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Navigating Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: From A to Z

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Introduction to Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Welcome to "Oxford Guide to Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: Unlocking English Expressions," a comprehensive guide available as a free PDF download. This lesson aims to demystify idioms and phrasal verbs, key elements in achieving fluency in English. Often challenging for learners, understanding and using these expressions correctly can significantly enhance your conversational skills and comprehension of English in various contexts.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the use and meanings of common English idioms and phrasal verbs.
2. Apply idioms and phrasal verbs correctly in conversation and writing.
3. Improve comprehension of English expressions in everyday use.

Some Of The Common English Idioms: A Comprehensive Guide from A to Z

1. A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush

   • Meaning: It's better to have something certain than to risk losing it by trying to obtain something more.
   • Example: "I was offered a job with a higher salary, but I decided to stay with my current job. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

2. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

   • Meaning: What people actually do is more important than what they say they will do.
   • Example: "Don't just tell me you'll help; actions speak louder than words."

3. Add Insult to Injury

   • Meaning: To make a bad situation even worse.
   • Example: "Not only did he crash my car, but he also tried to blame me for the accident. That just added insult to injury."

4. An Arm and a Leg

   • Meaning: Something that is very expensive or costs a lot.
   • Example: "The repairs on my car cost me an arm and a leg."

5. Bite the Bullet

   • Meaning: To endure a painful or difficult situation with courage and determination.
   • Example: "I have to bite the bullet and tell my boss that I made a mistake on the project."

6. Break the Ice

   • Meaning: To initiate conversation in a social setting or to start a new activity to make people feel more comfortable.
   • Example: "To break the ice at the party, I started talking about the weather."

7. Burning the Midnight Oil

   • Meaning: Working late into the night.
   • Example: "I have a deadline tomorrow, so I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight to finish the project."

8. Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

   • Meaning: To be in a situation where you have to make a difficult decision between two undesirable options.
   • Example: "I'm caught between a rock and a hard place; if I quit my job, I won't have income, but if I stay, I'll be miserable."

9. Cost an Arm and a Leg

   • Meaning: To be very expensive.
   • Example: "Buying a new house in this area can cost an arm and a leg."

10. Curiosity Killed the Cat

    • Meaning: Being too curious about something can lead to trouble.
    • Example: "I don't think you should snoop around in their personal belongings; remember, curiosity killed the cat."

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11. Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

    • Meaning: There's no use in being upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
    • Example: "Yes, you made a mistake, but don't cry over spilled milk. Learn from it and move on."

12. Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

    • Meaning: Don't risk everything on a single venture or opportunity.
    • Example: "Investing all your money in one stock is risky. Remember, don't put all your eggs in one basket."

13. Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

    • Meaning: There is something positive to be found in every negative situation.
    • Example: "Losing my job was tough, but I found a new career opportunity shortly after. Every cloud has a silver lining."

14. Fish Out of Water

    • Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation or environment.
    • Example: "As an introvert at a loud party, I felt like a fish out of water."

15. From Rags to Riches

    • Meaning: Going from a state of poverty to one of wealth or success.
    • Example: "She grew up in a poor neighbourhood but eventually became a successful entrepreneur, a true story of rags to riches."

16. Get Cold Feet

    • Meaning: To become nervous or anxious about doing something you had planned or agreed to do.
    • Example: "He was going to ask her out on a date, but he got cold feet at the last moment."

17. Give the Benefit of the Doubt

    • Meaning: To believe someone's statement or explanation, even though you're not sure if it's true.
    • Example: "I don't know if he's telling the truth, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt."

18. Go Against the Grain

    • Meaning: To oppose or disagree with the majority opinion or established way of thinking.
    • Example: "His ideas may go against the grain, but they often lead to innovative solutions."

19. Hit the Nail on the Head

    • Meaning: To describe or identify something exactly right.
    • Example: "You hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the situation; that's exactly what's going on."

20. In Hot Water

    • Meaning: In trouble or facing difficulties.
    • Example: "After missing the deadline, I found myself in hot water with my boss."

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21. Get the Ball Rolling

    • Meaning: To start or initiate something.
    • Example: "Let's get the ball rolling on this project by scheduling our first meeting."

22. Go the Extra Mile

    • Meaning: To make a special effort to achieve something or provide exceptional service.
    • Example: "She always goes the extra mile to help her colleagues."

23. Hear It Through the Grapevine

    • Meaning: To hear rumors or information indirectly, often through gossip.
    • Example: "I heard through the grapevine that they're getting married next month."

24. Hit the Jackpot

    • Meaning: To achieve great success or win a large amount of money unexpectedly.
    • Example: "She hit the jackpot with her latest business venture, earning millions in profits."

25. Jump on the Bandwagon

    • Meaning: To join or support something that has become popular or fashionable.
    • Example: "After seeing her friends succeed with online tutoring, she decided to jump on the bandwagon and start her own business."

26. Keep an Eye on

    • Meaning: To watch or monitor someone or something closely.
    • Example: "Can you keep an eye on the kids while I run to the store?"

27. Keep Your Chin Up

    • Meaning: To stay positive or optimistic in difficult situations.
    • Example: "I know things are tough right now, but keep your chin up; it will get better."

28. Kill Two Birds with One Stone

    • Meaning: To accomplish two tasks with a single action.
    • Example: "By going to the grocery store on my way home from work, I can kill two birds with one stone."

29. Let the Cat Out of the Bag

    • Meaning: To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information.
    • Example: "I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the surprise party, but I accidentally let the cat out of the bag."

30. A Little Bird Told Me

    • Meaning: Used to indicate that the speaker knows something, but they don't want to reveal the source.
    • Example: "I heard you got a promotion. A little bird told me."

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31. Jumping Through Hoops

    • Meaning: Going through a lot of difficulties or obstacles to achieve something.
    • Example: "I had to jump through hoops to get all the paperwork done for my visa application."

32. Keep It Under Your Hat

    • Meaning: To keep something a secret or confidential.
    • Example: "I'm planning a surprise party for Sarah, so please keep it under your hat."

33. Kick the Bucket

    • Meaning: To die.
    • Example: "He always said he wanted to travel the world before he kicked the bucket."

34. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

    • Meaning: To avoid restarting or stirring up old conflicts or problems.
    • Example: "I know you want to confront him about what happened, but sometimes it's best to let sleeping dogs lie."

35. Let's Call It a Day

    • Meaning: To finish working on something for the day.
    • Example: "We've been working on this project for hours; let's call it a day and continue tomorrow."

36. Let the Cat Out of the Bag

    • Meaning: To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information.
    • Example: "I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the surprise party, but I accidentally let the cat out of the bag."

37. Look on the Bright Side

    • Meaning: To focus on the positive aspects of a situation, rather than the negative.
    • Example: "Even though we lost the game, let's look on the bright side—we played well and had fun."

38. A Lot on My Plate

    • Meaning: To have a lot of tasks or responsibilities to deal with.
    • Example: "Sorry, I can't go out tonight; I have a lot on my plate with work and studying for exams."

39. Make a Long Story Short

    • Meaning: To summarize a lengthy story or explanation.
    • Example: "To make a long story short, we missed our flight and had to spend the night at the airport."

40. Miss the Boat

    • Meaning: To miss an opportunity.
    • Example: "I wanted to invest in that company, but I missed the boat, and now their stock price has soared."

41. Make Ends Meet

    • Meaning: To have enough money to cover basic expenses.
    • Example: "With the rising cost of living, it's becoming harder to make ends meet."

42. Make Hay While the Sun Shines

    • Meaning: To take advantage of an opportunity while it lasts.
    • Example: "The weather is perfect today, so let's make hay while the sun shines and go for a picnic."

43. Method to My Madness

    • Meaning: A purpose or reason behind seemingly illogical or eccentric behaviour.
    • Example: "I know it seems chaotic, but there's a method to my madness when it comes to organising my workspace."

44. No Pain, No Gain

    • Meaning: You have to work hard and endure difficulties to achieve success or improvement.
    • Example: "Training for the marathon was tough, but I kept reminding myself that no pain, no gain."

45. Off the Beaten Path

    • Meaning: Away from the usual route or path, unconventional or less travelled.
    • Example: "We decided to explore the countryside and took the scenic route, preferring to go off the beaten path."

46. On Thin Ice

    • Meaning: In a risky or precarious situation, where one wrong move could have serious consequences.
    • Example: "After missing several deadlines, he knew he was on thin ice with his boss."

47. Once in a Blue Moon

    • Meaning: Very rarely, almost never.
    • Example: "I hardly ever go to the cinema; I only go once in a blue moon."

48. Out of the Blue

    • Meaning: Unexpectedly or suddenly.
    • Example: "I hadn't heard from him in years, then out of the blue, he called me yesterday."

49. Over the Moon

    • Meaning: Extremely happy or delighted.
    • Example: "She was over the moon when she found out she got accepted into her dream university."

50. Out of the Woods

    • Meaning: Out of danger or difficulty, no longer in a challenging situation.
    • Example: "The surgery was successful, and he's finally out of the woods."

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51. Paint the Town Red

• Meaning: To go out and have a great time, often involving drinking and partying.
• Example: "It's my birthday tomorrow, and I plan to paint the town red with my friends."

52. Piece of Cake

• Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.
• Example: "Don't worry about the exam; it'll be a piece of cake."

53. Pull Someone's Leg

• Meaning: To tease or joke with someone in a playful manner.
• Example: "Are you serious, or are you just pulling my leg?"

54. Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

• Meaning: To invest everything in one venture, risking losing everything if it fails.
• Example: "I decided not to put all my eggs in one basket and diversified my investments."

55. Raining Cats and Dogs

• Meaning: Raining heavily.
• Example: "I can't believe we forgot our umbrellas; it's raining cats and dogs out there!"

56. Read Between the Lines

• Meaning: To understand the hidden or implied meaning in a communication.
• Example: "His message seemed straightforward, but if you read between the lines, it's clear he's not happy with the decision."

57. Rule of Thumb

• Meaning: A general principle or guideline based on experience, rather than strict rules.
• Example: "As a rule of thumb, it's best to save at least 10% of your income for retirement."

58. Run in the Family

• Meaning: To have a trait or characteristic that is common among family members.
• Example: "Her musical talent runs in the family; her parents and siblings are all accomplished musicians."

59. Run Out of Steam

• Meaning: To lose energy or enthusiasm for something.
• Example: "I was planning to finish the project tonight, but I ran out of steam after working for hours."

60. Raining Cats and Dogs

• Meaning: Raining heavily.
• Example: "I can't believe we forgot our umbrellas; it's raining cats and dogs out there!"

S-U

61. See Eye to Eye

• Meaning: To agree with someone or have the same opinion.
• Example: "We don't always see eye to eye on everything, but we respect each other's opinions."

62. Speak of the Devil

• Meaning: When someone you were just talking about enters the conversation.
• Example: "Speak of the devil! We were just discussing your plans for the weekend, and here you are."

63. Steal Someone's Thunder

• Meaning: To take attention or praise away from someone else.
• Example: "She was about to announce her promotion when her colleague stole her thunder by announcing theirs first."

64. Take the Bull by the Horns

• Meaning: To confront a difficult situation head-on.
• Example: "Instead of avoiding the problem, it's time to take the bull by the horns and address it."

65. The Ball is in Your Court

• Meaning: It's your turn to make a decision or take action.
• Example: "I've given you all the information you need; now the ball is in your court."

66. The Best of Both Worlds

• Meaning: To have the advantages of two different things at the same time.
• Example: "Working part-time allows me to spend time with my family and pursue my career—it's the best of both worlds."

67. The Early Bird Catches the Worm

• Meaning: Success comes to those who act promptly or arrive first.
• Example: "I always arrive at the office early; you know what they say, the early bird catches the worm."

68. The Last Straw

• Meaning: The final action or event that causes someone to lose patience or give up.
• Example: "I've been patient with his behaviour, but forgetting my birthday was the last straw."

69. Under the Weather

• Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell.
• Example: "I won't be able to come to work today; I'm feeling under the weather."

70. Up in the Air

• Meaning: Uncertain or undecided.
• Example: "The plans for the weekend are still up in the air; we haven't decided where to go yet."

V-X

71. Variety is the Spice of Life

• Meaning: Diversity and change make life more interesting.
• Example: "I love trying new foods and exploring different cultures; variety is the spice of life."

72. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

• Meaning: To become aware of reality or to start paying attention.
• Example: "You need to wake up and smell the coffee; your procrastination is holding you back."

73. Walking on Eggshells

• Meaning: Being very cautious or delicate in dealing with a sensitive situation or person.
• Example: "Ever since their argument, they've been walking on eggshells around each other."

74. Water Under the Bridge

• Meaning: Past events or grievances that are no longer important or relevant.
• Example: "Yes, we had our differences in the past, but that's all water under the bridge now."

75. When Pigs Fly

• Meaning: Something that will never happen.
• Example: "You think he'll apologize? When pigs fly!"

76. With Flying Colours

• Meaning: To succeed or perform exceptionally well in something.
• Example: "She passed her driving test with flying colours; she didn't make a single mistake."

77. X Marks the Spot

• Meaning: Used to indicate the location of something, often in a treasure hunt context.
• Example: "According to the map, X marks the spot where the treasure is buried."

78. You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover

• Meaning: You shouldn't judge someone or something based solely on appearance.
• Example: "At first, I thought he was unfriendly, but after talking to him, I realised you can't judge a book by its cover."

79. You Scratch My Back, I'll Scratch Yours

• Meaning: A mutual agreement to help each other out.
• Example: "If you help me move next weekend, I'll help you paint your house the following weekend. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

80. Zero Hour

• Meaning: The scheduled time for a significant event or decision to take place.
• Example: "We've been preparing for months, and now it's zero hour—the launch of our new product."

Embracing Idioms and Phrasal Verbs for Effective Communication

1. Enhanced Conversational Skills: By understanding idioms and phrasal verbs, you'll be able to engage in conversations more naturally and expressively.
2. Improved Understanding: You'll gain a better grasp of English as spoken and written by native speakers, enhancing your overall comprehension.
3. Effective Expression: These expressions allow you to convey thoughts and ideas more vividly and accurately.
4. Memory Techniques: Using drawing, mind-maps, and stick-it notes with idioms and phrasal verbs can aid in remembering and using them effectively.
5. Community Learning: Join our community on Learning English Free to share your progress and learn more about English expressions.