The Most Common Idioms

What's an Idiom? 

An idiom is a combination of words that gives a meaning different from the literal meanings of each word used in it. 

In other words, an idiom is phrase that consists of some words and that gives a meaning that's different from the actual meanings of the words used in it. 

Facts about idioms

1. An idiom is a type of phrase. 

2. An idiom consists of some words. 

3. The words used in an idiom are not in their actual meanings. 

4. An idiom is established by common usage over the passage of time.

5. An idiom is formed from some incident, legendary story or religious books and personalities. 

Examples: 

(a) The ball is in your court.  

(b) I'm over the moon. 

Explanation:- “The ball is in your court.” is an idiom because it consists of some words i,e, ball, court, your, etc. 

The combination of all the words used in this idiom gives a meaning that's different from the literal or actual meanings of each word because this phrase means “It's your turn. or It's your time to make a decision.”. 

The similar case is with “I'm over the moon.” because the literal meaning of this idiom (I'm standing or sitting over the moon) is not referred to, but this  idiom means “I'm very much happy.”.

15 Most Common Idioms

1. The ball is in your court. 

Meaning: It's now up to you to make a decision. 

Example: I've told you what you should do. Now the ball is in your court. 

2. Over the moon

Meaning: To be very happy. 

Example: My parents are over the moon because I've topped the class this year. 

3. To see the light

Meaning: To realize or understand the importance of something

Example: Only after graduation did I see the light and started to focus on my studies seriously.

4. To burn midnight oil

Meaning: To be awake late at night for some work. 

Example: He has been burning midnight oil nowadays because he has a competitive exam. 

5. Once in a blue moon

Meaning: Very rarely

Example: He goes to theatre once in a blue moon. 

6. To be an apple of discord

Meaning: To be the main reason of some quarrel

Example: Property is generally the apple of discord among brothers. 

7. To live hand to mouth

Meaning: To lead a poverty-stricken or poor life

Example: We are the poorest people in the village. Therefore we live hand to mouth. 

8. To pass with flying colors

Meaning: To score well in some exam

Example: He has been studying politics for the past three years. I'm quite sure that he will pass the exam with flying colours. 

9. To be a piece of cake

Meaning: To be very easy

Example: To teach those who understand is a piece of cake. 

10. To feel under the weather

Meaning: To be sick 

Example: I'm feeling under the weather today.

11. At sixes and sevens

Meaning: To be scattered

Example: The students were at sixes and sevens on the playground. 

12. To cry over spilt milk

Meaning: To be sad about something that's already taken place

Example: You've missed the bus. Now don't cry over spilt milk 

13. To cry for the moon 

Meaning: To ask for something impossible 

Example: You cannot afford a car. So don't cry for the moon. 

14. To eat one's words 

Meaning: To admit that one was wrong 

Example: He said India would not win the cricket match. He had to eat his words because India has won. 

15. To feel like a fish out of water

Meaning: To feel uncomfortable in a particular situation

Example: I feel like a fish out of water when I attend a marriage party alone. 

Exercise 1 

Answer the following questions. 

1. What is an idiom? 

2. Is an idiom a phrase?

3. Is an idiom a combination of words?

4. Does an idiom give a literal meaning? 

Answer keys: 

1. A combination of words that gives a meaning different from the actual meanings of each word used in it. 

2. Yes.

3. Yes.

4. No. 

Exercise 2

Recall the meanings of the following idioms. 

1. To burn the midnight oil

2. To be a piece of cake

3. To feel under the weather

4. To live hand to mouth

5. To be an apple of discord

Answer keys: 

1. To be awake late at night for some work

2. To be easy 

3. To be sick 

4. To lead a poverty-stricken or poor life

5. To be the main cause or reason for some quarrel

Exercise 3 

Use the following idioms in your own sentences. 

1. To pass with flying colors

2. Once in a blue moon

3. To see the light

4. Over the moon

5. The ball is in your court.

Answer keys: 

We would love to read your sentences. 

1. _____

2. _____

3. _____

4. _____

5. _____

Exercise 4 

Give the meanings of the following idioms.

1. To feel like a fish out of water

2. To cry over spilt milk

3. To cry for the moon

4. To eat one's words

5. To be at sixes and sevens

Answer keys: 

We would love to read your answers. 

1. _____

2. _____

3. _____

4. ______

5. ______