U seful I dioms to L earn 1
E xamples by L eonardo de W aal
Idioms that can also be used formally:
Idioms that are used only informally:
A hot potato
A n issue that many people are talking about, and which is
usually controversial.
• T he topic of abortion has always been a hot potato.
A penny for your thoughts
A way of asking what someone is thinking.
• “ Maria F ernanda, you look sad. A penny for your thoughts.”
Actions speak louder than words
People’s intentions can be judged better by what they do
instead of what they say.
• Y ou keep saying you will write a book. E nough promises!
R emember that actions speak louder than words.
Add insult to injury
T o further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an
unfavourable situation.
• F irst, I was fined for parking in a prohibited area, and to add
insult to injury, they impounded my car!
At the drop of a hat
without thinking twice; instantly. (U se at the end of a
sentence only)
• W hen my friend invited me to the concert, I accepted at the drop
of a hat.
Back to the drawing board
W hen an attempt fails and it is time to start all over.
• None of the strategies worked. I think it’s time we went back to
the drawing board and come up with some new ones.
The ball is in your court
I t is up to you to make the next decision or step
• I did my part, now the ball is in your court.
To bark up the wrong tree
A ccusing the wrong person.
• I t wasn’t me who took the tablet. I think you’re barking up the
wrong tree.
To be glad to see the back of
B e happy and relieved when a person leaves.
• Juan wasn’t a very good friend. I n fact, he was more troublesome
than I thought. I ’ll be glad to see the back of him!
1
Adapted from “Commonly used smart idioms” | Available at http://www.smart-words.org/smart-idioms.html © 2020). Some
definitions courtesy of the Cambridge Online dictionary.
Revised July 2022
Beat about/around the bush
A voiding the main topic. N ot speaking directly about the
issue.
• Quit beating about the bush and wasting time. just ask her out.
Best of both worlds
A ll the advantages.
• W orking remotely has the best of both worlds as I can travel, and
I don’t have to work in the same office all day!
Best thing since sliced bread
A useful invention or innovation.
• W ireless internet is the best thing since sliced bread because I can
have access to it wherever I am at home!
Bite off more than you can chew
T o take on a task that is way too big.
• I accepted the job, but now I have double the work. I think I may
have bitten off more than I could chew.
A blessing in disguise
Something good that isn’t recognised at first.
• I never really liked working there, so losing that job was a
blessing in disguise, really.
To burn the midnight oil
T o work late into the night.
• I had to burn the midnight oil to get my essay done. I went to bed
at 2 a.m.!
To judge a book by its cover
T o judge something mainly on just its appearance.
Avoid the appearance of the phone, it’s more powerful than it
looks. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Caught between two stools
W hen someone finds it difficult to choose between two
alternatives.
• He tries to be both teacher and friend but falls between two stools.
Costs an arm and a leg
T his idiom is used when something is very expensive.
• I can’t go to L as V egas every year because it costs me an arm and
a leg!
pg. 1
Cross that bridge when you come to it
D eal with a problem when it becomes necessary, not before.
• I haven’t decided to leave the country. I have until June, so I will
cross that bridge when I come to it.
Cry over spilt milk
W hen you complain about a loss from the past.
T here is no point in crying over spilt milk. Y ou crashed the car,
now get it repaired.
Curiosity killed the cat
B eing inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
Cut corners
W hen something is poorly done to save time or money.
Devil’s Advocate
T o present a counterargument. Someone who pretends to
disagree with you so that they can have a good discussion
about something
• I n the meeting, F rancisco played the devil’s advocate in order to
get more ideas from everyone.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
T his idiom is used to express “ D on’t make plans for
something that might not happen” .
• T here’s no telling if you will get the loan, so don’t spend all your
money. I wouldn’t count all your chickens before they hatched.
Walk on eggshells
B e careful about what you say or do.
• She’s in a terrible mood – you’ll have to walk on eggshells around
her.
• I t’s eleven o’clock already. I ’m going to hit the sack. I ’ve had
enough.
In the heat of the moment
T o say or do something without thinking because you are
angry or excited
It takes two to tango
A ctions or communications need more than one person
• Marriage takes two to tango.
• T o get this business going, it will take your money and my skills.
R emember, it takes two to tango.
Keep something at bay
T o control something and prevent it from causing you
problems. T o keep something away, especially someone or
something unpleasant from coming too near you or
harming you.:
• L aura was angry, but it was hard for her to keep her feelings at
bay.
• I have a new security system to keep burglars at bay.
Kill two birds with one stone
T o accomplish two different things at the same time in
order to save time.
• I need to pay my bank bill. I also need to buy a new suit. I f I go
to the shopping centre, I could kill two birds with one stone!
Last straw
T he final problem in a series of problems.
• OK that’s the last straw. I told you to tidy your room three times
already!
Let sleeping dogs lie
D o not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in
trouble or complications.

Don’t give up the day job
Y ou are not very good at something. Y ou could definitely
not do it professionally.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
D o not put all your resources into one possibility.
Let the cat out of the bag
T o accidentally share information that was previously a
secret or a surprise.
• Before L aura arrived home, L ukas told her to be prepared. I wish
he hadn’t let the cat out of the bag. T here was going to be a
surprise birthday party.

Hear it on the grapevine Make a long story short

T his idiom means ‘to hear rumours’ about something or
someone. T his is only used for gossip.
• I heard it on the grapevine that Sandra is going out with Juan
Andrés, her boss!
Hit the nail on the head
D o or say something exactly right.
• I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that
unemployment is on the rise.
C ome to the point - leave out details.
• Y ou should have seen what happened today. T o make a long
story short, I had to pay a fine.
Miss the boat
T his idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her
chance
• Y ou were told the job interview was at 10 o’clock. I t’s now 11.
Y ou missed the boat.

Ring a bell
Sound familiar
Hit the sack/sheets/ hay • Have you heard of the pop group T alk T alk?
T o go to bed. • No, sorry. I t doesn’t ring a bell.

Revised July 2022 pg. 2

Not a spark of decency Steal someone’s thunder
N ot having any manners T o take the credit for something someone else did.
• L aura doesn’t have a spark of decency. She didn’t wait for the • I don’t think it is fair that you should get credit for my work. Y ou
rest and decided to eat before everyone. stole my thunder!

Not playing with a full deck Take with a grain of salt

Someone who lacks intelligence. T his means not to take what someone says too seriously.
2 and 2 is 5? I don’t think he is playing with a full deck.
Taste of your own medicine
Off one’s rocker M eans that something happens to you, or is done to you,
C razy, insane, out of one’s mind, in a confused or that you have done to someone else
befuddled state of mind, senile.
• Y ou must be off your rocker if you think I ’m going to sell it for To hear s.t straight from the horse’s mouth
2000 pesos!
T o hear something from an authoritative source, someone
who really knows.
On the ball • T hey said they were going to fire some people next week, Sandra.
W hen someone understands the situation well. How do you know?
I heard it from the horse’s mouth.
A far cry from
M eaning: V ery different
• L iving by the sea is a far cry from living on a mountain range. The whole nine yards
E verything. A ll of it.
See eye to eye • My new car has a stereo, air conditioning, power steering – I
T his idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree mean, the whole nine yards!
on something.
• L aura and I don’t see to see eye to eye about what colour the
bedroom should be. Wouldn’t be caught dead
W ould never like to do something like that.
• I wouldn’t be caught dead listening to Bad Bunny. I ’m not fond
Speak of the devil! of his music at all!
T his expression is used when the person you have just
been talking about arrives.
Your guess is as good as mine
T o have no idea, do not know the answer to a question

Revised July 2022 pg. 3