Idioms


What's an idiom 

An idiom is a phrase that consists of a few words, expresses a figurative or metaphorical meaning that differs from the actual meanings of the words used in it. Idioms are frequently used in everyday conversation. Idioms are the ornaments of English language. Idioms are the specific expressions found in the tongue of every community in the world. As English is now everyone's language and community after community is making use of English in various fields such as law, administration, government sectors and private sectors, a huge amount of idioms is entering the language day-by-day. Understanding or learning idioms is equal to understanding a certain community. 

As learners of English, you will encounter country based idioms such as American idioms, British idioms or Australian idioms. 


12 Most Common Idioms in English

1. To judge a book by its cover 

The idiom, “to judge a book by its cover” is a metaphorical expression that doesn't mean to judge a book by its cover literally, but rather it means to judge the value of something or someone by appearance without knowing the fact or truth. This idiom is used both for people and things. When someone quickly reaches at some conclusion about someone else or something unknowingly, this idiom is used to say that they don't know the actual value of something or someone. 

Example: 

A bad physique never means that a person is not talented. Don't judge a book by its cover. 


2. To be nuts about/over someone/something

This phrase contains the word, nuts which means a seed. It's obvious that the literal meaning of this idiom is not referred to here. The figurative meaning of this idiom is to like, be fond or enthusiastic about someone or something. 

Example: 

Majnu had been nuts about Laila since he met her. 


3. To have bigger fish to fry 

This idiom literally implies that a person has some bigger fish that they will fry, which is not intended, but metaphorically means to have important task to do. When someone says they have bigger fish to fry, they mean they have some other important task apart from the one they're doing at that specific time. 

Example: 

I don't have enough time to spend on such kind of group discussion. I have bigger fish to fry. I need to attend my class.


4. To be a hot potato

A hot potato can literally mean a boiled heated potato, but its literal meaning is not referred to when some issue or problem is described as a hot potato. When some issue is called a hot potato, it means people's views on it are different. A controversial issue is described as a hot potato. 

Example: 

In many countries, abortion is a political hot potato. Everyone has a different view on it. 


5. To bring home the bacon

The word, bacon means a piece of meat of a pig. The bacon was food of the European people for centuries. So the word, bacon started getting used in the sense of living, money or bread and butter. So the idiom, “to bring home the bacon” metaphorically means to earn money for family members to live on. 

Example: 

We all have to work because it brings home the bacon. 


6. To bark up the wrong tree 

“To bark up the wrong tree ” doesn't mean to bark up the wrong tree literally. It doesn't mean to bark like a dog. This idiomatic expression means to follow some certain method or way to achieve some goal that will not work. If you say that someone is barking up the wrong tree, you mean they are doing something in a wrong way and they are following a wrong way. 

Example: 

The students who rely on memorising words by heart to learn English bark up the wrong tree. 


7. To upset someone's applecart 

This idiom was in use from the Roman times. It means to spoil someone's plans. When someone does something that obstructs or ruins the plans of someone, it means to upset the applecart. 

Example: 

Don't upset the applecart by telling what's not to be told. 


8. To kill two birds with one stone 

This idiom doesn't mean to kill two birds with one stone. The literal meaning is not referred to. It figuratively means to succeed in achieving two goals by doing a single action. 

If you kill two birds with one stone, you complete two tasks by one action. 

Example: 

In the gym, while doing exercise, I listen to songs. This way, I kill two birds with one stone. 


9. To let the cat out of the bag 

“Let the cat out of the bag” means to allow the cat come out of the bag literally. However, the idiom metaphorically means to reveal a secret. 

The cat in the bag means  a secret that someone knows. 

Example: 

John, my little brother, don't let the cat out of the bag. I'm going to the music club without informing mom. 


10. To leave no stone unturned

This idiom can literally mean to turn stone, but its literal meaning is not intended. This phrase means to try every possible way to achieve some goal. When you leave no stone unturned, you try to use every possible method to achieve some goal. 

Example: 

To crack the entrance exam of Nalanda University, I will leave no stone unturned. I will anyhow get into that university this year. 


11. To miss the boat 

This idiom can mean to miss the boat literally, but it is used in a figurative sense. The figurative meaning of this idiom is to fail to take advantage of an opportunity to do something. This idiom simply means to miss the chance to do something. 

Example: 

During Covid 19, I missed the boat when I didn't apply for the job because there was less competition. 


12. To add fuel to the fire 

 Adding fuel to fire means to do or say something that makes a bad situation worse. 

If someone adds fuel to fire, they worsen the situation. 

Example: 

I was already late for my class. Additionally my asking the teacher many questions added fuel to the fire. As a result, the teacher got angry at me.


Exercise 1 

1. What's an idiom in English? 

2. What does “Idioms are the ornaments of English.” mean? 

3. What's a figurative or metaphorical meaning? 

4. Can every phrase, a combination of words, be  called an idiom? 

5. What makes a phrase an idiom? 


Exercise 2 

Give the meanings of the following idioms. 

1. To upset someone's applecart

2. To add fuel to the fire 

3. To kill two birds with one stone

4. To leave no stone unturned

5. To bring home the bacon


Exercise 3

Use the following idioms in your own sentences. 

1. To be a hot potato

2. To have bigger fish to fry

3. To be nuts about something or someone

4. To judge a book by its cover

5. To bark up the wrong tree