Idioms and Their Meanings

Idioms and Their Meanings

• Reinvent the wheel: Wasting time trying to create something already existing. Avoid recreating something already available.
• Go with the flow: Doing what others are doing or agreeing with the majority's opinion.
• Skating on thin ice: Doing something dangerous or risky.
• Silver lining: A positive aspect that comes from a negative situation.
• Sweet tooth: Someone who likes eating sweet foods, especially chocolate.
• Go Dutch: Sharing the cost of something, often a meal.
• Make ends meet: Having just enough money for essential items.
• Ring a bell: Something being familiar or recognizable.
• Tip of the iceberg: A small part of a much larger problem.
• Blow off steam: Saying or doing something to release strong feelings or energy.
• Piece of cake: Something extremely easy.
• Out of the woods: No longer having a problem or difficulty.
• Get over something: Recover from an illness or difficulty.
• One's cup of tea: A type or category that someone doesn't like.
• Loaded: Rich, having a lot of money.
• Nip something in the bud: Stopping something before it becomes established.
• Out of the blue: Something happening suddenly and unexpectedly.
• Keep one's chin up: Remaining cheerful in a difficult situation.
• Race against the clock: Trying to finish a task quickly before a specific time.
• Catch someone off guard: Surprising someone by doing something unexpected.
• On one's radar: Being considered or thought about.
• Stab someone in the back: Betraying someone.
• Make a beeline for something: Moving quickly and directly towards something.
• In hot water: In a situation where you might be criticized or punished.
• Dressed to the nines: Dressed formally, smartly or fashionably.
• Between a rock and a hard place: In a difficult situation with difficult choices.
• Lo and behold: A surprising event happened.
• Let the cat out of the bag: Accidentally revealing a secret.
• On the same page: Everyone agreeing on a plan or approach.
• Like hot cakes: Something that sells very quickly and easily.
• Fall/Slip through the cracks: Something not noticed or given sufficient attention.
• Up in arms: Grumpy or angry about something.
• Fair and square: Honestly or according to the rules.
• Black sheep: A member of a group who is different from the others.
• By the skin of one's teeth: Barely or by a very slight margin.
• Get under one's skin: Irritating or upsetting someone.
• Draw the line: Putting a limit on what you will allow or do.
• Give something a whirl: Trying something new.
• Fish out of water: In an unfamiliar and uncomfortable surrounding.
• Go the extra mile: Making an extra attempt to achieve something.
• Not see the forest from the trees: Being so involved in minor details that you don't see the bigger picture.
• Straight from the horse's mouth: Getting information directly from the source.
• Cry wolf: Calling for help when you don't actually need it.
• Bigger fish to fry: Having more important things to deal with.
• Play devil's advocate: Arguing against something to address all sides.
• Steal one's thunder: Preventing someone from getting the deserved recognition.
• Rain on one's parade: Spoiling someone's pleasure.
• Cakewalk: Something very easy.
• Take a rain check: Declining an invitation with the suggestion to accept it later.
• Wild goose chase: Searching for something that doesn't exist.
• Twist someone's arm: Persuading someone to do something they don't want to do.
• Face the music: Accepting criticism or punishment.
• Hit the books: Study or do homework.
• Turn a deaf ear: Ignoring someone's complaints or requests.
• Break the bank: To cause financial ruin.
• Jump the gun: Doing something too soon without thinking carefully.