Category: English

Commonly Used Idioms & Phrases

Every language has its own collection of knowledgeable sayings. These sayings are called as “idioms”. Idioms and Phrases are an important part of the English language. English is a fascinating and well-written language with full of expressions. Idioms and Phrases are used in written as well as spoken English. In order to excel in English, it is important to know and understand the concept of correct usage of idioms and phrases.

An Idiom is a common word or phrase which signifies otherwise from its literal meaning but can be understood because of its popular usage. A phrase is a small group of words that adds meaning to a sentence. When you learn Idioms and Phrases you sound more confident, especially when you speak with native English speakers. However, learning idioms can be fun and rewarding since their meanings are often surprising.

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms are designed based on the human experiences of frequently occurring situations. It is easy to learn and understand Idioms. Idioms are expressions that show human behaviours, reactions on certain things and social habits & traditions. There are thousands of idioms and phrases, occurring frequently in all languages. Let us take a look at some really creative examples of idioms and their subsequent meanings.

Common English Idioms

The list of commonly used idioms and sayings (in everyday conversational English) can help you speak English by learning English idiomatic expressions. Below given are some of the common Idioms, which we use in our day to day lives:

IdiomMeaning
A penny for your thoughtsTell me what you’re thinking
A perfect stormThe worst possible situation
A penny saved is a penny earnedMoney you save today you can spend later
Action speak louder than wordsBelieve what people do and not what they say
A little learning is a dangerous thingPeople who don’t understand something fully are dangerous
A stitch in time saves nineFix the problem now because it will get worse later
An apple a day keeps the doctor awayApples are good for you
Bolt from the blueSomething that happened without warning
Break the iceMake people feel more comfortable
Birds of a feather flock togetherPeople who are alike are often friends
Break a legGood luck
Comparing apples to orangesComparing two things that cannot be compared
Calm before the stormSomething bad is coming, but right now it’s calm
Curiosity killed the catStop asking questions
Don’t beat a dead horseMove on, this subject is over
Don’t cry over spilt milkThere’s no reason to complain about something that can’t be fixed
Don’t put all your eggs in one basketWhat you’re doing is too risky
Every cloud has a silver liningGood things come after bad things
Every dog has his dayEveryone gets a chance at least once
Fortune favours the boldTake risks
Get your act togetherWork better or leave
Get out of handGet out of control
Get a taste of your own medicineGet treated the way you’ve been treating others 
Good things come to those who waitBe patient
Hit the nail on the headGet something exactly right
Hang in thereDon’t give up
It’s not rocket scienceIt’s not complicated
Ignorance is blissYou’re better off not knowing
Jump on the bandwagonFollow a trend, do what everyone else is doing
Know which way the wind is blowingUnderstand the situation 
Kill two birds with one stoneGet two things done with a single action
Look before you leapTake only calculated risks
Let someone off the hookTo not hold someone responsible for something
Make a long story shortTell something briefly
Make hay while the sun shinesTake advantage of a good situation
No pain, no gainYou have to work for what you want
On cloud nineVery happy
Once in a blue moonRarely
Play devil’s advocateTo argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument
Pull someone’s legTo joke with someone
Rain on someone’s paradeTo spoil something
Run like the windRun fast
Saving for a rainy daySaving money for later
So far so goodThings are going well so far
Take a rain checkPostpone a plan
The ball is in your courtIt’s your decision
Throw caution to the windTake a risk
Through thick and thinIn good times and in bad times
Under the weatherSick
We’ll cross that bridge when we come to itLet’s not talk about that problem right now
We see eye to eyeWe agree
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegarYou’ll get what you want by being nice
You can’t judge a book by its coverThis person or thing may look bad, but it’s good inside

Phrases

A phrase is a group of words. Phrases can be short or long, but it does not include the subject-verb pairing necessary to make a clause. A phrase is a group of words that stand together as a single unit, typically as part of a clause or a sentence.

A phrase does not contain a subject and verb and, consequently, cannot convey a complete thought. A phrase contrasts with a clause. A clause does contain a subject and a verb, and it can convey a complete idea. Here are some of the types of Phrases used:

  1. Noun Phrases
  2. Verb Phrases
  3. Gerund Phrases
  4. Infinitive Phrases
  5. Appositive Phrases
  6. Participial Phrases
  7. Prepositional Phrases
  8. Absolute Phrase

Types of Phrases

1. Noun Phrases: A noun phrase consists of a noun and all its modifiers.

S.NoExamples of Noun Phrases
1The bewildered tourist was lost
2The lost puppy was a wet and stinky dog
3The flu clinic had seen many cases of infectious disease
4It was a story as old as time
5The sports car drove the long and winding road
6Saturday became a cool, wet afternoon

2. Verb Phrases: A verb phrase consists of a verb and all its modifiers.

S.NoExamples of Verb Phrases
1She was waiting for the rain to stop
2He was upset when it didn’t boil
3You have been sleeping for a long time
4You might enjoy a massage
5She was eager to eat dinner

3. Gerund phrases: A gerund phrase is a noun phrase that starts with a gerund.

S.NoExamples of Gerund Phrases
1Strolling along a beach at sunset is romantic
2Getting a promotion is exciting
3Signing autographs takes time
4Going for ice cream is a real treat
5Getting a sore back was the result of the golf game
6Pulling an all-nighter did not improve his test scores
7Sailing into the sunset was the perfect end to the book

4. Infinitive Phrases: An infinitive phrase is a noun phrase that begins with an infinitive verb.

S.NoExamples of Infinitive Phrases
1To see Niagara Falls is mind-boggling
2To make lemonade, you have to start with lemons
3I tried to see the stage, but I was too short
4He really needs to get his priorities in order
5The company decided to reduce hours for everyone
6To donate time or money is an honourable thing

5. Appositive Phrases: An appositive phrase restates and defines a noun. It consists of one or more words.

S.NoExamples of Appositive Phrases
1My favorite pastime, needlepoint, surprises some people
2Her horse, an Arabian, was her pride and joy
3My wife, the love of my life, is also my best friend
4A cheetah, the fastest land animal, can run 70 miles an hour
5My idea, a recycling bin for the office, was accepted by the boss
6The Florida panther, the state animal of Florida, is an endangered species

6. Participial Phrases: A participial phrase begins with a past or present participle.

S.NoExamples of Participial Phrases
1I am really excited, considering all the people that will be there
2We are looking forward to the movie, having seen the trailer last week
3Grinning from ear to ear, she accepted her award
4The happy dog ran the entire length of the park, pausing only to sniff the dandelions
5Painted a brilliant white, the small room appeared bigger

Prepositional Phrases: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and can act as a noun, an adjective or an adverb.

S.NoExamples of Prepositional Phrases
1We camped by the brook
2He was between a rock and a hard place
3I waited for a while
4She smelled of strawberries and cream
5He won the challenge against all odds
6She was lost in the dark of night

Absolute Phrases: An absolute phrase has a subject, but not an action verb, so it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It modifies the whole sentence, not just a noun.

S.NoExamples of Absolute Phrases
1The entire team, their uniforms muddy and stained, shouted for joy
2His tail between his legs, the dog walked out the door
3Picnic basket in hand, she set off for her date
4The guys attacked the pile of nachos, their fingers getting the last bit of cheese off the plate
5Their heads hanging down, the whole group apologized

FAQ’s On Idioms And Phrases

Below given are some of the frequently asked questions on Idioms and Phrases:

Q1: What is the difference between an Idiom and a Phrase?

Ans: An idiom is a group of words which by common usage has a meaning. An idiom thus has a meaning of its own. A Phrase is a sequence of two or more words arranged in grammatical construction and acting as a unit in a sentence. Every idiom is a phrase. However, each phrase is not an idiom.

Q2: What are the better ways to learn phrases and idioms?

Ans: The best way to learn phrases and idioms is to use them in sentences and practical situations.

Q3: Which is the best book for Idioms and Phrases?

Ans: These are some of the books which you can refer to:
1. English Idioms in Use Intermediate
2. Oxford Word Skills Advanced Idioms & Phrasal Verbs
3. Work on Your Idioms