Commonly Used Idioms & Phrases
Every language has its own collection of knowledgeable sayings. These sayings are called as âidiomsâ. 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:
| Idiom | Meaning |
| A penny for your thoughts | Tell me what youâre thinking |
| A perfect storm | The worst possible situation |
| A penny saved is a penny earned | Money you save today you can spend later |
| Action speak louder than words | Believe what people do and not what they say |
| A little learning is a dangerous thing | People who donât understand something fully are dangerous |
| A stitch in time saves nine | Fix the problem now because it will get worse later |
| An apple a day keeps the doctor away | Apples are good for you |
| Bolt from the blue | Something that happened without warning |
| Break the ice | Make people feel more comfortable |
| Birds of a feather flock together | People who are alike are often friends |
| Break a leg | Good luck |
| Comparing apples to oranges | Comparing two things that cannot be compared |
| Calm before the storm | Something bad is coming, but right now itâs calm |
| Curiosity killed the cat | Stop asking questions |
| Donât beat a dead horse | Move on, this subject is over |
| Donât cry over spilt milk | Thereâs no reason to complain about something that canât be fixed |
| Donât put all your eggs in one basket | What youâre doing is too risky |
| Every cloud has a silver lining | Good things come after bad things |
| Every dog has his day | Everyone gets a chance at least once |
| Fortune favours the bold | Take risks |
| Get your act together | Work better or leave |
| Get out of hand | Get out of control |
| Get a taste of your own medicine | Get treated the way youâve been treating others |
| Good things come to those who wait | Be patient |
| Hit the nail on the head | Get something exactly right |
| Hang in there | Donât give up |
| Itâs not rocket science | Itâs not complicated |
| Ignorance is bliss | Youâre better off not knowing |
| Jump on the bandwagon | Follow a trend, do what everyone else is doing |
| Know which way the wind is blowing | Understand the situation |
| Kill two birds with one stone | Get two things done with a single action |
| Look before you leap | Take only calculated risks |
| Let someone off the hook | To not hold someone responsible for something |
| Make a long story short | Tell something briefly |
| Make hay while the sun shines | Take advantage of a good situation |
| No pain, no gain | You have to work for what you want |
| On cloud nine | Very happy |
| Once in a blue moon | Rarely |
| Play devilâs advocate | To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument |
| Pull someoneâs leg | To joke with someone |
| Rain on someoneâs parade | To spoil something |
| Run like the wind | Run fast |
| Saving for a rainy day | Saving money for later |
| So far so good | Things are going well so far |
| Take a rain check | Postpone a plan |
| The ball is in your court | Itâs your decision |
| Throw caution to the wind | Take a risk |
| Through thick and thin | In good times and in bad times |
| Under the weather | Sick |
| Weâll cross that bridge when we come to it | Letâs not talk about that problem right now |
| We see eye to eye | We agree |
| You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar | Youâll get what you want by being nice |
| You canât judge a book by its cover | This person or thing may look bad, but itâs 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:
- Noun Phrases
- Verb Phrases
- Gerund Phrases
- Infinitive Phrases
- Appositive Phrases
- Participial Phrases
- Prepositional Phrases
- Absolute Phrase
Types of Phrases
1. Noun Phrases: A noun phrase consists of a noun and all its modifiers.
| S.No | Examples of Noun Phrases |
| 1 | The bewildered tourist was lost |
| 2 | The lost puppy was a wet and stinky dog |
| 3 | The flu clinic had seen many cases of infectious disease |
| 4 | It was a story as old as time |
| 5 | The sports car drove the long and winding road |
| 6 | Saturday became a cool, wet afternoon |
2. Verb Phrases: A verb phrase consists of a verb and all its modifiers.
| S.No | Examples of Verb Phrases |
| 1 | She was waiting for the rain to stop |
| 2 | He was upset when it didnât boil |
| 3 | You have been sleeping for a long time |
| 4 | You might enjoy a massage |
| 5 | She was eager to eat dinner |
3. Gerund phrases: A gerund phrase is a noun phrase that starts with a gerund.
| S.No | Examples of Gerund Phrases |
| 1 | Strolling along a beach at sunset is romantic |
| 2 | Getting a promotion is exciting |
| 3 | Signing autographs takes time |
| 4 | Going for ice cream is a real treat |
| 5 | Getting a sore back was the result of the golf game |
| 6 | Pulling an all-nighter did not improve his test scores |
| 7 | Sailing 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.No | Examples of Infinitive Phrases |
| 1 | To see Niagara Falls is mind-boggling |
| 2 | To make lemonade, you have to start with lemons |
| 3 | I tried to see the stage, but I was too short |
| 4 | He really needs to get his priorities in order |
| 5 | The company decided to reduce hours for everyone |
| 6 | To 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.No | Examples of Appositive Phrases |
| 1 | My favorite pastime, needlepoint, surprises some people |
| 2 | Her horse, an Arabian, was her pride and joy |
| 3 | My wife, the love of my life, is also my best friend |
| 4 | A cheetah, the fastest land animal, can run 70 miles an hour |
| 5 | My idea, a recycling bin for the office, was accepted by the boss |
| 6 | The 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.No | Examples of Participial Phrases |
| 1 | I am really excited, considering all the people that will be there |
| 2 | We are looking forward to the movie, having seen the trailer last week |
| 3 | Grinning from ear to ear, she accepted her award |
| 4 | The happy dog ran the entire length of the park, pausing only to sniff the dandelions |
| 5 | Painted 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.No | Examples of Prepositional Phrases |
| 1 | We camped by the brook |
| 2 | He was between a rock and a hard place |
| 3 | I waited for a while |
| 4 | She smelled of strawberries and cream |
| 5 | He won the challenge against all odds |
| 6 | She 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.No | Examples of Absolute Phrases |
| 1 | The entire team, their uniforms muddy and stained, shouted for joy |
| 2 | His tail between his legs, the dog walked out the door |
| 3 | Picnic basket in hand, she set off for her date |
| 4 | The guys attacked the pile of nachos, their fingers getting the last bit of cheese off the plate |
| 5 | Their heads hanging down, the whole group apologized |
FAQâs 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