This article will help you know about some of the idioms and phrases in English that can help you improve your English speaking skills. Read the sentences to have a clear idea of the meaning. Idioms have different meaning of what is actually said. Below you will find idioms and phrases with their meanings and sentences in English.
| Serial No. | Idioms/ Phrases | Meaning | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Once in a blue moon | Something that happens very rarely | In Rajasthan, it rains once in a blue moon. |
| 2 | A piece of cake | Something which is easily achieved | Getting to the top is definitely not a piece of cake. |
| 3 | Beating around the bush | To avoid the main topic | The criminal was beating around the bush when asked to explain the detail of the incident. |
| 4 | From the horse's mouth | From the person directly concerned | This news can not be fake as I have heard it from the horse's mouth. |
| 5 | Chip on your shoulder | When someone is upset about something that happened a while ago | He has a chip on his shoulder because she ditched him. |
| 6 | Cry over spilt milk | To complaint about loss or failure from the past | There is no use of crying over spilt milk. It is better to move on and Smile. |
| 7 | Spill the beans | To disclose a secret | Ram spilled the beans about the surprise we have planned for kids. |
| 8 | Kick the bucket | To die | These days, kicking the bucket can require a lot more preparation than living. |
| 9 | Lend a hand | To assist or to help | He lend his hand for Rama's wedding. |
| 10 | Come hell or high water | Possible obstacles in your path | I have decided that come hell or high water I will become a doctor. |
| 11 | Taste of your own medicine | When someone receives the same treatment, usually negative, that he/she gives to others | She is always taunting others and hurting their sentiments. I just wish someone would give her a taste of her own medicine. |
| 12 | Miss the boat | Be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity | Don't be stupid to miss the boat. |
| 13 | Golden handshake | A big sum of money given to a person when he/she leaves a company or retires | The management of the company wanted to decrease their workforce. They offered a golden handshake to their aged employees. |
| 14 | See eye to eye | Be in full agreement | Ram and Shyam can not see eye to eye. |
| 15 | To cut corners | To take shortcuts; to save money or effort by finding cheaper or easier ways to do something | The contractor then tries to cut corners by sacrificing on quality, reducing manpower and using inferior quality cleaning agents. |
| 16 | Apple of one’s eye | Being cherished more than others are | Sam is the apple of his teacher's eye for his childlike behavior. |
| 17 | Icing on the cake | Something that turns good into great | India’s victory over England on India’s Independence Day was like icing on the cake. |
| 18 | On the same page | In agreement | I am glad that we are on the same page. |
| 19 | Cost an arm and a leg | Be very expensive | His laziness made him miss his flight to Chandigarh. The next ticket cost him an arm and a leg. |
| 20 | Ball is in your court | When it is up to you to make the next decision or step. | Now the ball is in your court; decide whether you want to reply or not. |
I hope you have understood the idioms clearly. Stay tuned with Englishneed for more updates. Read about daily use sentences in English with meaning in Hindi.
