doubt Believe someone's statement, without proof.
To retain a favorable or at least neutral opinion of
someone or something until the full information
about the subject is available.
Hear it on the grapevine To hear rumors about something or someone.
Hit the nail on the head Do or say something exactly right.
Hit the sack / sheets / hay To go to bed.
In the heat of the moment At a moment when one is overly angry, excited, or
eager, without pausing to consider the consequences.
It takes two to tango Both parties involved in a situation or argument are
equally responsible for it.
Jump on the bandwagon To join or follow something once it is successful or
popular.
Join a popular trend or activity.
Keep something at bay Keep something away.
Kill two birds with one stone To accomplish two different things at the same time.
Last straw The final problem in a series of problems.
Let sleeping dogs lie To leave a situation alone so as to avoid worsening it.
Let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret.
Make a long story short To abbreviate a longer story by skipping directly to
the point.
Method to my madness A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or
planning, even though it may appear crazy or absurd

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 to another person.
Miss the boat To lose the chance or opportunity to do something.
Not a spark of decency No manners
Not playing with a full deck Someone who lacks intelligence.
Off one's rocker Crazy mentally unsound; extremely foolish.
On the ball Attentive, knowledgeable, and quick to take action.
Once in a blue moon Happens very rarely.
Picture paints a thousand words A visual presentation is far more descriptive than
words.
Piece of cake A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
Put wool over other people's eyes To deceive someone.
See eye to eye Two or more people agree on something.
Sit on the fence To not make a decision.
Speak of the devil! A person you have just been talking about arrives.
Steal someone's thunder To take the credit for something someone else did.
Take with a grain of salt To understand that something is likely to be untrue or
incorrect.
Taste of your own medicine When someone gets the same bad treatment that he
has been giving others.
To hear something straight from the horse's
To hear something from the authoritative source.
mouth
Whole nine yards All the related elements of something
Wouldn't be caught dead Would never do the thing being discussed.
Your guess is as good as mine To have no idea. Do not know the answer to a
question.

Head Office: B- 61 Shastri Nagar, St. Paul's School Road, Jodhpur (Raj.) - 342003 Contact: 76659-44999, 94141-43101