Idiom definition|| idioms in English

What is an idiom ? 

An idiom is a type of phrase containing a group of words that expresses a figurative (to express a meaning by a term that's not used for it, but has some similarity) meaning which is different from the actual meanings of each word used in it. 

Idioms are frequently used in everyday conversations to express what usual words cannot. For more details about an idiom, visit.........

Idiom examples 

(a) At the eleventh hour 

Meaning: At the last moment 

(b) To earn a quick buck

Meaning: To make money easily 

(c) To feather one's nest 

Meaning: To become a rich person by taking unfair advantage of someone's position 

(d) To ruffle someone's feathers 

Meaning: To make somebody extremely angry

15 Most Common Idioms in English

1. To hit the books before exams

“To hit the books” literally means to hit them with your hand or stick or something else, but that meaning is not referred to by that idiom. It gives a meaning that's different from the literal meaning of the phrase. This phrase means to continuously and attentively read books  before exams. 

Examples: 

(a) She wants to appear in a competitive exam this year. So she has been hitting the books nowadays. 

(b) My brother will sit in an entrance exam this month. So he has to hit the books. 

2. To twist arm 

“To twist arms” literally means to bend or turn the arms, which can be painful, but “To twist arms” as an idiom expresses a metaphorical meaning. This idiom means to encourage, persuade or force somebody to do something. 

Examples: 

(a) I wasn't willing to go to the market, but my roommates twisted my arms to go. 

(b) I was hesitant about speaking in front of an audience, but my friends always twisted my arms to do so. Now I'm no more hesitant. 

3. To stab somebody in the back 

To stab in the phrase,“To stab somebody in the back” means to push a knife, dagger or sword into his back, but this idiom metaphorically means to betray someone who trusts you. 

If somebody is not loyal or faithful to you or disregards or disrespects your trust, he betrays you. 

Examples: 

(a) I trusted you so much. You disregarded my trust. You've really stabbed me in the back. 

(b) Friends are supposed to be loyal and faithful, but some friends stab you in the back. 

4. By hook or by crook

The words, hook and crook used in the phrase “By hook or by crook” mean a curved metal for fishing and a bend in some stick. The actual meanings are not referred to by this phrase. This phrase means to do something by possible means or anyhow. 

Examples: 

(a) By hook or by crook I will achieve my goals. 

(b) By hook or by crook she wants him in her life. 

5. To ruffle someone's feathers

“To ruffle someone's feathers” means to irritate or make someone very angry. Although human beings don't have feathers like birds, yet the word feather is used for human to create an idiomatic meaning here. 

Examples: 

(a) She ruffled her sister's feathers. So she started beating her. 

(b) When someone ruffles my feathers, I chase and hit them. 

6. To feather one's nest 

The words feather and nest in the phrase, “ To feather one's nest” mean to grow feathers and the shelter of birds respectively. But the phrase isn't used in the literal meaning. This phrase figuratively means to make money by taking unfair advantage of one's position. 

Examples: 

(a) Some people just want to feather their nest after becoming politicians  

(b) The chief minister is just feathering his own nest. 

7. To earn a quick buck

A buck is an animal skin. Once American currency took the place of animal skin to pay for goods. Now this buck, animal skin, means one dollar. So the phrase means to earn a living or income. 

Examples: 

(a) He earns a quick buck by teaching online

(b) Nowadays, it's really easy to earn a quick buck online. 

8. To call it a day 

This phrase doesn't mean to call it a day literally. “To call it a day” means to stop doing something. 

Examples: 

(a) We've spoken on this topic for hours. Now let's call it day.

(b) We've been working for 3 hours. Now let's it a day. 

9. To cut corners

Literally, the phrase, “To cut corners” means to cut the corners of some paper for example, but idiomatically it means to do something quickly in a way that saves time or money and not follow the correct procedure. 

Examples: 

(a) Don't cut corners when you're writing or you will end up being mistaken. 

(b) Take your time. Don't cut corners. Give me a detailed answer. 

10. To hit the sack 

To hit and sack in the phrase, “To hit the sack” mean to beat someone and a large container of goods literally. The idiomatic meaning of this phrase is to go to bed or sleep.

Examples: 

(a) I have lots of things to do tomorrow morning. I will have to hit the sack early. 

(b) The people hit the sack early at night are early risers. 

11. To burn the midnight oil

The literal meaning of the phrase, “To burn the midnight oil” is to burn kerosene oil at midnight. The figurative meaning of the phrase is to work or study hard late at night. 

Examples: 

(a) He has his end semester exam tomorrow. So I'm sure he will burn the midnight oil tonight. 

(b) My brother has been burning the midnight oil nowadays, because he wants to crack the entrance exam of Nalanda University. 

12. To walk on eggshells

An eggshell the outside parts of an egg that can easily break. To walk on eggshell means to be very careful about one's words or actions. 

Examples: 

(a) Our teacher gets angry easily. So we walk on eggshell as soon as he enters the classroom. 

(b) The learners of English walk on eggshell when they first start to use the language. 

13. A hard nut to crack

A nut means a dry fruit or a tiny piece of metal, and to crack means to break. But here the phrase means a person or thing with whom it's difficult to deal. 

Examples: 

(a) The one who easily gets angry is a hard to crack. 

(b) One of the reasoning problems in the exam was really a hard nut to crack. 

 

14. To go bananas

Banana is a fruit. But to go bananas means to go crazy or get extremely angry. 

Examples: 

(a) Your boss will go bananas when you tell him that you haven't yet completed the task. 

(b) He will go bananas when you tell him this news.  

15. To be a cup of tea

A cup of tea doesn't mean a cup of tea literally. This phrase means something that is favourite. This phrase is used in a negative sentence. 

Examples: 

(a) Doing assignments is not my cup of tea. 

(b) Swimming is not everyone's cup of tea.

Exercise 1

Give the meanings of the following idioms. 

1. A hard nut to crack

2. To walk on eggshell

3. To burn the midnight oil

4. To hit the sack

5. To cut corners

Exercise 2 

Use the following idioms in your own sentences. 

1. To call it a day

2. To earn a quick buck

3. To feather one's own nest

4. To ruffle someone's feathers

5. To stab somebody in the back.