Tag Archives: idioms with meaning and examples

idioms

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Idioms

An idiom is a group of words whose meaning is different from the meaning of the words. Idioms should be used sparingly and they reveal your proficiency in writing.

Idiom

Here are some of the idioms that you can use in your IELTS speaking as well as writing. Also these idioms you can use in your daily life. Following are the common idioms along with the meaning and examples.

  • A slap on the wrist (a very mild punishment)
    • He should be in jail for what he did, but he got off with just a slap on the wrist.
  • Flesh and blood (one’s own family)
    • She’s my own flesh and blood; I can’t believe she treated me that way!
  • Once in a blue moon (rarely)
    • I think my grandson doesn’t love me anymore, he comes to see me only once in a blue moon.
  • Rule of thumb (a rough estimate)
    • During our boot camp in the jungle, we used to drink a glass of water every two hours as a rule of thumb.
  • A drop in the bucket (a very small quantity where something big is needed)
    • What we were paid for our work was a drop in the bucket compared to what the company earned.
  • A fool and his money are easily parted (it is easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money)
    • Mike likes living in style – but then a fool and his money are easily parted.
  • A blessing in disguise (something good that is not recognised or expected at first)
    • Being caught in that traffic jam was a blessing in disguise. If I hadn’t missed the flight, I would have been on that plane when it crashed.
  • A doubting thomas (A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something)
    • He’s such a doubting Thomas that he won’t believe unless he sees things through his eyes.
  • A house divided against itself cannot stand (it will not work out, if everyone does not unite)
    • I wish Ben and Jerry would learn to get along. After all, a house divided against itself cannot stand.
  • A leopard can’t change its spots (you cannot change your identity)
    • The teacher tried to be kind to her students, but a leopard can’t change its spots, she was still very mean.
  • A penny saved is a penny earned (by not wasting money, you are saving money)
    • I’m going to give you $20, but I want you to put it in the bank; a penny saved is a penny earned!
  • A picture paints a thousand words (a visual presentation is far more descriptive than words)
    • Jane’s reaction in the picture is so weird about her boss – someone truly said that a picture paints a thousand words.
  • A piece of cake (a task that can be accomplished very easily)
    • The boy found the project to be a piece of cake because it was incredibly easy.
  • Actions speak louder than words (it is better to actually do something than just talk about it)
    • He keeps saying he loves me, but actions speak louder than words.
  • Add fuel to the fire (do something to make a bad situation even worse than it is)
    • The presidential candidate’s provocative speech in these violent times is only going to add fuel to the fire.
  • Against the clock (accomplish/do something in spite of limited time available)
    • The team was working against the clock to finish the project on time.
  • All bark and no bite (only threats, no real actions)
    • She said that she will call the police if those people ever bother her again, but she didn’t. She’s all bark and no bite.
  • All Greek to me (meaningless and incomprehensible)
    • My teacher was explaining a complicated math to the classroom, but I didn’t get it, it was all Greek to me.
  • All in the same boat (when everyone is facing the same situation)
    • I know this is difficult work, but we are all in the same boat here, so we’ll have to do this together.
  • An axe to grind (to gave a dispute with someone)
    • I think he is gunning for the top job because he has an axe to grind with some of his colleagues.
  • Apple of my eye (someone who is cherished above all others)
    • My youngest daughter, Cherie is the apple of my eye.
  • As high as a kite (high ranking)
    •  I was as high as a kite when I heard I’d got the job.
  • At the drop of a hat (do something immediately)
    • We’re all packed and ready to go; we can leave at the drop of a hat.
  • Back seat driver (people who criticise from sidelines like someone giving unwanted advice)
    • Daisy is such a backseat driver, she needs to stop interfering – no one asked for her advice.
  • Back to square one (having to start all over again)
    • I failed at calculus, so I guess it’s back to square one.
  • Beat a dead horse (to force an issue that has already ended)
    • He already told you no; don’t beat a dead horse.
  • Beating around the bush (not speaking directly about the issue)
    • If you want to ask me, just ask; don’t beat around the bush.
  • Bite off more than you can chew (to take on a task that is too laborious)
    • By accepting two part-time jobs, he is clearly biting off more than he can chew.
  • Blood is thicker than water (blood relations are closer than other relations)
    • When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother; blood is thicker than water.
  • The last straw (the last chance)
    • She has been unhappy with him for a long time but when he crashed her car, it was the last straw.
  • To make a long story short (Briefly)
    • To make a long story short, I ran into Tony and we decided to go to the game together.
  • Scapegoat (someone innocent who is inflicted for others’ failure)
    • Some scapegoating campaigns, however, have been so extensive that they have had disastrous sociopolitical and human rights consequences.

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