100 Most Useful Idioms in English

100 Most Useful Idioms in English

Idioms are expressions or phrases whose meanings do not relate to the literal meaning of their words. They are special words or phrases that aren’t meant to be taken literally and usually have a cultural meaning behind them. They typically present a figurative meaning attached to the phrase.

1. Your wife is so upset. It seems to be a storm in a teacup.
2. At the eleventh hour, they asked me to welcome the guest.
3. All things being equal, I attend the wedding.
4. He wants a bite at the cherry to rectify his mistakes.
5. A leader’s popularity gives him an ace up his sleeve to win elections.
6. He acknowledged the corn that he was drunk then.
7. She is missing for few days, but nothing to worry, as a cat has nine lives.
8. Her father was blowing stack over his going to the cinema with friends.
9. Students burn midnight oil to pass the exams.
10. Her husband insulted her before all, but she had to bite the bullet.
11. Their house has all bells and whistles, but nobody is happy in it.
12. She bailed me out when my business collapsed.
13. Students of law must cut their teeth on advocacy and then practice.
14. When we crunched the numbers, we realised that it was not enough to buy a new house.
15. That lady is very outspoken. She calls a spade a spade.
16. You are just cutting off your nose to spite your face by leading such depressed life due to break-up with your partner.
17. You have no choice, but to draw a line in the sand and go ahead in life.
18. It is never of use to cry over spilt milk.
19. Her husband dances to her tunes all the time.
20. A good journalist is a devil’s advocate who encourages healthy discussion.
21. Don’t weep, the storm will pass, every dog has his day.
22. The speaker gave an elevator pitch to students about technology.
23. He had to eat crow after quarreling with his neighbor.
24. Don’t worry, you will accomplish this work too as you are an eager beaver.
25. We all believe that an early bird is really able to catch the worm.
26. She seems full of the joys of spring due to some reason.
27. I express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart.
28. She was running from pillar to post for her children.
29. He feels like a fish out of water in her absence.

30. Good marketing will grease the wheels of selling the products.
31. He was left out on a limb by his colleagues when the boss was scolding him.
32. She was grasping at straws to come out of depression.
33. His parents gave him the green light to marry his girlfriend.
34. When she saw the messy kitchen, she hit the roof.
35. They travelled highways and byways of the city to find him out.
36. She is going hell for leather to complete her project.
37. Election is a hot potato for them.
38. This company is one of the heavy hitters in the film industry.
39. Doing this course is not a rocket science.
40. It really true that it never rains, but pours. First she lost her husband, then she had to leave her house.
41. The man was in the driver’s seat, as he could take important decisions in the absence of his boss.
42. We go to that hotel every week, we are in a rut.
43. Are you calling me a liar? Well, if shoe fits, wear it.
44. A truck appeared all of a sudden, so I had to jam on the brakes.
45. I had to change the plan just in the nick of time.
46. Don’t look at the world with jaundiced eyes.
47. They had to jump through hoops to reach the peak of the mountain.

48. The pressure of exams jangled her nerves.
49. He is just Joe Bloggs.
50. You must always keep a civil tongue while speaking to elders.
51. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on exams.
52. He kicked the bucket in the prime of his life.
53. She knitted her brows while looking at him.
54. He knows law inside and out.
55. Building house is a labour of love for me.
56. Such a lame-duck he is!
57. Children have to leave the nest after growing up for their career.
58. He has just calmed down, let the sleeping dogs lie.
59. She let the cat out of the bag by telling him everything.
60. Don’t make a mountain out of a mole-hill, it’s not much important.
61. Please come in and make yourself at home.
62. Teaching in the classroom is the meat and potatoes of our profession.
63. He has a memory like sieve, don’t rely on him much.
64. He bought a new house and she decorated it beautifully, men make houses, women
make homes.
65. Mend your ways, or your name will be mud soon.
66. Never say die, every cloud has a silver lining.
67. If you want anything, you get it nine times out of ten.
68. He is no spring chicken, but so fit.
69. This will happen never in a million years.
70. Drinking wine is good for flu is old wives’ tale.
71. She was on the horns of dilemma about getting married and choosing career.
72. They could succeed because they were on the same wavelength.
73. Since her daughter fell from the swing, she doesn’t like it anymore, once bitten, twice shy.
74. My father comes home once in a blue Moon.
75. He irritates me time and again, just a pain in the neck.
76. Show him the picture of it, as the picture paints a thousand words.
77. Going abroad is just a pipe dream for a lazy man like you.
78. When she dances, she is a poetry in motion.

79. He solved that problem as quick as a wink.
80. Because of cold, everybody was quaking lie a leaf.
81. It has been raining cats and dogs since yesterday.
82. It is a red-letter-day in my life.
83. Don’t sail against the wind, your father won’t like it.
84. He is salt of the earth.
85. We must save money for a rainy day.
86. I am going to take forty winks.
87. She always takes French leave.
88. He is fond of telling tall tales.
89. She is under the thumb of her husband.
90. That plant is now up in the air.
91. Sorrows will vanish in the air, have patience.
92. Variety is the spice of life, we love tasting different cuisine every time in a hotel.
93. Don’t just wag your chin, do something.
94. He is walking on the air these days.
95. Why do you wear your heart on your sleeve always? It’s not good, people may take advantage of this.
96. Whet your appetite for reading.
97. Put your table here, X marks the spot.
98. He got angry, leave it, you can’t please everyone.
99. He is very old, but still young at heart.
100. This is the zero hour to write your article.

also see: