1. What are idioms in English with examples?

Idioms are phrases whose meanings differ from their literal words. For example, “a blessing in disguise” means something bad that turns out to be good.

2. Why are idioms important in English?

Idioms make conversations engaging, creative, and natural. They also show cultural context, making your speech sound fluent like a native speaker.

3. How many idioms are commonly used in English?

There are thousands of idioms, but learners usually focus on 100–200 of the most common ones, such as “piece of cake” or “spill the beans.”

4. Can idioms be used in IELTS speaking?

Yes, idioms are encouraged in IELTS speaking to show fluency and vocabulary range. Just ensure you use them naturally and in the right context.

5. What are some easy idioms for beginners?

Simple idioms include “under the weather” (feeling ill), “break the ice” (start a conversation), and “on cloud nine” (extremely happy).

6. What are the 4 main types of idioms?

The four types are pure idioms, binomial idioms, partial idioms, and prepositional idioms. Each type has unique usage patterns.

7. Are idioms and phrases the same?

No. Idioms have hidden meanings different from their literal words, while phrases usually have straightforward meanings.

8. How can I learn idioms quickly?

Group idioms by themes like food, colors, or animals. Practice them in sentences and use flashcards or daily conversations to remember them.

9. What is the difference between idioms and proverbs?

Idioms are expressions with figurative meanings, while proverbs are short sayings that give advice or share wisdom, like “honesty is the best policy.”

10. What are idioms with animals?

Examples include “cat got your tongue” (being silent), “wild goose chase” (hopeless search), and “black sheep” (odd one out in a group).

11. Which idioms are used in daily life?

Popular idioms include “piece of cake,” “spill the beans,” “burn the midnight oil,” and “every cloud has a silver lining.”

12. Can idioms be used in academic writing?

Generally, idioms are avoided in academic or formal writing. They’re better suited for creative writing, literature, or spoken English.

13. What are color idioms in English?

Color idioms include “green with envy” (jealous), “caught red-handed” (caught in the act), and “feeling blue” (sad).

14. What idioms are good for IELTS?

Idioms like “hit the nail on the head,” “once in a blue moon,” and “the ball is in your court” are often used in IELTS speaking tests.

15. What are idioms related to food?

Food idioms include “piece of cake” (easy task), “spill the beans” (reveal a secret), and “butter up” (flatter someone).

16. Do idioms exist in all languages?

Yes, almost every language has idioms, though their meanings and cultural contexts vary. English idioms often have unique cultural references.

17. What are weather idioms in English?

Examples include “raining cats and dogs” (heavy rain), “on cloud nine” (very happy), and “under the weather” (feeling sick).

18. Why do English speakers use idioms?

Idioms allow speakers to express ideas vividly, add humor, and connect on a cultural level beyond literal meaning.

19. What are some idioms for happiness?

Idioms for happiness include “walking on air,” “on cloud nine,” and “over the moon.”

20. How to use idioms in IELTS writing?

Avoid idioms in formal IELTS writing tasks, but you can use them in informal letters (Task 1 GT) or in spoken sections to boost vocabulary.

100+ Idioms in English with Meaning & Examples (2026 Guide)

Language isn’t just about grammar and vocabulary. It is about expressing thoughts in a way that feels natural, powerful and memorable. One of the most exciting ways English does this is through idioms. These colorful expressions go beyond literal meaning and bring creativity into everyday conversations.

In this blog, we will cover:

What idioms are and why they matter
100+ idioms in English with meaning and example sentences
Category wise idioms (animal, color, food, weather)
Tips on using idioms effectively in spoken and written English

What Are Idioms?

Idioms are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal words alone. For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs” doesn’t mean animals are falling from the sky, it simply means it’s raining heavily.

Idioms are often rooted in culture and history, and that’s why they make English more expressive and fun to learn.

Why Are Idioms Important?

Idioms play a huge role in improving your communication:

Adds creativity: Instead of saying “I’m very happy,” you can say “I’m over the moon.”
Sounds natural: Native speakers often use idioms in casual conversations.
Boosts writing and speaking tests: Using idioms in IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE makes your speech sound fluent and engaging.
Improves cultural understanding: Idioms often reflect local traditions and ways of thinking.

Note: Idioms are best used in informal or creative writing, not in academic or highly formal documents.

Idioms in English with Meaning and Examples

Here’s a collection of common idioms in English, explained with their meanings and examples.

General Idioms

Idiom	Meaning	Example
A blessing in disguise	Something bad that turns out good	Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.
A dime a dozen	Very common	Cheap toys are a dime a dozen at fairs.
A fish out of water	Feeling uncomfortable	I felt like a fish out of water at the event.
Back to the drawing board	Start again	The plan failed, so it’s back to the drawing board.
Bite the bullet	Face something unpleasant	I had to bite the bullet and apologize.
Burn the midnight oil	Work late at night	She burned the midnight oil before exams.
Cold feet	Nervous before an event	He got cold feet before the wedding.
Cut to the chase	Skip details, get to the point	Let’s cut to the chase and discuss results.
Don’t cry over spilled milk	Don’t regret what can’t be changed	Yes, you lost, but don’t cry over spilled milk.
Hit the nail on the head	Be exactly right	You hit the nail on the head with your answer.
Once in a blue moon	Rarely	We meet only once in a blue moon.
Over the moon	Extremely happy	She was over the moon with her new job.
Rome wasn’t built in a day	Important things take time	Learning English takes time—Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Spill the beans	Reveal a secret	He spilled the beans about the surprise party.
The ball is in your court	It’s your turn to act	I’ve done my part, now the ball is in your court.
Under the weather	Feeling sick	I’m a bit under the weather today.
When pigs fly	Something that will never happen	He’ll wake up early when pigs fly.

Animal-Based Idioms

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Cat got your tongue	Can’t speak, unusually quiet	Why so silent? Cat got your tongue?
Kill two birds with one stone	Achieve two results with one action	Reading while exercising kills two birds with one stone.
Ants in your pants	Can’t sit still due to excitement	The kids had ants in their pants before the trip.
Black sheep	The odd one out	He’s the black sheep of the family.
Bull in a china shop	Clumsy and careless	He broke the vase like a bull in a china shop.
The lion’s share	The largest portion	She got the lion’s share of attention.
Butterflies in your stomach	Nervous feeling	I had butterflies in my stomach before the exam.
Wild goose chase	Wasting time chasing something impossible	Finding that old book was a wild goose chase.
Let sleeping dogs lie	Don’t start old arguments	Better to let sleeping dogs lie.

Color Idioms

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Green with envy	Very jealous	She was green with envy over his success.
Caught red-handed	Caught doing something wrong	He was caught red-handed stealing.
With flying colors	With great success	She passed her test with flying colors.
Out of the blue	Unexpectedly	He called me out of the blue.
Once in a blue moon	Very rare	This happens once in a blue moon.
Feeling blue	Sad	He’s been feeling blue lately.
Red carpet treatment	Special treatment	VIPs always get red carpet treatment.
Tickled pink	Very happy	She was tickled pink by the gift.
Black and white	Clear choice, no in-between	The rules are black and white.

Food Idioms

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Piece of cake	Very easy	The test was a piece of cake.
Cry over spilled milk	Regret over the past	No use crying over spilled milk.
Spill the beans	Reveal a secret	She spilled the beans about the plan.
Apple of my eye	Someone special	His daughter is the apple of his eye.
Take with a pinch of salt	Not fully believe something	Take rumors with a pinch of salt.
Bring home the bacon	Earn money	He works hard to bring home the bacon.
Cool as a cucumber	Calm and relaxed	She stayed cool as a cucumber during the interview.
In a nutshell	In short	In a nutshell, the plan failed.
Hard nut to crack	Difficult problem	The new puzzle is a hard nut to crack.

Weather Idioms

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Under the weather	Feeling sick	I feel under the weather today.
On cloud nine	Extremely happy	She’s on cloud nine after the promotion.
Fair-weather friend	Friend only in good times	He turned out to be a fair-weather friend.
Get wind of	Hear a rumor	I got wind of the new project.
Calm before the storm	Quiet before trouble	The silence felt like the calm before the storm.
Come rain or shine	No matter what happens	I’ll be there, come rain or shine.
Every cloud has a silver lining	Good in every bad	Don’t worry, every cloud has a silver lining.
Raining cats and dogs	Heavy rain	It’s raining cats and dogs outside.
Head in the clouds	Unrealistic thinking	He always has his head in the clouds.

Category-Wise Quick Idioms

Here’s a snapshot list of idioms grouped for easy recall:

Animals: Cat got your tongue, Black sheep, Bull in a china shop, Wild goose chase.
Colors: Green with envy, Red carpet treatment, Out of the blue.
Food: Piece of cake, Spill the beans, Apple of my eye.
Weather: Under the weather, On cloud nine, Raining cats and dogs.

General: Bite the bullet, Break the ice, Over the moon.

How to Use Idioms Effectively

Use relevant idioms—don’t throw them randomly.
Make sure you understand the meaning before using.
Use sparingly in formal writing, freely in casual speech.
Practice idioms in mock speaking tests for IELTS/PTE.
Try keeping an idiom journal—write 5 new idioms a week.

Conclusion

Idioms are the spice of the English language. They make your speech lively, your writing engaging, and your conversations more natural. If you’re preparing for study abroad, using idioms smartly in IELTS or PTE can even boost your fluency scores.

Start with these 100+ idioms with meaning and examples, practice daily, and soon you’ll sound like a natural English speaker.

Read Also:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are idioms in English with examples?
Idioms are phrases whose meanings differ from their literal words. For example, “a blessing in disguise” means something bad that turns out to be good.
2. Why are idioms important in English?
Idioms make conversations engaging, creative, and natural. They also show cultural context, making your speech sound fluent like a native speaker.
3. How many idioms are commonly used in English?
There are thousands of idioms, but learners usually focus on 100–200 of the most common ones, such as “piece of cake” or “spill the beans.”
4. Can idioms be used in IELTS speaking?
Yes, idioms are encouraged in IELTS speaking to show fluency and vocabulary range. Just ensure you use them naturally and in the right context.
5. What are some easy idioms for beginners?
Simple idioms include “under the weather” (feeling ill), “break the ice” (start a conversation), and “on cloud nine” (extremely happy).
6. What are the 4 main types of idioms?
The four types are pure idioms, binomial idioms, partial idioms, and prepositional idioms. Each type has unique usage patterns.
7. Are idioms and phrases the same?
No. Idioms have hidden meanings different from their literal words, while phrases usually have straightforward meanings.
8. How can I learn idioms quickly?
Group idioms by themes like food, colors, or animals. Practice them in sentences and use flashcards or daily conversations to remember them.
9. What is the difference between idioms and proverbs?
Idioms are expressions with figurative meanings, while proverbs are short sayings that give advice or share wisdom, like “honesty is the best policy.”
10. What are idioms with animals?
Examples include “cat got your tongue” (being silent), “wild goose chase” (hopeless search), and “black sheep” (odd one out in a group).
11. Which idioms are used in daily life?
Popular idioms include “piece of cake,” “spill the beans,” “burn the midnight oil,” and “every cloud has a silver lining.”
12. Can idioms be used in academic writing?
Generally, idioms are avoided in academic or formal writing. They’re better suited for creative writing, literature, or spoken English.
13. What are color idioms in English?
Color idioms include “green with envy” (jealous), “caught red-handed” (caught in the act), and “feeling blue” (sad).
14. What idioms are good for IELTS?
Idioms like “hit the nail on the head,” “once in a blue moon,” and “the ball is in your court” are often used in IELTS speaking tests.
15. What are idioms related to food?
Food idioms include “piece of cake” (easy task), “spill the beans” (reveal a secret), and “butter up” (flatter someone).
16. Do idioms exist in all languages?
Yes, almost every language has idioms, though their meanings and cultural contexts vary. English idioms often have unique cultural references.
17. What are weather idioms in English?
Examples include “raining cats and dogs” (heavy rain), “on cloud nine” (very happy), and “under the weather” (feeling sick).
18. Why do English speakers use idioms?
Idioms allow speakers to express ideas vividly, add humor, and connect on a cultural level beyond literal meaning.
19. What are some idioms for happiness?
Idioms for happiness include “walking on air,” “on cloud nine,” and “over the moon.”
20. How to use idioms in IELTS writing?
Avoid idioms in formal IELTS writing tasks, but you can use them in informal letters (Task 1 GT) or in spoken sections to boost vocabulary.

100+ Idioms in English with Meaning & Examples (2026)