Idiom Examples

American English

This is an illustrated list of idiom examples in American English. An idiom is one type of figurative language in the English language.

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An idiom is a commonly used phrase that does not mean what it says.

Idioms should not be taken literally. That means that you should not believe it exactly as it is written.

This page contains a list of some of the most common American English Idioms. It is organized alphabetically by the first word of the idiom. Click on each letter below to jump directly to a certain letter of the alphabet.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

A 

• a blessing in disguise = something good that seems bad at first
  
  I lost my job, but it was a blessing in disguise because now I can spend more time with my children.
  
  
• all Greek to me = meaningless, beyond my understanding
  
  The map was all Greek to me. 
  
  
  
• as easy as pie = very simple
  
  That test was as easy as pie.
  
  
• a slap on the wrist = a mild punishment
  
  After the fight, my brother only got a slap on the wrist.
  
  
• at the drop of a hat = immediately
  
  I will help you at the drop of a hat.
  

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B

• bend over backwards = help in any way that you can
  
  John will bend over backwards to help you.
  
  
• bite off more than you can chew = take on too much responsibility
  
  My sister has a full-time career, three children, and is the coach of the soccer team. I hope she has not bitten off more than she can chew.
  
  
• blow one's top = become very angry
  
  He blew his top when he heard the bad news.
  
  
  
• break a leg = good luck
  
  *This is a common way to say, "Good luck," when someone is going to perform on stage.
  
  
• break someone's heart = make someone sad
  
  Judy broke Bill's heart when she divorced him.
  
  
• break up = stop dating
  
  Bill and Mary broke up after a month of dating.

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C

• catch some Zs = go to sleep, take a nap
  
  I am tired. I think I am going to catch some Zs.
  
  
• change one's mind = to think differently
  
  I do not like her and nothing you say will change my mind.
  
  
• chicken = scared; coward
  
  My brother is too chicken to jump off the diving board at the pool.
  
  
  
• cool = neat; awesome
  
  His new car is so cool!
  
  
• crack someone up = make someone laugh
  
  My brother likes to tell jokes! He cracks me up!

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D

• dime a dozen = cheap; common; easy to get
  
  Those shirts are a dime a dozen.
  
  
• down in the dumps = feeling very sad
  
  Sandy was feeling down in the dumps after she lost her job. 
  
  
• drive someone up the wall = annoy
  
  The kids are stuck inside today and they are driving me up the wall. 

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E

• egghead = smart person
  
  Susan got a 100% on another exam. She is an egghead.
  
  
• elbow grease = hard work; effort
  
  Use some elbow grease when you wash the dishes.

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F

• feeling blue = feeling sad
  
  Dan was feeling blue after his team lost the championship game.
  

  

• fire someone = release someone from their job
  
  Sam's boss fired him because he was late to the meeting.
  
  
• frog in one's throat = scratchy voice; not able to speak normally due to soreness or coughing
  
  Excuse me while I clear this frog in my throat.

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G

• get a kick out of something = find something funny or amusing
  
  She gets a kick out of watching the dogs play in the yard.
  
  
• get going = leave; depart
  
  We better get going so we are not late for church.
  
  
• get on someone's nerves = annoy; irritate
  
  You really get on my nerves when you do not listen to me!
  
  
• get over it = stop thinking about something that is bothering you; move on
  
  The fight happened a week ago. It is time to get over it!
  
  
• give someone a hand = help
  
  Let me give you a hand with those papers.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• grab a bite = get something to eat
  
  Where do you want to grab a bite for lunch?

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H

• hard feelings = anger; bad feelings
  
  Nick got Tim's job, but Tim doesn't have any hard feelings towards him.
  
  
• hard-headed = stubborn
  
  My dad is hard-headed and will never change his mind once he has decided something.
  
  
• head over heels = very excited; in love
  
  She fell head over heels for him on their first date.
  
  
  
• hit the books = study
  
  The exam is tomorrow. You better hit the books.
  
  
• hit the sack or hit the hay = go to bed
  
  I am tired. I think I will hit the hay.
  
  
• hold your horses = wait; be patient
  
  I will be there in 5 minutes! Hold your horses!

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I

• in someone's face = getting aggressive with someone
  
  He was angry with me and got in my face.
  
  
• in time = not late
  
  If we leave now, we will arrive just in time for the wedding.

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J

• jaywalk = cross the road in the middle of the street without a cross walk
  
  It is dangerous to jaywalk on a busy street.
  
  
  

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K

• keep an eye on someone = watch
  
  Please keep an eye on your sister while I am gone.
  
  
• keep in touch = stay in contact by writing letters or calling
  
  My friend is moving to Canada, but she promised to keep in touch by calling once a week.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• kick the bucket = die
  
  Tim's goldfish kicked the bucket yesterday.
  
  
• kidding = joking
  
  He was just kidding when he told you to go home.

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L

• lend your ear = listen
  
  Students! Please lend me your ears!
  
  
• lend someone a hand = help
  
  Can you lend me a hand with these boxes?
  
  
• let the cat out of the bag = tell a secret; tell about a surprise
  
  She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.

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M

• make up your mind = decide
  
  I cannot make up my mind whether I want chocolate or vanilla ice cream.

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N

• new kid on the block = new person in a group
  
  She doesn't know the rules because she is the new kid on the block.
  
  
• nuts = crazy
  
  My mom is nuts about her grandchildren.

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O

• on time = not late
  
  I like to be on time for church.
  
  
• out of the blue = when something happens without notice
  
  I was surprised when Lisa came to visit out of the blue!
  
  
• over the top = extreme; too much
  
  She went over the top by hiring a clown for her son's birthday!
  

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P

• piece of cake = very easy
  
  Today's lesson was a piece of cake.
  
  
• pig out = eat a lot
  
  We pigged out on Grandma's pancakes.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• pulling someone's leg = teasing, joking, tricking
  
  Do not believe him. He is just pulling your leg.
  
  
• pooped = very tired
  
  It was a long day at work! I am pooped!
  

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Q

• quick study = someone who learns something fast
  
  She will be the manager at work soon. She is a quick study.
  

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R

• raining cats and dogs = raining hard; lots of rain
  
  It rained cats and dogs during last night's thunderstorm.
  
  
• rise and shine = wake up, get out of bed
  
  It is 9:00 and time to rise and shine!
  
  
  
  
  
  
• run-down = needs repair
  
  The house was cheap to buy because it was very run-down.

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S

• saved by the bell = saved at the last possible moment
  
  He was going to ask me for help, but I was saved by the bell when the phone rang.
  
  
• sick as a dog = very sick
  
  Tony had the flu. He was sick as a dog for a week.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• spitting image = looks exactly alike
  
  Sarah is the spitting image of her mother.
  
  
• step on it = hurry
  
  We are going to be late if you do not step on it!

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T

• take it easy = relax
  
  I am just going to stay at home and take it easy this weekend.
  
  
• tie the knot = get married
  
  My parents tied the knot in 1973.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• toss-up = the results could go either way; a tie
  
  My favorite flavor of ice-cream is a toss-up between chocolate and strawberry

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U

• under the weather = feeling sick
  
  I did not go to work yesterday because I was feeling under the weather.
  

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V

• vanish into thin air = disappear
  
  Where were you? You vanished into thin air as soon as the meeting finished.
  

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W

• What for? = Why?; What do you need me for?
  
  Please get to work early tomorrow.
  
  What for?
  
  
• What's up? = What is happening? What is new?
  
  I am glad you called. What's up?
  
  
• when pigs fly = something that will never happen
  
  I will go on a date with you when pigs fly!
  

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X 

• x-rated = not for children; only for adults
  
  I changed the television channel because that show was x-rated and there were children watching.

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Y

• you are what you eat = you must eat healthy foods to be healthy
  
  For more energy, you should eat some vegetables instead of chips. 
  
  Remember, you are what you eat.
  
  
  
  
  
• yucky = tastes bad
  
  That mushroom pizza was yucky. I did not eat it.
  
  
• yummy = tastes good; delicious
  
  These cookies are yummy!

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Z

• zip your lips = be quiet
  
  That was a secret! Zip your lips!

This was a list of idiom examples in American English. Now that you understand, it is time to practice! Get our ESL Books.

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