Idioms and Expressions in English

Common Idioms and Their Meanings

• Burn the midnight oil: Stay up late working or studying, typically until midnight or all night.
• Call it a day: To stop working and go home after completing enough tasks.
• Catch some Z’s: A casual expression meaning to go to sleep.
• Caught red-handed: Being caught in the act of doing something wrong, particularly illegal or unethical.
• Clean as a whistle: Indicates something is very clean and neat.
• Clean slate: A fresh start or a new beginning after past issues have been resolved.
• Cold feet: Feeling nervous or anxious, especially before significant events like weddings.
• Cold turkey: To abruptly stop a bad habit or addiction without gradual reduction.
• Cost an arm and a leg: Refers to something that is very expensive.
• Crunch time: A critical period when deadlines are approaching and focus is necessary.
• Curiosity killed the cat: Suggests that being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.
• Days are numbered: Indicates that time is limited or running out for someone or something.
• Down in the dumps: Feeling sad or depressed.
• Fall for it: To be tricked or deceived by a prank or lie.
• Fly off the handle: To become very angry suddenly.
• Follow in the footsteps of: To emulate someone admired, often in regards to career or life choices.
• From scratch: To begin from the very beginning without using any pre-existing preparations, often in cooking.
• Get a kick out of something: To find enjoyment or entertainment in an activity.
• Get with the program: To become aware of and participate in necessary tasks or duties.
• Give one’s right arm: To be willing to sacrifice a lot for someone or something else.
• Give someone a hand: Either to offer assistance or to applaud someone for their achievements.
• Go against the grain: To act in a way that is different from what is generally accepted or considered normal.
• Go bananas/Go crazy: To become extremely excited or agitated.
• Grab a bite to eat: A casual way to say one is getting something to eat.
• Green with envy: Feeling very jealous of someone’s success or possessions.
• Have one’s hands full: Being very busy with many tasks or responsibilities.
• Hit the books: To study hard, especially for exams.
• Hit the nail on the head: To describe a situation or problem accurately.
• Hit the spot: To satisfy a strong craving or need, often related to food.
• Hold your horses: A phrase urging someone to be patient.
• In ages: Describes a long time since a particular event occurred.
• In over one’s head: Indicates taking on too many responsibilities or a task that is too difficult.
• In the nick of time: To complete something just before a deadline.
• It’s a piece of cake: Refers to something that is very easy to accomplish.
• John Hancock: A colloquial term for a signature.
• Jump the gun: To act too soon or make premature decisions.
• Know by heart: To have something memorized completely.
• Know the ropes: To be familiar with the details or processes of a task or job.
• Make ends meet: To manage financially when there is limited money.
• Making a mountain out of a molehill: To exaggerate a minor issue into a major one.
• Ninety (90) to nothing: Working very hard and fast on something.
• Not worth a hill of beans: Describes something that is insignificant or worthless.
• Off the top of my head: To give information spontaneously without prior thought.
• On edge: Feeling tense or anxious.
• On the ball: Being alert and efficient.
• On the road: Describes being in a traveling state.
• On the tip of my tongue: Almost remembering something but not quite able to articulate it.
• Once in a blue moon: Indicates something occurs very rarely.
• Pretty penny: Refers to something that is very expensive.
• Rain check: An offer to do something later instead of the current time.
• Rain or shine: Refers to committing to an event regardless of weather conditions.
• Running into the ground: To exhaust oneself by overworking.
• Scare the living daylights out of: To frighten someone greatly.
• Sick as a dog: To be severely ill.
• Skeleton in the closet: A hidden secret that may cause embarrassment.
• Sleeping like a baby: Describes sleeping soundly and peacefully.
• Sleeping like a log: Sleeping deeply, hard enough to not be awakened easily.
• Smell a rat: To sense that something or someone is deceitful.
• Spick and span: Describes something as very clean and tidy.
• Stab in the back: To betray or hurt someone unexpectedly.
• Stick one’s neck out: Taking a risk for someone else’s benefit.
• Sweet tooth: Craving for sweet foods like candies or desserts.
• Talking in circles: Communicating in a confused or illogical manner.
• That does not hold water: Indicates that an argument lacks validity or support.
• That is a bunch of baloney: A colloquial expression to dismiss something as nonsense.

This quiz focuses on common idiomatic expressions in English that relate to working late and resting. Participants will explore phrases like 'burn the midnight oil' and 'call it a day' to understand their meanings and usage. Test your knowledge of how these phrases can be used in context.